The impeachment riot
LARRY ANDERSON
Larry Anderson
Donald Trump is the blunt instrument of the right who acts without regard to political correctness or reverence for leftist opinion; meanwhile, liberals pine for Barack Obama whose practice of leading from behind has been left behind.
While the shock of losing the election has subsided for lefties, the pain has not. The left is intent on Trump’s failure as evidenced by the elevation of its rancor, its petty demonstrations, and a variety of fantastic scenarios that end with Trump’s demise in disgrace.
One development involves what the left projects as Trump’s inevitable impeachment. This is coupled with the notions that the president did not win election legitimately and that he is fundamentally incompetent to hold high office.
All components are bogus.
Kathleen Parker, a syndicated columnist I used to respect, touched on these points in a recent column designed to lay out tactics for the starving left. Here’s a quote regarding her impeachment fantasy: “…there’s a chance we won’t have to wait two long years…In anticipation of circumstances warranting a speedier presidential replacement, wiser minds added Section 4 to the 25th Amendment which removes the president if a majority of the Cabinet and the vice president think it necessary…by being so incompetent…that he or she poses a threat to the nation and must be removed…”
You can see two things clearly: one, Parker is planting the seed that Trump is impeachable, thereby revving up the hysterical who have conjoined losing the election with illegitimacy, and, two, she suggests such action is just around the corner.
Motivating the anti-Trump dismals via misrepresentation was surely Parker’s objective because her argument is absurd.
First of all, Parker uses the inclusive pronoun “we” to suggest all citizens are waiting impatiently for impeachment to begin. Hardly. Polls put Trump’s support at about the same percentage by which he was elected. Impeachment would not only be groundless but unpopular outside the usual tiny minority of leftist screamers.
Section 4 requires action by Trump’s Cabinet and by Mike Pence against the president. Parker’s suggestion Trump’s own appointees and handpicked VP would take steps that would amount to a political coup is beyond the pale, but it does typify the left’s wretched condition.
When Parker said, “…there’s a chance we won’t have to wait two years…” makes the leap that Democrats will again take control of the House and Senate following election 2018 when impeachment might be done through Constitutional means. A changing of the guard is unlikely at best. The last election proved the unpopularity of the left.
Republicans have a substantial advantage numerically in the House. Many seats would have to be overturned. In the Senate, ten of the Democratic senators up for re-election are in states that Trump won. It is more likely additional Senate seats, where impeachment would have to be approved by majority, will go to Republicans. Parker didn’t mention that.
It is important to understand impeachment is not a simple process provoked by political discontent. There must be a substantial basis for it such as “high crimes or misdemeanors” or mental incompetence or physical disability which would have to be proven by a highly regarded medical team, not by Kathleen Parker.
Trump, or any president, can not be impeached for parking tickets, for clumsy political execution, or for poor word choice. He certainly can not be impeached for enforcing laws on the books regarding things such as illegal immigration. He can not even be dismissed for what might be construed as unethical practices if they are merely political and not immoral.
The two presidents who were impeached, Andrew Jackson and Bill Clinton, were acquitted. Richard Nixon resigned before impeachment proceedings could begin.
Understand, impeachment is not the same as removal from office. It is only the first step, and it would be an arduous process. Majority votes–not the simple majority put in place by Harry Reid to speed the liberal plow–are required for impeachment.
Such a procedure would take months if a president chose to fight it tooth and nail. Can you imagine Trump not putting up a fight?
A politically motivated impeachment effort would further divide the country, but one can’t discount destruction as a leftist goal.
I brought up this topic because there is much misinformation about impeachment which is never taken in practice as lightly as Kathleen Parker‘s description.
Parker and other impeachment whisperers know the truth and reality concerning impeachment, but their goal is unfounded incitement against a president they don’t like and whose potential success could render them obsolete.
Larry W. Anderson is a retired educator, author and lifelong Northwest Missourian.
Larry W. Anderson is a retired educator, author and lifelong Northwest Missourian.
