Congressional Shame Over Putin/Trump Summit
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Before assuming office, elected US presidents take the following oath:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The Constitution’s preamble calls for “establish(ing) Justice, insur(ing) domestic Tranquility, provid(ing for the common defense (and) promoting the general Welfare.”
It’s the supreme law of the land. So are international laws and treaties agreed to under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Article I, Section 8 states that “Congress shall have power to...provide for...(the) general welfare of the United States” - the so-called welfare clause, an obligation it abandoned long ago.
Peace and cooperative relations with other nations are vital to assuring and maintaining the general welfare.
Article II, Section 1 states: “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”
Article II, Section 3 adds: “The President shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed” - all of them at all times, not some alone at the executive’s discretion, or perhaps none at all.
Presidents also serve as commander-in-chief of America’s military, today with his finger on the nuclear trigger, an ominous responsibility.
The executive can wage war or peace at his discretion, ignoring constitutional and international law when choosing the former path.
Presidents can do almost anything for good or ill. What’s more important than saving humanity from possible nuclear armageddon?
As long as the executive remains in office, he has constitutional powers for good granted him. World peace and stability depend on diplomatic relations between nations - especially between the two dominant nuclear powers.
Trump’s domestic and geopolitical agenda has been deplorable by any standard - meeting with Putin for summit talks a rare exception to an otherwise dismal record as president.
Instead of deserved praise, he’s been vilified by most Republicans and undemocratic Dems alike, along with the entire dominant media - a shameful display, the most outrageous in memory following a US president’s diplomatic outreach to another world leader.
Here’s a sample of disgraceful damning remarks, shaming the individuals making them:
On his death bed, John McCain called Trump’s summit with Putin “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said: “The Russians are not our friends, and I entirely believe the assessment of our intelligence community.”
House Speaker Ryan: “The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: “In the history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an adversary in the way Trump supported President Putin.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: “President Trump’s weakness in front of Putin was embarrassing, and proves that the Russians have something on the President, personally, financially or politically.”
Shocking, despicable stuff. Here’s more:
Fake progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren: “Once again (Trump) takes to the international stage to embarrass America, undermine our institutions, weaken our alliances and embrace a dictator. Russia interfered in our elections and attacked our democracy” - despicable bald-faced lies!
Progressive in name only Senator Bernie Sanders: “I’m glad that Trump has repudiated his absurd statement in Helsinki and now agrees with what our intelligence community has said for over a year.”
“Too bad Trump didn’t have the guts to say that yesterday while with his authoritarian friend, Vladimir Putin.”
Nearly the entire US Congress comprises a hall of shame, a wretched self-serving lot betraying the public trust.
Worst of all, its members from both sides of the isle threaten world peace and stability - along with mocking the general welfare in deference to privileged interests they serve exclusively.
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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
