There are a lot of
anti-Trump demonstrators out there carrying signs saying “Not My President.”
They are so disturbed that this ignorant bully got elected that they refuse to
recognize him as President of the United States. I think they have something
there. Call it “Virtual Impeachment.” It now seems unlikely that the Congress
will impeach the Donald despite his many moments of vulgarity, stupidity, and
simple-minded tweeting. But a majority of Americans voted against him, and it
is possible for them to show their rejection by means of virtual impeachment.
There are many
powers, rights, and responsibilities built into the laws governing the
Presidency. But there are no laws or regulations saying that we have to accept
him as president in our hearts. We have to obey all the laws governing the
presidency, but we do not have to refer to him as 'President.' We are not required to show him the respect ordinarily due a
president or play “Hail to the Chief” when he appears.
We certainly are
not required to equate him with his predecessor, who displayed all of the class
and leadership lacking in the current inhabitant of the White House. We are not
required to turn-out for his rallies and gatherings. I would suggest that
people who oppose him as I do should turn our backs and shun him whenever and
wherever he appears.
Most presidents
recognize that they were elected by fewer than a unanimous public, so after
being elected they try to unify the country behind them. Not this jerk. If
anything, he has attempted to antagonize the majority of Americans who voted
against him. Reza Aslan, a scholarly writer on religion and a commentator on
CNN, recently said of Donald Trump’s response to the London terrorist attacks: “This piece of s*** is not
just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He's an
embarrassment to humankind.”
If all of the people who
voted against Trump and all of the people who have become disillusioned by his
behavior since the election ignore him and show no respect for him it will be
as if he was impeached and thrown out of office. It will be Virtual
Impeachment.
