There used to be a day when if I saw anything interesting
in a newspaper I’d cut it out or circle it for my wife. As the printed venue has given way to the
online world, I (like everyone else) now forward the links, sometimes with my
comments. One particular piece from The New York Times, Charles Blow’s A Ticket to Hell, merited such
treatment.
Ann in turn forwarded it to friends who coincidentally we
saw for dinner a couple of nights ago.
Our friend, Joyce, forwarded it to her daughter, Terri, who within a
couple of hours wrote an email response to her mother. As I drove home, Ann read me her email and I
said that it was remarkable she took the time to write, off the cuff, such a
cogent piece. It’s the kind of letter
you used to see in “Letters to the Editor” column (when they permitted one of
such length; nowadays, they just like brief, attention-getting ones). One of the nice things about writing this
blog, is there are neither length nor subject restraints.
But, first, a few comments regarding Trump & Co.: we
have seen the enemy and they are us. We
have invited this creature into our lives, laying the groundwork with social
media conspiracy theories and a culture that prizes 24 x 7 streaming of
mindless reality “shows” and movies dominated by computerized special effects
and violence. In our topsy-turvy world,
unreality has become reality. Talking
about impeachment is pretty serious stuff.
I think it will come down to that over a black swan event which is still
to rear its head. After all, Trump has
abandoned all moral authority which comes with the office, but that in itself
is not impeachable. However, not having
that authority is going to leave us vulnerable to the very things the
Presidency is supposed to protect the American people from, not to mention,
historically, the world.
When will an impeachable offense take place? Perhaps the Russian connection will be
substantially proven or, worse, North Korea launches a nuclear weapon while
Washington is still embroiled in Trump/Bannon crazy making. But, then what? We still have a Twilight Zone world of our
own making and a democracy that is a shell of its former self. No answers here; we are dependent on our
Congress so we better elect the right people, and I’m not talking about Democrat
vs. Republican, but about people of principle, no matter what their political
party. Please, no reality TV people need
apply.
This brings me back to Terri’s impassioned email. The foregoing does not mean to distract from
its heartfelt arguments. So as a “guest
piece” I reprint it below:
Here's my take if
you care to read it... (just venting!):
The big question
is, will these cowards in Congress wake up and realize that they are being had,
just like the people who voted this unstable, increasingly paranoid
megalomaniac into the highest office in the world? Will they do what they
should to stop him?
Day by day, the big
picture emerges: the pathological lying to the American people, the dark,
dangerous and unsettling Russia connections, the mass firings of career State
Dept. diplomats (who we need now more than ever..), the "Friday Night
Massacre" yesterday of 46 US attorneys, many of whom are in the middle of
investigations of high level government corruption and misconduct, the
dismantling of any trust in anything the FBI and CIA uncover (unless it
benefits Trump), appointing a bevy of unqualified, inexperienced loyalists to
head major governmental departments (don't get me started on that one...),
decrying that everything is fake news (unless it benefits Trump) and the just
plain making shit up! The list goes on and on....
Then there is the
"Trump Whisperer" and Puppet-master, Steve Bannon - who is behind the
all of the conspiracy theories that Trump has been espousing since the birther
movement...who is a sick, anti-Semitic, white supremacist who is in the most
dangerous and influential position he could ever wish to be in: in the brain of the President of the United
States of America! (Can you say
"Manchurian Candidate"?)
Trump and Co. are
systematically destroying and decimating this country from the inside out, as
well as the outside in. As C. Blow laid out, many helpless and sick people who
depend on the subsidies of the ACA won't be able to get help with this new bill
and many will literally die. No, ObamaCare isn't perfect, but it gave millions
coverage who wouldn't have any, which is a big deal. Our country's stability and our diplomatic
efforts (for the most part) is what have kept the world safe and in check since
WWI - and in 50 days, yes, 50 days (!) it is coming apart at the seams. Our
allies are freaking out just as we are! Our security and alliances are theirs,
too. Secretary of State Tillerson didn't even know that the President of Mexico
was in town meeting with Trump last week! - he is keeping everyone but his
inner circle involved and no one is able to watch or report on him as he goes
about his complete takeover of our government. How are we allowing this to
happen?
Forget about Isis!
The real and imminent threat is not Isis - It is Trump, and I am not being
hyperbolic. Statistically speaking, the chances are much greater that Trump
will do excessively more profound damage to our country and even the world
order than Isis. Both inside and outside. We need him removed and impeached.
I can't believe I
am saying this, but - the answer is that
more republicans like John McCain and Lindsey Graham who have broken with the
party to speak out, pretty surprisingly need to have some courage and actually
stand up to this bully - for the sake of our republic. Where are all the others? Are they really
thinking he will give them what they want if they go along with him? Cowards!
Only the republicans can do this - they have
to eat their own! They have the total majority for the moment and dems don't
have much of a say, so the country will have to depend on these guys to do the
right thing for ALL of us!
Let's just hope
they do it, and do it soon. We will see who the real heroes are!
