The Ultimate Impeachable Offense: A Commander-in-Chief Who Purposefully Jeopardizes U.S. Democracy and the Peaceful Transfer of Power

Batting Down the “I Was Just Kidding” Excuse if Trump Loses

[Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.]

Benjamin Franklin was walking out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when someone shouted out, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy? To which Franklin supposedly responded, with a rejoinder at once witty and ominous: “A republic, if you can keep it.”  –American folklore

Republican Senators have stated, with their conspicuous silence and their votes to acquit last February, that they don’t think it’s an impeachable offense for a U.S. President to shake down a foreign leader — dangling hundreds of millions of Congress-approved U.S. aid as leverage — to commit a political smear against his leading opponent.

But, what do they think of what we’re witnessing from President Donald J. Trump at this very minute??

Namely, the specter of a sitting U.S. President actively trying to undermine the integrity of the November 3 election, while doing nothing, in his capacity as sworn leader of the nation, to shore up the system, or otherwise protect it from fraud or foreign interference? (the latter conspicuously solicited by him).

“Impeachment 2.0”; Historic Strains

In the middle of a once-in-a-century Pandemic — not to mention simultaneous(!) economic and environmental crises, and national civil unrest — there’s obviously no capacity (or appetite) to undertake Impeachment 2.0.

And with the election just 47 days away, what would be the point? (except this: to remove Trump sooner than January 20, 2021, the end of his Constitutionally-mandated term otherwise).

But, make no mistake: the potential consequences of the behavior we’re witnessing from Mr. Trump in the home stretch of the 2020 election are truly harrowing.

Instead of bellowing warnings about mail-in voting improprieties, a patriotic Chief Executive would declare it the national emergency it truly is, and be doing everything in his power now to stave off the potential chaos and social breakdown that could result.

President Trump  . . . summons his true believers to maskless rallies.

Unfortunately, America’s sacrosanct war dead and P.OW.’s aren’t the only “suckers and losers.”

Post-Trump America; Dubious Defense

If Donald Trump unambiguously loses the election to Joe Biden, the existential threat to the almost 250 year American experiment will have passed.

But, we must never forget what a close call it was.

Indeed, it is incumbent upon those those who saved Franklin’s republic — the American Republic — to channel their energies and talents to revitalizing and protecting it for future generations . . .

P.S.: The most appropriate post-election fate for ex-President Donald Trump?

Let the rule of law he’s so assiduously undermined sort it out.

And no, you don’t get to claim you “were only kidding” or “not to be taken seriously” when you (mis)used the awesome power of your office to whip up voter distrust, and inflame partisan passions.

Not when the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans — who you’ve sworn an oath to protect — are on the line . . .

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/3cbJeIR
via IFTTT