Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Pardoning, Impeaching, and Process

Apparently, Rudy and Don have decided that being President puts one above the law.

Trump's more reprehensible than Nixon.  Nixon knew he was a crook; the newly transcribed Haldeman conversations have him acknowledging his culpability and eventual resignation 18 months before it all crumbled around him.  He'd already paid hush money, tried to involve the CIA in quashing the investigation, and committed several other crimes and misdemeanors.

Trump's done all that and more, yet he wonders why he would have to pardon himself since he's done nothing wrong.  It's a partisan witch hunt determined to find what is not there.  He's an innocent, persecuted because he's not politically correct.

The saddest part is that the man believes it's true.

There's a lot of pressure on our process right now.  Obvious breaches of protocol - Nunes sharing information with the White House and the DOJ providing information about an on-going investigation to the person being investigated are just the first two that come to mind - are nibbles around the edges of our democracy.  It's an old democracy, a big and diverse democracy, and it's understandable that changes over time would stress the fabric.

But there are so many layers, so many stressors, so much division that I worry, for the first time, about the stability of our form of government.

I don't believe the Russian efforts to subvert our electoral process have abated, yet we have done nothing to protect the integrity of the November, 2018 elections, just six short months away.

Lapses and firings and clearance issues, revelations of secrets and meetings with dictators, golf vacations and decision making in public - any two or six of them would have brought down any other administration.

Is it dislike of Mike Pence?  Is it fear of political backlash?  Is it lack of moral fiber?  Is it that no one cares?

I need to read more history.  I want to find out if our nation has been so riven before, and what was done to right the ship.  I thought that Vietnam was tearing at the moral center of our nation but I never worried that we might not be all right at the end.  I'm a lot more worried right now.

8 comments:

  1. I am not sure the democracy will survive. He has unleashed the hordes of racists and women haters. Unabashed pedophiles (!) are running for office. If the Democrats don't take back one branch of Congress in the mid-terms I fear we're done for. His use of propaganda is impressive, he must have an excellent Soviet handler. It's a good time to be old.

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    1. I have to believe in our democracy - I have grandchildren.
      I've said the same thing to my kids - I've never been so glad to be so old.
      a/b

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  2. I always cringe when I hear a politician say, "That's not who we are." Evidently, it's who a lot of "us" are. Just makes me so sad. Also saddened by the memory I have of being awake and watching as Robert Kennedy spoke to his supporters and then the horrible event unfold fifty years ago.

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    1. The validation of hate speech is the worst part of his presidency. The Kennedy's were not flawless, but they were not haters.
      a/b

      Delete
  3. I really cannot understand why the Republicans in power are so set on protecting him. His true base ins a minority and he did not win the popular vote. If it is fear of Pence, I will give them some credit, but not much.

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    1. I fear Pence, too, and not just for social justice issues. I remember the Indianapolis newspaper headline of FIX THIS when Pence's hateful policies drove the NCAA and the Super Bowl and and and to reconsider Indiana as an acceptable venue.

      We must show them that they will be out on their asses if they continue to cater to that portion of the electorate. We need to register and get out the vote. It can be done, but only if, as Rain says below, we get out of our bubbles and find the areas of overlap and reason.
      a/b

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  4. where you get your news determines how you see this. Most Americans are in bubbles and hearing anything divergent has them turning it off-- or flying into a rage or deep funk. Both sides do this.

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    1. Yes, sadly, our bubbles reinforce our biases.
      a/b

      Delete

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