CNNs Michael Smerconish says Corker's building a 25th Amendment case for removing Trump from office

[DonViejo]

CNN’s Michael Smerconish says Corker’s building a 25th Amendment case for removing Trump from office

SARAH K. BURRIS
09 OCT 2017 AT 06:59 ET

CNN’s Monday morning “New Day” began with a stunned host Alisyn Camerota calling Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) conversation with the New York Times “extraordinary.”

“This is a top Republican who is unplugged now and saying things that people have only said off the record or whispered about in the halls of Congress,” Camerota said. Daily Beast editor John Avlon agreed, saying that Corker is using “drop the mic” terms to describe Corker’s honesty.

-snip-

CNN host Michael Smerconish explained that his training as an attorney leads him to believe that’s a comment about the president’s ability to do his job effectively.

“The lawyer in me hears something different. I’m thinking of the 25th Amendment, Section 4, which speaks to a president who is unable to discharge the powers of duties of his office,” Smerconish said. “Let’s just reflect on some of the word choices that senator made. Post-Charlottesville, he was questioning the stability of the president. Now he’s using the word ‘reckless, chaos.’ Now he is saying ‘he concerns me.’ I think he’s planting seeds for questioning the fitness, the mental fitness of the president pursuant to the 25th Amendment to continue with his responsibilities.”

Full article + video:
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/cnn-michael-smerconish-says-corkers-building-a-25th-amendment-case-for-removing-trump-from-office/

[tanyev]

1. I'm thinking that's the whole reason for announcing he wasn't running again.

He's agreed to be the point man.

[Kber]

6. Hmmm. That makes sense.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. If he does, we will have his back.

First Republican that will earn bipartisan support in recent history.

[spanone]

3. K&R...

[Botany]

4. Of course Trump is nuttier than a squirrel turd .....

... because anybody who makes themselves look like he does and
can look in the mirror and think that is a good look is bat shit crazy.

[get the red out]

5. I don't see this as positive

Could that stop the Mueller investigation and leave us with Pence, untouched?

[Orrex]

8. How? If Pence is complicit, then he's likely under investigation already.

Whether or not Trump gets catapulted, the investigation should still go forward, even if only to nab Mannafort or whoever else (hopefully Pence, of course).

[get the red out]

10. I hope you are right

I really think Pence has dirty hands in all of this too, and I worry about the Rs deciding to use the 25th to removed Trump, and have Pence take over with everyone, including Democrats, breathing a sigh of relief with maybe just a few guys like Manfort going to jail. I would never be relieved with Pence in power.

[Orrex]

11. I hope so, too!

Pence is at least as awful as Trump, but in his own, less farcical way.

He would certainly move us forward into the 19th century, given the chance.

[Qutzupalotl]

15. Pence was head of transition and hired Flynn

despite being warned about his ... extracurricular activities.

Plus he was Manafort's pick for VP...

[PJMcK]

9. Multiple points of attack

Senator Corker is taking a righteous stand against Trump. Good for him and as Baitball Blogger wrote above, he'll have bipartisan support.

However, the senator doesn't have control over Mr. Mueller's investigation. From all reports, there are numerous individuals that are caught in that investigation and it would be hard to believe that Pence isn't being looked at as well. Additionally, there are Congressional investigations of Trump's actions during the campaign, the transition and since the inauguration. Each of these inquiries is independent and represent different problems for Trump.

[SweetieD]

7. Don't believe this.

[smirkymonkey]

12. I would like to believe this, but I'm not getting my hopes up

just yet.

[gratuitous]

17. Yeah, we have to see if anyone follows Corker's "lead"

Somehow I suspect that Bob is going to find himself lonelier than the Maytag repair man in the months to come.

[leftstreet]

13. Remember what Corker said during Sept 26 retirement announcement

26 September 2017
“After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year … I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018,” Corker, a two-term senator from Tennessee who chairs the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement.

The announcement came as Corker, a vocal critic of Donald Trump, wrestled with his political future at an inflection point for the Republican party under the current administration.

Corker alluded to his disagreements with the direction of Trump’s presidency in his statement, saying: “The most important public service I have to offer our country could well occur over the next 15 months.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/26/senator-bob-corker-to-retire-with-most-important-service-in-next-15-months

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Good catch. Thanks. . . . nt

[gordianot]

16. Trump and his drama is a liability he gets way too much attention.

You do not announce your presence when attempting robbery or mayhem.

[onenote]

18. The 25th amendment will never be used to remove Trump.

The only way to remove him as a practical matter is through impeachment, which actually is much easier than using the 25th amendment.

Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn't closely read the 25th amendment.