Tag: venezuela

Donald Trump and the Twenty Fifth Amendment

Gerald Mcisaac

President Trump recently sent the American military on a mission, an invasion of the sovereign country of Venezuela, in order to kidnap the President of that country, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both he and his wife were immediately brought to the United States, have been charged, and are now being held for trial. 

The former Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has been given the title of ‘’Interim President’’. This is a mere formality, as Trump has made it clear that he ‘’plans to run Venezuela’’, and to ‘’extract the oil’’, of which Venezuela has such a great abundance. But then, Trump quickly changed his mind, and announced that he, Donald Trump, is now the ‘’Acting President of Venezuela’’.

Without doubt, Donald Trump is a man of action. Also completely impulsive. He acts upon any stray thought that crosses his mind. As he is now the President of the United States, he has considerable power. For that reason, those impulsive ‘’acts’’ can have most serious consequences. 

One of those impulsive acts, was the invasion of Venezuela, and subsequent abduction of President Maduro. The people of Venezuela are not about to ‘’take this lying down’’. Their President may or may not have been well loved. It matters not. The Americans had no right to invade their country and kidnap their President. They certainly had no right to set Trump up, as their ‘’Acting President’’, to ‘’run’’ their country, and ‘’extract’’ their oil. They are about to make this abundantly clear!

This is by no means the first time the American imperialists have attempted to invade another country, take over the existing government, and run it, to their satisfaction. The only difference is that the invasion of Venezuela is more blatant. Yet the outcome is sure to be the same.

Perhaps the most clear cut example, was the American invasion of Vietnam. It was more subtle than the Venezuelan invasion. It started in 1950, when American ‘’military advisers’’ were sent to Vietnam, as part of the ‘’Military Assistance Advisory Group’’, (MAAG). 

At that time, the French were at war with the democratic forces of Vietnam, referred to as the ’’Viet Minh’’. The official ‘’role’’ of those American advisers, was to ‘’provide logistical and technical support’’ to the French. 

As is well known, the French were defeated, by the Viet Minh, in 1955, and this resulted in the country being divided, along the seventeenth parallel, into a northern zone, or Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and a southern zone, or Republic of Vietnam. This certainly did not end the war, or American involvement. The role of the American ‘’advisers’’ merely changed to ‘’provide logistical and technical support’’ to the military forces of the South Vietnamese, referred to as the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, (ARVN). 

From a historical perspective, 1955 marked the beginning of the ‘’Vietnam War’’, which is to say the war between the ‘’North’’ and the ‘’South’’. In the South, the ‘’National Liberation Front for South Vietnam’’, or ‘’Viet Cong’’, came into existence. The American ‘’advisers’’ assisted the South Vietnamese army, the ARVN, in their war with the Viet Cong, as well as with troops from the North. 

As is well known, this American ‘’advice’’, to the ARVN, was not sufficient to crush the democratic forces of the Vietnamese. So in 1964, President Johnson began a full scale bombing campaign of the North. As well, he sent ground troops into the South, so called ‘’boots on the ground’’, in an attempt to ‘’pacify’’ the South. At one point, a half million American troops were stationed in South Vietnam. Even this massive display of military power, failed to crush the democratic forces. The Americans were defeated, with the last of the troops leaving South Vietnam, in 1973. This American defeat, in Vietnam, is officially referred to as a ‘’withdrawl’’. 

It may seem reasonable to assume that this ‘’involvement’’, within Vietnam, this attempt to subjugate another country, which lasted for over twenty years, would have taught the American imperialists a valuable lesson. It clearly did not. Or perhaps they have merely forgotten. Vietnam was not exceptional! It was typical! No other country is about to submit to American aggression! That includes Venezuela! 

Without doubt, now the democratic forces of Venezuela are organizing, preparing to oppose this American invasion, this attempt to ‘’take over’’ their country, to steal their oil, among other things. Not about to happen! The Americans are about to find themselves involved in ‘’another Vietnam’’!

