Im sure it was in elementary school that I learned about a singular element in our democratic system that made it difficult, if not impossible, for some dictator or king to take charge. I learned we had a system of checks and balances that would serve our democracy well; and they have, for all these many years. And then there was the election of 2024.
The country has elected an incoming president who has repeatedly proven to be above the law. Although being convicted by a jury of his peers of 34 felony counts in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, he has still to pay the piper. And when you look at all the other instances where he has been charged with one crime or another, you see the same pattern of stall, appeal; stall, appeal. He continues to claim its all a Democratic-inspired witch hunt, and the line of lawyers in his service is long and exhaustive. He has paid more for lawyers in the last year than you or I will make in a lifetime (or maybe he hasnt paid them).
As he assumes the presidency, some charges against him have been dropped, others are in limbo, and everyone expects they will literally go away as he enters the White House. Even if they should follow him, there is always an appeal to the final court of the land, a Supreme Court that he packed when in office previously, and one that has already granted him presidential immunity (whatever that means). One can only guess what immunity will mean as his new presidency develops.
Im sorry to say that one of the checks on presidential power is no longer functional. Especially with at least two of the Supreme Court justices having their own personal ethical challenges, a majority questioning a dictator on day one is highly unlikely.
So then there is Congress, the second branch of our government. The election of 2025 put both the House and the Senate in the hands of a Republican majority. We can expect the Congress to approve the program of the president and support his efforts to turn the country around. The crunch will likely come when the president begins to seek retribution on his enemies; or perhaps as he demands loyalty for his administrative choices from the members of his party in the House and Senate.
Dont doubt that Donald Trump keeps score.
All of which brings us to congressional leadership. Our South Dakota Sen. John Thune, has just been elected Senate majority leader. Although he was not supporting Trump initially, he changed his mind as the possibility of assuming this new office evolved.
His election by his Republican peers is a hopeful sign that we wont have a full-fledged dictatorship as Trump assumes office. Thune was not the in-coming presidents first choice. Perhaps because he couldnt assume complete loyalty; like maybe Thune had a mind and will of his own.
Sen. Thune and I have our disagreements. He doesnt often vote the way I might wish. But in all the years hes been in the Senate, Ive had no reason to question his integrity; nor his willingness to work across the aisle for the good of the American people. All of which makes his job as a new administration comes to power all the more difficult. I do believe his will be the most difficult responsibility in our government; the last best hope for integrity, as a country believing in checks and balances and the separation of powers. Trump will want it all! And Thune may be the only possible bump in the road. One hopes the Senate will take its advise and consent role seriously and not intentionally recess so Trump can nominate who he will without any challenge.
The appointments so far are challenging. Republicans in Congress are gasping at the suggestion of Matt Gaetz as attorney general (he withdrew his candidacy on Nov. 21). And they ought to be concerned about Pete Hegseth heading the Defense Department. Good grief. A Fox News host to oversee the largest employer in the U.S., with 770,000 employees and 2.1 million service members?
Its evident from the Trump picks for his administration that the primary qualification he wants is loyalty. No more disagreeable generals like Mark Milley. No more questioning staff like John Kelly. No more folks in the White House calling him a fascist. This time around, unless the Senate assumes its advise-and-consent responsibility and objects, it will be a White House full of loyalists.
Heaven help Sen. Thune.
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