Opinion – Page 6

Dems Take Trump Acquittal To Court Of Appeals … The American People

February 7, 2020 By John DeProspo 6 Comments

Now that the United States Senate has voted to keep our lawless president in office; now that the courts have shown a reluctance to interfere in what they see as political disputes … it is up to the American people to render the ultimate verdict by voting Trump out of office in November.

But even though a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump, such a simple and obvious strategy runs up against three obstacles.

First, will the Democrats nominate a strong candidate that can send Trump packing? For a while, it appeared they had such a candidate … Joe Biden. But after a poor fourth-place showing in Iowa, the Biden-as-the-Democratic-savior narrative is starting to fray. While many Democrats have a favorable opinion of the former VP, they wonder if he has the stuff to go head-to-head against perhaps the most vicious, hit-below-the-belt politician of all-time, Donald J. Trump. Many seem to have concluded that, at the age of 77, Biden simply does not have the fire in the belly to get the job done. While the fiery septuagenerian Bernie Sanders seems to have the momentum that can carry him to the nomination, many moderate Democrats worry he is too radical (god forbid, a democratic socialist who believes health care is a basic human right!) to win a national election.

Second, do most Americans even know what’s at stake in the upcoming election? Do they understand the Constitutional framework of three co-equal branches of government? Do they understand the Framers’ wise insistence on checks and balances between those three branches? Do they understand that our very democracy and the rule of law is on the line in 2020; that with Trump we are well on the road to an imperial presidency? It is hard to answer in the affirmative on any of these questions when 61% of all Americans cannot even name the three branches of government!

Third, and most important, can we rely on a free and fair election? Now that Trump has been given a pass on trying to extort a foreign government into meddling in our 2020 election, does anyone, other than Susan Collins, believe Trump has learned his lesson and will stop trying to cheat his way into office … again? Can we have any faith in a Department of Justice, run by Trump’s flunky, Willian Barr, to safeguard the integrity of our electoral system? Can the American people have any confidence in the election outcome, no matter which way it goes?

We keep hearing that this next election is the most important in our lifetime. It’s become an election-year cliché. But 2020 truly is the election which will determine whether or not our Constitution still matters … whether the rule of law still matters … and whether we, as a nation, will continue to strive towards that noble, yet elusive, goal of a more perfect union based on equal justice under the law.

Photo | voteosceola.com

Mitch McConnell – The Master Of Obstruction

February 2, 2020 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

In a perverse way, you’ve got to hand it to Old Mitch. He is the Leonardo Da Vinci of Gridlock. Has any other Senate Majority Leader done more to make sure nothing gets done?

McConnell’s skillful navigation of the choppy waters during Trump’s impeachment “trial” is just the latest coup for the man who proudly calls himself the” Grim Reaper.”

We should have known he’d be the High Priest of Hindrance the moment he announced that making Barack Obama a one-term president was his number one priority. Republicans were not going to cooperate with Obama’s legislative agenda, no way, no how. True to his word, it didn’t matter if Obama proposed ideas previously championed by Republicans, the President had to be stopped at every turn.

When it came to approving Obama’s nominees for federal judgeships, McConnell slowed the Senate confirmation process to a crawl. But it was Mitch’s blockade of Judge Merrick Garland from filling the Supreme Court seat vacated by Antonin Scalia that many are labeling his greatest moment of obstruction.

Mitch even boasted about it.

“One of my proudest moments was when I looked at Barack Obama in the eye and I said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill this Supreme Court vacancy,’” McConnell said in 2016 to cheers at an annual Fancy Farm Picnic.

No other Leader of the Senate would even dream of attempting what Old Mitch pulled off. He’s a veritable Rembrandt of Resistance!

And now McConnell’s masterful blocking of witnesses during Trump’s impeachment “trial” may rival his Merrick Garland feat. It’s certainly as consequential, if not more.

Mitch McConnell, the five-term senator from Kentucky will no doubt go down in history as the greatest obstructionist leader of the Senate … and the man who may have singlehandedly killed the rule of law, the Constitution and American democracy.

Now that’s some legacy for the virtuoso stonewaller!

Photo | businessinsider.com

Please, Let’s Stop Calling What’s Taking Place In The Senate A Trial

January 23, 2020 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

As we are all transfixed on the spectacle taking place in the Senate, let us not dignify it by calling it a trial.

The Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to try a case of impeachment. In other words, to hold a trial.

