We live in the greatest country in the history of the world.
And we are all part of it.
Right now.
The history of America is being written by all of us.
Our choices shape this great country.
And the combined wisdom of its PEOPLE steer it forward on its endless path of success and winning!
I love being an American and I am so grateful for its blessings– including the blessing to get to serve all of you!
Thousands of you watched last week’s webinar on why D.C. is NOT a swamp–it is a BEAUTIFUL city on a hill that shines for all the world to see our leadership and vision!
All the world follows us, and we should remember that this Thanksgiving. We lead the whole world!
Going to be putting up a couple of videos this week just reminding everyone how lucky we are to live in this great nation and to be surrounded by so many SMART and BEAUTIFUL people all the time.
We truly are blessed and we truly should be grateful this Thanksgiving and every day!
And I am so grateful for all of you (especially those who donate to the cause)!
Politicians call D.C. a “swamp” because they want to tear down the beauty of our nation’s capital to make themselves feel worthy. Its not right– they should RESPECT our capital and the beauty it holds.
The truth is D.C. is a gorgeous complex of temples–so magnificent!– dedicated to freedom and the soul of America. It is a wonderful beautiful place that represents the best of America and stands as a beacon of strength and integrity to the entire world.
We need to elect people who are worthy to serve in such a beautiful and important place. Who respect our government and its capital. And who are very capable and dedicated to the people!
I see a world where D.C. is filled with the best and brightest minds our country has to offer– that’s the world the founding fathers envisioned. Where talented people debate the nation’s issues and write clear and wise laws to serve the people (and no one else!)
D.C. isn’t a swamp and we shouldn’t let people say mean things about our capital!
Let’s be very forgiving where we can be, but also very tough where we have to be.
Its Thanksgiving week.
So we need to be thoughtful and grateful. But also forgiving.
Americans are very forgiving people. And we forgive a lot.
Sometimes politicians can be forgiven. They’re just human. And its ok to make mistakes. And we can forgive them when they make regular mistakes.
But we also have to be smart and very tough and not forgive them when they put themselves first and don’t take care of the people.
Let’s be forgiving but also be smart.
We need to be very tough on these politicians who are not serving the people. The puppets who only serve the parties. We need them OUT of Washington. We can’t forgive that.
So its Christmas Eve and the humble Troutman Christmas tree is ready for the presents to arrive tonight!
But before we jump into the Christmas festivities this evening I wanted to take a second and mark the end of Hanukkah.
I know I am a few days late on this– and I apologize to my Jewish friends– but I had the best experience last week.
My law firm Troutman Amin, LLP had its annual retreat last week and several of our team members are Jewish. Since it was the first few nights of Hanukkah we all lit the menorah together consistent with the ceremonial process.
I had never attended a menorah lighting ceremony before and it was very meaningful for me to be a part of it. Felt very grateful to have been invited and really enjoyed being there.
I am a great big fan of the Jewish people– very historic and well-educated bunch– and I LOVE that they make up such a great part of our shared American culture.
Jewish folks in this country are VERY patriotic in my experience and very kind. Lots of gratitude from their community and they are BIG contributors to our success as a nation.
So wanted to pause and acknowledge these great folks before we get super Christmassy for the next 12 days!
So far things have continued to escalate– and I hate that.
Troutman wants to SAVE the UNITED States, not see us continue to unravel. We need to be SMART and respect the law while protecting our communities from overreach here:
But bottom line it looks like we’re going to see federal troops in Minneapolis soon under the Insurrection Act– and that’s just a terrible thing. But it might also end up being LEGAL.
So what does the Insurrection Act actually say?
Well there are three provisions to keep in mind– and here they are:
First, section §252 provides:
Whenever the President considers that unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States, make it impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any State by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, he may call into Federal service such of the militia of any State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to enforce those laws or to suppress the rebellion.
So couple of pieces to this provision. The assembly or obstruction must be “unlawful” and it must make it “impracticable” for federal law to be enforced.
Hmmmm.
Second section §253 says:
The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, or by any other means, shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it—
(1) so hinders the execution of the laws of that State, and of the United States within the State, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or
(2) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.
So here you need some sort of underhanded or violent action that is depriving citizens of rights protected by the constitution or the law.
The Insurrection Act was perhaps most famously used by Eisenhower to force Little Rock schools to desegregate. It has also been used in Mississippi in 1962 and in Alabama in 1963 in furtherance of federal rulings granting rights to minority groups and desegregating schools.
It is ironic that the Insurrection Act– last used for progressive causes and to expand civil rights– may soon be used for purposes quite different.
But like it or not, the law is the law. And if it is not respected on a grand enough scale Trump will–and can lawfully– call in the military to assist (AND NOBODY WANTS THAT!)
One last thing– before Trump can order the use of the Insurrection Act he must first order everybody to go home peacefully under section 254:
Whenever the President considers it necessary to use the militia or the armed forces under this chapter, he shall, by proclamation, immediately order the insurgents to disperse and retire peaceably to their abodes within a limited time.
This has actually worked a couple of times, such as in Alabama in 1965, Detroit in 1967, Chicago in 1968 and in Baltimore in 1968.
Those were wild times. And the Insurrection Act proclamations delivered peace without armed conflict between the military and the citizens.
Let’s hope all of that can be avoided this time around.
