The Screaming Moderate

Trump isn't sending us back, he's setting us back

7/18/2019

Chants of “send her back” at President Trump’s political rally last night did not start spontaneously. Someone from his campaign, I’m sure, started yelling the ugly phrase and the crowd, stirred up by Their Leader’s rhetoric, picked it up. Much like that “lock her up" chant of 2016.

When I read about the chant this morning, I literally cried. I didn’t watch his rally because I figured I’ve seen it all before. His comment the other day of “go back to where you came from,” was racist. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission specifically cites the phrase as the type of language that could violate anti-discrimination employment laws.

For his packed house of rally-goers to pick up the chant enthusiastically demonstrates that Trump is taking our country to the brink of destruction. He manipulates his supporters to reach his ends. Trump comes alive when surrounded by his supporters and he takes cynical advantage of them to perpetuate his politics of hate.

Many politicians have been labeled “Machiavellian” over the years but Trump could have authored the book. Nothing is more important to him than winning -- or his perception of winning. No American ideal or tradition or even law is beyond his violating and leveraging to his ends.

Consider a few quotes from Machiavelli:

“It is better to be feared than loved.” (Listen up, Republicans in Congress)

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” (His Cabinet members have the half-life of a gnat)

“If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance will not be feared.” (Pick anyone he's selected to be the target of his anger)

See what I mean?

Someone Machiavellian is defined as "sneaky, cunning and lacking a moral code."

See what I mean?

In modern psychology, Machiavellianism is the name of a personality trait characterized by “a duplicitous interpersonal style, a cynical disregard for morality, a lack of empathy and a focus on self-interest and personal gain.”

See what I mean?

It truly is imperative this man be defeated next year. Given a second term, we can see where our country is headed. At the moment, Trump has no fear because he pays no consequences – neither Republicans in Congress nor his base weaken their support no matter what he says. That soothes him. He probably could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.

With another full term we all can see the destination he’s leading us to -- destruction of the greatest country the world has ever known.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been right to avoid too much talk of impeachment or to allow articles of impeachment to be drawn. She knows that without bi-partisan support and the support of the American people, impeachment will fail.

Only the 2020 election can stop him.

The question is no longer “how low will Trump stoop,” the question is how long will this country allow him to trample on our values, traditions and laws?

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' What have you got to lose?"

7/16/2019

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Toward the end of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign he made a plea to African American voters. He asked them: “What have you got to lose?”

If any one of those voters couldn’t answer that question then, and weren’t certain of their answer a week ago, they now know the answer: Everything.

Some in the media and talking heads are asking why some in the media are calling Trump’s racist tweets targeting four brown-skinned women in the Congress were racist. That is the press’ job, to report honestly and objectively. It isn’t a judgement. It’s a fact. Telling Americans to “go back to their country” is a phrase that goes back decades. It is established as a racist comment. (Those of us of a certain age will recall during the 1960s being told "My Country Right or Wrong." Not a racist comment but a just as ridiculous one.)

The President has shown his prejudices many times during his life, let alone his campaign for and during his presidency. I won’t go through the litany. Others are doing a good job of reminding us of his Mexicans are rapists comments, his "that judge is prejudiced against me because he’s Mexican" comment, and on and on.

As bad as his making these comments, he is doing it not because of the fact that he is a racist but for political gain. Clearly, he thinks that by making the four brown-skinned congresswomen the face(s) of the Democratic Party that he gains an edge in his reelection campaign. News Flash, Mr. President: You’ve already locked up the White Supremacist/racist vote.

The four Congresswomen have some way out there positions on issues and I agree their policies are too far a step. But argue their policies. Trump wants to make Democrats the party of brown-skinned people and Socialists.

I can’t imagine anyone who has brown skin voting for Trump – though I’m sure some will for whatever their reasons. I can’t imagine anyone who is an immigrant or comes from immigrant families (all of us) voting for him. But some will, whatever their reason. Some of those reasons are the economy. Some are conservative judges being appointed. Some are that he gives the appearance that he speaks truth to power.

The weak-kneed Republicans in Congress who have yet to condemn his comments are another story. Why do they hold back their criticism (which most of them have)? For partisan political gain.