A trial by its very definition is a formal examination of evidence before a judge; an exercise in seeking the truth. The basic structure normally follows this pattern:

Opening statements
Witness testimony and cross examination
Closing arguments
Jury deliberation and verdict

What’s taking place in the Senate is not a trial but a partisan, and some might add, unconstitutional, impeachment process. Senate Republicans voted down every effort by the Democrats to call witnesses (and produce documents, for that matter).

As many have observed, a trial without witnesses is a sham; a coverup.

Oh yes, but aren’t they just following the Clinton impeachment model you ask?

Yes and no.

Yes, in the Clinton impeachment there was unanimous agreement among senators to vote on the need for witnesses after the trial concluded. But key witnesses had already given sworn testimony before the trial. The idea of not calling live witnesses during Clinton’s trial was mainly due to the salacious nature of the facts which gave rise to Clinton’s perjury.

But in Trump’s case, there is nothing indecent about any potential witness testimony … just plain old-fashioned abuse of power and obstruction.

House manager Adam Schiff put the difference between Trump and Clinton this way:

“If we’re really serious about modeling this proceeding after the Clinton trial, the Clinton precedent is one where all the documents had been provided, up front, where all the witnesses had testified, up front, prior to the trial. That is not being replicated by the McConnell resolution — not in any way, not in any shape, not in any form, far from it.

What the Senate is doing is flipping the meaning of “trial” on its head… conclude the presentation and then vote on whether witnesses and documents are necessary!

Look for Republican senators to vote down the need for witnesses at the end of the trial and for either a motion to dismiss or a quick vote leading to acquittal.

So, let’s just call what’s happening in the Senate what it is … a “presentation” by a group of Democrats seeking to uphold the Constitution and a group of Republicans willing to undermine our constitutional democracy.

Photo | nypost.com

Whether Bolton Testifies Or Not Really Doesn’t Matter

January 17, 2020 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

The Senate impeachment trial of Donald John Trump is scheduled to start next Tuesday under a cloud of uncertainty … will it be a real trial or a sham? Will there be witnesses? Will documents be produced?

Much is being made about the possibe testimony of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor. Will he or won’t he testify? If he does, will he testify truthfully?

While it is still possible that NO witnesses will be called at Trump’s trial, a few Republican senators have expressed an interest in hearing from Bolton. Most notable among the reasonably-sounding senators is Utah’s Mitt Romney.

After Romney stated that he would be open to hearing from witnesses, in general, he was asked specifically if that included Bolton.

“Including John Bolton, yes,” said Romney. “He’s someone who I would like to hear from, and presumably I get the chance to vote for that.”

This intrigue over Bolton’s testimony is grossly puffed up, however.

It won’t matter one way or another!

Even if Bolton testifies he knew about Trump’s attempted shakedown of Ukrainian President Zelensky and tried to warn him against it, it will not sway enough Republican senators (67) to break ranks and vote to oust Trump.

Even if Bolton testifies he knew it was an illegal act, one that threatened our national security, Trump will be acquitted.

The “trial” is fixed and the outcome certain. Remember, Trump is the guy who boasted he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose support. It turns out he wasn’t just talking about voters but also Republican politicians. Trump has made it abundantly clear over the past three years he is less of a president and more of a cult leader.

Oh yes, there may be a few Republicans who put country ahead of party but not enough to remove Trump from office.

The best Democrats can hope for is that Trump will be weakened and thrown out of office by the voters in November … and that all those vulnerable, spineless Republican senators up for reelection are similarly shown the door.

Photo | france24.com

Has The Eventual Democratic Presidential Nominee Even Entered the Race Yet?

December 31, 2019 By John DeProspo 3 Comments

As many Democrats take stock in the current field of presidential hopefuls, there is a growing sense of dread. Filmmaker Michael Moore put it bluntly in a recent interview with “Democracy Now!” predicting Trump will get reelected in 2020.

Most of my friends (well, the Democrats) feel anxious about the upcoming presidential election. There is little excitement, let alone agreement, over the current cast of players.

We have:

A candidate who is intelligent, well-spoken and ideologically “safe,” but who’s only 37 years old and has never been elected to statewide office (Pete Buttigieg);
A candidate with lots of political experience, perhaps lacking energy, who is also ideologically “safe,” but at 76 years old may have outlived his political shelf life (Joe Biden);
Two candidates with plenty of political experience, vigor and clear appeal, but who are far more liberal than most past nominees (Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — also, Sanders is 78 years old).

