“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”– Dan Brown
By Glen Reaux
Is Nancy Pelosi frightened or is she suffering from analysis-paralysis? Either way, she is making the biggest mistake in her career and may cost us our democracy if she does not pursue impeachment of Trump and punish the minions in his administration aka trumpoid fever infectees. In the fall of 2018, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leadership and then-candidates Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Talib and other freshman Congress People elected to office who we now refer to as the “Justice League”, promised to put Trump in check. When Sheriff Nancy took office in January of 2018, she seemed to open a jumbo-sized can of whup-ass. But, over the past six months and especially in the most recent months since the release of the Mueller Report, Sheriff Nancy appears to have put her personal desires to see Trump put in prison after he leaves office over her constitutional duties to protect the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. Her can of whup-ass is now empty and the fight has gone out of her. While it is true that the road to impeachment is very perilous and scary, not to start down that road will lead to consequences far more perilous and disastrous than violating her oath of office by not impeaching so-called-president Donald J. Trump. Nancy must read the handwriting on the wall and realize that as long as she is “Paralyzed by Fear Democrats Are Doomed” and the rest of America will follow. Her oath states {1}:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
U.S. Constitution, Article VI, clause 3
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
While analysis paralysis may be what is happening with Sheriff Nancy, she is incredibly smart and surrounded by some of the most brilliant political minds in the world. And, people as brilliant as she is have never risen to the heights of power that she has attained by not listening to and following the advice of trusted advisers like Jerry Nadler, Maxine Waters and Adam Schiff, all of whom are for impeachment proceedings. So, the only obvious answer for her behavior is fear. She fears losing to Trump in the 2020 election which would lead to at least four more years of Trump-land and possibly more if Trump and his minions are successful in executing a coup. Evidence of Trump’s intentions to continue his criminal behavior in furtherance of a coup was provided on June 12th when asked in an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos if he would accept dirt on his political opponents from foreign powers, Trump stated: “It’s not an interference, they have information — I think I’d take it,” Trump said. “If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI — if I thought there was something wrong.” “It’s called oppo research,”. This statement is proof that Trump does not believe that he is wrong in violating the law or in inviting America’s enemies to interfere in the most sacred of our liberties, the right of a free and open election.
The law that Trump has stated that he will violate is 52 USC 30121 {2}: Contributions and donations by foreign nationals:
- 30121. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals
(a) Prohibition
It shall be unlawful for-
(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make-
(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election;
(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or
(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 30104(f)(3) of this title); or
(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national.
These actions as stated by Trump are a violation of federal law, frightening, hubristic and proof that he will side with America’s enemies over the constitution. If Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leadership and Independent voters think that they will beat Trump in the 2020 presidential election, they are beyond delusional. They are crazy. According to our intelligence community and those of our allies, Russians are continuing their interference, will intensify their efforts and now Trump has openly invited America’s enemies from around the world to join Russia in their attacks against our elections to aid Trump in his criminality and coup attempt. In concert with these circumstances, neither Trump nor the Republican Party has done anything to prevent further interference despite the evidence. Trump, like Nancy Pelosi, took an oath of office.
Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the United States Constitution. Presidential Oath of Office:
“”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.”
Trump has broken his oath of office on a daily basis and not only deserves to be impeached, he must be impeached! Instead of protecting and defending the constitution, he is openly inviting foreign governments to conspire with him to overthrow it. In fact, impeachment is the only thing that will save our democracy. Nancy has openly stated her fear that Trump is baiting the Democrats and that impeachment will further divide the nation. She is so afraid of losing to Trump in 2020 that her fear has blinded her judgment. Just say “impeach Trump” and she becomes like a “deer in headlights.” According to Rudyard Kipling:“of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” Nancy’s fear is a liar. She is misleading her caucus, the American people and placing our democracy in grave danger.
Republicans are masters of the politics-of-fear. “Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.” – Bertrand Russell. This quote is a prime example of how Republican use fear to control their constituents. Evidence of this can be found in the ferocity of the Tea Party’s far-right movement that propelled the Republicans to a victory and gave them total control of the Congress in 2010. Likewise, Trump uses the same tactics to motivate his MAGA cult members many of whom are poor whites, less-educated white males, white nationalist, white supremacist, neo-Nazis and other violent right-wing extremists such as the Ku Klux Klan. The fear that we see from Trump’s base is best explained by this famous pop culture quote:
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” Yoda.
Trump and the Republicans have disguised this fear under the banner of “Make America Great Again” and have used this fear to lead America down a foreboding and dark path.
