THE DANGER IS BEHIND THE CURTAIN

I see the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump similar to watching the movie Godfather III. The official entertainment is in the Senate chamber, much like the stage of the Sicilian opera house, surrounded by pomp and circumstance.  The outcome on the stage is not in doubt.  However, the important political action is up in the balcony with the cannolis and out on the street, as the enemies of Don Corleone are eliminated, out of sight and out of mind. Behind the Trump operatic curtain a similar well designed intrigue is under way. 

Trump has become the daily entertainment in American politics.  A classic American Opera.  l watch the Senate proceedings because they are first rate theater.  But going forward, my attention will be focused behind the curtain on Vice President, Mike Pence; Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo; and Attorney General, William Barr.

Why have the three most important individuals in the President’s administration hooked their political futures to this opera? After all, none of them were Trump supporters before the 2016 election.  None of them have  given a favorable review of Trump’s personal conduct as a private citizen or while in office.  In my opinion, none of them cares what happens to Trump after he leaves the White House or about his place in history. None of them will support a Trump national political dynasty featuring his children or son-in-law.

Those who believe the conduct of these three, along with countless others who remain invested in the Trump administration, is based on blind loyalty to the Republican tribe or based on the need for personal power and recognition are wrong.  Moreover, the motivation for the big three and  others within Trump world springs from an ideological vision well beyond loyalty to one man.

There is a concerted movement to turn President Trump’s highly flawed Presidency into a political juggernaut for decades to come.  Behind the curtain, the groundwork has been laid for a Christian conservative coalition, based on the legal, social and religious right wing fringes of both Catholicism and Protestant evangelical thought.  I am not proposing an outlandish conspiracy theory with no evidence.  I am simply following the path of bread crumbs left by the Vice President, Secretary of State and Attorney General.

First, Vice President Pence.  He has staked out his core beliefs on numerous occasions: Christian, conservative and Republican, in that order.  According to Richard Land, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary: “I do not know anyone who is more consistent in bringing his evangelical Christian worldview to Public policy.”  There is a quiet confidence that if Trump blows up during his presidency or even if he survives for eight years, Pence will be ready to inherit the Trump political base and the White House. 

To a conservative evangelical, this means a glorious return to the Christian values upon which they believe America was founded. To a secular democrat, this sounds like descent into the dystopia of The Handmaid’s Tale as a theocrat assumes the presidency.

Second, consider Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Before entering politics, he spent much of his career running a struggling Wichita Kansas aviation company.  The billionaire, conservative Koch brothers have their headquarters in Wichita and supplied financing for Pompeo’s business interests, before urging him to enter politics.  According to the Center for Responsible Politics, from 2010 through 2016, Pompeo received more campaign funds from the Koch’s network than any other candidate in the country.

In 2016, Pompeo followed the Koch’s disdain for Trump, after the brothers announced they could support any primary candidate other than Trump.  After all, Trump seemed destined to lose the election and the Kochs had donated over 100 million to tea party and conservative candidates. Following the election Pompeo changed his allegiance to Trump after his close friend Mike Pence was able to recommend him to head the CIA.  When Rex Tillerson was dismissed as Secretary of State, Pompeo took his place, in large part because his views on Iran were aligned with the President.

Like Hillary Clinton, Pompeo is a Secretary of State deeply involved in politics.  He has higher political goals that are more in touch with the Koch money machine and Pence than with Trump.  In fact, he may be the most conservative, ideologically driven Secretary of State ever to serve.  His positions on gay rights, abortion, human rights and climate change are often expressed on the job and closely dovetail with the goals of a post Trump Christian Conservative Coalition.

The last path of breadcrumbs leads to the curious case of Attorney General, William Barr. A wealthy lawyer with little left to prove, many were surprised when he auditioned for the AG position by submitting an unsolicited legal memo to the Justice Department in June of 2018.  The letter elaborated on his long held position that a President’s Article II constitutional powers renders him essentially immune from accusations of obstruction of justice.

