Our democracy has survived two hundred and forty years because of the prescience of our founding fathers. They provided for a governmental structure with three equal branches of government providing checks and balances.
After review and reconsideration, the Bill of Rights was adopted, the First Amendment of which guarantees the “freedom of the press.”
During the first 30 days of the President Donald Trump’s White House, 22 executive orders have been issued. Trump behaves as though other branches of government do not exist. When the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Trump’s travel ban, Trump declared war on the judiciary, calling a jurist a ”so-called judge.”
When polled, 50 percent of Trump’s voters thought that he should have the power to overturn the 9th Circuit court ruling. That is scary!
Our free and independent media has risen to the occasion after months of obsequious bootlicking, asking tough questions on Trump’s Russian connections, his campaign pledges, his cabinet appointments and his whacky demeanor.
For three decades Donald Trump has profited from his connections to the Russian oligarchs, whose fortunes depend on continued loyalty to Putin. Russia’s cyberattacks aimed at interfering with the United States presidential election go unchallenged. Trump’s curious connections with Russia through his confidants and appointees need to be open to the American public.
Congress is not concerned about any of the above. No need to investigate Trump’s business connections to Russia. No need for Trump to release his tax-returns. No need for civility, empathy and compassion.
Those in public office who have made moral compromises in hopes that their political agenda will be advanced will reap the whirlwind. The pendulum will swing, and justice will prevail.
Trump tweets that the press is the enemy of the American people. The good news is that the tweet woke up a couple of Republican senators:
“That’s how dictators get started,” Sen. John McCain said in an interview. Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “The backbone of democracy is a free press and an independent judiciary. And they are worth fighting and dying for.”
Cleveland Spence
Aztec
