As I am sure you know, the political left would like for you to believe that the 2020 election is done and over with. According to them, their candidate, former vice president Joe Biden won with flying colors. However, we all know that’s not exactly what happened.
In fact, the election is still far from being concluded, with recounts and legal battles in several key states going on.
And yet, Biden’s team and mainstream media seem to have no qualms about announcing his not only victory but also his plans for the near future – mainly the undoing of all President Trump’s hard work for the American people.
But more than that, the team is even pushing for their staff to go ahead and begin the transition process into the White House and surrounding governmental buildings.
Now, to be clear, by this point, the incoming administration is usually given that right, as they have been officially declared the winner. But this year, no such winner has been made official yet.
The governmental agency tasked with, first of all, declaring the victor and then, signing overall funding and rights of the president, falls to the US General Services Administration or GSA.
According to the Washington Post, “By declaring the ‘apparent winner’ of a presidential election, the GSA administrator releases computer systems and money for salaries and administrative support for the mammoth undertaking of setting up a new government – $9.9 million this year.”
Among other things, the GSA also provides office spaces to the new or transitional administration at every federal agency, government email addresses, sets them up to begin work with the Office of Government Ethics, and gives them access to senior officials.
But seeing as there is no clear winner at this point, regardless of what the media says, the GSA refuses to sign over those monies and rights.
And that is precisely what a GSA spokesperson speaking for GSA administrator Emily Murphy is saying. Until “a winner is clear,” the transition process can’t legally begin.
Of course, those on the left think this is just another political push by Trump to somehow pull off a win. They have made sure to note that Murphy was appointed to her position by Trump himself and, therefore, might be feeling exceptionally loyal to the man.
Furthermore, they have tried to say that refusing to allow the transition during a pandemic will be detrimental to the country as a whole.
Head of House Subcommittee on Government Operations and Democratic Representative from Virginia Gerry Connolly says, “The Administrator plays a critical role in the peaceful transfer of power and ensuring vital government services are not disrupted. This is all the more important amid a deadly pandemic.”
But could it be that she is merely following protocol and a sound moral judgment?
There is even a precedent set for this. And not from all that long ago.
Remember the 2000 election in which George W. Bush won? Similarly, some states or just Florida really needed to be recounted, several times. There was also a legal battle going on between Bush and his Democratic opponent Al Gore. And just like now, the GSA refused to sign over anything until everything was finalized and completed.
Sure, the Bush administration, which was the assumed winner, pushed for them to release the funds early. But they wouldn’t budge. And it was a controversial point for some time, according to Nancy Scola, who reminded us about the event on Friday.
She said, “FWIW, the General Services Administration’s refusal to call George W. Bush ‘president-elect’ (which under law is its call to make for the federal government) until the Florida recount was resolved was a point of some controversy at the time.”
But just because it’s controversial doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Just as Bush could no sooner declare himself the winner in 2000, Biden can’t do the same now, at least not officially. And doing so certainly doesn’t make it true.
As mentioned before, the only agency with the right and responsibility to call the winner is the GSA, but that is only after election results have been finalized per the electoral college – not a moment sooner.
