Impeaching is politically risky

Sep 01, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Impeaching is politically risky at best. America should avoid such a test.
On November 8, 2016 Americans were taught a lesson that would not easily be forgotten by all and sundry—- the seemingly unexpected victory of the least likely to be elected candidate- Donald Trump. Yes, when all eyes were focused, all hearts a-beat, and minds fully convinced that the White House would be once more white with the anticipated re-occupancy of Hilary Clinton, in stepped billionaire, real estate mogul and former reality television personality Donald J Trump to become the 45thPresident of the United States in one of the most staggering upsets in the history of western democracy.
In 2012 he unceremoniously dropped out of the presidential race, as he knew he did not stand a chance of success. However in 2016, Trump was fully prepared, aided by a weak Republican field. From the outset he was grossly underrated by everyone, few political commentators took his campaign seriously and there were many who suggested that he was in it merely for the publicity it afforded him. However, following the most unprecedented of presidential campaigns a stunning victory was his in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin, where he put Democratic states into the Republican column.
Donald Trump is driven to do what others say cannot be done, and while he is contentious and combative, contrary to popular belief he is no buffoon. Day after day, incident by incident, Twitter by Twitter he is teaching the American populace, especially the anti-Trumpites that according to German physicist Albert Einstein, problems cannot be solved with the same thinking, or the same level of consciousness that was used when they were created. He said that he would teach Republicans how to beat their nemesis- Hilary Clinton and he succeeded.
Now everyone from economists, celebrities, media personalities, Democrats, Deep State, the entire D.C swamp –including the GOP establishment are rooting for Trump to fail and be impeached. His interaction with the American populace and his many speeches clearly confirmed the distance between the president and the residents. Even during the election
campaign, from rally to rally the rhetoric was largely consistent, for by virtue of his non-political
qualities, Trump positioned himself as being the one able to reach Americans and restore what America had lost.
Now not a day goes by in a Donald Trump’s news cycle without a certain subject popping up—impeachment. Every jack and jack rabbit is calling for his premature political demise. What started on the fringes, at least among the politically engaged is now on everybody’s lips. Yes, there is no need for a reiteration of the President’s iniquities, the fact that America would be better off without him as a president, and that his departure would be good news for the rest of the world. While his removal might be momentous in a larger endeavor – the restoration of confidence in the world’s democracies. Notwithstanding, it would be a mistake to impeach him. In Trump’s case impeachment would necessitate the Democrats taking control of the House in the November midterm elections. Impeachment is the political off ramp encapsulated in the Constitution that allows the House of Representatives to articulate crimes against a sitting president (articles of impeachment) and vote on them ( being impeached), following which the Senate converts into a court for trial (two-thirds of which is needed to convict). There are instances when the threat of impeachment is enough to force a resignation (Nixon). Additionally, waiting to impeach also has its accompanying risks for while Congress meanders, a president might continue to practice dangerous behavior that puts the nation in danger. Conversely a president enshrouded in a cloud of investigation might even start a war in order to boost his popularity. Seemingly forgotten on the impeachment trail is the fact that impeachment does not remove a president from office, which makes the “why” as blurred as the “how”. There is a clear and present danger in advancing the impeachment issue now, for adversaries of the president would have their work cut out for them if impeachment is the ultimate end game.
Impeachment is a political process. It is a trial by politicians. A failed impeachment is more likely to invigorate the president and strengthen his chances of winning re-election in 2020.
The stakes are far too high, so there’s need to try. To impeach would teach us all a lesson. If America should once again be great, and avert historical fate, it should be clear that what needs defeating is not Trump but Trumpism.
Whoever is careless with truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
Albert Einstein.

Yvonne Sam

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