Why I Will Not Be Voting In the 2024 Presidential Election

Fred Bates - Tuesday, October 29, 2024 

Our system of government is corrupt and dysfunctional, and I refuse to give it legitimacy by 

casting my vote

On November 5th, I will not be voting in the 2024 Presidential Election, just as I haven't voted in any recent elections. One of my primary reasons for not voting is that this country is a joke! I mean this in all sincerity. During this election cycle, both presidential campaigns have spent a great deal of time on hateful rhetoric that has overshadowed their policy proposals. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said, "let no man drag you so low as to hate him." He also said we must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools. It appears that the Republican and Democrat parties have decided to dishonor Dr. King's legacy by being fools with their hateful rhetoric that is clearly destroying our nation. 

Democrats are making the claim that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy, and Republicans are saying the same about Kamala Harris. Both parties are wrong. Democracy is not on the ballot this year and has not been on the ballot for years because of widespread public corruption. What I find so disappointing is that many Americans appear to be buying into this rhetoric by both parties when it comes to this fraudulent claim about democracy being on the ballot. The lack of civility by both parties during this election cycle disgusts me. I want no part of this embarrassment. 

It's not that I have a thing against voting. I have a more personal reason for not voting as well. Not voting is my form of non-violent protest against the racist and discriminatory manner in which I have been treated by San Jose city officials, the US District Court in San Jose, and the 9th Court of Appeals; and the refusal of Congress and other authorities with the responsibility of oversight to do anything about it. This entire blog has been devoted to exposing the appalling conduct of these officials during litigation of three federal lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose for discrimination based on my race and disability. I'm black/African American. So far, I have not been able to get any government officials at any level to open an investigation into my allegations that these officials committed several public corruption crimes, many of them felonies. Here are some of the officials I have made formal complaints to, all to no avail: former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Bob Goodlatte, former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Dianne Feinstein, VP and former Senator Kamala Harris, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, former Attorney General William Barr, Chief Justice John Roberts, former Chief Judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Sidney R. Thomas, Santa Clara County California District Attorney Jeff Rosen, and the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. This, however, is not a complete list of all the officials I have made complaints to regarding the misconduct of San Jose city officials and the federal courts.

As you can see, the officials that have failed to take action on my complaints are Democrats and Republicans. Not a single one has had the integrity or courage to provide oversight of the corrupt 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court in San Jose for their egregious misconduct that has undermined democracy, and the rule of law. This is governmental corruption at its worst. It does not matter who wins the presidency, or which party takes control of the House and Senate, it will not save democracy. Democracy simply cannot flourish if our judiciary operate with no accountability and refuses to adhere to the rule of law and precedent. However, I acknowledge that democracy cannot exist without an independent judiciary. But democracy requires a balance between an independent judiciary and oversight of the judiciary that provides accountability. This principle applies to all three branches of government. So far, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court in San Jose have treated me with the same lack of regard for my constitutional rights as Bull Connor did for black voting rights activists in Birmingham in 1963. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court have engaged in misconduct with impunity. I refuse to give legitimacy to a corrupt system of government by casting my vote. Below are links to some of my other blog posts that provide details about the misconduct of San Jose city officials and the federal courts:

A Cheating Scandal in the Silicon Valley - Justice for Sale: The Backstory to My Lawsuits Against the City of San Jose! (crnctz.blogspot.com)

A Cheating Scandal in the Silicon Valley - Justice for Sale: San Jose City Officials and Federal Court Officials Engaged in Criminal Misconduct During Litigation of My Lawsuits Against the City (crnctz.blogspot.com)

Democrats' Problem With Impeachment

Post 54 (6/25/19)

