Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3043736

HowDoWeSolveaProblemLiketheDonald?1JulieNovkovProfessor,DepartmentofPoliticalScienceandWomen’s,Gender,andSexualityStudiesDepartmentofPoliticalScienceUniversityatAlbany,SUNYMilneHall217135WesternAvenueAlbany,NY12222jnovkov@albany.edu

1TitlerevisioncredittoMarkGraber,whoseattentiontostressedsyllablesinmusicalphrasesisappreciated.IamalsogratefultoMark,JackBalkin,LeslieGoldstein,EricLomazoff,andGordonSilversteinfortheirinsightsintothenatureofconstitutionalcrisesandtheiranalysisofthecurrentsituation.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3043736

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HowDoWeSolveaProblemLiketheDonald?

Abstract:PoliticalobservershavedebatedwhetherandhowtoremoveDonaldJ.Trumpfromtheofficeofthepresidency.ThisarticleexplainsthedifficultiesassociatedwithboththeTwenty-FifthAmendment’sincapacityrouteandimpeachment.ThesedifficultiesilluminatealargerunderlyingproblemwithAmericandemocracythattheTrumppresidencybothcrystallizesandreinforces:theemergenceofanenergizedcoreofpoliticalparticipantswhounitearoundracializedidentityandrejectsomecoreprinciplesofdemocracy. Constitutionalscholarsandpunditshaverecentlybeendebatingoverwhetherlong-

standingconstitutionaldemocracies,particularlytheUnitedStates,areinamomentof

constitutionalcrisis,andifso,howthiscrisisislikelytoresolve.Framingtheproblemasa

questionofwhetheritisaconstitutionalcrisis,however,missesthemark.The“crisisof

constitutionaldemocracy”intheUnitedStates,ifoneexists,isbothaconstitutionaland

politicalproblem.Ultimately,thequestionofwhetherTrumpissoawfulthatheshouldbe

removedfromtheofficeofthepresidencyisapoliticalone,astheconstitutionnowhere

definesthekindofviciousbehaviororirremediableincompetencethatwouldtriggera

structuralprocessofinvoluntaryremoval.Isetasidetheinterestingquestionofwhatkind

ofviciousbehaviororirremediableincompetenceshouldprovokethechoicetoinitiate

removalandwilldiscussinsteadthetwopotentialroutes.Exploringtheserouteshelpsto

illuminatebetterwhattheTrumpproblemis,whyitisathreattoconstitutionaldemocracy

throughitspoliticalstructure,andwhyitprobablywon’tgoawaywhenhedoes,regardless

ofhowhegoes.

EventsinAugustheightenedtheurgencyofdiscussionsconcerningcrisis.Inthe

wakeofthewhitesupremacistmarchandassociatedviolenceinCharlottesville,Trump’s

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3043736

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responseswerewildlyerratic.Theevent,dubbed“UnitetheRight,”openedonthenightof

Friday,August11,withatiki-torchfueledprocessionofmorethan200mostlyyoungwhite

menshoutingracistandanti-Semiticslogans.Theywereconfrontedbyagroupof

approximately30counterprotesters,manyofwhomwereaffiliatedwiththeUniversityof

Virginia.AviolentclasheruptedasthewhitesupremaciststauntedtheUVAcontingentand

somethrewtorchesatthem.2Thefollowingday,crowdsofwhitesupremacistsand

counterprotestersgatheredearly.Storesandbusinessesclosed.CharlottesvilleandVirginia

policewerealarmedbythearrivalofarmedright-wingmilitiamembersdressedincombat

gearandcarryingrifles.Whencounterprotesterstriedtoblockthesupremacistmarchers’

forwardprogress,themarchersrespondedwithviolence,andasthepolicedeclinedto

intervene,thesituationdeterioratedrapidly.Bytheendoftheday,threepeopleweredead

–twoVirginiastatepoliceofficersinahelicoptercrash,andHeatherHeyer,whenJames

AlexFields,Jr.drovehiscarintoacrowdofcounterprotesters–andmanymoreinjured.3

OnSaturdaynight,Trumpweighedin,condemningviolence“onmanysides,”

