Letter: Unprecedented coup staged by president

In yet another column, Cal Thomas’ hyperbole gets in the way of the facts (“Mueller report fizzles, but Dems still push impeachment,” Star-Advertiser, April 23).

Thomas concluded that Democrats are pursuing “their ultimate goal: evicting the president from the White House in a coup unprecedented in American history.”

Unprecedented? Thomas must be aware that two presidents have been impeached and a third resigned to avoid an impeachment. So the use of “unprecedented” in this case is a remarkably misplaced choice of words.

It also is hard to overlook the simple fact that “the Democrats” have yet to decide what the House majority will do regarding impeachment. The speaker has publicly indicated she doesn’t think the effort is worthwhile.

A much better example of an unprecedented coup would be a president who defies express congressional fiscal limitations — say, for funds to build a wall. See U.S. Constitution, Art. I, Secs. 8 and 9.

Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, strict constructionists and judicial progressives should all be sharing an unprecedented concern about a de facto imperial presidency.

That is the real coup, Mr. Thomas.

Edward B. Hanel Jr.

Kailua

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