The Party of Treason

Of the many things that came out of the Mueller hearings yesterday was this: Republicans are not perturbed by the fact that Russia not only sought to interfere with the 2016 election, but that the Russians are also interfering with the 2020 election.

The Motto of the Republican Party: We're Down With Treason If It Benefits Us.

On another note, Trump has been making one seriously outlandish and frightening claim: "I have an Article 2 where I have the right to do whatever I want as president."

That is frightening both in its arrogance and stupidity. Article II of the Constitution says no such thing. Go read it.

You may be familiar with your local zoning ordinances. They almost always have a provision that if a use is made of the property that is not permitted in the zoning code, then that use is illegal. Just because the zoning code doesn't say that you can't promote axe-fighting matches in your back yard, that doesn't mean that you can. You can't.

The Constitution is a little like that. The Federal government is a government of limited powers. If a statute does not fall within the boundaries of the Constitution, that law is unconstitutional. If the action taken by the Federal government pursuant to a statute that is constitutional is not authorized by the statute or is proscribed by the Constitution, then that action is unconstitutional.

The Founding Fathers were well aware of the evils of a monarchy. A fair number of them had risked their necks in a struggle to get rid of being governed by one. They had no intention of establishing another monarchy. Most of them had the benefit of a classical education; they were well versed in the idea that revolutions can establish greater tyrannies than the ones they displaced.

The Constitution does not give Trump the right to do whatever he wants. Those who are feeding him this line of reasoning are those who support the idea of a fascist or authoritarian state: An illiberal democracy, where liberty and freedom are words that have no meaning. Trump has already promoted the idea that freedom of the press should be limited only to stories that praise him. It's been pretty clear that he thinks that freedom of religion does not apply to Muslims. He's also been clear that he thinks that neither protections against illegal searches and seizures or protections against cruel and unusual punishments apply to Blacks or Latinos.

But the GOP goes along with all of this. Trump claims that he has the powers of a dictator, the GOP is silent. The evidence is there of Russian interference in our elections, the GOP looks the other way.

The Grand Old Party is the Party of Treason.