Resurrecting Democracy

Trump and Covid

Trump and Covid 19

            Robert A. Levine

Don’t let Covid dominate your life. It’s just like the flu. I feel better than I have in twenty years. These comments came from President Trump after he left Walter Reed Hospital, most likely AMA- against medical advice. But since Covid landed on our shores, it has dominated Trump’s life as he tried unsuccessfully to get the disease under control. But when you have no plan or strategy to manage the disease, how can you get it under control. Taking measures that your gut tells you are right, will not do it. A long term strategy is needed. And because of his inability to control Covid and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died, Trump is likely to lose the election next month.

As Trump revealed to Bob Woodward on tape, he knew how devastating the disease was going to be from the onset because it was airborne and there were no treatments. But he did not want to panic the country and did not tell the public what they were up against. And he went after it piece meal. The country did not have early testing capability and still does not have rapid tests available everywhere. Personal protective equipment was lacking for many first responders and initially there was a shortage of ventilators. But for some reason, Trump did not want to invoke the Emergency Authorization Act to get the equipment that the first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital personnel needed.

And Trump has refused from the outset to take the emergency mitigation measures that were recommended by infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists. Even at this stage where he has tested positive for the disease, he has poo-pooed wearing a mask, and social distancing. People thought that after having been infected with Covid 19, Trump would be more understanding and more reasonable about taking mitigation measures. But that never happened.

Back in the White House, Trump also put the kibosh on any new money for Covid relief. Less than a month before the election, Trump alienated millions of Americans who are suffering because they lost their jobs or were furloughed and needed financial relief badly. His move spooked the markets and after that, Trump reversed course and said that he was open to negotiating a Covid relief bill.

But his behavior since he was discharged from the hospital has been strange, especially his handling of Covid relief. Any politician in his or her right mind would never have cut aid right before an election. Apparently, he has also acted bizarrely at times in the White House. Covid does not just affect the lungs and can involve virtually any organ in the body. Trump’s conduct may be the result of Covid impacting his brain. It can strike the brain directly with the virus causing a mild or serious encephalitis, or it can cause strokes because the blood coagulates more easily. The steroid treatment, dexamethasone, may also affect the brain and cause various symptoms. Some people on steroids get high and manic, feeling invulnerable and that they can accomplish anything. Steroids can also affect cognitive function and thought processes may not be as clear as previously. A small percentage of steroid patients become psychotic or paranoid and the medication has to be stopped.

Over the next several weeks, Trump must be carefully observed by his physicians in the White House to be certain his thinking is not impaired and his actions are reasonable. He remains at risk for long term symptoms.

www.robertlevinebooks.com

The Uninformed Voter- available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Mail-In Voting Fraud

Mail-In Voting Fraud

            Robert A. Levine

Trump is scared. If he loses the election he could wind up in jail for tax and bank fraud in New York. He would do anything to not lose the election. Aside from the possibility of jail, he doesn’t want to go out being called a loser. That’s even worse than being called a crook or corrupt. Besides, he’s accustomed to being called a crook. So Trump is attacking the post office saying that mail-in ballots will promote fraud and the election will be rigged. He knows that mail-in balloting will be the key to the election. Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, it is expected that a large percent of votes will be through mail-in ballots- perhaps the majority. So to control the election and the delivery of ballots, he wants to control the post office. (To date, there has never been evidence of significant fraudulent voting with mail-in balloting.)

In this situation, he’s doing whatever he can to impede the functioning of the post office and delay the delivery of the mail. First of all, he appointed one of his major donors and supporters to take over the post office as Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, with no post office experience what-so-ever. He is the first Postmaster General in twenty years not to have been a post office veteran. Then DeJoy was directed to slow up the delivery of the mail and disallow any overtime from workers. A number of the top executives with years of experience running the post office have been transferred out of leadership jobs, replaced by untrained people. A hiring freeze on personnel has also been instituted. Trump and DeJoy are doing everything possible to sabotage the operation of the post office, though DeJoy insists the election with its mail-in ballots will go smoothly.

