Thoughts for the Day, January 23, 2025: Executive Orders are not a Good Way to Govern says Nolan Finley

Nolan Finley’s take on Executive Orders

Throughout the many years I have been reading editorials and opinion pieces by Detroit News editorial writer Nolan Finley, he has been consistent in his distaste for executive orders whether done by the president, governor, or mayor or by Republicans or Democrats. Finley believes executive orders are not the way to govern. Here are excerpts from Finley’s editorial today.

Executive orders are the wrong way to deliver the change the nation needs, and for a few reasons.

First, executive orders don’t produce lasting reforms. They’re only as permanent as the president who issues them. A new president can toss out his predecessor’s orders as soon as he takes office, as Trump did wholesale Monday.

The best example of the ping pong nature of executive orders is the Paris Climate Accord. Obama committed the United States to the treaty without Senate approval. When Trump became president the first time, he took the U.S. out of the pact. Biden put us back in. And now Monday Trump ordered us out again.

Had any of the presidents convinced Congress to approve the treaty, it would be enduring, and those impacted could do long-term planning with some confidence.

As a republic, America guarantees the people, through their elected representatives, a voice in how they are governed.

Trump is making sweeping changes in policy that will significantly alter life in America and is doing so without engaging the legislative branch.

There’s no excuse for Trump to engage in one-man rule. His party controls both branches of Congress. If he applied his vaunted deal-making skills, he should be able to get what he wants.

Governing by fiat also contributes to an increasingly expansive view of executive powers. Presidents begin to think there are no limits on what they can do.

Witness Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. That right is promised by the U.S. Constitution, which states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Clear as a bell.

Republicans who are cheering the speed and sweep of Trump’s push to transform Washington should ask themselves how they’ll feel when it’s a Democratic president wielding the pen.

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Ichiro Suzuki

Question of the Day: How did one of the Hall of Fame voters leave Ichiro off his Hall of Fame selection?

One Monday, Ichiro was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes. Under Hall of Fame rules, the voters include selected baseball writers and living members of the Hall of Fame. Each voter is allowed to vote for a maximum of 10 players on the ballot. How one of the 394 voters chose not to vote for Suzuki is beyond me?

Only one player has received a unanimous selection, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees. Ichiro deserved and earned the right to a unanimous selection. In my opinion, only seven players in my lifetime have earned unanimous selection. They a Rivera, Suzuki, Derek Jeter (missed by one vote), Ken Griffey Jr. (missed by two votes), Hank Aaron (missed by nine votes), Willie Mays (94.7%), and Cal Ripken (missed by eight votes),

Per Yahoo Sports, Suzuki, 51, had a lengthy, unprecedented career that spanned three decades in two countries. His pro career began as an 18-year-old in Japan after he was drafted by the Orix BlueWave. He spent nine years playing for Orix, many as a standout, before making the move to MLB by signing with the Seattle Mariners.

Once Ichiro arrived in the U.S., there was no stopping him. In 2001, he won AL Rookie of the Year as a 27-year-old, won the AL MVP, went to his first of 10 consecutive All-Star Games, won his first of 10 Gold gloves and won his first of three Silver Sluggers. He's the only MLB hitter in the past 126 years to hit 200-plus singles in a year, and he did that two separate times. He retired after 19 seasons in MLB with a lifetime triple slash of .311/.355/.402, 509 stolen bases and 3,089 hits, which he collected while playing for the Mariners, Yankees and Marlins.

Beyond his longevity, supernatural talent and tireless dedication to his craft, story after story describes Suzuki's incredible sense of humor, his love of wings (he ate them before every single home game in the same chair using the same plate) and his impeccable fashion sense. Few athletes are as loved as he is in one country, but he's beloved in two.

In the context of what is happening in the world, Ichiro not being a unanimous selection is not a big deal. To baseball fanatics like me, it matters.

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It is Day 3 of this historic snowfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama

City services are still closed through Friday. Most restaurants are closed. The bridges over the intercoastal have opened, but for only one lane of traffic in each direction (normal is 3 lanes in each direction). Roads and sidewalks are still icy and rutted.

Things should be better on Friday as temperatures on Thursday have reached the mid-40s. The big melt-off has begun. I hope to ride my bike on Friday and golf on Monday.

Wish me luck.

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Thank You

I want to say thank you to those who read this blog and share it with their friends and family members. Monday’s blog had over 300 views, which is an all-time high. Over the last five blogs I am averaging over 260 views daily. Prior to moving to Substack in early November I was averaging less than 50 views daily. Moving to Substack has motivated me.

I really appreciate the comments I receive and the answers to my Lyrics of the Day. Likes are also greatly appreciated. Please feel free to send me suggestions for topics or ways to improve. Ask your friends or family to subscribe. If they do not like the blog, they can unsubscribe with a click of a button.

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Quote of the Day: “Governing by fiat also contributes to an increasingly expansive view of executive powers. Presidents begin to think there are no limits on what they can do.” Nolan Finley

Orchid of the Day: Ichiro Suzuki for his election to the MLB Hall of Fame

Onion of the Day: The Hall of Fame voter who did not vote for Ichiro for the Hall of Fame.

Lyrics of the Day: “Hey! Well, my temperature's rising and my feet are on the floor Crazy people knocking 'cause they're wanting some more.
Let me in, baby, I don't know what you got, But you better take it easy, this place is hot. And I'm so glad we made it. So glad we made it.”

If you think you know the title of the song and the artist/group, feel free to provide your answer in the comment section below.

Answer to Lyrics of the Day for January 22, 2025, Sympathy for the Devil, by the Rolling Stones

Question of the Day: See above about Ichiro

Video of the Day: If you ever wondered what a 7-foot 350 lb. man looks like dancing, here you go. This is the best stress releaser I have encountered in a long time. If you don’t laugh or smile after watching this video, there is something wrong.

(1) Facebook

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