Schwab: Everything we needed to know we learned from Trump

Win or lose, Trump has been an effective educator. Some lessons we may have suspected previously, but, like all great teachers, he’s made them unforgettable.

He’s taught us the Constitution is only as good as the intentions of those charged with defending it. Because its creators assumed at least minimal commitment to its principles, it contains all-but-unworkable remedies for presidential incompetence, mendacity and avarice, especially when combined with greed and hypocrisy from his party.

We’ve learned that constitutionally required congressional oversight, and the Emoluments Clause, and such laws as the Hatch Act are meaningless. “Presidents,” Trump teaches us, can ignore them with impunity. By Trump’s schooling, impeachment works only if Congress considers obstruction of justice and abuse of power more felonious than fellatio. And Section Four of the 25th Amendment is vapor.

We’ve learned about turning government agencies — Justice, State, Intelligence, even Postal Service and the Census Bureau — into instruments of “presidential” power; about making the presidency a personal profit center, millions not caring how dangerous and corrupt it is, and Republicans uninterested in stopping it.

Since day one, Trump educated us about Americans’ willingness to excuse, deny or ignore opprobrious presidential lies. He’s shown the degree to which right-wing media have succeeded in extinguishing their audience’s ability to distinguish — much less care about — truth.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/schwab-everything-we-needed-to-know-we-learned-from-trump/