“Bully pulpit: A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.” – Oxford Languages

It is a term originally coined by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, by which he referred to the office of president as an excellent platform from which to promote an agenda . . .

. . . not a stage from which to humiliate other world leaders and dignitaries, thus displaying one’s own ignorance, cruelty, and psychotic need to be king of the hill.

And yes, I am referring to the two recent displays of viciousness aimed at Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, in well-rehearsed, perfectly-orchestrated harangues before the cameras of the world’s premier news media.

No doubt the Oval Office has, over the past couple of centuries, been the scene of many a contentious meeting. But they were not played out in front of the mass media for the entire world’s population to witness. And I daresay, no previous president would have stooped so low as to degrade and humiliate a counterpart from another nation, just because he could.

It takes the smallest of men to lord his advantageous position over those less fortunate — in these two cases, one whose country is being demolished in an unjust war, and another who hoped for a reset in relations by clarifying what he says are false accusations against his government.

The details of both ambushes have been amply presented in the media; and frankly, to repeat them here would simply nauseate me even more than I already am. I could not be more horrified or more disgusted by Donald Trump’s treatment of President Ramaphosa if he had forced that gentleman to strip to the waist and flogged him with a cat o’ nine tails.

Once again, I have to ask: How long are we, the American public, going to allow this administration to continue circumventing our laws, ignoring our Constitution, dishonoring our allies, desecrating our most sacred institutions, and destroying our credibility as a nation, before we take legal steps to put a stop to it?

And once again, I use this — my “bully pulpit” — to remind the members of Congress and the Justices of the Supreme Court that the solution to our problems rests in your hands. One man could not have wreaked so much havoc without support . . . your misguided, misplaced, unconscionable support.

Now, it is up to you to reawaken your consciences, do your jobs, and fix it . . . before it’s beyond repair.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/23/25