Category: Trump

Constitution, Corruption, Judicial Branch, Trump December 25, 2018December 25, 2018

Trump DC Hotel Lawsuit Moves Forward

The Constitution of the United States of America, Article I, Section 9 state: …”No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any king, Prince, or foreign State.”…

On December 4, 2018, just 3 weeks ago, amidst the tidal wave of Flynn and Cohen news, the AP reported that U.S. District Court DC Judge Peter J. Messitte approved subpoenas alleging Trump profited off the presidency.

The lawsuits were filed by two Attorney Generals, one in DC and the other in Maryland. After the judge approved the subpoenas, the AGs were able to move forward and subpoena twenty companies and government agencies.

It looks to be a very strong case:

According to the Washington Post, Saudi’s paid $270,000 to fund 500 nights at the Trump International Hotel in DC for U.S. veterans
The nightly rate for these stays, $768
USA Today reported that the Trump Organization earned $40.4 million in 2017, Trump’s first year in office
$350,000 was of this Revenue was from campaign funds, 60% of which came from RNC USA Today went on to state
Hotel’s guests included representatives from: Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Kuwait
Numerous political events are held at the hotel, including one funded by the Philippine government
Trump is obligated to donate foreign government profits to the US Treasury, in light of the emoluments clause, but trump only donated $151,470 without supplying any documentation
Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut is actively involved in monitoring Trump’s International DC Hotel, along with the representatives of foreign governments who stay there, as well as the two lawsuits filed against Trump relating to profiting from his presidency

It’s been two years and Trump hasn’t be able to put this conflict to rest. Instead, it’s grown that much more significant, especially in light of Jamal Khashoggi’s grisly murder and how much Saudi money is tied into Trump’s DC hotel.

Executive Branch, History, Trump December 25, 2018December 25, 2018

The Ha Ha Border Wall & Our Founding Fathers

There have been borders and boundaries and enemies since the beginning of time. It seems that Trump would have us believe that borders, and citizens from foreign countries crossing borders, are a brand new phenomenon. These issues have all been worked out before, so why is this difficult for Trump?

In 1785, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were enthralled with a sensational discovery they made while meandering through a British garden where they nearly stumbled into a Ha Ha, (originally, the French stated “Ooh-la-la” when they first saw this innovative border solution; the British shortened it to Ha Ha).

During the mid-to-late 1600’s, the Royal Society of London became passionately consumed with botany and horticulture. Landowners had always grown their own crops to feed their families, and raised their own farm animals. They created utility gardens for these necessities. But with the advent of the botanical age, they were eager to add an ornamental garden to their landscape, and struggled to find a solution for keeping the farm animals away from their ornamental masterpieces. They didn’t want barrier walls that would block the views of the flowering shrubs and trees and colorful flower beds. A creative problem solver came up with the clever idea to dig a ditch that would keep the animals on the utility side of the garden without blocking the views of the ornamental side.

Resourceful, flexible thinking usually nets excellent results. Trump is a complete 180 from our Founders. Is there any way to bend Trump’s rigid, cemented opinion?

Photograph by Google Images

Legislative Branch, National Security, Trump December 24, 2018December 24, 2018

Dem’s Innovative Border Security Plan

The Democrats have proposed a very sophisticated, efficient, and economical security plan that will bring us forward in successfully accomplishing the mission of stronger security along our Southern border. President Trump apparently refuses to consider these innovative ideas.

We’re all familiar with the invisible fence created for our pets; these have existed for decades, ever since it was invented in 1973. The infinitesimal expense – especially when compared to the cost of a stone or concrete wall lining residential property, or even a wooden fence for that matter – in addition to the aesthetic advantages, have made invisible fences a very successful consumer product.

Ranchers have also been resourceful in coming up with innovative solutions in containing cattle and horses; and farmers are very creative in their methods of keeping predators away from crops. For example:

Invisible fence for Cattle – all that’s required are two components, the charger and the fence wire
Guard animals – Many farmers rely on guard animals to keep predators away from crops, examples: llamas, donkeys and dogs

With these proven solutions in mind, it makes sense that many lawmakers are thinking along these line for our Southern border. The options currently being floated by the Democrats, some of which were outlined by Senator Durbin on Meet the Press December 23, 2018 include:

Fund the Z Portal to dramatically increase the scanning of trucks and cars coming across border, we currently only screen approximately one out of five cars and trucks
Integrated Fixed Towers (IFT) system, “with radar, day and night cameras, and thermals imaging” to monitor thousands of miles of border; used along the border between Israel and Palestine
Predator Drone Aircraft, certain areas along the border in Texas are currently using this type of equipment for monitoring the border that the military brought back from Afghanistan

There are clearly many technological advancements that make border control much more simple and more advanced than the medieval stone wall of the 14th century that Trump is demanding.