I have just had an opportunity to talk to President Trump.  And I will say to all my colleagues, he is prepared to sign the bill.  He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time.  And I have indicated to him that I am going to prepare…to support the national emergency declaration.

~Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, February 14,  2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cautioned President Trump privately this week about the consequences of declaring a national emergency to build his border wall, telling him the move could trigger political blowback and divide the GOP, according to two Republicans with knowledge of the exchange.

Washington Post, February 1, 2019

For the leader of a political party which regularly challenges the science of evolution, the rate at which McConnell adapted to a change in the environment is mind-blowing.  I understand the majority leader (and I use the term leader loosely) is walking a tight rope.  He did not look comfortable making the above statement. An individual who time and time again pontificates about the sanctity of the U.S. Senate must have realized he had just, as several pundits noted, handed over the keys to the upper chamber to Donald Trump.

I believe he did this under the assumption the courts will bail him out.  If and when the Supreme Court rules the declaration to be a violation of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, I have no doubt McConnell will take credit for warning Trump and declare the Supreme Court “proved me to be correct.”

This reminded me of the following  cartoon about the Israeli/Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip in an on-line article penned by Alan Dershowitz.

Except in McConnell’s case, the human shields to whom he looks to protect the institution he sullies by his political cowardice are not children.  See below.

POSTSCRIPT

Yesterday, newly confirmed Attorney General William Barr took the oath of office placing his hand on a copy of the Bible.  I would have felt more comfortable if he, and every other elected and appointed federal official, would take their oath on the U.S. Constitution to which all citizens should pledge allegiance rather than a religious symbol which represents only a subset of the vox populi.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP