A Beginner's Guide to America's Culture Belief's on Race, Immigration, Equality and Views Nowadays

 

A Beginner's Guide to America: For the Immigrant and the Curious

Bestselling author, Roya Hakakian upcoming book describes the book as A stirring, witty, and poignant glimpse into the bewildering American immigrant experience from someone who has lived it. Also, a mirror held up to America.

Myself being middle age living half of my life in the USA, I can totally agree with her. I till this day still ask questions on inclusion. A good example was on a Friday afternoon in a downtown San Francisco's retail location men's restroom which was open for the public. Right after using it passed  walking pass  the stalls,  a middle age heavy set Caucasian man assumed I was headed to the walk out the door and yelled to me "washed your hands". I politely showed in my hands my sanitizers and uttered I had it. Most public restrooms in San Francisco's downtown area are not open due to the homeless problem and vandalism and also the lavatories are really extremely dirty and infected with bacteria. At any rate here's an example why I simply raise the statement of inclusion having live half of my life in America. For all you know the guy had good intentions of reminding me simply to wash my hands but here is where the culture's perspectives open up. 

In the San Francisco area, home to the nation's largest and oldest Chinatown, there were at least 18 attacks against Asians in February alone, TODAY previously reported. An 84-year-old Thai American, Vicha Ratanapakdee, was pushed to the ground in January and died from his injuries a few days later, NBC News reported. In 2020, New York City police recorded 28 hate crimes against Asian Americans, up from three in 2019, quoted from https://www.today.com/news/anti-asian-violence-history-anti-asian-racism-us-t210645  Another issue that came up during this Covid-19 is when the term "China Virus" was downplayed by no other than the 45th President of the United States. This has enabled an anti-Asian hate and violence campaign. 

Meanwhile, there's an influx of undocumented children on the southern border trying to enter after Biden rolled back a number of Trump-era immigration policies, including the “Remain in Mexico” policy that advocates say gutted the nation’s asylum system and the "zero tolerance" policy of separating families at the border.  It is extremely hard for politicians based on my personal experiences having dealt with them of their desire for power and wealth to understand the true meaning of "Asylum". If you make from $170,000 to $300,00 and have net worth's of $2M to $10B or more and ambitions to even be the President of the USA you will never need to know the meaning of what it stands or what the word "Immigration" is about in a real democracy.

Hakakian grew up in a Jewish family living in a middle-class neighborhood in Tehran in the 70's in her book and I remember my father serving in the US Army at the same time at the base. She mentioned about her scarf as part of her dress code and when she arrived in New York's subway in 1985 after her asylum she tried to reach for her scarf realizing she had none physically.   Here also shows as immigrants bring memories with us when we settle in the US. 

Just like a few months ago when we had these marches on the boarded windows on the  downtown streets in Portland, Or and San Francisco, CA it reminded me back in the Philippines when  then Ferdinand Marcos was about to declare Martial Law, those were the same pictures, and then again during the EDSA revolution when he again tried to hang on to power before fleeing for asylum and to where, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA through the help of Republican President Ronald Reagan.

In the case of the Iran empire itself, the Shah of Iran eventually went into asylum also in the United Sates for health reasons. This is is how politicians interrelates with the two words mentioned.  Hence for decades is also why this country has not enacted a real Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.

The topic is huge for discussion but where does one begin?

I have a dream for freedom and for Anarchy, reflecting on two persons on democracy.

As  we reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King's  message by revisiting his celebrated I Have a Dream speech in its entirety delivered on August 28, 1963, part of the speech says "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds". 

Another part of the speech continues, "This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring". 

 

 In October 30,2020 ALL NEWS from the White House articles quotes: 

Nearly 400 miles of new border wall system is now complete. Just as important, the Trump Administration is prosecuting and deporting violent criminals, stopping the flow of illegal drugs, and closing the loopholes that help human smugglers while hurting our own citizens, including legal immigrants". Illegal immigration hurts everyone. It empowers criminals, bankrolls human smugglers, and fuels transnational gangs. It costs both legal immigrants and U.S. citizens a shot at the American Dream. It endangers law enforcement officers, makes our communities less stable, and puts law-abiding workers and businesses at a disadvantage.

It is the same narrative, today we celebrate the heroism on Dr. King. He started the fight risking his own life for democracy. January 6, 2020 will be read by generations after our life time when the Supreme leader of White Supremacy led an unsuccessful insurrection to democracy and people of color in the United States of America. 

This hate extends to the undocumented immigrants mostly on the front lines of the dreaded pandemic a lot of which classified as essential workers. A lot of whom are hard working law abiding, tax paying members of the society who cannot even access unemployment or health care in this country. 