Senate Majority Leader McConnell is running for reelection in a state (Kentucky) that gives Trump higher positive ratings than they give McConnell. He’s afraid to alienate those voters. As are the other cowards in his caucus. For partisan political gain.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi – like her or not, she is one smart leader – quickly came up with the idea of forcing Republicans in the House to vote on whether they should condemn the President or not for his comments by recommending a resolution condemning Trump’s tweets and comments.

My guess: Most will stay with the President on this.

For short-term, political gain and long-term destruction to this country.

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He was presidential, for 20 minutes

7/4/2019

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The first 20 minutes of President Trump’s July 4th speech were just fine (well, after he was introduced to the stage by a flyover of what is normally Air Force One). Well written and very well delivered.

Then, though, he began his introductions of each branch of the military’s flyovers. That’s when he took the celebration of our country’s birth and turned it into his own celebration of our country’s military might.

While our military is mighty and has served us more than well over the years, the 4th really is supposed to be more about our values than our might.

He finally gave himself that tribute he wanted ever since France paraded its might, properly, on Bastille Day in Paris when he was visiting.

So, while he didn’t do his typical off the cuff speech about how great he thinks he is and how much he thinks he’s done for the country, he did wrap himself in our heroes in the military for an hour tonight.

Had he wrapped his speech after those first 20 minutes, he likely would have won praise for not fully hijacking the Fourth and truly giving a speech that reach presidential standards.. But, he still couldn’t stop himself.

Let’s hope we get back to the traditional Fourth next year. Our birth is worth celebrating. Our power to kill is not.

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Trump Diplomacy at work

6/30/2019

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President Trump’s behavior at the G-20 meeting in Japan may have hit a new low mark, even for him.

He sat with America’s biggest enemy – Russia’s Vladimir Putin – and, when asked by a reporter if Trump would raise Russia’s meddling in our election in 2016 pointed a playful finger at the Russian side and mockingly reprimanded them. telling them not to meddle in our elections again! A fine laugh was shared by the leaders, a schoolgirl kind of giggle over their little inside joke. Clearly Russia will meddle again and clearly Trump knows (now if he didn't in 2016) that interference can only help him.

It was obvious that Trump at some point would say, see, I told Putin not to mess with us so quit asking me. And, indeed, in a press conference later he said about the exchange, “you have to look at the words.” Yes, sir, but you also have to watch the video – you said it with a laugh. I have a feeling that Putin took it, as did millions of others, as light-hearted banter and not a serious rebuke.

Next, as he said “thank you,” signaling the photo opp was over and the media should leave, he leaned again into his BFF Putin and said “fake news,” pointing at the exiting media and telling Putin “you don’t have that problem” or words to that effect. To which Putin, ever the joker himself, responded “yes we do.” A riotous remark because Russia does not have a free press and Putin literally has had killed some of his critics in journalism in Russia.

Trump had breakfast with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman who is alleged by a global investigation and our own intelligence agencies as the one who ordered the killing and slicing up of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In referring to this cold blooded killer Trump called him a “great man” and good friend of the United States.

Next, he tweeted out that he was going to visit the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea and playfully tweeted that if Kim Jong-Un, the North’s dictator and murderer-in-chief, wanted to meet him there for a handshake, that would be cool. Kim accepted the allegedly spontaneous offer.

Trump produced, then, what he thought would be a world-shattering photo opp of him stepping over the demarcation line, with Kim escorting him 20 steps into North Korea. The first time a sitting U.S. president has done that.

This, indeed, produced a historic photo opp for the leader – that leader being Kim who has been leveraging Trump for all he’s worth (not as much as he claims) to give him (Kim) legitimacy in the world. You’ll note that Kim says quite positive things about Trump – playing to the President’s ego and narcissism – but has done absolutely nothing about denuclearizing his country. He also speaks not so kindly about the secretary of state and others. Trump, of course, takes the fact that Kim has ordered no new nuclear tests as evidence of his diplomatic brilliance. Which he certainly can take some credit for until Kim does his next test and when that happens, you’ll see Kim no longer complimenting Trump.