After replacing two weak candidates for Attorney General, Barr has become both ‘Sword and Shield” to the President. (See the New Yorker Profile by David Rohde, 1/20/20.) However, Barr’s interests in executive power and long standing concern about the role of religion in civic life have little to do with supporting Trump as an individual. In 2016, he gave over half a million dollars to Republican candidates and only $2,700.00 to the Trump campaign.  His vision is to build a strong foundation, post Trump that will support many decades of Christian, conservative governments in which the executive is given unrestrained Presidential power.

Not far from the White House, is the Catholic Information Center, run by the arch conservative Catholic group, Opus Dei.  Barr is a member and has served on the Center’s board.  He is also a long time member of the Federalist Society, with a mandate to shift the American Judiciary to the right.

This past October, Barr gave a speech at the Notre Dame Law School to make a case for ideological warfare in America.  In essence, he blamed the spread of “secularism and moral relativism” for the increase in every form of social pathology from the loss of family values, to mental illness, to drug use.  He believes that only a return to Christian religious precepts can save the country.

The conservative Christian ideologues in the Trump administration are thrilled when those of us who oppose Trump get caught up in the day- to- day Opera orchestrated by a pathological liar and self-serving narcissist. Concerned Americans would do better to look behind the curtain and discover the agenda that they have in mind for our political future.

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR PENNSYLVANIA IN 2020

Two of the most important rights we have as Pennsylvania residents will undergo significant revisions in 2020. First, our right to withhold private information from the government will be altered by the federal REAL ID Law.  Beginning on October 1, 2020, Pennsylvanians will need a compliant driver’s license photo ID card or other form of federally acceptable identification (such as a passport) to board a domestic commercial flight or to enter a federal/military installation that requires ID. Second, seven major changes to how we vote in PA were signed into law by Governor Wolf on October 31, 2019.  This was a bipartisan piece of legislation that both Republicans and Democrats are calling the most important election law reforms in eighty years.

The Pennsylvania Real ID Law.  Pennsylvania was among the final states to adopt the federal REAL ID Law.  In 2005, Congress passed the law in response to the findings of the 9/11 Commission to limit the opportunity for terrorists to move about the country under aliases, using fake driver licenses.

 At first, many states, including Pennsylvania, were defiant over concerns about privacy. The REAL ID Law was seen as an internal passport to track U.S. citizens. Initially, Pennsylvania passed legislation prohibiting the Department of Transportation from participating in the program. However, as the federal deadline got closer and the implications for Pennsylvania domestic travelers became clearer, the Pennsylvania legislature reconsidered and in 2017 repealed the non-compliance law.  The compromise was that the new driver’s license/ID mandated by the REAL ID Law were made discretionary, depending upon the needs of each resident.

The federal government extended the compliance deadline to October 1, 2020, giving Pennsylvania more time to gear-up for the new license/IDs. The start-up costs were around 30 million with annual maintenance of the program estimated at upwards of 17 million.  Now each of us has a decision to make in the coming months.

My wife and I decided to bite the bullet and obtain the new REAL ID licenses. This involved an extra trip to the local PennDot office; the gathering together of documentation to prove both identity and residency; and a not insubstantial check in the amount of $60.50, for each of us.  The only good news was that time left on our old licenses was added onto the new four year REAL ID license.  Because we each had valid passports, we needed to provide less documentation than those without passports.

Our decision to go through with this inconvenience was twofold.  First, we did not want to be forced to carry our passports on domestic flights, already a major hassle when traveling overseas.  Second, we understand Murphy’s Law and the fact that someday, without warning, we would be required to present the ID in order to enter a federal facility that requires identification. (post offices, Social Security offices and other federal offices dispensing benefits do not require ID)

For Pennsylvania residents who occasionally travel domestically by air and who do not have passports, getting the REAL ID will be a necessity in order to board a plane.  For older residents who never travel by air, the inconvenience and expenses in obtaining the new ID might make little sense.  Unless, of course, Murphy’s Law strikes again and the unexpected domestic air travel becomes a necessity.