enragingmany,includingsomeprominentRepublicans,anddelightingfarrightwhite

supremacists.ThefollowingMonday,asthefirestormofcriticismraged,hereleaseda

secondstatementcondemningwhitesupremacy.4OnTuesday,however,hestagedan

impromptupressconferenceagainblamingbothsidesandidentifyingthe“alt-left”as

2JoeHeim,“RecountingaDayofRage,Hate,Violence,andDeath”(WashingtonPost,August14,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/local/charlottesville-timeline/?utm_term=.81918d29c5a4.3Id.4A.J.Willingham,“TrumpmadetwostatementsonCharlottesville.Here'showwhitenationalistsheardthem”(CNN,Aug.15,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/14/politics/charlottesville-nazi-trump-statement-trnd/index.html

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fomentingviolence.5AndonThursday,hefollowedupwithatweetlamentingthelossof

Confederatemonuments.6AlthoughTrumppartedwayswithSteveBannonshortly

afterward,thisseriesofeventsheightenedoppositiontohimandincitedthestrongest

waveofeliteRepublicancondemnationsofhisactionssincebeforethe2016election.

ConcernsabouthisfitnessandhispoliticalviabilitygrewafterhehostedarallyinPhoenix

onAugust22,duringwhichheveeredoffhispreparedremarksintoaramblingdefenseof

hispreviousstatements,anendorsementofConfederatememorialsandmonuments,anda

possiblethreattoprovokeagovernmentshutdowntobuildthenotoriousborderwall.7

WhiletalkofremovalhasswirledsinceInaugurationDay,andHoustonDemocratAl

Greendeliveredaspeechadvocatingforimpeachmentanddraftedimpeachmentarticlesin

June,8sinceCharlottesville,thediscussionhasgrownmoreserious.Andinthebackground

ofthislatestcontroversy(andundoubtedlybythetimethisarticleispublished,therewill

beanother),letusnotforgetthatRobertMueller’sinvestigationintoTrump’sinvolvement

withRussianattemptstomeddleinthe2016electioncontinues.

TheTwenty-FifthAmendment

ItisbecominganincreasinglycommonplaceobservationthatTrumpisunprecedented.His

campaignwasunprecedented,histransitionintotheroleofPresidentwasunprecedented,

andmanyaspectsofhisgoverningstylehavebeenunprecedented.Impeachment,asIshall5DanMerica,“TrumpsaysbothsidestoblameamidCharlottesvillebacklash”(CNN.Aug.16,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/politics/trump-charlottesville-delay/index.html.6JeremyDiamond,“TrumpcallsremovalofConfederatemonuments‘sofoolish'’”(CNN,Aug.17,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/17/politics/trump-tweet-confederate-statues/index.html.7EricBradner,“DonaldTrumpdefendsCharlottesvilleresponses,omitsreferenceto‘manysides’”(CNN,Aug.23,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/22/politics/trump-phoenix-rally/index.html.8AbbyLivingston,“AlGreenpushesforwardwithTrumpimpeachment”(TheTexasTribune,June7,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/07/al-green-pushes-forward-trump-impeachment/.

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discussbelow,ismessy,long,andhighlypolitical.Somepundits,scholars,andpolitical

actorshavesuggestedusingtheTwenty-FifthAmendment,whichprovidesforcontinuityof

theexecutivebranchandalineofsuccession,asameansofremovinghiminvoluntarily,

althoughitsuseforthispurposeisunprecedented.

Theprocessitselfwouldberelativelysimple,farmoresothanimpeachment.

