CHORUS OF CONDEMNATION NEEDED OVER TRUMP’S ANTICS

HISTORY is not replete with individuals who single-handedly diminished the standing of their nation. Thankfully such action is beyond the capabilities of most. But President Donald Trump, whether by deliberate, reckless action, or towering ineptitude, has come alarmingly close. Thankfully his country and its people were not about to stand idly by and give free rein to the chaos.

The fame-hungry, former reality TV show star, has finally achieved genuine distinction – becom- ing the first president in history to be impeached, twice.

It says much about the fear that has descended over Washington that for the first time since the American Civil War, armed troops have had to set up camp and sleep on the marble floors of the Capitol.

To her credit, it was Republican Liz Cheney, who best summed things up: “The president of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also let it be known that he thinks Mr Trump’s impeachment was warranted.

From the beginning, Mr Trump promoted discord and division undermining order, and harnessing the disruption for his own ends.

Perhaps the most unpardonable example of this was his unashamedly playing down of the pandemic which has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Instead of earnestly entreating states to treat the crisis seriously, he scoffed at safety measures, cut off funds, and fed the notion the virus was a thing of nothing. So even before the appalling scenes of January 6, there was a compelling case for his removal. What is required now is a dignified chorus of democratic condemnation to denounce the deranged behaviour and call it out for what it is.

This is not some hard-to-follow legal wrangle like the Russian investigation.

Mr Trump insisted the election was stolen from him because of fraud.

The nation watched him coast to coast, as he fired up a demonstration to turn on his own government. America’s place in the world is too important for such contempt for law and order, not to be of global concern.

As Eisenhower once said: “You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That’s assault, not leadership.” The soon-to-be president Joe Biden hardly needed such an explosive backdrop to his first days in office. The fear is that such a politically fraught exercise, could distract him from the formidable challenges he already faces.

Daunting though all this may be, should impeachment have the effect of preventing Mr Trump from being able to run again, the new president is unlikely to be the only one who believes it a price worth paying.

Denounce the deranged behaviour