Trump, the Great Destroyer

Analytics 19:22 15.10.2018
President Trump could hardly do any more damage to the United States even if Vladimir Putin wanted him to do so.
 
Having undermined trust in major American institutions, from the CIA to the FBI, last week Trump stuck a knife in the heart of the public’s trust in the Supreme Court.
 
After a series of polarizing confirmation hearings for a nominee whom polls show to be broadly unpopular, the president staged a crass political rally at the White House, including a superfluous swearing-in ceremony for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
 
Incredibly, the justices of the highest court allowed themselves to be used as front-row props for the cameras while Trump took credit for crushing Democrats.
 
Victorious Senate Republicans patted each other on the back at this East Room hootenanny while sharing laughs with conservative ideologues from the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation.
 
In an era of extreme political division, the cynics have been proven right: The Supreme Court has become just another partisan arm of government, a rubber stamp for whichever party has the power to force its allies into the majority.  
 
The Supreme Court is supposed to be an independent branch of government, equal to the Congress and the executive branch. The justices are given lifetime seats on the court as a buffer from political pressures.
 
Trump took a hammer to all that pretense.
 
He began by apologizing to Kavanaugh “on behalf of the nation,” ignoring the plurality of Americans still opposed to having him on the bench. Then he falsely claimed that Kavanaugh had been “proven innocent.”
 
There was not one word of sympathy for Christine Blasey Ford or any other American woman living with the trauma of sexual assault. Keep in mind that Trump said he found Ford’s testimony “compelling,” before later mocking her at one of his rallies.
 
Kavanaugh was no better. He used his time at the White House to heap thanks on Trump and Senate Republicans — by name.
 
Such a submissive show of political allegiance invites doubt about Kavanaugh’s ability to be impartial when a case comes before him with Trump as a named litigant.
 
The complete lack of grace also cements the current Supreme Court’s reputation as Trump’s rubber stamp on the most contentious issues of the day – from abortion to immigration to voting rights to his right to refuse subpoenas and stop the Russia probe.
 
Trump and Kavanaugh’s pitiful performance stands in contrast to the calls for reconciliation by another Republican president and a newly-confirmed conservative Supreme Court Justice 27 years ago.
 
Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings were every bit as divisive as Justice Kavanaugh’s hearings.
 
The difference is that President George H.W. Bush and Thomas understood the importance of preserving trust in the court.
 
“This is more a time for healing, not a time for anger or animus or animosity. We have to put these things behind us and go forward," Justice Thomas said outside his suburban house after being confirmed in 1991.
 
Thomas and Bush did not spike the football. They did not turn the hearings into a political weapon and brandish it to excite their conservative base.
 
Trump’s damage to the court fits with the damage he has done to the CIA, the FBI, the Justice Department and the House Intelligence Committee under Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).
 
The Trump playbook is clear — if an institution or an individual does not agree with him, it is to be dismissed as part of the “deep state” conspiracy against him.
 
“Law and order” now joins “free trade” and “deficit hawk” in the ash heap of once-sacred GOP slogans jettisoned by Trump.
 
Trump has been called the “great disruptor” but it would better to label him as the “great destroyer” of trust in government as he goes about dividing Americans from each other.
 
Former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell recently said this about Trump: "My favorite three words in our Constitution is the first three words: 'We the People…
 
"But recently it's become, 'Me the president,' as opposed to, 'We the People.' And you see things that should not be happening…
 
"I hope the president can come to the realization that he should really stop insulting people. ... I don't think that's what should be coming out of a president of the United States," Powell added.
 
Sadly, Powell’s plea fell on deaf ears.
 
At a public rally after Kavanaugh was confirmed, Trump led the crowd in a familiar chant of “Lock her up!” —  this time directed at the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
 
He accuses the Democrats of being an “angry mob.” But faced with a real and menacing mob in Charlottesville, Va., last year he backed the white nationalists by saying they were “fine people.”
 
In the classic 1962 movie The Manchurian Candidate, a fictional senator warned against ignoring a politician who finds political advantage in falsely charging other Americans with being communists and socialists.
 
He explained the damage to America: “I think, if John Iselin were a paid Soviet agent, he could not do more to harm this country than he’s doing now.”
 
Well, if Trump were a paid Soviet agent, he could not do more harm to this country than he did last week. 
Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Russia prepares for new offensive in May-June l – says Zelensky
23:52 28.03.2024
Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists
22:24 28.03.2024
Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Hamısı