Trump’s Police

Given the mostly fluff piece in today’s Washington Post, today seems like a good day to remind everyone that Kirstjen Nielsen, the Cabinet secretary in charge of The Department of Homeland Security resigned in April of 2019. That cabinet level post has not been filled in over a year. Instead, there have been two ‘acting’ secretaries. The first one resigned several months laterm, and, in November of 2019 Chad Wolf took over. It was the first time an acting secretary suceeded another acting secretary at that position.

It is true that Wolf was confirmed by the Senate for the under-secretary position, but that is a different, less powerful role. Wolf has now been in charge of Homeland Security for several months, and the president has never nominated him for the position. Nor, has the president nominated anyone else for that position. This is especially noteable because confirmation only requires a simple majority vote in the GOP led Senate. How bad must this guy be, if the president is afraid to put him through the nomination process in the GOP Senate?

The president has said that he prefers acting secretaries. Specifically, he said, “I like acting. It gives me more flexibility. Do you understand that? I like acting. So we have a few that are acting. We have a great, great Cabinet,”

Flexibility for what?

When we speak of Trump’s secret police and his personal police force, this is what we’re speaking of. We’re talking about a police force run by someone who’s main qualification is loyalty to the president. We’re talking about Trump’s ability to order that force to do whatever Trump wants, without any pushback.

This issue goes beyond right & left. It doesn’t matter whether you support the protests or not. If you believe in the Constution and you believe in checks & balances, then Trumps refusal to nominate someone to take over this Cabinet position should offend you.

It sure offends me.