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The Immediate Calls to Remove Trump Were Irresponsible
In the wake of the rioting at the Capitol on Wednesday, there have been many calls for President Trump to be either removed pursuant to the 25th Amendment, or impeached by the House and removed by the Senate.
I find these suggestions to be well past unwarranted, and beyond irresponsible. I find them to be deranged.
I am not surprised that many Democrats — apparently including Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer — have made such demands. I don’t actually consider them to be deranged. I think that they are scheming, dishonest politicians, which is no surprise.
I am surprised to see such deranged hysteria from Republicans.
Here is a partial list of Republicans or conservatives who have called for President Trump’s immediate removal from office following the reprehensible rioting on January 6, either through the 25th Amendment or by impeachment and conviction. I would appreciate any additions to this list.
- David French (here). Dated January 6.
- The Dispatch Staff (here). Dated January 7. I assume that this includes Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes.
- Jim Geraghty (here). Dated January 7.
- Kyle Smith (of National Review, here). Dated January 7.
- Most sadly, our own editor Jon Gabriel (here). Dated January 6.
- Erick Erickson (here). Dated January 8.
One would hope that thoughtful, respected, professional commentators would refrain from proposing anything so drastic for, say, at least 2-3 days. One might want to see how events unfolded. One might want to gather additional information. One might want to, well, act like a responsible adult.
Sadly, though he does not approve on prudential grounds, even Andy McCarthy has opined that the President’s actions are impeachable (here, dated January 7).
I am also disappointed in Sen. Ben Sasse who stated (here): “The House, if they come together and have a process, I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move . . . I believe the president has disregarded his oath of office…what he did was wicked.”
I don’t know whether I feel like Jeremiah, or like Cassandra, or like a lowly broken record. Over and over again, in times of crisis as events unfold, I have urged people to stay calm and reserve judgment. In this case, order was restored within about 6 hours, and Congress proceeded to confirm President-Elect Biden’s victory.
I have previously, and unequivocally, condemned the lawless and barbarous storming of the Capitol by rioting miscreants. Nothing that I write should be construed to justify such criminality. I have also criticized some of the President’s claim, such as his insistence that he won in a “landslide.” I also criticize his negative tweet about Vice President Pence Trump. I do not condone such rhetorical excess. I simply object to the deranged overreaction, too.
Of those that I’ve seen thus far, David French takes the derangement gold medal. Not only does he want the President removed from office, but yesterday (January 7), he tweeted: “Expel Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz.” (Here.)
What is the proper response to such derangement? Generally, I think that we should simply stop reading, or listening to, anything said by these commentators who have demonstrated such poor judgment. At least until and unless they issue an apology. We should always be prepared to extend forgiveness to those who act intemperately, in the heat of a moment.
Published in Politics
Oh my goodness.
Gary, this is more derangement. Who said that it was a “mostly peaceful” riot? I haven’t seen anyone condemning the rioting barbarians more strongly than me — equally strongly, perhaps, but not more strongly.
The issue is blame. The rioters are to blame. The President is not.
The officer’s family has specifically requested that his death not be politicized, and has asked for a moratorium on discussion until more facts emerge.
I’m loathe to appoint myself some kind of substitute mod, but I really do think it would be helpful if we purged his picture from responses to Mr. Robbins’ intemperate comment.
Also, Biden is actually captured by China.
The Dodgers have their burdens to carry. You don’t need to add to them.
Another one who slept through the Kavanaugh hearings. I understand not knowing about 1954 but this was recent enough for even the ahistorical.
French takes both the TDS and TOS (Trump Obsession Syndrome, a situation when one can’t get through a single conversation without bringing the subject around to Trump; Jonah Goldberg shares the championship in a less TDS manner) trophies, of course- but talking about the fact that Trump needs to be impeached is a perfectly sensible idea were the imminent calendar more extensive. If it was December 8th, Congress would be right to look at impeachment because Trump deserves it.
Considering the situation now, with Congress not in session and the inauguration 11 days off it is a useless idea. But Jon Gabriel and Kyle Smith were perfectly sensible to suggest the possibility.
For the record, upon promotion of this post to the main feed, the title was changed. My original title was simply “Deranged.”
I do not object to the modification. I just wanted to make it clear.
I appreciate the promotion of this post, which is quite critical of our editor, Jon Gabriel. I like and respect Jon, but think that he is seriously incorrect on this issue.
