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.

  1. David French (here). Dated January 6.
  2. The Dispatch Staff (here). Dated January 7. I assume that this includes Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes.
  3. Jim Geraghty (here). Dated January 7.
  4. Kyle Smith (of National Review, here). Dated January 7.
  5. Most sadly, our own editor Jon Gabriel (here). Dated January 6.
  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
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 187 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    If the Left stole a win from an overwhelmingly popular president, and perhaps stole a run-off election to insure total congressional control, and if the Democrats control the legislatures, and courts, and the executive branches of any State governments that they chose to, be they Republican or Democrat, what ever could make the Republicans ever expect to win an honest election?

    By electoral reform.

    Or by winning outside the margin of cheating.

    My view is that they stole the election in swing states, but fraud was not massive enough to fake the Biden popular vote win.

    Repeat after me: There is no such thing as a national popular vote. It’s just not a thing. Candidates don’t campaign so as to maximize their vote nationally. They campaign to get Electoral College votes from particular states.

    Indeed, there is no such thing as a national popular vote.

    Is there some objection to what I said, or just to my imprecise language?

    I have no objection to what you said, I just don’t know why you would mention faking a “popular vote win” when we already know Hillary piled up massively more popular votes than Trump in 2016 and lost the election.

    I said they did not fake it.

    You said “the fraud was not massive enough to fake it”. 

    • #181
  2. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    If the Left stole a win from an overwhelmingly popular president, and perhaps stole a run-off election to insure total congressional control, and if the Democrats control the legislatures, and courts, and the executive branches of any State governments that they chose to, be they Republican or Democrat, what ever could make the Republicans ever expect to win an honest election?

    By electoral reform.

    Or by winning outside the margin of cheating.

    My view is that they stole the election in swing states, but fraud was not massive enough to fake the Biden popular vote win.

    Repeat after me: There is no such thing as a national popular vote. It’s just not a thing. Candidates don’t campaign so as to maximize their vote nationally. They campaign to get Electoral College votes from particular states.

    Indeed, there is no such thing as a national popular vote.

    Is there some objection to what I said, or just to my imprecise language?

    I have no objection to what you said, I just don’t know why you would mention faking a “popular vote win” when we already know Hillary piled up massively more popular votes than Trump in 2016 and lost the election.

    I said they did not fake it.

    You said “the fraud was not massive enough to fake it”.

    Yes. I said that.

    What are you talking about?

    • #182
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    If the Left stole a win from an overwhelmingly popular president, and perhaps stole a run-off election to insure total congressional control, and if the Democrats control the legislatures, and courts, and the executive branches of any State governments that they chose to, be they Republican or Democrat, what ever could make the Republicans ever expect to win an honest election?

    By electoral reform.

    Or by winning outside the margin of cheating.

    My view is that they stole the election in swing states, but fraud was not massive enough to fake the Biden popular vote win.

    Repeat after me: There is no such thing as a national popular vote. It’s just not a thing. Candidates don’t campaign so as to maximize their vote nationally. They campaign to get Electoral College votes from particular states.

    Indeed, there is no such thing as a national popular vote.

    Is there some objection to what I said, or just to my imprecise language?

    I have no objection to what you said, I just don’t know why you would mention faking a “popular vote win” when we already know Hillary piled up massively more popular votes than Trump in 2016 and lost the election.

    I said they did not fake it.

    You said “the fraud was not massive enough to fake it”.

    Yes. I said that.

    What are you talking about?

    just drop it

    • #183
  4. lowtech redneck Coolidge
    lowtech redneck
    @lowtech redneck

    Guys, a national vote doesn’t matter, but it has a psychological effect on how many people, especially low-information voters, perceive the validity of presented evidence, or determine when an accumulation of evidence becomes convincing or actionable, or rationalize not investigating further,  Its not right, but its the way it is, and people intuitively know that, which is why one of common things people have been saying is “You really think Biden won 80 million votes?” rather than concentrating on strategic voter fraud like they should.

    • #184
  5. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    In case anybody was wondering, this is one stop shopping on why Never Trump is wrong about everything.

     

    https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/the-victor-davis-hanson-podcast/episode-50-no-umbrage-zone-the-left-left-out/

     

     

     

     

     

    • #185
  6. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    The real point isn’t who won the popular vote. We have been opposing the Dem push for eliminating the Electoral College because we all know it is a safeguard against nationalized fraud and a way to prevent six cities from wiling over a whole country. Has anyone pointed out that the Democrats just neutered it? They were able, hook of crook, to get enough of the popular vote wins in enough cities to seize the electoral college votes for the national win anyway. People who hate you have figured out how to seize power despite the safeguards.

    • #186
  7. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    lowtech redneck (View Comment):

    Guys, a national vote doesn’t matter, but it has a psychological effect on how many people, especially low-information voters, perceive the validity of presented evidence, or determine when an accumulation of evidence becomes convincing or actionable, or rationalize not investigating further, Its not right, but its the way it is, and people intuitively know that, which is why one of common things people have been saying is “You really think Biden won 80 million votes?” rather than concentrating on strategic voter fraud like they should.

    That little thing was on me, I didn’t have much of a point to make and I couldn’t even say in a clear manner. Your point is correct and recognize every fraudulent vote counted in every state gets picked up into that 80 million. I wonder how many that was?

    • #187
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.