An Open Letter to Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell
Dear Senator McConnell,Although I am philosophically opposed to most of the positions you and the Republican party espouse, I do not believe that you are dishonest, nor do I believe that you would sell out our country for the sake of gaining power.
I cannot say the same for the man who now occupies the White House.
Given his behavior during the recent presidential campaign and the nature of the executive orders he has issued since his inauguration, it seems clear that Mr. Trump's goal is to gain absolute control of the country - control far beyond that established by the Constitution and tempered by historical precedent.
Right now the Senate you lead has the power to keep this from happening, but Mr. Trump is a very clever man.
Just today Mr. Trump encouraged you to use the so-called nuclear option and eliminate the 60 vote threshold currently needed to confirm justices to the Supreme Court.
I said he encouraged you, but that is not an accurate description of what Mr. Trump said.
Take a close look at his words, and I'm sure you will see that he was, in fact, giving you permission to use the nuclear option - permission which, at the moment, is not his to give.
But, as I said, Mr. Trump is clever.
His words, crafted to sound like an acknowledgement of your position of authority, were in fact a rhetorical ploy, a trap designed to have you do his bidding.
If you use the nuclear option, you will cede the power the Senate now holds to act as a check on limitless presidential power to the man who craves that power.
To put it bluntly, if you fall for his trap, you will belong to Mr. Trump. He will own you as he now owns House Majority Leader Ryan and others of your party. I'm sure you have followed how he treats those whom he owns. Governor Chris Christie comes to mind.
I call upon you as one loyal American to another to maintain faith in the ability of the federal government to function in the form established by the Founding Fathers.
Sincerely,
George A. Denino
Right now the Senate you lead has the power to keep this from happening, but Mr. Trump is a very clever man.
Just today Mr. Trump encouraged you to use the so-called nuclear option and eliminate the 60 vote threshold currently needed to confirm justices to the Supreme Court.
I said he encouraged you, but that is not an accurate description of what Mr. Trump said.
Take a close look at his words, and I'm sure you will see that he was, in fact, giving you permission to use the nuclear option - permission which, at the moment, is not his to give.
But, as I said, Mr. Trump is clever.
His words, crafted to sound like an acknowledgement of your position of authority, were in fact a rhetorical ploy, a trap designed to have you do his bidding.
If you use the nuclear option, you will cede the power the Senate now holds to act as a check on limitless presidential power to the man who craves that power.
To put it bluntly, if you fall for his trap, you will belong to Mr. Trump. He will own you as he now owns House Majority Leader Ryan and others of your party. I'm sure you have followed how he treats those whom he owns. Governor Chris Christie comes to mind.
I call upon you as one loyal American to another to maintain faith in the ability of the federal government to function in the form established by the Founding Fathers.
Sincerely,
George A. Denino
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