SectionfouroftheamendmentprovidesthattheVicePresidentandamajorityof“the

principalofficersoftheexecutivedepartmentsorofsuchotherbodyasCongressmayby

lawprovide”9needonlytransmitawrittendeclarationtoPaulRyan(SpeakeroftheHouse)

andOrrinHatch(PresidentProTemporeoftheSenate)expressingtheirjudgmentthat

Trumpis“unabletodischargethepowersanddutiesofhisoffice,”andMichaelPence

immediatelybecomestheActingPresident.10Theflyintheointmentisthecontestation

process.Uponactivationofsectionfour,aPresidentmaycontacttheSpeakerandPresident

ProTemanddeclarehimselftobeabletoexecutetheofficeofthepresidencyandre-

resumeitimmediately.TheVicePresidentandcabinetthenhavefourdaystore-declare

hisincompetence,andthequestionisthenlefttoCongresstodecide.Two-thirdsofboth

housesmustconcurinthejudgmentthatthePresidentisunabletodischargethedutiesof

office.11IntheeventthataPresidentisremovedthroughthismeansandtheVicePresident

becomesActingPresident,theConstitutionprovidesnoreviewmechanismforrestoring

thePresident.

TheTwenty-FifthAmendmentwasdraftedandaddedtotheConstitutiontoaddress

concernsaboutthephysicalcapabilitiesofthePresidenttoexecutetheoffice.President9Congresshasneverexerciseditsauthoritytolegislateunderthisclause,althoughdiscussionsarebrewingnow.10Twenty-FifthAmendment,UnitedStatesConstitution.11Id.

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DwightEisenhowersufferedbothaheartattackandasevereboutofileitisrequiring

emergencysurgeryduringhisfirstterm,andworriesaboutincapacityheightenedafter

JohnF.Kennedy,Jr.’sassassinationin1963.Upontheamendment’sratification,Lyndon

Johnsonpraiseditsadoption,citingthecontroversiesthataroseconcerningJamesGarfield,

whodidnotdieuntil80daysafterbeingshot,andWoodrowWilson,whowas“virtually

incommunicadoformanymonthsafterastroke,yetdismissedhisSecretaryofStatefor

attemptingtoconveneaCabinetmeeting.”12Butincreasingly,privateindividuals,pundits,

andelectedrepresentativeshavequestionedTrump’smentalstabilityandfitnesstoserve.

Whilemuchofthiscouldbebrushedasideaspoliticalposturing,theseriousnessand

politicalportentoftheconversationtickedupwardsharplyonAugust17,whenRepublican

SenatorBobCorkerofTennessee,chairoftheForeignRelationsCommittee,stated“The

presidenthasnotyetbeenabletodemonstratethestabilitynorsomeofthecompetence

thatheneedstodemonstrateinordertobesuccessful.”13OnAugust18,DemocratZoe

LofgrenofCaliforniaintroducedaresolutionintheHousecallinguponVicePresident

PenceandthecabinettopressTrumptosubmittoamentalhealthexaminationin

preparationforTwenty-FifthAmendmentproceedings.14Thisactionfollowsothersby

DemocratswhohaveopenlyquestionedTrump’smentalfitnesstoserve;whilethe

12LyndonJohnson,“RemarksatCeremonyMarkingtheRatificationofthePresidentialInability(25th)AmendmenttotheConstitution”(SantaBarbara,CA:AmericanPresidencyProject,Feb.23,1967).OnlinebyGerhardPetersandJohnT.Woolley,TheAmericanPresidencyProject.http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=28658.13SeanSullivan,“RepublicanCorker:Trumphasnotdemonstrated‘stability’or‘competence’toleadeffectively”(WashingtonPost,Aug.17,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/08/17/republican-sen-corker-trump-has-not-demonstrated-stability-or-competence-to-lead-effectively/?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.de615c882edd.14CristinaMarcos,“HouseDemintroducesmeasureurgingTrumpundergomentalexam”(Politico.Aug.18,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/347156-house-dem-introduces-measure-urging-trump-undergo-mental-exam.

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Congressisunlikelytoactquicklyonanyoftheseproposalsorsuggestions,thetopicis

clearlynolongertaboooranoutlandishimpossibility.

