You have to keep in mind that democracy is messy and difficult. As I've said in this column before, democracy is advanced citizenry so under the Constitution executive orders met with protests is all part of the process. On today's MTP Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) said that this is how the system of divided government works.
Is the executive order unconstitutional? One court in Washington said that it was and it was upheld by another. However, some law scholars say that President Trump has the legal right to issue such an executive order on immigration from specific Muslim-majority countries.
Whether you think the executive order is immoral and goes against American values is something you decide for yourself.
What I have real issue with is this constant delegitimizing by Donald Trump of our institutions. President Trump referred to "this so-called judge" about the ruling, calling into question the legitimacy of the court. But also, the executive order delegitimizes our State, Homeland Security and Intelligence Departments by not showing trust in highly trained American personnel to do their jobs vetting visa applicants. These institutions are not infallible and should be held to account, but to completely denounce their integrity while trying to lead them tearing at the very fabric of the country.
The panel debated substance versus style in these first two weeks of the Trump Administration and the substance is debatable with the except of the immigration executive order, which is just unnecessary and punitive. But there is no question on the style, which has just been downright embarrassing for this country. The scorched earth rhetoric that comes from President Trump himself is amateurish at the least, dangerous at the most. And many Americans may like it... now. But as a long-term strategy, the Administration continues it to its peril. In your first two weeks on the job, you start arguments with two of the United States' best allies - Mexico and Australian.
Childish and uninformed tweets are not a good governing strategy. And this continued fellating of Vladimir Putin by Donald Trump is inexplicable. Vice President Mike Pence said that the president didn't make a moral equivalence of what America has done to what Vladimir Putin is doing now, but the president excusing of the war crimes that Mr. Putin has committed is frankly inexcusable.
And for Mike Pence to say that we should only look forward when it comes to relations with Russia, knowing what he and his Republican colleagues know - simply giving cover to the president - is intellectually dishonest. I understand that he really has no choice and must defend the administration, but that doesn't preclude pointing out this dishonesty. The vice president said that the president communicates in a 'unique way,' which really translates as irresponsible and not presidential. And this bullying tone is going to alienate key allies around the world very quickly, as we've already seen with the two aforementioned countries. Needless to say, I found VP Pence's performance today very unconvincing and not at all reassuring.
News flash: Contrary to what the vice president said, the immigration executive order was not well thought out and hastily done due to the fact that the Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly, was never even consulted.
I agree with Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) that this Russia business with Mr. Trump requires stark light brought upon it. Mr. Trump has never been transparent when it comes to his business ties and this should be a concern of every American. The problem for Nancy Pelosi is that she's a bad messenger. In fact, that's the general problem for the Democratic Party - the policies are better for the middle class but the messaging is terrible and that's because of the messengers themselves. May be Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) isn't ready to be the minority leader in the House, but he's the right messenger for the Democratic Party right now.
Panel: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute; Alex Castellanos, Republican strategist; Tavis Smiley, PBS
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