This is how we will actually get rid of Donald Trump – and it has nothing to do with Democrats filing impeachment proceedings

Yes, Cards Against Humanity buying an acre of remote desert won’t bully the guy into signing a resignation letter. But each deed serves as a potent reminder that Americans bow to no one

Nash Riggins
Thursday 16 November 2017 12:09 EST
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House Democrats start impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump

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It’s not easy getting rid of a president – even if the guy is universally loathed. Take Donald Trump, for example. In just a matter of months, the wannabe autocrat has already become the most unpopular president in American history – and that’s not some liberal fairy-tale. Even conservative pollsters say it's a bonafide fact. He's fatally divided his own party, tried and failed to deliver on every key campaign promise and spent about $80m travelling to and from his favourite golf courses.

So, why are we still letting this fussy, orange megalomaniac live rent-free in the White House? Well, it’s not for lack of trying.

On Wednesday, six House Democrats stood up and introduced articles of impeachment begging lawmakers to fire Donald Trump. And at first glance, it looked like that was the moment rhyme and reason had been desperately praying for. But the truth is, even the guys trying to impeach Trump knew it was a waste of time.

You see, congressional procedure is incredibly slow and self-serving. In order to get rid of America’s commander-in-chief, those articles would first need to be approved by a House Judiciary Committee. After that, a House majority of at least 218 congressmen and women would need to vote in favour of the impeachment.

Next, the President would then be forced to defend himself in a trial by Senate – where two-thirds of the 100-strong body would then need to give Donald the heave-ho.

Bearing in mind only one in three Americans actually like Trump, you’d think that whole process would just be some sort of technicality. But when is anything ever that simple? Both congressional bodies are totally controlled by the GOP – and none of the smart Republicans can actually get a word in just now for all the conservative yes-men shouting them down with Trump’s isolationist dribble.

So, until the Democrats step up to bat in next year’s midterm elections, we aren’t going to find any heroes in congress. We’re totally alone in the dark.

Thank god America’s got plenty of everyday heroes willing to light the way. We’re seeing little flickers all over – and in strange places, too.

Earlier this week, foul-mouthed card game and 20-something party staple Cards Against Humanity declared it’d bought a stretch of vacant land along the US-Mexican border and retained a law firm specialising in eminent domain. Why? Just so the company could try to slow down Trump’s “beautiful” and bigoted border wall.

A few days before that, a government contractor flipped Trump’s motorcade the bird knowing she’d probably lose her job over it. Coincidentally, she did – but a crowdfunding campaign has already raised over $100,000 as a collective thank you for the symbolic gesture.

And we can’t forget that legendary Twitter customer service rep who decided to celebrate their last day of work by deleting Donald Trump’s Twitter account – effectively cutting our social media-obsessed leader off from the entire planet for 11 minutes of wonderful, golden, silence.

In isolation, these little stories don’t look like much. They’re funny headlines. They’re low-hanging fruit for left-wing, clickbait listacles. They’re loony liberal attempts to derail democracy.

But stacked up alongside one another, these trivial acts of civil disobedience join at the seams to become something far more powerful.

Okay, so flipping off the President won’t convince 67 Senators to vote for his impeachment. Buying an acre of remote desert won’t bully the guy into signing a resignation letter.

But you know what – each of these deeds serve as a potent reminder that Americans bow to no one. They remind us that Donald Trump is just one, little fish desperately darting around our colossal pond – and it’s our civic duty to stand up to his vitriolic grandstanding in any and every way we can. These little acts of defiance inspire others, hinder regression and connect at the seams to form one, formidable wave of political dissent.

So, if you want to see Donald Trump out of the White House, get up and do something about it. Literally anything. Donate to Planned Parenthood, get involved with a political party or write to your Senator. Report social media trolls, practice empathy, take a knee during the national anthem, slap a bumper sticker on your car – it all adds up. It all becomes a part of that wave.

And it’s only a matter of time before that wave comes crashing through Washington and creates the sweeping changes our country needs.

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