Editorial: Congress, do your job; Rein in Trump's excesses

Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 --Even amid bombs sent to our nation's leaders, President Donald Trump won't adjust his abusive and dangerous behavior. It is a reality show presidency focused on day-to-day ratings rather than on the future stability and security of the nation. Only Congress, living up to its constitutional duty to be a check on the executive branch of government, stands in the way.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Oct 26, 2018 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Oct 26, 2018

CBC Editorial: Friday, Oct. 26, 2018; Editorial #8355

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

“A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!” – President Donald Trump, via Twitter, 7:18 a.m., Oct. 25, 2018.

Bombs – very real explosive devices – are being delivered to the homes and workplaces of the United States’ most prominent leaders. Rather than focusing on assuring the safety and security of the American people, President Trump lies about who’s to blame.

Instead of directly contacting former public servants to assure them the government is taking all possible steps to protect them and capture those responsible, the president’s further inflaming the public discourse.

The toxic divide-to-conquer campaign is fomented by a president who leads a dysfunctional executive branch of government. It is not understatement, given this evidence, to say the safety and security of the nation is at risk. His toxic brand of politics brings out the worst in Americans.

It is clear, now as much as ever, that Trump won’t adjust his abusive and dangerous behavior. Nor does he show any evidence that he’d want to. It is a reality show presidency that’s focused on day-to-day ratings rather than on the future stability and security of the nation.

Only Congress, living up to its constitutional duty to be a check on the executive branch of government, stands in the way. Only the Senate and House of Representatives can end the destructive behavior of a president who, thread by thread, is unraveling the fabric of our democracy.

Ignoring or tolerating Trump’s corrosive rule because it appears to help on delivering tax cuts, a conservative judiciary and other short-term items on a legislative agenda, threatens the long-term survival of the nation’s democracy.

This no longer is about Donald Trump. It is about a Congress that needs to find the determination and commitment to do its job.

Decades from now, when historians reflect on this time, will the legacy of Congress be that it had the determined leadership to uphold the rule of law and demand a political dialogue that valued truth, accuracy and decency.

Or will the history of North Carolina’s senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, along with the state’s House delegation, be one of complicity and political expediency.

The country needs a Congress that has the moral courage to stand up against demigods. This is not about politics. It is about the core value of honesty.

Our congressional delegation understands very well what we are saying, but they don’t have the courage to do their jobs.

See you at the polls.

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