CBS News – * Failed Pols

I do not fault stupid people for making the stupid decision to elect Donald Trump in 2016.

I do fault smart people for making stupid decisions. These include:

1. Senators who voted to acquit Donald Trump in his no-witnesses-allowed impeachment trial, including primarily Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell:

* Impeachment of Donald Trump (2020-02-05)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Donald_Trump#Acquittal

* Mitch McConnell (2020-02-05)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell#Impeachment_trial

2. Members of the GOP who voted to disenfranchise voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – before, during, and AFTER the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol – including Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jody Hice (R–GA-10), Mo Brooks (R–AL-05), Scott Perry (R–PA-10), Josh Hawley (R–MO), and Louie Gohmert (R–TX-01).

* 2021 Storming Of The United States Capitol (2021-01-06)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol

* 2020 United States Presidential Election Electoral College Count (2021-01-06 – 2021-01-07)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election_Electoral_College_count

3. Donald Trump’s cabinet, who could have invoked the 25th Amendment to remove POTUS at any time:

* Cabinet Of Donald Trump (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Donald_Trump

4. Social media, including especially Facebook and Twitter, for allowing their social networks to be used as platforms for hate speech.

* Donald Trump On Social Media (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_on_social_media#2021

5. Mainstream media, including especially CNN (on the left) and Fox News (on the right) for not doing their jobs – asking questions until they get answers – and allowing POTUS to lie unchecked.

* Veracity Of Statements By Donald Trump (2017-01-21 – PRESENT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veracity_of_statements_by_Donald_Trump

6. Lawmakers at all levels, for failing to fix bad laws and for failing to enact good laws. Changes that must be made going forward include:

Limiting POTUS power:

Executive order power must be limited.
All cabinet members (acting/interim/actual) must be confirmed by Senate.
Treaties and tariffs must be the role of Congress so that POTUS cannot engage in trade wars.
War Powers Act must be updated to limit POTUS power to deploy the military.
Special Counsel Act must be updated to make clear that POTUS cannot fire special counsel.

Writing better and new laws:

Impeachment Act of 2021, to define how impeachment is conducted, including the requirement to have witnesses.
Follow the lead of The Restatements Of The Law project (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restatements_of_the_Law) and codify major SCOTUS cases, including especially Roe v. Wade.
Fix the Census.
Fix immigration.
Fix SCOTUS processes, such as limiting appointments to 2 per POTUS with the number of SCOTUS justices fixed at the number of Federal Circuits (currently 13).
Election reform, including who is qualified to run for POTUS and that tax forms must be disclosed to do so.

Just to name a few.

Stupid people, bad laws, and lies got us into this mess.

Smart people, good laws, and the truth can get us out of this mess.

LAW >> MAN.

#FailedPols
https://www.failblog.com/

’Twas the month after Christmas, and the Senate and House
Had just passed a relief bill that Trump tried to douse.
The people had suffered in the pandemic scare:
Sick, fearful, and jobless; Trump had nary a care.

He was pardoning cronies convicted by Feds,
As authoritarian visions danced in his head.
MAGAs in their T-shirts and red MAGA caps
Were hopelessly lost in their intellectual naps.

They’d left Facebook for Parler, and embraced QAnon,
And the conspiracy theories…they quickly latched on.
“Covid’s a hoax! Fauci is lying!
The vaccine injects microchips that *They* use for spying!”

Though more than two months had passed since the election,
The MAGAs were calling for vote redirection.
“Overturn the votes!” They shouted and tweeted.
“The election was stolen! Trump won’t be defeated!”

“I won the election,” Trump repeatedly whinged,
Proving to all, he was completely unhinged.
A pandemic was raging, the country in trouble,
But Trump wasn’t concerned as he hid in his bubble.

When out on the Mall there arose such a clatter,
Trump sent Donald Junior to see what was the matter.
Junior opened the window, threw up on the sash.
(He’d been up all night partying and was starting to crash.)

The sun on the crest of the snow on the Mall
Gave a feeling of panic to Donald the Small.
When what to his watering eyes should appear,
But a man in aviators, a mask, and white hair.

With U.S. Secret Service walking alongside him,
Junior knew right away that it must be Joe Biden.
Biden spoke a soft word, then went straight to his work-
Calling out the Trump aides with a list like a clerk:

Out, Donald, Out, Junior,
Ivanka and Jared!
Go, Miller, and Kudlow,
Out, Kayleigh and Eric!

Now Pompeo, Mnuchin, Ben Carson and Barr,
Leave, VP Mike Pence and Alex Azar!
Mark Meadows, Navarro, and Betsy Devos,
Now dash away all of you! I’m the new boss!

And in the White House, there arose such a clatter
As Trump’s cabinet and advisors started to scatter.
The door of the White House opened with a shout,
As four uniformed officers escorted Trump out.

Trump’s cruel little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And he kept on repeating, “I won! I won’t go!”
“C’mon, man,” said Biden. “Act like an adult.”
“Not joking. You’re leaving…And please take your cult.”

“You’ve held up the Defense Bill, and covid relief.
You’ve belittled our soldiers, Mr. ‘Commander-in-Chief.’
You’ve sown huge division, racism and hate…
And let’s just not talk about your Secretary of State.”

Then Biden looked into the camera (they social distanced that day),
And said, “Folks! Just hang in there, cause I’m on my way!
Then they heard him exclaim, despite ex-President Cheddar,
“Happy Holidays, all! Now let’s build back better!”

*with admiration for Clement Moore

Trump’s Every Tweet is an Admission of his Incompetence. Plus, the Case for Prosecuting Donald Trump | Glenn Kirschner [2020-12-28]

Biden says Inauguration Day events may look different due to pandemic |
CBS News [2020-12-04]

Category: CBS News

* Erik’s Editorial: The Guilty Parties Who Put American Democracy At Risk In The Name Of Donald Trump

Editorial: ‘Twas the Month After Christmas