General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt is time that Section 4 of the 25th Amendment be
invoked. I know Pence is a right wing extremist too but he can't possibly be as crazy as Trump. I know that
won't happen. I am surprised the former presidents haven't come out with a statement on his mental health.
So far impeachment looks impossible. Does he have to start a nuclear war before enough people see he is a sick
man and we need to get him out of the Whitehouse ASAP?
brooklynite
(93,873 posts)Initech
(99,915 posts)He should be in jail. Or at least be on trial before an international court.
onenote
(42,383 posts)The guy is a flaming asshole who shouldn't have anything to do with the exercise of governmental authority. But what crimes has he committed (yet)?
Initech
(99,915 posts)But if was proven that he authored the travel ban and violated international laws and treaties in the process, couldn't we charge him with that?
longship
(40,416 posts)I was horrified by yesterday's presser. I think most here would agree with that assessment. It fairly screamed This man is not rational!
I would prefer not to have a president to whom the 25th amendment might become operative. But here we are.
The only question that remains is whether the cabinet secretaries and VEEP Pence will open their eyes to reality that POTUS is incapable of carrying out his constitutionally mandated job, or the House of Representatives opens their eyes to an inevitable high crime or misdemeanor. It is going to be interesting to find out just how far down the sewer pipe we go before one of these two scenarios plays out.
Whichever it is, it ain't gonna pretty. We're in for a bumpy ride. Fasten your seat belts.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Walking away from a podium, after forgetting to sign the legislation he was there to sign?
The look on the faces of the congress persons there with him was very revealing. Some wore looks of concern, some looked a little shocked, and some seemed to be laughing at him. And they were mostly republicans, except maybe Manchin.
Kind of scary. Wonder if he has any idea what he eventually signed before he left?
longship
(40,416 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)it's virtually impossible that it will be used by the Trump's VP and cabinet. That will simply not happen, I'm certain.
To make the replacement permanent would require a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress. Impeachment and removal is easier, since it only requires a majority in the house, with a 2/3 vote in the Senate to remove.
The 25th Amendment isn't a cure for what ails the current White House, I'm afraid.
doc03
(35,148 posts)they couldn't see a time when we had TV and internet that could virtually make
like 40% of the country bat shit crazy.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Not so long ago, really.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
doc03
(35,148 posts)the internet, Citizens United and Fox News.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)television coverage of most things. The Internet? Well, no, but some of us were already envisioning such things. I started taking programming classes in 1963. The possibilities were easy to see, but it took a couple of decades to get there. I remember discussing things like email and connectivity back in the 60s with other people who were working in the computer field. The ideas were there, but they had to wait for the technology to catch up with the ideas.
There is a huge difference, though, between the time of the founding fathers and 1967, when the 25th Amendment was written after the Kennedy assassination. It updated the Constitution to cover unforeseen things at the time the original document was created.
Still, the 1st Amendment which deals with freedom of the press and public assembly was easily extended to new ways of publishing and communications. The 4th amendment which protects privacy and security of our "papers" has also been extended to deal with our new technology.
The Constitution deals with principles, rather than details. It's that focus that has let it survive intact, with a few amendments.
Those founders were clever folks, indeed.
DFW
(54,056 posts)At this point, I'm not even convinced, depressing as that thought may be, that a full two thirds of the country is completely and utterly against nuclear war.
Initech
(99,915 posts)If not a nuclear war, we're far more likely headed toward civil war. Neither scenario is good for us.
DFW
(54,056 posts)i.e. do not destroy what you later wish to possess.
They worship wealth over all else, so they won't risk destroying our economic infrastructure intentionally with anything as drastic as a civil war. Ergo, I suspect they will go the impeachment route. Ryan will be instructed to usher along the impeachment process, once begun. It's not like Trump will lack for high crimes and misdemeanors. McTurtle will, after having a very off-the-record heartless-to-heartless talk with Pence, present no obstacle in the Senate to Trump's removal from office ("a sad day for America, and we take no comfort in this vote," blah blah blah). Trump got them where THEY wanted to be (with a little help from his droogs*), and now they will get the president they wanted but never would have been able to elect (Pence).
*A little "Clockwork Orange" reference.