ThejudgmentthataPresidentisunabletodischargethepowersanddutiesofthe

officeisagraveone,andinlightofthegeneralunderstandingthatthisinabilityisrelatedto

health,wouldentailafindingthatPresidentTrump’shealthisdrasticallyimpaired.While

thismightseemtobeafairlystraightforwardmedicalquestion,atbottomitispolitical,and

thepoliticaljudgmentrestsinitiallyinthehandsoftheVicePresidentandthecabinetin

theabsenceofanycongressionallycreatedalternative.Questionswouldinevitablyrise

aboutthenatureoftheinability;declaringinabilityalonemightsatisfysomeopponentsof

Trumpwhowouldtakeanymeansofremoval,butthebroaderopticswouldlikelyrequire

eitherasharedunderstandingofwhatiswrongorthekindofphysicalincapacitythat

rendersthequestionmoot.Wilson’sstrokewasobviouslyincapacitating,andaPresident

lyingneardeathforweekswithabulletstilllodgedinhisbodyasGarfielddidwasclearly

incapableofgoverning.Trump’ssituationisdifferent,andwhilehisrecentrallyandspeech

inArizonaledformerDirectorofNationalIntelligenceJamesClappertoquestiondirectly

hisfitnessforoffice,15thereisstillnoclearnarrativeofpreciselywhathisincapacityis.

Norcananyoneconvincinglyarticulatewhathaschangedsincetheelection–which,if

legitimate,constitutedthejudgmentoftheAmericanpeople,atleastasfilteredthroughthe

electoralcollege,thatheiscompetent–torenderhimincapableofservingasPresident.

EvenifPenceandthecabinetweretotakethedrasticstepoftransmittingtheir

judgmentthatTrumpisnotcompetent,Trump’sabilitytocontestpresentsadeadendfor

15LeinzVales,“JamesClappercallsTrumpspeech'downrightscaryanddisturbing'”(CNN,Aug.23,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/23/politics/james-clapper-trump-phoenix-rally-don-lemon-cnntv/index.html.

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thisstrategy.Inacontest,twothirdsoftheHouseandSenatewouldhavetosupport

removal.EvenifweassumethateveryDemocratinCongresswouldsupportremoval,this

wouldrequirethevotesof19RepublicanSenatorsand96RepublicansintheHouse.The

Senate,underextremeenoughcircumstances,mightbepossible–ifwelookatthe

ideologicalspectrumbasedonpatternsofco-sponsorship,16thiswouldrequireconvincing

SenatorJohnHoevenofNorthDakotaandeveryonetohisleft,oradefectorortwotothe

right,tosupportremoval.HoevenwasoneoftheSenatorswhodidnotsupportObamacare

repeal,astancetakenexplicitlyorhintedatbyfiveofhiscolleagues,perhapssignaling

someroomformaneuverinideologicalterms.TheHouse,however,isfarmoreofanuphill

battle.Thelinewouldfalltotherightof,amongothers,SteveKing(NY)andDarrellIssa

(CA),andwouldrequireworkinghardtosecurethesupportofRepresentativesinthe

ideologicalzoneofNunes(CA),Scalise(LA),andYoung(IA-3).Regardlessofthe

argumentativeweightonemightmusterinfavorofaTwenty-FifthAmendmentremoval

process,thepoliticalhurdlelooksclosetoinsurmountable.

Inaddition,onemightrightfullyexpectsomemembersofCongresstobeconcerned

aboutsettingtheprecedent.Trump’sopponentswouldlikelyframeanyattempttousethis

processasanextraordinaryone-off,neverbeforecontemplatedandneveragaintobe

repeated,butonceitisdone,itlieswithintherealmofpoliticalpossibility.Weliveina

momentinAmericanhistorywhenbothpoliticalpolarizationandideologicalalignment

withinpartiesareathighlevels.ThereisnoguaranteethattheTwenty-FifthAmendment

couldbeeasilyreturnedtoitsbottle,especiallyifnoclearandcompellinggroundsare

establishedforremoval.

16Graphicallypresentedathttps://www.govtrack.us/about/analysis.

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Impeachmentandremoval

Whatthenofimpeachment?Thispathholdsmorepromise,especiallyifRobertMueller’s

investigationunearthscredibleevidenceofTrump’sdirectconnectiontoRussianeffortsto

interfereinthe2016electionand/orunderminethestabilityofAmericandemocracy.