“If only Obama could run again,” I hear my friends sigh. But the 22^nd amendment to the Constitution took care of that!

But wait, an Obama can run for president … Michelle!

A growing number of Democrats, including Michael Moore, have begged Michelle Obama to run for president but the former First Lady has repeatedly closed the door on any type of political future.

And yet it does not escape many big Democratic donors that Barack Obama’s wife is the most admired woman in the country, according to Gallup polls. Meanwhile, a survey from YouGov revealed that she is the most admired woman in the world, displacing actress Angelina Jolie and even the United Kingdom’s monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

OK, Michelle changing her mind and throwing her hat into the ring is as likely as Trump developing a moral compass. Yet it’s an interesting prospect and a wonderful dream nevertheless.

But wait again, Michelle Obama running for president may not be as farfetched as you might think. Tucker Carlson, that soothsayer of Fox News, remains positive Michelle will be the official nominee of the Democratic Party!

“Now, last week, the former first lady issued a statement saying that she has no interest in being president. That’s what she claimed. But there are signs that that’s not true,” Carlson said on his show.

Here’s my prediction for 2020… some new, excitement-inducing Democrat will enter the presidential race and become the party’s nominee, making it all the way to the White House or we will have President Elizabeth Warren!

Happy New Year!

Photo | wired.com

Trump And The Will Of The People

December 19, 2019 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

If you watched any of the House impeachment hearings, you undoubtedly heard this popular Republican talking point … the Democrats, through their hatred of Donald Trump, were trying to undo the “will of the people.” Of course, that argument is total nonsense as the “will of the people” was to elect Hillary Clinton president.

Donald Trump was only able to secure the presidency through the arcane system of the electoral college. As far as “the people” were concerned, they voted for Clinton over Trump by nearly 3 million votes.

The House of Representatives is often described as “The People’s House.” And yesterday the House voted out two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump. One for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of Congress.

Yes, the people, through their elected representatives, voted to indict the man who has so debased, and continues to debase, the Oval Office. This is the true “will of the people.” The action now moves to the Senate for the trial of Donald J. Trump.

Democrats regained control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections for many reasons. One of the main reasons was to get us to the exact point where we find ourselves today … on the doorstep of removing Trump from office.

The Senate is often referred to as “the world’s greatest deliberative body.” That glowing phrase is now being called into question with Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, having already telegraphed the fix is in.

Speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, McConnell flat out stated there was “zero chance” Trump would be removed from office, and promised “total coordination” with the White House and Trump’s defense team.

“The case is so darn weak coming over from the House,” he said. “We all know how it’s going to end.”

It remains to be seen what type of trial, if any, the Senate will hold. But don’t hold your breath for anything that remotely resembles fairness.

After yesterday’s historic vote in the House, Donald Trump can truthfully say he got more votes than Clinton … well, yes, Bill Clinton.

When the House voted to impeach William Jefferson Clinton on charges of obstruction, the vote was 221-212. Trump outdid Clinton by securing a 229-198 vote on his obstruction charge.

Photo | staradvertiser.com

Democrats Should Embrace, Not Run Away From, “Socialism”

December 8, 2019 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

It has been made abundantly clear by Donald Trump that if he is up for reelection in 2020 (as it appears, in spite of impeachment), he will attack the Democratic nominee as a “socialist.” It won’t matter if it’s a progressive like Sanders or Warren or a moderate like Biden or Buttigieg; the “s” word will be repeatedly flung around like a pizza at your favorite Italian restaurant.

Trump tweeted this not too long ago:

We will never be a Socialist or Communist Country. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, YOU CAN LEAVE! It is your choice, and your choice alone. This is about love for America. Certain people HATE our Country….

All Democratic presidential candidates should welcome the label “socialist” … as long as they get to define it.

Bernie Sanders perhaps did this best when he defined democratic socialism in a recent speech:

Now, we must take the next step forward and guarantee every man, woman and child in our country basic economic rights — the right to quality health care, the right to as much education as one needs to succeed in our society, the right to a good job that pays a living wage, the right to affordable housing, the right to a secure retirement, and the right to live in a clean environment. We must recognize that in the 21st century, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, economic rights are human rights. That is what I mean by democratic socialism.

Who could possibly be opposed to such “socialism?” It is certainly not an intimidating or scary platform. In fact, it is one supported by the vast majority of Democratic voters, and many Republican voters as well.

