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Edmund Randolph, a participant at the constitutional convention, coined a phrase, “the foetus of monarchy” as the framers debated the issue of a one-person executive. The presidency is the fetus. As the presidency grows, it expands its power until it becomes a kingdom.
The American presidency expanded its powers with each 20th century crisis and earned the sobriquet of “an imperial presidency” meaning the office exercises more power than the Constitution grants. President Trump with his base of support and a co-opted Republican party has gone even further. He thumbs his nose at the power of the other branches, ignores subpoenas, appoints people without Senate confirmation, spends money without legislative authority, enthrones his family and all for self-aggrandizement. If Trump survives re-election, the “foetus” will deliver a monarchy and we will become subjects to King Donald. Expect to see GOP campaign commercials shortly that depict Donald Trump as a man with a quick and steady hand, averting a crisis of failed negotiations led by Nancy Pelosi and her “Democrat-led” comrades.
But, what do Trump’s executive orders accomplish? The extension of an eviction moratorium shields only about 1/3 of those who rent or own a building mortgaged with a federal guarantee. The renewed unemployment benefit shrinks to $400 with the feds contributing only $300 and the states, already reeling from the cost of the pandemic, having to cough up the rest. The payroll tax holiday does not help the unemployed at all and it will hurt Medicare and Social Security which rely in part on this tax for their coffers. There are already millions of unemployed not paying into those pots. A deferral of the tax to those working will reduce the Social Security and Medicare funds even further. Student loan payments are paused through December but of what help is that to a student? They will simply have a delayed but bigger debt. Students need debt forgiveness not deferral. President Trump says these orders, “will take care of pretty much this entire situation, as we know it.” Not so. · There is no $1200 stimulus check people was counting on. · There is no rental assistance. · There is no mortgage relief to prevent defaults and foreclosures. · There is no housing or food assistance. Food banks are overwhelmed; evictions are pushing families into the streets. · There is no assistance to States and local governments which are running out of money. · There is no assistance to schools with already tight budgets which are now mandated to provide PPE, a whole new delivery system of on line instruction, and a mandate to create smaller classrooms when face-to-face. · There is no debt relief or moratorium on debt collection. Trump has recently compared himself to Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln faced his national crisis that divided the country, he sought out dissent, appointed opponents to top cabinet level positions so there would be vigorous debate and was quick to admit a mistake or failure and move quickly to correct it. He did not run from responsibility; he recognized that the “buck stops” at the President’s desk. Lincoln had empathy and understanding for Americans and what they were going through. Our country is crying out for an Abraham Lincoln. We know Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Trump. You are no Abraham Lincoln. The world is asking what has happened to our democracy. Are you? Neither Trump nor his allies have authority to delay an election.
BUT picture this: • a handful of Republican controlled states have widespread protests and invite federal law enforcement into their cities to maintain law and order. And, as in Portland, their presence stirs up big trouble. • tweets fly alleging massive fraud from mail-in ballots. • registrars say the pandemic makes it impossible to staff polling stations and law enforcement officers say they cannot guarantee voters’ safety. • post offices say that mail-in ballot deadlines may not be met. If one governor or one county registrar refuses to carry out his duties, who will stand in? The Department of Justice? Attorney General Barr? Local Attorneys general? Do you expect Trump’s GOP followers to resist when they have abdicated for three years? It is imperative that we guarantee that this election take place. If we fail, our country will be lost. 1) Why is Trump so unwilling to be a role model for the country and simply wear a mask? Is it a macho thing? Is a GOP thing? Seems those state governors who are predominantly male and GOP require masks only to key parts of the community but merely recommend masks to the general public.
2) Why is the Trump White House gassing Portland protesters, shooting non-lethal ammo and firing stun grenades at Portland citizens and throwing them into unmarked vehicles? Why is the Trump Administration parachuting in federal agents when the Governor of Oregon, the Mayor of Portland and local state law enforcement don’t want them there and have told them to leave, complaining that it is the feds who are exacerbating the trouble in Portland? 3) Why does the White House fear TikTok, a social media platform, and allege that it is a threat to national security? Could the White House fear more interference from TikTok as the November election nears? TIkTok did successfully disrupt the Trump rally in Tulsa by registering for seats they had no intention of filling and does promise more hijinks. 4) Why is the GOP and Trump making sure that employees and the public cannot sue employers, businesses, universities and others establishments if they contract Covid 19, at their sites? Is the White House admitting that insufficient safeguards exist and these groups could face expensive lawsuits and bankruptcies? What about the people who incur expense and bankruptcy from contracting Covid 19 at these unsafe establishments? 5) Why is Trump barring Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Redfield from testifying to Congress concerning Covid 19? What threat do either of them pose from answering questions about the pandemic? 6) Why have DACA applications not restarted? It has been more than a month since the Supreme Court ruled the Trump denial of DACA unconstitutional. 7) Why do U.S. soldiers have a $100,000 Russian bounty on their backs in Afghanistan with no effort whatsoever from the Trump White House to stop this egregious Russian assault? 8) Why is the stock market strong while the country weakens more by the day as it faces massive unemployment, closed businesses and a pandemic? 9) Why is the President unwilling to commit to the 2020 election results no matter what they are? Why are so many questions left unanswered? Our Covid war has cost us more persons and money than World War I, Korea and Vietnam combined.