Put those examples together and, even for Trump, it was the quickest one-two-three-four punch combination he’s ever mustered. But who was he punching? The murderers he met with or We the People and our allies?

Trump’s next big scheduled event is kidnapping the country’s formerly non-partisan celebration of the birth of our nation and turning it from a Tribute to America to a Tribute to Trump.

Ever since he witnessed a parade of military members and equipment in France, Trump has wanted his own such celebration. He’s going to get it on July 4.

He’s moved the fireworks to a new location and will deliver a speech during the party previously reserved as a joyous celebration of the birth of the greatest country the world has (had) ever seen. It’ll delay flights from Reagan Airport for security reasons and to make way for a Trump-ordered flyover of Air Force One, and it will close traffic on a main bridge to the District of Columbia, inconveniencing tens of thousands trying to make their way to celebrate our country and likely disappointing children who just want to see the fireworks and not hear a political speech.

Trump is making the Fourth a celebration of Trump. Not only unsurprising but making it appear that hundreds of thousands of people have made their way to Washington to celebrate Trump. He will no doubt take credit for the big turnout despite the fact that they were coming anyway and, in effect, he kidnapped them.

I know there are many Trump supporters out there. I know a few actually read this blog. I ask you: “You may support his presidency and approve of his policies. But do you really support his endorsing murderers (Putin, Bin Salmon, Kim) and his kidnapping what was a joyous, patriotic day of no politics and making it his own?” I mean, his campaign doesn’t even have to try to build a crowd – the fireworks crowd is baked in the cake, for heaven’s sake.

Fine with me if you agree with his policies. He won the election and has the right, of course, to put in policies he thinks are good for the country. Did his policies have anything to do with the economic recovery that started years before he was even nominated? Probably. Deregulation was greeted happily by the business community. It upset years of regulation aimed at keeping our environment clean and rules protecting workers, but it also likely contributed positively to t he economy.

But again, do you really support Trump putting his arm around three international murderers literally within hours of each other, joking with them as you would a neighbor at your holiday barbecue?

I know you think it’s fun when he hammers the free press, and sometimes they deserve it, but do you really want what Trump wants – a media that only lauds him and hides his bad side? Do you really accept a President who praises tyrants and murderers while talking down to our decades-long allies?

If you do, skip the celebration of the Fourth of July and enjoy the Tribute to Trump.

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Sarah, we definitely knew ye

6/18/2019

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Sarah Huckabee Sanders is winding down her final days as President Trump’s press secretary. Many would say “good riddance.” Some might ask, “Who comes next?”

The fact, believe it or not, is we probably will never do better than Sanders in this Administration. She has established the standard for a successful Trump press secretary: willing to lie about anything to please an audience of one.

Whoever follows her now knows what will make them successful – be willing to say anything that will make Trump a happy fellow. No one else matters. Nothing else matters: not the truth, not the fact that your salary is paid by the taxpayers not by the President, not being respectful toward those reporters trying to do their jobs. And knowing that beforehand means you will lie for him because you know that's a job requirement.

Sanders admitted lying when she told the special counsel that during a televised briefing she had heard from “countless” FBI employees positively when Trump fired the FBI director. She admitted to the special counsel this was a “slip of the tongue” – probably the biggest literal slip in history. It’s not like a word was off in an answer. She flat-out made the whole thing up. But she's lied hundreds of other times.

Having served as deputy press secretary to two presidents and head of press operations for a Cabinet member, the White House press secretary job, BS (before Sanders), served many important purposes. He or she was speaking for the United States Government and the President of the Free World. It was an important job. Markets paid attention to every word. Foreign governments, too.

As a Cabinet press person, you looked to the daily briefings for guidance on issues you often talked about. As staff to a press secretary you were meticulous in finding out the truth before handing the press secretary talking points to answer questions, not wanting to give false information.

Often, the daily briefing set the agenda for the day for the Administration. Often, in your research for the truth, you came upon facts that countered what a Cabinet official was saying and you served as an early warning to the President that something was amiss. You never wanted to offend the Cabinet member, but you wanted to be sure you spoke truth.

