WE THE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO SQUISH A BULLY

Donald Trump has been on a tirade, multiple tirades actually, unbefitting the president of the United States. It’s part of his ongoing pattern of abusing the powers of the presidency to publicly seek retribution or punish people he considers to be his enemies. During campaign season, Trump made over 100 threats to prosecute or punish people he perceived as enemies. We’ve seen him make good on that in a series of executive orders. Some wrapped in the pretense of anti-Semitism or discrimination (which now means failing to protect white Christians), that target individuals or institutions he thinks have done him wrong. His public orders to AG Bondi, to investigate people or entities are part and parcel of it. As are the social media posts attacking people, often just for doing their jobs. He is literally on a revenge tour and abusing the powers of the presidency. Conservative judge J. Michael Luttig noted: “It is an extraordinary and unprecedented development in American history that the Nation’s Federal Judiciary would have to consider having its own security force because federal judges cannot trust the U.S. Marshal’s Service under this President and his Attorney General. They cannot trust this president and this Attorney General to ensure their protection.” He continued: “I had to admit that, given the continuing unprecedented and vicious personal attacks and threats on the federal courts and federal judges by the President, Vice President Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Donald Trump’s Cabinet and senior White House advisors, I would never rely upon the U.S. Marshal’s Service for my protection, were I still a sitting federal judge. How could anyone?” Fortunately, we the people have the opportunity to put a stop to this because we still have the right to vote. Our tradition of democracy is instilled in us from a young age. Even if we take it for granted, democracy is the structure we build our lives on. Our history is full of evidence that we know how to turn the tide. The way to challenge the bully is by voting. Remember the immortal lines that ended Joe McCarthy? “‘Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.’ When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, ‘Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?’” If you want to ask Trump, “Have you no sense of decency?” make him face Democratic majorities in both bodies of Congress. That would be retribution worthy of the name.