On May 9th, Trump openly dared the Democrats to impeach him. This is another tactic used by the Republicans in their politics-of-fear campaign. This is the use of fear as a weapon to cause paralysis and scare the Democrats into not pursuing impeachment. It worked! This dare has inflicted a state of paralysis-by-fear in the heart of Nancy Pelosi. In May, at a Cornell University event, Nancy expressed her fear; “Trump — I use his name — Trump is goading us to impeach him…” “That’s what he’s doing. Every single day, he’s just like taunting, taunting, taunting.” “…he knows that it would be very divisive in the country, but he doesn’t really care. He just wants to solidify his base.” Wake up Nancy! To his advantage, Trump has already divided America. You must now take up the mantle of leadership, save the rest of America from Trump’s clutches and lead them down the path of impeachment or live under the far greater fear that will be created by a Trump dictatorship. Don’t be fooled. This is no longer the America that we grew up in. We live in Trump-land now and tyranny is coming in 2020.
With all due respect to Congresswoman Pelosi and all of her unprecedented accomplishments, Nancy’s display of fear at Cornell University is shameful and a disgrace to the Democrats and Independent voters that empowered the Democrats in the 2018 midterms and entrusted them with the job of saving this nation from Trump. It’s almost as if she has become infected with trumpoid fever. It is her fear that is paralyzing the Democratic Party and will cause its doom. Author Jonathan Carroll best explains what fear has done to Nancy Pelosi; “Fear’s greatest weapon is its ability to blind one to anything. In its presence, we forget there are others to consider, things to save besides ourselves.”
Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful woman in American politics since the great Eleanor Roosevelt has forgotten that she is the Speaker of the House, leader of her party and the fact that the constitution which is the highest law-of-the-land is on her side. Her fear has blinded her to this fact and in its presence she has forgotten “there are others to consider.” She is ignoring all of the evidence that Trump, through his arrogance and hubris has provided. She has forgotten that among his minions that follow him blindly, “there are others to be considered” that have committed crimes and they must be dealt with. If not dealt with, trumpoid fever will become an epidemic. Congress will cease to be a functioning co-equal branch of government and right alongside the Democrats who will die face-down in the mud she will doom the rest of America.
Trump has not only conspired with Russia and other foreign interest, “there are others to be considered” that are in his administration who are helping with his coup. These minions have openly defied Congress by refusing to comply with subpoenas. Congress has the power to hold these traitors, Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Former White House Counsel Don McGahn, IRS Commissioner David J. Kautter and Secretary of HUD Ben Carson. Attorney General Will Barr now acting as Trump’s personal attorney has not only defied subpoenas, he has lied to Congress during sworn testimony and misrepresented the Mueller Report to the American people. When so-called-president Trump and seven members of his cabinet and department heads abuse their power, establish a pattern of blatantly breaking the law and defies Congress, this behavior can’t be viewed as anything other than an attempted coup. The evidence is clear and irrefutable. Our democracy is under attack from within and Nancy must act now: “RIGHT NOW!”
On May 17th, Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner David J. Kautter in an attempt to protect Trump from a lawful and constitutional investigation, they openly defied a Congressional subpoena requiring the IRS to surrender Trump’s tax returns to the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Richard Neal. Under Section 6103 of our tax code {3}, “Treasury officials “shall” turn over the tax returns “upon written request” of the chair of either congressional tax committee or the federal employee who runs Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation.” There are no exceptions to this law. There is also a law (section 7214(a) {4}) states that any federal employee who is involved in the tax system that does not do their duty can be removed from office. This law applies to Mnuchin, Kautter and Trump himself since the former two are under his chain of command. These people have broken the law, must be punished and it is Congress’ responsibility to do so.
On April 2nd, the House Ways and Means Committee in a 23-to-14 vote authorized committee Chairman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) to issue subpoenas for a deposition of John Gore, principal deputy assistant attorney general, and to Attorney General William P. Barr and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross for documents related to a decision made which would add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. They have defied the subpoena and refused to hand over the materials. This is contempt of Congress, a criminal act that prohibits Congress from performing its constitutional duty of oversight of the Executive Branch. On June 12th, the House Oversight Committee voted to hold Barr and Ross in contempt of Congress. These people need to be tried, fined and sent to jail in accordance with the law.
On May 21st, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, during a House Finance Committee hearing exhibited indisputable proof of his ignorance, incompetence and inability to understand the language, concepts and knowledge required by a person who would hold the office of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was unable to understand simple acronyms that are used in the day-to-day operations of his department. When frustrated by the committee’s questions, he blatantly expressed contempt for the Committee, its individual members and questioned their authority. Congress has the power to remedy this situation by impeaching Carson. It remains to be seen if they have the gumption to do it.
