Last night on ABC News, I watched George Stephanopoulos give a fair and unbiased interview of President Joe Biden.
If you have not watched it, you can give it a read here. It scared me. And it makes me wonder if we should seriously consider invoking the 25th Amendment.
Welcome to the political circus where the main act is more contortionist than conjurer, and the ringmaster's age becomes the greatest illusion.
Today, we’re diving into the depths of the 25th Amendment, the political equivalent of a panic button, and asking the big, juicy question: What would happen if we hit it to show President Joe Biden the door?
Act I: The 25th Amendment – Constitutional Botox
First, let’s get cozy with the 25th Amendment, a piece of legalese that’s like Botox for our Constitution – rarely used, but when it is, it’s to smooth out the most noticeable wrinkles. Enacted in 1967, post-Kennedy assassination, it’s essentially our nation’s insurance policy against a commander-in-chief who's gone off the rails.
The key section here is Article IV, the political equivalent of the eject button in a fighter jet. It allows the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the President unfit for office. If they do, the Veep steps up to the plate. But, in true bureaucratic style, the President can challenge this declaration, kicking off a Congressional cage match to decide his fate.
Act II: Kamala Takes the Wheel – A New Narrative
Imagine waking up to the news that Biden’s been benched. The immediate effect? Kamala Harris steps into the Oval Office, making history as the first female and the first person of South Asian descent to hold the presidency.
Cue the fireworks.
Now, the narrative shifts. Kamala, previously painted as the sidekick, suddenly becomes the protagonist. Her every move, word, and tweet are magnified under the political microscope. The media, which loves a good makeover story, would feast on this transition. Think of it as a presidential edition of "Extreme Makeover: Political Edition."
Act III: The Political Ripple Effect – Dominoes and Dynamite
But the plot thickens. Removing a sitting president is like dropping a cinder block into a kiddie pool – the splash is unavoidable, and everyone gets wet. Here’s the cascade of consequences:
Legislative Gridlock on Steroids: Biden’s exit wouldn’t just ruffle feathers; it’d pluck the whole darn chicken. Democrats, already juggling a circus of agendas, would find themselves in a legislative quagmire. Republicans would seize the opportunity to throw wrenches, hammers, and anything else they can find into the machinery of governance.
Foreign Policy Whiplash: Picture this: world leaders adjusting their Zoom cameras to face a new U.S. President. Allies and adversaries alike would scramble to reassess their strategies. Putin might smirk, Xi could recalibrate, and Zelenskyy would be dialing Harris to reaffirm support faster than you can say “geopolitical chess.”
Market Mayhem: Investors loathe uncertainty. The stock market, that delicate flower, would react like it’s allergic to bees. Expect volatility to spike as Wall Street tries to decode the new administration’s economic playbook.
Public Perception – The Trust Deficit: The American public, already as polarized as a broken compass, would be thrown into a deeper existential crisis. Trust in government, teetering on the edge, might take a nosedive. Conspiracy theorists would have a field day, while the rest of us would be left wondering if we’re watching a political thriller or a tragicomedy.
Act IV: The Biden Legacy – Tarnished or Transcendent?
And what about Joe? Removing Biden via the 25th Amendment would etch an asterisk next to his name in the history books. His presidency, already marred by debates over competency and age, would be overshadowed by his dramatic exit.
But here’s the kicker: Biden’s policies and initiatives wouldn’t vanish. They’d be inherited by Harris, who’d face the Herculean task of steering them to fruition while establishing her own legacy. Think of it as taking over a half-baked souffle – the ingredients are there, but the end result is uncertain.
The Cost of the Eject Button
So, what’s the takeaway from this hypothetical rollercoaster? Invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Biden would be a political Hail Mary, a high-risk maneuver with uncertain rewards. It’s the kind of move that reshapes the landscape, for better or worse, and leaves us grappling with the fallout for years to come.
In the end, the 25th Amendment is our constitutional safeguard, a reminder that even the most powerful office in the land has its checks and balances.
But using it? That’s a whole different ball game – one that demands we weigh the cost of pressing that big red button against the price of holding our breath and hoping for the best.
Buckle up, folks. Politics has never been for the faint of heart.
IF the 25th Amendment should be activated on Biden, so should the 14th Amendment against the former president for inciting insurrection. After all, both incidents were committed in plain sight of the American public. And should the Haley vs. Harris election occur Nov. 5 as the former predicted months ago? Well, that's a saner option than what voters have now.