Tuesday, April 14, 2020 | 2 a.m.
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We are in the middle of a serious national health risk, and we have a president who chooses not to use his powers to acquire and distribute supplies to American hospitals. Instead, he says the states and corporations should lead the way. This is, of course, after he consulted with the corporations that can make the most profit from this. He is allowing private enterprise to show it can solve the problem.
Until now, President Donald Trump has used his power in ways others never even tried. He sent 5,000 troops to our border to do nothing. America was not having a crisis then, but we are now.
Trump usurped Congress’ “power of the purse” to build a wall. He said it was a national security threat that gave him the power to impose tariffs on China and many other nations, including our allies. There was no threat then, but there is now.
Trump ignored checks and balances when he declared that Congress did not have the power of oversight on the executive branch. He loved using his power then, but when we have a national security threat and we need him to be a strong leader, he wilts.
Trump could assume so much power given our immediate need for leadership. Is this simply that he loves money more than power? Or is this what happens when the bully is confronted with a crisis he can’t bluff his way through? This lack of leadership has shown us Trump’s true colors.
