“Mr. President, you can’t do that.” If only President Donald Trump would listen.

Since taking office back in January 2017, President Trump has been involved in one crisis after another, creating chaos and confusion. At this point in his presidency, I have stopped being surprised by the things happening with the his Administration, thinking that the American people just need to be on guard at all times, not knowing what shoe is going to drop next. To be sure, Trump’s overall behavior has been an embarrassment to the American people.

Now, what really matters should be the future and security of our Republic. Even though I am no longer surprised at Trump’s behavior, I am truly surprised that the American people have allowed American affairs to come to this point in our history, and I am deeply saddened to think that we have remained silent as Trump has continued to divide this nation. With that said, it is my hope that once the impeachment inquiry becomes public, starting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, public support for the impeachment of Trump will continue to grow, demonstrating American democracy in action.

With the start of public impeachment hearings, Republicans will have a very tough decision to make concerning whether to stick with President Trump or not. No doubt, it is time Republicans place patriotism over party. At what point will Republicans get tired of defending Trump’s wrongdoing and make the decision to uphold our Constitution. Broadly speaking, the American people should not stand for what Trump is doing in stonewalling and trying to run out the clock. This should be viewed as an obstruction of Congress and deemed an impeachable offense.

The fact that Trump is the subject of so much chaos, confusion and corruption should be enough to charge him with “bringing disgrace and ridicule to the presidency by his words and actions.” This was one of the eleven charges written up against President Nixon in 1974, but we know that Nixon chose to resign before the House of Representatives voted on his impeachment question, with him leaving office in August 1974. No doubt, more and more Americans have come to believe that President Donald Trump has become a “clear and present danger” to the safety and future well-being of America. Our beloved Republic is in peril.

For over the last one thousand days now, we’ve all had a chance to see and hear for ourselves the conduct and words of Donald Trump in the role of President of the United States and as the leader of the world. To me, it has been a frightening journey — an epic disappointment. For the most part, we have no reason to be surprised at what’s happening. Donald Trump has been Donald Trump ever since he took office in January 2017, as he has made no pretense about who he is.

Let’s face it, Trump is failing miserably at being the President of the United States.

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By Larry Sutton

Contributing columnist

Larry Sutton is a retired teacher from Clinton High School.