Despite All of the Recent Attacks that Have Weakened It, Our Republic Endures

To commemorate our Independence Day, I offer my thoughts on the national political picture.

The March to Valley Forge by William Trego, 1883 (Museum of the American Revolution).

Last Friday, Bill Maher had liberal film-maker and writer Michael Moore on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher. With the ascension of the current president, Moore has become more alarmed and appeared more high-strung than usual, and he warned that the current administration is very close to dismantling American democracy, as both him and Maher panicked about fascism being at “the doorstep”.[i] It was a troubling segment, and Moore called for a million protesters to surround the U.S. Capitol in order to prevent the president from appointing a new Supreme Court Justice. In the last two years or so, the frequency of such warnings has increased, mostly from the political left. Another similarly alarming discussion was held yesterday on Ian Master's Show, Background Briefing, between Masters and former CIA Officer, Robert Baer.[ii] We also see these warnings from the center, to a lesser extent.[iii]

Naturally, many understand and agree with these warnings and comparisons to fascism, given the administration’s demagoguery, xenophobia, violent language, attacks on the free press, and fanatical base. Compounding many citizens’ fear is the Republican-controlled congresses’ cowardly refusal to hold the executive branch accountable on many issues. Just two weeks ago, the comparison to fascism became acute as the media exposed the administration’s inhumane policy of separating immigrant children from their parents, as these families attempted unauthorized crossings into the U.S. through our southern border. In a rare policy reversal, the public outcry against this monstrous practice forced the president to abandon it. Clearly, the president has authoritarian tendencies and may even be a true believer in fascism or Nazism, as it’s been reported that he used to keep Hitler’s speeches near his bed.[iv] This is all very worrying but let’s try to remain positive.

In a republic, power is divided amongst different branches of government, usually an executive, legislature, and judiciary. The purpose is to prevent the rise of an autocrat or dictator, as each branch is supposed to share power somewhat equally and provide a check on the other two. Also, in theory, nobody is above the law in a republic, unlike the monarchies of earlier times.

The Current State

Despite everything the USA has been through over the last two years, our republic endures. The strongest evidence is the continuation of the Special Counsel investigation of Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian interference into the election, which includes exploring any possible links or coordination between the campaign and the Russian government. Already, this investigation has produced criminal charges and even FBI raids of former high-level Trump administration and campaign officials, such as Mike Flynn (former National Security Adviser) and Paul Manafort (former Campaign Chairman) amongst others. Mike Flynn is believed to be cooperating with the investigation.

What’s astonishing is that Special Counsel Robert Mueller carries out this investigation within Trump’s own Justice Department under Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the number two person at Justice. This investigation has made the president extremely nervous as he seems powerless to stop it and has resorted to attacking Mueller, Rosenstein, the FBI, and DOJ in tweets and statements. The president even tried to fire Mueller but failed.[v] The president wants this investigation to end but it’s not happening, suggesting that Trump is actually in a much weaker position than many believe. Indeed, the president’s toughness may be just a façade or an act, as he is a professional reality TV star.

Last week, right-wing Tea Party Republican congressmen attempted to grill Rod Rosenstein in open testimony and ordered him to wrap up the investigation, showing little regard or respect for him or the investigation he oversees. One congressman even claimed the investigation is dividing and hurting the country, but Rosenstein held tough and was not intimidated by these partisan politicians.[vi] Ironically, the president himself nominated Rosenstein and the Senate confirmed in April 2017. Rosenstein is a Republican and career U.S. Attorney with a reputation for integrity who has prosecuted public officials for corruption before, regardless of party affiliation. He appears to be just the man we need to protect Robert Mueller and his investigation.

Mueller is also a career private and U.S. Attorney who was appointed by president George W. Bush to FBI Director, where he served from 2001 to 2013. Prior to that service, Mueller served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and rose to the rank of Captain, earning a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal, and South Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Indeed, Robert Mueller is a decorated combat veteran, a patriot, and an American hero. It’s brave and honest men like him and Rod Rosenstein who are effectively providing a check on the president and his authoritarian tendencies.

It’s ironic the president, whose campaign has been under investigation since 2016, appointed a man like Rosenstein. It’s more likely that someone inside the transition team or even the president’s former Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, recruited Rosenstein and the president merely rubber stamped the recruitment. We have to remember that Donald only became president after he entered an uneasy alliance with the Republican Party Establishment that long shunned and resisted his candidacy. The Establishment only accepted him once he became the Republican nominee in the summer of 2016. Priebus was RNC Chair and the president relied on him and the RNC to fill cabinet positions.

