The time of our walking and talking zombie security threat is now upon America, but will our country last until the 2018 midterm elections? We have a mentally unstable leader who is acting as if he were back in the schoolyard dealing with a playmate. His latest tweet with the North Korean president is one of many examples, but the most outlandish. He states, “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” Much like a schoolyard adolescent comparing sexual organs saying mine is much bigger than yours, and not like a respected world leader that we and the world expect our leader to be.
Tom Nichols, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and former CIA consultant, has said that Trump’s tweets are “hugely dangerous because they reveal too much to our enemies.” They give our adversaries “pieces of the president’s moods and thoughts each day.” Coming in second as the most outrageous tweet was when Trump tweeted the insulting, “I told Rex Tillerson that he was wasting his time trying to negotiate with little Rocket Man.” Earlier he had tweeted to the North Korean leader, after calling him “little Rocket Man,” “Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me ‘old,’ when I would never call him ‘short and fat?’” The list of presidential childish behavior goes on and on and weakens America in the eyes of the world.
But the insane tweets do not stop with adversaries, as he applies them equally to our allies and weakens alliances that should be made stronger. He started off his term in January with a heated conversation with Australian leader Malcolm Turnbull and also described an American naval fleet traveling in the wrong direction. Of course he had to criticize German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her views on immigration into her country—which was none of his business. After viewing Trump’s lack of world leadership, Merkel has suggested her country needs to take a more independent posture on the world stage. Trump also tweeted to British Prime Minister Theresa May trying to tell her how to run her country—again none of his business. Recently, Trump recognized the capital of Israel as Jerusalem, a move that has made durable peace in the region even much farther removed from reality. Strange! Trump is giving unwanted advice as a leader with no government background or leadership skills.
But most disturbing for our democracy is Trump’s authoritarian streak as he admires the world’s toughest leaders and calls for “fire and fury” to rain down on North Korea. He also disparages the nation’s news media and calls for the removal of broadcasting licenses of those who do not report news as he likes it. He also stated recently that, “ultimately it was his call whether to strike North Korea.” Republican Sen. Bob Corker has warned he could put us on the path to World War III.
Impeachment is not a likely option to remove him from office until after the 2018 midterms, assuming that Democrats take control of Congress. Until that time the ball is in the Republicans’ court and the issue becomes: Will they stand as strong Americans defending American safety, or pursue petty party politics and goals? They need to realize that history will place the destruction of America either in small amounts or as a major catastrophe on the front door of Republicans. Even if we squeak by without a nuclear event, the political fallout for Republicans will be horrendous for letting Trump continue on in his childish ways as our leader brings fear and dread to our nation and the world’s populations!
But Republicans have another option other than impeachment, and that is to remove him quietly and less offensively from office, which is the use of the 25th Amendment to our Constitution. Under this amendment a president can be removed if he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” This assessment can be made by the vice president and a majority of his Cabinet, or by a congressionally appointed body, such as a panel of doctors. If the president argues with this decision, it is then decided by a majority vote of Congress. So since the Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, the ball is in their court at least until the 2018 midterms. The question becomes for our country and the world’s safety, put in Trump’s childish verbiage, are their buttons bigger and more powerful than his button and will they work together to protect mankind? Only time and the public’s effort will tell!
Ken McCalip is a Northern Santa Barbara County native who holds bachelor and doctorate degress in history, cultural geography, and law from various California universities. Send your thoughts to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 11-18, 2018.