CrazyNotCrazie wrote: ↑December 1st, 2020, 11:46 pm
Much of the problem with Trump is that there were a lot of behavioral norms that we always took for granted that he has completely abused. Rules weren't codified because no one ever thought there would be someone with the chutzpah to break them. So now we have to make sure that another Trump never happens again. But we also need to do so in a way that can't be completely weaponized.
Interestingly, I saw a reference to a bill that was introduced in the House in September called the Protecting our Democracy Act. Basically, it sets out many of Trump's abuses and tries to find ways to prevent them.
I'm no expert in the legal structure of the government, either, but my take is that this is cannot be solved by legislation. Legislation can make it harder, but it was already pretty hard. It's important to remember that this was not a "Trump problem". Sure, Trump was the one who did things like outright defy Congressional document and testimony requests. But it was Congress who backed down from enforcing their own oversight authority. Yes, it was Trump who turned the DOJ, Homeland Security, and even the FDA and CDC into political weapons. But it was the Senate who confirmed the appointment who made that possible.
And why did Congress and Senators cave so easily? Because 70+ million voters essentially asked them to. Those voters were what was directly weaponized, both by Trump and by internet and media news that supported or amplified or even distorted it, but it was Trump who wielded them most effectively. That's the real problem that needs to be solved.
And I'll be darned if I have a clue how to fix that.
But as long as there are complicit parties within the government, no amount of legislation can solve this.