Joel Lourie has retired from politics, but today he could not restrain himself. He sent this out as an email:
Under the 25th amendment, if the President becomes unable to discharge the duties of the office or becomes incapacitated, he can be replaced by the vice-president. Regardless of what I may think of the vice-president’s politics, he strikes me as an honorable man and a stark contrast to Trump.
Time to invoke the 25th…
I don’t know if the 25th is the way to go or not, although some have made strong arguments in favor of it. What do y’all think?
Oh, by way of disclosure: Joel’s business is an ADCO client…
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We’ve been over this before. Here’s the section that Lourie thinks is possible:
“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.”
Do we really think two thirds of Congress will vote Trump out because they don’t like his statements on Charlottesville? What else would they use for evidence? Bad grammar? Tweets? Don’t like his tone of voice? The Billy Bush interview?
Pence would have to have a good feeling that he could get 75-80% of the votes of Congress before heading down this path because there will be some who cave to pressure. If Trump survived, Pence’s political career would be over. He’d have to resign with Trump standing on the steps of the White House saying “You’re fired!”
It ain’t happening over Trump’s performance so far.
Clearly there is something mentally wrong with Donald Trump. He forgets things he just said. He contradicts himself in the same sentence. His narcissistic behavior shows he is unstable. He antagonizes foreign leaders for no good reason. (We haven’t heard the last from North Korea). Congress and his own cabinet ignore his mental issues for fear of offending his base.
But this could change. His approval ratings continue to drop, now below 38% in the RCP average. That is remarkable given a record DOW and 4.3% unemployment rate. But so far his base is still with him. I guess racism resonates with these people. Keep an eye on these numbers. A sustained sub-35% approval probably dooms him. That happens if the unemployment rate and/or the DOW deteriorate. Fortunately for him congress has been unable to eliminate the successful Obama economic policies and thus the economy booms. How ironic that Obama is indirectly propping up Trump.
“He contradicts himself in the same sentence.”
Not true!
He doesn’t speak in sentences…
“Fortunately for him congress has been unable to eliminate the successful Obama economic policies and thus the economy booms. ”
What were those policies again? I forget. Sequestration?