Pennsylvania Election Reform Bill.  For over a century, Pennsylvania voters were only able to vote by either physically going to a designated polling site or by formally requesting and being approved for an absentee ballot. Once a voter arrived at the polls there was always a lever available to vote for one party or the other, without considering the credentials of individual candidates.   This will all change for the May 2020 primary, all but guaranteeing a larger percentage of registered voters will actually vote and give some thought to their choices.

The new law provides for “no excuse mail in voting” permitting registered voters to vote by mail by requesting their mail-in ballot up to 50 days before each election. (The 50 day period is the longest vote by mail period in the country) The request may be made in person at the county election office, by calling the office, or online at votespa.com. 

The procedure is the same as the absentee process, but now no excuse to receive a mail-in ballot is required.  In addition, the new law provides for a “permanent mail-in and absentee ballot list” so that voters can request and receive ballots for all elections held in a given year. Voters can now submit mail-in and absentee ballots until 8pm on election day as opposed to the former time limit of 5pm the Friday before each election.

 The deadline to register to vote is extended to 15 days from the prior 30 days before the election.  This voter friendly deadline provides more time to register to vote than 24 other states.

Removing barriers to voting absentee allows more people to vote in the manner most convenient for them.  As more people learn about this option, a no-excuse absentee voting system is likely to reduce both polling site lines and the administrative burden on election officials, thereby decreasing the total cost of administering elections.

Perhaps the most controversial election reform relates to eliminating “straight-party voting”, the option of pushing one button to vote for all the candidates in a single party in general elections. Voters will now have to check off their choice for every contest in the general election, as opposed to simply voting for all Democrats or all Republicans.

Lastly, county commissioners are breathing a sigh of relief because the law authorizes the borrowing of $90 million by the state to reimburse counties for up to 60 percent of the cost of replacing their voting machines with voter-verifiable paper trail election systems.

I am personally excited about the election reforms. I can now obtain a paper ballot in advance and go about my business on Election Day without interrupting my schedule.  More importantly, a no excuse mail-in ballot will give me more time to study the issues and candidates that appear on the ballot, in the privacy of my home, before casting my vote.  After all, voting responsibly is as important as voting in the first place.

THE FORTNIGHTLY, A WASHINGTON COUNTY INSTITUTION

Several years ago, I was invited to attend a dinner meeting at the Washington & Jefferson College Commons of one of Washington County’s most unique and under the radar organizations. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to join the group and readily became the newest inductee into The Fortnightly, a Washington County Institution.

The Fortnightly name comes from the original by-laws which direct the members: “to meet each fortnight with no more than two regular meetings to be held in any one calendar month.” The first meeting of the group occurred on November 16, 1882 in what is now the First United Presbyterian Church on West Wheeling Street. Since its inception, The Fortnightly has been an eclectic group of lawyers, physicians, college professors and theologians. The meeting format has evolved into a brief social fellowship that proceeds an informal dinner, followed by a business meeting, ending with a written presentation by one of the members and a Q&A session.

Since 1952, The Fortnightly has found a permanent home at W & J College, although it has never considered itself a college function or literary society.  The stated purpose in The Fortnightly by-laws is to provide “mutual entertainment and improvement through the discussion of suitable subjects.”  

Many well known local residents have graced the roles of The Fortnightly, over its long history.  Early member W.C. McClelland served the organization from 1889 until his death in 1925.  Physician and Coroner Earnest Abernathy was a member from 1956 through 1996.  Judge Alexander W. Acheson, a descendent from one of Washington County’s oldest families (1954-75); Reverend Reginald E. Dozer (1959-83); attorney James McCreight (1954-95); Observer Reporter Publisher John L.S. Northrop (1969-76) and farmer, historian and Meadowcroft Museum founder Albert Miller (1985-94) were all active members.

