Developing
“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.”
―-Will Rogers
Should we be afraid of what Trump might do in the waning days of his presidency?
ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AFRAID.
This is not a joke.
It is hard to imagine a more dangerous situation than the one we currently find ourselves in.
The President of the United States has gone crazy.
Loony.
Ripe for a psychiatric intervention.
Lost touch with reality.
And yet, as President of the United States, he possesses enormous powers, powers so great that it is highly questionable whether any human being should ever be entrusted with them.
The fact that some are so secret that they are classified, and even most if not all members of Congress are unaware of their existence or extent, is utterly appalling.
The existence of these powers, which nobody knows about, reveals how bad democratic governments are at controlling “secret” executive powers, secret and classified Emergency Powers to deal with a national emergency–as defined by the president, and not subject to any timely, serious review.
We have already seen how Donald Trump has abused Emergency Powers that are public, by invoking the “national security” exception to the World Trade Organization (or GATT) rules governing international trade, when he imposed tariffs on Canada and China without any valid basis in law.
These rules are contained in treaties ratified by the United States, which have the force of law.
Should we be afraid of what Trump might do in the waning days of his presidency?
ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AFRAID.
On Friday, December 18, he met with Michael Flynn, convicted but pardoned criminal felon, former National Security Adviser and previously Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to discuss Flynn’s proposal that Trump declare martial law in the swing states that voted for Joe Biden, and that the military conduct a “rerun” of the elections in those states.
In a word, Trump met with his advisers on Friday to consider the option of carrying out a military coup in the United States.
Read those words again. Let them sink in.
Flynn’s lawyer, Sidney Powell, also participated in that meeting, where she reportedly urged the President to seize voting machines in states in question. Trump was reported to be considering her appointment as Special Counsel to investigate fraud in the November 3 elections.
Powell was reportedly seen at the White House on Sunday and Monday.
Should we be afraid of what Trump might do in the waning days of his presidency?
ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AFRAID.
This is not a joke.
In the meantime, government officials reported there had been a massive security breach of government and private computer networks, believed to have been carried out by Russian intelligence agencies. The cyber attack amounted to the equivalent of a Pearl Harbor attack in the cyber world.
While Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attributed the hack to the Russians, Trump has not said a word regarding the Russians and has instead suggested that it was the Chinese who carried out the attack.
This raises a critical question:
Did Trump, whether by act or omission, give the Keys to the Kingdom to Vkadimir Putin and the Russians?
What could Trump do in the next 29 days?
The military are worried.
AND YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED TOO!
What is to be done?
What can be done?
Call in the experts on dealing with a madman in a hostage situation.
Get ready for and expect anything.
It is time for the House of Representatives to step up to the plate and to take the steps necessary to defend the American people and our democracy from this madman.
Should we be afraid of what Trump might do in the waning days of his presidency?
ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AFRAID.
This is not a joke.
He is dangerous, like a wounded wild animal in a corner.
Care should be taken not to unnecessarily provoke him.
Instead, the House should quietly begin an impeachment inquiry, and prepare draft articles of umpeachment.
Then, if Trump commits any unconstitutional acts that seriously endanger individuals or our democracy, they should quickly pass the draft articles of impeachment, and send them to the Senate. This they can do virtually, by remote vote.
Since the Senate has not yet approved remote voting, Senators would actually have to vote for Trump’s removal in person. If they were adjourned, they would have to travel to Washington to cast their vote.
Should Trump order the military or other federal officials to interfere with their travel, we as a nation would have to rely on our military and other federal officials to refuse to obey any unconstitutional orders.
Should we be afraid of what Trump might do in the waning days of his presidency?
ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY AFRAID.
This is not a joke.
The Trenchant Observer
