Can You Say "Emoluments?"

Black’s Law Dictionary defines an “emolument” as an “advantage, profit, or gain received as a result of one’s employment or one’s holding of office.”

Merriam-Webster defines "emolument" as "the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites." Perquisites is the key word for this discussion, "a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages, especially one expected or promised."

Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7 of the Constitution states, "The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them."

The day this president took office he was violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution. His DC Trump hotel was in violation the day he was sworn in. Foreign governments, and multinational corporations were renting blocks of rooms, for millions of dollars, to curry favor with the new president. Even though he said he was turning over his company to his sons, you know as well as I, millions of dollars are flowing into his pocket.

In two and a half years he has charged the US Treasury over $120 Million for his golf excursions at his own properties (for over one third of his time in office). How many miilions have reached his own pocket? He had his VP, Mike Pence, stay at his golf resort on the opposite side of the island on his recent poltical visit to Ireland. It wasn't just Mike, it's his secret service detail, his staff, and there's military people involved. It's usually renting out an entire wing, or more. Trump's charging them for all of it at the premium price. I mean, not even a discount? Pence had to fly to Dublin on Air Force 2 to attend meetings with the Irish, instead of just driving across town. What did that cost?

The latest outrage is him having Air Force planes refuel at Turnberry, Scotland, a private ariport near his golf resort, and having the crew stay at his resort. It costs millions more for the planes to refuel at the airport than at a military base, as was usual protocol, and it's even been said the crews can't afford the restaurant because their per diems won't cover the cost. They say they're giving the military a "cut rate." what is it? $150 a night?

Now he wants to have the next G-7 meeting, that will be held in the US, at his Doral resort near Miami. Money, money, money.

I know a lot of people love the guy, but they're in love with a tv celebrity image, and not the real deal. This man is the most corrupt person to ever inhabit the presidency. I won't even get into his cabinet, but you know, birds of a feather. As the saying goes, grifters gonna grift.

I have to ask my conservative/Republican neighbors: You've been telling me for years and years how you consider yourselves "constitutional conservatives," true believers in the Constitution. Where are you on this? You're totally silent on this matter. As the saying goes, silence implies consent. Is it just IOKYAR? It's OK If You're A Republican?