While“highcrimesandmisdemeanors”arenotlegallydefinedintheConstitutionandare

lefttoCongress’spoliticaljudgment,surelytheworstcasescenario(aswellasmanylesser

alternatives)ofarelationshipbetweenTrumpandRussiawouldfitthebill,basedbothon

previousseriouseffortstoimpeachaPresidentandotherimpeachmentsinAmerican

history.

Asimpeachmentisapoliticalprocess,however,othergroundscouldbefound.

AndrewJohnson’simpeachmentwasapoliticalfunctionoftheenmitythathaddeveloped

betweenhimandthehard-lineRepublicanmembersofCongressovertheconductand

progressofReconstruction,buttheformalgroundsuponwhichhisimpeachmentwas

basedwasaclaimthathehadimproperlyremovedanofficialinviolationoftherestrictive

TenureofOfficeAct.Thehistoricalrecordconcerningimpeachmentstronglysuggeststhat

thepowertoimpeachandremoveisnotlimitedtothenecessityofidentifyingacriminal

act.17Nonetheless,asaleadingscholarofimpeachment,MichaelGerhardt,cautions,

“Impeachmentrequiresproofofsignificantabuseofpowerorbreachofpublictrust.

Obstructionofjustice,oreventheattempttoobstruct,epitomizesthatsortofoffense,

17JaredCole,andToddGarvey,.“ImpeachmentandRemoval”(CongressionalResearchService,2015),pp.7-8.Accessedonlineathttps://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44260.pdf.

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entailingasitdoesanattackonasystemwhoseintegritythepresidenthasswornto

uphold.”18

Theprocessismorefamiliar,especiallyinanaudiencewheremostrememberoneif

nottwosignificantinstancesofitsinitiation.19Impeachmentmaybeginwithanindividual

Housemember,orthroughacommittee,butultimatelydemandsforimpeachmentwindup

intheHouseCommitteeontheJudiciary,whichisresponsiblefordraftinganarticleor

articlesofimpeachment.TheHousethenvotes,withasimplemajorityaccomplishing

impeachmentonindividualarticles.TheSenatethendeliberatesandvotesuponwhether

toconvictandremove,whichrequiresatwo-thirdsassent.20Here,asabove,wemust

considerthepartisanbreakdownofbothhousesofCongress.Achievingthesimplemajority

neededforimpeachmentwouldrequireholdingallDemocrats’feettothefireandadding

twenty-fourRepublicanHousemembers.IntheSenate,removalwouldrequirethesame

two-thirdsmajoritydiscussedaboveforaTwenty-FifthAmendmentproceeding;nineteen

RepublicanSenatorswouldhavetobepersuadedtovotetoremove.Possible,yes,butthe

groundswouldhavetobecompelling,enoughsothateitherthosevotingforremovalwere

convincedthatthingsarebadenoughthatevenTrump’scoresupportersareontheverge

ofdesertion,orthatthingsarebadenoughthattheymustsupportremovalevenatthecost

oftheirownpoliticalcareersandphysicalsafety.

18MichaelGerhardt,“ConsideringImpeachment?SlowDown”(WashingtonPost,May18,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/considering-impeachment-slow-down/2017/05/18/5bb60dfc-3bfb-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.c7c59b139a0f.19Nixonresignedbeforehecouldbeimpeached,thoughtheprocessbeganformallyinFebruary1974withCongressauthorizingtheJudiciaryCommitteetoinvestigateandresultedinthereportingofthreearticlesofimpeachmenttotheHouseinJuly.BillClintonwasimpeachedontwochargesin1998,buttheSenateacquittedhim.20ColeandGarvey,supranote17.

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TheTrumpProblem

Allofthisbegsthemoreinterestingquestion,whichiswhyitissodifficulttoimagine

thingsgettingbadenoughthateitheroftheconstitutionalremediesavailablecouldbe

mobilizedsuccessfully.Wecantakeforgrantedthatpresidentialunpopularityisoften

partisaninnature;anunpopularPresidentisdislikedmorebymembersoftheopposite

partythanbymembersofhisownparty.ButspectacularlyunpopularPresidentsdo

managetogarnerdisaffectionoratleastapathyfromsomemembersoftheirownparty,

whichgivesothermembersofthatpartyroomtoengineereitherapublicbreakoraquiet

withdrawalofsupport.