Lately, I haven't heard much coming from the Democratic leadership in Congress about impeaching President Trump. What is going on? A few weeks ago all you heard from many of the Democrats was how Trump deserved to be impeached based on his obstructive conduct during the Mueller Investigation. I think we all are familiar with Trump's alleged misconduct documented in Mueller's report. I don't have to state it here. I have already stated in prior posts in this blog why I believe impeachment is not a good idea. You will also find in many of my prior posts that I bash the Democrats for their hypocrisy and dishonesty. There is a good reason for my Democrat bashing. They deserve it. To her credit, Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, has always stated that she was against impeachment. However, many other leading Democrats in Congress were initially very enthusiastic about this impeachment nonsense. This enthusiasm seems to have tapered off. Democrats like Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee; along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff have all been very forceful in their support for the impeachment of President Trump. The reasons given for impeachment range from holding the President accountable for his crimes, Congress' obligation under the Constitution to exercise oversight of the President and because of the notion that no one is above the law. Now these would all be good reasons to impeach Trumps if in fact his conduct reached the high standard for impeachment set by the Constitution that requires treason, bribery or high crimes and misdemeanors. Just as I believed with Bill Clinton, I don't think the constitutional standard is met with Trump's conduct. I have said this before and I am saying it again. My position on impeachment and my condemnation of the Democrats' hysteria surrounding Trump's conduct should not be taken as my support for Trump. The Democrats are all about putting on a show for the media and for their base of Trump haters. They should not be taken serious about anything, clearly not about impeachment. 
As I note in the title of this post, the Democrats have a huge problem with impeachment. Many of the top Democrats in Congress, Speaker Pelosi, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff are part of a criminal conspiracy by members of Congress to obstruct justice by covering-up several felonies committed by San Jose city officials and several federal court officials during litigation of two racial and disability discrimination lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose. I am black/African American. It is the misconduct of the Democrats that I just mentioned that rises to the constitutional standard for impeachment, high crimes and misdemeanors. It is they who are more deserving of impeachment than President Trump. Speaker Pelosi, Senators Feinstein and Harris, Congressmen Nadler and Schiff all received letters from me asking that the Senate and House Judiciary Committees open investigations into my allegations against San Jose city officials and the federal courts. No investigation has been opened, even though I presented each with incontrovertible facts and evidence to support my allegations. The facts and evidence I presented prove without a shadow of doubt that San Jose city officials conspired with my attorney and the courts to falsify court records, create false documents, and stage a phony hearing on a motion I filed. A fraudulent transcript and civil minutes were then created for that hearing. At least one city official and my attorney was bribed for their participation. In addition to the criminal acts committed, the courts failed to follow several federal statutes and binding precedent while making rulings in favor of the City of San Jose in both of my lawsuits.
The Democratic leadership in Congress should be very careful with how they handle this move to impeach President Trump based on the impeachable offenses they are committing by covering up the very egregious conduct of the City of San Jose, the US District Court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Not only would they look like hypocrites if they impeach Trump, there could be political and legal ramifications for them as well for their criminal cover-up. They should be aware that I have no intent of allowing this scandal to simply be ignored. They have reason to worry.

Joe Biden Is Running A Shameful Campaign About Race

Post 52

Recently former Vice-President Joe Biden, a Democrat, entered the race for President. If you know anything about politics, you are aware that the former VP was a long time Senator from Delaware. I have no personal ill will toward Joe Biden. He seems like a nice enough guy. It is clear though that Biden's campaign will try to paint Trump as a racist and also focus on his character. When Biden released a video a few weeks ago announcing that he was running for president, he talked about Charlottesville and Trump's response to the violence that occurred. I have my own take of Trump's response to Charlottesville that's a little different from Joe Biden's. The President's response was appropriate being that he is the Commander-in-Chief. You can view my non-politically motivated take on how the President responded to Charlottesville in my post on September 18, 2017. Biden has also talked about bringing back honesty and dignity to the Office of the President.

Joe Biden is the quintessential politician, willing to say anything to get a vote. His candidacy is not about making this a better country. It is all about defeating Donald Trump at all costs. Biden has spent nearly fifty years in public office. He is far more responsible for the problems we face as a nation than Trump. But it's Biden's hypocrisy that concerns me the most. He talked about bringing dignity and honesty to the Oval Office. Where was all this concern for dignity when his fellow Democrat Bill Clinton was President. Has Biden forgot about the Monica Lewinsky affair and all of the other sexual misconduct allegations against Clinton. As for honesty, Biden apparently has forgotten "I did not have sex with that woman." What about the lies that were told about Obama Care when Biden was VP? If you want your doctor you can keep your doctor. Your insurance premiums will go down. And what about Benghazi? The violence was a spontaneous response to an anti-Islamic video. Biden referred to Trump as being a clown. Hasn't he taken notice of his own party since Trump has been in the White House? Who can forget the clownish manner of the Democrats during the Kavanaugh hearings or during the recent testimony of Attorney General William Barr. You actually had a Democrat member of the House Judiciary Committee eating KFC during the hearing. He also had a fake chicken at a press conference. Now who are the real clowns? 

