When people are dishonorable in private business, they injure only those with whom they deal or their own chances in the next world. But when there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.
-Herbert Hoover
In world opinion and in world effectiveness, the United States is measured by the moral firmness of its public officials.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
Jill Lepore, a history professor at Harvard, notes that we haven’t amended the Constitution since 1971. [OK, in 1992 we did add a clause that Congress couldn’t raise its own salaries, but that doesn’t really count since it was proposed on Sept. 25, 1789. I am not kidding–look it up.]
Lepore says that the Constitution needs to be more flexible that it is. Or, as Gouverneur Morris, the man who wrote the Preamble to the Constitution, said: “Nothing human can be perfect. Surrounded by difficulties, we did the best we could; leaving it with those who should come after us to take counsel from experience, and exercise prudently the power of amendment.”
Here are a few suggestions:
overturn the Citizens United decision
term limits on federal judges
limit the presidential pardon power
include a penalty for violating the emolument clause
allow naturalized citizens to be President
remove presidential immunity for illegal but “official” acts
strengthen the War Powers Act
insure that 2/3rds of Congress must approve changes to national landmarks
I got more.
Don’t think about the question I’m about to ask. Just give your immediate reaction.
If Trump said the U.S. had started negotiations with Iran, and the Iranian foreign minister said no negotiations were happening, which one would you believe?
I thought so.
Every year the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation presents Profiles in Courage awards. This year one award went to Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell for standing up to Trump and maintaining the independence of the Federal Reserve Bank.
The other award went to the people of the Twin Cities for their work in protecting their neighbors from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement goons.
Both awards were deserved and so much better than that silly FIFA prize that looked like it came out of a Cracker Jack box.
Our Secretary of War Pete Hegseth put out a call to the American people, asking them to pray for victory in battle. He said we should pray “Every day on bended knee, with your family, in our schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ”
This reminded me of Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer.” In a church a preacher and the congregation pray for victory in battle. Then an old man comes to the back of the church and says that was only half the prayer. He then prays this:
“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
The Congregation dismisses him as a lunati
Sen. John Fetterman,
200 Chestnut St., Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 18235
Dear Senator Fetterman:
Recently a friend sent me a copy of a talk by a lay priest in a Buddhist temple in Minneapolis. When Japanese-Americans were rounded up during World War II, her parents were imprisoned in a “relocation camp” in Arkansas. She compared the roundup and the imprisonment to what is occurring now. She speaks from personal experience.
Now we have Markwayne Mullen replacing Kristi Noem. Sen. Mullen, I understand, is a friend of yours. I assume you care about the rules on search and seizure, believe that accused people have a right to a hearing, and think that when people are deported, it should at least be to the country they are from. If their lives are endangered by their home government, under international law they should be granted asylum. I assume you also believe that ICE agents should not be allowed to break down doors, should not arrest people at their citizenship hearings, and should not wear masks.
I will also assume that since you voted for your friend Sen. Mullen, you had some assurances that he believes that also, or you would not have voted to approve his appointment.
In addition, I must say that criticizing President Trump for going to war with Iran, for having no plan, for celebrating the death of civilians, and for never informing Congress is not “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” It is criticism that is well deserved. You, sir, are a United States Senator representing the people of Pennsylvania. This is not a game or a popularity contest.
Sincerely,
Roy Christman
Every now and then my friend Bill sends me a meme which I just need to share.
So, what is the difference between Vietnam and Iran?
Answer: Trump had a plan to get out of Vietnam.
