Decency, Trump and Obama.

[Belsnickel]

(03-09-2017, 02:06 PM)hollodero Wrote: Well, I did. Collective guilt, I guess.

(I admit again I don't know how you handle things - I kinda know he probably already would have been in Western Europe - but that this is mostly wishful thinking on my part regarding Trump. Obviously I have to adapt my picture of your democracy more towards Bulgaria.)

Isn't there really a law regarding abuse of power for personal benefit?

Link

...from what I understand, were he a government official this (and some other things) would be sufficient reason to ask for resignation - but it isn't for a president. Rules are more lenient towards the president then for his own cabinet members. Seems odd.

I've mentioned it before, but it isn't bad for a reminder. The president, as a person holding a constitutional officer, is not a contract employee and is not subjected to confirmation by the other branches. Therefore, there are no conflict of interest rules regarding the office. Senators and representatives have rules regarding this that have been set up by themselves, but the president has never had something like this.

Now, there are some broad guidelines in the Constitution regarding CoI, but they are geared more towards foreign emoluments (which is currently a case in the court). Also, and here is the really fun part, the president's immediate circle may or may not be subject to ethics rules. This may be something we will see in the courts in the near future. And, if they are subject to the rules, it is up to the president on whether to act on violations to those rules.

This is the problem as it stands with our Constitution and our current government. Our Constitution was set up with the idea of a weak executive and a small central government. That is no longer the case and the rules regarding these things are, IMHO, inadequate.