Hindsight is 20-20. Coulda woulda shoulda. So now Trump's lawless and egregious wreckage of democratic norms is Biden's fault? Where is your post about the laws Trump has broken, and another about the abdication of the Legislative and Judicial branches of their responsibility to provide a check on the Executive Branch? What-about-ism should reflect both sides, if you claim to be truly balanced. I try to keep an open mind to your efforts to be balanced, but I don't remember reading such posts, so I looked back a bit in your archive. You make allusions here and there within other topics, but I don't see anything like a clear-eyed, factual catalogue of Trump's anti-democratic actions, similar to this accusatory hit piece on the Biden administration. Perhaps you are worried about protecting your own journalistic access?
How many hours are there in one day? I agree that Biden could have focused some of his efforts on Trump proofing more of the government, but his most urgent focus-as I think it should have been- was to try to repair some of the damage Trump did to the lives of the American people in his first term. The infrastructure and other major bills passed by Congress helped all the states address issues that benefited everyone. No one knew when Biden started his presidency in January of 2020 that Trump 2.0 would smash through so many guard rails. Not sure that your suggested Trump proofing wouldn’t have suffered the same.
I think Trump has conclusively shown that it would have been impossible to Trump proof the presidency. No matter what roadblocks you put in his way he would have found a way to get around them. Putting cronies in high places lets you circumvent a lot of rules and regulations. Just look at the notion of a third term. You would think the fact that the Constitution specifically limits the president to two terms would be sufficient, but no, apparently it is not and we are hearing more and more about Trump’s third term. I am curious though about why you are even writing about Trump proofing in the first place. Do you actually think there are aspects of the Trump presidency that should not have been allowed? That’s important. But please, don’t you think the blame should go to Trump himself rather than that convenient whipping boy Joe Biden?
I am afraid that all comers keep forgetting the most basic fact about public misconduct.
There is no prevention against it if the law doesn’t expose the offender to any meaningful liability.
In theory the impeachment clauses provided for executive and judicial officers to become liable to prosecution upon removal. In practice, it has only ever worked against those officers who do NOT have a significant partisan following. Everyone with such a following who wins an election or a confirmation gains a license to steal.
So I have little confidence that the problem can be solved with this procedural rule, that disclosure requirement, or the other regulatory action. The problem can only be solved with law enforcement that is fully independent from the executive. But nobody anywhere knows how to achieve that.
So, in summary, Biden was more interested in building up his own power than in “saving democracy.” The fact that Trump was an authoritarian threat was viewed as convenient, not existential.
I agree with a large portion of what you said but lay the blame on my fellow Americans. We do need a President who can bob and weave and straight jackets don’t help…but then it’s on us to elect someone who won’t abuse that authority.
Wow. You are blaming Biden for this train wreck of an administration. Look again. The blame is totally on the current guy who does not follow laws and procedures.
Gawd…he was impeached TWICE, and nothing happened. Let’s see……maybe a third impeachment. I say we all make plans to watch the grifters dancing at the new ballroom, after tearing down the people’s house. Is that Obama’s fault…..
Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith have done a lot of work /including a book) on this topic, focusing on Congress”s failures. See https://www.execfunctions.org/ if interested in more on this disgraceful failure.
biden could have "trump-proofed" the election by reading mainstream America. They wanted closed borders (Biden claimed they were...really?.); they wanted reduced crime ( Biden said stats were going down...really?), inflation is transitory, wars all over (remember Afghanistan ?) as biden dismantled all of trump's policies for peace. The Democrats should have had a primary....Trump is trying to fix our problems while abiding by the law. All those who hate trump need to wake up and smell the coffee. and read something else in addition to the NY Times
Brilliant research and analysis. Biden, et. al., were not thinking ahead on this subject because, among other considerations, they were dismissive of a resurgence of Trump.
When he chose Harris as his running mate I immediately concluded a Republican would win in 2024, but I never conceive it would again be Donald Trump.