The post office has long been losing money and needs subsidies from Congress to run efficiently which Trump and the Republicans refuse to provide. Trump does not want the post office to run efficiently as he wants the election with mail-in ballots to be chaotic. The worse it is, the happier Trump will be with his claims of the election being fixed. Bizarrely, in his statements he has been differentiating between absentee ballots which he and his family have been using for years and mail-in ballots many of which he claims are fraudulent. But they are exactly the same.

It is surprising that GOP Senators have not been more active trying to legislate more funding for the post office as many of their rural constituents are dependent on the mail in the areas where they live. They get their medications, bills and documents through the mail. But the GOP senators are obviously afraid to cross Trump. As his numbers go down in the polls, Trump looks for other ways to win the election beside control of the Electoral College. The post office is the likely candidate for his machinations. If he can steal the election, he’ll do it. Trump is a man without principles or morals who cares not a whit for the nation. Everything he does is to benefit Trump. And if he has to destroy the post office, well too bad.

The Uninformed Voter on Amazon

www.robertlevinebooks.com

Voter Fraud, Voter Suppression

Voter Fraud, Voter Suppression

                        Robert A. Levine

Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for president in this election are concerned about the possibility of voter fraud. However, the origin of this supposed fraud differs markedly between the candidates. Trump and his Republican buddies are raving and ranting about voter fraud coming from ineligible voters in America who vote to support Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket. These supposed fraudsters consist of illegal aliens who have no voting rights and convicted felons who have not been certified to vote again. The latter in some states have to pay criminal penalties and court costs before being allowed to cast a ballot.

Trump and the GOP are worried that these felons will choose to vote by mail and will not pay their debt to society before voting again. For poor people who may be unemployed, this is like paying a poll tax before they can vote. In a state referendum in Florida, felons were given the right to vote, but the Republican legislature took it away from most of them by passing payment legislation before allowing felons to vote. Trump and the Republicans are focusing on absentee or mail-in voting as the source of fraud. This is so even though Trump and his family have been voting by mail for years along with millions of other citizens. There has never been any hard evidence that fraud is a problem in mail in voting.

However, we must remember that the Republicans have been the force behind voter suppression for years and mail-in voting is another opportunity for them to foment discord. Trump and other Republicans have said that if every American were allowed to vote, the Republicans would never win another election. They know that changing demographics certainly makes it more difficult for Republicans to legitimately win elections, so they do what they can to change the rules to make it more difficult for Democratic voters to cast ballots. Thus we see voter ID laws in some GOP controlled states and other mechanisms to suppress Democratic turnout and voting, along with gerrymandering.

And with the increased numbers of mail-in and absentee ballots because of the Corona virus, the Republicans see this as a way to claim fraud and to sew doubts in the minds of their supporters. We hear this repeated over and over and expect it to continue to be repeated until the time of the election so Trump can claim the voting was rigged.

On the other hand, Biden and his backers are concerned about fraud in the election coming from different sources. They are worried about foreign interlopers playing a role in the election, hacking into the voting software of some states, spreading false information and misinformation on social media sites and doing whatever they can to have Americans distrust the election results. In addition to Russian interference, there is concern about China, North Korea and Iranian involvement. These nations want Americans to lose even more faith in American institutions and show the world that democracy does not work.

Thus there are worries about fraudulent elections in both the Republican and Democratic camps. However, there has been no evidence to date about fraud occurring due to absentee or mail-in balloting. And we know that the Russians already played an important role in getting Trump elected in 2016. With Trump currently at the helm of American democracy, one wonders just how aggressive he will be to make certain that other nations do not interfere in America’s elections. So far, everything he does appears to be for his own benefit and his handling of the Corona virus and race relations have been disastrous. Why should anyone expect him to uphold the integrity of the American electoral system when it is likely that it will land him out of the White House and onto the street? And will Congress supply enough money to provide protection on state levels against foreign hacking? So far, Republicans don't seem inclined.

www.robertlevinebooks.com

The Uninformed Voter available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Voting in the Era of the Corona Virus

Voting in the Era of the Corona Virus

                        Robert A. Levine

Since Reconstruction ended a century and a half ago, the white power structure, particularly in the South but in other states as well, have used various mechanisms to try and suppress black and minority voting. Initially, those in power were conservative white Democrats, but over the last half century they have been supplanted by conservative white Republicans. Starting with poll taxes and threats to black voters by the KKK, it has morphed into gerrymandering, voter ID laws, purging of voter rolls of minority citizens and making voting more difficult for blacks. This was achieved by decreasing the number of polling places in black neighborhoods and cutting the number of hours polling places were open. And any slight deviation from the registration forms and the voter’s ID would immediately disqualify that voter.

