Trump lacks principle on record search
Donald Trump isn't necessarily wrong in calling attention to potential abuses by the FBI, which he suggests is conducting a witch hunt in searching his Mar-a-Lago property to recover classified documents. This Editorial Board has long decried the possibil
We've taken a wait-and-see approach toward the raid. Obviously, ex-presidents are not above the law and we can't justify his document trove, but we'll watch the investigation play out.
However, it's difficult to take Trump seriously now given that he rarely espouses a consistent principle related to federal overreach issues (or anything else, for that matter).
“One of the first things we must do is to enforce all classification rules and to enforce all laws relating to the handling of classified information,” candidate Trump said in 2016 regarding the government's refusal to charge Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified data on her private email account.
A CNN report documents Trump's statements on classified material. Trump blasted those who leaked communications from appointed National Security Adviser Michael Flynn: “Classified. That's classified. You go to prison when you release stuff like that,” the former president said.
CNN found myriad Trump statements calling for the prosecution of those who mishandle government data.
He called for imprisonment for “many, many years” of his former aide John Bolton after the publication of Bolton's White House memoir.
Trump didn't complain when his supporters chanted “Lock her up” regarding Clinton.
Trump also previously suggested that Wikileaks leader Julian Assange and whistleblower Edward Snowden should face the death penalty for allegedly violating the Espionage Act of 1917, the same law Trump is being investigated for potentially violating.
Of course, the Espionage Act itself has its own problems.
In its early application, it was a tool for shutting down criticism of American involvement in World War I. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was among those imprisoned under the act after giving an anti-war speech. This Editorial Board likewise has also opposed the criminalization of both Assange and Snowden.
“The fact that the Espionage Act may be used against Trump does not magically make it good,” noted former Libertarian Congressman Justin Amash on Twitter. “It has a terrible history of abuse. Government has employed it to avoid scrutiny and chill free speech, and it violates basic tenets of due process. Nobody should be cheerleading this law.”
That's right. Of course, neither Trump nor most of his supporters have been so consistent.
This Editorial Board has espoused a simple principle: Federal agencies have a legitimate role in enforcing laws, but need to be on a short leash.
The larger the government grows, the more abusive its police agencies become — as evidenced by scandals at the IRS and FBI.
Most federal actions target ordinary citizens and garner less attention than raids of former presidents.
Unfortunately, both parties decry federal actions that target their leaders, yet celebrate similar actions against opponents.
It's time for both sides to recognize that an overreaching federal government poses threats to everyone and must embrace a consistent policy that reins in federal power.
California's power grid
Re “California issues rare energy alert” (Sept. 7):
California just voted to ban electric cars in 2035. This same week the California energy grid pleaded with people not to charge their electric cars because the electric grid was overburdened. The state closed the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant near San Clemente years ago. We've “switched” to renewable energy sources, and now we have rolling black outs, flex alerts and are being told not to charge our electric cars or use our appliances after 4 p.m. We need to go back to nuclear power now. We can build safe, efficient, powerful nuclear power plants in California and never have to worry about flex alerts or rolling blackouts ever again. No nuclear-powered warship has ever had a flex alert, or a rolling blackout.
Election 2024
Re “Barring Trump from office would be a big mistake” (Sept. 6):
Tom Campbell argues that Trump's “slipshod way” that he treated Top Secret, Special Access classified documents should not deny voters the opportunity to vote for Trump in 2024. Why not? Strewing such documents around the Mar-aLago residence in plain sight of any maid, repairman or visitor without the proper security clearances plus access privilege is clearly a violation of laws regarding handling such information. The law says whoever makes such materials available to an unauthorized person shall be fined or imprisoned or both. Recall that in 2019, a Chinese national carrying electronic devices was caught trespassing at Mar-a-Lago and sentenced to eight months in prison. Why make excuses to let political figures (including Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Sandy Berger) violate laws that us mere mortals must and should obey to protect national security? Mr. Campbell needs to rethink the shallowness of his argument.
Winning votes
Re “Buying some votes, American style” (Aug. 28):
Sal Rodriguez has an intriguing writing style. I give credit where it's due, and this time he got it right by surfacing President Biden's desperate Bernie-like scheme to win some college-educated voters. Apparently Biden's counting on the rest of us not realizing the opportunity cost. Or the precedent. This recklessness is enabled by people who think the government is there to take care of everything. As for Mr. Rodriguez, I could take him more seriously if he would come around on marijuana and immigration.
Assembly Bill 257
Re “Newsom signs bill to improve conditions for fastfood workers” (Sept. 6):
Now a committee of 10 will be appointed by the governor and Legislature to develop standards of hours, wages and “other things affecting the lives” of fast-food workers. This will lead over time to higher costs for fast food and layoffs of fast-food workers to accommodate for higher overhead costs. McDonald's, Burger King and all the other chains will also have to invest in more robots to replace human workers. So much for “helping” workers. Look for costly edicts to come out over time from this committee.
Uniting America
Re “So much for uniting America” (Sept. 4):
From the start, Biden's entrance against an eerie bright red background and having two Marines used as props was outrageous and derisive. This was not just a speech, it was a campaign speech paid for by the taxpayers. Biden ran on uniting America. instead, his speech was in no way positive and never explained any of his positions, let's see, inflation, disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, electric cars that cannot be charged due to the outdated grids. Biden would rather accuse Trump supporters of being extreme and dangerous for democracy. Over 75 million voted for Donald Trump so to insult such a large percentage of the American people was either badly thought out by the speechwriters or just plain ignorant. The next day Biden said he never insulted MAGA voters. Just play the tape. His whole speech was only about MAGA, make America great again. What is wrong in wanting your country to be the best.