Sen. Lankford Promises to ‘Step In’ If Biden Doesn't Get Briefings, Calls for 'Peaceful Transition'

[Alben Barkley]

https://www.mediaite.com/news/gop-sen-james-lankford-promises-to-step-in-if-biden-isnt-getting-natsec-intel-briefings-by-friday-this-needs-to-occur/

Republican Sen. James Lankford (OK) promised that he would “step in” to the dispute if the President-Elect Joe Biden was not given access to U.S. intelligence briefings by Friday.

In a long interview with host Russell Mills for Tulsa radio station KRMG, Lankford discussed the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 election. Near the end of the 35-minute discussion, the host pushed Lankford on Trump’s refusal to accept the called race in Biden’s favor. (The relevant portion begins at the 22:45 mark.)

“I gotta tell you, national security is a concern,” Mills said. “Because Mr. Biden is not getting the briefings that he would normally be getting at this stage of the process.”

https://www.krmg.com/news/local/lankford-guarantees-peaceful-transition-talks-about-covid-vaccine-prospects/HURH354TWVCJNHVXM4DEUK332A/

[ProgressiveModerate]

At least he's doing the right thing, sort of, but the sad thing is that most of the GOP stoops so low that anyone passing such a low bar is treated like a hero.

[SnowLabrador]

If he doesn't back this up with meaningful actions, it means next to nothing.

[Hammy]

At least he's doing the right thing, sort of, but the sad thing is that most of the GOP stoops so low that anyone passing such a low bar is treated like a hero.

Maybe I'm paranoid, or maybe it's just because it's the sort of thing I'd do if I had power, but what if that's their goal, go as low as they possibly can and then win the public over easily when they eventually run a sane candidate who holds the same reviled policy views?

[Alben Barkley]

If he doesn't back this up with meaningful actions, it means next to nothing.

He’s on the record now at least, so that’s something. We’ll see what happens. But I have a feeling the GOP is getting impatient dealing with the toddler and wants to move on to defending the Senate.

[Beet]

The transition will happen this time because 2 months isn't enough time for such a drastic change in norms. But it's a different question to consider later in the 2020's and beyond. Importance of winning is growing, intangible sentiment around the popular will becomes less important. As the GOP resorts more and more to formalism, the spirit of democracy decays. This belief-- the so called "hearts and minds", is not dispensible, as Orthodox Communists discovered too late in the Gorbachev era Soviet Union.