* 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/

Democrats Seek Kavanaugh’s Impeachment Following New Reporting

Democrats are now seeking impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed in 2018 despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. On Sunday, Democrats called for a new investigation following a recent New York Times piece by journalists Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly, who have been examining last year’s accusations against Kavanaugh while doing research for their forthcoming book, The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation. 

In addition to Christine Blasey Ford, who testified that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her during high school, Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, also accused Kavanaugh in 2018 of sexual assault. Ramirez alleged that while both were students at Yale, Kavanaugh exposed himself to her, and forced her to touch his penis as she tried to avoid him.

Ramirez did not testify in 2018, and even though she and her attorneys presented the FBI with 25 witnesses, the Justice Department did not follow up with any of them.

In 2018, Kavanaugh denied Ramirez’ allegation, saying that if it had taken place, it would have been the talk of the campus. Evidently, though, it was. 

Though Kavanaugh’s supporters claimed Ramirez’ accusation was uncorroborated, the New York Times reported: 

“At least seven people, including Ms. Ramirez’s mother, heard about the Yale incident long before Mr. Kavanaugh was a federal judge. Two of those people were classmates who learned of it just days after the party occurred, suggesting that it was discussed among students at the time.”

During their investigation, the two Times journalists detailed additional corroborations of Ramirez’ allegations, as well as turning up a witness with an additional allegation that is nearly identical to that of Ramirez.

According to the Times journalists, “A classmate (of Kavanaugh, Ramirez, and the newly revealed additional victim), Max Stier, saw Mr. Kavanaugh with his pants down at a different drunken dorm party, where friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. Mr. Stier, who runs a nonprofit organization in Washington, notified senators and the F.B.I. about this account, but the F.B.I. did not investigate and Mr. Stier has declined to discuss it publicly.” 

It should be noted that friends of this alleged victim say she does not remember the incident. Stier and others concede that that is often the case with events that take place when one is drunk. 

The Times journalists continue, “(We corroborated the story with two officials who have communicated with Mr. Stier.)”

Donald Trump continues to support Kavanaugh while blasting those calling for a new investigation: “Now the Radical Left Democrats and their Partner, the LameStream Media, are after Brett Kavanaugh again, talking loudly of their favorite word, impeachment,” Trump tweeted. “He is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY. Such lies about him. They want to scare him into turning Liberal!”

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted, “Last year the Kavanaugh nomination was rammed through the Senate without a thorough examination of the allegations against him. Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing. Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached.”

Beto O’Rourke tweeted, “Yesterday, we learned of another accusation against Brett Kavanaugh—one we didn’t find out about before he was confirmed because the Senate forced the F.B.I. to rush its investigation to save his nomination. We know he lied under oath. He should be impeached.”

Multiple other Democrats have tweeted their support of impeachment for Kavanaugh. Though they must surely realize that the chances of impeaching Kavanaugh are slim to none, perhaps going on record in support of impeachment is enough of a message.

NYT reveals new Kavanaugh assault allegation | Newsy [09-15-2019]

Trump rips new claim against Kavanaugh | Fox News [2019-09-15]