Several politicians in both the traditional, old parties have publicly and frequently stated that Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in American history. At the same time, quite a few MAGA types have argued with the never-Trumpers and proclaimed the decrepit Uncle Joe Biden to have that same title. Over the years, we here at TPOL have heard the argument many times: Nixon? LBJ? Bush I? Bush II? Clinton? Obummer?
It is an argument that has been going on almost since the establishment of the Republic; perhaps even the Confederation. And certainly since the end of the Republic in 1914. Everyone has their “most unfavorite” president to nominate for the title.
We certainly believe that The Donald is corrupt, with substantial evidence to support this claim. But we note that, while the arguments rage, we point out that he appears no different from any of the last Baker’s Dozen (13) occupants of 1600 PA that we here at TPOL have lived with. (Be assured, several of us are just old enough to remember DDE as President.)
A recent short video posted raises serious questions about career, presidency, and associates of the 36th president of these United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas. See it here. Kennedy? Beside the obvious connections with his father, the fact that he couldn’t keep his pants zipped, and the entire 1960 election theft, again, there is significant, strong evidence to support that claim.
Perhaps we here at TPOL have different standards than most people when it comes to defining corruption. We rank marital infidelity as evidence of corruption. If a man (or woman) cannot live up to their solemn promise (or oath) of fidelity to their mate, they demonstrate their likely inability to honor and fulfill their oath (or affirmation) to uphold the US Constitution, much less be honest, fair, moral, and law-abiding in the decisions they make and the actions they take.
Of the last thirteen, only Jimmy Carter seems to have demonstrated any degree of marrital faithfulness. Eisenhower had a military mistress during much of WW2. Even if he was faithful to Mamie after that, the point is made, and there is no evidence he ever repented of it. But Carter demonstrated, both before and while he was out of office in DC, that he was in many ways a typical Southern politician. To use a Southern expression, “as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.”
We suspect that the pre-1953 (beginning of Ike’s time in office) record of American presidents is no less tainted by corruption.
To state again, The Donald is a corrupt president. But he is far from alone, and far from the worst. Both throughout the 250 years of the history of the States (including the Presidents of the Continental Congress before the imposition of the present US Constitution), and especially in the last seven or eight decades.
We note that the same corruption is certainly easy to find in every major-party, defeated, candidate in the last half-century as well: from Kammie the Commie back through the likes of Dole, Kerry, and many others. And note that there is evidence that the overall level of corruption appears higher in recent years than in the past.
Why?
Acton, of course, pointed out: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
As the American federal government has grown more and more powerful, it should be no surprise that the level of corruption has grown as well. At the same time, as the number of federal officials and other employees has exploded, the corruption has spread as well.
And we submit, also, this dictim: Government corrupts, and the more powerful the government, the greater the corruption.”
It is nothing new, of course. The Lord had Samuel warn the people of Israel, way back about 1050 BC or earlier, what having a government (“king”) like all the nations around them would produce. A prophesy proved accurate for the next thousand years.
It hasn’t gotten any better.