John McCain jeopardizes the safety of this nation

Arizona’s angry old man, John McCain, is entirely lacking in the temperament, character, honesty and judgment to serve as Arizona’s United States senator.

This was self-evident when McCain picked the halfling governor of Alaska, the Quitta from Wasilla, Sarah Palin to be his running mate in 2008, and jeopardized the safety of this nation by being willing to put this loon one heartbeat away from the presidency. This certainly played a role in McCain’s electoral landslide defeat at the hands of Barack Obama, and deservedly so.

Now we have the male version of Caribou Barbie, Donald Trump, the poster boy of the Obama “Birtherism” movement as the GOP’s presumptive nominee.

In an interview with the New York Times, McCain said he’s hopeful that Congress might be able to keep Trump in check. Donald Trump Could Threaten U.S. Rule of Law, Scholars Say:

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who has become a reluctant supporter of Mr. Trump, said he did not believe that the nation would be in danger under his presidency.

“I still believe we have the institutions of government that would restrain someone who seeks to exceed their constitutional obligations,” Mr. McCain said. “We have a Congress. We have the Supreme Court. We’re not Romania.”

“Our institutions, including the press, are still strong enough to prevent” unconstitutional acts, he said.

Let’s see, Watergate (Nixon), Iran-Contra (Reagan), an illegal war in Iraq and illegal torture (Bush) . . . not since Watergate has Congress stood up and done its constitutional duty. Oh sure, a Republican Congress engaged in a partisan impeachment of Bill Clinton for lying about a blow job, but it was not to check any constitutional abuse of power.

The Supreme Court is a check on the presidency only in cases and controversies before the court (e.g., United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974)). So if Donald Trump goes into one of his fits of anger and decides to nuke some country out of spite, the Supreme Court is no check at all.

It’s an open question whether the military command structure could defy such an order. That would present the flip-side to the Seven Days in May (1964) scenario (in which U.S. military leaders plot to overthrow the President because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack).

And the media? Puh-lease! The media has been a willing accomplice and accessory to the rise of Donald Trump. He is a media invention: fake WWE wrestling, fake “reality” TV show, fake news (Birtherism) on FAUX News. The media has created the very environment in which this con man can thrive, and they hang on his every word because controversy equals ratings. The media are part of the problem, not the solution. (They are also John McCain’s political base).

If John McCain is going to support Donald Trump out of GOP tribalism — because he has an (R) behind his name on the ballot — then he is entirely lacking in any principles that he claims to possess. McCain is once again jeopardizing the safety of this nation by being willing to put this dangerous con man in the presidency.

To quote Oliver Cromwell chastising the Long Parliament:

“You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.”