President Trump today gave the GOP members of Congress a second chance to oppose his power grab disguised as a national emergency.
His veto of congressional resolution to rescinded his national emergency declaration at the Mexican border gives those GOP members who did not vote for this resolution (and only a minority did) a chance to vote to override President Trump’s veto and show they have some respect for the Constitution and sepatation of powers.
It is not often that you get a second chance. Make the most of it.
Of course, there is the chance the the some of the Republicans who voted for the resolution will use that second chance to support the President in his power grab. This would be a mistake for several reasons.
There is the practical one in which the President doesn’t quite forgive the person who was unloyal the first time and tries to make up for it by supporting the President the second time. I think the President has a long memory for disloyalty and will not be quick to forgive the earlier vote.
Then there is a the principled reason. If you were against this abuse of power the first time, I would think you would be consistent in your beliefs.
The President definitely put his Republican colleagues in a difficult situation. Support your party or support the Constitution. It is a difficult choice for many Republican politicians.
I just hope more chose the Constitution. If you are thinking about it, just imagine that someone of the opposition party did what this President did.