ReactionstotheextraordinaryhappeningsoftheTrumppresidencyaresharply

divided.Despitehistoricallylowapprovalratings,Trumpcontinuestogarneracoreof

supportfromRepublicansthatinsulateshimsomewhatfromthreat;almostallofthe

chorusofdisapprovalhefacesiscomingfromDemocrats,andevenRepublicanswhohave

spokenagainsthimorhispolicies,likeJohnMcCainandLindseyGraham,havevotedto

supporthiminkeymatters,includingsupportinghisnominees.Hisapprovalratinghas

remainedunusuallylowatthebeginningofafirstterm,butnotyettothepointthatwould

seemamarkerofafailedpresidencywhenplacedinhistoricalcontext.Gallupnotesthathe

isthefirstpresidenttoenterwithanapprovalratingbelow50%.21ButPresidentswhofail

towinre-election,orNixonpriortohisresignation,hitlowsinthe20s,anddisapproval

ratingsevenforapopularPresidentlikeRonaldReaganpeakedinthe60s.

21LindaSaad,“TrumpSetsNewLowPointforInauguralApprovalRating”(GallupNews,January23,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://news.gallup.com/poll/202811/trump-sets-new-low-point-inaugural-approval-rating.aspx?g_source=position1&g_medium=related&g_campaign=tiles.

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Table 1. Presidential approval ratings22 PRESIDENT Average High Low Highest Disapproval Truman 55.6% 87% (June 1945) 22% (February 1952) 67% (January 1952) Eisenhower 69.2% 79% (Dec. 1956) 48% (March 1958) 36% (March 1958) Kennedy 70.1% 83% (April 1961) 56% (September 1963) 30% (Nov. 1963) Johnson 74.2% 79% (Feb. 1964) 35% (August 1968) 52% (March, Aug. 1968) Nixon 55.8% 67% (Nov. 1969, Jan. ‘73) 24% (July, Aug. 1974) 66% (Aug. 1974) Ford 47.2% 71% (August 1974) 37% (Jan., March 1975) 46% (April, Nov., Dec.

1975) Carter 45.5% 75% (March 1977) 28% (June 1979) 59% (July 1979) Reagan 50.3% 68% (May 1981, May ‘86) 35% (January 1983) 56% (Jan. 1983) Bush (GHW) 60.9% 89% (February 1991) 29% (July 1992) 60% (Aug. 1992) Clinton 49.6% 73% (December 1998) 37% (June 1993) 54% (Sept. 1994) Bush (GW) 62.2% 90% (September 2001) 25% (October 2008) 71% (Oct. 2008) Obama 49.1% 67% (January 2009) 40% (Aug 2011, Oct.

‘11, Sept. ‘14) 54% (Aug. 2014)

Trump 39% 46% (Jan. 24-25)23 34% (Aug. 13) 61% (Aug. 13)

Despitetheselownumbers,Trumpretainsastrongcoreofsupportamong

Republicans,supportthatpreventedhimevenattheheightoftheCharlottesville

controversyfromdippingbelow30%approval,athresholdpassedbyTruman,Carter,

Nixon,andbothBushes.Atthispoint,Trump’shardcoredevoteesbothmaintainareservoir

ofpositiveapprovalforhimandperhapsmoreimportantlycushionhisdisapprovalfrom

droppingdowntothosehistoricandpoliticallydangerouslows.However,thissupport

extendsbeyondrallyattendeesintheirMakeAmericaGreathats.Hisapprovalratings

amongRepublicanshaveyettodipbelow79%.Thisrepresentsastrikinglevelof

polarization;hisextremelyhighnegativesarelargelynotreflectedamongRepublicans

(althoughheisperformingsubstantiallyweakeramongindependentsthanhis

predecessors).

