With apologies to Abraham Lincoln, I am going to plagiarize, permute and adjust his Gettysburg Address to convey the depth of the breach President Donald Trump has created in the proper, legal, constitutional functioning of the government of the United States of America and the risk he poses to democracy worldwide.
“Twelve score and three years ago on the American continent a new country was created, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all are created equal.
Now that country is engaged in a great clash based on its Constitution, testing whether such a country so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
In the great halls of its Congress assembled, a seemingly petty, bickering, partisan battle-field has emerged where law, proper procedure and decorum should have prevailed.
We have become, perforce, witnesses to the onset of what may become known to history as the beginning of the path leading to the final resting place of the grand experiment in democratic, responsible and accountable governance which began those many years ago.
But, in a larger sense, the protagonists daily flooding the airwaves cannot dedicate, consecrate, nor hallow the domain of legal/constitutional battle they now convulse within, for that has been accomplished by their predecessors, far above the current lot’s poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember the details of the current clash, but it can never forget the tableaux being painted these days.
It is for us, all citizens, to be dedicated to the unfinished work thus far so nobly advanced. It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining – that a government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
All of this may seem maudlin and melodramatic, but consider a few factors. Someone as respected as Ralph Nader, whose whole life has been dedicated to strengthening the role of citizens in oversight of the government has stooped to jointly pen an article with someone as perfidious as Genocide-denying and legal defender of other Genocide deniers, Bruce Fein. The piece calls for numerous articles of impeachment against Trump, not just two. It also addresses what I have seen numerous times over the years – the tremendous growth in a sitting president’s power since the days of the founding of the American republic.
Many in the field of psychology questioned President Trump’s sanity from the moment he took office. Trump’s reckless tweets, inconsistent pronouncements, RAPID staff turnover and arrogant assertions of power led common citizens to believe what those mental health professionals asserted. You might remember for a while some people were even calling for his removal from office based on the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, incapacitation of a President.
Then there is the practical consideration of the degree of damage to the world a U.S. President can cause as the leader of the world’s largest economy, military and (at least for the time being) largest source of scientific and technical research, development and new product development. Here is also where the Armenian perspective comes into play. As fledgling democratic republics, Armenia and Artsakh, like the rest of the world, look to the U.S. as the foremost example of democratic development. Regardless of whether the U.S. is in a progressive or regressive point in its development, it remains the ground-breaker of democratic governance and the rule of law in modern times (it’s probably not helpful to discuss the Greeks, Code of Hammurabi or other older historical examples in this article).
Trump has held Congress in contempt, abused his power in multiple ways, disrupted international relations, caused much mayhem internally and internationally. He has acted in ways that some might find reminiscent of “Mad King George” – George III of Great Britain – from whom the American colonies broke away due to misrule. He has aroused and inflamed the worst of passions among citizens who would otherwise at least be able to talk with one another with a civil tone. At the very least, he has set a horrible example.
Thus it behooves us, whether as U.S. citizens or Armenians anywhere to support the persistence of the checks-and-balances of the American system. Even if you support or agree with Trump’s policies, as an Armenian, his rejection of the Genocide resolutions passed by Congress should drive you to reconsider that position.
President Donald Trump should be removed from office. The Senate of the United States should take its constitutional duties seriously and hold a proper trial of President Trump, rather than the sham that seems to be brewing. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has already declared that he, as the effective leader of the Senate, plans on running a biased and unfair trial. This is a dereliction of his constitutional duties, and history will no doubt judge him harshly for this.
But all of us, citizens and not, should encourage him and his 99 colleagues to act properly and help reaffirm the co-equality of the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government
If we do not assert ourselves now, it is very easy to imagine a slow regression to the days when bloody tyrants (think Abdul Hamid II or Genghis Khan) ruled willfully and all but a very few people lived lives of misery and oppression.
Garen Yegparian
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Garen, stick to what you do best—Armenian issues. Enough with your predictable Trump bashing! Several presidents blocked passage of the Armenian Genocide issue. I don’t hear you complaining about Obama, Bush, Clinton, Carter, or Kennedy. You speak of a fair trial in the Senate. Just what do you call the shameful and biased show the Democrats put on in the House of Representatives? The democrats have resisted virtually everything Trump has attempted to do. Often they’ve acted hypocritically.People have had enough of the so called “progressive” agenda that’s why they voted for Trump and will do so again in 2020. They wanted a “disruptor” and that’s what they got. No, the sky is not falling, get over it!
The amount of falsehoods in this article, made up stuff and partisan propaganda is too much for even to respond to. But I’ll give it a shot. I am not sure if the author is willfully ignorant, or genuinely thinks what he said makes sense, but I’ll give him the benefit of doubt.
I have to say, The Armenian Weekly should clearly mark this as an op-ed. You really don’t want to be associated with someone at this stage of irrational behavior, masquerading this article as anything but a partisan propaganda.
