In the 1992 film, Sneakers, the most chilling scene is as our hero, Robert Redford, slowly assembles tiles from a Scrabble game to spell out the phrase “TOO MANY SECRETS”. As it turns out this group of security experts had discovered a computer program that could hack any computer system. The scene ends with Redford lamenting, “No more secrets”, a more prophetic social commentary than any Orwellian future. In the Trump era, the future is now. Earlier this week the second stage of the impeachment inquiry began, while at the same time, world leaders were both seen and heard laughing about Donald Trump behind his back. A late night Comedian said it best, when Canada is trash talking you, you know you’ve done something wrong.
The implosion of secrecy among world leaders is only one tile in a longer word. The newly released Democratic report denotes details previously undisclosed to the public- twists and turns that no one could ever imagine about the Ukraine scandal. Shssssss. Listen:
It’s no longer a secret that Devin Nunes of California, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is involved in the scandal.
It’s out in the open the number of phone calls Rudy Giuliani made to the White House, suggesting conversations with Trump himself.
The ensuing report also implicates Vice-president Mike Pence and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Let’s get one thing right. Impeachment is not only a word, but also a process. It is the counterbalance to the power that the president is privileged to hold through a free and democratic election process. Impeachment is the 11-letter word meant to anchor and protect this process when the Commander-In-Chief begins to drift.
America is an ideal, still a work-in-progress, and without end. While many argue that impeachment is a waste of time, as the Republican controlled Senate would never vote to remove Trump from office, that isn’t the point. Impeachment is intended to protect the integrity of the republic, including protections from judges, and yes, even its duly elected leaders such as Donald Trump. He is not the first. The impeachment process is never an exercise in futility, but rather one of the democratic process, as only a true democracy may hold their leaders accountable. Impeachment becomes the the counter-weight to the power of the president.
For Trump to balk at the very process and institution that gave him the presidency (along with Russian assistance) demonstrates a lack of understanding of leadership, and the constitutional norms upon which the United States was built. There’s no witch hunt here, Mr. President, only the reluctant unfurling of your secrets as the impeachment process brings the truth into the light.
No more secrets, Mr. President.
No more secrets.
k.g. Sambrano is a Canadian writer known for his works of literary fiction and poetry, and is an occasional freelance political writer. His latest book, Trump- the First 365 Days: America’s Fight for America was released on February 20, 2018.
Today, I can write that Heather’s Heyer’s assailant, James Field Jr., is a murderer. Many had thought it, people had tweeted it, but now it’s official. At age 21, he will be sentenced as any murderer should.
When my father proposed to my mother, he did so on one knee. The Knighthood ceremony requires the candidate to take one knee before the Queen. When we bend down to speak to a small child, we often do so on one knee. I don’t know why Donald Trump hates one knee so much, but for the simple fact it challenges him— everything he is and ever wanted to become.