I do not offend easily. But it's the hypocrisy of Joe Biden and the Democrats regarding the issue of race that offends me more than the President and Democrats' clown like behavior. Referring to the President as the Grand Wizard of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, the KKK, and a white supremacist for political gain trivializes one of the darkest moments in our nation's history. It is Biden latest comment during a political rally in South Carolina that has gotten me riled up. During that rally, Biden implied that because of Trump and the Republicans support of voter ID laws, "You've got Jim Crow sneaking back in." This is nonsense. Jim Crow was, among other things, about using intimidation and violence to prevent blacks from registering to vote, and from voting. Requiring a person to have proper ID in order to vote is just as sensible as requiring a person to have proper ID when purchasing a firearm. Biden and the Democrats should remember that it was their party that gave us Jim Crow, and not the Republicans. Democrats should also remember that many in their own party refused to support the 1964 Civil Rights Act that ended Jim Crow.

 If Biden wants to blame someone for Jim Crow sneaking back in, he need only to look at members of his own Democratic Party. During the past three years, I have written letters to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, Congressman Adam Schiff and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren requesting that they open an investigation into a criminal conspiracy between San Jose city officials and officials with the U.S. District Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to obstruct justice during the litigation of two lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose. During litigation, these officials conspired to falsify court records, file fraudulent documents, stage a fake hearing on a motion I filed, fabricate contradictory civil minutes and a transcript for that hearing, and enter several bogus judgments relative to my lawsuits for the purpose of covering up discrimination I suffered at the hands of San Jose city officials based on my race and disability. I am black/African American. Senator Feinstein was the only one that responded to my letter. But she offered no help at all. The conduct of these officials, which showed utter disregard for the rule of law, were so flagrantly discriminatory and racist that I was compelled to start this blog to expose this egregious abuse of power and public corruption. The clear purpose of these officials was to humiliate me, make me feel powerless, cause me financial harm and emotional distress. This is more like Jim Crow than requiring someone to have proper ID to vote. 

Joe Biden and the Democrats using race for purely political reasons is divisive and harmful to our country. They are quick to call Trump and Republicans racist, the KKK, white supremacists, and that Jim Crow is sneaking back in.  Yet, when presented with a very real case of a black person's rights being violated like this was Jim Crow, they refuse to take any action whatsoever; even in a case where there was serious criminal misconduct. It should be clear that Democrats are not serious about eliminating racism and discrimination, and that they are only using race to gin up hatred for Trump and Republicans. What a shame.  

 

Democrats Are Reaping What They Sowed - The Political Catastrophe In Virginia

Post 49

It seems like a decade ago that the scandals involving Virginia's top elected officials created a media firestorm. First there was the photo of a person dressed up in  a KKK outfit and a person wearing blackface on Governor Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page. Then you had Attorney General Mark Herring admitting that he had worn blackface in college. Then there's the rape allegations scandal involving Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. Of the three gentlemen embroiled in scandal, the Fairfax scandal is clearly more serious than the scandals of Governor Northam and AG Herring. Don't get me wrong, wearing blackface poking fun at black people in a mean spirited way is not a good thing. But come on, let's be for real here. It appears that the incidents where Northam and Herring wore blackface were at least three decades ago when they were young and apparently dumb and stupid. Both men have since apologized. From what I can tell, all of their actions contemporaneously as elected officials have no evidence of racism or any discrimination towards blacks. As per usual, you have Democrat and Republican elected officials immediately calling for Northam and Herring to resign for clearly political reasons. However, a recent poll I saw showed that the majority of blacks in Virginia felt that Northam and Herring should not be forced to resign because of their scandals. To me this is a reasonable position because in situations like these, I nearly always fall back to my default position: Was it a long time ago and were there apologies by the parties guilty of the offending behavior? Did the offending behavior violate the law or someone's civil rights? Is there recent conduct to suggest any racism or discrimination, and are there contemporaneous allegations that the person guilty of stupid behavior such as this violated someone's civil rights based on their membership in a protected class? If the answer to each question is no, I don't think they should have to resign for inappropriate conduct from so long ago where no crime occurred and no one's civil rights were violated. I'm going to be blunt here. This is all about politics on the part of politicians, and the media's exploitation of race in order to boost their ratings. Can anyone honestly say they are offended by Northam and Herring racially insensitive conduct over three decades ago. Well, as a black person, I can't.

