UVA Professor Larry Sabato really nailed it this morning on this insane story of blatant, wild corruption (and violation of the constitution’s “Emoluments” clause). See below for Sabato’s comments, but first, here’s the story:
“In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar — a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News.
The gift is expected to be announced next week, when Trump visits Qatar on the first foreign trip of his second term, according to sources familiar with the plans.
Trump toured the plane, which is so opulently configured it is known as “a flying palace,” while it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport in February.”
And yes, if this EVER happened – which of course it wouldn’t! – in a Democratic administration, the media would be going NUTS, as would Republicans, who would be scrambling to get back to Washington, DC to start impeachment hearings IMMEDIATELY! Which, of course, in an even semi-functional democracy, is what SHOULD happen if a president is as wildly corrupt, lawless and scornful of the constitution as this one. But the Republican Party is completely f’ed at this point, so here we are. With that, check out Professor Sabato’s thoughts, in bold below:
- “The Trump Administration is drowning in corruption–and few Americans seem to care. It’s another sign of a dying Republic.”
- “Wrongs are never righted. Justice fades. Vengeance rules.” (In response to a comment: “We care. The problem is who is going to enforce anything? Nothing happened when he and his administration violated the hatch act the 1st term and then nothing happened when they tried to overthrow the government and steal top secret documents.”)
- “A rotting corpse with all the power.” (In response to a comment: “Many Americans care, but Congressional Republicans don’t care. They make excuses and dismiss concerns. The GOP is a rotting corpse.”)
- “It’s way past time to stop playing both sides.” (In response to a comment: “It doesn’t help when media reports always state that “critics say” this kind of behavior is corrupt, as if there is no objective reality and everything is simply a matter of opinion or perspective.”)
- “Despondency is justified.” (In response to a comment: “Want to read DOJ’s justification of Qatar plane. There is no way this isn’t a blatant violation of the Emoluments Clause of Constitution. A document Trump took an oath to uphold, but clearly, he nor anyone around him including Congress cares about anymore. Despondent.”)
- “To them, just words on decaying parchment.” (In response to a comment: “‘No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State’ – U.S. constitution”)
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
