Some more characters Trump can congratulate
Sen. Jeff Flake now says that if President Donald Trump were to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, he’d be risking impeachment.
In a tweet, Flake said:
“We are begging the president not to fire the special counsel. Don’t create a constitutional crisis. Congress cannot preempt such a firing. Our only constitutional remedy is after the fact, through impeachment. No one wants that outcome. Mr. President, please don’t go there.”
Sadly, losing touch with political reality and the phony election victory of a brutal Russian dictator is not an impeachable offense.
On Tuesday, the president called Russian President Vladmir Putin to congratulate him on “winning” reelection.
There are a lot of reasons Trump might have contacted Putin.
To announce that he was going to fully impose all the sanctions Congress voted for, owing to Russia’s interference in our elections.
Or perhaps to chastise him over the nerve-agent attack on two Russians in Great Britain.
As Sen. John McCain tweeted: “An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election.”
Apparently, Trump ignored the advice of his national-security advisers, who actually had provided him with briefing materials, prior to his call to Putin, that had printed on them in capital letters: “DO NOT CONGRATULATE.”
Why would his advisers do that? Well, primarily because the United States and our allies have been under cyberattack by Russia.
Also because the Russian election was never in doubt. Putin made sure the outcome was predetermined. Scripted.
Trump calling to congratulate Putin is like Trump heaping praise on the winner of a professional-wrestling match.
Or sending along his highest admiration to Rocky Balboa for defeating Apollo Creed (as if “Rocky II” is a documentary).
Or perhaps paying his deepest respects to Po the panda for defeating the snow leopard Tai Lung in “Kung Fu Panda.”
Then there’s the Karate Kid. And the Bad News Bears.
I tell you, stuff like this makes a journalist wish that President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet still ruled “The West Wing.”
Wait …