As if that is not ‘’bad enough’’, Trump also plans to invade Greenland, which will result in a war with Denmark; to invade Columbia; to invade Panama, in order to ‘’take over’’ the Panama Canal; to invade Canada, in order to make Canada the ‘’Fifty First State’’; to go to war with Iran! War on numerous fronts! Madness!

Now even the American imperialists, the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, those who are determined to establish an Oligarchy, are aware that they have made a ‘’serious mistake’’. They thought they could control Donald Trump. They cannot. He is a ‘’loose cannon’’, completely out of control. Now they have to find a way to remove him from office. That is where the Twenty Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, and in particular, Section 4, comes into play. As it is so important, I have chosen to copy it here, in its entirety:

‘’Section 4, Declaration by Vice President and Others:

‘’Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
‘’Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.’’

In more popular terms, this means that, if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet, which is to say eight Members, are convinced that the President is unable to perform his duties, then they can submit such a declaration to the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Vice President then becomes the Acting President. But then a similar response, by the President, in writing, to the effect that he is still alive and well, shall result in his resumption of the office of President. At that time, the Vice President, and the majority of the Cabinet, have four days to resubmit that same statement. At that point, both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, have twenty one days to decide if the President is able to ‘’discharge the power and duties of his office’’. It requires  ‘’two thirds of both Houses of Congress’’, in order to remove him from office.

As there are one hundred Senators, it requires sixty seven votes. As well, there are 435 Members of the House of Representatives, so it also requires the vote of 290 Members of the House, in order to remove the President from office. That is considered to be a very ‘’high bar’’, and with good reason. Both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, are controlled by the Republican Party, the Party of Donald Trump. Such a ‘’two thirds vote’’, by both ‘’Houses of Congress’’, in order to remove him from office, is not about to happen. At least, not at present.

On the other hand, the revolutionary motion, which is currently sweeping the country, may ‘’inspire’’ the vast majority to vote for the removal of Trump, from the office of Presidency. It depends upon the power of the common people, as expressed in the strength of the revolutionary motion.

The only reason I have gone into this detailed description, of Section 4 of the Twenty Fifth Amendment, is because it is being considered, very seriously, by the ruling class of monopoly capitalists. The mainstream press is certainly covering it. As well, the Leftist press is devoting a considerable amount of attention to the matter. Yet even the Leftist press is failing to point out the class interests, which are involved. Sadly, that is typical of the Leftist press. Leftist in name only!

As well, there are a great many common people, by whom I mean workers and family farmers, who still have great faith in the existing legal system. It will take something more than a ‘’stern lecture’’, to persuade them of the correctness of Scientific Socialism. It is to their credit, that they are convinced by their own personal experience, along with the proper arguments, concerning the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin.

For the moment, the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, do not know ‘’which way to jump’’, to state it in popular terms. They are ‘’at their wits ends’’, so to speak. They succeeded in placing Trump back in the White House, at great expense, I might add, as a means of establishing the rule of the Oligarchy. Success! And now their ‘’Golden Boy’’ has turned against them! He is determined to act upon every stray impulse. In the process, he is sure to destroy the very state apparatus he is supposed to protect!

Yet this was foreseen, in the Communist Manifesto. As it states: ‘’Finally, in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the process of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands. Just as, therefore, at an earlier period, a section of the nobility went over to the bourgeoisie, so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the proletariat, and in particular, a portion of the bourgeois ideologists, who have raised themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole.’’

The ruling class of monopoly capitalists, are currently in a ‘’process of dissolution’’. They are fighting among themselves, as well as with the ruling class of monopoly capitalists of other countries. Now we can expect a ‘’small section of the ruling class’’, to ‘’join the revolutionary class’’, the proletariat, the ‘’class that holds the future in its hands’’.

For our part, we must ‘’welcome them with open arms’’! Their class background must not be held against them! Bear in mind that both Marx and Lenin were middle class. Petty bourgeois. To be prejudiced against a fellow revolutionary, because of their class background, is to be prejudiced against Marx and Lenin!

