Today, it’s time to make a stand

As you read these words, our country may well have entered a constitutional crisis. Today (Sept. 27) is when, as of the CN&R’s deadline, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has an appointment in the Oval Office to determine his fate. Whether Rosenstein gets fired or succumbs to pressure and resigns—two most-expected scenarios—President Donald Trump will have cleared the barrier that’s prevented him from shutting down the Justice Department’s investigation into his dealings with Russia.

Meanwhile, just a few miles away on Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing about sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee. Despite disturbing accounts from Christine Blasey Ford and two more accusers, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, Republicans have kept his confirmation on a fast track—and no wonder: Kavanaugh represents a decisive vote should Trump come before the high court. That’s a real fear for the president, or why meddle with the investigation?

We get that not everyone shares our conviction that Trump colluded with the Russians before, during and after the 2016 election. That’s the reason a thorough, methodical investigation is crucial, to bring facts to light. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is a Republican with unimpeachable credentials. So, too, is Rod Rosenstein. What drew the president’s ire was a New York Times report that Rosenstein discussed the constitutional remedy for removing an unfit president, the 25th Amendment, and purportedly joked about wearing a wire to collect evidence. Even if true, that demonstrates concern for the nation taking precedence over loyalty to one man.

The United States remains a republic, not a monarchy. Or, so it should. Trump removing Rosenstein would be a big step toward ridding himself of legal challenges to his presidency—a presidency with echoes of autocracy. Congress, at least the GOP majority, has essentially abdicated its check and balance of Trump; as he fills the judiciary with his appointees, most significantly on the Supreme Court, he solidifies his hold on that branch, too.

Rosenstein may survive the day. Kavanaugh’s confirmation might stall. But those events will just delay the inevitable if the status quo persists.

Also today, Chicoans converge on City Plaza to protest the Supreme Court nomination. That gathering at noon, called “We #BelieveSurvivors—Cancel Kavanaugh,” is part of a day of action.

We need other such actions. More than that, we need to change the legislative branch, to hold Trump accountable. Opinion polls show low approval ratings for Congress, yet most districts—such as ours, CA-1—keep returning the same representative.

Vote. Encourage others to vote. It’s time to say, “No more.”