After Donald Trump’s Presidential victory in 2016 and before the Democratic midterm triumph, a number of books were written about fascism, authoritarianism, and the decline of democracies. Both Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and his autocratic style partially fueled this publishing trend. The prospect of Democratic oversight of the Trump administration and the promise of an impending Mueller Report apparently dampened concerns about authoritarianism.
As it turns out, Trump’s increasing frustration with oversight and investigations, the ability of his Attorney General, William Barr to stifle the public’s reaction to the Mueller Report, and the growing agitation of his right-wing base to fulfill his promises have increased his lawless tendencies. His response to the avalanche of subpoenas has been to slow-walk the officials or materials required; the clear implication being that without Supreme Court rulings he will not deliver them. For example, the law governing the IRS requires Commissioner of the IRS to turn over any tax returns demanded in writing by the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. Yet, the IRS is dragging its feet because Trump does not want his tax returns made public. Trump’s Chief of Staff has said that the Chair of Ways and Means will never obtain the returns.
Trump has sworn vengeance on the individuals whom he says instigated and carried out an illegal probe of his association with Russians. Despite extensive investigations by right-wing Republicans, no hint of illegality was found. Nevertheless, Barr mimicked the same trope as Trump and his supporters; he believed “the intelligence community spied on Trump.” Trump has finally achieved his long-held wish to have his own Roy Cohn- like Attorney General to protect him and do his bidding.
The arrest of refugee families seeking refuge has surged at the U.S. – Mexican Border, to the chagrin of Trump and his supporters. Trump blames the surge on the unwillingness of the officials at the Department of Homeland Security to implement a policy separating children from their parents because of court rulings prohibiting this policy. Trump admonished Homeland Security officials to ignore these court rulings and replaced a number of senior management officials who are more willing to follow his instructions.
Trump’s willingness to ignore the rule of law, along with his rampant lying and corrupt cronyism, are the hallmarks of dictators. And we should all care that the rule of law is being trampled because it protects us. And in the long run, the only real protection we have is the fairness and consistency from the rule of law.
Trump has sworn vengeance on the individuals whom he says instigated and carried out an illegal probe of his association with Russians. Despite extensive investigations by right-wing Republicans, no hint of illegality was found. Nevertheless, Barr mimicked the same trope as Trump and his supporters; he believed “the intelligence community spied on Trump.” Trump has finally achieved his long-held wish to have his own Roy Cohn- like Attorney General to protect him and do his bidding.
The arrest of refugee families seeking refuge has surged at the U.S. – Mexican Border, to the chagrin of Trump and his supporters. Trump blames the surge on the unwillingness of the officials at the Department of Homeland Security to implement a policy separating children from their parents because of court rulings prohibiting this policy. Trump admonished Homeland Security officials to ignore these court rulings and replaced a number of senior management officials who are more willing to follow his instructions.
Trump’s willingness to ignore the rule of law, along with his rampant lying and corrupt cronyism, are the hallmarks of dictators. And we should all care that the rule of law is being trampled because it protects us. And in the long run, the only real protection we have is the fairness and consistency from the rule of law.
The New York Times. Fandos and Goldman. Barr Asserts Intelligence Agencies Spied on the Trump Campaign
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/us/politics/barr-trump-campaign-spying.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/us/politics/barr-trump-campaign-spying.html
