That is Elizabeth Barrett Browning, pictured above. You may, sometime in the past, have read her Sonnet 43, "How Do I Love Thee?" Here it is, just in case you don't already have it by memory:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Yesterday morning, as I read The New York Times, in the hard copy edition that is delivered to my front walkway, I noticed that The Times had published a sixteen-page special section, listing our current president's actions during his first 100 days in office. Stimulated, I am sure, by my memory of the Browning poem, and by its wonderful first line, I immediately thought of a title for my blog posting today: "Let Me Count The Days."
In yesterday's newspaper (in the hard copy version, at least), The Times has published a special section, documenting the actions of the president during his first "100 Days" in office. I couldn't, actually, find that special section online, to give you a link, but The Times' website does have a number of articles exploring what the president has done from his inauguration day until now. The Times' paywall permitting, here's a link that will allow you to see what The Times has to say.
If you do review our current president's record, so far, I think you will agree that when we "Count The Days" that Mr. Trump has been in office we will find ourselves with a list that documents, in high contrast, that he has done exactly what I complained about yesterday. Our president thinks he can do whatever he wants, starting with a unliteral assertion, on "Day 1," that he can direct the elimination of the right to birthright citizenship established by the Constitution itself.
Is Mr. Trump a "rogue" president? Is he way beyond his "remit" (to cite to the British definition of the word)?
Oh, yes! Oh, yes he is! He is, indeed! Track down those articles from The Times that document what our current president has been doing, and you will be convinced, I feel confident, that I am right about that. Our current president - as I noted yesterday - is attempting to go way beyond what the Constitution says are the powers and duties of his office.
Really! Our current president is going WAY beyond his "remit," his "authority."
As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, in a much different context:
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