I find it shocking and hypocritical and downright silly that prominent Democrats like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Kamala Harris called for Governor Northam to resign over a photo from over three decades ago. Yet, they refuse to respond to complaint letters I sent them detailing racism and discrimination I suffered at the hands of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and other San Jose city officials, and the criminal cover-up by officials with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court during the litigation of two lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose. The conduct of San Jose city officials and the federal courts is far more egregious than the racially insensitive photo of Governor Northam from decades ago. The takeaway I get from Speaker Pelosi and Senator Harris' inaction to my letters is that today it is okay to violate a black person's rights in the same manner as the KKK and then commit crimes in order to cover it up; but it is a really bad thing if you wore a KKK costume or blackface to a party over three decades ago even though you committed no crime and violated no one's right. How ridiculous is that reasoning? Furthermore, there is a long history of members of the Democratic party being former members of the KKK. One of the most prominent is the late Senator Robert Byrd, the longest serving member of Congress in our nation's history.  When Senator Byrd died, he was recognized by the NAACP for the long list of civil rights legislation and other causes he supported that benefited blacks/African Americans. Who is it to say Northam or Herring cannot be another Senator Byrd. Because Democrats have been quick to paint Republicans and President Trump as racists for any perceived slight towards blacks and other minorities, they are now stuck with having to call for Governor Northam and AG Herring to resign for their actions that clearly does not rise to the level of impeachable offenses.

As to the rape allegations against Lieutenant Governor Fairfax, these are very serious issues. The accusers should be heard and treated with the utmost dignity and  respect. Their allegations should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. However, this does not mean that they deserve to be believed as some Democrats have demanded. The Lieutenant Governor is entitled to the due process requirement of innocent until proven guilty. Just as the accusers, Fairfax is also entitled to be heard and to have an impartial investigation into the allegations against him. Until an investigation that has turned up evidence to corroborate the rape allegations against him, I see no need for him to resign any more than I see the need for Northam and Herring to resign. If the allegations against Fairfax are found to be true, not only should he be removed from office, he should be punished to the fullest extent allowed by law. Democrats find themselves in a tough spot again based on their impulses calling for men to be removed from office or fired because of uncorroborated sexual misconduct allegations. Democrats would be wise to learn that due process and standing up for the rights of women to be free from sexual assault and harassment are not incompatible.

Democrats have set the standard very low for when men should be fired or removed from office based on sexual misconduct allegations; and when a person should be fired or removed from office based on racially insensitive conduct, even though it is decades old and the offender has apologized profusely. The dangerous and unethical game of identity politics that Democrats have been playing for years has now come back to bite them in the rear with the scandals involving Northam, Fairfax and Herring. The Democrats are reaping what they sowed. 

The Rebuke of Rep Steve King for His Comments about White Supremacy Reeks of a Double Standard by Congress

Post 46

Here's another example of our elected officials over reacting to a racially charged comment by another elected official. In this case, the elected official is Congressman Steve King. Congressman King has been in hot water before for making statements that were deemed racist or racially insensitive. King's latest misstep occurred sometime last week during an interview with a New York Times reporter. During that interview, King seem to support white supremacy by asking how the terms white nationalist, white supremacy and western civilization had become offensive language. There were no shortage of Democrats and Republicans expressing outrage over Congressman King's comments. Call me cynical, but this over the top negative reaction to King's comments by both Republicans and Democrats is driven by politics more than genuine concern about racism. Republicans are so afraid of being called racists that they were falling all over themselves in their efforts to condemn King. One Republican, Liz Cheney, called for King to resign. King's prior controversial comments about race were an extra motivating factor for Republicans' strong response to his unfortunate comments. On the other hand, Democrats are never the ones to pass up an opportunity to exploit a situation where they can paint a Republican as being racist. Even though they have to be bashed over the head (not literally) in order to condemn a member of their own party for actions similar to Congressman Steve King.
Here's where the double standard by Congress comes into play. As I stated earlier, Republicans and Democrats care very little about racism. While they have been quick to rebuke Congressman King for his stupid comments about race, Congress has engaged in a cover up of far more egregious racist conduct by officials with the City of San Jose, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court. The racist conduct by San Jose city officials occurred when I was denied a CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) permit and vocational rehabilitation training upon my medical disability retirement from the City's police force. City officials admitted that they had violated city policy and state law. They stated that information they received made it crystal clear that the initial decision to deny me a CCW permit was wrong. Yet, they denied me a CCW permit several more times without a hearing that is required by state law. The City's actions were bigoted and retaliatory because other officers that retired on medical disabilities contemporaneously with me were not denied their benefits. I am black/African American. Because of the City's bigoted and retaliatory conduct, I suffered monetary loss and emotional distress. Lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose for discrimination were summarily dismissed by the US District Court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals with the clear purpose of covering up the racism of the City. During litigation, the courts and the City conspired to commit several felonies that include subornation of perjury and perjury, obstruction of justice, fraud and bribery in order to facilitate the courts' biased rulings in favor of the City. I know that these allegations seem far-fetched, but they are the absolute truth. I have posted the evidence to corroborate my allegations at these two links:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/624131267713226/  