For Trump, tweets have replaced the daily messaging purpose the briefing served. He literally is his own press secretary and communications director, as we know.

Have other press secretaries lied? Probably, but not to the extent Sanders does. To her, a lie is a first option. To other press secretaries it was a response, that if you felt you had to lie, you’d probably resign first or convince the President and the chief of staff of a different, more honest answer. Call that “spin” – a word I always hated because it came to be perceived as lying. It isn’t. “Spin” is putting the best light on a dark situation. You can “spin” without lying.

Were there reporters the press office didn’t like in the past? I wouldn’t put it that way. I’d say there are reporters who weren’t as respected for their fairness (OK, that may qualify as “spin”). But were there reporters the press staff went out of their way to insult? No, not until this press secretary.

She has set the office back decades. She has ended the daily briefing. Now, I always thought the briefing could be improved, but I never thought it should be abandoned.

For one, when I was in the press office, we didn’t allow live TV coverage of briefings unless it served our purpose – a statement we wanted on camera so the press secretary was delivering the message directly on TV – say a bombing, or a message to a foreign leader. Mike McCurry, one of the best press secretaries to serve, opened the briefings to live TV during President Clinton’s term. And it served McCurry’s purposes at that moment in time (defending his boss during the Lewinsky matter). Later, it did not, but once you do it live, it's hard to stop because the TV news folks think you're taking away something they need (you are). McCurry today would say he made a mistake opening to cameras as a habit. My old boss, another of the best -- Marlin Fitzwater -- only opened briefings when it served our purpose.

Of course when McCurry opened the briefings, the only cable news network was CNN and there weren't the now prolific 24/7 talking heads filling up the airtime which also changed the nature of the press briefing.

When you are live on TV, you sweat each answer much more. The media, too, changes personalities. Off camera briefings typically were more serious and the occasional joke taken in context. There was good-natured give and take. On camera, you joke only if you think it serves a purpose – say to change the environment in the briefing room. Live, some correspondents grandstand for their bosses or the public. Do it the wrong way, and that footage is repeated forever on TV.

Bottom line: the public loses when there is no briefing. They lose because they aren’t getting the information they deserve for their tax dollars. The Administration also loses because often, to get a concrete answer ready for the briefing, you might speed up a decision process; or drop a potentially embarrassing topic from the policy review. You also can't go "on background" or "off the record", which serves a useful purpose sometimes by giving more detail than you can say on the record. On TV, you can't be on background. So, the reporters often lose a useful tool to better give their stories context.

Instead of using the briefing room, Sanders and others have taken to "briefing" in the White House driveway -- a dump alternative for press purposes.

So, Sarah Sanders may have killed off forever one of the most important traditions the government has had since the Eisenhower presidency – a way to hear the truth about what’s going on with their government. Obviously, that isn't a priority for this Administration.

So, Sarah, let me say on the record: thanks for nothing.

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What's not to believe?

6/12/2019

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In these days of a President who lies often and a mainstream media that is giving its best available version of the truth, it is very difficult to know what’s going on.

President Trump has more than 10,000 documented instances of lying, according to the Washington Post’s Fact Checker. The media, on TV and in print, slowly are learning how to fairly out the President’s lies. In headlines running under him as he speaks live. Saying "that isn't true" both in print and on TV.

What are we to believe?

Take the recent negotiations with Mexico over how to deal with illegal immigration (and legal too it seems) at our southern border. The Mexican government gives their version of what happened. President Trump gives his, including an alleged secret agreement with Mexico. The media reports it all, sometimes relying too heavily on unidentified sources because the media trust little of what Trump says. (I’d say this isn’t too different than they’ve covered other presidents but it is definitely more intense now.)

Who’s to blame? As in most situations, there is blame to go around.

The President lies. That is documented. So it is difficult to rely on his version of events even when he may be telling the straight-up truth. The media are even more questioning of the president because the president is known to lie, as do many of his appointees, including the White House press secretary.

I tend to believe the mainstream media when I’m in doubt. That’s partly because I’m a former journalist and partly based on years of being a government/political spokesman where I had more facts than I do now to judge a news story’s accuracy. Still, sometimes, of course, the media are wrong. It is not a science, it’s a craft.

