Do We Have Ten Good Men Left?
Michael Cannata
This week has seen some historical events unfold that
could bring about the downfall of Donald Trump's presidency. His long time lawyer
and "fixer," Michael Cohen, has declared in court that Trump directed
him to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels in an attempt to influence the 2016
election. He has been branded a criminal co-conspirator in campaign finance
violations by a man who is in a position to know.
His
former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was found guilty on 8 counts of tax
evasion and bank fraud, barely escaping guilty verdicts on 10 other charges
thanks to a lone holdout on the jury. Several members of his administration
have been charged and have pleaded guilty to a variety of crimes in the course
of their duties.
However,
the members of congress, the GOP in particular, still seem reluctant to pursue
impeachment as a means to remove Trump from office and try to salvage what
little respect people might hold for those in office and for our government in
general.
There's
an old saying that "the fish rots from the head down." However, the
fish that is the GOP has been rotting away long before Trump came on the scene.
Trump has just accelerated that rotting the way the hot sun would while burning
down on the carcass.
Yet,
even as our country is being torn apart by the hate, racism, bigotry and misogyny
he spews on a daily basis, the GOP still turns a blind eye to his sick and
twisted sense of governance. They are unable or, worse, afraid to oppose his
attacks on almost every social and ethnic group; Unwilling to challenge him as
he insults and denigrates the character of greater men for reasons that are
petty, personal and vindictive. Men and women who have dedicated their lives to
serving their country,
While
his party has control of both houses of congress and the White House, he has
continued to blame the democrats for his failure to accomplish any meaningful
changes that would benefit the American people. Instead he has attacked and
attempted to take away many of their vital social services such as health care,
education, food stamps and financial aid.
He has raped the nation's coffers to enrich those who
need it the least while denying aid to those that need it the most. He has
spurned and insulted long time historical allies and has kowtowed to fanatical despots
and dictators around the globe. He has accepted the denials of Vladimir Putin
at face value while condemning our own national intelligence agencies for
insisting that Russian meddling in our elections is real and dangerous.
It's
become clear that Donald Trump lives to serve only one man, himself. He demands
loyalty from all but shows loyalty to none, no matter how long they work or
sacrifice for him. He accepts, no, he usurps all credit for any success those
around him achieve. Yet, he blames everyone around him for his personal
failures as a businessman and politician.
He lives
in an alternate reality, filled with alternate facts where "truth isn't
truth." He has boldly lied with impunity on a scale unparalleled in modern
history.
He has attacked
our greatest institution, the free press, and declared them the "enemy of
the people!" He mounted a full assault on our right to free speech. I have
never heard more insane and dangerous invective spoken by a member of our
government.
The
members of both parties are part of the problem. But the GOP has all the chips
in this game. It's time they come together with the democrats and realize they
have a common enemy in Trump.
Surely
there must be a lot... ok, many... well, some... a few?... members of the GOP
party willing to put their names on the line and stand up to this lunatic
posing as the American president; Leaders who are willing to join with their
democrat counterparts and impeach this dangerous charlatan before our country
is damaged beyond repair.
The
American people are in desperate need of GOP leaders who will challenge their
base and show, not just Americans, but the global community, that America
doesn't need to be made great again. It has been and always will be the
greatest nation on Earth. And we are not going to let Donald Trump tear us down
while he tries to prop himself up.
When
push comes to shove... and I believe we have reached that point, I can't
believe that all the republicans will put their own country in peril and allow
Trump to wreak havoc on all that America has stood for. I don't believe the
members of the GOP will choose their party over their people. I don't believe
they will sacrifice their personal integrity and honor as elected leaders, just
to protect a corrupt, unprincipled, ego-maniacal man who would destroy this
country and destroy them rather than resign.
I fear
for our country now more than ever. We
The People are at the point where we just might collapse as a country.
Trump seems determined to divide us against ourselves and bring our United
States down in a show of fire and fury of our own making. We have become a
nation where evil; corruption, criminal conduct, greed and avarice in our
elected leaders are almost seen as positive characteristics. Like Rome we are a
grand Empire just before its fall. Or maybe we are closer to one of those
famous cities that were destroyed by an angry God.
I don't
often use biblical stories to get a point across but this seems to be the right
time. I'm paraphrasing here:
When God
sent his angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah they were met by Abraham and they
told him they were there to destroy the cities because they had become corrupt
with evil. Abraham asked God if he would spare the cities if he could find at
least 10 good men among those who lived there. God agreed.
However,
after saving Lot and his family, the angels scoured the city and couldn't even
find 10 good men. We all know what happened after that.
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