Someone who thinks he knows about the Constitution of the United States, the laws, and procedures better than a liberal professor, a Hillary Clinton voter, but also an honest real constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, or another liberal constitutional scholar Alan Dershowitz.
And yet here were are, someone who never studied the law, and never went to law school, never known for his knowledge on the Constitution presents himself as if he knows better than those who do.
Here is the reality for you, Mr. Yeparian, being an “ANC-WR Executive Director”, and “City of LA employee” does not make you a constitutional scholar.
In fact, as an Armenian, I hate to say this, the Armenian lobby, instead of approaching Trump properly like Kim Kardashian did on the reform bill that freed hundreds of people, gave them a second chance, and speak to his advisors, they huddled with the far left, and among their partners are one of the most corrupt in the House and Senate form the democrats. Now expect Trump to just be their friend, or they are going to side with this illegal, unconstitutional attempt to undo the 2016 elections, and to disfranchise around 63 million US citizens who voted for president Trump, among them a large portion of the US Citizens of Armenian descent,
This is all based on what again? There was another illegal plot to illegally wiretap the president, take his words out of context, to illegally use the 25th amendment to remove him from office, which was exposed, and the parties involved were forced to resign, others are under investigation, possibly would be refered to the DOJ for criminal prosecution.
Oh, and based on what the author sees as grounds for impeachment, “incompetence”, the “rapid” staff turnover (never mind Obama’s rates were worse, but hey, no one checks facts these days), and other lies, that Trump is a denier of the Armenian Genocide, or protects Erdogan and other deniers. Never mind that Trump, like all US presidents in modern history, had the same relationship with Turkey, and issued the exact statements avoiding using the word Genocide each year on April 24th.
None of the above is an impeachable offense.
The author yet had no problem with democrats, who controlled all branches of government many times for that last 3 decades, never once allowed the recognition of the Genocide to even be brought to vote on House and Senate floors, and when the time the wanted to do it, out of clear intent to try to sabotage foreign policy and out of convincing those who do not do their homework, and those who are driven by partisan agenda, to hate Trump, threw a bone to us, by 2 bills which had non-binding clause in them. But I guess Mr. Yegparian either did not read the bills or conveniently decided not to address that.
I also can’t ignore the irony in someone who works for the City of Los Angeles, of all municipal governments, criticizing on efficiency and staff retaining. Not a joke. The most corrupt governments in the US, across the board are in the state of California and its failed far left policies, rigged elections, manipulated rules and lawlessness when it comes to certain things, that same person, that same city, that same state are attacking Trump and his policies.
Maybe if you had paid attention to your jobs, addressed the trash that is filling Los Angeles streets, the homelessness epidemic, or your overbearing policies, high taxes, actual turnover, citizens fleeing your city and state, rising crime rates, bloated government, losing businesses, California ranking dead las in the quality of life among 50 states, and among the last ranks in education …etc, you’d have a ground to stand on and have some credibility to attack Trump and his administration. But you make this too easy.
Here is reality for you and for all those people who never bothered to check real facts, other than the democrat talking points. In order to actually impeach and then remove from the office, first you have to prove and convict of high crimes and misdemeanor. Read Article II for a clue. Then after the House sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate, a trial would have to be in place, where a Supreme Court justice would be presiding over, where unlike the partisan circus we saw in the House, due process will be the baseline, and Trump would be allowed to call his own witnesses, cross examine the witnesses the democrats would provide.
Here is another fact you are also missing, this will certainly go down to party lines voting, since the democrats have per-determind Trump is guilty, per-convicted him, and want to remove him, and you have to live with the reality that Republicans have 53-47 seats in the Senate, and you would need 2 thirds of the Senate to convict and then to remove.
So I suggest next time before you go on lengthy rants that are missing basic facts, that you take few minutes to check facts, do an honest review of them, not only read what you agree with and what makes you feel better, but also read all sides and then make a informed assessment that would make your articles less sloppy, and more credible. Because right now, this article is just a joke, and not of the funny type.
I am sure your response or the response of Armenian Weekly staff would be either prevent this response form being published or someone would be allowed to respond with ad hominem personal attacks on me and my response.
That’s not a problem for me. I happened in the past, and would not surprise me if things did not change, although deep down inside, I hope my Armenian brothers, those who chose to side with neo-marxist ideologies, would set that mentality aside when they work on what they say, for the Armenian cause, but I am not holding my breath.
Thant said, Merry Christmas, Chirstos dzenav yev haydnetsav to you and to all my fellow Armenians.
Feel free to censor this response, or respond to it. I won’t be responding.
I have say what I wanted to say.
Mr. Yegparian,
Your words, your commentary, SHOULD be read and available to all Armenians. Apparently, there are many amongst “US”,
(ARMENIANS LIVING IN THE USA) who FORGET both “what” it was that drove their ancestors to flee for their lives from a
maniacal government/political-religious regime AND also, most IMPORTANTLY, WHO it was that provided the means and direction to reach a safe haven for themselves, their families, and future Armenians.
