Should One Donald J. Trump have been Removed from Office?

  Ah, should we have removed Donald J. Trump from office, that once we had a chance? Lest we forget why we should have, let's pause to remember.
   The case is as clear as studying the Constitution. Well, for some of us, it is. Others will not see it this way.
   But, let's consider: One Alexander Hamilton -- as good of an authority on the Constitution as any  -- writing in the Federalist Papers, said that what is in our Constitution, when it speaks of impeachment, was modeled after English law.
   When the English spoke of "high crimes and misdemeanors," what were they referring to? Well, in English law, this was an indefinite phrase covering conduct not constituting indictable offenses, but referring to abuse and misuse of office. It was not a reference to breaking specified and codified laws. It was not a reference to offenses against persons or property. No, it was referring to taking an office and using it in the wrong way.
   The public trusts you to not to abuse or misuse your office.
   Is using your office for personal gain, for political advantage an abuse of power? Surely, to me, it is. If you see a political rival rising who you might face in the next election, and you use the power of your office to go after him -- what is that? Is that to be said to be okay? If you've got some money going to the Ukraine, and you yank it away while at the same time suggesting they find something on your political opponent, is that all just part of fulfilling the normal duties of your office? Not to me, it is not.
   There is clarity in what is right and wrong. We should be able to see that using the power of your office to get rid of a political opponent is wrong. And, if it is wrong, and the Constitution calls for such persons to be removed from the presidency, are we upholding the Constitution if we do anything but remove them?
   You may disagree. And, I might look at you and say, You have ears to hear but refuse to hear. Bless you, the same. Bless us both for taking the time to consider the things of our nation.

(Note: Some rewriting done April 27.)