Removal should be easy choice; GOP doesn’t have the guts
In any other country, a president who incites a deadly insurrection against his or her own government would be gone – one way or another. We do things differently in America. Donald Trump’s biggest punishment? A temporary block from using social media, condemnation from some fellow Republicans and a few staff resignations, which amounts to nothing more than “rats leaving the sinking ship,” as former Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein put it.
Stunningly, that’s exactly how the American government is dealing with an insurrection incited right out of the White House – the symbol of a civilized and democratic society.
It didn’t take long for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday to call on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump. Or else, she said, Democrats could impeach him.
This should’ve been an easy call for Pence and fellow Republicans who fit
tingly condemned Wednesday’s assault on the U.S. Capitol, but their condemnation was just an easy cop-out.
It’s up to Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. He would need half of Trump’s cabinet to agree with him to ask Congress to approve Trump’s removal and make him the commander-in-chief until Jan. 20 when Joe Biden is sworn in.
The process is rather complicated but not impossible. With enough cabinet support, invoking it would immediately allow Pence to take charge while the process plays out.
Under the 25th Amendment, Pence would need to send a written declaration to Congress indicating Trump is “unable to discharge the power and duties of his office.” Trump could immediately send a written declaration saying he does, and he would take charge again unless Pence and cabinet members restate their declaration within four days.
After that, Congress would need to vote within 21 days. A two-thirds is needed to remove Trump.
It wouldn’t get to a congressional vote, given that Trump would be gone in a few days, anyway. The objective here is to strip him from his presidential powers now and spare the nation further damage.
But Pence reportedly quickly nixed the idea. He and fellow Republicans don’t have the guts to punish the guy who incited the revolt against the Constitution they promised to defend.
Instead, they’ll continue to merely utter outrage and perhaps cheer those leaving the sinking ship.
A few top Trump aides quit, including former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who was the U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland.
Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and wife of Republican Sen. Majority Mitch McConnell, became the first cabinet member to step down, effective Jan. 11, in the wake of the mob assault on the U.S. Capitol. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has also resigned.
What a joke. These people aren’t leaving the sinking ship out of principle. They’re trying to save themselves. They enabled Trump for years. They peddled his lies and carried out his policies.
If Chao, DeVos and other cabinet members ready to step down were truly disgusted with the attempted coup d’état, they would stay to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump. But they also don’t have the guts to do it. What a shame.
I don’t buy the argument that trying to remove Trump is wasted force. It’s standing firm to defend the U.S. Constitution, America’s democratic principles.
Otherwise, what kind of message is America sending to enemies, foreign and domestic?