Speaking Out Against Trump

Speaking Out Against TrumpA fellow whom I greatly respect put a post on Facebook yesterday to the effect that each president of the U.S. has had a mixture of strengths and weakness, as well as a blend of points of character to being admired and others reviled. His message, and we hear this all the time, is that all Americans should stand behind Donald Trump and help him become the best president he can be.

While I don’t think this is a baseless idea, the Trump presidency is unique in U.S. history, for several different reasons, a few of which are outlined here:

• He promises a full, frontal attack on environmental regulations in a time in which our scientists are virtually unanimous about the urgency of climate change mitigation.

• He ran on a populist platform that pitted the “vicious, greedy, and selfish” Goldman Sachs against the honest, hard-working Americans, but has filled his cabinet with four different Goldman executives and one of their top attorneys.

• He has an unknowable set of conflicts of interest in his business dealings all over the world, which will likely put him in violation of the Constitution the moment he takes office.

• His proposed ban on / registry of Muslims is another clear violation of numerous points of the Constitution.

• He’s calling for world nuclear weapons proliferation.

• He has some sort of weird bromance with Vladimir Putin, one of world history’s great butchers. Not coincidentally, Russia clearly influenced our election in Trump’s favor.

• He promises to order numerous activities, e.g., torture and murder of combatants’ families, that are in violation of international law.

Because of these points, I side with those calling for (though not expecting) his immediate removal from office. However, I DO expect his expulsion at some time before his four-term, in response to the more serious violations of law suggested above.  And FWIW, note that Americans who feel this way are not an isolated fringe.  Trump has a disapproval rating of 54%(versus a 40% approval rating) as of today, and the count of those disapproving is increasing every week, as more people are becoming sickened by his cabinet appointments, his behavior and rhetoric, while at the same time becoming terrified as to where he’s going to lead our country and how U.S. policy is likely to destabilize the world at large.

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11 comments on “Speaking Out Against Trump
  1. Paul Hughes says:

    Anonymous:….This isn’t about who won and who lost and “growing up” as some have exhorted. This is about the decay of democracy, the disparagement of truth, the rise of totalitarian power as well the death of social justice and economic equality. This is about huge tax cuts for the wealthy, while workers continue to be paid about the same for the last 40 years…This is about the repeal of laws which will protect the life of our planet and your children. Read, look around you, dig for the facts, these are not liberal points of view, this is what’s happening around us now…The validation of sexism, racism, and greedy over the top capitalism are happening now, all around us…. And you tell me to grow up…Open your eyes or your children will open them for you…

    • craigshields says:

      Wow, Paul. This is some terrifically powerful and spot-on writing. I had forgotten what a gift you have.

  2. Lawrence Coomber says:

    Craig anonymous references never actually happened.

    Lawrence Coomber

  3. Frank R. Eggers says:

    Immediately removing Trump from office would create more problems than it would solve. In the eyes of his supporters, it would make him a martyr quite likely resulting in violent demonstrations and resurrections. It could even undermine our commitment to an elected democratic government. We must not even consider immediately removing Trump from office.

    Once Trump is in office, impeachment should be considered if more and more damning evidence is revealed which is highly likely. Before beginning impeachment proceedings, the evidence should be very carefully explained and a wide spread consensus reached. Then, and only then, would it be safe to proceed with impeachment.

    Until or unless Trump can be safely removed from office, we must keep in mind that the president is not a dictator. There are constitutional limitations on what he can do. Moreover, his proclivity for shooting off his mouth and chirping without first engaging his brain has greatly undermined his credibility. That process is certain to continue and result in further undermining of his credibility and further lowering his approval ratings thereby making it easier to impeach him with less drama.

    It is likely that in the future this episode in American history will be seen as an anomalous and amusing drama with few lasting repercussions. Other countries have had their share of bizarre events so it is unlikely that the reputation of the U. S. of A. will be seriously or permanently damaged.

  4. Breath on the Wind says:

    We are certainly living in interesting times. I had some sense that there would be some kind of surprise before the inauguration. Russian involvement in the election with coordination from the Trump campaign would fit that bill. There are presently only allegations but hints during the election suggested the same.

    But what game is ultimately being played or where this will end up is just speculation. Some would pursue a path to oust the president. There is some caution in the wisdom, “be careful what you wish for…” We would be left with his choices in the succession process. Like trying to put a bit of salt in the soup when the head comes off the shaker. The entire mix may be spoiled.

