War Powers Act 1973

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul Courageously Critical Of Trump Domestic And Foreign Policies

Ronald 3 Comments

Anyone who has read my blog over the past 17 plus year since August 2008 know I am not a fan of Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul.

His father, former Congressman Ron Paul, was also not someone I would endorse.

Both Pauls were and are “libertarians”, which is a viewpoint I totally disagree with on principle.

When Rand Paul contended for the Presidency in 2016, it was made clear by this author and blogger that the thought of him in the White House was horrifying.

However, in the present, Rand Paul has taken stands that this author and blogger can agree with.

Paul has been a critic of the invasion and overthrow of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, particularly in regard to the Trump Administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio not informing Congress under the War Powers Act of 1973.

Also, Paul has been a critic of the tactics and actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and has been concerned about the damage to civil liberties and the Bill of Rights. He is calling for testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, for which he is the Chairman, by the heads of ICE and Customs and Border Protection, in February, in the light of the murder of Alex Pretti and Rene Good in Minneapolis in January.

Paul has been willing to go against Donald Trump openly, more than almost any other Republican Senator, except for Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and soon retiring North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis.

So as a Senator with true beliefs, and an element of courage, it is appropriate that Rand Paul be saluted for behaving in a proper, principled manner on these issues, while this author and blogger reserves the right to be critical of Paul on other matters.

Trump Action Against, And Plans For Venezuela, A Violation Of International Law, And Revives Image Of US Imperialism In Western Hemisphere!

Ronald 5 Comments

The decision of Donald Trump and his Cabinet to take military action to remove Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela, and fly him and his wife to the United States for trial on drug charges, is a brazen action against international law, and encourages similar military actions by Russia (Ukraine), and China (Taiwan) in their so called “Spheres of Influence”.

While one cannot be sad about Maduro being removed from power, it seems clear that Trump intends for the US to control the future of Venezuela for an extended period of time, instead of handing over control to Venezuelan political leaders.

The aim is clear, to control and exploit the vast oil reserves of Venezuela for American benefit.

This action of military intervention was done without consultation with Congress, and violates the War Powers Act of 1973, and it gives the US the old image of being the Imperialist nation in Latin America, which has a long, disgraceful history for the past two centuries.

To believe that the takeover militarily by the United States will occur without any reaction within Venezuela is to believe in fairy tales, as the economic and personal cost of American military lives is quite certain in a negative fashion.

For a President who had claimed he believed in isolationism, to switch his views diametrically opposite, makes one realize this is all about money (Oil) and ego!

Back From Vacation Break, And Total Mayhem! :(

Ronald 58 Comments

This author and blogger took a well deserved and needed vacation, and avoided following news of public affairs for the past ten days!

Now I am back, and total mayhem is in process on so many levels!

The continued violation of civil liberties, with the arrest by ICE of unjustified individuals; the arrest of a Democratic Mayoral candidate and New York City Controller Brad Lander; and the decision to back up Israel’s war on Iran by Donald Trump taking the bold action, without Congressional consultation or approval under the War Powers Act of 1973, to bomb Iranian nuclear sites—this all causes a sense of total mayhem in action!

We have a President who has taken a controversial action without any consultation, and his mental stability seems lacking in a sense of giving confidence that he knows what he is perpetrating, a possible major Mideast War, having learned nothing from the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.

40,000 US troops are in danger in the Middle East by the unstable, emotional reaction of Donald Trump, who is continuing to alienate our long term allies in Europe, Canada, and in Asia.

We have just passed the five month point of this four year term, and there is no comparison possible for the tumultuous, overwhelming, and shocking series of events that have taken place in both foreign and domestic policy!

One has to wonder how the survival of American democracy and the rule of law, and our 80 year stable set of allies in the world, can be accomplished with the reality that there are three years and seven months until the next Presidential Inauguration, and one year and five months until the next Congressional Elections, which the Democrats need to win to attempt to put controls on the most dangerous President in American history!

It is hard to be optimistic as we look to the future!