As the I have a dream speech mentioned I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. Martin Luther King continued. 

I believe that it is the right first direction to tackle an immigration reform in this country to show the insurrects that people of color are here to stay as part of the land of the free, the greatest democracy in the world and they have to accept we cannot be extinct. 

No one can compete with American workers when they’re given a fair and level playing field, which has not happened for decades.

President Donald J. Trump   Mr. Trump refers to American workers as White Americans. when he tighten the H1B visa limits and cited everyone else as foreign labor.. 

From the front line of healthcare doctors, nurses, first responders, essential workers to the technology fields, America's workforce comprises a lot of the so called foreign labor he undermines,  

It is imperative that an overhaul of the immigration system and racial justice reckoning be a prime focus of the incoming administration. 

I will end continuing on Dr. King's speech, " And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last". 

A Review on Criminal Dissent vis a vis foregoing public speeches, opinions and the law on seditious conspiracy.

 

Criminal Dissent - Wendell Bird (Author)  writes In the first complete account of prosecutions under the Alien and Sedition Acts, dozens of previously unknown cases come to light, revealing the lengths to which the John Adams administration went in order to criminalize dissent.

The campaign to prosecute dissenting Americans under the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 ignited the first battle over the Bill of Rights. Fearing destructive criticism and “domestic treachery” by Republicans, the administration of John Adams led a determined effort to safeguard the young republic by suppressing the opposition.

The acts gave the president unlimited discretion to deport noncitizens and made it a crime to criticize the president, Congress, or the federal government. In this definitive account, Wendell Bird goes back to the original federal court records and the papers of Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and finds that the administration’s zeal was far greater than historians have recognized. Indeed, there were twice as many prosecutions and planned deportations as previously believed. The government went after local politicians, raisers of liberty poles, and even tavern drunks but most often targeted Republican newspaper editors, including Benjamin Franklin’s grandson. Those found guilty were sent to prison or fined and sometimes forced to sell their property to survive. The Federalists’ support of laws to prosecute political opponents and opposition newspapers ultimately contributed to the collapse of the party and left a large stain on their record.

The Alien and Sedition Acts launched a foundational debate on press freedom, freedom of speech, and the legitimacy of opposition politics. The result was widespread revulsion over the government’s attempt to deprive Americans of their hard-won liberties. Criminal Dissent is a potent reminder of just how fundamental those rights are to a stable democracy.

At this moment and time, the news media writes about the coup intents speculation caused by the the 45th President's failure to concede to the incoming 46th President elect and the worry that the Republican's and the 74 million Trump voters that will hinder the Biden presidency deeming it illegitimate.

At the same, while writing this blog on the eve of the deadline of the stimulus negotiations on Capitol Hill by Congress debates, the news media is also reporting on leak unverified oval office meetings about discussions on the intent of "Martial Law".  If your someone who have not seen Martial Law in a developing country then you wouldn't really understand the realities of this.  However, if you are then the first thing that will come to your mind will be for all these ages, why did America became the riches nation on earth, why did all the immigrants immigrated to America to make land of the free and make rich! As the only dictators that these ideas would even be an idea are the desperate autocrats who will do anything, I mean anything! in a third world country!

Hence is why The United States has a federal law against seditious conspiracy in Tile 18 of the US Code, 18 U.S.C. S. 2384. "The Sedition Act made it a crime, in effect, to criticize the president, Congress, the federal government as a whole, or its measures, whether by press or speech." As a result, Bird has properly called for a re-evaluation of the Act, dismissing previous historians' largely-successful attempts at whitewashing and rightly condemning the Act's powerful supporters, such as Alexander Hamilton, President George Washington, and President John Adams.

Where do We Go From Here to Heal, Move and Rise Mr. President Elect

 

What Do We Do Now?: A Workbook for the President-Elect , Hess, Stephen  A Workbook for the President-Elect," complete with exercises to fill in and boxes to tick off; but it is also a compelling primer for the average citizen." Frank Gannon, Wall Street Journal.

This unique and daunting process always involves at least some mistakes—in hiring, perhaps, or in policy priorities, or organizational design. Early blunders can carry serious consequences well into a president's term; minimizing them from the outset is critical. In What Do We Do Now? Stephen Hess draws from his long experience as a White House staffer and presidential adviser to show what can be done to make presidential transitions go smoothly. Here is a workbook to guide future chief executives, decision by decision, through the minefield of transition.

