"RAGE, RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT." - Dylan Thomas

In his famous untitled poem written in 1947 and first published in the journal Botteghe Oscure in  1951, Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) expressed resistance against the intolerable.  At the very least, his untitled poem, known by its first line, "Do not go gentle into that good night," encourages resistance against injustice, wrong-doing, or, in the case of the death of his father, the end of life itself.  Given the obvious elements of the Trump agenda - including isolationism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant and refugee sentiment - it seems that there is a plot to dim or turn off the lights in the welcoming torch atop the Statue of Liberty.  Our entire history as a nation , with one or two glaring examples of mistakes in the past, is built on the warm welcome that had been extended to our families as immigrants from elsewhere and the welcome that we, in turn, have extended to others who want to share the "American Dream" over the decades.  Sure, assimilation has been an issue over time - from the Irish, to the Polish, the Italians, and, more recently, Latinos and those from the Middle East, we have not been perfect - either as a polyglot nation or a mosaic mixture of cultures from everywhere around the globe.  Yet, uniquely among nations, the United States stands as the globe's most powerful economy, most deadly military, and the only superpower remaining on the planet.  This history of a clash of cultures, the exchange of ideas and knowledge, and the mixture of people from wholly different backgrounds that takes place here may very well be the entire source of our global success and the key to our future prosperity.  I, for one, cannot stand idly by as the light on the torch of the Statue of Liberty's "open door" is dimmed or extinguished.  Like many of you, I will not "go gentle into that good night."  Instead, I choose to "rage, rage against the dying of the light."

OK, while we are not facing the end of "life", we may be in the midst of a dramatic change in our national "life" - the freedoms, the reasoned government processes, and the protections that we have become accustomed to in this country. Trumpism has arrived by an astonishing and circuitous route, confounding the Republican Party through the primary election season and pulling off a surprise victory against Hillary Clinton and the Democrats in the fall. He and his merry band, along with his bizarre policy proscriptions and tweeting foreign policy directives through Twitter, are now seated squarely in control of the levers of power in the United States.  His Presidency has given validation and purchase to the "Alt. Right" movement and to policies of isolationism, anti-immigrant and refugees, misogynistic behavior, and an extreme form of "trickle-down" policy featuring tax cuts for the very wealthy and large corporations, program cuts for the rest of us, and the dismantling of the social safety net that had been carefully constructed since FDR and the New Deal decades ago.

Even worse, efforts are underway to repeal American freedoms that have expanded since FDR's "Four Freedoms" and the expansive programs of the post WWII world - from Veterans assistance through the Great Society Programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, food stamps, student aid for college, and the great Civil Rights and Voting Rights movements. More recently, the expansion of personal freedoms - to marry who you love, regardless of religious objections and the decreasing gender discrimination in law, in the workplace, in life and more, are evidence of a continuing and growing public expression of individual freedom of choice.  Yet, empowered by his "landslide" election (NOT), and encouraged by large crowds at "rallies" (read political theater), Trump continues on a path toward contracting freedom of choice, restricting civil liberties (his absurd charge that millions of fraudulent votes were cast in the election), and his Senior Advisor Steve Bannon's call for the main stream press to, "just shut up."  Coupled with Trumps stated goal of "relaxing" libel laws so that newspapers can be more easily sued if he doesn't like or disagrees with what they print, and his constant attack on the media as "fake news", reveal a broad attack on the First Amendment. His actions and statements amount to a broad attack on the First Amendment's guaranteed right of freedom of speech. Of course, there is much more - his trade policies, immigrant hatred, building a "great wall" instead of a "bridge" to the future, questioning the value of our alliances around the globe, and his "bromance" with Putin.  But, I will leave these to another time.  There is enough danger mentioned already to support a call to arms - "RAGE, RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT!"

Let's take another look at the election outcome.  First, Donald Trump LOST the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes.  Including the independent candidates, his percentage of the popular vote was 46% in favor and 54 against (Clinton - 48.2%; Ind. 5.7%).  Bottom line, Trump lost the popular vote - badly.  Trump argues that his electoral vote was a "massive landslide and the biggest victory since Ronald Reagan."  Also false.  Trump did indeed win the electoral vote - 306-232.  Turns out, that percentage spread of electoral votes (56.88%) places Trump 13 from the bottom of all presidential elections since George Washington in 1789! Higher percentages of electors were scored by George H.W. Bush (79.8%), Clinton twice (68.77% and 70.45% after impeachment), and Obama twice (67.84% in 2008; 61.71% in 2012).  So much for the Trump "massive landslide."

