The presidency sits precariously not just in the hands of the people, but under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, may be deemed void if the vice president and Cabinet feel the president is unable to carry out his or her duties.
With the approval of the Speaker of the U.S. House or Senate Pro Tem, a vote may be taken to remove that person from office.
That action may be subject to an appeal by the sitting president.
The nation's 28th U.S. president, Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) is used as a comparison to Donald Trump in their handling of a pandemic from which both would become infected.
Both Wilson and Trump showed signs of misreading the severity of a pandemic.
For Wilson, in the midst of developing strategic alliances abroad, underlying his vision for a League of Nations, the 1918 Spanish Flu struck him with great force.
Though he had a massive stroke in 1919, he was allowed to continue on, incapacitated in office, until the end of his term. This report reportedly allowed his wife, Edith, to rule in his place. Blaming the president’s judgment in both cases forgets to "blame" the virus for not revealing to us upfront, so to speak, all of its secrets which would allow better detection, treatment, and prevention.
Doing a bit of forensic pathology on these cases, one might theorize that Wilson’s stroke may have been a sequelae of influenza, just as the horrendous side effects of COVID-19 show similar devastating effects for many of its victims.
One must worry given the known turn of events for President Trump’s course history, whether there are long term concerns which must be brought into focus.
Thus, former Vice President Joe Biden’s history of brain surgery and fumbling speech as well as major gaffe’s do also make one a bit concerned over his presidential run. Maybe fomrer-President Jimmy Carter is right about the possible compromised ability of people over 70 to steer the often muddy, if not treacherous waters, accompanying the presidency.
Worry over the capacity of our candidates to serve is somewhat tempered by the constitutional process which has in place steps to address such issues.
Troubling is the "all in" posture of too many to remove people or oust them absent due process.
The impact of this on laws in other areas of personal life and conduct can be brought into question. If the rights of the president to privacy regarding health are to be compromised, what is to stop the same from happening to patients with "non-essential" jobs and also to those with diseases like cancer, seizures, or severe injuries from all types of mishaps?
Under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s employers are not allowed to discriminate, especially if a reasonable accommodation can be offered.
As someone who did occupational health for over 20 years, it was troublesome employers wanted access to personal health information then used used to adversely impact one's prospects for employment.
This was also an issue when employers were self-insured, just as it is as are those who work for the government. Their private health information is available.
Thus, what those advocating universal healthcare can't seem to comprehend, is that one gives up any semblance of privacy for the supposed benefits of universal healthcare.
Any good soldier, as should their commander in chief, understand that duty, honor and valor each mandate that for the good of the nation, one should always put the nation first, if one is compromised to the point that they cannot effectively carry out their duties.
Ada M. Fisher, MD, MPH is a former Medical Director in a Fortune 500 company, licensed teacher, retired physician, former county school board member, speaker, author of Common Sense Conservative Prescriptions Good for What Ails Us Book 1 (available through Amazon. Com) and was the NC Republican National Committeewoman (2008-2020).
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