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onenote

(46,264 posts)
16. It won't result in his being forced from office, but it will shine a light on his craziness.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:53 PM
Apr 14

First, the bill almost certainly will immediately be referred to the Judiciary Committee where it will die. Second, even if it got out of Committee and was voted on by the House and even if it passed the House, it won't get voted on or make it through the Senate. And if it somehow made it through the House and Senate, Trump would veto it.

Leaving all that aside, the bigger problem is that in the end, it doesn't resolve the principal weakness in the 25th amendment -- one that could only be cured by a Constitutional amendment. And that is the fact that even if this Commission was created and it concluded Trump was incapacitated to the point that they could not discharge the powers and duties of the presidency, under the language of the 25th amendment, Trump could dispute that finding and it then would require a 2/3 vote of both the House and the Senate to remove Trump. And that isn't happening.

Nevertheless, Raskin's bill is worthwhile insofar as it highlights Trump's nuttiness. But the reality is, notwithstanding what some pundits claim, the 25th amendment was not designed for the situation presented by Trump's behavior. It was principally designed to deal with the circumstance where the president is unable to act, not when the president acts stupidly. It was intended to deal with the situation where a president is unconscious, either for surgery or due to illness, or is otherwise unable to make decisions. Trump can and does discharge the duties and powers of the office -- he can and does sign legislation, make nominations and appointments, dictate foreign policy, etc etc. The solution under the Constitution when a president exercises those powers badly or even irrationally, is through elections, unless the actions not only are irrational but constitute the type of action that should be addressed by impeachment, such as committing or threatening to commit war crimes -- and impeachment is a lower bar than the 25th amendment.

But, as noted, I have no objection to Raskin and other putting forward the bill as a way to highlight Trump's craziness. But it isn't going to change anything directly.

Recommendations

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Ignoring the uphill battle with passage & noting my intense respect for Raskin's constitutional hlthe2b Apr 14 #1
The 25th Amendment allows for Congress to establish another body to evaluate POTUS fitness LetMyPeopleVote Apr 14 #3
Thank you. I overlooked that clause and I think others did too. Bluetus Apr 14 #12
Congressman Raskin is a great constitutional law scholar LetMyPeopleVote Apr 14 #13
It looks like it's following the Constitution. BadgerKid Apr 14 #5
Would love to impeach cabinet members who aren't applying the 25thA. n/t BadgerKid Apr 14 #2
This is a waste of time. He's trying to shame Vance and the cabinet into invoking the 25th Amendment. rsdsharp Apr 14 #4
There's 51 Dems that trump will now direct the DOJ to investigate/prosecute Bayard Apr 14 #6
IDK if it's worth the effort. Icanthinkformyself Apr 14 #7
Yep. Epstein, prices, and now war in the middle east. progressoid Apr 14 #9
Agreed. Waste of time. Concentrate on the midterms. Ray Bruns Apr 14 #11
If Republicans were smart, they'd see it as a lifeline and grab it. So of course, they won't. Vinca Apr 14 #8
I say "Keep it up." Keep the public aware of Trump's shittiness every day! CTyankee Apr 14 #10
I do not believe he would be "removed"... he'd still be the President (and could continually appeal) QueerDuck Apr 14 #14
MaddowBlog-Trump confronts a public conversation he hoped to avoid over his mental stability LetMyPeopleVote Apr 14 #15
It won't result in his being forced from office, but it will shine a light on his craziness. onenote Apr 14 #16
Shining a light on trump's mental issues will be valuable LetMyPeopleVote Apr 15 #17
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