Be Careful What You Wish For

   Republicans didn't like the idea of President John F. Kennedy naming his brother Robert to the post of attorney general, so they passed an anti-nepotism law.
   The GOP also didn't like the idea of a President being immune from prosecution in civil cases, so they arranged it so that Bill Clinton would be entangled and deposed.
   Earlier, they didn't like the idea of Franklin D. Roosevelt being elected President four times, so they pushed for a Constitutional amendment limiting a President's tenure to two terms, plus two years of an unexpired term.
   The term limit was enacted just in time to prevent the popular Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower from running for a third term.
   Now, President-elect Donald Trump wants his son-in-law Jared Kushner to be a senior advisor at the White House.
   So not only does the choice conflict with the anti-nepotism law, pushed through by the GOP, but there is also the issue of Kushner's many real estate involvements, including a deal with Chinese developers that reached final talks on Election Day, and may well be finished after inauguration day.
   Question: Can a senior presidential advisor continue to work private sector deals with international investors?
   Trump has said there will be "no new deals" after he is inaugurated. But what about deals and contracts initiated before inauguration day, but will continue while he is President?
   The Constitution is clear about the President, or any person "holding any office of profit or trust" from accepting any benefits or payments "of any kind whatever" from any foreign person or entity. Can't do it.
   Unless Congress approves. And that, friends, raises another issue. Who's in charge here? The President, and the Congress or the Constitution, law and the American people?
   Next question: Will a Republican-controlled Congress approve a potentially wide range of emoluments, as the Constitution calls them, to be granted to the President and his family? Or will they have an attack of conscience?
   Can you say impeachment, conviction and removal from office, as well as criminal charges and imprisonment? Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.