I start with this as in the most recent transition in 2016 was a very good example of the failures right from the start of the transition process. This transition is the most consequential and historical one in our lifetime considering the dynamics, demographics and show of election results in the last 2 nights in our elections. From the Miami Cuban and Puerto Rican  Conservative Latinos in Florida citizens fearing  of socialism, to the new Mexican Latinos in Arizona from California more Liberal, to the African American voter turn out's in Georgia and Texas. Another good point to note is on top of the voter's list is a recognition of the racial divide which is now well showcase on how the results of this elections has come to a divided House and Senate.

Whatever the results of the presidential vote on Nov. 3, the time between Election Day and Inauguration Day seems set to be a dark and terrifying 11 weeks in the history of the United States. However, perhaps there’s some comfort to be taken in the fact that we’ve experienced fraught transitions before—and longer ones. To wit: When Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860 and prepared to take the reins from James Buchanan, who had kept a promise he made in his inaugural address not run for a second term, we suffered through a four-month slog of turmoil, because until the passage of the 20th Amendment in 1933, inaugurations used to take place in March. And during Buchanan’s endless lame-duck period, quite a bit went down: Seven states declared for secession, and Southerners seized forts and garrisons, arming themselves for the war we know now was coming.    Quote from

As we go through the final hours of the last remaining electoral college numbers to get to 270 to solidify our Mr. President Elect, as a nation we should start lowering the temperature and shifting the message to  We should praise whoever concedes as that would make it so much easier to heal and to transition. We should also remember Covid-19 had just reach 100,000 cases. We have to get back to solving the problems on Covid-19 and the stimulus as January 21 is still months from now. Meanwhile, people are sick, cannot pay bills and rent so the sooner a transition gets to work the better while the current administration works on the stimulus.

For Now, Let Us Respect the results, Welcome the President Elect and Thank the President.

The Contradiction, Systemic Inequality to American Democracy, Why Minorities need to Vote

"The inability to fully participate in the democratic process translates into a lack of political power—the power to elect candidates with shared values and the power to enact public policy priorities. As a result, people of color, especially Black people, continue to endure exclusion and discrimination in the electoral process, more than 150 years after the abolition of slavery". quoted from the American Progress Organization. 

                               The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration can end census field operations early, in a blow to efforts to make sure minorities and hard-to-enumerate communities are properly counted in the crucial once-a-decade tally. The decision was not a total loss for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to end the count early. They managed to get nearly two extra weeks of counting people as the case made its way through the courts. 

At issue was a request by the Trump administration that the Supreme Court suspend a lower court’s order extending the 2020 census through the end of October following delays caused by the pandemic. The Trump administration argued that the head count needed to end immediately to give the bureau time to meet a year-end deadline. Congress requires the bureau to turn in by Dec. 31 the figures used to decide the states’ congressional seats — a process known as apportionment.

Apportionment is the process of dividing the 435 memberships, or seats, in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the apportionment population counts from the decennial census.  The apportionment population count for each of the 50 states includes the state’s total resident population (citizens and non-citizens) plus a count of the overseas federal employees (and dependents) who have that state listed as their home state in their employers’ administrative records.

The resident population counts include all people (citizens and non-citizens) who are living in 

the United States at the time of the census. People are counted at their usual residence, which is the place where they live and sleep most of the time.

The resident population also includes military and civilian employees of the U.S. government who are deployed outside the United States (while stationed or assigned in the United States) and can be allocated to a usual residence address in the United States based on administrative records from the Department of Defense.

The resident population counts for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Island Areas are not included in apportionment calculations (because those areas do not have voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives), but they are included in other data products.

Note: The resident population counts are available down to the lowest levels of geography (i.e. census block), but only the state totals are used for apportionment. The more detailed resident population data are included in other census data products that are used for redistricting and many other purposes.

Are undocumented residents included in the apportionment population counts?

Yes, all people (citizens and noncitizens) with a usual residence in the 50 states are included in the resident population for the census, which means they are all included in the apportionment counts.

How is the apportionment calculated?

The apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives is calculated every ten years using the method of equal proportions, according to the provisions of Title 2, U.S. Code. Congress decides the method used to calculate the apportionment. This method has been used in every census since the 1940 census. The method computes "priority values" based on each state's apportionment population.as quoted from census.gov.

On July 21, the White House released a memorandum regarding the 2020 Census with the subject line, “Excluding Illegal Aliens From the Apportionment Base Following the 2020 Census.” In the memo, signed by the president, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is ordered, after the census is completed this fall, to remove from each state’s count the number of “illegal aliens” living there. Only then will the census numbers be presented to congress for the reapportionment of the House.

