This isn't about missing computer keyboard keys

In January of 2001 the inauguration of George W. Bush was about to happen.  What did some Clinton Administration staffers do?  They removed the W key from computer keyboards.  They allegedly ripped phone wires from the walls.  This is from a New York Times article on the subject:

"The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said today that ''damage, theft, vandalism and pranks did occur in the White House complex'' in the presidential transition from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush. The agency put the cost at $13,000 to $14,000, including $4,850 to replace computer keyboards, many with damaged or missing W keys.  Some of the damage, it said, was clearly intentional. Glue was smeared on desk drawers. Messages disparaging President Bush were left on signs and in telephone voice mail. A few of the messages used profane or obscene language."

For the curious, here is the GAO report on the damage and allegations.

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We are in the middle of what may become the ugliest and most difficult presidential transition in history. It goes far beyond what happened in January of 2001.  Trump's decision to take a victory lap for the potential of Covid-19 vaccines becoming available soon while ignoring the fact the pandemic is spiraling out of control is putting lives at risk.  The delay in allowing the transition to procede will delay the vetting and appointment of the people Joe Biden chooses to replace the outgoing members of the Trump administration.  

As pointed out by the Washington Post, the 9/11 Commission Report outlined the dangers of a delayed transition:

“The dispute over the [2000] election and the 36-day delay cut in half the normal transition period. Given that a presidential election in the United States brings wholesale change in personnel, this loss of time hampered the new administration in identifying, recruiting, clearing, and obtaining Senate confirmation of key appointees.”

The legal challenges being mounted by Donald Trump to the results of his election loss are being tossed by judges.  Or withdrawn by his own lawyers, who cannot repeat Trump's falsehoods to judges sitting on the bench.

The truth is that the only candidate and his supporters who are attempting to rig the election is Trump himself.  Trump told voters in North Carolina to vote twice

Senator Lindsey Graham allegedly tried to get Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to throw out votes in an effort to change that state's choice of Joe Biden.  In Wayne County Michigan, the two Republican members of the Board of Canvassers initially voted to not certify the election results.  They changed their minds two hours later.

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The effect is that the traditional transition of power is not taking place.  Trump's refusal to concede is bad enough.  Emily Murphy, head of the General Services Administration (GSA) is making things worse by refusing to sign a letter of ascertainment.  

Why is Trump doing this?  Some postulate that he honestly believes he can change the result of the election and retain power.  Others claim he is doing this to retain the support of his base while being able to raise money for his newly created PAC.

I think there is something else going on here and the clue is in Trump's own words.

At a different rally than the one pictured above, Trump said, ""I shouldn’t joke, I shouldn’t joke because you know what? Running against the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics puts pressure on me. Could you imagine if I lose?  My whole life — what am I going to do? I’m going to say, I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics! I’m not going to feel so good. Maybe I’ll have to leave the country, I don’t know." 

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The result is a man whose gigantic ego has been shattered.  If Joe Biden is the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics, what does it say to lose to that candidate?  It is the ultimate slap in the face.  It is worse than being a contestant on the Celebrity Apprentice and being fired on national TV.  It is proof that all of his self-professed achievements during the past 4 years amount to nothing.

So he is going to do anything and everything he can to make the Biden Administration a failure.  His own disorganized transition is the model.  He will burn it all down in spite of the damage to the American people.  If more people die, he doesn't care.

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Once Joe Biden is inaugurated, Congress must revise the Presidential Transition Act.  This cannot be permitted to happen again.