Robert Reich ponders this question and asks us to think about it , too!
Does the dearth (if not death) of outrage illustrate how far Trump has moved the norms of acceptable presidential behavior?
Or is outrage still there, but the American public has no means of calling him out because Trump has dismantled the system of accountability?
I’d appreciate your view about this, along with your sense of the most significant way Trump has dismantled the system of accountability.
Here’s my list of his dismantling:
1. He’s disabled all institutions in the executive branch that constrained his predecessors — especially professionals in the Justice Department, inspectors general, ethics watchdogs, and FBI. So there will be no special counsels or investigations by the department to push back against his illegal and unethical behavior.
2. He has neutered Congress’s ability to hold him accountable. By dominating the Republican-controlled Congress and threatening to run primary opponents against any Republican who opposes him, Trump has made it impossible for Congress to hold public hearings about his unethical and arguably illegal actions.
3. He has gained control of the Supreme Court, which has now given him wide rein. He’s installed three Supreme Court justices who, joined by the three Republican appointees already on the court, have conferred immunity on him for official acts — making it less likely that his unethical and illegal behavior will be challenged.
Hence, today’s Office Hours question: Has Trump permanently changed the norms of behavior expected of a president? If not, which of the institutions I’ve mentioned is most critical to resurrecting and enforcing those norms in future years?POLLHas Trump permanently changed the norms of behavior expected of a president and, if not, which institution is most critical to enforce those norms?1. Yes, sadly. 2. The Justice Department.3. Congress.4. The Supreme Court.5. Other (in comments)