One year ago the would-be king was firing members of his own court.
Donald Trump's favorite saying of all time:
"You're Fired!"
The large number of dismissals and resignations kept him very busy for a while. No one could tell who he might turn on next.
Trump finally got rid of John Bolton but that guy just won't seem to go away. He’s like the zombie in a horror flick that just won’t die!
Now he treats an impeachment as if nothing at all has happened - just another day in the White House!
I suggest we all remember that Trump performs a well-rehearsed act designed to enrage, marginalize and bully his opponents. It's the script of a reality TV star, not a president. He is not even a politician, just a demagogue.
Don't expect him to understand or acknowledge mutual respect or common decency in governance. He doesn't come from that school.
He's also not a diplomat or statesman. That would require far too much grace and subtly, two things he's not good at. Just remember that it's all an act ultimately meant to entertain his followers and benefit his own personal ambitions.
Bottom Line: The US Senate will vote on whether to include witnesses in the impeachment trial.
Republicans are in the majority. If they vote against allowing witnesses to testify, there may be a quick acquittal. Democrats will claim that it was not a trial but a cover up.
The precedent set by the Senate will redefine what impeachable offenses can be, precluding almost any act short of a serious criminal offense. Trump and future presidents will be given carte blanche to do just about whatever they please with a sense of entitlement and immunity.
The power of the US Congress will be diminished.
Democracy hangs in the balance...
What would the founders say?
Democracy advocate Thomas Jefferson actually claimed executive privilege when he received a summons to appear in court. He worried that every president would be dragged into civil courts by their political opponents.
But let's face it - Donald Trump has violated just about every democratic principle in one way or another, especially but not limited to the constitutional guarantee to freedom of the press. He bullies whistle blowers calling them “spies” and “traitors”. The guy models himself after strong man dictators. He doesn’t want to be fair — that’s for losers!
His ethics are very suspect to say the least...
So, of course Democrats in Congress felt obligated to fight his unethical authoritarian rule as a way of trying to regain a balance of power and recover some sense of decency in Washington, D.C.
When speaking to the press, Senator Schumer described Trump as a “vindictive” and “nasty” man.
The House Democrats chose to impeach the president, knowing that he would most likely be acquitted for political reasons by the majority Republican Senators. But they felt they had to take a stand for accountability and democracy.
How this will all play out in terms of electoral politics remains to be seen, but Trump may have actually solidified his base by playing the underdog card and claiming that there is a dastardly plot to unseat him by Washington “deep state” insiders.
Whatever the outcome of the impeachment trial and the upcoming national election, the US Presidency has gradually gained more independent power than the founders intended.
Trump is setting himself up as nothing less than an elected king.
Where this will lead us is uncertain, but the trend is not looking good for democracy in the USA.
As Executive Director for Democracy Watch News, I’m very concerned about this issue.
Democracy Watch News: https://democracywatchnews.org
“Democracycast” podcast: https://democracycast.libsyn.com