PERHAPS, those who feel that the “people……voted for Trump and will do it again….” should be more clear on WHO those
“PEOPLE” are. Mr. Trump did NOT get elected technically by a POPULAR vote of the MAJORITY of the PEOPLE in the USA.
In fact, he came in SECOND place as did a NUMBER of other Republican Presidential winners who were NOT elected by the
“PEOPLE”, but instead by our existing archaic electoral system. “No, the sky isn’t falling”……………..YET!!!
Garden, please continue with your writing.
I don’t think discussing divisive issues on the American political scene adds value
in an Armenian paper and primarily Armenian audience. Our intent should always be to make our community
more effective and stronger. Putting a hornets nest on the table will only encourage
Armenians to argue( or wall off) with each other… this weakening our community. The argument
to debate this based on the Armenian genocide issue is irrelevant. The executive branch with the
State Dept. has opposed recognition for decades. It has more to do with deep rooted need for Turkey
in the eyes of the military and diplomatic community. It is not a partisan position. Trump just happens
to be the pastes in the west. Your use of this to whip up anti Trump (or pro Trump if that was your position)
at this time is unfortunate. We need to focus on uniting Armenians by looking at these issues with a deeper
and broader perspective.
Unworthy of comments; inbalanced, biased and narrow minded.
What is really disturbing is that The Armenian Weekly is apparently becoming
Anti Trump and an extension and a vehicle of the Democrats propaganda machine.
This is unwise and does not help or add value to our causes and the issues facing our Nation.
Trump is the President today, will be tomorrow and until the Presidential Elections.
Vart Adjemian
Wow!!! no comment.
A simple reminder:
Trump is the President today, will be the President tomorrow and until election day in November 2020.
Until then, nothing will change. The voters will decide.
Vart Adjemian
Firstly, Trump is a real fool. Secondly, the alternative (Clinton) was worse! Of course, Israel was the real winner because they did enough homework to have both of those servants of a foreign power – the real “collusion” – in their pockets.
With this, I also say, do not ever attempt here on an Armenian related site to bash one president, the current president, without bashing the rest in history. If you do not do this, then that makes you a Clinton and Obama supporter by default. And thus, you have no credibility and effect with your opinion.
However, I do admit there is a flip side here that some of you Trump supporters need to be aware of, and are conveniently ignoring, and sorry to burst your bubbles. While it may be true that the “Executive branch and State Department had a Genocide denying policy for decades”, that does not excuse Trump for a single second, because during all those decades never had the House and Senate recognized the Genocide. This is a first in history and an important opportunity, and that pompous buffoon in the White House has NO BALLS to stand up to the wannabe Sultan Jihadist Erdogan, despite all his constant BARKING! So… If Trump wants to be on the right side of history and show us his bravery, he knows exactly what to do this April 24th, otherwise he will be a barking coward in my book permanently, just like Obama and the rest that came before, except perhaps Reagan who was brave enough to ignore all the political midgets surrounding him.
Please tell us why we should take your opinion on the Constitution of the United States vs the opinion of liberal professors, Hillary Clinton voters, constitutional scholars Jonathan Turley and Alan Dershowitz?
You are promoting or supporting unconstitutional attempt to undo the 2016 elections, and to disfranchise around 63 million US citizens who voted for president Trump, among them a large portion of the US Citizens of Armenian descent.
What is your argument based on? That there was another illegal plot to illegally wiretap the president, take his words out of context, to illegally use the 25th amendment to remove him from office, which was exposed, and the parties involved were forced to resign, others are under investigation, possibly would be referred to the DOJ for criminal prosecution? Or based on “incompetence”, the “rapid” staff turnover?
None of that, even if true, is grounds for impeachment. See Article II of the Constitution. It requires crimes and misdemeanor. None of that happened so far. Plus you have to prove your case in the Senate trial.
The claims “Trump is a denier of the Armenian Genocide”, or “protects Erdogan” are very easy to disprove.
Trump, like all US presidents in modern history, had the same relationship with Turkey, and issued the exact statements avoiding using the word Genocide each year on April 24th.
You continue to attack Trump and the Republicans, and now expect Trump to do things that you want?
Now the question here is, why the fact Trump issued several sanction on Turkey is being ignored?
In order to actually impeach and then remove from the office, first you have to prove and convict of high crimes and misdemeanor in a trial where a Supreme Court justice would be presiding over, where unlike the partisan circus we saw in the House, due process will be the process.
Trump would be allowed to call his own witnesses, cross examine the witnesses the democrats would provide.
This will certainly go down to party lines voting, since the democrats have already made up their minds that Trump is guilty, and want to remove him.
Republicans have 53-47 seats in the Senate, and you would need 2 thirds of the Senate to convict and then to remove. Those are the facts, and the reality of this.
I think you’d be better off focusing on things that Armenians care about instead of divisive partisan politics.