Several unwritten rules have emerged over the years to guide The Fortnightly speakers. First, partisan politics and religion are not appropriate topics for discussion. Second, speakers should refrain from framing their talk around their career or profession.  Third, the weekly discussion topic is presented to the membership in the form of a riddle and not disclosed until the speaker delivers his/her presentation.  Members are encouraged to bring guests both to hear their presentations and to introduce prospective new members to The Fortnightly program.

Since becoming a member, I have learned about the Underground Railroad in Washington County; the history of William Marshal, a medieval knight, Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman, who served five English kings; and plans to deflect wayward asteroids heading for our planet.  Over the years, topics have run the gamut from philosophy, science, history to the newspaper comics. When I return from a meeting of The Fortnightly there is always an interesting topic and often visual aids to discuss with my wife.

Recently, efforts have been undertaken to make The Fortnightly more relevant for the college community that surrounds our meetings and toward the public at large. At the suggestion of former member and humanist Richard Haddad, a scholarship was established that rewards a Washington & Jefferson student who is majoring in one of the liberal arts.  Each year the recipient of the scholarship is invited to become the designated speaker at an April meeting.

The Fortnightly realized that it was sitting on a treasure trove of unique history and scholarship stretching back over 130 years.  A project is almost complete to digitize all of our records in the form of meeting minutes and in some cases entire lectures.  All of the archives will be available to the public.

The challenge for The Fortnightly going forward will be to recruit new members who have the time to attend meetings and to prepare papers for presentation to the group. The challenge includes a dedicated effort to recruit more woman and minority participants.  Each member is normally called on once every other year to address the gathering, so this requirement is not onerous. The reward in meeting a new and well rounded group of friends, eager to discuss topics outside the ordinary, far outweighs the time and trouble.

The longevity of an organization like The Fortnightly depends on its ability to stay vibrant and relevant from one generation to the next.  At the same time, traditions and original purpose must be maintained. 

The Fortnightly, has struck the right balance and will continue to provide a forum for learning and understanding.  In the words of scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson: “know more today about the world than you knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.”

ENJOY ART AND RISE ABOVE THE MUNDANE.

“To become a maker is to make the world for others, not only the material world but the world of ideas that rules over the material world, the dreams we inhabit and dream together.” Rebecca Solnit

Established art museums around the world continue to draw in large crowds. There is competition with one another to stage monumental exhibitions of works by classical masters and newer modern artists. Last month, within days after the Louvre in Paris announced the largest exhibit of Leonardo Di Vinci paintings and sketches ever assembled, over 260,000 advanced tickets were sold.

Recently, the Arab world has challenged Europe by becoming a new cultural center with The United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi investing in art museums.  The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017, the Zayed National Museum is well underway, and plans for a branch of the Guggenheim have been announced.

If one is searching for a diverse cross section of humanity, all participating in the same activity, an art museum is the ideal place to go. Whatever the nationality or language, or background, art naturally causes something to stir up in the mind.  The emotion may be curiosity, awe, or frustration at not being able to grasp the artist’s intent, but it awakens something in all of us.

 Art has the ability to change perspectives, to look at life in different ways. Consider the different emotions one feels when viewing the enormous scale of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel; the minute details of Starry Night as envisioned by Van Gogh from his asylum room just before sunrise; the curious splatters created by Jason Pollock; or the political message embodied in Picasso’s epic mural Guernica. Each work so different, inspired by pure ideas and histories, born from a few supplies and a vision singular to the artist.

An art museum is a visual library with each painting telling a story. It is an impossible task to “take in” the entire collection, or even one floor. The average person spends 17 seconds looking at a work of art in a museum, intent on quantity over quality. Understanding each work of art requires the dedication to slow down, observe and interpret.

Experience has taught my wife and me to find a short term special exhibit that draws our attention and to read about the curator’s intent before seeing the paintings. We will often purchase the gift shop exhibition guide to help us along.  Many of the exhibits we have attended in recent years are designed to focus on a certain period of an artist’s career or to show collaboration and inspiration among artists of the same period. All have left us energized and eager for more.

