Thread by @johnastoehr

I think we all have to accept that this president, indeed any president, is above the law. He can't be held accountable. His minions can't be held accountable. This was the case all along. The people telling us no one is above the law were conning us into believing fictions.

The Democrats are making a good effort. I actually don't blame them. They might prevail in the end. But fact is, a malicious president really does have the power to get away with anything. Not even treason is enough to topple him.

I write this in sadness.

I do not want to believe this is true. I do not want to believe a president is a king. But I also can't deny what's happening. This president can break the law, skim the till, corrupt everything he touches, and nothing. Nothing can be done.

And Trump isn't even a strong president. He has the narrowest base of support of my lifetime but it doesn't matter. Even a weak president is above the law.

Unless the presidency itself is significantly reduced in the amount of power the executive has, there is no accountability. Not after the fact. Not after breaking laws, norms, values. And only Congress can fix that.

I say the Democrats are making good effort, and that I don't blame them. But at the same time, I don't want to hear about the president not being above the law if they can't make it happen.

Though bleak, I hope it's clear that this thread is not cynical. That the president is in practice above the law should not preclude American from being really fucking angry.