Elections can have grave consequences. Shall I say, beer purchases can, as well?
During the recent political season and presidential election, I remained (almost) neutral at this blog, a beer blog, after all. But after the events of the past three weeks, the short period following Donald Trump's inauguration, I, in good conscience as a loyal American, cannot remain neutral.
Considering the temperamental instability of President Trump, considering his penchant for prevarication (over tiny things as well as big), and his reckless threats against those who disagree with him, especially, but not limited to, the press (ignoring the protections of the First Amendment to the Constitution);
Considering President Trump's feckless world diplomacy (especially considering his power over nuclear weapons), his seeming unfamiliarity with the Constitution, and his disrespect for the electoral process;
Considering President Trump's repugnant embrace of racism, misogyny, and sexual-orientation-hate (if white-robed as alt-right), his attacks on the independence of the judiciary (until now limited to verbal assault), and his rapacious disregard of the Constitution's prohibition on emoluments (in itself, an impeachable offense);
Considering President Trump's tyrannical claims of unchecked executive right, cavalier disdain of due process, and his cowardly, harmful, dangerous, racist, and unfounded ban (call it what he himself has called it) on Muslim immigrants and refugees (including those who have risked their lives to aid American troops) and on legal American immigrants, residents, and visitors ...
... Considering all of that and more, and understanding the historical Constitutional gravity of this, I, as a loyal American can no longer support or honor Donald J. Trump as president of the United States. I call for his removal from office, either by House impeachment and Senate conviction or by Cabinet invocation of the 25th Amendment, with all deliberate speed.
To that end and until that time, it is imperative and just to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and to protect and defend those who suffer by President Trump's willful and malicious abrogations of it.
In one small measure of support for those goals, I am a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, whose stated mission is
to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Allying that and my mission of good-beer, the thing of this blog, I have been and will be donating $1.00 for any beer* I order, throughout the month of February, in any pub or restaurant or taproom or brewery that I visit. A puny thing versus the terrible might that President Trump can wield, but when enough patriotic (beer-drinking) Americans resist, good can result. And there are so many women and men, who are braver and smarter than I, doing so much more. Even in this #DrinkForGood campaign, I don't drink alone.
Yes, by dumping Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would gain executive power. Yes, he and Senator Ted Cruz and their ilk often do demonstrate odious ideologies. But they are (and, I would hope, would continue to be) competent men, temperamentally sound, and respectful of American law, American political traditions, and the American Constitution. We, the loyal opposition, can fight them through normal American political methods.
Strong opinions will, by their vigor, be met with strong consequences. Disagree with me? Don't read me. I am under no illusion that my words here will change opinions, many or any. But I will continue to exercise my constitutional right to free speech ... while I can.
Not Drunk-Against-Trump, but #DrinkForGood to #DumpTrump.
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- * Wine, cider, whiskey, and other spirits are in this campaign as well. It would be foolish to fail to enlist them and their advocates.
- Website for the ACLU: aclu.org.
- More about others who will #DrinkForGood, at DRAFT. On Twitter, at #DrinkForGood.
- Should brewers engage in political discourse? Beer writer Alan McLeod thinks they should, if for business reasons.
- Beer writer Bryan D. Roth writes somewhat the same thing.
- Respected wine writer Steve Heimoff has not been shy about his politics.
- For more from YFGF:
- Follow on Twitter: @Cizauskas.
- Like on Facebook: YoursForGoodFermentables.
- Follow on Flickr: Cizauskas.
- Follow on Instagram: @tcizauskas.
Great post Tom!
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