In this era of the Corona virus, where people are afraid of contact with strangers, one would have thought that attempts to make the voting process easier and faster, and remotely when possible, would have been pushed by politicians. Instead, President Trump and the Republicans have been trying to make voting as difficult as they can. Trump has said on numerous occasions that voting by mail would increase fraud without providing any proof of this and the Republicans have followed his lead. With many people housebound or reluctant to come out and wait on line, especially older voters, voting remotely by mail would seem to make perfect sense. And there is no reason to think that mail voting would encourage fraud. But Trump and the Republicans do not want to make voting easier for blacks and minorities, for then they would be more likely to vote. Actually, voting by mail with a paper ballot as a record of everyone’s vote would appear to make it less likely that fraud would occur.

But it is not just Republican politicians who are suppressing votes. Citizen’s apathy is also playing a role. (From new book- The Uninformed Voter.)- Many Americans are uninterested in voting and lack knowledge of the candidates and issues for which they should be casting their ballots. There are a number of reasons voters are devoid of information about the government, candidates and issues in the United States. A critical factor is the absence of national standards in the schools seeking proficiency in history and civics. And lack of civic knowledge due to deficient education is connected to a decrease in voting, volunteering, and more distrust of government among younger citizens. A decline in the quality of journalism in America also contributes, where there are attempts at false equivalency regarding the ideas of the two parties: ie the reality of global warming and its effects on the planet vs denial and support for fossil fuels. The proliferation of online news sites spewing fake news also advances political ignorance. And political advertising may confuse Americans. It is estimated the Koch brothers spent from $300 to $400 million dollars promoting their political ideas in the 2018 election cycle, up from about $250 million in 2016. A Bloomberg Poll in 2015 revealed that 78 percent of respondents wanted the Supreme Court to turn off the spigot of political spending.

In addition, since many voters believe their votes are inconsequential, it may be considered rational for them not to spend their time learning about government and politics. And it is likely that most of these voters do not analyze the reasons why they are uninformed. Though America is seen by much of the world as the prototype of an advanced democracy, many of its citizens are disinterested or lazy when it comes to vetting the candidates they support and understanding important issues. Tribal allegiance often replaces information. The ignorance of the electorate is actually breathtaking when Americans are asked questions about politics, history, geography, and current events. Thus uninformed and misinformed voters and those who neglect to vote because of apathy are responsible for the nation’s dysfunctional government.

It would seem that with or without the Corona virus pandemic, voting by mail would be the preferred method, making it easier for everyone so that a higher percentage of citizens would vote, and lessening the incidence of fraud. But we must remember that Trump and the Republicans do not want more people to vote, particularly minorities who would be more likely to vote for Democratic candidates. Universal voting by mail will eventually happen but it may take a while.

The Uninformed Voter

www.robertlevinebooks.com

On Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Trump, the Story-Teller

            Robert A. Levine

Donald missed his true vocation. He is the 20^th and 21^st century reincarnation of the brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm who created Grimm’s Fairy Tales, a series of fantastic stories to entertain (and scare) children so they would be good little boys and girls. Trump also makes up stories to entertain his base and to scare his critics and rivals. And his stories are as fantasy-ridden and strange as those of the brothers Grimm.

His ability to entertain low-information voters was responsible for his success in 2016 and he is taking the same path in his repeat bid in 2020. But his stories are even more bizarre, filled with lies and dangerous information. The most important issue is that because of Trump’s repeated denial, America was unprepared for the Corona pandemic and many thousands of citizens died unnecessarily.

In the early days of the Corona pandemic, he predicted that the few cases present would go down to zero shortly. Then he kept telling Americans that the virus was under control. Among his other stories were that anyone who wanted a test would be able to get one and that the virus would disappear as the warm weather arrived in April. Then he wanted people to take disinfectants or antiseptics to clean out the virus. And he has never dissociated himself from the hydroxychloroquin scam as a cure for Corona, even apparently taking it himself for several weeks. (His family had large holdings of stock in the company that produced the drug.)