Rosenstein and Mueller are supported by the 49 Democratic senators and even a few Republican ones, like the ailing John McCain, another Vietnam veteran, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Graham has stated that Trump firing Mueller would be the “beginning of the end of his presidency.” Just last month, Graham stated that he’s “not buying” the claim that Mueller is trying to frame Trump, as many of the president’s defenders have accused Mueller of this.[vii] Both McCain and Graham are of the Republican Establishment and may be providing just enough support to keep Mueller’s investigation going.

In addition to the Russian investigation, another DOJ criminal investigation of a Trump associate has sprouted up. Trump’s longtime attorney, Michael Cohen, had his properties raided by the FBI in April.[viii] Reports indicate that Cohen is in trouble and may actually start cooperating with investigators. This cannot be good for the president, as Cohen worked at the Trump Organization for years and has been described as Trump’s fixer. And just like Mueller’s investigation, the president appears powerless to stop it. Therefore, the slow wheels of justice roll on.

The Future Outlook

Looking forward, the administration is hinting at closer ties with Russia, which is troubling since Russian president Vladimir Putin is no friend of democracy or the USA. Most likely, the reason for this move is the eventual removal of economic sanctions that were placed on Russia by President Obama, after Putin invaded and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Removal of these sanctions would clear the way for the resurrection of a big oil deal between Russia and Exxon Mobil.[ix] Exxon Mobil is a major financier of right-wing Republicans like the president and his Tea Party supporters in congress. Furthermore, Exxon Mobil and Koch Industries are just two of the large energy companies who are benefiting from the president’s roll-back of EPA regulations and operations. The energy sector, fossil fuels principally, are the entrenched vested interests that push right-wing and anti-democratic politics at home and abroad. And many of us play a role in this every time we fill our gas tanks.

In a scenario where Mueller is fired by the president, it would be appropriate for congress to immediately appoint Mueller to Special Counsel to continue his investigation under congressional mandate and supervision. If the president succeeds in ending or severely limiting the Russia investigation by firing or restricting Mueller and/or Rosenstein, and congress refuses to hold him accountable by appointing an independent Special Counsel to continue the investigation, then we should get very worried, as the Republic could be at serious risk of being lost. I would expect the opposition party, the Democrats, to be more inclined to hold the president accountable and protect Mueller and Rosenstein.

On the horizon, there are glimmers of hope. Just yesterday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticized the president’s news tariffs for triggering retaliatory tariffs from our trading partners that will hurt American businesses.[x] The Chamber and its members have been a key business constituency behind the Republican Establishment. With the coming midterm elections this November, it’s possible the Chamber may play a role in electing Republicans or even Democrats to congress who are intent on holding the president accountable. Trump critic, former 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee, and Establishment standard bearer Mitt Romney will be in the Senate next year. He may very well pick up where the ailing John McCain left off and provide additional support to Rosenstein and Mueller.

Last week, 28 year old activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New York’s congressional district 14, beating an old guard incumbent despite being outspent 10 to 1. Since NY 14 is a heavily Democratic district, she is essentially guaranteed to win the seat. Her victory has given the Democratic base new energy and new hope going into the midterms. She won fair and square despite low turn-out. She won in a free and fair election that only democratic republics have. Finally, her victory provides a reminder that democracy works well when citizens participate and vote. And it provides more reassurance that our republic lives another day. However, its survival, just likes its founding, depends on the active participation of patriots and citizens who believe in it and fight for it.

[i] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/06/30/what-would-you-give-your-life-for-michael-moore-warns-of-fight-to-save-democracy-from-trump/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c2888a2328d6

[ii]https://www.backgroundbriefing.org/

[iii] https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/madeleine-albright-warns-of-a-new-fascism-and-trump

[iv] http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-ex-wife-once-said-he-kept-a-book-of-hitlers-speeches-by-his-bed-2015-8

[v] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-mueller-special-counsel-russia.html

[vi] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-rod-rosenstein-and-christopher-wray-testify-before-congress

[vii] http://www.newsweek.com/lindsey-graham-not-buying-claim-mueller-frame-donald-trump-965265

[viii] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-obtained-encrypted-messages-michael-cohens-phones-prosecutors/story?id=55934826

[ix] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/business/energy-environment/exxon-russia.html

[x] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/03/chamber-of-commerce-chief-talks-business-groups-anti-tariff-campaign.html