On the contrary, their previous careers, as loyal and devoted servants of the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, will serve as valuable teaching aids. They will advise working people of the fact that such a service counted for nothing. The multi billionaires care only about themselves. There is absolutely no reward, for many years of faithful service. 

These middle class professionals can also provide a most valuable service, after the revolution, in rebuilding the country. They have the education and training, necessary to organize any and all large businesses. These are skills which working people, proletarians, simply do not have.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac 

Donald Trump and the Donroe Doctrine

Gerald Mcisaac

On January 3, 2025, the United States invaded the sovereign country of Venezuela. The Prime Minister of that country, Nicolas Maduro, as well as his wife, Cillia Flores, were ‘’abducted’’, or more accurately, they were kidnapped, and taken to America. Both were then taken to court, where they ‘’faced a four count indictment’’. 

Two of these charges ‘’relate to drug trafficking conspiracies’’, while the other two ‘’relate to firearms offences’’. 

It is significant that the Trump administration did not notify Congress, ‘’in advance of the strikes’’, as it was thought that it would ‘’endanger the mission’’. They were afraid that a Member of Congress could ‘’leak it’’, to the press. 

On the contrary, before the invasion, in response to the legitimate concerns, of certain Members of Congress, they stated that they ‘’had no intention of sending troops into Venezuela’’. 

As a Member of Congress stated, ‘’It is not that they did not advise us of the plan to invade Venezuela, as is required by law! They simply lied about it’’! 

The ‘’law’’, to which this Member of Congress was referring, is nothing other than Article One of the Constitution. This Article gives Congress- and only Congress!- the right to ‘’levy taxes, regulate commerce, and declare war’’! 

The very fact that President Trump sent American troops into the sovereign country of Venezuela, is an act of war! Further, it is completely beyond the authority of the executive branch of government, led by the President.

Donald Trump is attempting to usurp the authority of the legislative branch of government, which is to say the Congress. He is ‘’wiping his feet’’ on the Constitution, completely disregarding it. More accurately, he is violating Constitutional law! Setting himself up as the new Monarch! Hail His Majesty, King Donald the First!

Perhaps someone should remind this simple soul, this absent minded American, this would be dictator, that Americans gave their former ruling class of monarchs, the British nobility, led by King George, their ‘’walking papers’’, many years ago. Donald Trump seems to have forgotten, that which every school age American is well aware. The United States is a republic, not a monarchy! Could it be that a little reminder is in order?

Sadly, the democratically elected Members of Congress, both of the House of Representatives and the Senate, have chosen to allow Trump to usurp their authority. These are the same people who expect all Americans to show them the proper respect. After they have abdicated their authority to that would be Monarch! Not about to happen! Respect is earned, not granted!

Donald Trump has justified this invasion, by invoking that which he refers to as the ‘’Donroe Doctrine’’. He no doubt considers this to be a clever ‘’play on words’’, based on the ‘’Monroe Doctrine’’, of the Nineteenth Century. This calls for a little explanation.

In 1823, President James Monroe, in an annual State of the Union Address to Congress, made it clear that the foreign policy of the United States, was to oppose any ‘’European colonialism’’, in the Western Hemisphere. Any such interference was to be considered to be a ‘’hostile act against the United States’’. In turn, the United States would ‘’recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies, nor meddle in the internal affairs of European countries’’. 

The Donroe Doctrine is similar, in that any European interference in the Western Hemisphere is simply not allowed. That Hemisphere is strictly under the influence of the United States. Any and all European powers must ‘’keep their distance’’. In turn, there is no ‘’in turn’’! Trump is determined to meddle in the internal affairs of all other countries, European or non European, as he sees fit!

With regards to the charges against President Maduro of Venezuela, and his wife, they recently appeared in court and pleaded ‘’Not Guilty’’, to all charges. A Leftist journalist then posted a video, on the internet, titled, ‘’Maduro Flips the Script On Trump At First Court Appearance’’.

