The Presidency Does Not Exist in a Vacuum

I hesitate to post anything political on social media, but I think I have reached the point that I simply cannot resist. Over the past twenty years, my eligible voting history, I have voted for members of both parties; I try to always vote in municipal and state elections and inform myself on all candidates for each office. That task can be overwhelming, but I consider it my civic duty to remain engaged with what is going on in the world, the country, and in my community.

In this environment, we desperately need a return to bipartisan politics and civil discussion between politicians. Rhetoric has grown more and more divisive over time, and we have reached a point where it is difficult to even open dialogue with others in our personal lives because of anxiety regarding the reaction we may receive.

That said, here is my two cents:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦.

Executive orders signed by any President must fit within the existing legal framework in the United States – the Constitution and laws passed by Congress – to actually be enacted. The determination of legality (both of the laws passed by Congress and actions of the Executive) of course being made by the Supreme Court. I will not touch on the ethics of the Supreme Court at this moment.

I easily understand the desire to curb illegal immigration. But I have not spoken to a single parent who wants their children to witness ICE handcuff and potentially drag people they know out of their schools or pull them away from bus stops. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦.

I can understand not agreeing with the past administration regarding how they allowed migrants to claim asylum due to general violence in their home countries (Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba, primarily) but to forcibly deport the millions of migrants who followed the instructions our executive branch gave them, doing their best to follow United States guidance, and do the best they can for their families I cannot understand. Discontinuing the program I would understand but not agree with; retroactively imposing new rules I find unconscionable. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦.

I can understand wanting to put your own leadership in place via cabinet appointments. However, some of the cabinet selections seems to me to be designed as a test. A test of loyalty of the Senate which has the power to approve such appointments. Particularly, the appointments of Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and Robert F Kennedy Jr. seem to me to clearly lack the traditional experience and qualifications we have come to expect and demand from such offices and the incoming President wanted to see which members would support these nominees in spite of evident shortcomings. The presidency does not exist in a vacuum.

It is only with the support of enough members of Congress and the Supreme Court that the presidency can act unrestrained. I write today in hopes that my Representative, Zach Nunn, and my Senators, Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, will work tirelessly to ensure we maintain civility and compassion. That they work to ensure the powers of the presidency do not become too significant and when the president acts to put actions in place that do not meet midwestern common sense that they reach across the aisle and implement laws that will balance the power of the presidency and do what is right for Iowa and the United States of America.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦.

Please codify schools as a place where ICE officials cannot detain people. Please allow the process to continue for people with existing asylum claims. It is too late for Pete Hegseth, and Matt Gaetz of course withdrew his nomination, but please do not vote to confirm RFK Jr. as Health Secretary. Please work to ensure the basic human civil rights of all people.

Again, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦. I call on every one of us to stay informed and vote in local and state elections – many of which are not in line with the presidential cycle. These offices are the ones that check the presidency to create balance and we must be diligent to elect common sense leaders who will reach across the aisle and work together with civility.

I encourage 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 discussion on this post.

Thank you.