His story-telling to keep his base enthralled and attentive has continued with his response to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. He labelled the rioters and looters as Antifa members without any evidence behind his claims. And a 75 year old man who was badly injured by the police in Buffalo was also called Antifa by Trump with no proof. Trump has insisted as well that the time he spent in a White House bunker was for inspection and not for protection.

His embrace of the military has not been reciprocated and we all should remember that Donald Trump was a draft dodger, getting out of the Vietnam War because of “bone spurs” that never prevented him from doing anything else. However, as long as Trump is able to make up stories, there will be voters who listen and praise him. And in his base there are also wealthy individuals who love Trump not for his stories, but for his tax cuts and gutting of federal regulations. But unfortunately, for most Americans Trump’s time in office has been truly Grimm, filled with lies and stories. Too many voters are uninformed and gullible.

(From my new book- The Uninformed Voter) The phenomenon of an uninformed electorate explains why the present democratic model is incompatible with capable governing, despite its freedom and the system’s attraction for many of the world’s peoples living under oppressive regimes. Citizens in the dark regarding the issues when voting, frequently elect officials who are unprepared, inept, partisan, and sometimes venal to run the nation’s governments. Not surprisingly, these officials often do not perform competently in the positions for which they have been chosen. 

Currently, democracy universally may be at a tipping point, with autocratic states arising from democratic nations by the will of the people, who are not aware or do not care about the freedom they are surrendering. And remaining democracies must deal with nationalism and populism, along with citizens’ fear of globalism. A degree of nationalism is not necessarily bad with citizens of a country connected by a national identity. But when extreme, nationalism becomes a problem and minorities are deprecated, harassed or persecuted because they are different and their heritage and culture may vary from the majority.

Whether or not Trump agrees, Black Lives Matter and there is excessive police brutality. And the majority of Americans believe this is so no matter what stories Trump concocts.

The Uninformed Voter

www.robertlevinebooks.com

On Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Uninformed Voters, BLM and the Covid 19 Pandemic

Uninformed Voters, BLM and the Covid 19 Pandemic

                                    Robert A. Levine

The nation today is in the midst of two crisis- the Covid 19 epidemic and the Black Lives Matter demonstrations due to police brutality and the death of George Floyd. Both of these problems have spiraled out of control due to ineffective leadership resulting from uninformed voters. For democracy to function properly, voters must be knowledgeable about the candidates running for office, their positions on the issues, what the issues are, and how the government operates. Unfortunately, a large proportion of voters today are uninformed about these matters when they cast their ballots, making their decisions on the basis of tribal affiliations. Thus we have leaders who are ill-equipped to deal with problems of the current magnitude.

If the Covid 19 pandemic had been addressed earlier and properly, tens of thousands of American lives could have been saved. Even now after months of contagion, the nation still does not have adequate testing available no matter what lies spew from the White House. Nations like South Korea, Taiwan and Germany have handled the epidemic much more effectively than the United States which has the highest number of deaths in the world.

The problem with police brutality directed at African-Americans has been around since slavery was abolished over a century and a half ago. While bias towards blacks may not be as overt as in the past, it is still present, with law enforcement unfairly targeting blacks for various offenses and non-offenses. And at times it results in death or serious injury to black men and women which is completely unwarranted. Every person in this nation should be accountable for his or her actions including the police. Until qualified immunity for the police is struck down and they must answer for their conduct, justice will not be served. Politicians must take on the police unions to reform the laws and voters must be aware of the failures of our elected officials when they vote.

The following is from my book- The Uninformed Voter- Another example of voters’ lack of information are in those areas of the country where large segments of the population are dependent on federal government largesse for their survival but vote for politicians who want smaller government and to cut programs the people need. That is, if they vote at all. In general, people who most require government transfers are least likely to vote. In Harlan County, Kentucky, 54 percent of resident’s income came from government programs in 2016 such as Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), and earned income tax credits. Yet the voters in 2016 cast their ballots overwhelmingly for Trump and the Republicans who wanted to curb these programs.