In this video, the journalist documents the fact that other Heads of State have previously been ‘’apprehended’’, taken to America, and charged with various ‘’drug related offensives’’. The first was Manuel Noriega, the Head of State of Panama. He too, was ‘’apprehended’’ in 1989, taken to America, given the formality of a fair trial, convicted and sentenced to forty years in prison.

The second was the President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez. In 2022, he was arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to forty five years in prison, for ‘’his role in a drug trafficking operation that moved hundreds of tonnes of cocaine into the United States’’. Strangely enough, he was recently pardoned by President Trump.  

The narrator then proceeded to point out the ‘’irony’’’ that President Maduro will very likely use the defence of ‘’Presidential Immunity’’, as a way to avoid criminal prosecution. That is the very defence that Trump used, successfully, in previous court appearances!

Now the Trump administration, or at least the Department of Justice, DOJ, is going to have to argue against giving that same Head of State Immunity, to President Maduro! If nothing else, this will help to expose the hypocrisy of Trump!

Now that Trump has invaded Venezuela, and kidnapped the President, he placed the Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, as ‘’Interim President of Venezuela’’. This is strictly a formality, as Trump also made it clear that, as he stated, he ‘’plans to run Venezuela’’, in order to ‘’allow American businesses to extract Venezuelan oil’’. As Venezuela has possibly the largest oil reserves in the world, that explains the invasion of the country!

Trump also wants to take undisputed control of the Arctic. For that reason, he recently announced that he plans to seize control of Greenland, within the ‘’next two months’’. This despite the fact that Greenland is part of Denmark, a Member Country of NATO! (NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.)

Numerous countries have expressed solidarity with Denmark, in opposition to the plan of Trump, to take over Greenland. Many of these countries are also members of NATO. An invasion of Greenland could well result in war between the various countries of NATO!

Another video, which I recommend, is that given by the Meidas Touch host, Ben Meiselas, titled, ‘’Furious World Leaders Give Final Warning To Trump’’. In this video, Meiselas gives a deeply passionate speech, in opposition to the actions of the Trump administration. He documents the fact that world leaders are condemning the actions of President Trump, such as the invasion of Venezuela, and the subsequent kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife. As well, they are also condemning the plans of Trump, to ‘’conquer all of the Western Hemisphere’’, to ‘’invade Greenland’’, to ‘’invade Columbia’’, to ‘’invade Mexico’’, to ‘’annex Canada as the fifty first state’’. 

Perhaps the most striking statement, was that of the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, in that she stated: ‘’Article 2, Paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations, which states verbatim, ‘The members of the Organization, and their international relations, shall refrain from the threat or use of force, against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations’’’. 

It is to the credit of Meidas Touch, that this is immediately followed by a video titled, ‘’Trump Loses It As Emergency UN Meeting Condemns Him’’. The title of the video is rather self explanatory. It includes a statement by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guiterrez, at the United Nations Security Council meeting, concerning the invasion of Venezuela: 

‘’I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the three January military action. The Charter enshrines the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The maintenance of international peace and security depends upon the continued commitment of all member states to adhere to all provisions of the Charter.

‘’Mr. President, Venezuela has experienced decades of internal instability and social and economic turmoil. Democracy has been undermined. Millions of its people have fled the country. The situation is critical, but it is still possible to prevent a wider and more destructive conflagration. I call on all those involved to engage in an inclusive democratic dialogue, in which all sectors of society can determine their future. This entails the full respect of human rights, the rule of law, and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people. I also urge Venezuela’s neighbours and the international community more broadly, to act in the spirit of solidarity and adherence to the principles, laws and rules erected to promote peaceful coexistence. I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward. ..In situations as confused and complex, as those we now face, it is important to stick to principles, respect for the UN Charter, and all other applicable legal frameworks to safeguard peace and security. Respect for the principle of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. The prohibition of the threat or the use of force. The power of the law must prevail. International law contains tools to address issues, such as the illicit trafficking of narcotics, disputes about resources and human rights concerns. This is the route we need to take’’.

