The opinions stated in this article are solely those of the author and not the Davis Journal

When it came to this month’s impeachment of President Donald Trump, there are two types of Americans: Those who make decisions based on principles and those who are focused less on principle than on “here and now” reality.

My wife is one of the former whereas I tend to lean to the other.  She has better arguments than I do, but I imagine my views would be supported by the majority of Americans. 

She believes people should be held accountable for their actions: therefore, she says Donald Trump should be held accountable for encouraging the mob assault on the U.S. Capitol which led to building damage, death, and injuries to law enforcement officers and pipe bombs being placed at the offices of both political parties.

On principle, she’s correct.  Few of us would ignore a child stealing from a store during a “going out of business” sale simply because the store would be closing anyway.  Obviously, Charles Manson didn’t directly commit the grisly murders at the Tate and LaBianca homes either, but he was still indicted for seven counts of murder.

She’s not saying Trump should be held responsible for the deaths, but that his rallying cry incited the riot – an offense serious enough to ensure he never can run again for federal office through his impeachment.  At the very least, he was reckless and irresponsible; at the very worst, he should be tried for sedition.

I can understand her views. I just go off in a different direction.  

The reality is that the Trump brand is tarnished. Banks and real estate companies are refusing to loan money or participate with him in new deals. His lukewarm condemnation of the neo-Nazis and white supremacists has left a sour taste in the minds of most voters.  He won’t be remembered in history as the president who appointed conservative judges.  Instead, he will be remembered as an angry and bellicose politician who refused to accept a fair and legal election defeat and lit the match leading to an incendiary attack on the democratic process of law.

Even if standing on principles, Democrats bellowing about impeachment run the risk of alienating the broad swath of voters who simply want government to more effectively address their concerns.  Voters expect their representatives to stop drawing a line between political parties and start funding bridge and road repair, stabilize Social Security for future recipients, grease the wheels for  rapid COVID-19 vaccinations, ensure we have clean air and water, and create an environment for an expanding economy lifting the wages of low and middle-income workers.  

The Democrats control both houses of Congress.  Trump is no longer a threat. The new threat is inaction due to hyper-partisanship.  Fumigate the White House and let’s move on.