As reaction mounts to the anonymous New York Times op ed written by a high level White House Staffer, I am wondering how our “founding fathers” could have missed this one.
Honestly, I have always thought of the U.S. Constitution as quite a brilliant document – the creation of something wholly new at its time, where the balance of power is well considered and individual rights well balanced against those assigned to government.
But in the current political climate, something is terribly off.
Because there is mounting evidence from those who work most closely with President Trump, at best, think he is temperamentally unsuited to fulfill the job and, at worst, believe him too mentally unstable to hold such power. And regardless of which is closer to the truth, we see NO INVESTIGATION, NO HEARING, and NO QUESTIONS coming from this GOP-controlled Congress.
Both Senators and House representatives are required by law to swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution. And in Article One, Section 8 of that Constitution it states —
“The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.”
Concerns raised about Donald Trump are certainly a lot more serious than President Clinton messing around with a White House Intern, though that was certainly wrong. But there was no threat posed to our country. And Congress was certainly eager to hold hearings and talk of impeachment back then. In my mind, the current situation is even more serious than Richard Nixon’s Watergate cover-up when Congress did a full investigation that ultimately forced his resignation. This is the way our system is supposed to work.
But now, accusations are being made about Trump’s mental stability and very capability to do the job! And nobody is Congress is acting. Doesn’t this warrant some sort of inquiry? Of ANY kind? Isn’t the possibility of nuclear war at stake here? Not to mention relations with allies, global economic prosperity, and the reputation of the United States internationally.
That this could happen points out a serious flaw in our country’s founding principles. Because I’m certain NO ONE involved in the writing of the Constitution ever envisioned that such serious concerns could be raised about a sitting president and our government’s sophisticated system of checks and balances would fail so miserably to protect us. Maybe someone should be talking about a constitutional amendment to fix this!
Toby A. Smith 
The 25th amendment was designed expressly for this:
Amendment XXV affects 9 (Amendment 25 – Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)
1: In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
2: Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
3: Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
4: 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. ratified #25
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Yes, but unfortunately that amendment hasn’t spurred Congress to action. And doesn’t address the issue of “checks and balances” not working.
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