Over the years we have adopted one late Renaissance artist, Caravaggio, as our special favorite.  We have scheduled a unique tour in Rome to view his work in small churches and always seek out his paintings wherever we travel.  We have read about his boisterous lifestyle and can feel his spirit in his work, which influenced so many later artists.

So how can a family situated in Southwestern Pennsylvania learn to appreciate art? Most accessible are the local schools, art galleries and libraries that feature resident artists from time to time. Washington County has developed a thriving art colony over the years that is well represented in nearby venues.

A short drive will open a completely new level of exposure to viewing art. The Pittsburgh Frick Museum, The Carnegie Art Museum and the Andy Warhol Museum all offer excellent viewing experiences without being overwhelming.  It is a good idea to sign up for the museum newsletters online to find out about ever changing exhibits. Westmoreland County features a hidden jewel of an art museum, in Greensburg.  It is truly a regional collection with a national presence.

For the more adventurous with a weekend to spend, New York City (the Met., MOMA, The Frick, among others); Philadelphia (The Barnes, The Museum of Art); and Washington D.C. (The National Gallery, National Museum of Art, National Portrait Gallery) all offer world class experiences. While any destination will be rewarded, our recent favorite is the Barnes, a new modern museum with outstanding lighting, which features one of the best impressionist collections to be found anywhere.

Lastly, on a cold winter’s night, when television reruns and cable news do not excite, there are excellent presentations of art from the world’s great museums on the internet. Staging a Michelangelo, Di Vinci, Van Gogh, or Picasso evening can be great fun, especially when accompanied by a biographical movie or National Geographic Special about the painter.

Art appreciation takes some work.  One must break away from what is habitual and ordinary in order to take in that which may not at first be clear.  But the reward is a deep, mysterious and beautiful experience, that one shares with all of humanity. According to Frederick Nietzsche: “we have art in order not to die of the truth.” In today’s political climate, he may have been on to something.

GRATITUDE, JOY AND REFLECTION

When it comes to the impeachment proceedings, the Democrats have drawn a bad hand. Attempting to move the electorate toward support for removing the president during the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and the New Year, may be an impossible task.  As go voter’s opinions and attention spans, so go the members of the Senate in an impeachment trial.   

The gratitude of Thanksgiving, joy of giving at Christmas and Hanukkah and personal reflection in the New Year do not encourage the mindset that is needed to punish the President for his conduct.  It is difficult to watch multiple holiday movies and specials on redemption and second chances and then to send the President packing back to Trump Tower.

On the other hand, perhaps this same six week period of holiday cheer, family sharing, spiritual renewal and resolutions for self-improvement, is the perfect time to reset the national mood toward a commitment of reconciliation with those we disagree.  A bit of spiking the eggnog with tolerance and understanding.

With this thought in mind, I have reviewed the literature of several well-known philosophers, educators and political commentators, in search of some answers.  Does it make sense to articulate a common creed, a national project that all Americans believe in?  Is it within our better nature for all of us to give something of value to members of the other tribe with whom we so vehemently disagree? Is the traditional model of representative democracy still possible in America?

First, consider the gratitude of Thanksgiving where we often take time to remember the goodness that life has bestowed upon us.  Conservative historian, David Kennedy, has some interesting thoughts on developing an “American Creed” for which we can all be grateful. (WSJ Weekend Interview, November 30, 2019)  He believes that diverse societies like the United States require stories and myths to articulate what we all have in common.  He laments that many historians have forgotten this point by celebrating differences rather than what the nation is working toward collectively.

Professor Kennedy scolds Trump supporters who have forgotten that America’s absorption of immigrants has always been exceptional, throughout our history. He likewise criticizes liberal thought for placing cultural differences on a pedestal rather than supporting assimilation of new Americans.  He also takes a swing at progressives by pointing out that the American Creed has always been resistant to socialism.

