Trump, the Genius, 2017
Where To Now?
So, the impeachment process has been concluded in the House and now we move to the Senate for the trial. This is history in the making–only the third time in American history we have had such a clown circus roll through Washington, D.C.
Where will it go? Will our Senators cowgirl up and put the country and our democratic institutions before party? Or will they simply cower and fold before their very vocal base (a minority of us Americans, by the way)?
Unfortunately, methinks the latter most likely.
Given how this man has conducted himself in office, the brazenness of his lies, all that came out during the House impeachment hearings, and all the insanity he spews forth on a daily basis from his twitter fingers (spelling and grammar faults included at no extra charge!), you’d have to be willfully deaf, dumb, and blind to think Donald J. Trump has any business at all being President of this country.
Yes, the greatest threat to the long term survival of our country squats right there in the Oval Office chugging Big Macs.
Remember all that “separation of powers”, “limited government”, and “checks and balances” stuff you learned in Mr. Zito’s government class way back in high school? All bullshit, apparently. Pure Founding Father bullshit.
Three Key Constitutional Principles
Well, actually, there are a few more principles, but here is a review of three that have been seriously abused and contused during the Trump Twitter Presidency:
Separation Of Powers – This means that the branches of the federal government have separate powers that either make, enforce, or interpret the laws (Congress, Executive, Judiciary, resp[ectively). The idea is to make it difficult for one branch to become too powerful or to take control of any other branch.
Limited Government – This means that everyone is bound by the US Constitution and that no one branch of government will ever have too much power.
Checks And Balances – This means that other branches can perform controls or “checks” on other branches. The Executive (Prez) can refuse to sign a bill into law, for example… or the Judiciary (Supreme Court) can declare a law unconsitutional.
Re-read those definitions. As far as I can see, all three are hanging by a shreaded thread, thanks to our heavy orange lurch toward authoritarianism.
Yep, we are voluntarily giving away our democracy to a “savior.” In South America they call these kinds of I-have-all-the-answers-and only-I-can-save-you politicians “caudillos“, but you might be more familiar with the Italian or German terms: Il Duce and Der Führer.
At least there is a positive side to this. When we eventually have a non-Trumplican as President (one can hope!), and opponents throw out objections about her heavy-handed policies, her lies, her lack of any strategic planning on any issue, or any other unseemly behavior (like wearing a brown pants suit), I can simply laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh… Then reply: “Sorry, but the precedent has already been set by your boy Donald, so your complaint carries absolutely no weight.”
A Letter To The Senate
To honor this historic occasion, this is what I am sending to the 53 Republican and the two Independent Senators (including my old Del Río cycling buddy, Martha McSally, R-AZ):
[Update: Emails sent to all R and I Senators on January 18, 2020]
Dear Honorable Senator Fill-in-the-Blank,
You obviously have a very privileged front row seat for all the goings-on at Capitol Hill and across the Mall at the White House. Better than the general public, you surely know exactly what kind of a man Donald J. Trump is. And you surely understand exactly what kind of a President he has become.
Yes, your continued public support of President Trump–and covering for his constant lies, mistakes and general incompetence–will certainly win you points with his base as well as a few more conservative judges… and it might even get you re-elected.
But, I ask, at what cost to the democratic institutions of this country? At what cost to the political and moral leadership of the United States of America in the world at large?
So, here is my request:
1) I respectfully ask that you honestly honor your oath during this impeachment trial and act as a truly impartial juror.
2) I ask that you call relevant witnesses (starting with John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney, at a minimum).
3) I ask that you honestly search for the truth.
4) I ask that your rhetoric and behavior in the chamber reflect that honest search for the truth.
5) Lastly, I ask that you not base your final vote on the most recent polls in your state, but rather that you vote your innermost conscience–that is, what is in your heart of hearts if you were to really listen and be honest with yourself. Yes, even if it costs you your job.
As a career military officer, I also was asked to raise my hand and take an oath to defend the Constitution–the exact same oath you took when you assumed office. Note that neither you nor I were asked to defend a particular person, a particular political party, or any particular President of the United States. Instead, we swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” I took that oath seriously and served honorably.
I simply ask that you do the same.
Sincerely,
LtCol Daniel R. Joder, USAF, Ret
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