The Secretary General of the United Nations certainly made a fine speech. Venezuela is indeed a ‘’sovereign country’’, and as such, should be respected. As well, the United Nations Charter should also be respected. Yet that speech is completely pointless, as the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council. As such, they have the right to overrule any resolution the United Nations may choose to adopt. And rest assured, they are certain to overrule any resolution which condemns their invasion of Venezuela.

It should be noted that Trump has other plans, aside from those which have just been documented. These include invading Panama, in order to take over the Panama Canal. Another war with Iran, if only to ‘’put them in their place’’. And then there are countries, such as Columbia, which are responsible for supplying America with vast quantities of narcotics. So many countries to invade!

There is a popular expression, which comes to mind: ‘’Be careful what you wish for, as you may get just that’’!

The reason I say this, is because the American ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, were determined to abolish the democratic republic, and set up the rule of an Oligarchy, led by Donald Trump. They have succeeded, got exactly what they wanted, and are now ‘’kicking themselves’’! Donald Trump is now a ‘’loose cannon’’, completely out of control, and those same monopoly capitalists are ‘’at their wits end’’, with no idea of what to do.

As soon as the people of Venezuela get over the initial shock of the invasion, they will no doubt organize an armed resistance. Equally without doubt, Trump will respond by sending ever more troops to the country, in order to ‘’restore law and order’’, or some such foolishness.

As well, we can expect Denmark to defend that which is rightfully theirs, which is to say Greenland. We can also expect neighbouring countries to join Denmark, in this anticipated war with America. That will be the end of NATO!

Lest we forget, there are numerous other countries that Trump plans to invade, in pursuit of his Donroe Doctrine. This will result in fighting a war on numerous fronts! Such a war cannot be won! What is more, the American Oligarchy is well aware of this. They got exactly what they ‘’wished for’’! 

The fable of the Genie who summoned a Demon from the ‘’nether regions’’ comes to mind. It is one thing to summon a Demon, and something else entirely to control that Demon! 

We can think of the American Oligarchy as the Genie, and Trump as the Demon they have summoned, or perhaps created. He is now running amok, determined to inflict as much damage as possible. What is more, he is doing a most impressive job!

Now the American Oligarchy is faced with a little problem. How to ‘’send the Demon back to the nether regions’’? That is the question. The best answers these simple souls can come up with, is the same old tried and true procedures of yesteryear. They have not worked before, so try it again. This includes that of impeachment, twice unsuccessful. Then there is the Twenty Fifth Amendment, a long shot at best.

In fact, their ‘’best bet’’ is the Twelfth Amendment, which lays out the procedure to be followed for all federal elections. As that procedure was not followed, in the 2024 federal election, it stands to reason that both Trump and Pence have been fraudulently elected. A simple Supreme Court challenge, on that grounds, would almost certainly result in their removal from office. As I have gone into this in previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here.

The current chaos and confusion, within Washington, concerning the implications of the Epstein Files, the recent invasion of Venezuela, as well as the plans of Trump to invade Greenland, Columbia, Iran and Panama, among other things, has thrown the ruling class of bourgeoisie into disarray. 

Yet this was foreseen, in the Communist Manifesto. As it states: ‘’Finally, in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the process of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands. Just as, therefore, at an earlier period, a section of the nobility went over to the bourgeoisie, so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the proletariat, and in particular, a portion of the bourgeois ideologists, who have raised themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole.’’

I can only hope that this current crisis in capitalism, will serve to motivate the bourgeois ideologists, those who have managed to ‘’raise themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole’’. Feel free to join the ‘’revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands’’. That class is the working class, the proletariat.

To such bourgeois ideologists, I can only say: Welcome, my Brothers and Sisters, my Comrades!

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac