There’s an important revelation from the first day of impeachment hearings that I haven’t heard discussed. It has to do with the witnesses’ strange notion of how foreign policy works.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and Acting Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor both accused President Trump of interfering with U.S. foreign policy in Ukraine. They indicated they differed with Trump’s skepticism of Ukraine’s newest leadership, and they disagreed with Trump’s apparent decision to keep Ukraine at a measured distance while he assessed the situation.
They further said that Trump gave approval for his attorney and adviser, Rudy Giuliani, to develop a communications channel on Ukraine diplomacy that was outside the “regular” diplomatic chain. Some in the media have dubbed that a “shadow campaign.”
Kent and Taylor strongly disapproved.
“Kent and Taylor … gave compelling testimony about why [President Trump’s] ‘shadow campaign’ was so at odds with America’s official foreign policy,” wrote Rolling Stone.
The Huffington Post wrote, “State Department officials say Rudy Giuliani’s foreign policy backchannel ‘undercut’ U.S. policy on Ukraine.”
And Ambassador Taylor testified, “The official foreign policy of the United States was undercut by the irregular efforts led by Rudy Giuliani.”
There must be some confusion.
Under the U.S. Constitution, it is the president of the United States who determines foreign policy. How can President Trump be “at odds with foreign policy” when he’s the one who determines it?
President Trump may well have been altering foreign policy on Ukraine. It should be of no surprise that he wasn’t operating “business as usual,” since he ran on that platform and has executed it from day one. It’s clear that Kent and Taylor didn’t like or agree with Trump’s ideas, and believe they know what’s best. Trump rankled, contradicted and “embarrassed” them by operating outside the “regular” chain.
But they seem to miss the fact that their desires are subordinate to the president’s.
A few of the committee Republicans have pointed this out during the circus, but it does appear like a concerted effort to reduce the authority and stature by promoting the idiotic idea that the President doesn’t have the right to influence foreign policy.
More of the games Democrats are playing.
The problem is that this particular president doesn’t know diddly squat about world history, U.S. foreign policy goals, or geopolitical strategy, and began clearing the State Department of career professionals having expertise and specialized knowledge resulting from years of experience over multiple administrations as soon as he landed in the Oval Office. Add to that the fact that he has the attention span of a fruit fly, won’t read reports or trust intelligence briefings, and relies on talking heads on FOX News more than his own advisers.
There has always been a continuity of underlying philosophy and policy that has carried over from one administration to the next, slowly changing as the world changes, because that’s the foundation of our international alliances and global stability. That stability was grounded in the institution of the State Department, and in the fact that things didn’t get turned upside down with every presidential election.
Now we’ve got foreign policy undermined by personal agendas, and shadow diplomacy being conducted outside the context of official and orderly State Department channels by clueless posers like Jared Kushner, Donald Jr, and Rudy Giuliani.
A president does not unilaterally dictate foreign policy. Foreign policy is shaped with the input of Congress and expertise from the State Department. The Chief Executive executes foreign policy.
@Greg: The PROBLEM is that you and all your Democrats are whiny crybabies.
How does one climb in an administration, by executing the elected officials agenda or policies. Not as an activist but in their limited capacity. We have activists resistors that have been promoted not for their skills but their willingness to bend or break rules to advance ideologies. Not just in the State Department but every nook and cranny in the bloated leviathan we support with our tax dollars. Our glimpse into the dysfunctional, arrogant, world of the State and Justice Depts gives us a clue, keep looking, find them all demote them, fire them, prosecute them
( a fair trial is implied) if they crossed the line into illegal activities.
News from Ukraine https://www.unian.info/politics/10744551-chief-prosecutor-riaboshapka-says-no-criminal-case-against-burisma-in-ukraine.html
@Greg:
So what you are saying is that a man who has negotiated million dollar contracts with foreigners, having to meet with that nation’s business regulations, knows less than a one term senator who could not have picked Ukraine out on a map?
Are you smoking dope again? Why don’t you tell us where the State Department is listed in the Constitution?
You’re an idiot, Comrade Greggie Goebbels.
@retire05, #5:
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Operating a business doesn’t magically make one competent at anything other than operating a business—if that. Trump has declared bankruptcy six times: Taj Mahal, two Atlantic City casinos, the Plaza Hotel in New York, Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts, and Trump Entertainment Resorts. He’s been very good at losing other people’s money while slipping away himself.
Why don’t you tell us where the Constitution states that exclusive authority to set foreign policy is one of the powers of the President? Because I don’t see where that’s stated anywhere in Article II: The Executive Branch. I think you must have imagined that it is.
It’s just plain stupid to think that a Chief Executive having a four year term should have exclusive power and authority to arbitrarily set for the nation any foreign policy that he or she sees fit—especially one so clueless, so unwilling to be informed, and so unwilling to listen to the advice of those who have made long careers of understanding the workings of geopolitics.
@Greg:
Awww… another nail in Schitt’s political coffin.
The Gateway Pundit is a far-right news and opinion site. They routinely crank out conspiracy theory and anecdotal stories calculated to work their readers up against their opponents.
@Greg:
From a source you seem to rely on, Wikipedia:
. Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and its head, the Secretary of State, is the President’s principal foreign policy advisor. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in the world through its primary role in developing and implementing the President’s foreign policy.
@Greg: It is executives decision to set foreign policy.
Constitution also makes two of the president’s foreign affairs powers—making treaties and appointing diplomats—dependent on Senate approval.
Every President has had this power, it seems only now after 2016 the media has convinced people that it is no longer the case.
Trump has had the privilege of a quality education, that would include history do you seriously think a military academy would not teach that subject? He also attended a Jesuit-affiliated university. You are speaking as ignorantly and poorly informed as ever.
Most congresses used the power of the purse to express influence and legislate. 2018 they went full retard and ignore their duties to the citizens, its been 24/7 to tell the voters they dont matter its only their petty political palace intrigue that matters 10s of million spent to that end only.
The dems took he house cause republicans failed to legislate big promises they made, This congress is so much worse.
History:
Conflict in Europe among France, Britain, and Spain in the late 1790s resulted in President Washington declaring American neutrality. wow the president unilaterally declared foreign policy.
The President does not set foreign policy. Taylor and Kent said so. Policy is set by careerists at State. The President, like the Queen, has only a ceremonial role. State is sovereign and independent.
That is how deep the swamp is.
@Greg: Well, this is a statement from a Ukrainian minister, so instead of demeaning the Gateway Pundit, maybe you should ask yourself why the NYT is not reporting it. Unless, of course, you already know the answer and are completely comfortable with it. After all, you yourself said you prefer the sites that feed your prejudices.
Not only does the President establish and pursue foreign policy, but regarding Ukraine, this President had done far better than the fool that preceded him did. Hearsay, rumor, opinion and gossip says otherwise, though.
@Mathman: I wonder if anyone has ever looked for money going from the Dem party to the media?
Somebody has to be getting paid for such lies, at this point. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, they won’t spin or distort into something that is anti-Trump. It’s insane.
As Nunes said in the hearing, the Dems accuse others of what they are actively doing.