Donald Trump has lied so often that too many, including me, believe nothing of what he says. That does not bode well for when the country is in a crisis – which we could be at any minute with North Korea or Russia or China. In those circumstances in the past, we’ve always looked to our President as the one to tell us what’s going on. With Trump’s track record, who’d believe him? I do not say that lightly.

That’s the problem. In this negotiation with Mexico, yesterday Trump pulled from his jacket pocket a piece of paper that he claimed was the “secret agreement” he has with Mexico that will be triggered on only his say so. Of course, he didn’t release the document so for all we know it was his grocery list (I jest). An enterprising Washington Post photographer got close enough to take a picture and it seems the document is an agreement of some kind signed not by Trump but by lower level government representatives.

For those of you sitting back and saying “all presidents lie,” I’d say no president – whichever party – has lied so much that he has no credibility in the bank with most Americans (yes, I know, Richard Nixon. But do you want to be even near him on a list of truth-tellers?) – or even I imagine most of his fellow Republicans in the Congress.

So, it isn’t a straight up (“binary” as they say now) choice between Trump and the media for who’s telling the truth. The media definitely get it wrong sometimes. Trump definitely lies, a lot.

Yesterday he talked about receiving a “beautiful…warm” letter from Kim Jong-Un. But he, of course, couldn’t show it. He said he had a fabulous, secret agreement with Mexico, of course, he couldn’t show it. The Mexican government denies any secret agreement. (By the way, did I mention that in high school I dated a gorgeous world-known model who wrote to me every day, but of course I can’t give her name nor can I show you those very private letters?)

These are not good times for our democracy. Trump attacks the media as the “enemy of the people” which some of his followers believe. He does this so that he, to that base, is the source of all truth and facts.

It’s too bad this is such an issue – truth v lies – because it distracts us from the serious things going on – North Korea, Russia, China (not to mention health care, drug prices, living wages, to name just a few). But the President does tell us everything is a way better since he was elected.

What’s not to believe in that?

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He still doth protest too much

5/30/2019

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The only person in the world who doesn’t think the Russians meddled in our 2016 election is Donald Trump.

This morning, Trump blew a gasket with the press corps on his way to his helicopter when he, again, claimed no one helped him win his election except – Donald J. Trump. Forget that his statement neglects to thank anyone else for helping him – like the voters.

Now, I haven’t really heard anyone state that the Russian interference decided the election. I think it’s hard to imagine that the flood of Russian fake news on Facebook and other social media didn’t affect at least one vote. But no one can scientifically state that the meddling decided the election.

As you, I’ve seen the footage of Trump stating he had “no reason to believe Russia” meddled in the election as Putin stood next to him. Watch that footage next time and keep an eye on Putin’s face as Trump makes his statement. Putin looks around like your puppy when you ask him who made the mess in the house while you were away.

Trump has gone from saying that Special Counsel Bob Mueller was fair right after his report was released to this morning when he said Mueller was conflicted and a “never Trumper.” In one tweet this morning the President actually confirmed that Russia helped him when he tweeted, “…I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected.”

Yesterday his press spokesman said the country should move on from the Mueller report since, according to her and Trump, it showed “there was no collusion, no obstruction” even though that is not what the report says, Trump is fighting the same battle he's been fighting.

When Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “the lady doth protest too much,” he was prescient but the first two words would be “Donald Trump doth protest too much.”

I would never make the snide comment Trump’s behavior begs for…but, I will: The difference between when the redacted report was issued and today is that Mueller gave his first public statement on his investigation. That statement was carried on TV. Trump watches TV, but doesn’t read. Thus, he learned yesterday firsthand what the report really says.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is not pushing impeachment. Most of the Democratic caucus in the House is not pressing for it. But Trump seems to be either scared to death of an impeachment process or protesting too much because he wants the House to go through the process because he knows the Senate will find him not guilty and it will help him win reelection.

No one knows if it will help him but the odds are more that it would help rather than hurt him. Kind of like the Russian election meddling.

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Finally, the transparent Trump

5/22/2019

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It’s official. Donald Trump today said he is more important than the people of the United States.