Hindsight is 20-20. Coulda woulda shoulda. So now Trump's lawless and egregious wreckage of democratic norms is Biden's fault? Where is your post about the laws Trump has broken, and another about the abdication of the Legislative and Judicial branches of their responsibility to provide a check on the Executive Branch? What-about-ism should reflect both sides, if you claim to be truly balanced. I try to keep an open mind to your efforts to be balanced, but I don't remember reading such posts, so I looked back a bit in your archive. You make allusions here and there within other topics, but I don't see anything like a clear-eyed, factual catalogue of Trump's anti-democratic actions, similar to this accusatory hit piece on the Biden administration. Perhaps you are worried about protecting your own journalistic access?
How many hours are there in one day? I agree that Biden could have focused some of his efforts on Trump proofing more of the government, but his most urgent focus-as I think it should have been- was to try to repair some of the damage Trump did to the lives of the American people in his first term. The infrastructure and other major bills passed by Congress helped all the states address issues that benefited everyone. No one knew when Biden started his presidency in January of 2020 that Trump 2.0 would smash through so many guard rails. Not sure that your suggested Trump proofing wouldn’t have suffered the same.
He found the time to actively oppose a couple of listed bills, one would think that supporting doesn't take much more time.
Of course, it's always Biden's fault. Or some other Democrat
I think Trump has conclusively shown that it would have been impossible to Trump proof the presidency. No matter what roadblocks you put in his way he would have found a way to get around them. Putting cronies in high places lets you circumvent a lot of rules and regulations. Just look at the notion of a third term. You would think the fact that the Constitution specifically limits the president to two terms would be sufficient, but no, apparently it is not and we are hearing more and more about Trump’s third term. I am curious though about why you are even writing about Trump proofing in the first place. Do you actually think there are aspects of the Trump presidency that should not have been allowed? That’s important. But please, don’t you think the blame should go to Trump himself rather than that convenient whipping boy Joe Biden?
I am afraid that all comers keep forgetting the most basic fact about public misconduct.
There is no prevention against it if the law doesn’t expose the offender to any meaningful liability.
In theory the impeachment clauses provided for executive and judicial officers to become liable to prosecution upon removal. In practice, it has only ever worked against those officers who do NOT have a significant partisan following. Everyone with such a following who wins an election or a confirmation gains a license to steal.
So I have little confidence that the problem can be solved with this procedural rule, that disclosure requirement, or the other regulatory action. The problem can only be solved with law enforcement that is fully independent from the executive. But nobody anywhere knows how to achieve that.
We need more leaders that are prepared and willing to curtail their own powers
“More”? How about “some”?
Agree, though I do think we have at least 1 or 2 in congress that would if given the chance.
So, in summary, Biden was more interested in building up his own power than in “saving democracy.” The fact that Trump was an authoritarian threat was viewed as convenient, not existential.
I agree with a large portion of what you said but lay the blame on my fellow Americans. We do need a President who can bob and weave and straight jackets don’t help…but then it’s on us to elect someone who won’t abuse that authority.
Intriguing.
Wow. You are blaming Biden for this train wreck of an administration. Look again. The blame is totally on the current guy who does not follow laws and procedures.
Gawd…he was impeached TWICE, and nothing happened. Let’s see……maybe a third impeachment. I say we all make plans to watch the grifters dancing at the new ballroom, after tearing down the people’s house. Is that Obama’s fault…..
Very good article! We need this kind of neutral view! Keep up the good work Gabe!
Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith have done a lot of work /including a book) on this topic, focusing on Congress”s failures. See https://www.execfunctions.org/ if interested in more on this disgraceful failure.
biden could have "trump-proofed" the election by reading mainstream America. They wanted closed borders (Biden claimed they were...really?.); they wanted reduced crime ( Biden said stats were going down...really?), inflation is transitory, wars all over (remember Afghanistan ?) as biden dismantled all of trump's policies for peace. The Democrats should have had a primary....Trump is trying to fix our problems while abiding by the law. All those who hate trump need to wake up and smell the coffee. and read something else in addition to the NY Times
Brilliant research and analysis. Biden, et. al., were not thinking ahead on this subject because, among other considerations, they were dismissive of a resurgence of Trump.
When he chose Harris as his running mate I immediately concluded a Republican would win in 2024, but I never conceive it would again be Donald Trump.
If ever there were any doubt that both parties are equally corrupt, this should put that to bed.