Ever since Donald Trump was elected President, many of us have held out hope he would rise to the occasion. That he would use the position to further causes benefiting both the U.S. and our world. That he would challenge our enemies to understand that democracy, and its inherent freedoms, is the best path to peace. That he would support our allies in their efforts to rein in Irans production of nuclear arms, the genocide in Syria and human rights abuses elsewhere. And that, at the very least, he would not work to undermine our system of government.
Instead, for nigh on three years, we have endured a president who has:
Turned back the clock on fighting global warming. We are now in the process of withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, the landmark agreement signed by 197 countries to reduce greenhouse gases. Our country has the ingenuity, the know-how and the can-do attitude to solve huge problems. Our engineers and scientists are the worlds best, but our countrys silence in the global fight against climate change is deafening.
Given tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting food subsidies to the poor. Last week, the Trump administration approved rules that will eliminate food stamps for nearly 700,000 unemployed people. Meanwhile, since 2017, those who make $200,000 and above have received twice as big a tax break as compared to other wage earners. The president is now calling for another round of tax cuts.
Forcibly separated migrant children from their parents in seeking asylum. Still today, about 4,000 children are being held in government custody, some in large, impersonal shelters. More arrive every week. The psychological damage to these children is of untold proportion.
Refused to protect Americans from gun violence. We have become so inured to the near-constant tragedy of needless death that last weeks mass shooting at a Naval Air Station in Florida barely made headlines. As of Dec. 1, there have been 385 mass shootings in the United States for 2019.
Encouraged racism and sexism. President Trump regularly denigrates immigrants, people of color and women. This summer, the President attacked four congresswomen of color and the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, an African-American from Baltimore.
Refused to acknowledge Russias interference with the 2016 presidential election. In fact, Mr. Trump is trying to shift the blame of election meddling to Ukraine, with the help of a disinformation campaign being propagated by Russia.
Abandoned farmers. Despite assurances U.S. tariffs on China would benefit trade, todays soybeans exports are one-third of what they were in 2018. To prop up farmers, the U.S. government is giving them $30 billion in emergency cash payments. Those stipends are a humiliating substitute for doing business. At the same time, senseless waivers to oil giants have been granted, harming our ethanol industry and corn farmers.
Benefited personally by having politicians, lobbyists and foreigners stay at his hotels. Just this Sunday, William Barr, U.S. attorney general, personally paid $30,000 for a holiday party at Trumps hotel in downtown Washington.
Conspired to undermine U.S. elections by soliciting the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 presidential election. Mr. Trump requested that Ukraine publicly announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden, so that it would tilt the election in the presidents favor. In the meantime, he had ordered $391 million in military aid to Ukraine be withheld. Thanks to a whistleblower, Mr. Trumps entreaty was discovered. And the aid was ultimately released.
Compromised U.S. national security by hampering Ukraines efforts to repel Russian aggression. (Whose side are we on?)
Obstructed justice by not cooperating with a congressional investigation into charges of bribery and extortion.
SO YES, it is with immense relief that the House of Representatives, finally, is willing to stand up to the President and say, enough.
In our opinion, the charges against the President are numerous enough to wrap around the block, but if they dilute from the more egregious, then we support the House Judiciary Committees narrow interpretation of high crimes and misdemeanors.
Specifically, President Trump is charged with abusing his position of power by asking Ukraines Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Biden in an effort to undermine his campaign, and for obstructing justice by refusing to allow his key aides to testify or for evidence be presented at the congressional hearings.
