We have lost the ability to sort through disinformation and determine what is true. We have allowed a drum beat of lies to make us an angry people and lose our optimism. And now, we are teetering on a tight rope between maintaining freedoms versus reaching for the illusionary protections of an authoritarian rule.… Read the rest
Category: Defending democracy
There has to be consequences
The January 6th committee presented a mountain of evidence that Donald Trump orchestrated having his followers come to DC and then riled them up to march on the capitol, seize the building, and disrupt the vote to prevent Biden from becoming president. … Read the rest
A Dangerous Man: Donald Trump’s Attempt to Overturn the Election
The Assault on our Democracy
Since his election four years ago, Donald Trump has taken repeated actions that undermine our democracy. When Congress has not supported his policies, he has turned to using executive orders to get around this intended check on presidential power.… Read the rest
Trump Couldn’t Just Go Quietly
Trump Lost
Donald Trump lost the election. The final Electoral College vote will likely be 306 for Biden and 232 for Trump. That is the same number of electoral votes Trump beat Clinton by in 2016 (270towin). In contrast Biden leads Trump by 2.9 percent in the popular vote. … Read the rest
The Ever Morphing “Defense” of Donald Trump
From Perfect to Flawed
It started with the claim that Trump had done nothing wrong and that, as he puts it, the call with the Ukraine president was “perfect”. After the white house released their version of what transpired on the call (often referred to as a transcript), it was clear the call was not “perfect”. … Read the rest
The “I Did It, Get Over It” Defense?
It should not be surprising that the President held up aid to the Ukraine in exchange for an investigation of his political rival. Trump has repeatedly told us he is a great deal maker. Making trades is how he operates. However, when combined with his lack of moral fiber and disregard for the Constitution, his wheeling and dealing creates a perfect storm for the abuse of power we have been witnessing for the past three years.… Read the rest
The Rocky Road of Impeachment
The Case for Impeachment
The impeachment case against Trump is very clear. He should be impeached for using American military aid as a bargaining chip to get a foreign government to go after his rival. It is using the power of the presidency for personal gain. … Read the rest
Two-faced
Donald Trump has repeated lied to the American people about his cooperation with the Russia investigation. He said he was cooperating but behind the scenes he was working hard at trying to undermine and kill it.
The Law
Cornell Law school has the following definition of obstruction of justice on their website [Cornell Law} (I added the bold):
We all should read the Mueller Report: Vol I Russian Coordination?
Rather than relying on the interpretations of others, we all should read the Mueller Report for ourselves. NPR has provided a copy of the full redacted report online as have many others. It is quite a read and frankly loses some of its power when summarized by others.… Read the rest
KING OF THE SWAMP III
Self-appointed King
Donald Trump has not drained the so-called “swamp” but rather he has cultivated it and made himself king. Trump has surrounded himself with shady characters in his cabinet (e.g. Scott Pruit who headed the EPA and is being investigated for the misuse of taxpayer funds) as well as outright crooks (e.g.… Read the rest