WE’RE BACK!!!!: JONESWALKERWILEY RETURNS AFTER A BRIEF HIATUS

 

NOTE:   We’ve been absent from this space since our November 13 post-election offering due mainly to personal issues. Rob contracted COVID-19, spent five days hospitalized, and has gradually mended at home since his release. Henry & family grieve the loss of two beloved family members. BUT WE’RE BACK AND READY TO TAKE ON WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

A New Administration Takes Shape

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been putting together their new

government. Generally, sane, experienced people who appear capable of doing the jobs they’re being tapped for make up the roster. We’d call these appointees “grownups”. None appear anything like the cult worshippers and sycophants around Donald Trump.

Challenges remain for Biden and Harris on the diversity front, despite an initial roll out that looks much more like America than the mostly

white male cast Trump installed. Biden has named an ethnically diverse White House staff, featuring

an all-woman communications team. The first cabinet choices include a Latino who’ll run the Department of Homeland Security, the agency responsible for immigration and border control, the first female Treasury Secretary, and a black woman as United Nations Ambassador who should help restore America’s diplomatic clout.

Biden faced considerable pressure to name an African American or Hispanic to one of the Big Four cabinet jobs -- Treasury, State, Justice, or Defense. His choice of a black man, retired four-

star general Lloyd Austin, for Secretary of Defense alleviated some ethnic concerns, but created another problem. Austin left the Army four years ago, not seven as a statute requires for naming a former military officer defense secretary. Even some congressional Democrats balked at the idea of granting yet another waiver for a retired general (Trump got one in 2017 for Jim Mattis). General Austin’s stellar resume and the unique opportunity of the first black defense secretary probably will get him the needed waiver and U.S. Senate confirmation.

Biden still has some jobs he must fill and says 

everyone should wait until he’s done, then look at the overall picture. Fair enough, but given the racial composition of the voters who fueled the Democratic ticket’s victory, Biden can’t ignore pressure for high profile black and brown appointments.

 

COVID – 19 Runs Wild While Trump Whines

We’ve documented President Trump’s malfeasance on the virus many times. Another recitation of his sins serves no purpose. His current behavior demonstrates how much better off the United States

will be when he leaves office. By spending his time on a hopeless, destructive campaign aimed at overturning the result of the election instead of helping his successor better prepare for fighting the virus, Trump has shown his utter lack of concern for average Americans. New cases, hospitalizations, and deaths keep increasing in almost every state. Things are worse many places than they were during the grim days of the spring. Health experts say a brutal winter awaits, despite vaccines on the horizon that should help get the pandemic under control.

Trump’s pitiful, disgraceful legal attack on the election while the pandemic rages has been

overwhelmingly rejected by the courts. He’s had one minor legal victory and about 40 setbacks, often doled out by Republican judges, both appointed and elected. Some judges have been scathing in their characterizations of his evidence-less claims.

Trump shamelessly pursued this strategy while, for

the longest, not letting the General Services Administration open the government to Biden’s team, thereby facilitating a peaceful transition. History may regard Trump’s lame duck behavior as the worst thing about his presidency.

Pardon Who?

It’s also possible Trump could further disgrace himself and the office he holds by doling out dozens of pardons to cronies, contributors, family members, and maybe even himself. He’s already given his former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, a broad pardon. He’s reportedly discussed granting his children pardons and giving

one to Rudy Giuliani, the  lawyer who has run his post-election legal crusade. Several prominent figures in the right-wing media have suggested he pardon himself, something no president has ever done and seems subject to significant legal challenge.

That a president can even think about pardoning himself results from the fact presidential pardon power is exceptionally broad. It is for a reason. The drafters of the constitution wanted a way someone could right unjustly wrongs, and no one could challenge that action. It’s doubtful, however, the founders thought presidents should pardon themselves.

In a 1915 case, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that anyone who accepts a presidential pardon admits guilt. What, then, does Trump know that we don’t about himself and those on the purported pardon list, especially people who haven’t been investigated or prosecuted?

We should remember presidential pardons don’t affect state judicial actions. Trump faces multiple investigations in New York that focus on business and tax matters. Whether he pardons himself or resigns early so Mike Pence does the deed, a presidential pardon won’t save Trump from state investigations.

In the coming weeks we’ll address many pressing topics now on the national radar screen – the Georgia senate runoffs, Biden’s agenda, congressional action (or inaction) on pandemic-related stimulus relief, lingering effects of COVID -19 on the economy and on people individually, among others. Right now, we’re just thankful we’re writing again.