We do not have to wait until tomorrow. We have a constitutional crisis today.

[kentuck]

Mr Trump and Mr Bannon invited the heads of several media outlets to his palace for an "off-the-record" meeting Monday. Many in the press naively thought it was to work out a schedule for the press pool and how they would travel with the new President? They were startled by their reception.

He proceeded to dress them down and told them to their faces that he did not need them. Soon thereafter, he released a short video of his agenda for all his supporters. Without a doubt, we are living in a post-truth, alt-reality environment.

What was the catalyst for this irrational behavior? Possibly, it was the "conflict of interests" stories that circulated throughout the day. A couple of days ago, Mr Trump had his daughter and son-in-law sit in on a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister. Then the photo came out where Mr Trump was meeting with 3 representatives from a business in Mumbai, India. There was also the report that he was involved with 8 business dealings in Saudi Arabia, even as his campaign was going on. Then, it was reported that he had a phone call, with a leader of a large country in South America, to possibly discuss why one of Mr Trump's businesses was being delayed? And these are just the ones that we know about.

It has become apparent, for those that wanted to give Mr Trump a chance, that he has not changed at all and that he intends to keep his business dealings going on even as he serves as the President of the people. That is in direct conflict with the emolument clause of our Constitution. This seems to be of little concern to the President-elect.

The time has come for us to take inventory. We need to ask every Republican Senator and Congressman where they stand on this? No one can be permitted to escape responsibility for what is happening to our country. If necessary, Ivanka Trump should be brought forth before a Congressional committee to testify about what she knows? This may send the new President Trump over the edge but it is not about Democrats or Republicans anymore. It is about our country.

[Satch59]

1. Good post!

We have moved beyond warning flags and now have cold hard imminent danger proof. It's time for at least the Dem members to stand as one and call out this outrage. At some point, the GOP leaders can't ignore this either. Where's stupid Cruz and his being a constitutionalist?? Cowards...

Let the electoral college take a stand and show this country what is right and good?

[Solly Mack]

2. What was the catalyst for this irrational behavior?

Bannon's keen understanding of what makes Trump tick and how to use it to advantage. And we can't leave out Trump's own ego and inflated sense of self worth. Play to it just right and his worst comes out quite easily. Cross him and he gets stupid mad, but stoke the fire just right then direct the anger, and he is a holy terror with a lot more power now.

The Republican Party still think they are smarter than Bannon, and that they can control Trump. Quite a few are just as bad as Bannon and Trump.

The thing about saying it is about the country is, right-wingers will say they know that and that's why they are doing what they are doing - because they have the country's best interest at heart.

Sure, it's a lie - but some of them are deranged enough to believe what they say.


Is it really about the country? It is, but far too many stupid people don't understand that. Stupid with pride, stupid with hate, stupid with greed, stupid with spite, and just plain stupid.

[kentuck]

3. You are right about the right-wingers.

And that is the challenge.

That is why each and every Republican politician must be on the record. Kill the head and the snake will die. They cannot be permitted to lie in the shadows and take no responsibility.

We can see the direction we are going and we must have a plan.

[Solly Mack]

4. A lot of people in Congress treated Bush like it was all a matter of policy difference

Last edited Fri Nov 25, 2016, 07:00 PM - Edit history (1)

with the crimes and abuses he was committing, and many will do the same for Trump.

I don't miss Shrub. I don't have the build to wax nostalgia about a war criminal. I say that as a prelude...

Trump, as well as many congressional Republicans (and voters), thought Shrub's crimes and abuses were A-OK. I see no reason to think that has changed. If his cabinet picks are any indication, then people should already know he intends to be just as criminal as Shrub/Cheney - and probably worse.


Bush/Cheney got away with their crimes, and unless something drastically changes about how Trump is treated, so will he.

The thinking that if you treat someone like Trump (or Bush/Cheney) like any other president then they'll come around to understanding the responsibilities of the job is insane. It's dangerous wishful thinking. It's a lie being sold.

That Bush/Cheney had a far better understanding of how government works than Trump just means they knew how to work the system from the top down. It never once translated into being good at governing. It never once translated into them being decent humans.

Trump doesn't deserve a chance. He doesn't deserve the opportunity to fill a cabinet with equally as horrible humans. Trump really shouldn't be allowed to take office. But he will be, and then he'll be treated like it was business as usual in D.C..

His direct connection to white supremacist groups will be downplayed in the press. His conflicts of interest will be called attacks by critics, and some will make the excuse that he doesn't know better, having no government experience. He'll be given a lot of leeway, and he and Bannon will use that leeway to their advantage. So will congressional republicans.