In the interest of reconciliation and gratitude, Mr. Kennedy would emphasize return to a master narrative about American History that embodies: “the perfection of the idea of democracy in this country. The process was incremental, slow and back and forth, but it gave Americans a way to talk about their national project.”

Second, consider the joy of giving over the holidays as a platform for reducing animosity and disrespect for those with opposing political views.  Conservative commentator George Will’s political philosophy as espoused in his recent book, The Conservative Sensibility, is a good place to start.

Mr. Will believes that our founder’s vision was one of limited government, separation of powers, maximal federalism and inviolable individual freedom.  Conservatives have given us the impulses to keep politics in its place and religion outside of government. We should all welcome the conservative gift of giving American society adequate time to breathe, to live and innovate on its own, which gives the nation a healthy ballast.  It would be well for progressives to remember that our most radical movements for change, including suffrage, civil rights and sexual freedom all invoked conservative expressions of America’s founding ideals, found in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, rather than rejecting them.

On the opposite side of the political spectrum, liberals have many gifts to offer their conservative counterparts. Republicans would do well to review recent history when many democrats under President Woodrow Wilson were as nativist as Trump Republicans are today. After Wilson, Democrats finally changed their policies and began inviting immigrants into the party. After 1932, Democrats held the White House for five terms, the most dominate run in American history.  There are many Latin and Asian immigrants who believe in conservative values, if the Republican Party gives them the chance to join the American experience.

John McGowan, distinguished professor and author of American Liberalism: An Interpretation of Our Time (2007), offers up several endearing liberal gifts for all of us to enjoy this year: trust in a constitutionally established rule of law, a conviction that modern societies are irreducibly plural, the promotion of a diverse civil society, and a reliance on public debate and deliberation to influence others' opinions and actions.

Lastly, let us consider the reflection that comes with the New Year. Ronald Dworkin, among the world’s leading legal and political philosophers, called for a new political debate in his short 2006 treatise, Is Democracy Possible Here?  Dworkin was concerned with the animosity and lack of civil political argument that existed during the presidency of George W. Bush.  He  would not live to experience the Trump years.

Dworkin’s goal was to develop baseline precepts that all political actors could both agree and reflect on before making their separate arguments on the issues facing America. As with many other observers, he understood the tension between liberal views on equality and conservative views on liberty.  He did not believe these two founding principles were incompatible.

Dworkin’s two basic beliefs of human dignity are that: (1) each human life has a special kind of objective value (equality) and (2) each person has a special responsibility for realizing the success of his own life (liberty).

Assuming that all of us can agree on these points, liberals and conservatives can each seek to build well-reasoned arguments on taxation, human rights, foreign aid, the environment, the role of religion and abortion. While Dworkin takes the liberal position and frames his analysis accordingly, he issues a challenge for conservative thinkers and policy makers to do the same.

Happy holidays to the readers of the Observer Reporter. May you all find abundant rational political discourse in 2020.

GOVERNMENT LED BY THE UNINTERESTED AND THE UNINFORMED

The impeachment hearings that took place over two weeks presented a complex scenario for the American public to follow. The post-cold war relationship between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, that sets the background for the hearings, is even more complicated and was little discussed by the congressional committee or the media.  Without this historical context, the average listener would have no reason to understand the importance of Ukraine to American foreign policy. (for background see: Foreign Affairs, 11/22/19, The Shoals of Ukraine, Where American Illusions and Great-Power Politics Collide, Serhii Plokhy and M. E. Sarotte) 

The hearings, designed to gather facts for articles of impeachment, were evidence of something more ominous than a one-time quid pro quo between the Trump administration and Ukraine. The important revelation for me was understanding the chaos that results when the federal government is led by a White House that is uninterested in following accepted procedures and uninformed on its own foreign policy. My fear is that what has been exposed is only one small example of the governance crises yet to come as a direct result of Trump’s hubris and ignorance.