On May 21st, former White House Counsel and named witness in the Mueller Report, Don McGahn, defied a Congressional Subpoena to turn over documents and appear before the House Judiciary Committee headed by Congressman Jerrold Nadler. The Judiciary Committee is investigating possible obstruction-of-justice by Trump in an attempt to force McGahn to fire former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and later ordering him to create false documents as a record stating that Trump did not order McGahn to fire Sessions. Former Counsel McGahn who is no longer a government employee was ordered by Trump to defy the subpoena. McGahn’s defiance of the subpoena is contempt of Congress and should have consequences. The punishments for contempt of Congress can include a criminal referral to the US attorney, which could possibly result in severe punishments including fines of up to $100,000 or one year in prison.
Congress has the power to impeach FBI Director Christopher Wray. One of the responsibilities of the FBI Director is to produce periodic counterintelligence reports to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. In light of the Mueller Report and warnings from the other intelligence agencies that Russia is continuing to plan and implement tampering and cyber attacks against our elections, Wray is obligated to report to Congress. On June Wednesday, June 12th, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff threatened FBI Director Christopher Wray with a subpoena in order to learn whether there are active counterintelligence investigations related to Russian interference or if the bureau’s counterintelligence investigation on that topic has concluded. Attorney General Bill Barr has redacted the intelligence information in the Mueller Report leaving the Committee in the dark about this situation. The fact that the information has not been turned over to Congress in violation of Director Wray’s responsibilities and the Patriot Act is proof that the Trump administration is hiding something about Russian contacts. It remains to be seen if Wray will comply with the subpoena. However, none of the other Trump administration officials have complied with subpoenas. Congress has the power to Impeach Director Wray for dereliction of duty as a remedy to this situation.
The news cycle for the past three months has been dominated in-part by Attorney General William Barr’s perjured testimony before Congress on two occasions, his refusal to turn over the unredacted Mueller Report, his misrepresentation of the Mueller Report as an attempt to exonerate Trump in the eyes of the American people and his refusal to perform his duties as the peoples attorney instead choosing to act as Trump’s personal lawyer. On June 11th, the House of Representatives voted to hold Barr in Civil Contempt of Congress. This was a mistake and possibly motivated by Nancy Pelosi’s fear. The House had every right considering the evidence and should have held him in criminal contempt of Congress and forwarded it to the courts for prosecution.
Considering the crimes committed in concert by Trump, his cabinet members and other administration officials, there is justification for harsh and decisive Congressional actions. However, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democratic leadership have responded in a manner that only emboldens these criminals and weakens their constitutional powers. These actions taken by the Democrats are tantamount to “taking a butter knife to a gun fight.” Judging from their political actions and illegal activities, Trump and his co-conspirators have declared America to be their enemy, have gone to war against our government and are attempting a coup. Now is not the time to respond to this threat with patience, kindness or fear as exhibited by Speaker of the House Pelosi. Now is not the time to fear Trump’s base or to fear the Republicans in the Senate who clearly are complicit in this event. Now is the time to meet this threat with the superior firepower afforded by the constitution and the Judiciary Branch. Democrats have to stop pussyfooting around and their wield power as if it were one of Zeus’ thunderbolts. They have to strike fear into the hearts of the Republican Party or they will loose the war that Trump and his minions have started
Speaker Pelosi’s fear permeates the Democratic Party whose leadership are loyal to the Congresswoman. This loyalty has caused the leadership to treat egregious crimes as less than misdemeanors. Instead of wielding their constitutional powers, they have chosen to negotiate them away. Compliance with a Congressional subpoena is the law, not a negotiation. The Supreme Court has affirmed Congress’ power since the birth of this nation. There is no need to negotiate with criminals in open defiance of the law. In doing so, Trump, his minions, co-conspirators and many Democrats and Independent voters now view Speaker Pelosi and her party as toothless paper tigers and people unworthy of the office that they hold. This perception surely will cost the Democrats much needed voters in the upcoming election and doom the party to defeat. If strength and faith in the party is not restored, then the Democrats will be labeled by this quote; “We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.” – François de La Rochefoucauld
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who many affectionately refer to as Sheriff Nancy has stated that she wants to see Trump in prison. But, if she doesn’t perform the duties of her oath of office that will never happen. With Nancy being “Paralyzed by Fear Democrats are Doomed”, Trump will rule and our American democracy will “go quietly into that good night.” To avoid this fate, Nancy and her party must not fall victim to this quote;“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”– Dan Brown. Right now, judging by her actions, it appears that Speaker Pelosi’s fear of Donald Trump is greater than her desire to serve the people.
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Linked Sources and Documentation
- Congressional Oath of Office: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/memberfaq.aspx
- Contributions made by foreign nationals: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:52%20section:30121%20edition:prelim)
- Tax Code: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103
- Tax Code: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7214
Copyright © 2019, Glen Reaux, all rights reserved
Very good on point