Day 216: It’s Time to Talk About the 25th Amendment
Trump’s sanity and stability questioned after insane gathering in Phoenix.
Donald Trump went to Phoenix last night and…gave a speech? Rallied his base? It’s hard to say exactly. He screamed a lot. He lied more. Politifact ruled basically everything out of his mouth as a fabrication of the truth.
He ranted and raved on stage, constantly screaming things at the top of his lungs about everything from health care to the free press. He lied about the number of people in attendance, yet again. He falsely claimed the media omitted parts of his statement about neo-Nazis while he conveniently failed to mention his “many sides” rhetoric. He gave a wink and a nod that he would soon pardon former sheriff Joe Arpaio for flouting a federal court order. He incorrectly swore that he’s signed an incredible amount of helpful legislation. He disparaged the two senators from Arizona — both Republicans, one a war hero currently battling brain cancer — but praised Kim Jong-un, saying, “I respect the fact that — I believe — he is starting to respect us. I respect that fact very much. Respect that fact.” He threatened to shut down the government to build a border wall.
Here’s the thing: these are words on a screen and do not do justice as to just how unhinged he was. It was Trump’s typical bombast, but on horse steroids.
Afterwards, former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, appeared some combination of stunned and somber as he questioned Trump’s continued ability to lead.
The press, pundits, political operatives and former White House staffers all saw the same.
We’ve resisted bringing up the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution before today. It contemplates the forced removal of the president for physical or mental impairment. To invoke such a rule would have very serious long-term implications.
Here’s the text of Section 4:
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
If Trump were to be ousted — either by the 25th Amendment, impeachment stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation or resignation — there would be a civil war within the GOP between the Trumpers and his opponents. Politically, at least in the short-term, it would actually be a disaster for Democrats too. Mike Pence, kooky in his own ways, is sane and could actually lead the country and get an uber-conservative agenda accomplished.
But this goes beyond politics. The commander-in-chief got on a stage in Arizona and showed that after seven months he still hasn’t learned a thing about leading a nation. If anything, his temperament and stability have gotten worse. It’s time for Pence and company to figure out if Trump is able to fulfill the duties of his office and act accordingly.
216 days in, 1246 to go
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