All of the rules and operating procedures of the Executive Branch

[MineralMan]

exist on the assumption that those in power are people of good faith, integrity, and intentions. When that is not the case, those same rules and procedures lend themselves to abuses.

That is what we are seeing now. Donald J. Trump is not a man of integrity and good faith. He has surrounded himself with people who are loyal to him, rather than to the Constitution and our nation. So, they behave badly and try to cover up illegal and immoral acts by the President.

There are many ways that things can be hidden, classified, and kept from public view in the White House, the Intelligence Community, and elsewhere. There are good reasons for those ways to exist. But, in the hands of dishonorable people, the same safeguards make it easy to conceal dishonorable behavior.

It looks like the truth is starting to come out. I hope that continues, but there is much that is hidden, apparently. It is going to be difficult to bring much of it to light, I'm afraid.

[dalton99a]

1. When Trump talks about Deep State, he means his secret server.

[Wounded Bear]

2. You could make the same statement about Democracy in general...

It depends on people willing to submit to the rule of law and follow accepted rules of behavior.

[MineralMan]

4. Yes.. A dishonorable person can use rules to hide dishonorable actions.

It's always a risk. We rely on whistle-blowers to root out such things.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. I have posted before that this nation's system of government is based on the "honor system"

and if you break that, you're screwed.

[gratuitous]

5. Just one example

The Whistleblower Protection Act clearly did not contemplate the situation we have now where it is the President, personally and directly, breaking the law. Whether it was some kind of respect for the notion of separation of powers or simply not imagining a scenario where the President would be the law-breaker, I foresee some major revisions to the U.S. Code if we ever get back to a functional government.