America stands at a crossroads. As the President of the United States engages in an all-out attack on this nation’s constitution, it occurs to me that the boundaries of our constitution are being challenged. We are about to witness whether our constitution, as framed by our Founding Fathers, can withstand the onslaught of a lawless president.
As I ponder this question, I am reminded of a political science class I took at Lincoln University of Missouri where my professor argued that the constitution was so tightly written that it really didn’t matter who was the president. He posited that the president is the titular head; only setting the nation’s tone. But the constitution, he argued, is the engine that determines our course.
I am sure that a majority of Americans would, at first blush, agree with my college professor. I disagreed with him then and my belief is being vividly illustrated now. Over the past several months I have watched cable news networks frantically try to report the ever-changing narrative of presidential corruption. It occurs to me how wrong we can be about the strength of our foundation until it is tested.
And we are being tested.
Never before has any president trampled so many commonly held values and mores as the 45th president of the United States. His language and behavior are reproachable. His shallow understanding of his duties is frightening. His mean and vindictive attitude towards our enemies and allies alike is alarming. His cavalier attitude toward violence and the use of lethal force is disturbing. His fascination with dictators and despots is disquieting. And his willful disregard for the power and authority of the legislative and judicial branches of government to administer their oversight duties is appalling. Yet, we struggle to reign in this runaway presidency. We are unrecognizable…and at this moment, we seem to be failing the test.
Donald Trump made a mockery of our presidential election process, taunting and name-calling his republican opponents; speaking in a debased way about women, insulting African Americans and other minorities, stalking and intimidating his presidential opponent. Then, once elected he showed himself to be a liar; fabricating everything from crowd size to whether he conspired with Russia in order to defeat his opponent. He has been foul-mouthed and combative and has engaged in nepotism and emolument violations. He has surrounded himself with unsavory characters who share his disposition and have a penchant for criminal activity that has resulted in their incarceration or likely threat of judicial action and/or incarceration.
This president is a clear and present danger to the well-being of our union, yet we struggle to find a remedy to address the threat. It is clear that Trump is unfit to hold the most powerful office in the world. But there is the politics of it.
The Democrat-led House has long known the need to impeach the president; the constitutional remedy for an anarchic president. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi questioned whether the public would support such a move. So for her, the fact that Trump clearly was guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors was less impactful than the possibility of a public backlash towards the Democratic Party over impeachment. Then, once gaining the courage and the whistle-blowers’ report, the democrats have struck out on a path toward impeachment, but the republicans cower in the corners of the legislative building hiding from the news media, lest they be asked to state an opinion.
They, like the democrats, are waiting for it to be politically expedient to voice their true opinion about this unruly occupant of the Oval Office. Of course, they do not wish to give up their opportunity to seat more judges, decrease the number of brown people breaching our border or give more tax cuts to the rich. And, there is the possibility that Vice President Pence may be caught up in the bog of impeachment, which would give way for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be named the president. And, of course, if the president is impeached, what does that mean for Republican control of the legislature and the presidency in 2020? So, as all these entities stand by waiting for a clear win to exercise their constitutional duty our nation falters.
The Founding Fathers had an outstanding plan. It was a well thought out, well-written plan based on the consensus of those charged with setting up a new government. However, any plan is only as strong as its weakest link.
Over the past 3 years, we have experienced an alarming attack on our constitutional norms. The strength of our foundation has been tested. It remains to be seen whether we will withstand the test.
If the legislature cannot or will not meet its constitutional duty to protect America from a rogue presidency, then our way of life will forever be changed. This is a test we must not fail.
