The 200 Executive Orders
Okay, only some of them
Dictator on Day One promised “shock and awe”. I was not shocked, since I expected him to do as much damage as he possibly could. Nor am I in awe of his flagrant disregard for the rule of law, the US Constitution I love so much, nor common sense.
But others are.
Idiots.
Instead, I am disgusted. And I have questions. But first, the screen shot at the top of this post is a GOOD EO - from 1948, by Harry Truman, ending segregation in the Armed Forces. Short, sweet, impactful and worthwhile, unlike any single sentence coming from the Orange Menace.
I start with his Executive Order (EO) withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is actually dangerous for every human being on the planet. From the WHO:
Our team of 8000+ professionals includes the world’s leading public health experts, including doctors, epidemiologists, scientists and managers. Together, we coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies, promote well-being, prevent disease and expand access to health care. By connecting nations, people and partners to scientific evidence they can rely on, we strive to give everyone an equal chance at a safe and healthy life.
Note: “[C]oordinate the world’s response to health emergencies.” The WHO does this via worldwide surveillance and by sending in teams to help when pockets develop, like Ebola and Marburg, to prevent worldwide spread.
The WHO does a lot of other fantastic things, albeit, it’s run and staffed by humans, and sometimes they make mistakes, as do all humans. It all costs a lot of money. And what the Orange Menace CAN do is stop the flow of funds. The US is the largest financial contributor to the WHO.
The reason the Orange Menace did this was because he believes that the WHO was in collusion with China regarding the origination and initial spread of Covid in 2020. Let’s think this through.
First, a lack of funding means that the next time there is a pocket of, say, Ebola in Africa, or some of the new flu-related viri in China1, the WHO will be limited in its ability to warn people, or coordinate research for vaccines and treatments. This is DISATEROUS!
Second, who will fill the funding gap? The only potential country is China. While a few European countries, as well as the European Commission, are large funders, they’ll need those dollars for self-protection once the Orange Menace tries to “solve” the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
If the Orange Menace was smart, and he is diametrically opposed to the state of being “smart” - he would INCREASE funding to the WHO, in an attempt to exert influence.
And then there’s “there are only two genders”. From his inaugural address:
As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.
First, it’s factually incorrect. Some babies are “intersex” meaning they are born with both male and female characteristics. THAT is a fact2. In many cases, surgery is performed to place the child as one gender or another, and they are given hormones from an early age. This doesn’t mean that initial decision will be the gender identity of the person. Deep dive here.
The fascist regime will certainly allow for discrimination against trans people, and we expected this. And yes, it is morally bankrupt. Whatever gender someone is, the person is still a HUMAN BEING and should be treated like all the other humans. Jeez.
But there are some logistic questions. And these questions should provide standing for lawsuits. For example, if you have a person who was born male, but transitioned and now has female genitalia, and is hormonally female, will the fascist regime require that reversal surgery be performed? Will they pay for it? There have been forced sterilizations of American women dating back to 1909, but I don’t know of other government-forced surgery. Source 1. Source 2. Thankfully, that has stopped. And yes, take notice that they sterilized women and never men.
While the fascist regime can require that US Passports have only “Male” and “Female” as choices, there are other forms of identification. And these are controlled by the states, not the Federal government. Like drivers’ licenses and birth certificates.
Currently, almost half the states allow for “X” as a gender choice on licenses, and 17 allow for “X” as a choice on birth certificates. Source. There is no Constitutional authority for the fascist regime to make the states change. I’m thinking lawsuit. Aren’t you?
Not to mention the corollary EO that precludes transgender people from serving openly in the military. There is no exact number of transgender people in the US military, but estimates range from about 2,000 to 15,000 active duty. Is there a concern about force reduction?
I honestly don’t know what to say about the Jan 6th pardons. In my research, NOT ONE Rethuglican who was at the Capitol that day has objected to the pardons for the people who fundamentally took them hostage. Nor even spoken out3.
These people were justly and rationally terrified as their space was invaded by an angry mob of domestic terrorists. Perhaps they have some sort of group amnesia. But otherwise, their cowardice towards speaking out against the pardons will only encourage more violence across the country.
The derangement of saying the riffraff horde holding hostages, wielding weapons, attacking police, threatening to hang the duly elected vice president, who were duly convicted in a court of law deserve to be out on the streets, while someone whose only potential crime is a broken taillight, prior to a hearing, needs to be deported boggles the mind.
…and the Muslim ban is back.
It looks a little different this time. Here’s the full EO.
This is from Section 2 (a)
(iii) re-establish a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and procedures, consistent with the uniform baseline that existed on January 19, 2021, that will be used for any alien seeking a visa or immigration benefit of any kind
Within 60 days, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence need to submit a report which determines which countries are deficient in providing vetting and screening information, and therefore….the Muslim ban is back, because which countries do you think will fail to clear the bar?
But there’s more. There’s always more when you’re dealing with rhetoric that comes from Project 2025.
From Section 1 (b)
And the United States must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the United States do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.
My reading of that passage means “deportation”. Or at least detaining anyone they want from “those countries”, questioning them, and determining if they are “worthy” of being in the United States.
Do you read it differently? Maybe I’m wrong.
A few words on words
The other day, I used the term “urban firestorms” in lieu of “wildfires” in my post on Los Angeles. A commenter on the post wrote:
Your first item, to call the LA fires "urban firestorms" instead of "wildfires," should be added to a list of terms … for taking control of the vocabulary used to describe reality and for replacing the distortion of public discourse that happens when the right wing sets the terminology we use.
“Urban firestorms” is correct. “Wildfires” is not.
I will ALWAYS endeavor to use correct terminology. It is why, for example, I NEVER refer to the “administration” and instead use “fascist regime”.
If you read me using erroneous terminology, PLEASE let me know so I can correct it going forward. We let the far-right vulgarians steal “Democratic Party” and make it “Democrat Party”, and I don’t want to EVER see that happen again. We need to be precise in our language, and accurate in our terminology.
Yes, there are several variants, and I’m tracking them, but there is nothing for you to worry about yet. I’ll keep you apprised.
FACTS STILL MATTER.
Please correct me in the comments if something comes up after I write this.
I think I need to make another donation to the ACLU.
While on the subject of EOs, the media relates that among the EOs voiding those of Pres. Biden is one that prevents to reduce prescription drug prices. Do you know which of these 100 some odd EOs does that and what it actually provides. As example, does it interfere with the current program requiring Medicare to negotiate reduction of vendors' prices for 10 separate meds each calendar year?