Too Many Plot Twists for a Believable Novel

Any novelist understands plot twists, those unique methods of catching a reader off balance. But too many make a good text unreadable and spoil a perfectly good story. It's been said that 911 would never have worked as a novel because it was too far beyond a believable context.

And so it goes, with our current occupant of the Oval Office. Too much noise to be believed.

Todays paper shocks my sensibilities, as the prez claims to be considering Rudy Giuliani for a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Time out for a moment, as I give you a quick rundown of necessary qualifications: The Medal of Freedom, established in 1963, is awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the US, world peace, or cultural or other significant public endeavors.

I concede the fact that Rudy is truly unique in that regard.

(According to the Guardian UK) “Trump on his Truth Social platform called Giuliani the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.

“For much of the past two decades, "Giuliani’s public life has been defined by a striking rise and fall. After leading New York through the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, he mounted a brief campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and became one of the most recognizable political figures in the country. But, as Trump’s personal lawyer, he became a central figure in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Courts repeatedly rejected the fraud claims he advanced, and two former Georgia election workers won a $148m defamation judgment against him.

"Giuliani was disbarred in New York and Washington DC for repeatedly making false statements about the election, and he was criminally charged in Georgia and Arizona in connection with efforts to undo Trump’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden."

And the prez has been known as 'the fastest gun in the west,' when it comes to honors and pardons.

Aside from such trivia, the Rudy thing may be a bridge too far in a banner year for eye-openers. Compare just a few of the juicier tidbits:

· Jan 20 — Border “invasion” orders. Declared an emergency, sharply ‘restricted asylum at the border’ and empowered rapid removals — condemned by immigrant-rights groups and sued as unlawful.

· Jan 20 — Revives “Schedule F” for federal workers. Reinstates and expands the 2020 plan to reclassify policy-influencing civil servants, making them easier to fire — blasted as politicizing the career workforce.

· Jan 20 — Offshore wind moratorium (Presidential memorandum) Temporarily withdraws all OCS areas from new offshore-wind leasing** and triggers multi-state litigation; critics call it a blow to jobs and clean energy.

· Apr 2/8/9 — “Universal/reciprocal” tariffs. Imposes a base 10% tariff on nearly all imports and higher “reciprocal” rates; businesses and economists decry inflation/legal risks. In late Aug, a federal appeals court said most of the tariffs exceed presidential authority.

· Apr 17 — Halting New York’s Empire Wind construction (agency action) Construction ordered stopped, alarming state officials and developers; later partial reversals/adjustments followed amid backlash.

· Apr 28 — “Sanctuary city” crackdown. DOJ/DHS told to “list sanctuary jurisdictions” and threaten funding cuts; courts have since “blocked the defunding push” as unlawful.

· May–June — Vaccine guidance shifts. HHS/CDC steps that “rescinded routine COVID-vaccine recommendations” (including for pregnancy) drew fierce criticism from ACOG and others as unsafe/politicized.

· Jul 30 — Ends duty-free “de minimis” for small parcels. Sweeping “suspension of the $800 duty-free threshold” (globalized Aug 29) — retailers, small sellers and shippers warn of “price hikes and disruption.”

· Aug 7 — “Fair Banking / anti-de-banking” order.” Directs Treasury to police alleged viewpoint-based “financial de-banking.” Banks and civil-liberties groups warn of politicization and regulatory overreach.

· Aug 25 — Orders to end “cashless bail.” Threatens “withholding federal funds” from jurisdictions using no-cash bail and targets D.C. specifically — “legal scholars and civil-rights groups” call it unconstitutional overreach.

· Aug 25 — “Prosecuting Burning of the American Flag.” Seeks aggressive prosecution around flag desecration; critics cite “Texas v. Johnson” and warn of First Amendment violations.

All of which were done as Executive Orders, allowed to a president only in times of national emergency.

Caveat: Although Executive Orders are a powerful tool for any U.S. president, they are limited by and remain subject to constitutional checks and balances. For example, an EO must be grounded in existing constitutional or statutory authority. A president’s EO cannot create new laws or impose wholly new obligations without congressional approval.

Yeah, well, this prez has simply ignored various legal findings, including those declared by the Supreme Court.

That's never happened before, except in the history of other fascist governments.

Rudy is simply a minor, and laughable, example of too many plot twists.

But, if you're counting, we are only 25% through this administration's final term...or is it final?...will the prez actually leave office on January 20th of 2029?

Stay tuned, only time will tell.