To the Editor:

Is it possible that the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency has begun? That, in my view, would be the best possible outcome to the 2018 election, for our country, for our people, for the world. We have flaws in our democratic system and a character weakness in our nation that allowed someone clearly unqualified and unfit to be elected president. We need it to be done and over with as soon as possible and somehow insure it never happens again.

Over 40 U.S. House Republicans have announced they’re retiring at the end of this term, the highest number to do so (and it’s only March) in any recent election cycle.

With President Trump’s approval ratings bogged down in the low- to mid-30’s, it’s possible Republicans anticipate a midterm bloodbath and losing control of both houses of Congress to the Democrats. Democrats only need to flip 24 seats to win a majority and (in modern times) the president’s party loses (on average) 32 seats. That does not bode well for Republicans, especially with a president as catastrophe-prone as Trump.

Republicans can blame Trump and themselves for their mean-spirited and partisan determination to reverse everything Obama accomplished and for no other reason than their own ill-conceived and ill-considered notions that everything Obama did was wrong for America. If they hadn’t been so obsessed with making Obama a one-term president instead of doing what was right by the American people, they wouldn’t be plagued now with the prospect of losing control of their government and the demise of their party.

When Democrats take control of both Houses of Congress, Trump will face the inevitable risk of impeachment as well as hostile committee chairs with subpoena power. Incidentally, no less than nine GOP committee chairs (so far) aren’t running for re-election. Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it Mr. President?

As Noah Rothman in Commentary/Magazine.com phrased it, “Americans are prepared to throw Republicans out of power, not because of their record in office but in spite of it.” It’s not Republican policies that trouble most people, citizens are repulsed by Trump himself, disgusted by his inane tweets, sickened by his vulgar comments and deeply offended by his hate-filled, often racist speech.

The United Nations human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville said there was no other way to describe Trump’s remarks (referring to his bunghole comment in the Oval Office) “but racist.” Leaders the world over are disgusted by this U.S. president, and so am I.

He’s an embarrassment to us all and how anyone can support Trump at this point defies reason. Anyone who scorns the U.S. Constitution, advocates prosecuting his critics, boasts of groping women, and praises white supremacists is unfit to be a United States president and as far as I’m concerned gives a whole new meaning to “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Never will I cast a vote for another Republican so long as Donald Trump remains in office. Republicans, if you don’t have the gumption or the resourcefulness or the plain old moxie to force this lunatic from office before he completely destroys America (or worse), then for the sake of the country you have sworn to serve and defend, turn the responsibility over to someone who will ... and the sooner the better.

David L. Snell   

Franklin