On Patriotism
I never considered myself a flag waving ra-ra red white and blue kinda guy. The goal of doing better is always a good one and even though our country has fallen short plenty of times, our aspirations tend towards the noble. I’ve always loved my country, right or wrong, drunk or sober, while still finding some credence to Dr. Johnson’s old saw that “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel,” (religion and the internet are probably likely destinations these days as well). If there is such a thing as a foxhole convert, maybe there is such a thing as a foxhole patriot. Our country has had constitutional storms before and weathered them. We’ve survived partisanship, prohibition, natural disaster, riots, greed, civil and not-so-civil-wars, assassinations, economic depression, Disco, and abject stupidity before. Current events, being the last couple of weeks or the last couple of years, indicates, we’re in trouble. With some reservation, I have to conclude our Republic is in danger.
A day after Robert Mueller’s mealy mouthed let’s have it both ways Russian Report, Trump called Ukrainian President Zelinsky and basically said “Yo Z-dawg, do me a solid and dig me up some dirt on the Biden Boys.” Joe Biden, being the Democratic front-runner, asking for foreign involvement in an election isn’t some executive privilege or “not a big deal” it’s a crime. At least that’s what career foreign and national security officers thought it was, or as John Bolton put it: “A Drug Deal.” Our President explained his reasoning:
“Then, I have an Article II, where I have to the right to do whatever I want as president,” he said. “But I don’t even talk about that.”
Maybe we should talk about that then. Show me where it says that in the constitution and I’ll buy you a beer. That was the worst thing that guy ever said, possibly the worst public statement ever made by a U.S. President, something worthy of a Latin American Dictator, or a spoiled toddler. I’ve got some news for him, his handlers and his minions: No one is above the law, not them, not me, not anyone. Article II of the constitution is not about the King of America or the Dictator of America or the CEO of America or the Rapist in Chief of America, it is about the President, an elected privilege, not an entitlement.
Three points have stuck out in my mind the last few months:
Insult is not argument.
Lying is not leadership.
Smearing is not statesmanship.
Of course Trump keeps doing it because it keeps working for him. People I love and respect have offered up the time-tested teenage defense of “Everyone else is doing it.” This is an excuse, not a reason.
Questioning, criticizing, censuring, and if necessary removing a President guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors isn’t treason it is a civic privilege, right and duty. Ignoring Congressional subpoenas is unconstitutional. Witness tampering and intimidation is a crime. Why the Supreme Court or any federal court would not make this an immediate priority is beyond me.
My problems with Congressional Democrats is less severe, but not less important. They should have filed in court against every rejected subpoena. If the courts dragged their feet, then that’s on them. They were right to bring impeachment charges against Trump but wrong to not even attempt to work with House Republicans. Taking a recess during hearings to scurry out and get your face in front of the cameras sends the wrong message to all the nonpartisan types out there, and I’d guess we are an expanding group. “I’m ready for my close-up now Mister Demille,” doesn’t scream for the common good, it screams “Me! Me! Me!” It shouldn’t be difficult to maintain the moral ground against the Trumpistas, but somehow, Pelosi, Schiff and Nadler managed to do just that. Plus, Pelosi making a rush job of impeachment then delay sending over to the Senate is a tactical, strategic, moral and logical mistake. If I ever need someone to screw up my cheese sandwich, I’ll know who to contact.
The leadership of both parties have forgotten a simple fact that they need to be reminded of. We don’t work for them, they work for us. We are the ones who pay their checks, perks and pork. They are there in Washington D.C. under our sufferance, and under our sufferance they can be removed. Maybe they needed to be reminded of this more than just on Election Day. Maybe they need daily reminders.
Of course, that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.