Of the witnesses that testified, all but one, EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland, were long standing, highly qualified career diplomats and policy experts.  The experts understood the background on Ukraine and the disinterested and uninformed policies that brought us to a constitutional crisis.  Mr. Sondland, on the other hand, was a political appointee who paid one million dollars to the Trump inauguration to gain his position.  Like the President, Mr. Sondland’s background was in the hotel business.  He had no training or experience in diplomacy. 

The loosest canon in this fiasco is Rudy Giuliani, the President’s personal lawyer.  Mr. Giuliani was not a diplomat and in recent years made millions giving speeches and selling himself as a security consultant to authoritarian governments.

None of the well trained policy experts and diplomats had any contact with the President. They all had valuable information to share concerning Ukraine’s immediate need for military assistance.  Their reasoned advice to superiors on the Ukraine political situation and timely warnings to department lawyers were subject to formal protocol and went unheeded.

Only the players with no historical knowledge or diplomatic experience, Giuliani and Sondland, had direct access to the President.  Both either encouraged or were on board with what Trump wanted to accomplish.

It is impossible to know whether the ill-advised scheme leading to impeachment would have occurred if White House advisers interested and informed about Ukraine were in place.  Reports of the White House in 2017-2018 indicated that the Chief of Staff, White House Counsel, National Security Adviser and key Cabinet heads, all had some positive influence over the President.  These officials were able to discourage outrageous or illegal behavior on the part of the President on numerous occasions.

Unfortunately, all of the “adults in the room” are long gone and the President has only his own political instincts, his limited knowledge of the federal bureaucracy, his inexplicable pro Russian, anti European view of foreign policy and the commentators on Fox News to guide him. My conjecture is that as uninterested and uninformed political appointees continue to advise the President, the worst is yet to come and that Ukraine and impeachment will be the least of our concerns.

First, consider that the President’s son-in- law, Jerad Kushner, has been given an exclusive profile over foreign policy in the Middle East.  Mr. Kuschner is yet another Trump insider with knowledge of the hotel business and with no diplomacy experience. Both the FBI and CIA recommended that Kuschner not receive top level security clearances, a decision overruled by the President. 

No one seems to know what Jared is up to but his progress on the President’s “ultimate deal” between Israel and Palestine has gone nowhere. In September, the only seasoned diplomat reporting to Jared, Jason Greenblatt, left the White House and was replaced by Avi Berkowitz, a young recent graduate who previously was Mr. Kuschner’s errand boy.  (Politico, 9/6/19: Can Jared’s millennial “mini me” bring peace to the Middle East?)

Second, is the State Department, where key professionals either resigned or were terminated by the previous Secretary of State and ignored by the present placeholder, Mike Pompeo.  Mr. Pompeo is reportedly going to run for the Senate and spends as much time in Kansas as Washington.  His goal is to agree with and not upset the President.

Third, there is no coherent policy toward either North Korea or Iran, other than Trump’s wish for bilateral meetings.  Both countries have rejected this outreach and continue to solidify their nuclear capabilities.

Fourth, no one knows what other promises, commitments or self serving deals may have been made by the President to other heads of state.

Fifth, the chaos in governance that was evident during the impeachment hearings did not go unnoticed by Russia, China and other foreign governments. Whether Trump would encourage a foreign military engagement to take off the impeachment heat is unknown. What is known is that uninformed foreign policy decisions made for personal or political reasons are not in the country’s best interests.

I would propose that Republican Senators exercise the art of the deal with the President.  In return for supporting him in the upcoming impeachment trial, insist on the following:  1) that a bipartisan foreign policy expert sit in on all conversations with foreign leaders and review transcripts of prior conversations, with authority to report problems to Congress; 2) that the White House move quickly to fill all staff positions in the foreign policy apparatus with qualified candidates; and that 3) the President remove his son- in- law from responsibility for the Middle East and replace him with a seasoned expert. 

Such moves would exercise responsible oversight and could save America from another constitutional crisis, or much worse.

