And now I come back with the specter of the eleventy-second constitutional crisis that we have faced in the last 594 days. But this one is big.
Yesterday, an anonymous "senior official in the Trump administration" penned an OpEd in the New York Times. It was explosive. Jaws dropped from coast to coast.
When I read it, I was shocked like everyone. By the end, I was moved to tears. We have allies working for good! And then in reflection, I was scared that things might get more dangerous. Then I returned to Hope. Maybe this will get Congress really moving. Maybe, just maybe, some brave senior Republicans will start the process to remove the Orange Scourge from office.
 |
| Bob Englehart |
This article appeared just after previews of Bob Woodward's book, "Fear: Trump in the White House" came out. Even the President* admits that Mr. Woodward is a credible and "fair" journalist, as you can hear in their telephone conversation below (transcript below that).
Transcript here.
The stuff reportedly in Woodward's book, especially coming from such an esteemed journalist, was explosive. His sources were tape recorded; Woodward quotes many describing an off-the-rails President*.
And just a couple days later, the OpEd, reflecting Woodward's work but almost crying for help, was published. It is astounding that it was published anonymously. It goes against editorial sensibilities, but obviously the New York Times decided it was a person high enough on the totem pole and serious enough in the accusations, to allow an anonymous essay. Imagine, a 2018 Deep Throat.
Speculation is running rampant about who the author is. There are good analyses with educated guesses.
HuffPost speculated that it is Vice President Pence, based on one word (lodestar) that Pence often uses. However, the article concedes that anonymous leakers will often use catch-phrases of others in order to throw off speculation.
MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell methodically analyzes the top officials and makes his conclution that it is Dan Coats. It's a good analysis.
No matter who it is --and it could be more than one-- we have to ask, what does it mean for the country?
The Atlantic ran with my second emotion. Danger, Will Robinson! The author warns that these revelations will lead to more instability and recklessness. He stipulates that if the administraion leaders feels he is not fit, then proceedings to remove him from office should commence under the 25th Amendment.
I don't know why Republicans are so afraid to remove him. They'll still have a Republican President, they'll have some of their credibility with voters restored, and they'll be able to move along their policies without the fear of WWIII. But perhaps Russia has something on every single Member of Congress.
Senator John Kerry expressed grave concern about this OpEd. I couldn't embed, but the video is in this link.
A columnist for the New York Times, who was not part of the decision to print the OpEd, outlines reactions from several sources. None of them shared my first reaction, that thankfully, someone is on the side of Right inside the Whitewash House. More than one source characterize the actions described in the OpEd as a "coup." Not good stuff.
I may be in the minority, but I still have hope. I think the author is a hero. Maybe I'm just a Pollyanna, but if some are in there trying to do their best to steer the burning ship away from the rocks, then the ideals of our Nation have teeth. Some of those "best people" may actually be doing good work in difficult circumstances. Like Susan Hennessey of Lawfare said, it must be genuinely scary for someone to take this unprecedented step.
Let us convert this Hope into Pressure. Call your Members of Congress and insist that movements be made to remove this madman. You can find the phone number of your representatives here: Senators and Representatives.
And breaking: This esteemed publication shockingly offered two more anonymous letters from some close to SCROTUS.
Buckle up. The Resistance Road is going to get bumpy.
No comments:
Post a Comment