permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Pulled from Quora this AM..


It is a long article, so if you can, run it down and read the rest...

Why does the President of the US seem to have such unbridled power? He seems to do what he wants, fire anyone that gets in his way, and doesn’t seem subject to the checks and balances that one would expect in a democratic society.

Mark Lipse, Author of Misgovernment (2017)
Answered Mon
He doesn’t have that kind of power. It just seems that way.

What he does have is an endless number of enablers, appeasers and collaborators in US Congress.

The linchpin institution that is failing is the Republican-led US Congress. Congressional Republicans are unwilling to restrain Trump.

Let us be absolutely explicit about this: The US Congress has the power to enact laws to rein in p**********l powers (to limit abuse of power by Trump) or even depose him. Either way, Congress has the means to put an end to at least the consequences of Trump’s worst behaviors. The fact of the matter is that they have not done so.

They have not enacted laws to:

force the President to divulge his tax returns;
force the President to put his properties in a blind trust;
protect the special counsel, Robert Mueller, from being fired;
formally enact a code of ethics governing the actions and behavior of the President;
formally regulate white house staffing to prevent nepotism, militarization and various other abuses of office;
formally regulate national security staffing to make sure that a treasonous president cannot subvert national security.
These are just a few of the actions they could have taken. There are many more.

Currently, the United States is governed by a majority of legislators whose true faith and allegiance is not for their country. These are not strong, independent men and women inspired by a love of country for whom it is second nature to think of themselves as the guardians of the nation. These are weak men and women of an inferior quality and nature. Instead of guardians serving the Greater Good, we have mere operatives, i.e., workers, bought and paid for by and beholden to a donor elite.

As operatives for this donor elite their highest mission is to use the power of their office to promote the pecuniary interests of that donor elite, regardless of the consequences for society.

Choices matter.

They tell you a lot about the true character of people.

Lonewolf

Vary good post so true

Airforceone

Well congrats great post and 100% accurate. Now sit back and watch the attacks I will be watching and it should bring out the crazy

MalG

To find out the basis of the problem, follow the money. Is it not true that bags of money poured into e******ns not a form of bribery? And how to get any necessary laws made when the "passers" are beholden to the money bag holders. Is "well, everybody does it" the way it should be? Their mothers didn't say, "Shame on you!" enough. We, the people, need to stop bickerlng over useless nits and pressure Congress to behave like useful adults. So there, too!

SGM B Loc: TEXAS but live in Alabama now

If anything needs to be changed its how politicians on both sides spend mega $$$$$$ getting elected/reelected for a 2 or 6 year term - we need term limits for all politicians and any political appointees to include SCOTUS. The other thing that needs to be changed is eliminate Political Action Committees, PACs, and their ability to spend untold millions getting anyone elected. Next, eliminate all the lobbyist, round them all up and send them packing, and I don't give a rats behind which side of the political spectrum they are lobbying for. They are trying to buy e******ns by throwing lots of money at their pet project and it is all legal. But it shouldn't be and I don't care if they are liberal or conservative, they need to disappear.
SGM B out.

SGM B Loc: TEXAS but live in Alabama now

You are absolutely right! If anyone hasn't noticed..."it's ALL about the money, boys" - both sides of the political spectrum.
SGM B out.

MalG

Point One. If the Prez doesn't sign a bill after five days it becomes law, and if he does veto it then Congress can let the public loudly know it.
Point Two. All congress-people should be made to reveal ALL money they receive, from any source, once elected. As for Lobbyist we all are potential lobbyist; limit the professional ones to be strictly and publicly controlled. And prevent a former congress-person from working as a lobbyist for five years.
And while we're at it, let's set reasonable yet severe limits on these people for spending and wasting OUR tax dollars on travel and dollying up (is that a word?) their offices once elected.
Of course, the current crop will never allow this.

SGM B Loc: TEXAS but live in Alabama now

How right you are.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

SGM, Once again, I agree with all you say.. Good comments..

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

The Congress needs a refresher English class. The function of the "House oversight committee" is to oversee the Executive Branch.............not come up with the excuse "that was an oversight on our part".

Had Obama attacked a member of the Judiciary, attacked a sitting member of Congress, golfed every weekend at taxpayers expense, discussed foreign policy on social media BEFORE discussing it with the foreign relations committee, leaked classified material to foreign agents, or the myriad of other lunacies displayed by Trump in his first 6 months in office..................he wouldn't have been in office for the 7th month.

A competent Congress and a competent party, knowing a novice was going into the Oval Office............would have INSISTED that a goodly number of experienced and qualified personnel were installed in key positions, AND insisted that no policy or statement be issued without prior approval from the appropriate Congressional panel. That explains why we see the chaos and mayhem we do................there is no competent congress OR party. BTW, it wouldn't be any better with democrats in charge.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Very well put major.. and I agree, right down to your last line..

SGM B Loc: TEXAS but live in Alabama now

That's just too scary! LOL!! Enjoy your day.
SGM B out.

MalG

As an old (very old) Liberal Korean Vet, I agree with all of the above.
Now, can some old smart Conservative and I get together and share a quart of beer somewhere?

woodguru

You are a bit wrong there, congress passed harsher sanctions almost unanimously, Trump left the bill sitting on his desk (figuratively, nothing is on his desk) for months, he signed it late only after pressure when Russia assassinated spies on British soil, although he passed sanctions lite.

But agreed on stricter spending disclosures.

Trump's cabinet is blowing through every budget norm of past heads with ridiculous spending, especially on unnecessary travel.

It is costing a fortune for secret service protection at trump tower and Mir A Lago

woodguru

This sort of liberal drinks good beer, we're in agreement.