The pResident’s sycophant defenders are fast running out of defenses. The Cowardly Lion Defense — that attempting a conspiracy to bribe a foreign leader isn’t a crime if the attempt fails — that seems unlikely to be very persuasive. On what planet is attempted robbery not a crime? The ‘he’s too undisciplined and unfocused to pull off a conspiracy’ that keystone kops defense seems equally unlikely to work. Prison is full of inept crooks who finally got caught.
One of the remaining and equally weak lines of defense likely to be trotted out next is some version of ‘ the pResident is No Boy Scout ‘— but you can’t impeach a guy for that. Can you?
In an effort to preempt this completely lame line of defense while also doing my ‘good turn for the day’, I thought it might be helpful to review the Boy Scout Motto Oath and Law — and point out some of the minor problems with this defense ‘ the he ain’t no boy scout, but that isn’t an impeachable crime’ defense —
Turns out that those pesky little reasons why Donald J. Trump is not, was not and could not now or ever have been a Boy Scout, those are also pretty strong reasons why he shouldn’t be president.
The Scout Motto is ‘Be Prepared’
The expectation is that a scout should maintain at all times
“a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.”
I am unable to imagine Mr Trump holding to this simple oath. (In fact, I find myself laughing at the prospect).
Ok, so how about the scout oath?
The Boy Scout Oath —
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight
Well, is there any part of this oath that Trump could honor ? Not sure he can be held to any oath — but I suspect this would be impossible for Mr. T.
OK now the law.
The Scout Law
A Scout is:
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean,
and
Reverent
Well after a brief review, I think you’ll understand why the Scout Law would be especially tough for Trump.
A Scout Is Trustworthy
“A Scout tells the truth”
A Scout Is Loyal
“A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation.”
A Scout Is Helpful
“A Scout does things willingly for others without pay or reward.”
A Scout Is Friendly
“A Scout respects those with ideas and customs other than his own.”
A Scout Is Courteous
“A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position.”
A Scout Is Kind
“A Scout treats others as he wants to be treated.”
A Scout Is Obedient
“A Scout obeys the laws of his community and country.”
A Scout Is Cheerful
“A Scout looks for the bright side of things.”
A Scout Is Thrifty
“A Scout protects and conserves natural resources."
A Scout Is Brave
“A Scout has the courage to stand up for what’s right even if others laugh at or threaten him.”
A Scout Is Clean
“A Scout keeps his body and mind fit."
A Scout Is Reverent
“A Scout respects the beliefs of others.”
Well my Trump tally for the Scout Law is 0-12 — he can’t follow a single one of these.
In what kind of world can a guy who goes 0 for 12 with the Scout Law and could never ever be a Boy Scout for more than 9 seconds, how can that guy be nominated by a major political party and then be elected to hold the nation’s highest office — and in the face of overwhelming evidence of his enduring lack of honor and repeated abuse of the public trust, how can that man now — after lengthy and careful reviews in the Muller Report and the Impeachment Inquiry that have exposed his manifold character flaws and numerous misdeeds — how can this guy be allowed to remain in high office and furthermore what sort of person would want him to?
For crying out loud, why would anyone continue to defend this sack of nostoc slime.
Nothing fresh new or unique here, but some things bear repeating www.outsideonline.com/…
Does a guy who does not exhibit a single one of the qualities expected of a boy scout — not a single one — does such a person deserve to hold high office?
I’m not sure that this will sway any of the conservative Republican Fox News watching members of my extended family, but when Impeachment comes up over the Thanksgiving Holiday, I’ll try to make this part of the discussion.