Talk about nasty leftists. Former New York Times reporter Tim Weiner wrote an op-ed in which he implied that the late Richard Nixon is in Hell. In a piece attacking hypothetical orders from a crazed Donald Trump, Weiner sneered with this aside: “Somewhere Richard Nixon may be looking up and smiling. But above ground, the special counsel is taking notes.”
Looking up and smiling? As opposed to the much more common expression that loved ones are looking down on us from Heaven? Can anyone imagine The Times suggesting that Democratic icon John F. Kennedy is looking up from Hell?
Weiner appeared on MSNBC, Monday, to tout his piece. Velshi, with no hint of criticism, quoted from the August 17 column:
You write the President aims to rid the government and the air waves of his real and imagined enemies, especially anyone connected with the Russia investigation. Somewhere Richard Nixon may be looking up and smiling, but above ground the special counsel is taking note.”
Weiner expanded on that theme in his Times op-ed, that a crazed Trump might issue unconstitutional orders:
The walls are closing in on Donald Trump. He's growing more erratic, more angry, more frequently rage tweeting at 4:00 in the morning. What if we get in a real crisis? Should this President be obeyed if he does something dangerous, issues unconstitutional orders?
Weiner speculated as to what General Mattis do in response:
What do the adults in the room like Generals Kelly and Mattis do in that situation? Do they bow and scrape or do they say, “Mr. President, that is unconstitutional. I am throwing down my stars, I will not obey you.” We may come to this, and we may come to it sooner than we fear.
This is similar to Weiner’s op-ed in which he imagines people like John Brennan standing up to a deranged Trump:
They are sending a message to active-duty generals and admirals, soldiers and spies. Remember your oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Think twice before following this man’s orders in a crisis. You might first consider throwing down your stars.
Perhaps General Mattis doesn’t need unsolicited advice from the New York Times.
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more:
MSNBC Live
8/20/18
3:22 p.m. EasetrnALI VELSHI: Tim, in your piece you write — ‘cause I’ve seen your book — You write the President aims to rid the government and the air waves of his real and imagined enemies, especially anyone connected with the Russia investigation. Somewhere Richard Nixon may be looking up and smiling, but above ground the special counsel is taking note.” Of interest here — I'm sorry, this is from the op-ed. Richard Nixon may be smiling, but the fact is he might also have been smiling at Barack Obama and George W. Bush, all of whom pushed the envelope a little on presidential and executive authority. There is a danger to letting presidents continue to do that.
TIM WEINER: And this president in particular, Ali. The walls are closing in on Donald Trump. He's growing more erratic, more angry, more frequently rage tweeting at 4:00 in the morning. What if we get in a real crisis? Should this President be obeyed if he does something dangerous, issues unconstitutional orders? What do the adults in the room like Generals Kelly and Mattis do in that situation? Do they bow and scrape or do they say, “Mr. President, that is unconstitutional. I am throwing down my stars, I will not obey you.” We may come to this, and we may come to it sooner than we fear.
