The Republican party has spent the last thiry-five years trying to gut American democracy. Now that they've managed to install a president who thinks he's a king, they're moving one big step closer to getting their wish. This portion is from Josh Marshall's report:
This is not something that happens in a democracy. As Digby points out:
I think it's a mistake to focus on Trump: he's merely the means. If you look at the Republicans' scare tactics regarding "voter fraud," attacks on the courts, giving the nod to police brutality directed toward minorities, and the relentless chipping away at civil rights since the days of St. Ronnie, it's clear that Trump may very well be the end game -- if we manage to avoid being incinerated because of his bully boy posturing. If you think I'm seeing conspiracies, note this article: the key point here is that Congressional Republicans are fully on board with the anti-Clinton witch hunt.
I still wonder if New Zealand is far enough away.
That said, the Times account is much clearer on the politics involved. The Times notes that the letter comes ten days after Trump publicly demanded that the DOJ go after Clinton. And then there’s this graf …
The decision to examine those matters raises questions about whether Mr. Trump is trying to use the Justice Department to investigate his political rivals and distract from the special counsel’s investigation into his presidential campaign. It also comes at a tenuous time for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom Mr. Trump has hinted to advisers he may want to fire. People close to the White House believe Mr. Sessions can stop the president from firing him by appointing a special counsel to investigate the uranium deal. Before leaving for a trip to Asia this month, Mr. Trump expressed his frustration with the Justice Department.
To not get ahead of ourselves, it is important to note that the letter in question only says that Sessions is considering the right course to take and that appointing a special counsel is just one option. But make no mistake: this is as bad as it looks. A President is demanding that federal law enforcement go after his political enemies. And federal law enforcement appears ready to comply.
This is not something that happens in a democracy. As Digby points out:
Threatening to jail your political rivals is something you don't see in advanced democracies. That's the way it's done in banana republics and totalitarian dictatorships, and it says everything you need to know about Trump.
I think it's a mistake to focus on Trump: he's merely the means. If you look at the Republicans' scare tactics regarding "voter fraud," attacks on the courts, giving the nod to police brutality directed toward minorities, and the relentless chipping away at civil rights since the days of St. Ronnie, it's clear that Trump may very well be the end game -- if we manage to avoid being incinerated because of his bully boy posturing. If you think I'm seeing conspiracies, note this article: the key point here is that Congressional Republicans are fully on board with the anti-Clinton witch hunt.
I still wonder if New Zealand is far enough away.
No comments:
Post a Comment