One target in specific is California. “Current estimates suggest that one state is home to more than 2.2 million illegal aliens, constituting more than 6% of the State’s entire population.  Including these illegal aliens in the population of the state for the purpose of apportionment could result in the allocation of two or three more congressional seats than would otherwise be allocated.” The president is relying on a 2016 Pew Research Center study that stated there was 2.2 million undocumented residents in California. The same study reported that there are 725,000 undocumented residents in New York State.

So let us now focus now on the recent events. From the debates where we have heard  the words, "Stand by and Stand back",, " I'm Speaking", " Ka,,mam,,la, Ka,ba,,la", "Monster", to we have turn the corner. Such words that the only answer would be "democracy requires the full participation of its citizens"

In 2018, The United States Supreme Court gave the approval stamp for voter suppression Husted v. A. Philip Randolph when people skip elections. This is the same tactics being used today in this pandemic to prevent prevent from voting.

The 44th President was the opening for people of color, having the first black Asian minority woman vice presidential candidate can eventually create that opening that will be here to stay which is why it is such a threat unfortunately, But embracing it especially if it leads to victory will start a process of healing. It will not eradicate the persistent problem immediately. The structural reforms and conversations can be started for policies for the future generations not to be also victims.

The Takeaway: The Impeachment Report: The House Intelligence Committee's Report on Its Investigation

With the approved Articles of Impeachment from the House on hold by the Speaker of the House, the question lies on how long and why?  Pelosi indicated Thursday that she would delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, seeking more clarity on the rules for President Trump’s trial and potentially pushing the proceedings well into the new year.

The-impeachment-report-the-house-intelligence

The official report from the House Intelligence Committee on Donald Trump’s secret pressure campaign against Ukraine, featuring an exclusive introduction by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and biographer Jon Meacham

 

For only the fourth time in American history, the House of Representatives has conducted an impeachment inquiry into a sitting United States president. This landmark document details the findings of the House Intelligence Committee’s historic investigation of whether President Donald J. Trump committed impeachable offenses when he sought to have Ukraine announce investigations of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

This saga zero's in on the report's emphasis for the President asking for a political favor using his office.

 

On the morning of July 25, 2019, President Donald Trump settled in to the White House Executive Residence to join a telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. It had been more than three months since President Zelensky, a political neophyte, had been swept into office in a landslide victory on a platform of rooting out corruption and ending the war between his country and Russia. The day of his election, April 21, President Zelensky spoke briefly with President Trump, who had called to congratulate him and invite him to a visit at the White House. As of July 25, no White House meeting had materialized.

As is typical for telephone calls with other heads of state, staff members from the National Security Council (NSC) convened in the White House Situation Room to listen to the call and take notes, which would later be compiled into a memorandum that would constitute the U.S. government’s official record of the call. NSC staff had prepared a standard package of talking points for the President based on official U.S. policy. The talking points included recommendations to encourage President Zelensky to continue to promote anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine, a pillar of American foreign policy in the country as far back as its independence in the 1990s when Ukraine first rid itself of Kremlin control. 

The 300-page report lays out Democrats’ case that President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit political help from a foreign power and obstructed the inquiry into his actions. In summary, it lays the ground on 

Trump ‘ordered and implemented’ a campaign to conceal his conduct from the public and Congress.

The report accuses Mr. Trump of what it calls an “unprecedented campaign of obstruction of this impeachment inquiry,” saying he denied documents to Congress and tried to block State Department diplomats and White House officials from testifying.

Abuse of power: This is described throughout the report

Obstruction of Congress: This allegation is an entire section of the report

The democrats zero'd down on this two articles of impeachment in the final. 

The Democrats have faced some criticism for that, both inside and outside Congress. If they waited a few more months, could they connect the political quid pro quos to Trump without a shred of doubt? Instead, they are rushing to impeach Trump before it’s officially a presidential election year.  Meanwhile, the Speaker has delay the transmission of the Articles due to the fear quoting the Senate Majority Leader that he and the republican controlled Senate will be partial in depending the President.

In the end of this political process, will be public majorly be convinced of the President's actions warranting this impeachment saga or this is not a priority for the regular citizen.

