Civil Commotion

Overtaken by The Donald’s weird tweet that smart missile’s are headed to Syria, so Russia had better LOOK OUT!, this story in yesterday’s business section of the New York Times is a hair-raising example of misuse of the presidency and, all by itself, probably constitutes an abuse of power and ground for impeachment.

Trump Company Lawyers Asked Panama President for Help in Hotel Dispute

Lawyers representing the Trump Organization in a bitter dispute over management control of a luxury hotel in Panama City appealed directly to President Juan Carlos Varela of Panama to intercede.

In the March 22 letter, the Panamanian law firm Britton and Iglesias told Mr. Varela that it was writing “to request in an URGENT manner” his intervention in the clash involving the Trump International Hotel and Tower.

The letter acknowledged the “separation of powers” in Panama but cautioned the president that the matter “has repercussions for the Panamanian state, which is your responsibility.”

The gist of the story is this: Trump’s organization had a contract to manage the operation of a hotel in Panama. The property changed hands, and the new owner decided to terminate the contract with Trump, the Trump organization resisted, and the dispute went to court.

So far, so good; happens every day.

But then, though the dispute was already in Panama’s courts, the Trump organization’s lawyers asked the president of Panama to intervene in the dispute, saying the case “has repercussions for the Panamanian state, which is your responsibility.”

Oh? The management of a hotel has “repercussions for the Panamanian state”? Only if the head of the American government proposes to link America’s relationship with Panama to the outcome of the court case.

Now, I guess we can’t rule out the possibility that the Trump organization’s lawyers freelanced the threat, but I’m skeptical; I don’t doubt that the sleazy characters around Trump are comfortable threatening strippers, but that kind of coward doesn’t ordinarily take on heads of state. I can much more easily believe they were given direction by the Trump organization to try to leverage the presidency in an attempt to somehow short-circuit the operation of the court. To his credit, the President of Panama ignored Trump’s lawyers.

Let’s all hope that Mueller’s team noticed the story.

The “harm principle” was set out by John Stuart Mill in On Liberty in 1859, the year before the American Civil War erupted. Though it is rarely explicitly evoked nowadays, it is embedded so deeply in Western thought, and especially our Declaration of Independence, that most of us take it for granted.

The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion. That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right… The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

In brief, absent a demonstration of harm to others, your activities are nobody’s business but your own.

Now, take a look at the news from Trinidad.

Buggery law deemed unconstitutional

The High Court today ruled that certain sections of the Sexual Offences Act are unconstitutional and null and void.

High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad ruled that the law goes against the basic rights of any citizen to enjoy the freedom of privacy and family life.

And:

Prior to the ruling, TT nationals representing the LGBTQI community stood in face-off with members from the Christian and Muslim communities on the steps of the Hall of Justice this morning.

Yasin Abu Bakr, leader of Jamaat al Muslimeen, joined the Muslim group. He said, “Regardless of happens, our position remains the same. No one can legislate against the law of God. There are so many examples for those who are Christians and those of us who are Muslims of God’s displeasure for this kind of behaviour. If it did not exist in scripture it would have been a matter of opinion, but this is not a matter of opinion. This is a matter where the scripture says that this is an abomination. Are we going to call upon ourselves the displeasure of God?”

Hooray! for Trinidad’s courts for not being blustered and bullied by Bronze Age ignorance. The Pious have a right to believe whatever they like; they do not the right to expect everyone else to submit to their degrading superstitions.

It’s like Forrest Gump won the presidency, but an evil, really f*cking stupid Forrest Gump. He can’t help himself. He’s just a f**king idiot who thinks he’s winning when people are b*tching about him. He really does see the world as ratings and attention. I hate Forrest Gump.

Erick Erickson, quoting
an anonymous Republican Congressman

Trump is not mentally and emotionally stable.

So much Fake News about what is going on in the White House. Very calm and calculated with a big focus on open and fair trade with China, the coming North Korea meeting and, of course, the vicious gas attack in Syria. Feels great to have Bolton & Larry K on board. I (we) are

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

….doing things that nobody thought possible, despite the never ending and corrupt Russia Investigation, which takes tremendous time and focus. No Collusion or Obstruction (other than I fight back), so now they do the Unthinkable, and RAID a lawyers office for information! BAD!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

Oh, wait! The problem is not that Russia is partnered-up with a murderous sociopath who gasses children! No! Not at all!

The problem is the Russia investigation!

Much of the bad blood with Russia is caused by the Fake & Corrupt Russia Investigation, headed up by the all Democrat loyalists, or people that worked for Obama. Mueller is most conflicted of all (except Rosenstein who signed FISA & Comey letter). No Collusion, so they go crazy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

This is beyond nuts, and the man is plainly unfit to be controlling missiles. Congress must do its duty and remove him — fast.

Don’t miss today’s pile-driver of an editorial in the New York Times.

This is your president, ladies and gentlemen. This is how Donald Trump does business, and these are the kinds of people he surrounds himself with.

Mr. Trump has spent his career in the company of developers and celebrities, and also of grifters, cons, sharks, goons and crooks. He cuts corners, he lies, he cheats, he brags about it, and for the most part, he’s gotten away with it, protected by threats of litigation, hush money and his own bravado.

The election of Donald Trump was a national disgrace, and the Congress must now do its duty and remove him.