Enough is enough!

I was ready along with many reasonable Americans to let this president go peacefully into retirement after the long nightmare of his tenure. But not now. He has actively encouraged armed thugs and criminals to engage in a full-fledged insurrection against the government and the people of the United States. We’ve handled this kind of treasonous behavior once before during the Civil War. And we can handle it again.

My wife’s family contributed a general officer to the Union army ranks during that rebellion, and my family contributed several privates first class. Americans are ready once again to defend the republic against this new internal enemy. Retired four-star Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey said recently that the president should be removed from office. He should also be prosecuted for insurrection in the same way that anyone else would be who attacked or advocated an attack on the Capitol of the United States.

And all those would-be pot-bellied, self-styled “minutemen patriots” who stormed the Capitol should be arrested, tried and convicted and given 10-year federal sentences. If they want a fight, then let them engage armed state troopers, U.S. Marines, Army Rangers Special Forces and not the unarmed and defenseless members of Congress who are trying to do their constitutional duty. Again, enough is enough. It’s time to end this nightmare and recognize this thug of a president for who he is.

Dr. Anthony R. Santoro, Yorktown