“he who saves his country does not violate any law”
Donald Trump
His wildly inaccurate remark, “I have an Article II where I have the right to do whatever I want as president,” and embracing the label of “king” epitomizes Donald Trump’s exaggerated and narcissistic ego and disrespect for the Constitution!
Trump’s election victory was driven by voters influenced by his enflamed fears of undocumented immigrants and promises to roll back inflation “on day one.” Contrary to his boasts, Trump had no overwhelming mandate; receiving less than 50% of the popular vote and a mere 32% support of all eligible voters!
As for “saving” America, Trump and unelected and unconfirmed mega-donor Elon Musk are on a course to destroy our, admittedly imperfect, 234 experiment representative democracy which has provided generations of Americans more freedoms, equality, medical and technological advancements and social, economic and other opportunities than any other nation in history!
Emboldened by the Supreme Court’s reckless presidential immunity decision (for which there is no textualist or originalist Constitutional basis), he and his DOGE Duo collaborator, Musk, are dismantling agency after agency and firing thousands of government employees (many who possibly voted for him) without providing any evidence of any material waste or fraud.
When some of their actions run afoul of the Constitution or U.S. laws, the Courts have justifiably stepped in to halt such actions. Dangerously, Vice President Vance and Musk have angrily suggested, “judges don’t have jurisdiction over President Donald Trump’s “legitimate power.” Apparently, they’ve forgotten the Judiciary is a co-equal branch of our government and the Court’s 1803 Marbury v Madison decision establishing the principle of judicial review, integral to the Constitution’s system of the checks and balances.
Attempting to govern through Executive Orders (another term found nowhere in the Constitution), originally intended to provide procedural guidance to Executive Branch departments, Trump is trying to unilaterally circumvent Congress’ legislative power and to attempt to nullify laws he doesn’t like; despite Article II, Section 3’s requirement the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”
Granted, some waste and fraud does exist within the government, but the DOGE Duo’s scorched earth policy has nothing to do with rationally identifying and correcting such problems. Rather, it is a quick means to slash government spending without regard retaining knowledgeable and productive workers or the consequences such cuts have on affected individuals, both here and abroad.
Summarily firing thousands of government workers with brusque emails irresponsibly stating their termination was “based on your performance“, claims unsupported by those worker’s performance reviews or supervisor’s comments, could negatively impact their ability to file for unemployment benefits or find future employment.
Musk’s allegation his shadow team has reviewed some 100,000 government contracts and uncovered billions in waste and fraud since the inauguration is simply not credible nor are his wildly-overstated claims of uncovering billions in waste and fraud.
Censoring references to medical, scientific, LGBTQ and other concepts Trump dislikes across most government websites is underway. Taking a page from Putin’s, Xi’s and Obran’s playbooks, dictating who will participate in the press pool coverages of the president, legal assaults on the mainstream media he dislikes, and blackballing the AP over its continued use of the “Gulf of Mexico”, are dangerous first steps toward reigning in America’s cherished free speech and independent press.
Cowardly Congressional Republicans are doing little to reclaim the Legislature’s co-equal role in governing other than confirming a gaggle of highly-partisan and unqualified nominees to Cabinet and other senior level positions of power; in some cases, politicizing historically non-partisan functions of government, most notably in the Justice and Defense Departments.
Meanwhile, food, energy and housing inflation has not been rolled back or even slowed, the social and economic impacts of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants in food-growing/processing, construction and hospitality industries or splitting-up families has yet to be felt. Teams of DOGE lackies without viable security or any need-to-know clearances are being given access to personal financial, tax, and health data of millions of Americans as well as classified government contracts otherwise protected by law.
These realities can no longer be blamed on Biden. The Republicans now own the potentially dystopian future of America. It is already becoming apparent Trump and non-voters are displeased with the real-world impacts of some of the president’s American First agenda as they trickle down to Main Street.
A 1935 novel written by Sinclair Lewis described the aftermath of an election when the new president, who ran on a program of fearmongering and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and “traditional values.” He then assumes complete control over the government and imposes an autocratic society with the help of a small circle of dedicated loyalists and ruthless paramilitary forces.
Contrary to the novel’s title, “It Can Happen Here”
