The last four years has certainly been an unanticipated lesson in American civics, but also in the very apparent clean-up that we now know to be a necessity in creating formal rules where the mere (and now tromped on) assumed policy and decorum regarding presidential performance and behavior have routinely been flouted and shoved our face practically daily.
I say that enough is enough. While as Bones on Star Trek might say, “I’m a doctor, not a legal scholar,” I feel driven in proposing the creation of a new constitutional amendment – the 28th. But as a doctor involved in 911 logic systems and the recognition of faulty logic, I contend that the need for such a new amendment is obviously not “rocket science.”
We can leave the actual legal wording to those documentary scholars. I would include strong statements crafted into official rules as follow:
No President may ever do, or perform, any of the following actions…
No tweets, especially about national policy, not first vetted by the chief-of-staff and vice president.
No swearing in official capacity, speeches, or appearances while president (damn, hell, and maybe “jeezus” might be exceptions).
No personally demeaning statements or attacks on any U.S. citizens or politicians.
No foreign involvement as implied in other constitutional wording, but more specific.
No whistleblower identification “fishing” statements or attacks.
No “treason” statements or accusations unless (there may be a few exceptions).
No “coup” statements or accusations unless…
No stating that the media is “fake” or “out to get you.”
Cannot pardon political friends or associates, family or other government officials.
Cannot pardon military felons for capital crimes.
No election “fraud” or “rigged” statements unless, until after official proof and submission of facts supporting them.
No calling or pressuring state officials about perceived “problems” with a state election.
No “I’m not sure if I will leave” or “I won’t leave” the presidency or White House statements.
No Cabinet position changes after election day during a transition period.
No major governmental position or cabinet changes after election day (i.e., FBI, NSA, CDC, etc.) during a transition period.
No judicial appointments (federal or Supreme Court) made after election day during a transition period.
I think many of us historically thought that these sorts of aberrant behaviors and actions were already somehow precluded by current law or by official enforceable rules because we have never experienced most of these things ever happening by a president or his regime before this one.
Our bad. But now we must therefore be sure these egregious and just plain morally wrong things can ever happen again. Let me be the first to propose such a solution for this shameful stuff, but I’m certainly not holding my breath either.
P.S. All this was written before the incivilities of Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. I can think of a few more now, any comers?
Jeff Clawson, M.D., is medical director of the Division of Research, Standards and Academics at the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, Salt Lake City.