The Albatross: REPUBLICAN President Trump
by Bob Schwartz
Ah! well a-day! what evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Barring extraordinary intervening events such as impeachment (which may not happen), Donald Trump will be president for the next four years. For those unhappy with that prospect, one obvious strategy is to limit his power/damage by reducing the number of Republicans in Congress and elsewhere.
As complex tactics are devised to achieve that end, here is a magic incantation—an albatross—that can help:
REPUBLICAN President Trump
Yes, it is that simple. Three words. It was only months ago that many Republicans were distancing themselves from candidate Trump—trying to hold onto their integrity, dignity, principles and sanity. Once he won, it was understandable that they stood by him, given the power that comes with the office. A lot of Republican dreams could come true with a Republican president, even if it is Trump.
Now Republicans are wondering about the consequences of being attached to the wackiest and least popular president in modern history—maybe ever (after only two months in office!). Not even distancing is going to work, since Trump showed during the campaign that he would attack anyone at any time, regardless of party. Those attacks carry a lot more weight now that he is actually the president.
Even if Republicans try to delicately distance themselves, it should be made as difficult as possible. And the best way to assure that is to identify Trump regularly as REPUBLICAN President Trump. Not President Trump. REPUBLICAN President Trump. REPUBLICAN President Trump.
Let’s see Republicans shake that albatross.
The answer is simple. Impeach. The man is clearly unfit for the job and there is ample evidence showing this. The fact that the Republican Party is willing to accept anyone up to and including Trump as long as he is a Republican shows the Republican Party to be weak,pathetic and sinister – all in equal measure. The Republican Party is not covering itself in glory and should be ashamed of itself. Trump is spoilt bully and the sooner the Republican Party and US voters get rid of him, the better it will be for the United States and the rest of the world.
Historian Allan Lichtman’s book The Case for Impeachment won’t be published until April 17, but it looks like an expert take on “his view that it is not a question of if President Trump will be impeached, but a question of when.” I’m still not convinced, no matter what Trump has done/not done/done horribly that it’s going to be easy. Republicans would have to be on board. BUT there is the thought that many/most Republicans in Congress figured that Trump would get impeached, and actually want an actual Republican leader (from their perspective) like President Pence.