Democratic candidates need to explain to voters that democratic socialism is not anti-capitalism. It simply wants to reign in the worst excesses of capitalism.

As put forth by Julie Wittes Schlack, writer for wbur.org, “Indeed, what Sanders and Warren are calling for is capitalism with guardrails, and a social safety net to ensure that the people of this country aren’t scrambling on a daily basis for food, shelter and safety.”

So, eventual Democratic presidential nominee, whoever you may be, when Trump hits you with the “socialist” label,” embrace it … explain it…. don’t run away from it.

As Wittes Schlack notes, “The key for Democrats will be to ridicule red-baiting for what it is and offer policies that stress the “social” over the “ism;” to clearly articulate a vision in which the broad social good enables, not opposes, the individual good.”

Photo | aljazeera.com

With No Adults To Keep Him In Check, Trump Commits Another Impeachable Offense

November 15, 2019 By John DeProspo 3 Comments

Today’s second public impeachment hearing featured former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, the career public servant who was unceremoniously dismissed by Donald Trump on May 20,2019.

During the hearing it seemed everyone – Democrats, Republicans and the witness herself – all agreed on one thing … the president has an absolute right to appoint ambassadors. Yet Ambassador Yovanovitch wondered why Trump and his allies had to mount a smear campaign to remove her from her post.

Sure, Trump could have simply recalled Yovanovitch from Ukraine with no reason given and that, most likely, would have been the end of that. But that would have been incompatible with the M.O. of a lifelong bully. No, Trump needed the pleasure of smearing and besmirching the reputation of a fine woman.

Yovanovitch testified she was “shocked and devasted” by Trump’s personal attacks on her and that she was “amazed” corrupt elements in Ukraine had found willing American partners to take her down.

Remaining true to form, Trump attacked her once again today … as she was testifying about his intimidation tactics!

Tweeted Trump:

Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad. She started off in Somalia, how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukraine, where the new Ukrainian President spoke unfavorably about her in my second phone call with him. It is a U.S. President’s absolute right to appoint ambassadors.

House Intelligence Committee chairman, Adam Schiff, decried Trump’s latest attack on Yovanovitch and called it “witness intimidation.” He seemed to imply it was one more nail in the impeachment coffin.

It appears without anyone around to stop his impulsive desire to attack anyone he sees as an enemy, Trump undermined his Republican defenders’ claim that Trump was simply exercising his presidential prerogative in replacing the ambassador.

But why would Trump, in the middle of an impeachment hearing, do such a stupid thing?

The simple answer is the man cannot help himself … just like the scorpion in “The Scorpion and Frog” fable.

Photo | bostonglobe.com

Could Trump’s Health Hold The Key To Exit Strategy?

October 26, 2019 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

Dana Milbank, in today’s Washington Post, writes about various impeachment defenses Donald Trump could employ. One of those dodges is for Trump to simply say, “You can’t impeach me – because I quit.”

The idea of Trump resigning makes a lot of sense. But Trump would never just cut and run. That could make him look like a loser. No, what Trump needs is a good excuse so that such an exit strategy will be viewed as him having no other choice.

Trump can’t do what many politicians do when facing difficult situations. He can’t leave office (or not seek reelection) because he wants to spend more time with his family!

No. The best exit strategy for Trump is to employ the services of a medical professional.

Hear me out. What if Trump says he is going to visit Dr. Harold Bornstein, his personal doctor for over 36 years, for a complete physical examination? What if the doctor “finds” Trump’s three years in office have taken a major toll on his health … that the anxiety caused by the mean-spirited Democrats and their fake impeachment has caused Trump some serious stress-related conditions? What if the good doctor strongly advices Trump to leave office for the sake of his physical and mental wellbeing?

Trump’s children would play a big role in this scenario. Acting the concerned offspring, they could implore their ailing dad to leave office for a more peaceful and tranquil life of full-time golf.

Trump’s base would be very understanding if Trump’s doctor advised him to give up the presidency for the sake of his now shaky health.

Dr. Bornstein would be the perfect doctor to document the serious physical deterioration that has befallen Trump since taking office.

If you remember, Bornstein famously wrote, “”If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,”

Yes, he was a perfect physical specimen when elected but the Democrats and all the other “haters” have so beaten the poor man down that he now has no choice but to heed his doctor’s advice in order to save his life.

Seems too far-fetched? Works for me!

Photo | thedailybanter.com

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