And, then there is the Congress.  Most times, the party that captures the presidency also scores gains in the houses of congress.  Although Trump cobbled together a winning electoral strategy, the Republicans lost seats in the House (-5) and the US Senate (-2).  This outcome certainly is not reflective of any broad groundswell for the Trump candidacy, or the Republican agenda.

As I write this, the members of Congress have returned home on President's Week recess.  And, they are encountering crowds that are "raging against the dying of the light."  Since the first day of the Trump term that witnessed near 1 million women and their supporters on the streets of Washington, DC in the "Women's March on Washington" and 4,000,000+ marching in support around the nation and across the globe in "sister" marches, active protests have taken place in cities and towns across America and at airports too, in response to the Trump Immigration Executive Orders. Many cities have re-affirmed their pledge to immigrants as "sanctuary cities" and several federal courts, including the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals have blocked the Trump Orders by injunction, preventing Homeland Security from arresting/detaining travelers at airports here and abroad.  The Courts prevented the implementation of the Trump Orders based on the argument that the orders violated the US  Constitution. Against the backdrop of these demonstrations, marches, and protests, the Members of Congress came home - to anger, to questions, to demands for action and to a penetrating question that, I, along with others, chanted outside the home of our local Member of Congress, first term member, John Faso - "Who's side are you on, John Faso, who's side are you on?"  The issue being framed is, whether the Member of Congress represents his/her constituents or the political party who's banner they ran under?  Do, you represent people or Party? Neighbors or funders?  And, does your agenda and vote reflect what is good for the people of your district?  Or, in blind lock-step with the "leader" of your Party, a member of Congress from a Wisconsin district with little in common with your home area?  Will you come into the light or have you gone over to the Dark Side?  That is the question facing all those who have been elected to "represent the people."  Just which "people" do they represent?  Who's side are YOU on?  Stay tuned.

THE BILLIONAIRE'S BALL: AND, WHO HAS A MANDATE?

Appoint an oligarchy of billionaires to run the show?  No... not the Apprentice, but the United States of America!  Govern by PROCLAMATION?  Executive ORDERS to eliminate regulations on banks and against polluters?  Eliminate regulations that protect consumers, remove restrictions from mining companies that prevent the dumping of contaminants into streams?  Executive ORDERS to implement a "gag rule" on federal employees - especially those who advocate environmental protection and agree with 95% of scientists that global warming is real and is caused, not as a Chinese plot, but by human activity and carbon emissions?  "Instructions" to the press by Senior Counselor to the President Steve Bannon that the press should "shut up?" Is this the movie plot to some nightmare future in the Trumpworld vision of what the United States should be?  In any case, what is the administration afraid of?  And, what are "alternative facts" anyway?

During his first two weeks in office, President Trump has ignored the other two branches of government - the legislative and the judicial branches - along with their shared power and system of checks and balances - and has been governing by EXECUTIVE EDICT!  "Edict" is defined as "a decree or law of major import promulgated by a king, queen, or other sovereign of  government; an authoritative command or dictate; a law ordained by a sovereign, by which he (or she) forbids or commands something..."  (Free Legal Dictionary.com).  President Trump has insisted that his appointments be quickly adopted without waiting for the traditional legal process of vetting by the FBI, reports to Committees of Jurisdiction, completion of Committee disclosure and information forms, and compliance with the standards and rules that have been commonplace in the advice-and-consent process of the US Senate for decades.  Trump has approached his appointment powers as President in the very same way that he has operated his businesses - his way or the highway.  Most Senate Committees insisted that their process be followed and at least one nominee - Secretary of the Army nominee Vincent Viola, another billionaire investor and owner of the Florida Panthers hockey team - withdrew his nomination because he either could not or would not shed his business interests in order to eliminate potential conflicts of interest that could occur in his role as Secretary of the Army.  Like Trump, Viola's plan was to transfer control of his company to his family but not divest himself of ownership of the company.  That didn't pass muster with the Military Code of Ethics which applies in this case. On the other hand, Acting United States Attorney General Sally Yates, a career prosecutor, was fired by President Trump - recalling his role in "The Apprentice"- after refusing to enforce his Muslim Entry Ban on January 30th. The Trump way or the highway.....

