Greg Sargent: Awful new details about Trump's purge should alarm us all 👀

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/24/awful-new-details-about-trumps-purge-should-alarm-us-all/

By Greg Sargent
Opinion writer

Feb. 24, 2020 at 9:58 a.m. EST

<snip>

“I don't think most people understand that the norm we've gotten used to of DOJ operating independently from the president is now functionally dead,” (Matthew) Miller told me.

This is the larger context for the purging of Liu, and the department’s refusal to stand up for Stone’s prosecutors. Trump has been very open about all of this: As “chief law enforcement officer," he is “allowed to be totally involved.”

Which is to say, he can abuse law enforcement and the machinery of government for any corrupt purpose he sees fit. The purges are about removing obstacles to this.

When Trump ousted former National Security Council official Alexander Vindman, who had also tried to stand in the way of Trump’s corruption, Donald Trump Jr. explicitly cast this as a message to anyone else who might do the same:

Donald Trump Jr. ✔@DonaldJTrumpJr

Allow me a moment to thank—and this may be a bit of a surprise—Adam Schiff. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam! 🤣 #FullOfSchiff

7:38 PM - Feb 7, 2020

The purges are not just revenge. They are designed to remove people who defend the rule of law against Trump’s very deliberate corruption and degradation of it.

</snip>

Liu was widely seen as a Trump loyalist, yet, because of her greater commitment to the rule of law, Trump purged HER as well.

I wish I could post the entire article - I have a pit in my stomach about where this all could go from here...

[Harker]

1. 'Purge' is a highly loaded word...

and the perfect one for the situation.

[geretogo]

2. This is what dictators do . They purge their political enemies . Usually by firing squad . If the

dictator gets another term look for people disappearing .

[NoMoreRepugs]

3. Certainly reinforces my opinion that we need the strongest possible

candidate to defeat trump - ideology comes second.

[handmade34]

4. I have been alarmed to the max

for a couple of years now... not surprised by anything, except... the inability (for anyone) to do anything about it

[maxsolomon]

5. What alarms me is our powerlessness.

Essentially, we have 1 shot: November.

Until then, we just have to grit our teeth.

[Harker]

6. And not eat each other. n/t

[maxsolomon]

7. I'll vote for a yellow dog.

I always have.

[Harker]

8. Woof. As will I.

I'm still sorry Tom Harkin was never President.

[trusty elf]

9. That comment by junior.... UGH!

He is odious. They all are.

[struggle4progress]

10. "Everything, that degrades the conscience of the nation, enhances

the power of Napoleon"