Media Elite Indulging Dangerous Fantasies About Removing Trump From Office
By John Daniel Davidson
After several days of disturbing revelations about President Trump's conduct in office, here come the calls for his removal — not from Progressives (those have already come, early and often), but from Conservatives. Ross Douthat of the New York Times writes in his Wednesday column that Trump should be removed from office, not impeached, using the mechanisms provided by the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Cold War-era amendment allows the removal of the president if a majority of the cabinet affirms that he is unable to discharge the duties of his office. If the president resists, a two-thirds vote from Congress will confirm the cabinet's judgment. It was designed to clarify who has the constitutional authority to declare a president incapacitated, a necessity that became apparent following the assassination of President Kennedy.
The 25th Amendment is not, however, a way for elites to get rid of a president they despise without having to persuade the millions of people who voted for him that he is indeed unfit for office. Douthat is indulging a dangerous fantasy here. It might feel good to write a column calling for the president's removal. It might give pundits a rush of blood to the head. But this is not a parlor game.
The country is deeply divided. People have taken to attacking each other in the streets and threatening congressmen when they venture outside Washington. We're still recovering from a presidential election that actually ended marriages and tore families apart. Trump's election was, more than anything else, a giant middle finger to the political establishment, which has lost the confidence of the American people.
If now seems like the right time for that establishment to launch an unconstitutional coup to remove the president through a specious application of the 25th Amendment, then I respectfully submit that you're underestimating the precariousness of national life at this moment.
None of this is a defense of Trump. Perhaps it will turn out that he really is unfit for office. He certainly seems to be woefully deficient in the qualities necessary for a successful presidency, like prudence, patience, and a general seriousness and curiosity about the world. Of course, the torrent of news this week should worry every American...
(John is a senior correspondent for The Federalist.)
Opinions expressed by contributing writers are expressly their own and may or may not represent the opinions of The New Media Journal, its editorial staff, board, organization or affiliated organizations. Reprint inquiries should be directed to the author of the article. The New Media Journal is not affiliated with any mainstream media organizations. The New Media Journal is not supported by any political organization. Responsibility for the accuracy of cited content is expressly that of the contributing author. All original content offered by The New Media Journal is co
Comments
THEIR PLAYING WITH REAL FIRE !! { THE LEFT } TRYING TO IMPEACH TRUMP WILL BRING A HAIL STORM OF PUSH BACK AGAINST THE LEFTS !!!! THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF FIRE THEY WILL BE STARTING !!!! THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO TAKE THE LEFT OUT AND ANYONE TIED TO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!