The tragic events of 110,000-plus deaths from Covid-19, the subsequent economic collapse and the protests for racial injustice may have happened on another president's watch, but the chaos and division that Donald Trump has wrought on Americans and the world is fully manifesting itself.
The culmination came on Monday with the Trump Administration ordering the U.S. military to disperse a peaceful protest outside the "People's House" with tear gas so that we can all have this photo...
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| Your Bible? A Bible. |
Sorry... This photo:
Offensive on so many levels, one doesn't even know where to begin: unconstitutional use of the military for a photo op? turning the U.S. military on American citizens? using the bible and religion as a prop? Ivanka Trump carrying the bible in her purse then handing it to the president? completely tone-deaf to what was going on around the entire country at that moment? desecrating a sacred church where every president since James Madison (4th) had come to pray?
After that new low even for this president, the expected residual ooze of misleading and inappropriate statements seeped from the White House. Meanwhile, in the real world, former military commanders such as Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, fmr. Trump Administration Defense Secretary General James Mattis, fmr. Trump Chief of Staff General John Kelly, fmr. Secretary of State General Colin Powell, fmr. Seal Commander General William McCraven and fmr. NATO Supreme Commander Admiral James Stavridis all harshly condemned the president's actions and in essence explained that he is actively part of the problem when it comes to bringing the country together.
Yet while protests continue, the president remains a dividing force for racial justice and has yet to exclude invoking the Insurrection Act to fully employ the U.S. military to stop the protests. Appearing on today's program, Admiral Stavridis explained that if it comes to that point, current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley will have a choice to make, either follow the order or hand in his four stars. The admiral also said that because Defense Secretary Mark Esper is a political appointee, he would have it easier on making the decision, but General Milley is a career soldier. And then there is abroad, in which Adm. Stavridis explained that because of Mr. Trump, America's moral authority (and thus its influence) and reputation are deteriorating rapidly. Even if Mr. Trump is indeed a one-term president, the damage he's already done to international relations and partnerships will take at least a decade to repair.
Who knows how long it will take this country to recover even somewhat from Mr. Trump's presidency, if ever. On multiple occasions, Kristen Welker described the press pool being shushed by the president when asked about the protests and what his plan would be for reform. Obviously, it's because the administration doesn't have a plan, but not only that. One is compelled to ask if the president even cares to have one.
Co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Alicia Garza explained it when Chuck Todd asked her about "Defund the Police." Ms. Garza said that what that meant was that instead of pouring tons money into militarizing the police, use the money for housing and education in black communities, not getting rid of the police force. Affordable housing and good public education are problems plague all demographics in the country but a Manhattan-type project should begin in communities of color.
Frankly, it won't happen under this "Law & Order" president, even if he is reelected. In terms of the election polls and the various crises that he has no aptitude or inclination to confront, Mr. Trump is like a wounded animal backed into a corner. In this case it means that invoking the Insurrection Act is not out of the question. The protests and the battle against white supremacy and our nation's original sin will continue. As The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson put it, "It will not be without conflict."
Panel: Kristen Welker, NBC; Eugene Robinson, The Washington Post; David French, The Dispatch
One more thing...
The NFL
"We admit we were wrong not to listen to players earlier."
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell
Again, Mr. Robinson had it correct. Until they say his name and publicly apologize to Colin Kapernick before he's rightly standing on the sideline for his new team, Mr. Goddell's statement while a step in the right direction, comes up short.
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