Since the 2024 election, the nation has rushed headlong toward its own destruction under the auspices of a rogue president and a dysfunctional government in Washington. American politics has succumbed to an arteriosclerosis that has polarized the electorate and given rise to a political class intent on keeping power at any cost in its support of the president. Trump has governed largely by executive order and unilateral executive action, ignoring the Constitution and challenging democratic principles and First Amendment freedoms. He has attacked the judiciary, dismissed judges he deems disloyal and disparaged the rule of law. This has led to his dismissal of congressional prerogatives leading to unconstitutional tariff policies and waging war.
Most recently, the president initiated a war with Iran without congressional approval or so much as prior consultation with legislative leaders. It is a military action of his choice that so far seems to have created more problems than solutions. His conduct of the war exhibits the hyper confidence and arrogance that drive all his endeavors. Unfortunately, the president’s conduct of foreign policy reveals the same contempt for time-tested traditions he has demonstrated at home. He has continually attacked NATO, insulted foreign leaders and dismissed their worth as partners while heralding the virtues of Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and Victor Urban of Hungary.
Home and abroad the president of the United States has seriously weakened the country, economically and politically. To date this damage has largely been mitigated only by the unprecedented wealth and power of the country. Time will tell how much.
This perilous state of the union has led to haranguing and hand wringing by Democrats and others as to how to turn things around. So far there appears to be no solution given the Republican control of the White House and Congress.
Increasingly, the Democrats have called for discussing the 25th Amendment (1967) regarding President Trump. Under its section 4, the amendment could provide legal recourse for his removal from office if the vice president and the cabinet officers found him to be incapacitated mentally or incapable of discharging his duties. Though used in the past to replace Spiro Agnew with Gerald Ford, it has never been invoked to replace a president. While this procedure might work to replace a sick or mentally disabled president, it should be apparent that the present vice president and cabinet, all loyal MAGAS, would never consider it.
Constitutionally, that leaves impeachment and we have all
seen what happened in Trump’s first term when loyal MAGA senators refused to convict him twice. At this point, the Democrats would have to win control of the House this November to even have a chance. If they do, no doubt, they will bring impeachment charges, but it is highly unlikely that Republican senators would vote to convict even in the face of recent developments.
So, where are we? If the present refusal to compromise and legislate in a bipartisan way holds and the electorate remains polarized, the next three years look dismal. If the Democrats fail to win the midterm elections, it looks like Trump and his pols will continue to be able to run the table and ignore congress and public opinion. The result will be the end of democracy and constitutional government as we have known it.
What does this say about our government? Despite the Constitution, the highly vaunted checks and balances, the three separate but equal branches of government, the federal system, and the sanctity of common law, the framers knew there were no guarantees. Their words, caveats and ambitions all depended upon the honesty, integrity and decency of our leaders who put the country’s well being above personal self-interest and political avarice.
Where does this leave us? The chilling prospect is that the United States, after 250 years of unprecedented stability, could begin to resemble authoritarian or third world countries. A contemporary version of 1861 might emerge in which those holding opposing views eschew compromise and resort to violence or, at least, intractable political machinations. Either way we are the losers.
Is this possible? The answer is maybe; it would do well to remember that there is not a political pundit alive who would have predicted Trump’s success!