Confused by emoluments? The Founding Fathers would have impeached Trump in a New York minute

[babylonsister]

Opinion: Confused by emoluments? The Founding Fathers would have impeached Trump in a New York minute
Published: Aug 10, 2018 8:47 a.m. ET
The Founding Fathers had someone just like Donald Trump in mind when they banned any and all emoluments to the president from any foreign or state governments
By Rex Nutting


Conservatives, we are constantly told, believe in strict adherence to the Constitution based primarily on the text and secondarily on the views of the Founding Fathers. If conservatives really were “originalists,” they would be the first to say that Donald Trump is exactly the kind of president who ought to be impeached.

Unique among presidents, Trump has divided loyalties. He has entangled his business interests with his official duties, creating the impression, if not the reality, that his own financial interest — not his duty as president — guides his thoughts and actions.

The Founding Fathers, savvy students of history and human nature, were highly attuned to the risks of public corruption — actual or perceived — and inserted language into the Articles of Confederation and later into the Constitution to guard against such human frailties. They wanted to make sure that anyone who held a public office would serve only one master: the American people.

A farewell to kings

For the Founders, public corruption wasn’t just a theoretical danger. They viewed it as the primary threat to their independence. Living in a small, fledgling country, the Americans feared that the European powers would seize control of the American democracy by flattering and bribing our officials.

snip//

Trump has been hit with lawsuits alleging that he is violating those two constitutional provisions. One of the lawsuits is moving forward, bad news for this utterly corrupt administration.

The facts of the case are clear: Foreign and state officials do patronize his businesses with the express purpose of currying his favor (also known as “stay to play”). Trump is soliciting business from foreign officials and U.S. politicians. The emoluments he receives from them is significant and important to his business. Congress has not been asked for its consent, nor has it been granted. State government officials have also patronized his hotel. The federal government has also granted Trump an “advantage” by approving the continuation of the lease for his hotel at the Old Post Office despite the clear wording in the lease that “no elected official” shall benefit from it.

more...

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-founding-fathers-would-have-impeached-trump-in-a-new-york-minute-2018-08-10

[Dave Starsky]

1. Impeached? At minimum. He would have been hanged for Treason.

George Washington would have probably personally run him through with his sword.

If there's ONE THING the Founders hated more than anything, it was a traitor.

[lpbk2713]

2. Anyone with Trump's resume would never have gotten on the ballot.

If somehow it did appear, he would have been tarred and feathered.

This clearly shows how far the GOP has brought this country down.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. The founding fathers would have impeached him in a Philadelphia minute.

What would they know about New York minutes?

But, they'd be shocked by the extent of corruption in the past few decades. Citizens United, Medicare Part D, Trump properties, plenty to go around.