Some state the leadership of the Legislator can call a session like Florida. George requires a 2/3rd vote. Wisconsin is majority of both houses, or a committee in each hours, Pennsylvania it looks like it requires the Governor to call a special session if a majority request but there is no penalty if he does not it looks like.
The state legislatures are obligated to do this no matter what. Don’t ask me about the particulars, but that is just a fact. If it’s up to the Governor, they can clearly just tell him to screw himself. That’s my understanding.
Its so weird being were I can’t stand either side for the emotional rhetoric. Trump needs to go but other than lying to his supporters that their was still a chance on Jan 6th he was not responsible for the Riot. Him stating the election was stolen and their was fraud is a perfectly reasonable statement. However he stood no chance after the states decided to due nothing and the Supreme court refused to uphold the constitution and state only the state legislators have the power to change any election laws at the state level.
The media is way more responsible for the RIOTS if you want to blame the real instigators. His supports and himself are disillusion to think they can act like the far left on tactics. He was able to get away with it on the lying side and personal attacks which is a typical democrat MO. However because they don’t’ have a majority of their party and the media to cover for them they could not get away with RIOTs. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
The Republicans should not kick him out of the party because they will piss off to many people although it might make their friends happy and you could make an argument its a proportional response.
Its obvious most people responses are based on their personal feeling for or against Trump not based on rational logic and comparisons to the state out politics is current in. No one seems to want a proportional response when it comes to Trumps bad behavior especially when the whole Democratic leadership regularly one ups him on it. Also considering most national Republicans are just better lyiers because they don’t grandstand like Trump. However I don’t think they are that much less dishonest (leadership) over the last 20 years in practice compared to Trump.
I wish both the Republican and Democratic parties would burn to the ground. The party leadership only cares about power. Neither side has any principles. Although there is a minority of back benchers in the Republican party much more at the state level who are principled.
The problem is they have made no Criminal penalties for courts and the executive branch to go against them. Until they are putting real statutory penalties into the law. Passing good laws is no longer enough. There has to be criminal penalties when laws especially the constitution is broken.
One big difference is that Gary has earned it, the old fashioned way: he worked for it.
Thank you. My commitment is the Republic as created by the Founders in Philadelphia.
Will you please start writing anything about public policy, economics, or the structure of government etc? If you need some ideas, here you go:
@daventers Gary will make statements like this that make absolutely no sense while he is supporting a regime doing the things that we can see with our eyes. When he is asked to to defend this as policy he disappears.
That’s what I think.
Good one, Gary. You’re a laugh a minute.
Have you forgotten? Gary is only a family law attorney.
Actually, While he is supporting a regime outspokenly determined to undo the very institutions he claims to revere. I don’t know if it’s possible to get more cognitively-dissonant than that.
If the admin on Ricochet can’t resist making inflammatory remarks against the president that incite discord and tolerate those who agree with them, what in the world do they expect from the members who respectfully try to keep faith with the Code of Conduct?
Obviously, “do as we say, not as we do.” It’s a classic.
Yes! This sort of fair criticism that blames everyone who deserves it–this is the sort of criticism of Trump I can get behind!
Both are true. Gary has quoted it with approval. That makes it “his” as well.
Are you sure it’s not good? Maybe Rob was seeking redemption.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JohnBrennan/status/1348051973174652928
May I quote? John Brennan:
How totalitarian is that? This should be on a plaque in the totalitarian Hall of Fame.
“In order to undo the damage of someone we claim was totalitarian, you have to let US be ACTUALLY totalitarian.” Brilliant.
Thank you for quoting. I should have typed the message myself; I was being lazy.
Nah. I never would’ve seen it except for you. I thank you.
I like your comment and I am in accord with much of it. I’m more cautious in saying that President Trump is lying, not because many things he says are not feasible or even unreasonable and frequently untrue, but because I don’t ascribe the intent of lying to him in the same way as I do to other politicians. His exaggerations and misconceptions are part of his personality that reaches beyond what most people are willing to put on the line. Most of the time he is stretching for the right thing. That’s just me, though. I’m not sure about the Republicans at the state level since we got a lot of talk but little action on the election fraud.
Not irrational, although I think misplaced. Still seems to be reserved for an actual illness. Trump is an egomaniac and possibly a little nuts but impeachment is the political tool to use if something will be.