Mr. Trump has ordered an immediate and precipitous withdrawal of our military from Syria — a step Mr. Putin has been seeking for years. This move betrays our allies and friends as well as our own national interests. The entire defense and diplomatic establishment opposes it.
The only word that describes it is “Treason”.
He has ordered a government shutdown on a personal whim.
His family foundation is being dissolved because of its widespread and pervasive criminal fraud. His daughter, a senior advisor, personally directed the improper and perhaps criminal overcharging of his inaugural committee expenses to the direct personal enrichment of herself and Mr. Trump.
He is cooperating with the authoritarian ruler of Turkey in forcibly extraditing an innocent man back to Turkey to face prison or execution. He refuses to acknowledge the complicity of his chosen Prince in Saudi Arabia in the murder of journalist — a prince who is a personal favorite of his unduly influential son-in-law.
There is strong and growing evidence of his personal and family participation in the successful Russian conspiracy to hijack the 2016 election and US government.
What more does it take to convince even Republicans that this man is a clear, immediate, and present threat to America? His Syria decision is literally treason, by any meaning of the word.
centralmassdad says
The problem is that the entire defense and diplomatic establishment want permanent military occupation of Afghanistan and the middle east. It has been 17 years already. Time to cut bait.
I understand that this leaves local “allies” swinging in the cool breeze, but I do not see much of an alternative, other than permanent military occupation. The region will never be stable, and military occupation will never make it stable.
johntmay says
It takes the Democrats winning the senate. Honestly, I do believe Trump could shoot a man on main street in full view of all, and still have firm support of 35% of the country, and full support of the senate,
Mark L. Bail says
You forgot to mention he’s the intelligence asset of at least 1 foreign government.
Christopher says
Unfortunately, it does not meet the constitutional definition of treason as interpreted by the courts, at least if Lawrence O’Donnell is correct in what he said the other night on his show. He said that for the purposes of “adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort” the courts have said that an enemy is a specifically named country in a formally declared war.
bob-gardner says
Tom sounds like he is channelling one of the generals from “7 days in May”.
Trump promised to pull out and was elected. This is still a democracy and overruling a general is not treason. That was established by Harry Truman.
Christopher says
Nobody’s charging treason for overruling a general. The concern is that Trump is towing so closely to the Putin line.
fredrichlariccia says
In your guts, you know he’s nuts. IMPEACH THE CRIMINAL BASTARD!
fredrichlariccia says
“The Con and his ReTHUGS have shut down the government in the middle of the Christmas holidays. This is the real war on Christmas. They are vile scumbags who don’t give a rat’s ass about poor people.” Malaise
Mark L. Bail says
I don’t know who Robert Reich was talking to–perhaps no one–but he thinks the grownups that the Republicans truly respond to–those with the money–have gotten about as much as they can get out of Trump and they’re ready to jump ship.
(In this colloquy, Reich is me).
Steve Consilvio says
Early in his administration Trump tweeted the question: Is incompetence impeachable? We now know the answer. It isn’t.
Pulling out of Syria is only impeachable if it was on orders from Putin.
Mr. Art of the Deal doesn’t have a clue of how to be a statesman. Like Bush II, who got Saddam to open up for inspection, he just does what he planned to do all along. Bush wanted a war. Trump is the opposite. Trump is an isolationist and what’s to cut military spending and live within protected borders. He is very consistent in a few of his beliefs and actions, and those that miss those things are missing a lot. Obviously he doesn’t know how to make a deal. He isn’t a genius, he doesn’t have a great temperament and he can’t really get along with anyone. He is a showboater and a small thinker who expects everyone to adore and obey him. He is hardly the first politician with that disease.
Should we be in Syria helping to continue a civil war? No. Should we be in Syria helping to end a civil war through diplomacy? Yes. But since the two parties can’t even talk to each other, it’s pretty unlikely that we can teach others how to operate a democracy and find the best choices. The clear and present threat to America and democracy is in a lot more mirrors than just Trump’s gilded one.
Christopher says
Madison wanted maladministration to be an impeachable offense, but got outvoted on that point.
bob-gardner says
Mattis’s principles didn’t prevent him from presiding over our cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the bombing of Yemen. His statements about respecting our “allies” is pretty chilling when viewed in that context.
fredrichlariccia says
Madam Speaker nominee Nancy Pelosi nails Trump Shutdown : “If @real Donald Trump & Republicans choose to continue the #Trump Shutdown, the new House Democratic majority will swiftly pass legislation to re-open government in January.”
fredrichlariccia says
Republican Trifecta! Government has been shut down for the THIRD time in two years when the Deplorables held the White House, Senate and House. Way to go, morons.
fredrichlariccia says
Trump’s Vanity Wall. :We are not going to build this stupid vanity wall of Donald Trump’s with U.S. taxpayer dollars.” Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA)
fredrichlariccia says
“Why is anyone surprised that Trump’s willing to shut down our government when it’s clearly not the one he works for?” Stephen Colbert
Christopher says
I assume she understands that the House alone cannot reopen the government.
fredrichlariccia says
The new House can vote to reopen government, send it to the Senate who already passed it unanimously before the Idiot scuttled it.
petr says
In this case, she just might be able to do so. Because of the blindingly stupid way Republicans think of government, the shutdown is a result of yet another Continuing Resolution that expired and to which Trump refuses to agree if it doesn’t have his money for a border wall. As yet, the House didn’t even bothered to test if there is a 2/3rds majority to override any Presidential veto (Thanks Paul Ryan, you feckless, gutless, brainless, spineless expletive deleted)
I suspect strongly that there is more than a 2/3rds majority to pass this and the pressure to do so will mount as constituents are heard from…