Except for a very small minority, almost all Republicans in Congress are petrified of the president and do his bidding out of fear.
President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2018. (Photo: Evan Vucci, The A)
There is so much at stake in the Nov. 6 election, when America goes to the polls to cast their votes on the congressional and Senate races. Our nation is in crisis. After almost two years of President Donald Trump, the very foundations that America rests on are beginning to crack. The checks and balances built into our form of government are under attack and they are no longer always working.
The oversight powers of Congress over the president are meaningless due to the Republican abandonment of this most important obligation. Except for a very small minority, almost all Republicans in Congress are petrified of the president and do his bidding out of fear of his wrath — no matter how outrageous Trump's demands.
Nothing Trump says can be believed. Everything Trump says must be cross-checked for truthfulness. Since becoming president his lies are in the thousands. His description of women and his mocking of Christine Blasey Ford are just two examples of the level of Trump's animal behavior. The man has debased the office of the presidency beyond anyone's ability to describe. It will only get worse.
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Last week, Trump spoke of possibly sending the U.S. military to seal our southern border. This is truly frightening. Trump does not realize he does not possess the authority to issue such an order and if he did it would be an illegal order. A federal statute known as the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the use of the military for law enforcement without the approval of Congress. Also, a recent directive from the Secretary of Defense prohibits the use of the military for law enforcement.
'Oppose the evil that is Trump'
Every member of our military subject to the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) would be obligated to disobey such an order. Just broaching the subject shows how dangerous Trump is and were he to issue such an order we would have a crisis of unparalleled proportions.
Our American values, our many freedoms, and our very core rights are far more important than tax breaks, a booming economy and jobs. We Americans must continue to oppose the evil that is Trump.
Which brings me back to what can the American people do. We need Congress to exercise its oversight duties. That means when you vote on Nov. 6, it is imperative to vote for people who are not Trump supporters. In this case it will be mostly Democrats.
The minimum that has to be accomplished is for the Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives. That will result in a substantial crosscheck on Trump. It is just a start but from there we can all work to deny Trump's re-election in two years. I cannot imagine what we are in for if Trump maintains control of both houses of Congress.
Bob Yudin is former chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization. This column first appeared in The North Jersey Record.
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viva_la_vinyl on November 3rd, 2018 at 11:41 UTC »
Scubalefty on November 3rd, 2018 at 11:31 UTC »
Here's a nice thought. If the GOP loses control of the House, which appears likely, the new Chair of the Financial Services Committee (think subpoena powers) is more likely than not going to be Maxine Waters.
Trombosaurus on November 3rd, 2018 at 11:28 UTC »
A well-written piece by a registered Republican. A few highlights:
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