    Could we simply declare Clinton president? There is not really any legal basis for it. She and the DNC clearly cheated against Sanders. There is not a lot of high moral ground there.

    Under this government, this constitution, I don’t believe there is any basis upon which the entire election process can be declared void. If we turn instead to some kind of major change or overhaul of government then the resulting chaos may in fact be the goal of those behind the making of a Trump presidency.

    During the 2000 election we choose to ignore irregularities in favor of continuity and normalcy. It may not only have been a poor bargain but a warning.

    And yet, before we begin to fester on our own rhetoric it is good to keep in mind that there are still people who will speak out saying that everything that has transpired is giving them hope for change. Perhaps things are not yet bad enough for all to see. So far it is mostly our fears of all the dark clouds that are unsettling.

  5. marcopolo says:

    Craig,

    I’m very disturbed your ranting against the President-elect is becoming increasingly vitriolic and unbalanced.

    The US is not some unstable banana republic where President are removed from office by coup’s and unlawful process.

    Representative government doesn’t meant civil disorder if one side can’t get it’s own way. The losers must accept the authority of elected officials and proceed within the rules.

    Donald Trump’s wealth doesn’t preclude his participation in political life nor being elected to office. Constitutional considerations, if they exist, are a matter for the US Supreme Court.

    Far from calling for nuclear proliferation, he’s working to reduce Russian and American nuclear armaments.

    Your accusation of ” He promises to order numerous activities, , torture and murder of combatants’ families in violation of international law “, has been the policy of the last two predecessors. I didn’t hear you condemning Obama for exactly the same actions.

    Any US President must deal with Russia and Putin. Putin’s Russia is no more repressive or a greater violator of human rights than the People’s Republic of China, yet I don’t hear you complaining about the CCP.

    Now, I’m not much of a fan of Goldman Sachs either, but describing them as working against the honest, hard-working Americans is pretty silly class-warfare rhetoric.

    It’s also a bit counter-productive to your cause since those same Goldman executives are financial and corporate advisors to most alternate energy projects,including Tesla Motors. solar city etc. Were you aware Goldman Sachs has an entire division devoted to energy storage developers ?

    Lastly, and most controversially, your definition of what “scientists are unanimous ” about is very subjective.

    Trump has displayed a willingness to listen, learn and even adopt practical environmental positions. His main desire seems to be to end the politicization of scientific debate removing the influence of political ideologues from federal agencies.

    As President, Trump has promised to safeguard the jobs and employment of American coal miners and communities. He’s also promised to support realistic and practical carbon sequestration technology to mitigate the negative effects, while creating new industries for by products and technologies.

    Now, that might be your way of dealing with carbon emissions, but you’re not President !

    Trump has invited a wide range of scientists, alternate energy experts, environmentalists to become advisors. Most have been surprised by his capacity to listen and quickly evaluate their advice.

    Whether this is just a initial bit of showmanship, or a real desire for information remains to be seen, but unlike you, these real experts are willing to give it a try.

    Craig, the campaign is over. It was a long and unedifying campaign, very destructive. Trying to prolong the campaign for four more years is pointless and even destructive.

    It better to accept the electoral result and work to achieve what can be achieved from the opportunities a new administration will offer.

    Nothing can be achieved by sticking your finger in your ears, covering your eyes and yelling “we was robbed for four years”!

    (Hmmmm,…come to think about it, when you call for the “removal of the President” , maybe that’s the real purpose of the EPA’s tank battalion :))

  6. Silent Running says:

    Good Morning to All

    Much could be said but I remember Marco Polo stating months ago that Hillary most likely will be elected – but she will be drinking from some Toxic chalices…..

    well things got turned upside down and Now its the Trumper, Trumpet or Trumpster who is going to be drinking from many many more TOXIC Chalices.

    They are of all colors and full of Poison and Contradictions- many of these Toxins are the result of Trumpster’s own making so he is going to get his much deserved Karma reckoning in due time…

    Many in america will be re asking them selves is this what we asked for ??!!!?!? like the Chinese proverb alludes to.

    From the onset of what has transpired since the upset election Trump has continued to gather more toxins and add them to the Witches Brew .
    His tentative appointments of lackeys for Greed and Anti Science and Anti Public education and the Goofy Uncle Tom he is placing into HUD not to mention a carbon owned EPA nominee whose denial of reality within his own state negatively impacts Oklahoma residents .

