It happens every four or eight years. America’s 22nd Amendment states:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
“But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.”
Ratified by the required three-fourths of the then-48 states, it became the law of the land on February 27, 1951. It was introduced in response to Franklin Roosevelt’s four-time electoral triumphs. No other president served more than two terms, a precedent set by George Washington.
He declined to serve longer, saying he “didn’t fight George III to become George I.” His farewell address warned against involvement in “entangling” alliances.
He advised focusing mainly on domestic issues, counsel not followed except by John Adams, Jefferson and Madison.
More recently, things went disturbingly downhill. Washington would likely cringe at what’s ongoing. US presidents since James Monroe ignored his advice.
America is a warrior nation, a modern-day Sparta with nukes, its leaders and bipartisan congressional members disdainful of peace and stability, recent history most belligerent of all.
Changing of the guard in America usually occurs smoothly – this year very much out of step with tradition, events throughout the campaign and post-election unprecedented in US history.
Despite establishment forces and the press overwhelmingly supporting one major candidate over the other, the resoundingly denigrated outsider triumphed convincingly.
No matter. Efforts to delegitimize and undermine Trump persist, inauguration day and its aftermath promising to be tumultuous.
Hillary remains a sore looser. Graciousness was never her long suit. Wickedness defines her. Trump’s troubles may be just beginning. Dark forces wanting her to succeed Obama aren’t likely to give him a moment to breathe freely.
His tenure may be the most tumultuous in US history since the Civil War period – how it plays out and its ending yet to be determined.
It’ll take more than thick skin to handle what’s likely to come at him. America’s deep state gets what it wants. If replacing Trump with a more reliable establishment figure is intended, there’s little he can do to stop it
The Trump era begins at midday Friday – for as long as it lasts, a big changing of the guard uncertainty unlike any previous time in US history.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
