Dream a Little Dream

A Highly Unlikely Scenario

I had a dream. The timeline began now and concluded in the fall of 2023. Much happened that would not have been predicted and the odds of all this occurring would suggest a really bad bet. But in my dream, it all did happen and the world became a better place.  
 
Fall 2021:  
Joe Biden’s consistent and persistent engagement with members of Congress finally led to a deal on the Build Back Better Act. Nobody got what they wanted. President Biden delivered a speech on Thanksgiving Day and signed the BBB act and the bi-partisan Infrastructure bill simultaneously. This was the most significant investment in America since FDR pushed through the “New Deal”. Biden’s polling numbers are through the roof. Hard work is recognized again as a presidential attribute.  
 
Winter 2021:  
The Special Committee investigating the events surrounding the January 6 riot concluded that the event was planned by the former President and his aides, including his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. It recommends that the Justice Department file charges. No initial response from the DOJ. There are calls for Attorney General Merrick Garlands resignation. Fox Fiction (FNC) called it all a witch hunt and barely reported on it. Instead, it continued to focus on the “caravans” of migrants moving towards the border – asserting that they are bringing Covid 19 into the country.  

 
Late Spring 2022: 
In a surprise announcement, the Justice Department revealed that it’s long running investigation into the activities of Donald Trump leading up to January 6, 2021 consisted of an attempted coup. He is charged with insurrection and sedition. He has 10 days to surrender. When he is finally reassured that his jump suit will not be orange, he turns himself in. In that 10-day period, he held a series of brutal family meetings that followed the script of the HBO series called “Succession”. Ivanka is selected to run the Trump Organization as it becomes clear to him that he will need to throw Donald Jr under the bus to save himself. And Eric is just Eric.  
 
Summer 2022:  
The State of New York and the District Attorney of Manhattan combine their investigations and formally and jointly charge Donald Trump and the entire Trump organization with tax fraud. All parties are arrested. The state began negotiating with the DOJ for priority in prosecuting the Trumps. A legal battle ensues with New York politicians claiming the superiority of “states' rights”. Their efforts fail but they are assured their cases can be pursued when the Feds have completed their case.  
 
Fall 2022:  
The revelations of the Trump prosecutions turned the tide of American public sentiment. A wave of “Capitolgate” outrage rippled across the nation. Very few of the MAGA supporters were convinced of Trump’s guilt. Some conceded that he may have broken a few laws, but “that’s what it takes to be a great leader”. Millions of independents voted to support Democratic candidates with significant margins that were large enough to repel the scurrilous fake charges of “voter fraud”. The House of Representatives picked up 12 Democratic seats. And the Senate majority grew by two. The addition of two relatively progressive and Climate concerned Senators effectively neutered the blackmail power of Joe Manchin. Kristen Sinema who revealed that she was switching to the Republican Party lost her race to a little-known Democrat who had been a Bernie Sanders campaign worker.  
 
Spring 2023:  
With a solid majority in Congress, the pressure to reconsider the filibuster in the Senate grows too strong to ignore. While there was not enough support to eliminate it entirely (remember, it is just a rule, it is not in the Constitution) it became apparent that the vast majority of Americans wanted a voting rights bill that would neutralize political re-districting and reveal dark money contributions. Provisions that allow for mail in voting and an election day holiday are popular and are included in the bill. Accordingly, the Senate voted to carve out an exception to the filibuster for voting rights legislation.  The bill was already passed by the House. President Biden signed the bill on May 1. 
 
Summer 2023:  
President Biden introduced to Congress a sweeping bill that addressed the Climate Crisis. Subsidies to fossil fuel companies are redirected to tax breaks that encourage electric vehicles and green energy production. Taxes on corporations and the ultra-rich are raised and the funds are restricted to investing in several priorities including a new “smart” electric grid that is secure, capable of handling the enormous amount of energy being produced by wind, solar, geo thermal and the emerging “wave technology” that harvests power from the simple movement of the ocean. Millions of new jobs are created. Part of the bill dedicated money to schools to train young people for jobs in the new energy sector – as well as funds to re-train workers who have lost employment due outplacement, automation and the decline of old energy jobs. The bill passed as even some Republican Senators could no longer ignore the pleas from their constituents and donors whose homes were being flooded or burned.  President Biden signed the “Climate Action and Employment” bill on Labor Day. His subsequent polling numbers reach historic highs.

Biden also announced his decision to not run for re-election as President. Democratic wannabes scramble for attention and money.  
 
Fall 2023: 
Congress finally addressed gun violence and police reform by passing the “Weapons Safety and Police Registry” act. Two national registries are established. The National Weapons Registry restricts the ownership of guns to those who are licensed. Licensing is based on a criminal and mental health check. The National Police Registry provides all police forces and law enforcement agencies (public and private) with a data base to pre-check any applicant for a position in law enforcement. Compliance is required at every level of government or private employment – from police commander to private security guard. The bill barely passed the House. It appeared to be dead on arrival in the Senate. But a series of mass shootings by domestic terrorists claiming “militia” status tip the balance. Thus, the filibuster is set aside again – this time in the name of public safety. President Biden signs the bill. The National Guard is activated in seven states where terrorist militias continue their assaults on Democratic headquarters and political offices. There are many casualties. But America finally becomes a nation that is committed to protecting the public from rogue police and needless gun violence.  
 
President Biden has established himself as the most effective and morally compelling American political leader of the century. His legacy is epic. Vice President Harris hoped to be the “presumptive nominee” to replace him. However, in typical “Democratic fashion”, the pundits worried that a woman of color could not win. Progressives protested loudly. They asserted that Harris is simply the wrong person – both in terms of style and lack of broad support.  
 
Some political operatives have convinced Stacey Abrams to consider her candidacy. They remembered that her effort to get out the vote in Georgia was the single reason there had been a Democratic Senate. It is also noted that her speaking skills are excellent. An announcement is expected before the holidays. There were rumors that Abrams, if she announces, will consider Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Val Demings or Karen Bass as her running mate.  
 
Republicans assert that CRT has permeated every level of American society – that they were right. They were being replaced. But Biden’s programs are wildly popular. Regardless, Tucker Carlson refuses to reduce his rancor on Fox Fiction. His ratings plummet. He leaves with a separation package that will fund a real estate firm in Hungary where he will market luxury estates to rich American ex-pat bigots.  
 
Then I awakened to read the real news with a strong coffee. Maybe all this will begin when Biden returns from his trip to Europe. Dream on, Bill.