Overriding a Veto

Vetoing Bills

A veto (Latin for "I forbid") is the power (used by an officer of the state, for example) to unilaterally stop an official action, especially the enactment of legislation. A veto can be absolute, as for instance in the United Nations Security Council, whose permanent members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America) can block any resolution, or it can be limited, as in the legislative process of the United States, where a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate will override a Presidential veto of legislation.^[1] A veto may give power only to stop changes (thus allowing its holder to protect the status quo), like the US legislative veto, or to also adopt them (an "amendatory veto"), like the legislative veto of the Indian President, which allows him to propose amendments to bills returned to the Parliament for reconsideration.

quoted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veto

The power of the President to refuse to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevent its enactment into law is the veto. The president has ten days (excluding Sundays) to sign a bill passed by Congress. A regular veto occurs when the President returns the legislation to the house in which it originated, usually with a message explaining the rationale for the veto. This veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. If this occurs, the bill becomes law over the President's objections. A pocket veto occurs when Congress adjourns during the ten-day period. The president cannot return the bill to Congress. The president's decision not to sign the legislation is a pocket veto and Congress does not have the opportunity to override.

https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Vetoes_vrd.htm

Hence, this is why the Speaker of the House has expressed her plans moving forward on March 26. 

Her bill is to re-introduced a bill or joint resolution that has been vetoed by the President can become law if two-thirds of the Members voting in the House and the Senate each agree to pass it over the President’s objection. The chambers act sequentially on vetoed measures: The House acts first on House-originated measures (H.R. and H.J. Res.), and the Senate acts first on Senate-originated measures (S. and S.J. Res.). If the first-acting chamber fails to override the veto, the other chamber cannot consider it. The House typically considers the question of overriding a presidential veto under the hour rule, with time customarily controlled and allocated by the chair and ranking Member of the committee with jurisdiction over the bill. The Senate usually considers the question of overriding a veto under the terms of a unanimous consent agreement.

Under the new democratic controlled congress, it will be an overwhelming yes to pass the re-introduction. The question lies now whether it goes pass beyond the United States Senate controlled by the Republicans. The recent developments of Republican senators who finally broke the ranks on challenging this President although compelling will still need a two-thirds vote.

Two-thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum being present, must agree to override the veto and repass the bill. The vote must be a roll call vote and not a voice vote, due to the constitutional requirement that the vote be by the “yeas and nays.” A motion to reconsider the vote on the question of overriding a veto is in order only if the Senate fails to override the veto. In other words, if two-thirds of the Senators agree to override the veto, a motion to reconsider that vote is not in order. If the Senate fails to override a veto of a Senate-originated bill (S. or S.J. Res.), then the question of override never reaches the House. The Senate simply informs the House that the override vote on a House or Senate bill was unsuccessful. If the override vote on a Senate-originated measure (S. or S.J. Res.) is successful in the Senate, the bill and veto message are sent to the House for action. If the override vote on a House-originated measure (H.R. or H.J. Res.) is successful, then the bill becomes law because two-thirds of both chambers have agreed to override the veto.

Only after this is successful with this veto be overridden. Hence, this is why is already expected this re-introduction will eventually not get the two-thirds senators to get a "yes". The speaker of the house known from her wits on negotiation for the record is perceive to answer why her next steps plans of re-introduction on March 26. We know, the Senate expected not to get the two-thirds to "yes" but the most important achievement that she and the democrats are aiming to get more Republicans in Congress to break their allegiance to this President.

Regardless, the ultimate goal of the partisan endeavor is the separation of powers between executive and legislative that could be a precedent for future Presidents to simply use a National Emergency without going through congress as a tool to abuse his/her executive authority to use discretionary funds that should been enacted through congress. This is also why the democrats is also considering going to the courts.

We will see what happens next on this actions.

No One is Above The Law Yet is there a case of Impeachment amidst a New Congress

Impeaching the President

Impeaching-the-president-past-present-and-future

A few days before a new year 2019 before the Democrats takes over control of the House of Representatives again opens the case on the subject of Impeachment.

Reading through Alan Hirsch book validates the process of impeachment.  A process that has been improved yet raise on every President since 1994's Bill Clinton's case of impeachment. From George Bush to even Barack Obama's issue of being not born in the US and using an Executive Order for DACA, it seems to be now a trend that "Impeachment" has been always a discussion in Congress. Whether it does happen, discuss or even a bill created towards impeaching the current Commander In Chief is the real question. What's the main difference as the author noted in previous Presidents is that most of the impeachable cases came about on the previous Presidents second term in office. The main relevance on this case today is on April 2017, 3 months right on the start of the 45th President Donald J. Trump first term presidency solidified his impeachment case followed by the creation of the Special Counsel to investigate on the Russian intervention of the 2016 Presidential elections.

As of this writing, it is the 3rd government shutdown on this administration when no deal came about with Congress and the White House. The main issue tackled is a "Border Wall" between Mexico and the United States, the main requirement of President Trump. The democrats as known will never agree to this border wall. The President now trying to get more and more open to negotiations, says it may now be a "Steel Barrier Fence" instead of a "Concrete Wall". Whether this new nomenclature will be agreeable still raises the question. If you really want to end the shut down Mr. President, a simple grammar correction might be "Border Security". Your business acumen knows better by using corrected grammar then identifying the right necessary steps and tools you might need taking into consideration what are the allowable actions in such terms.

