* Erik’s Editorial: The Guilty Parties Who Put American Democracy At Risk In The Name Of Donald Trump

US White House upside down (public domain).

I do not fault stupid people for making the stupid decision to elect Donald Trump in 2016.

I do fault smart people for making stupid decisions. These include:

1. Senators who voted to acquit Donald Trump in his no-witnesses-allowed impeachment trial, including primarily Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell:

* Impeachment of Donald Trump (2020-02-05)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Donald_Trump#Acquittal

* Mitch McConnell (2020-02-05)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell#Impeachment_trial

2. Members of the GOP who voted to disenfranchise voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – before, during, and AFTER the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol – including Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jody Hice (R–GA-10), Mo Brooks (R–AL-05), Scott Perry (R–PA-10), Josh Hawley (R–MO), and Louie Gohmert (R–TX-01).

* 2021 Storming Of The United States Capitol (2021-01-06)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol

* 2020 United States Presidential Election Electoral College Count (2021-01-06 – 2021-01-07)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election_Electoral_College_count

3. Donald Trump’s cabinet, who could have invoked the 25th Amendment to remove POTUS at any time:

* Cabinet Of Donald Trump (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Donald_Trump

4. Social media, including especially Facebook and Twitter, for allowing their social networks to be used as platforms for hate speech.

* Donald Trump On Social Media (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_on_social_media#2021

5. Mainstream media, including especially CNN (on the left) and Fox News (on the right) for not doing their jobs – asking questions until they get answers – and allowing POTUS to lie unchecked.

* Veracity Of Statements By Donald Trump (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veracity_of_statements_by_Donald_Trump

6. Lawmakers at all levels, for failing to fix bad laws and for failing to enact good laws. Changes that must be made going forward include:

Limiting POTUS power:

  • Executive order power must be limited.
  • All cabinet members (acting/interim/actual) must be confirmed by Senate.
  • Treaties and tariffs must be the role of Congress so that POTUS cannot engage in trade wars.
  • War Powers Act must be updated to limit POTUS power to deploy the military.
  • Special Counsel Act must be updated to make clear that POTUS cannot fire special counsel.

Writing better and new laws:

  • Impeachment Act of 2021, to define how impeachment is conducted, including the requirement to have witnesses.
  • Follow the lead of The Restatements Of The Law project (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restatements_of_the_Law) and codify major SCOTUS cases, including especially Roe v. Wade.
  • Fix the Census.
  • Fix immigration.
  • Fix SCOTUS processes, such as limiting appointments to 2 per POTUS with the number of SCOTUS justices fixed at the number of Federal Circuits (currently 13).
  • Election reform, including who is qualified to run for POTUS and that tax forms must be disclosed to do so.

Just to name a few.

Stupid people, bad laws, and lies got us into this mess.

Smart people, good laws, and the truth can get us out of this mess.

LAW >> MAN.

#FailedPols
https://www.failblog.com/

Trump Tweets: Squad “Free to Leave”

Donald Trump seized the opportunity to take to his preferred presidential platform on Sunday to address the American people, tweeting comments full of racist language that appeared to be aimed at the four progressive Democrat congresswomen of color who have come to be called “The Squad.” 

“…So interesting to see ‘progressive’ Democrat congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in New York, responded, “The country I ‘come from,’ and the country we all swear to, is the United States.”

Ayanna Pressley (MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Ilhan Omar (MN), House freshmen collectively known as “The Squad,” have had a well-publicized clash with Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as over Pelosi’s reluctance to pursue impeachment proceedings against Trump. Trump, who has repeatedly insulted and denigrated Pelosi, used the clash as an opportunity to lambaste the four women, despite the fact that it meant momentarily siding with Pelosi. 

Citing Ocasio Cortez’ statement that Pelosi was being disrespectful in “explicitly singling out newly-elected women of color” for criticism, Trump said of Pelosi, “She is not a racist.”

Trump, who continually and consistently shows disrespect for any number of people, including Pelosi, said, “I think Cortez is being very disrespectful to someone who’s been there a long time (Pelosi).”  

Pelosi’s response to Trump’s remarks was that the president had demonstrated that his plan to “Make America Great Again” had always been, essentially, to “make America white again.”

Ocasio-Cortez further responded to Trump’s remarks: “You are angry because you don’t believe in an America where I represent New York 14, where the good people of Minnesota elected (Omar), where (Tlaib) fights for Michigan families, where (Pressley) champions little girls in Boston.

“You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us. You rely on a frightened America for your plunder.”

On Monday, Trump continued his Twitter campaign against The Squad, seizing on some of the trigger phrases for his base, including stating that the women “hate America,” and that they should “apologize to Israel.” Trump did, however, move from  his previous proclamation that “They can go back to where they came from” to “They’re free to leave.”

Incidentally, only one of the “Squad,” Ilhan Omar, “came from” another country. Omar, who was born in Somalia and spent time in a refugee camp, emigrated to the U.S. at age 12, and is a U.S. citizen. Several reporters have reminded readers that Trump, along with The Squad (and most of us), has an immigrant heritage, as well.

Trump Says Ocasio-Cortez Is Being Very Disrespectful to Pelosi | Bloomberg [2019-07-12]

Trump defends Pelosi amid feud with Ocasio-Cortez |
Fox News [2019-07-12]