And, then there is Steve Bannon...... and his appointment to the National Security Counsel as a permanent member. In a break from history and, some argue, from federal law and practice, Trump ordered the Counsel to seat Bannon, regardless of the law which defines with precision as to who the permanent members would be, notably including the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Intelligence Director. President Trump appointed Bannon and demoted (read removed) the Joint Chiefs Chair and the Director of National Intelligence, regardless of their statutory status.  Presidential Press Spokesperson, Chuck Spicer, poo-pooed this violation of law with the comment that the President, "is entitled to appoint whoever he pleases to advise him on policy matters."  Sounds like yet another royal "edict" to me.

OK... so, maybe Trump is entitled to issue orders, edicts, and rule by proclamation....  After all, he was elected with a "massive mandate!"  Whoa!  Let's look at THAT outrageous claim.....  In the first place, Donald Trump LOST to Hillary Clinton in a nation-wide vote by 3 MILLION VOTES.  So, his argument is that he actually won?  Because 3 to 5 million illegal immigrant and fraudulent votes were cast?  This is utter nonsense, no matter how many times that it might be repeated.  In the first place, 2/3 or more of the state-based elections are conducted and supervised by REPUBLICAN SECRETARIES OF STATE. All 50 states have denied that they discovered any voter fraud of any kind at all. In fact, with more that 165,000,000 votes cast in November, not more than 4 cases of voter fraud have been reported.  Even adding those 4 votes to Trump - say from his daughter Evanka, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his Senior Counselor Steve Bannon, and his son, Donald Junior who all are registered in two states - he still lost the popular vote by nearly 3 MILLION VOTES.  No matter how you slice it, Trump was REJECTED by a majority of American voters.

Well, you might argue, he won "a massive landslide" in the electoral vote.  This also is a FRAUD and a stretch of the facts. Trump did win the electoral vote - 306-232 - but a change in just 2 states would have led to a different outcome.  Still, even that doesn't change the fact that Trump lost the popular vote 48.2% for Clinton and 46.1% for Trump, a difference of 2,865,000 votes, not 4 votes.  And, reflecting that vote split, the Democrats picked up House Seats and Senate Seats along the way as well. Taking Independent candidacies into account, 54% of Americans who cast their ballot for president in November, 2016 voted against Trump. Nevertheless, Trump continues on the path of Edict, Order, and rule by Proclamation.  The only "massive landslide" of sorts that has taken place recently was the MASSIVE WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON that took place the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. More than 1 million women and their supporters marched in DC on a positive message of Human Rights for all People.  They were joined by hundreds of local "sister marches" that took place in every state and in thousands of cities and towns across the nation and in 33 countries around the world, totaling some 5 million + protestors. Perhaps that is the number that President Trump had in mind when he described "5 million fraudulent votes" being cast. The 5 million who marched that day and the millions who have marched since - in protest of renewed attacks on the environment, against Trump cabinet picks, in support of the Health Care for All, and more - suggests that the "emperor has no clothes."

    As recently editorialized in "The Nation" magazine (Feb. 6-13, 2017), "Trump has no mandate to privatize medicare or medicaid, no mandate to ramp up attacks on voting and labor rights, no mandate to deny climate change, and no mandate to make the world a more dangerous place." And, now, given the most recent court rulings in Washington State and in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, it appears that he also has no mandate to reverse the proud American tradition of welcoming immigrants - and especially refugees - to join us in seeking the fulfillment of the American Dream.  With Trump's recent edict banning Muslim immigration to the US from 7 selected countries and an outright bar on accepting refugees from Syria, our President has attempted to erase the words of welcome that were etched on the base of the Statue of Liberty that have welcomed immigrants from around the globe for generations as written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. Her sonnet was inscribed on the base of the statue in 1903, and has served as a beacon of hope in welcoming immigrants to the United States for more than 100 years.  In part, the inscription reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." May this sentiment ever be so.

Millions have marched against the TRAVEL BAN imposed by President Trump, and opponents have lined up against the measure, including dozens of Republican Senators and House Members. Given the announcement by the Justice Department that they will appeal the Federal Judge's ruling that implements a temporary stay of the Trump Order, and are asking the Court of Appeals to set aside the lower Court ruling, it appears that the issue may yet land in front of the Supreme Court.  The Court of Appeals will hear the case but has refused to disturb the lower court injunction against the order.  It seems as though President Trump has yet to learn that a our democracy will function as the founders intended and that those who would attempt to deny, destroy, dismiss, or ignore our history and the  precedents established that are our heritage, will be swept away by the tide of history and the might of the majority.  Majority trumps mandate. And, that may yet prove to be Donald Trump's undoing.