Hirsch did a good representation of the historical narratives, engravings, illustrations and documentations on the impeachment episodes dating from Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon to the last one of Bill Clinton. Clinton's case made the trend to start an impeachment discussion on every President that followed from Bush, Obama and now Trump. 

America as the greatest country is the epitome of democratic principles. Authoritarian rulers are commonly seen in history from third developing countries for example as their President, Prime Minister, General are above the law coupled with corruption and human rights violations. Hence is why Saddam Hussein is now history. Such authoritarians act and lead on their own choice and command, controls their Congress and titled as military ruler. This is why some of them were deposed by their own military by way of a Coup D Etta. 

As I see it, firing the AG, FBI Directors neither is obstruction on the case of President Trump is a long shot towards removal from office. Him holding the highest office of enforcing the law given to him sort of immunizes him being removed or sued right now. The campaign spending issues may or may not be legal cases but that will come after his presidency.

Congress is mainly focus on protecting the Special Counsel Mueller's from being removed or dictated. This is because this is the prime case that may lead to a case of impeachment if this President or his enforcers derails Mueller's investigation unless Mueller acted improperly. When a President prevents a Prosecutor to do his or her job because he feels threaten as signs shows in the past then this obstruction of justice for an impeachment case of the 45th President.

Richard Nixon as verified by the author in book made the strategy to change the Special Prosecutor and was not later impeached. It is agreeable that if Trump does replace Mueller it might or not reduced an impeachment case. However, today is very much a different case as this President has since already concluded on him being threaten by this Prosecutor's actions. Likewise, Nixon eventually resigned from office as a last resort. What happens to this President amidst a new Congress is there to see in 2019. It might turn things around for the better good by being non-partisan between Congress and the White House as seen in previous Presidents or whether a case of impeachment is doom, we will have to see.

May we enjoy the blessings of this Holiday Season and Hoping for the best of the New Year.

Alex Esguerra

The "Fear " is now concluded "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump"

The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, release 12 months ago confirms

In THE DANGEROUS CASE OF DONALD TRUMP, twenty-seven psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health experts argue that, in Mr. Trump’s case, their moral and civic “duty to warn” America supersedes professional neutrality.

This book upon release made sure this was not leading to a diagnosis. With all the dumbfounded and madness in Helsinki, regardless the fear concludes by itself. It's practically a brainwash analysis why this President's actions are.

Of course, regardless on the political resentments that will arise as I've stated in a sitting President can never be impeached bu virtue of the the reality of not creating a constitutional crisis. The persona and gestures while this impeccable speech was being given confirms the body language of someone needing mental intervention

.On Tuesday, September 11 as we commemorate 9/11, opens the realities of bestseller author Bob Woodward is the most compelling book on Trump's presidency. Fear-trump-in-the-white-house

Woodward's 448-page book, "Fear: Trump in the White House," provides an unprecedented inside-the-room look through the eyes of the President's inner circle. From the Oval Office to the Situation Room to the White House residence, Woodward uses confidential background interviews to illustrate how some of the President's top advisers view him as a danger to national security and have sought to circumvent the commander in chief. 

Part of the excerpts including the recent anonymous article by the New York Times touches on taking a confidential paper out of the desk of this President so he never gets to see or read it as it will affect national security. Remembering the days of the deposed dictators in history, this is was of the strategy when these dictators were either ill, incapacitated but has to be the mocked ruler head of state. Thus, it got to the point that the inner circle of these depose leaders were actually running the government. One case in remembrance was when Ferdinand Marcos in the 80's was severely ill with Lupus and then First Lady Imelda Marcos was giving marching orders together with then the newly elected Prime Minister.

Any circumvention to the effect like taking the said confidential paper from the actual view of the President is illegitimate. When such acts are started it thus continue and to what extent we do not know until the personalities are exposed. The fact of the matter is either we can prove there is an incapacity in performing the duties of the presidency due to mental health. Or is just a mere case of incapability to real act as the leader of the free world which is the long shot to prove.

Watching the 44th President Obama finally hit the campaign the last 2 days indeed opens the realities. The United States is the epitome of democracy. Although I've mentioned past dictators in history, as mentioned I do not foresee in my lifetime to see any US President to be indeed impeach unless they resign as President Nixon did. Obama shows the long way on the process if ever if it does happen or to the nearest it can be in history. It starts by "Voting". In any democratic country it starts from the local and mid term elections that continues to the the Senate and Presidential elections.