The voters seemed unaware how they got the food stamps and other federal benefits that help them live day to day, backing the GOP because of cultural issues and gun rights. In other words, they are motivated by right-wing tribalism which works to their economic detriment. And this is true year after year in many rural counties throughout the nation where the people do not understand the ways government helps them. They listen to conservative radio and television stations that rail against big government and wasteful spending and believe whatever they hear. Though they are receiving government welfare, they associate that with blacks and minorities in urban areas, not with what they are getting. And they resent the fact that the government has been unable to stem the decline in their communities.

The phenomenon of an uninformed electorate explains why the present democratic model is incompatible with capable governing, despite its freedom and the system’s attraction for many of the world’s peoples living under oppressive regimes. Citizens in the dark regarding the issues when voting, frequently elect officials who are unprepared, inept, partisan, and sometimes venal to run the nation’s government. Not surprisingly, these officials often do not perform competently in the positions for which they have been chosen, evident in their handling of the Covid 19 pandemic, police brutality, criminal justice reform and bias against blacks.

The Uninformed Voter

www.robertlevinebooks.com

The Consequences of Uninformed Voters

The Consequences of Uninformed Voters

                        Robert A. Levine

Our nation currently is immersed in two major tragedies: the Covid virus pandemic and the brutal murder of an African-American man, George Floyd, by a Minneapolis police team. The first tragedy has been made infinitely worse by the anemic response by the White House, with inadequate testing and the required quarantines resulting in numerous unnecessary deaths. The administration’s primary objectives have been to present the escalating pandemic in the best possible light for the president and to open up the economy quickly to aid the president in his re-election bid in November- rather than in saving the maximum number of lives and getting the pandemic under control before reopening.

The police murder of a black man in Minneapolis and the nationwide riots that have followed have reinforced evidence of the lack of presidential leadership. There have been no soothing words, no signs of empathy and no plan spelled out by the president about dealing with the specter of racism and the continuing confrontations between police and minority communities. Racism is not a new problem but ingrained in America from before the nation’s birth. Compelling educational and other programs to combat racism and poverty need to originate from the federal government and the states if America is to return to peace and prosperity.

Both faulty leadership and continuing racism have their roots in ballots cast by uninformed voters wo know little about the candidates, the issues and how the government functions. Candidates are often elected who are incompetent or corrupt and who are incapable of advancing the nation on the road to equality and prosperity. Our democracy is not working adequately for the overwhelming majority of our citizens.

The response to the Corona virus by the federal government, the persistence of racism among some elements of the nation’s police and segments of the population are manifestations of the failures of the federal government. The demonstrations are signs of citizens’ unhappiness with the current system, with criminals and extremists on both the left and the right taking advantage of what started as peaceful protests. For decades, change has been promised not only for African-Americans but for other minorities and for poor whites who see no future for themselves. A government is necessary that will be responsive to the needs of all Americans and that will truly provide equality of opportunity.

(Following from my new book, The Uninformed Voter) In fact, there are some analysts who question whether the system in place in America can truly be designated democracy. Is it democracy when elected officials do whatever is possible to keep people from the polls who might vote for the other party? Is it democracy when gerrymandering is permitted by the courts to guarantee victory for one party in an engineered district? Is it democracy when affluent citizens are allowed to use their money to control the political dialogue under the supposed banner of free speech? Is it democracy when a president can get elected while losing the popular vote by nearly three million ballots because of an arcane law devised over two and a quarter centuries ago?  Is it democracy when senators from the 26 least populous states, representing 18 percent of the nation’s citizens can determine the laws of the land? Is it democracy when the vast majority of citizens want sensible gun laws and the NRA lobby dictates what is acceptable? Is it democracy when economic inequality is so great that that the top 10 percent of the population owns 70 percent of the nation’s wealth?

What changes are necessary in America and globally to establish democratic political systems that work? Two objectives are paramount- politically knowledgeable voters and candidates for office who are ethical, efficient, and effective. However, if the first goal can be achieved, the second will follow.

(The Uninformed Voter by Robert A. Levine- on Amazon and Barnes and Noble)

Fauci the Giant Killer

Fauci the Giant Killer

            Robert A. Levine

He didn’t clamor up a beanstalk to find the Giant. In fact, the Giant invited him into his circle, hoping to use his medical credibility to bolster his own standing. The Giant had screwed up in a gigantic way as only a giant could in dealing with a major medical adversary that had slipped into his kingdom. The Giant, who by the way was named Donald, constantly advertised his own power and was certain that a tiny organism like the Corona virus would be unable to resist the giant’s strength. The virus would be no match for him and his armies of followers and would simply disappear in time without causing much damage to the country or the economy. (The economy was the Giant’s favorite project and he spent considerable time touting his prowess in building the strongest economy of all time, at least when he wasn’t sleeping or on the golf course.)

