[Magdalen] Where is the Episcopal Church?

[Grace Cangialosi]

I just got a notice that Trump has fired Yates...

> On Jan 30, 2017, at 7:34 PM, Roger Stokes <roger.stokes65 at btinternet.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 30/01/2017 20:06, Scott Knitter wrote:
>> Someone from Germany in a German-language online news discussion asked
>> what happened to the USA's system of checks and balances that is meant
>> to prevent a tyrannical rule by the president. I had no answer and
>> could say only that I had the same question. It seems the time has
>> come for legislators to take whatever actions they can. At least the
>> courts have already been used with some limited success and more
>> lawsuits are being brought.
> 
> I note also that it is reported that the acting Attorney General (Sally Yates) has ordered lawyers not to defend the Executive Order. Admittedly she is still in office because President Trump's nominee has not yet been confirmed in office but will Jeff Sessions, who already has the distinction of having been denied a role as a federal judge because of allegations of racism, want his first act (if confirmed) to be to defend an Order that is on the face of it racist and arguably unconstitutional?
> https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/jan/30/trump-travel-ban-executive-order-world-protests-live or http://bit.ly/2kjVKxp
> 
> In normal times (and I know we are not in normal times) the most effective way to change government intentions is to lobby behind closed doors before anything is announced. Given that the Executive Order has already been published, and apparently revised in the light of foreign protests, that is not an option. I also hear that a number of State Department Career diplomats are apparently planning to send a cable through the dissent channel about this Order. They would point out that it would possibly be counter-productive to its declared aim alienate a number of other states which are natural allies of the USA.
> 
> Presiding Bishop Curry's comments seem to me to be calling President Trump to reconsider his action at the same time as individuals around the world are demonstrating against this Executive Order and its effect. I know the President wants to demonstrate to his base that he will deliver on his campaign promises but what we have seen over the weekend is that his previous style cannot do that. He needs to listen to informed advice which, sadly he seems unwilling to do at present (witness changes in the make-ip of the National Security Council).
> 
> Roger