Siege - Day 178

The election is approaching fast...

I would like to suggest, before voting, a little fact checking.

Try a little research using sources outside your usual news-stomping-grounds: maybe the Associated Press and Reuters plus a smattering of NPR, the Washington Post, the BBC, and other "big name" mostly print sources, since print-trained journalists have more time for fact-checking.  (Friends on Face Book or Reddit? Not so much.)

A good idea before every election, regardless of party: research and think twice

But then, Conservative Friends,  I would like to suggest - to beg - that for this one election you think a third time.  I truly believe this election is a turning point for our country.

Even if you like all President Trump's policies and can overlook his abrasiveness, I believe we need to STOP his kingly attitude that anything he wishes to do is therefore right and proper to be done.  This "law and order" president doesn't respect the law.

A small example: using the White House as a background for campaigning.  

The White House belongs to all the People - of every party - so it's wrong to use it as an advantage by any incumbent president.  Also probably illegal.

A bigger example: ignoring the Emoluments Clause.  Even if you don't think Mr. Trump's business interests effect his official decisions, having conflicts of interest is just a bad idea.  He sets a precedent for the next president - who might be less honest than he is.

Most recent big example: using the Department of Justice as the president's personal lawyer.  Just today the DOJ is trying to defend Mr. Trump in a defamation lawsuit stemming from an (alleged) rape he committed 20 years ago.  Before Mr. Trump was president.  The legal rational seems to be that in denying the crime now, Trump is acting in his capacity as president.  So... is denying-rape an ordinary part of presidential duties?  I mean President Bill Clinton, for denying consensual sex actually in the Oval Office supply closet, got himself impeached, rightly condemned for lying under oath, but pre-president Donald Trump gets rape in a department store dressing room grandfathered-in as... what?  An Official Presidential Oopsie?  

I don't get it.  

A lady is defending her reputation in NY court - how is this a federal case?  Is slander and/or rape Presidential Business?  Is this proper use of the DOJ?  Why are taxpayers paying for his personal legal squabble?  

Could Mr. Trump also Officially-Ooopsie a murder?  A shooting on 5th Ave.?  Where does this "if the president does it it's not a crime" spree stop?

A law-bending president like this and protectors like AG William Barr are confusing to me.  What happened to taking "care that the laws be faithfully executed"?  Surely a president and an AG who believe in law enough to try to follow it would be, you know, nice?  At this point, I'd say that every Republican in office (except Mitt Romney) has, to some degree, enabled this law-breaking.  So I will not vote for any Republican in this election.

Do you think this is proper behavior in public servants?  Do you want to vote in more of it? 

So, please, as a favor to your country and your fellow citizens, please research and think twice before voting for anyone... 

...and three times before voting Republican this time.