So Donald the Giant told the country in February that the Corona virus was not a significant enemy and would disappear after one person had died from the virus. Then a few weeks later, he said it would vanish after about fifteen people had been killed. And the Giant kept underplaying the viruses’ potency, making no preparations to fight the virus because he believed his own words, bolstered by his ignorance. He started having daily press conferences to follow the course of the virus, with some of his medical counselors on the podium to provide medical information and credibility. Fauci and Birx. The deaths continued to grow and parts of the Giant’s kingdom were shut down by its governors.

Fauci and other medical counselors continued to warn the Giant that the virus was a powerful adversary and was not going to just go away. In fact, the virus was going to increase its attacks on the Giant’s subjects, sickening and killing them. Still, the Giant refused to believe the warnings of his medical counselors, deciding that he knew more than they did and that his gut feelings were more important than their scientific expertise. So the Giant kept telling his subjects he had everything under control and that even if a few people became sick and possibly died, the virus was still going to magically disappear. At the worst, it would be gone by the warmth of April.

Yet it is still here in May. And all along the Giant refused to mobilize his legions to prepare for the onslaught of the virus, neglecting to develop adequate testing, neglecting to have adequate protective equipment for those fighting the virus, though he did suggest treatment with hydroxychloroquin which made death more likely. The Giant kept saying there was enough testing though Fauci contradicted him. He then said the virus would disappear and not come back in the fall and Fauci again disagreed with him in public.

It reached a point where it seemed that Fauci was no longer welcome up on the podium with the Giant because his words had more resonance than Donald’s with Donald’s subjects. And then the Giant began coming out with all kinds of cockamamie ideas to fight the virus like injecting disinfectants and ultraviolet light. Still, there were not enough tests available.

And Fauci and the medical advisors provided a timeline for the states to reopen which the Giant ignored, so anxious was he to get the economy going. Subsequently, the Giant’s approval ratings started dropping while Fauci’s soared. There was a petition to rate Fauci as the sexiest man alive which must have really hurt the Giant who claimed he was the smartest and believed he was the sexiest and most powerful man on the planet. And in his inner sanctum, the Giant raged and raged.

But the virus did not care a whit as it kept spreading and killing more and more Americans, disregarding the Giant’s remarks about it disappearing. And as the states began opening up to boost the economy and the Giant’s electoral chances, there are still not enough tests to open up safely. Fauci remains admired, the Giant blamed by many of his subjects for not taking the virus seriously at the beginning and lessening the number of deaths.

Resurrecting Democracy

www.robertlevinebooks.com

Rip Van Winkle Republicans

Rip Van Winkle Republicans                                                                                                                                 

Robert A. Levine

Have the Republicans been completely asleep during the last three years, recently awakening as their elected officials voted in the House and Senate. There is no other way to explain the GOP actions the last week. In the Senate, they refused to call for witnesses in the Trump impeachment trial though over 70 percent of Americans wanted to hear from any relevant witnesses. Aside from citizens’ desire for witnesses, John Bolton and Lev Parnas indicated a willingness to testify before the Senate suggesting that they had much information of interest. But neither the electorate’s wishes nor the willingness of two witnesses with first hand information swayed Mitch McConnell and the Republicans to call for additional testimony. They had already made up their minds as to the outcome of the impeachment and were not going to let the facts or the truth get in the way. Better that they and the nation did not hear what had really happened from people who knew the facts.

Remember also that all the Republicans in the Senate took oaths swearing to be impartial in judging the impeachment of Trump. Yet McConnell said he was working with Trump and the White House to get the trial over with as quickly as possible and that he knew that Trump was innocent even before the House managers presented their cases. That really shows the impartiality oaths were BS and made the oath meaningless. Actually, it was worse than meaningless as McConnell was working on behalf of the defendant. All the Republicans in the House had already voted against impeachment and their colleagues in the Senate joined in, aside from Mitt Romney, in acquitting Trump of the charges. These were supposedly religious Republicans who took the oaths.

