Open Letter to Rep. Salud Carbajal:
I have two requests to make of you. I do not underestimate their difficulty, and I’m sure they are more than you signed on for. They will require everything you can offer, plus the support of your colleagues and God.
Before President Trump invaded Venezuela and kidnapped Maduro and his wife, a solid majority (60%) of Americans disapproved of his behavior. If we had an honorable, principled Congress, he would have been impeached long ago. But his power to intimidate has assured that he can do almost whatever he wants, with little or no resistance.
Now that he has taken Venezuela, he will almost certainly, and predictably, go on to take Greenland, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, and Panama, and other sovereign nations he has previously threatened. The man is a megalomaniac and completely out-of-control madman. He has no respect for anyone except himself. National interest be damned. World order be damned. National sovereignty be damned.
The only thing that can (legally) stop him is Impeachment. You are my Representative in the House. I urge you to take the lead and file Articles of Impeachment immediately, based on “high crimes and misdemeanors.” He does not have to have broken any laws. Congress decides what is and is not a “high crime.” I am sure you will find broad support from the Republicans. They don’t want this situation. At least they will have to declare their positions for the history books. If they can be persuaded to work together, it can be done. And I think that now is the window of opportunity. Our nation is at a crossroads: This is Hitler in 1936 all over again. You know this is true. So you must act … act fast and powerfully.
A second matter of great urgency and also of tremendous importance is to introduce a Constitutional Amendment to limit Executive power. It will take more time to draft than the Articles of Impeachment, so discussions should be started immediately. Through his gross overreach, the President has highlighted many areas where his power should be curtailed. Of course, he is the first president to act so imprudently and indifferently to the good of the country. But now that he has shown the way, others will follow. Neither the President nor the Supreme Court needs to agree, and the President’s only power to oppose it is by intimidation. Again, you are my Representative in the House. Please initiate a Constitutional Amendment without delay.
I know this is a lot to ask, but you can rally your Democratic, Republican, and Independent colleagues to act now. The nation and the world are counting on you!