WASHINGTON COUNTY (MORE THAN EVER) NEEDS A DIVERSITY COMMISSION

Sometimes when I pick up the newspaper, the topic for an opinion article slaps me in the face. No, not the impeachment hearings that are receiving more than enough coverage from every conceivable angle.  The November 1, 2019 Observer Reporter featured two front-page articles on what happens in a community that is not proactive on the issue of diversity and ethnic inclusion.

In the same issue was a glossy full color magazine published by the local Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Agency. Twenty-eight Community leaders are featured.  One is a black woman, four are white women and the rest are white men.  One of the articles is entitled “Growth Driven by Working Together.”  There is no discussion on addressing economic or social diversity within Washington County.

The first front page article discussed a recent outbreak of students from Canon McMillian School District circulating racially insensitive videos on Facebook.  The school superintendent was quoted as saying: “we need to address it [racism] head-on and meet the challenge.”  The response to this incident was scheduling a school assembly with a professor who specializes in diversity and inclusion.

The second prominent front page article was a summary of this professor’s high school assembly at Canon-McMillan, designed to address the racism. The reporting summarizes an effective presentation designed to leave students with a message on kindness and acceptance.  More initiatives are on the horizon to extend the school district’s “No Place for Hate” program.

The response of Canon McMillan to the hateful incident was certainly welcome and encouraging.  But those of us who care about diversity were not heartened by the bimonthly Inside Washington County Chamber of Commerce Magazine.  The issue was titled: “Washington County…An American Success Story”. The Chamber trumpeted low taxes and the opportunity for outsized profits as the foundation that makes Washington County successful.  Other business leaders discussed the ability to adapt to changing conditions brought on by the oil and gas industry. The Tourism Promotion Agency was proud of the many domestic and international visitors that travel to Washington County each year.

While all of these points were valid, something was sorely missing in addressing what makes Washington County successful.  There was no discussion of the diversity that exists in Washington County and the part that minorities play in our success. There was no plan by our mostly white leadership to encourage others of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds to invest, live and work here.  Moreover, there was no commitment to business diversity that should include the nurturing of entrepreneurs in economically challenged neighborhoods as well as large corporations in Southpointe.

Without a proactive diversity plan in place: racism in our schools; minority hiring in our police forces, courts and county offices; and incentives for minority businesses and professionals in all fields to make Washington County their home will not be addressed on a comprehensive basis.  County leaders will continue to react to racist incidents as they occur rather than to fashion a plan to avoid them.  New business initiatives will follow the same tired homogeneous model rather than incubate diverse paths to success.

What is to be done? Look no further than Lehigh County, our neighbor to the east, with a population of 366,000 compared to the 207,000 who reside in Washington County.  Like Washington County, Lehigh County is undergoing an economic resurgence due to its location near New York City and Philadelphia.  Unlike Washington, Lehigh has recently announced its commitment to diversity.

An impressive array of regional organizations (including the local chamber of commerce) have come together on a project called “Color Outside the Lines” to develop a strategic plan designed to remove the systemic and structural barriers to racial equity and inclusion.  In an October 2019 press release, it was announced: “In an us-versus-them world the process needs everyone to be us. This is an opportunity to learn how much we are all better off when we are all better off. Lets show the rest of the nation what it means to be from Lehigh County.”  The strategic plan will be developed through a series of workshops, community meetings, conferences and trainings.

Before Washington County undergoes a comprehensive strategic diversity plan, it needs a forum dedicated to the needs of local minorities.  Accordingly, I will renew my call for a diversity commission, appointed by the county commissioners, but independent of direct county oversight.  The commission needs the legitimacy of a formal appointment to gain traction in the community. However, it must also be independent of any political pressures so that its members are free to point out diversity and inclusion deficiencies within municipal and county government. 

Clearly, the time for such a commission, or other appointed working group, is long overdue.  We can start by recognizing that when every community flourishes, Washington County is truly an American success story.