    In the Aggregate these negatives and many others and certainly many more similar will be presented to us going forward.

    The gap between reality and reactionary politics will increase and there will be much strife. The chalices are over flowing with toxicity so something will have to give?

    This weekend : The opening rounds of the ongoing counter Trumpet movement will be in full display upon the World Stage as over 600 events globally are planned to voice displeasure with the Ascension of the trumpster to President of US will compound and serve to become the Flash points for civil rejection of his surrogates planned policy follies. !

    The question is how much resistance and how High a price and how much pain will he do to the country. He has already shown a tendency to back off the edge of the Cliff once its pointed out to him – he now says Americans will pay for his Wall and the Mexicans will get billed later……

    If this is a pattern of his follies then things might just all get tempered down to a less contentious place….???

    There are already Voices out there that say the biggest resistance to the Trumpster will come from within the hard core right and conservative wings of the GOP . Strange as it may seem, The gomers may go after him once he strays from their budget axes to the middle and working class and economically disadvantaged amongst us.

    Lots of toxins, Lots of contradictions and Lots of Interesting times….lay ahead. Perhaps America will go thru this time and purify and grow into a better State once all these negative actors are removed from the Stage…

    May trumpster enjoy the toxins he has fermented and may he and his minions be limited in forcing most of us to drink the same.

    Too many toxic chalices and their consequences too put into tidy lil boxes… hope for reduced levels of Failure too so that collateral damages are limited but that may be Pollyanna on second thought!
    Let the Marches Begin and the Hordes Grow and Resistance in every quarter of the Land serve as a counter balance to what ever the trumperian ERA represents….. From the Watch Tower watching the Black Swans gather
    Stay Alert and Hope for the Best and Be Part of the Positive change that one thinks is needed…
    This is one energy Pioneer who will be listening to Music and ignoring all inauguration and related to the Trumpet follies!

  7. Silent Running says:

    Marco

    I suggest that you stop being concerned about Craig’s rants from your view about the trumpet.

    The Trumpet has little redeeming value and the sky will not fall or darken if people criticize him or obstruct him in meaningful ways.

    We have not had a president elect invoke such strong public blowback on the Global Stage ….that speaks volumes for what Craig is speaking

    lets see how they fill the un ordered tickets that he is having to give away to the public in attempts to have more viewers. lets see just how many of the so called protest groups execute at the level they are claiming!

    Pour some good wine and sit back and watch things unfold….

    Stand up and

  8. marcopolo says:

    Silent,

    You miss the point. Craig’s vehement obsession with reviling Donald Trump, only gives strength to the resentment and anger of his supporters.

    At this stage, it’s just divisiveness for the sake of divisiveness, and detracts from Craig’s credibility in other areas.

    That’s the problem with obsessing about Trump, he’s not a politician seeking to win favour with the majority, just enough to keep him in office and effective.

    The more virulent the opposition, the more extreme the critics, the more the ‘polls’ hate him, the more he wins the hearts and minds of his constituency. Populists thrive on rabid opposition, the only effective counter is a calm, strong and fair-minded opposition, someone who builds respect for moderate commonsense.

    Populists can’t survive being ignored.

    No one, not even his most ardent supporters really expects Donald Trump to carry out his more extreme proposals. he only has to do some things right to win approval.

    Advocates like Craig however, base their reputation on credible, rational advocacy. they are held to a much higher standard, because the claim to be serious people commenting on serious issues, they have a long way further to fall.

    Craig’s voice (and credibility) is too important to be jeopardized by wasting time and energy with such tirades.

  9. Silent Running says:

    Marco as I said in the other posting its better to be calm and not just attack trumper as he will become a victim and retain the admiration of the masses who follow his message.

    I think the cooler heads will allow things to Un Ravel on their own

    Not be emotional as you say. If things go South they do if not then maybe moderation sets in.

    but there are many many voices who are rabid and they will do what they do. some will just make trumpet look strong and some who play it right might help knock out large chinks in his persona which over time may weaken him.

    I do think he may end up clashing with certain members of the GOP and that might be more damaging, we just have to see.

    I think its Best to watch from above the Smoke lines! or is it Noise Lines!

    Interesting times for sure.