Decency, Trump and Obama.

[Dill]

(03-09-2017, 02:32 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: 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.

A question for you, Bels.

So many of the things Trump has done so far were once agreed upon as "out of bounds"; no president did them, so there was no need for legal restriction.

Along with those are actions which, though not prescribed, came to be respected and practiced by everyone, like releasing  tax returns.

I am curious if you think that one consequence of the Trump presidency will be tighter restrictions on the executive and perhaps some added requirements for future candidates, such as a law specifying release of tax forms and the like and further specification of what might count as "emoluments."  The public undermining of the Intel services--in favor of unvetted tabloid-level conspiracy theories no less--may also get Congress thinking of further restrictions if people can get past their astonishment. An intel-fueled policy disaster would hasten that.

Johnson's actions in the Vietnam War prompted the War Powers Act. Nixon's actions brought restrictions on the president's powers to surveil. Given those presidents far greater statecraft and relative mental balance compared to Trump, I am wondering what impetus the Trump presidency will give Congress to start eliminating grey areas and unspecified powers.