Had these elected Republican officials been asleep since Trump’s tenure in the White House started.  While Trump was only being tried for his actions regarding the blackmail of the Ukrainian president, there had been so many lies and questionable behavior since Trump came to power. Yet the Republicans were not moved by his overall conduct and were happy to have him retain his position. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, wrote in an OpEd that the GOP senators’ votes were driven by a fear of Trump and his vindictiveness and cruelty. This was undoubtedly true and it was fear and not sleep that was responsible for their votes. They embodied Portraits in Cowardice.

But how do we explain the rise in Trumps’s approval ratings from the general population who had no reason to fear Trump. Had they been asleep or just not paying attention to what had been going on in Washington. Or did they just disregard Trump’s unethical actions and enjoy him as an entertainer. Maybe they were just dreaming. Trump’s approval ratings from the public jumped from 41 percent to 49 percent. Being mean and vindictive and corrupt seemed to be good in the average Americans’ eyes. It seems unbelievable to any rational person. Maybe the whole country has been sleeping during the last three years?

Resurrecting Democracy

www.robertlevinebooks.com

Patriotism and Impeachment

Patriotism and Impeachment

                        Robert A. Levine

America and its democracy are currently facing the greatest crisis since the Nixon years. It all comes down to Republican partisans putting party before country. Led by President Trump who maneuvered to get out of the draft during the Vietnam War and who has always placed his business interests and himself before his country, the GOP is almost unanimous in its support of this corrupt president. It has reached a point where a number of Republican Senators have said they are not even going to watch the impeachment hearings, having already made up their mind about the president’s innocence before hearing the evidence.

Has there ever been a time where so many elected officials were willing to protect an obviously corrupt and deceitful president. In fact, Trump appears to have a greater allegiance to Putin and Russia than he has to the United States. His initial withdrawal of US troops from Syria benefited Russia and Iran and betrayed our allies, the Kurds. His denigration of NATO was helpful for his buddy Putin. His withholding of Congressionally approved weapons for Ukraine was again beneficial for Putin and Russia.

And when has a president met with a foreign leader without any other American officials in the room as Trump did with Putin in Helsinki? Doesn’t that raise suspicions about some sort of covert agreement between Trump and Putin. Yet the Republicans who were once very leery of the Russians made no fuss over the meeting.

The Mueller report also put things in perspective in terms of the Russian aid to Trump in 2016 when he was running for president. Again, the GOP ignored the evidence about Trump and Russia’s participation in America’s affairs.

In reality, the impeachment is not just about Trump’s attempts at bribing Ukraine’s President Zelinsky to find information that showed corrupt behavior by Biden’s son Hunter and withholding needed US arms from the Ukrainians. It is really about the entire catalogue of self-dealing, lies, fraud and corruption by Trump which the Republicans have refused to acknowledge, much less condemn.

What happened to the days when patriotism ruled this country and elected officials did what they believed was in the best interest of the US. Trump avoided the draft during the Vietnam War and none of his actions have ever showed patriotism. He even stole money from a Veterans Charity- $2 million- to help his presidential campaign. Trump doesn’t care about the sacrifices veterans made for America as they are beyond the understanding of this self-dealing official.

But what is just as sad are the Republican members of Congress and Senators who listen to officials like Ambassador Taylor and Deputy Secretary Kent of the State Department who have served America well in both the military and diplomatic corps. They and others have delineated actions by Trump and his entourage that clearly indicate the use of bribery and extortion of the Ukrainian president by Trump to get dirt on Biden if the Ukrainians expect to get military assistance from the US. But the Republican officials twist the words of those testifying against Trump and smear them with all kinds of nefarious lies to challenge the veracity of what they are saying.

What happened to the patriotism of Americans elected to public office? How can they back Trump when it is obvious that he is corrupt and a danger to our country? How can their political party be more important than the Constitution and the norms of governing? And while all this is going on, the majority of Americans pay scant attention, continuing with their tribal allegiances, unaware or not caring about the corrupt behavior of those they elect.                                                               Resurrecting Democracy                                                                                                                  www.robertlevinebooks.com