Meanwhile, back at the Senate confirmations.....  Are we discovering that the billionaire nominees, like Trump, bristle at the "impertinence" of the elected officials and others who dare to challenge them and their worthiness to be "at the switch?"  This narcissist attitude should not come as a surprise, given Trump's operational history as a CEO of many companies and we should not expect anything different from his nominated Cabinet Members.  Instead of "draining the swamp" as Trump promised his supporters over and over, he is "stocking the pond" with corporate piranhas, many from the Wall Street crowd that he attacked during the campaign.

Stay tuned.  More on this in the next article.   

THE DRUMBEAT OF DEMOCRACY - This is what Democracy looks like!

Complacency......  Normally, this is the typical behavior of voters all across America.  From the 50% of eligible voters who are registered and eligible to vote in Presidential elections that never show up at the polls, to mid-term Congressional elections when even fewer voters participate, to local elections - especially School Board elections - where voter turn-out is but a fraction of the 50% Presidential turn-out.  Complacency.....  Never mind  expending the effort to get on a bus or into a car, travel a great distance, make a sign, and march round in the cold for hours.  One impact that the election of Donald Trump has evidently had, is to inject a shot of progressive adrenaline in the veins of concerned Americans all across the nation.  One of those places was a small rural community in up-state New York, Kinderhook.  Kinderhook lies in the NY 19th Congressional District and had been represented by Chris Gibson, a moderate Republican.  In the election that followed, John Faso, the Republican and a former NY State Senator who lost a re-election campaign and became a lobbyist.  He defeated Zephyr Teachout, a liberal Democrat in November and was sworn in last month.

But, before his first month in office, John Faso faced a demonstration and march in front of his office and in front of his nearby home, for the most part, in defense of the Affordable Heath Care Act.  According to press reports - as well as personal observation by myself as a part of the protest, more than 1000 people appeared on 48 hours notice to express support for health Care for all, against the recent Executive Order to ban immigration or visitation from 7 Muslim-majority countries and to prevent refugees from those countries - all of which had nothing to do with terrorist attacks on the United States - from entering the US. The ban, announced the Friday before the Saturday Faso demonstration took place, produced protests all across the nation.  In addition to these burning issues, those who gathered at the Faso office and home, asked the question, "who's side are you on, John Faso, who's side are you on?"  The group submitted a list of concerns and asked the newly-minted Member of Congress to represent THEM and not the Republican establishment like Speaker Paul Ryan (why would Faso represent Wisconsin?), or, even worse, Trumpism.  The list is shown below.

women’s march –NY STATE

 

   

                                                           ISSUES:                                                                                                              January 28, 2017

1.       Protect our health care!  No repeal without improved replacement plan.

2.       Announced cuts to the following entities and agencies:

DOJ:  Violence Against Women Division

             Civil Rights Division Division

             Environmental and Natural Resources Division

3.       Re-instatement of the Global gag Order on abortion and birth control information.

4.      Cuts to the Legal Services Corporation.

5.       Cut Planned Parenthood services funding.  Not that no federal money is used for

abortion services.

6.      HR 7:  A bill to prohibit federal money from being transferred to abortion service providers and insurers, including Medicaid, from support of abortion services.

7.       ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:

     Cuts to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

     EPA Gag Order issued and announced freeze on EPA grants and contracts.

     Re-instate the Keystone Pipeline in spite of US Army Corps announced study.    

8.      Respect the American tradition of welcoming immigrants to our nation.

9.      Oppose religious test for immigration by name or deed.

In addition, oppose “ALTERNATIVE FACTS.”  As former NY US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “you are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.”  What are “alternative facts?” 

*The White House falsely insists that the Trump Inaugural was larger in attendance than the first Obama inaugural.  Plainly, that was not the case.

*The “Alt. Right” world insists that George Soros bought all 1 million DC Marchers gift bags and paid for their transport to DC, essentially making the BIG LIE that the Women’s March was populated by paid agents of Soros.

* President Trump’s insistence that 3-5,000,000 “illegal votes” were cast in the election and that’s why Clinton had more popular votes than Trump.  Illegal immigrants, “dead” voters, and those registered to vote in 2 or more states (like Ivanka, Steve Bannon, and Jared Kushner?) who ALL voted for Clinton.

Here are some scenes from the Faso demonstration.

Representative Faso later announced that he would not vote to abolish the ACA without a viable and inclusive replacement; that he supports Planned Parenthood funding, that he opposes the announced Executive Order creating a Muslim Ban and a restriction on humanitarian acceptance of refugees, that he believes that "facts are facts" and not "Alternative facts", and that he agreed with several other issues that were raised.  

This is what Democracy looks like.........