Common Sense – Op-ed: Winners and losers

The president was acquitted. No surprise there. The pro-impeachment forces could not even muster a simple majority, let alone the constitutionally-required two-thirds vote.

There were costs: political, financial and governmental. Tens of millions of dollars were arguably wasted on the process that led to the acquittal. Time was also wasted. The president and, for that matter, many members of Congress, are in agreement that there is much work to be done on issues ranging from border security to health care.

Politically, the fallout will be enormous for both parties. The Republicans, in addition to the obvious winner, President Trump, have new superstars like New York Congressmembers Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin.

The Democrats have a mix of winners and losers. They had a member flip to the GOP over the proceedings, which in any playbook is a loss. The president’s popularity, based on several polls, has increased and the generic Congressional ballot ticked a bit more Republican. 

In my opinion, Speaker Pelosi’s performance during the State of the Union was not helpful to the Democratic cause. Often, the difference in elections hovers around those that are on the fence. Ripping up the official copy of the State of the Union address presented to her by the president in all likelihood was not viewed favorably by those occupying the middle ground. 

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As I write this column on Sunday morning, news has just broken that an individual walked into the 41^st Precinct in the Bronx, opening fire and wounding a police officer. This is the same police precinct that just a few hours earlier had been the scene of an attempted assassination of an officer, who escaped death by the grace of God. 

When the police become the targets, no one in our city is safe. A general anti-police attitude fueled by the mayor and echoed by progressive Democratic political leadership, both at City Hall and in Albany, has been a noticeable contributing factor.

Laws that created “Get Out Of Jail Free Cards” for bank robbers and hit-and-run perpetrators, among others, reconfigured the criminal justice system against the victim and in favor of the accused. 

Anarchistic-style demonstrations that call for fewer police to protect us, and cause criminally negligent property damage and disruptions to ordinary New Yorkers just going about their daily business only add to the general view that lawlessness has become a real concern in the city.

Those of us who cry out against this retreat from an almost 30-year period of relative stability are told we are fear-mongers. I say we have much to fear in the new paradigm the progressive Democrats have given us.  

I suggest to my readers that we are the silent majority. If we intend to remain in our homes, community and city, we cannot remain silent any longer. Action is needed.

We can no longer tolerate elected officials doubling down on cashless bail. We cannot allow those holding policymaking positions in city government to tell us we are safe, when we know we are not as safe as we were just four years ago. 

All must speak out and attend meetings like those held by their local police precinct community council, their local community board or civic associations. Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights have two strong groups — the Bay Ridge Community Council and Dyker Heights Civic Association. Use these forums to amplify your concerns.