I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil. (Doctrine and Covenants 98:8-10)
George T. Conway III, husband of presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway (proponent of “alternative facts”), has organized a new group of prominent conservative lawyers to speak up about the Trump administration’s undermining of legal norms. The group, called “Checks and Balances” issued a mission statement that says, in part:
We believe in the rule of law, the power of truth, the independence of the criminal justice system, the imperative of individual rights and the necessity of civil discourse. We believe these principles apply regardless of the party or persons in power. We believe in “a government of laws, not of men.” – Checks and Balances Mission Statement
These lawyers are members of the conservative Federalist Society, which has been instrumental in helping the Trump administration stack the courts with conservative partisans and dismantle government regulation and oversight of big corporations. So they are King-men, and are in no way friends of the average working American. But it is interesting that even they think Trump goes too far.
Conservative lawyers are not doing enough to protect constitutional principles that are being undermined by the statements and actions of this president. – John B. Bellinger III
It is even more interesting that this group’s statement defending “the power of truth,” “the rule of law,” and “the necessity of civil discourse” is immediately understood to be a criticism of this president — even though the statement does not name him.
It’s important that people from across the political spectrum speak out about the country’s commitment to the rule of law and the core values underlying it — that the criminal justice system should be nonpartisan and independent, that a free press and public criticism should be encouraged and not attacked. These are values that might once have been thought so basic and universally accepted that they didn’t need defending, but that’s no longer clearly the case. — Peter D. Keisler
It is a somber time when those who helped undermine our constitutional principles, defended the corruption of our democratic processes, and gave us a malignant narcissist as president, begin to fear the natural consequences of what they have done.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – (Galatians 6:7)
Sources: “Conservative Lawyers Say Trump Has Undermined the Rule of Law,” Adam Liptak, New York Times, November 14, 2018.
“Kellyanne Conway’s husband and Reagan’s counsel are among lawyers warning that Trump imperils democracy,” Deanna Paul, The Washington Post, November 14, 2018.
“Checks and Balances,” Mission Statement, George T. Conway III, November 13, 2018.
“Conservative Lawyers, Long Promoters of Racist Policies, Bemoan Loss of Dog Whistle,” Elie Mystal, Above The Law, November 14, 2018.
Photo: George T. Conway III, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, seen at the White House in April. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
We are in a constitutional crisis. What will be the outcome? I wish we had more guidance. For socialists like me this could be an opportunity, but we on the REAL left are just too disorganized to do much. So who will step up to get us through this?
Interesting that those both on the left, right – and for all that, the middle – agree that we are in a constitutional crises.