— from David Kobrin —
During the years Donald Trump has been President I’ve come to accept he means what he says. When he wants something, he often finds a way, even when it defies tradition and precedent.
In his 2016 campaign, for instance, Mr. Trump pledged to build a border wall. Mexico refused to pay. Then Congress, whose Constitutional responsibility it is to control the purse, refused to pay. President Trump declared a “national emergency,” transferred funds designated by Congress for the military, and used those funds for the wall.
The President has said that Article II of the Constitution grants him the authority to do what he believes needs to be done. He has regularly “fired” those who have disagreed with him, or questioned his decisions. Generals, colonels, ambassadors, lawyers, an attorney general, public scientists, all have been bad mouthed by the president, and/or removed from their positions.
Because he has shown himself true to his word, even in the face of obstacles, I fear for the validity of the 2020 Presidential election.
After the 2016 election Mr. Trump said there were 3 million illegal voters in California — even though investigations by local election officials, whether Republican, Democratic, or Independent, have shown this charge unfounded.
What if the official results in November, 2020 showed Mr. Trump had been defeated by his opponent?
Would the President step down and peacefully hand over power?
Or would he declare the election invalid, a fraud? And, therefore, say he is not bound by the results?
As an historian I know that would be the first time in our history that a presidential candidate refused to abide by the legally binding results (even, once, when it was a negotiated compromise).
What would breaking that historical precedent — if it happened — mean for the future of elections in America?
As someone whose parents lived in Nazi Germany, I have a childhood filled with their stories of how, little by little they lost their government to a madman. I am glad they are dead, rather than see what is happening now. Democracy is a fragile form of government, depending on fellow citizens and their elected officials doing the right thing. I have days when I am sick with fear that Trump will declare martial law and refuse to leave office. Unless he loses by an overwhelming margin, I believe he will declare the election to be a fraud, and his minions will ecstatically follow his lead. And depending on the vote of young people is no guarantee—I recently saw a disheartening interview with a series of college students, many of whom supported Trump because of how the economy is doing. They saw nothing wrong in trading their morals for a good stock market. I have no answers, only a simmering dread. I have come to see the Republicans in Congress as traitors. I have voted for some Republicans in the past, but I do not recognize this party.
“They saw nothing wrong in trading their morals for a good stock market.”
Well said. It’s enough to make a man want to move to a small island.
Sorry. This small island isn’t enough protection. Canadian Gulf Islands maybe?
Even if our local politics grants unethical power to bullies and their political cronies it does not mean corruption will prevail in Washington
..er, D.C. that is.
All along, non-partisan professionals have stood up to MrT who has used his privilege to field a team of unqualified ‘acting’ cronies as his only other option.
But this is ok.
For how else will we have a clear choice about -what we are about?
This is called “democracy” which is not a system of laws as much as an ethical way of doing things. It is to our own discredit that we are tempted to believe charlatans, because it shows that WE have created a local reality where this might -conceivably- seem real!
The problem with retreating to an island is that it leaves us no excuse when we continue to believe in the Bogeyman. Deal.
or to quote POGO:
We have met the enemy,
..and he is us!