If any supporter of the President needed any further proof of his narcissistic personality and how everything is about Donald Trump, they got it today when he announced that nothing will get done with Congress until Democrats call off all investigations against him.

This was a planned tactic by Trump to use a meeting with the Speaker of the House, Senate Democratic leader and other topic Democratic officials to try another way end the "phony investigations" he claims are being conducted. The printed sign laying out all that was done against him in the special counsel’s report allegedly said (Much of what it said wasn’t true). He claims he is the most transparent President in history and today that was true when he announced: the presidency is all about Donald Trump and no one else.

What set him off was the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi saying before the meeting that he was involved in a “cover up.” That settled matters for Trump and we finally saw his transparency: he is more important than anyone.

What more proof does anyone need of President Trump’s intentions than he is more important than you or me? That he views the government of the United States as him, and him alone?

Among the nothings that he is saying won’t get done are the debt limit, a budget – setting up another government shutdown – and myriad other issues.

He now can blame the Congress for all the bad things that are about to happen in the United States, his ultimate tactic for what he sees as his kingdom.

I agree with Nancy Pelosi’s comment after the non-meeting meeting: I pray for this country.

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Constitutional Crisis Alert

5/9/2019

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The White House is instituting a new policy which will allow it to grant press passes based on criteria the White House establishes. The White House has adopted a "no witnesses, no documents" policy when it comes to responding to Congressional requests.

If allowed to stand, this is a further chopping by the President at those he considers his enemies. He is pulling passes from reporters or columnists who he doesn’t agree with.
You know how the President likes to point out what he sees as the strength of dictators in other countries? Well, this is one way the “press” operates in those countries – at the whim of the dictator who also banishes those who are critical.

This at the same time that there is a building Constitutional crisis between the White House and the Congress, another example of this White House controlling information.
Both are offenses against our Constitution. The Congress has an oversight responsibility which it carries out through its power to solicit witnesses for hearings to explain their actions and for documents to review. The White House has issued a blanket “we’re not providing anything to the Congress” policy.

At the same time it is saying, “The White House will determine who gets access to the White House” when it comes to the media.

Whether you support or oppose the policies of President Trump, only the most partisan can support these actions by the Trump White House. Trump has proclaimed that his is the “most transparent White House in history.” That just isn’t true and it doesn’t take much digging to see why: they are withholding information from the Congress and picking the reporters who give them what they consider the “nicest” coverage.

Attorney General William Barr testified at his confirmation hearings that he, in effect, had F. U. money – he didn’t need the job (he already had it on his resume from the Bush Administration) and he could be depended on to do the right things (because he already had quite successful political and private sector careers). We are seeing him now violate his under oath pledges to the Congress.

Constitutional Crisis? If not now, soon. We must support our institutions to do the right things – and one of those things is to be a check on the other branches of government.
The Trump White House is hacking away at those institutions at the same time claiming transparency.

Whether you support or oppose Trump’s presidency isn’t the issue, as Americans we must support our system of government which is in tremendous peril right now.

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We are in a very precarious place

4/25/2019

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Our government and society lie in a very precarious place right now.

The system of government our founders put in place, which has worked just fine for nearly 250 years, is being tested like never before.

President Trump’s decision to thwart the Congress at every step of the way is the act of an imperial leader, just the type of person our founders drafted a Constitution to avoid.

The political debate has moved from discussion of the Mueller investigation to a debate over our system of government. Congress has requested and subpoenaed information and witnesses from the Executive Branch and is being impeded at every turn by Trump.

This, my friends, is our system of government. The Congress, along with passing laws and budgets, also has an oversight responsibility over the Executive Branch. It was always thus and, I hope, always will be thus.

Is it a political process? Yes. Political parties and individuals are involved and by its very nature that makes it political – on both sides. That was the founders’ intent.

Along with legitimate oversight responsibilities, the House, with Democrats in control, are flexing their muscles, something the previous Republican majority never did, at least when it comes to President Trump. They certainly have in past Administrations, and would now, if the President were a Democrat. Because that’s providing oversight. Citizens can choose to not believe what comes from that oversight but the way to take action on that is Election Day if they disagree with what’s being done.