This new book is indeed expected to be much compelling than the series of books written about the dysfunctional state of this presidency. The author also has credibility all the way from the Nixon years and most of all as we all know, a lot written in this book we already know and it reinforces those events and knowledge.

In one revelatory anecdote, Woodward describes a scene in the White House residence. Trump's lawyer, convinced the President would perjure himself, put Trump through a test — a practice interview for the one he might have with Mueller. Trump failed, according to Dowd, but the President still insisted he should testify. This part again is a known fact as we see the daily appearances of TV, the use of words, the stories changing from what was said before and after. I remember back in the day being a young businessman who was so use to be direct and stick to the point, assessing if a buyer will buy or not, or another business person agreed with me or not. Then when I started to be involve on projects together with government leading the be a delegate and representative for young entrepreneurs, I started to hone my words, I learned the outcomes of business actions cannot be necessarily applicable to leadership involving society.

The best part then was I was young and it was easy for me to understand change. A 70 year old businessman well enriched himself through the years can never have the decorum I had as it's too late as the brain cells are too developed to even comprehend what's going on. 

60 days from now, after the New Congress has been elected, we can continue the discussions. This is the way democracy works in America as this is best legitimate way of approaching this as the people have spoken.

https://www.alexesguerra.com

A Higher Loyalty, The Saga of the Lifelong Game of Politics

"This is no “Game Change” or, God forbid, “Fire and Fury,” insider tales gauged by the scores they settle, nuggets they unearth and screenplays they elicit. One look at its austere cover and ponderous subtitle and you know this is meant as a lasting, highbrow work — a big-think story of values and institutions clashing with tribalism and self-interest in Washington." quoted from Washington Post.

Former Director Comey’s own ethics as he criticizes Loretta Lynch for asking him to describe the FBI’s Clinton investigation. Nevertheless, his excoriation of Hillary's Clinton as we know still cause her loss in the 2016 elections.

From both sides and persona of Comey and President Trump, the title of this book, "A Higher Loyalty" points to the traditional game of politics of I am in charge, either your with me or not. The author depicts the moments of his career as prosecutor, nevertheless "consider the egotism of being preoccupied by your egotism". 

I was reading some book reviews online and a couple of readers was very entertaining to say they need more Vodka in finishing reading this book. During the famous private dinner at the White House was how the book title's came about when President Trump told the author that he needed his loyalty and he expected his loyalty. 

This is that particular time that President Trump the businessman is a real politician and Comey the former prosecutor as to secure his position as FBI Director. Such instance we can certainly say the President is not a novice as Commander in Chief. Whether such is ethical or not, it is an absolute reality in the world of politics. 

Comey kept notes and showed during his testimony that he has an eye and voice for vivid, novelistic detail. He was fired. This paved the way for this bestselling book, A Higher Loyalty to be a million dollar deal between him and the publishers which is the main component in writing this book.

The author's press interviews relays how the President is unfit for office and should not have a second term. Meanwhile, the White House has circulated their own campaign to discredit this book and the author. In the years I've been indirectly involved in politics and then right after totally out of the political world, these scenarios on loyalty, chain of command, trust, discredit, talking back is part of the political world then, now and in the future.  The particular cases, events and scoop might vary but the reality execution remains the same. 

From third world governments to the most powerful economy,  this is like a soap opera in the entertainment industry that exist and will continue to exist from generation to generation. I guess the main key lesson in this book points to what is ethical, do we need to wait until we get fired or should we do the right thing. It is quite hard to answer in lieu of the circumstance that surrounded the author.   Nevertheless, if this was a different instance of an employee working in an organization, it would have been a lot easier to do the necessary steps of action.

In finale, we can ask ourselves what could the author have done or what could us the reader have done if we were in the particular position. At times as a lay common person, I'm happy not being in such a high profile position in keeping my ethics and sanity.

 If you'd like to purchase this book from our bookshelves starting 4/17/18, please visit A Higher Loyalty

Alex Esguerra

Immigration Overhaul or Closing the Borders for Immigrants in America

In the last few days Attorney General Jeff Sessions slams California's refusal to comply with federal immigration policies; journalist Jorge Ramos shares his perspective on 'Hannity.'

During Mr. Seesions recent visit in Sacramento, CA he also filed a lawsuit on the State of California as the 3 state laws geared toward California's being a Sanctuary city prevents cooperation of local enforcers with Federal authorities.