Previous wars required great sacrifice and previous generations stepped up to the call for service to rid us of our enemy. Now we are at war again but we don’t have to wallow in a foxhole or cut through jungles or shoot aircraft or U-boats. All we have to do is NOTHING. Stay home. Wear a mask. Socially distance. Wash. The economy is worse and Covid surges. We have to shut down for weeks except for absolute essentials. The government fills the financial void with dollars to businesses and individuals and everyone sacrifices. No evictions. No foreclosures. We will all be giving up something but never giving in. Instead of whining about closed beaches and indoor dining, use your good old American “know how” to make life tolerable. American ingenuity has always risen in time of crisis. Join the Covid Army. Demand that government shut down. Be as strong and as selfless when facing this enemy as those who served in previous wars. It is the only way to defeat our enemy and it is the American way. We have all experienced betrayal. Perhaps a secret shared that should not have been, or a fellow student who cheated on the exam, or a spouse who cheated on a relationship. Each betrayal breaks down trust and leaves us harmed.
Imagine yourself in such unfamiliar and dangerous territory of Afghanistan, daily exposed to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials, infectious diseases, suicide bombings, and terrorist attacks, believing that all is being done to make sure that you are safe, when, all the while, your country and your government know that you have a bounty on your head and do nothing. There can be no greater betrayal or one that can bring the ultimate harm. I grieve for our men and women in uniform who put their trust in our government believing that our country always has a soldier’s back. And, every day that we accept our government’s silence and its failure to act, we Americans are complicit in this most heinous of betrayals. Its treachery. Do not remain silent. Do something. Demand that your government stop such government disloyalty . Write, call, march, whatever it takes. That is the least we can do for those whose lives are in jeopardy every day that this goes on. Anything less and we are as guilty as the government we have elected to serve us. Joe Biden is not a smooth operator. He is not a showman. At times, he is clumsy with words, inarticulate or stuttering in thought, and unpolished in a debate. However, a president does not have to be a master debater or wordsmith or even a quick wit.
What a President does have to be is sincere instead of suspect, astute instead of flip, empathetic instead of apathetic, heartfelt instead of feigned, sincere instead of spurious, frank instead of furtive, straightforward instead of sly, blunt instead of brash and gentlemanly instead of boorish. Most of all, it is imperative that a president be well informed, knowledgeable, and discerning instead of unprepared, unaware and uninterested. What will you get with Trump and what will you get with Biden? Who will choose the best team to get the job done? Think before you vote in November. Our health, our economy, our democracy, our allies, and our world is counting on you to make the right choice. He could have been a hero. He could have won his election with nary an unkind word for his opponent.
Had he embraced the earliest warnings he received from the scientific community, he could have saved lives, stemmed the unraveling of the economy and shepherded our country through this crisis. People would have forgiven much that went before and forgotten the rest if they were delivered from the pandemic. Americans are tough. Tell us the truth; we can handle it. Americans are resourceful. Tell us what you need; we will provide it. Americans are united. We are no longer Texans or Minnesotans, Democrats or Republicans; we are Americans. He could have been a hero. Exhibit compassion with empathy and caring for lost loved ones. Show humility. Seek advice from the experts. Exhibit grace. Listen, don’t bash. Display courage. Challenge those who dismiss the situation. Evince patience. Don’t walk away because of a difficult path. Demonstrate leadership. Use the power of the office. Order protective gear and test kits. Set up a national testing and tracking system quickly. Get the job done. That’s what an American hero would do. That is the American way. Beware of protesters with guns. While the current issue for those in Michigan wearing bullet proof vests and “carrying” is sheltering in place, their tactic of armed protest may be a harbinger of actions to come should Trump lose the November election.
We need to prepare for the possibility that, if Trump loses, he will declare the November election a “fake” and a “fraud” and call upon his supporters to rise up against what he would characterize as a coup to force him out of office. One of the mainstays of our constitutional republic is a peaceful transition of power. Can we still rely on that? What would we do if there was a challenge to that process? What can we do? Who would do it? We need to consider this possibility and be ready with answers. Republicans have given Trump his way on
Trump is killing Americans with his ignorance and apathy toward these essential steps and the Republican Party in the Senate is abetting him in his willful disregard for human life. Failure to provide PPE, testing and tracing is a death sentence for heaven knows how many people. The Republican Senate knows this but, apparently, values the politics of the issue more than the human life at stake. They could fund this tomorrow, write into the legislation the establishment of an implementation task force and override any veto, with full Democratic support, forcing the Executive branch to get off its duff and do the right thing. This unwillingness to challenge and override Trump needs to be a death sentence for the Republican party. They no longer serve the interests of the people of this country. |