President Trump, meantime, has his eye on reelection and thus looks at everything as political. In fact, he’s looked at everything under a partisan microscope since the day he won the 2016 election.

Trump and his supporters claim that Russian “collusion” was “litigated” in the Mueller probe and we should move on since he wasn’t charged with any crime. They also claim that release of his tax returns was “litigated” in the last election, and we should move on.

Regarding the Mueller report, that showed that nothing the President or his staff or family did regarding Russian interference with our election, rose to the level of a provable crime. It doesn’t have to be a provable crime to be an impeachable offense. The two are not the same. And when it comes to obstruction of justice, the special counsel decided against that charge because of Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. The report clearly said that charge would be up to Congress to deal with.

Regarding his tax returns, that issue was not determined because he won the election. His tax returns were not on the ballot at all. In fact, he said that his tax returns would be released at some point. He said he was under audit and therefore wouldn’t but that he would once the audit was over. That’s what was litigated in 2016 -- that voters trusted a candidate's word (whether they agreed with it or not) to withhold his returns until an audit was completed.

Trump made a promise that he would release his tax returns. The people who believe in Trump, along with those who don’t, expected he would release his taxes at some point. Clearly, as his acting chief of staff has said, that day never will come and Trump never planned on releasing them. He said that he would so he could get through Election Day because he knew that if lightning struck and he won, he’d continue to stonewall on his taxes. If he lost, which even he expected, the issue would be moot.

Of course we all think he’s hiding something. Otherwise, why would a man who builds his public image as a successful businessman and billionaire hide his taxes? His instinct should be to release them and be admired for all he accomplished and earned.

Did Mueller view his tax returns and determine not to focus on them? I don’t know. And neither does President Trump, though he implies Mueller did look at them. They weren’t mentioned in the special counsel’s report.

Meantime, the majority in the House is investigating various things involving Trump and his Administration. That’s their job. Fact is, if the voters don’t want that to happen they will vote out those Congressmen in 2020. In 2018 the voters decided to elect a majority of Democrats in the House. Thus, one could argue the Trump administration was litigated then and oversight was endorsed. What’s good for the goose, etc.

Trump now claims that since Mueller investigated everything, there’s nothing left for Congress to look at. Maybe so. But that’s not his decision to make under our Constitution.

Trump’s stonewalling on government data, documents and witnesses is an attack on our Constitution and the public’s right to know. Trump yesterday claimed to be “the most transparent President in history” but even his supporters must acknowledge that isn’t true.

The White House has basically closed down daily press briefings and similar steps have been taken at Cabinet departments. The public has the right to know what its government is doing. And the media are one avenue to get out that information. There are other ways – like Twitter or Facebook or direct emailing. And this White House does them all, except respecting the media. (Of course that doesn't stop them from going to the press "on background" to talk about things. Even the President does that.)

Like many of you, I follow Trump’s tweets. I also get his at least daily emails which report (using his own people to get the information) on the latest good news, in their interpretation. It’s like Fox news’ talking heads in that way. All positive about Trump.

Also, like most of America, we know that Trump embellishes and lies. And now it’s been documented independently that this press secretary does the same.

Trump, like all congressmen and each of the Administration’s political appointees took an oath to our Constitution. He is not living up to that oath -- to protect and defend the Constitution, which lays out Congress' role.

If he has nothing to hide, why not allow his people to testify? Or provide information to the Congress? If all he is doing is on the up and up, he should welcome such opportunities for his people to directly lay out his accomplishments.

If you take a step back – even those Trump supporters who may read this – you will see that he is not living up to his oath. If you don't agree, you are conceding to the great and powerful Oz, and if you do that now...his actions will get worse with time and confidence that he can get away with it.

Trump views his role as a CEO with all branches of government answerable to him. It is not, and never was intended to be. We have three branches of government, independent of each other, for a good reason – to avoid a dictator or ruler or to take away the power from the people, with each branch of government keep the others honest.

Our precarious position puts us on the precipice of a strongman dictator form of government. Now’s the time to recognize that and act.

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