Jorge Ramos examines the latino immigrant in his new book, Stranger, The Challenge of A Latino Immigrant. The book's first chapter starts with "Get Out of My Country" quoted from Trump supporter during a past rally. It continues on the instance that the author was trying to ask then candidate Trump as a journalist. Ramos explains that his issues started in New York when the Trump campaign was launched in 2015 when there was a reference to Mexicans not sending their good people but those with problems. This first statements made the ball rolling for the author as a latino immigrant while remembering certain instances when his employer Univision cut ties with the Trump organization in 1984 on the Miss USA pageant.

The author explains on hatred and statistics over the years in terms of immigration and deportations. At some point he touched on the previous Obama administration also being extremely focus on deportation with the exception of the DACA or Dreams enactment that Mr. Obama signed as an Exceutive Order.

Immigrants living in the United States as mentioned in the book goes through a lot of lifestyle and cuture changes in order to integrate to society. The mere fact is that any person who was born outside the United States will have to culturally and socially adapt when they arrive in America. Even the so called dreamers at some point had some experience on a change although not much significant for them to recall especially if they came to the US as a child.

The author cited on an interview in August 2015 with NBC by candidate Trump on the 11 million undocumented immigrants to either leave the country or be deported. Although the candidate Trump mentioned the removal proceedings may take from 18 months to 24 months, a businessman turned politician is almost like starting pre-school in such complicated policies and rule of law. As seen in the recent actions of the Applelate courts, the DACA which should have stop by now by the Executive branch has been upheld. This just validates how complicated this issue is and thankfully we have the seperate branches of governance.

Although, I share the sentiment of the author in his words the latino immigrants in the Trump era can be labelled as "discriminated minorities", the other side of the reality is that we are on a democracy. As such regardless on our racial background as immigrants, we have rights and there is such thing called "due process".

The lawsuit filed by the Attorney General against California is expected to reach the United States Supreme Court. With the all the previous Commanders' in Chief including this one, immigration has always be on their agenda. The last time the INA was revised was in 1996 and it took so much effort and yet the system is still broken as such. Immigrants place a vast role in the American economy and workforce and as the author mentioned how many and how long will Boeing 747's have to transport back the 11 million undocumented to their native countries.

It's been a learning process for the President on his first year in office. It might not be possible to change his views and perception on the subject but for sure, it would take all the branches of the government to overhaul the immigration system. And just like any complicated case in the court system, it will be quite a while to realistically obtain the absolute results.

Alex Esguerra
Affordablebookdeals

As the book says, "Dangerous Case" on President Trump is it really or we already know this during the elections

The Dangerous Case-of-Donald-Trump-27-Psychiatrists was release on October 3, 2017 and 3 days after this book is temporarily out of stock on bookstores as publishers, St. Martin's Press is scourging to do the reprints.

It has a compilation of 27 Mental Health professionals opinions in the American Psychology profession.  Whereas, these professionals consensus of the state of the 45th President's mental state posing a threat to him functioning as Commander in Chief.

Aided with the assessment of usual patient observation, symptom's and probable diagnostic theories, these health professionals connects the complex to mental illness syndrome. From hedonism, narcissism and impassivity in relation to the different approaches and observed behaviors on the president, these professionals ultimately transfers the final  results on diagnosis to the readers. Hence this is because they are constrained by the existing rule of the American Psychiatric Association that inhibits them in getting involved and diagnosing public figures. As any assessment, they simply outline the observed behaviors, patterns, symptoms and connects them with the existing or possible historical complex conditions which may be the condition or illness of a patient. 

The case brought about by the book centers on the sociopath behaviors seen from the 45th President. As some of the authors cited the fear is that with such conditions like these, it graduates over time and fear of the worse will thus impede the functions of being commander in chief. Although the authors cited the president loves and succeeds in gaining power, it's also an inherent trait of him being a business man, an aggressive one.

This is why over and over throughout the book, the writers emphasized it is an assessment and not a diagnosis per se. The contention is that the assessment of being dangerous or dangerousness  is very different from a diagnosis. As the book writes on tendencies similar to the recent speech during the United Nations General Assembly when he spoke about the threat to totally destroy an enemy like North Korea, in a body built towards fostering diplomacy among-st nations.

Regardless of the different conclusions the readers of the book will arrived to, it is still highly commendable that these psychiatrist had taken courage through this book and their assessments are indeed compelling with the evidence, factors and observations. These writers are aware of their Golden Rule with the APA and understands the impact the information might bring to the reader and the population in general.

So if you are a dire hard history collector, https://www.usedbooksworld.com/products/the-dangerous-case-of-donald-trump-27-psychiatrists-and-mental-health-experts-assess-a-president-1 will indeed be a good keepsake for the next generation.

Alex Esguerra
@usedbooksworld
ADLE International