http://crnctz.blogspot.com/2015/08/exposing-cover-up-of-cheating-scandal.html

The glaring double standard by Congress makes me feel nauseated. You have such a strong rebuke of Congressman King for his stupid and ignorant racial comments; even though he was only expressing an opinion, committed no crimes or violated anyone's rights. Whereas, San Jose city officials and federal court officials not only made racist decisions that violated several of my rights, but engaged in several crimes in order to cover up their misdeeds. Yet, there has been no investigation or condemnation of the actions by San Jose city officials and the courts by the following members of Congress I sent complaint letters:  Senators Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Adam Schiff, Ami Bera, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and former House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. Most of these officials refused to extend me the courtesy of responding to my complaint letters.
Congress was clearly united in its rebuke of Congressman King. Congress is also united when it comes to covering up corruption and dysfunction of the federal courts which has caused irreparable harm to our democracy. For its failure to place any checks on the judicial branch of government, Congress as a body also deserves to be rebuked.

The Midterm Elections - I Will Proudly Not Cast My Vote

Post 41

Now that the midterm elections are upon us, politicians in the Democratic and Republican parties are out begging for your vote. If you  have read any of my recent posts, you know that I have very little respect for our elected officials whether they be Republicans or Democrats. We are living in an era where I believe we have the most corrupt government officials, elected or appointed, perhaps in the history of this country, at every level of government. Folks that is no exaggeration. The focus of this blog is on the corruption of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and the San Jose City Council, as well as, the US District Court in San Jose and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. But there is no doubt that corruption is pervasive throughout local, state and federal government.

Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans care about you the American people. They only care about power. Once they get your vote and get elected, you no longer have any value to them until the next election cycle. Just as President Trump said during the 2016 campaign, they are all talk. Take for example Nancy Pelosi. She recently stated that the Democrats would pass an Equality Act to protect LGBT people from discrimination if the Democrats win the majority in the House. This is the same Nancy Pelosi that has refused to respond to my complaint letter that details a criminal cover-up of blatantly racist conduct against me by San Jose city officials and the federal courts. She's not the only elected official that has failed to respond to complaint letters I sent to them. There's Senators Kamala Harris, Dianne Feinstein and Lindsey Graham, Speaker Paul Ryan; House Members Bob Goodlatte, Zoe Lofgren and Adam Schiff.

Then there's former VP Joe Biden. He recently stated that he is sick and tired of the Trump Administration. Well Mr. Biden, I'm sick and tired of Democrats like you, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff and Zoe Lofgren calling Donald Trump a racist while doing nothing about the racist and bigoted conduct of San Jose's Democratic mayor Sam Liccardo and the San Jose City Council. Democrats care noting about racism when the guilty ones are Democrats. They use race as a wedge issue to drum up hate for the President and Republicans. The Democrats call the President uncivil and that he has treated the Office of the President with a lack of dignity. They never mention the uncivil, undignified and classless manner in which they acted during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings.

The Republicans are no better than the Democrats. They acted with such indignation regarding the way Democrats treated Judge Kavanaugh. They whooped and hollered about due process being a bedrock of American jurisprudence; and that the Democrats dubious claim that they believed Dr. Ford without having a single fact or evidence to corroborate her sexual assault allegations against Judge Kavanaugh was contrary to our values as a nation and was a threat to democracy itself. I don't disagree with the Republicans position regarding Dr. Ford's allegations. However, I believe it to be all about politics. They were quick to defend Judge Kavanaugh's right to fair treatment and due process. But will they be so quick to defend the rights of average Americans? I think not.

What you have probably heard from both Democrats and Republicans is that these are the most important midterm elections in our lifetime and that everyone should go out and vote. I don't believe it. No matter what the outcome of the midterm elections, there is unlikely to be much of a change in this country. we will continue to have corrupt government officials at every level of government. Our elected officials in Congress will continue to provide inadequate oversight of our federal bureaucracies and the federal courts. Democracy will continue to be an illusion and not a reality. Democrats will continue to call the President a racist and claim to be champions of civil rights and equality. Republicans will continue to call Democrats resistors and claim to have strong support for the Constitution and the rule of law. Yet when both parties have been presented with indisputable facts and evidence of misconduct by San Jose city officials and the federal courts that runs counter to their principles, they have done absolutely nothing.

What I am trying to say is that both parties are lying to the American people. The only reason each party is so concerned about winning the midterm elections is power. Nothing else matters. Not your rights and not mine. Our national government and many of our state and local governments have no credibility because of public corruption. For this reason on Tuesday November 6, 2018 I will proudly abstain from casting my vote. For more details, read my prior posts and check out my group facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/624131267713226/