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You bet, it’s big news when a fellow party member in Congress steps to the mike to say the president is unfit.
Members of a party back their own. That’s the whole idea.
So relative to such big news . . .
Just imagine when the person speaking against the president is the third most powerful member of the congressional caucus.
No need to imagine.
Liz Cheney, chairwoman of the Republican House Conference, stepped to the microphone in 2021 to say Donald Trump is beyond unfit – so unfit as to be charged criminally.
Just in case you haven’t heard. This really happened. I know people want to talk about Joe Biden now and the concerns of some of his more skittish friends, but, come on.
Lest some of us don’t recall, Cheney wasn’t alone. Other names rang out when it came time to impeach Trump for the Jan. 6 atrocities.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney. Aye.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Aye.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Aye.
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy. Aye.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Aye.
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse. Aye.
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. Aye.
Add to them: Republican Congress members Adam Kinzinger, Dan Newhouse, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Peter Meijer, Tom Rice, David Valadao, Fred Upton, Anthony Gonzales, John Katko.
With their votes for impeachment, they said to Trump, “Go home, and don’t come back.”
After all, his actions endangered their lives and their democracy.
A majority in Congress – yes, a bipartisan majority — voted to bar Trump from office — the greatest repudiation ever from a president’s party in an impeachment trial. Of course, there’ve only been four of those — two for this sorry character, this since-convicted felon.
Ah, but removal by impeachment requires a two-thirds majority. Trump called a simple majority supporting his forever banishment a victory, total vindication. What’s one more lie among hundreds?
Don’t forget that first impeachment. Stern words of condemnation came from Romney over Trump’s bid to extort a rank political favor from Ukraine’s president by threatening to withhold congressionally authorized military aid.
Romney called Trump’s actions “a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security interests, and our fundamental values.”
So, right now we are talking about presidential fitness, and the focus is on Joe Biden. Want some job recommendations for Donald Trump?
Mike Pence: “He asked me to put him over the Constitution. I chose the Constitution.”
Former attorney general Bill Barr: Trump is “a consummate narcissist” who “constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk.”
Former national security advisor John Bolton: “not fit to be president . . . I think he is a danger for the United States if he gets a second term.”
Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley: “a wannabe dictator.”
Former national security advisor J.R. McMaster: “repeatedly compromised our principles in pursuit of partisan advantage and personal gain.”
Former chief of staff John Kelly: “admires autocrats and murderous dictators . . . has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution and the rule of law.”
Every one of these concerns is about governing. Has anyone accused Joe Biden of being unable to govern? The complaints are about the inability to perform one night on national TV. Recall another night — his 2024 State of the Union — when he wowed even Fox News critics.
We pause this list of statements from one-time officials who know Trump best for a testimonial from the college students I teach: their gasps when they found out that, yes, a felon is not barred from the presidency. That felon now cruises to the GOP nomination, even with his sentencing set for September.
We’re going to talk about Joe Biden’s fitness?
My wife had the best line of all: “Biden botched a debate. He didn’t botch a pandemic.” Yes, that pandemic, speaking of governing.
We haven’t yet mentioned the fact that Trump was held liable — $83.3 million worth — for twice defaming a woman he sexually assaulted; that the Trump Organization is liable for defrauding New York and is on the hook for $355 million.
He conned the public with Trump University. He misused funds meant for charity through his foundation, which New York shut down.
You may think Joe Biden is unfit based on age and the cat that gets his tongue.
Yeah, well, stop the false equivalence that somehow this makes for a “fitness” contest. There is none.
Longtime newspaperman John Young lives in Colorado. Email: [email protected].
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