How the Second Worst President in History Enabled Trump’s Destructive Actions

 

There are two days in my life I will always remember. I was a senior in high school on November 22, 1963 when a truly great president, John F. Kennedy, was murdered in Dallas Texas. I was out for a morning run on September 11, 2001. As I was coming up the street on which I live, my wife was in the front yard waving at me. I thought it was because my mother, who was under hospice care, had passed. She led me inside to watch the television. What I was seeing seemed unreal. My emotions were immediately out of control.

Sadly, the cowardly and tragic events of 9/11 produced changes in our country which continue to cause harm to the principles of our nation. The intentions of the First, Fourth, and 14^th Amendments to the Constitution were greatly damaged with the passing of the Patriot Act, and the creation of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE. 9/11, and the passing of these two unconstitutional actions happened under the watch of George W. Bush.

The Patriot Act destroyed privacy, and the prevention of illegal search and seizure by our government and law enforcement across the nation, among other attacks on our individual rights. Although it is clearly unconstitutional, it has never been challenged. The Patriot Act, passed just after 9/11, was a hasty measure, approved by a Republican-dominated government.

The United States Border Patrol was established on May 28, 1924. Although it is a respected agency, it has never been properly funded, and remains understaffed. In another “knee-jerk” reaction to 9/11, the creation of another unnecessary action to secure our borders was established in March of 2003. The department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was proposed as an effort to make America safer. However, it was an act of pure politics by Republicans. The agency remains a poorly trained and unnecessary cost to taxpayers.

Trump used ICE as his personal gestapo between 2017 and 2021, and they are now an army of fascists who are ignoring the Constitutional rights of tens-of-thousands of men, women, and children, including the separation of children from their parents. The policy of ICE is simple. If you are not pure white and speak another language than English, you are probably an undocumented immigrant. Their acts are frequently criminal and supported by the racist in the White House.

The Patriot Act and the creation of the department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement were the first concrete steps towards fascism. Putin and Trump saw this as an opportunity to begin the end of democracy in America. Little by little Republican presidents and their uncaring and unqualified party removed the promises and guarantees in the Constitution. Today, America is a nation without laws and without protection for 340 million Americans.

Be honest and face the undeniable facts: Everything Trump is doing to our country today is contained in Project 2025. Every idea originated during one of his hate rallies between 2015 and today.

When six members of the Supreme Court ignored section three of the 14^th Amendment in 2024, a fascist and a traitor was allowed to run for the presidency for a second time. It is now clear that Putin won the election with the use of the best hackers in the world who broke into the voting machines in seven swing states. If we compare the results of the 2020 election with those of the 2024 contest, the result is illogical and totally unbelievable.

Trump’s illegitimate election wins are a travesty and the ultimate violation of our nation’s laws. The cowardly and hypocritical leaders we have in Washington know the truth, but will never admit to their incompetence. They are a waste of time and millions of dollars each year.

Our government is broken beyond repair. To repair the damage caused by Trump and his fellow fascist-leaning Republicans since 1981 will require a complete do-over. All three branches are undeserving of our respect and trust. They have become the enemies of the people of the United States of America.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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