Many in the GOP will call any opposition to Trump a case of being sore losers.

Some in Congress will be too afraid of their own re-election to offer much opposition.

Far too many refuse to see the danger in front of us. They want to treat Trump as if it will all be OK if we just act as if everything is normal.

So, my plan? To call, write, and scream at members of Congress. Though I honestly don't think it will do much good. But I still have to try.

On the local front - to help as many people as I can. Become more involved at the grassroots level.


If the Press walked away from their meeting with Trump with anything less than the determination to prove just how mightier the pen is - then they will be useless over the next 4 years. Quislings, nothing more.

If both the Senate and the House don't work together to stop Trump (and they won't) then....Trump (Bannon) gets his way and he'll get away with anything he does.

We might (might) see some curbing of his use of the office for business gains, but it will probably be more of a case of hiding it better.

I watched as Bush and Cheney got away with crimes against humanity and assorted other abuses, and I don't see why it wouldn't be the same for Trump. I honestly don't.

Eight years under Obama didn't change hearts and minds (as evidenced by the way he was disrespected). Those hearts and minds have been biding their time to really let it rip.(as evidenced by the so-called "alt-right" and the rise of Trump)

Some people call what happened during the Bush/Cheney years an aberration to what America really is - and once Trump is deposed, they'll say the same about the Trump years - but after a while, you got to wonder if those people really understand what the word aberration means.


But I could be wrong. Or just in a bad mood this morning. Sorry.

[kentuck]

5. You make some very excellent points.

It is difficult to see how Trump/Bannon could be any worse than Bush/Cheney?

But something tells me that they are.

Perhaps they are just a continuation of the Bush/Cheney lawlessness?

I see a total disrespect for justice. When the idea of justice disappears, then democracy disappears.

I do not expect the House and/or Senate to work together to stop Trump or even to slow him down. They have their own agenda and they see Democrats as nothing more than "sore losers".

That is why it is of utmost importance to have every elected Trump supporter on record. It is a matter of responsibility, if we survive until another election?

That is why we are in a crisis. Our legislature does not see the danger that they are putting our country into.

I think we have gone beyond Bush/Cheney, if we ever thought that was possible? There is no longer even a pretense of justice or responsibility.

The world is on edge. We are in a crisis.

[Solly Mack]

7. You make the laws then justice becomes whatever distortion you want it to be.

Right-wingers, being fabulously hypocritical, decry "activists judges" even as they distort the law, thereby distorting justice.

They fully understand and appreciate the fluidity of the Constitution to address changing times, they just use it to set egregious precedent, while claiming they are merely using the law/document as written.

Yes, we are in crisis and, if the past is prologue, we don't do crisis well.

[barbtries]

6. i know it's beating a dead horse

and helps nothing, but if the gwbush administration had been prosecuted for their crimes this never could have happened. there were no consequences for all the wrong they did. now the republicans see nothing but a clear road for any gawd awful shit they can imagine. and they can imagine a shitload of gawd awful shit.

just had to try and let that go.

[Solly Mack]

8. It's a dead horse many historians will beat for a long time to come.

I don't know that someone like Trump would not have eventually risen to power had the war crimes of the U.S. government under Bush been prosecuted, but I do think a lot would have been settled, and America in a much better place, if they had.

Congress under Bush was wrong to not hold him and Cheney accountable. They failed miserably at their job.

Obama should have - he really should have - and I fully appreciate the opposition he was up against and how hard it would have been to prosecute, but I did cringe each time torture was downgraded to a policy difference, because then torture became a question of whether or not a President wanted to torture, as to whether or not it was an acceptable practice. Torture is a crime, a crime against humanity - and a war crime during a time of war - but it is not - and never will be - a "policy" difference. "Good people" don't disagree about torture. If you agree with torture, you're not a good person. If you engage in torture, you're a criminal. If you enable torture as a practice of government, you're a criminal.

[barbtries]

10. thanks Solly.

it just didn't have to be like this.

[Solly Mack]

11. My sig line helps express my continued disappointment.

It goes beyond disappointment, really.

I am just as sickened now as I was when it all began. I think America changed and changed for the worse by not owning up to and jailing the guilty.

And I do think it played a part in what we are seeing now, I just can't say with any certainty that someone like Trump would not have eventually come along anyway.

[barbtries]

13. i don't think he could have

enlisted as many into his cult if it was clear that bad acts would result in consequences.

our country is a reality tv show, a really shitty reality tv show.

[patricia92243]

9. He has gotten away without showing his taxes. He assumes he will get

away with running his business and being Prez. Unfortunately, he is probably right.

[spanone]

12. the fucker is drunk with power.