A philosophical term dating back to the 14th century is just as relevant today.
Known as Occam's Razor, it holds that the simplest explanation tends to be the correct one. It's also common sense.
Consider what President Trump would have us believe:
• The FBI is a "deep-state" enclave of anti-Trump conspirators.
• Former Republican FBI directors such as Bob Mueller and Jim Comey are part of this conspiracy.
• Department of Justice officials appointed by President Trump, such as Republicans Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, are part of this conspiracy.
How likely is it that a bunch of Republican FBI and DOJ officials, including Trump appointees, are part of a conspiracy against him?
Keep in mind the president's continually changing story about why he fired Comey.
The original White House version was that the president fired Comey at the recommendation of Sessions and Rosenstein.
In a later televised interview, Trump dropped that version, admitting that he made the decision himself, because of "the Russia thing."
On May 18, Trump bailed on that story too, tweeting, "Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia!"
So what explanation is simpler and more likely to be correct?
That the DOJ and the FBI are left-leaning hotbeds of Republican anti-Trumpers?
Or that Trump can't be trusted to tell the truth?
The answer is obvious. Which is one reason why the Mueller investigation must be allowed to continue.
Recently, former Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, a strong conservative, spoke of the need to protect the Mueller investigation, which is coming under increasing pressure from Trump and his congressional supporters.
He said Republicans must support the rule of law, not exactly a controversial stand.
Unfortunately, at the national level, congressional leaders are too scared to buck Trump.
That's why it must become a local issue.
We need local Republican officials like Rep. Steve Smyk and Sen. Ernie Lopez, and local Republican opinion leaders like Bob and Priscilla Clark to stand up and support the completion of the Mueller investigation.
That would be hard, I know. In the short term, it seems smarter politically to keep your head down. Hope the problem will go away. That's why this is a "Profiles in Courage" moment. Let's also remember two Republican stalwarts, former President George H. W. Bush and U.S. Sen. John McCain, and their treatment by Trump.
Bush was shot down while serving in the Pacific during World War II. He is 94 years old and suffering from Parkinson's disease. He just lost his wife.
McCain was shot down while serving in Vietnam. He was imprisoned in North Vietnam for five and a half years, having declined the opportunity to be freed before his fellow prisoners. He is 81 and dying of brain cancer.
At the recent rally in Montana, the president of the United States insulted them both. No one from the Republican leadership spoke up to denounce Trump.
If we are too timid to denounce this, what is left to denounce?
If we are too fearful to defend our war heroes, even as they lay dying, we are unworthy of the freedoms we so proudly proclaimed on the Fourth of July.
In honor of Bush and McCain and all the other soldiers who risked their lives for us, let's stand up for the rule of law.
Let President Trump know that the Mueller investigation must be allowed to complete its task.
Don Flood
Lewes
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