22Gallup,“PresidentialApprovalRatings--GallupHistoricalStatisticsandTrends”(Gallup2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.gallup.com/poll/116677/presidential-approval-ratings-gallup-historical-statistics-trends.aspx.NumberscurrentasofSeptember11,2017.23Sincethisdate,Trumphasoncereached45%onMarch11.

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Butwhatofthis?Somepartisanswillsupporttheirparty’sPresidentbasedon

partisanallegiancealmostwithoutquestion,andTrumpcertainlybenefitsfromthis

phenomenon.Iwouldargue,however,thatsomethingotherthanblindpartisansupportis

drivingthestablefloorheseemstohaveestablished,andthat“something”isthetangled

relationshiphehasdevelopedwithacertainsubsetoftheRepublicanPartythathas

coalescedandconstructedanidentityincorporatingracialformation,identity,and

consciousness.

ThetwopartieshavelongengagedwithAmericanprocessesofracialformation,

overthelastdecadeswiththeDemocratsaligninglooselywithliberalandegalitarian

visionsandtheRepublicanswithconservativecolorblindness.Thesealignmentshave

largelypersistedintotheTrumpera;see,asbutoneexample,theRepublicanParty

platform’slanguage:

[W]eopposediscriminationbasedonrace,sex,religion,creed,disability,or

nationaloriginandsupportstatutestoendsuchdiscrimination.AsthePartyof

AbrahamLincoln,wemustcontinuetofostersolutionstoAmerica’sdifficult

challengeswhenitcomestoracerelationstoday.Wecontinuetoencourage

equalityforallcitizensandaccesstotheAmericanDream.Meritandhardwork

shoulddetermineadvancementinoursociety,sowerejectunfairpreferences,

quotas,andset-asidesasformsofdiscrimination.24

24CommitteeonArrangementsforthe2016RepublicanNationalConvention,RepublicanPlatform2016,p.8.Accessedonlineathttps://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf

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TheRepublicanPartyplatformalsoindicatesthepartyleadership’srelianceonmaintaining

raceasaleitmotif,whilefrontingwithitsmajorthemesofnationalsecurity,deregulation,

andlimitingthesize,cost,andauthorityofthefederalgovernment.25

Athirdframe,however,onelargelydependentuponracialformation,hasemerged

andhardenedinAmericanpolitics.Thisframe,capturedwellbytheworkofArlie

HochschildandKatherineCramer,incorporateswhiteracialresentment,anxietyandanger

aboutimmigration,someruralconsciousness,andcommitmenttoconservativeChristian

valuestomoldpoliticalconsciousnessandengagement.26Thisframe,whichhascollected

andmobilizedasignificantsubsetofAmericanvoters,isnowentangledwiththeTrump

presidency,ashehaseffectivelygivennationalprominenceandvoicetotheseperspectives

inwaysthattheinsurgentTeaPartymovementwasunabletoaccomplish.Icontendthat,

whilesomefactionswithintheTeaPartybegantheconsolidationofthisframe,ithas

hardenednotjustintoapoliticalmovement,butmorefundamentallyanidentityoverthe

courseoftheTrumpcampaignandpresidency.

Theracialformationunderlyingthisisraceconscious,butnotintheleftsensethat

mobilizesconsciousnesstoseeandremedyinequality.Rather,raceconsciousnessislinked

toracialresentmentandincreasinglytoovertracism.Theunfairnessthatthisformation

identifiesisnotaboutcolorblindnessandfailurestoachievethatstandard.Rather,it

investsinidentifyinganddoublingdownonracialdifferencetopromoteanarrativeof

racialinferiorityonthepartofpeopleofcolorandtogrievethelackofconsciousnessor

recognitiondirectedatinstancesofwhiteandChristianoppression.Insomeiterations,25Id.ati-ii.26ArlieHochschild,StrangersinTheirOwnLand:AngerandMourningontheAmericanRight(NewYork:TheNewPress,2016);KatherineCramer,ThePoliticsofResentment:RuralConsciousnessinWisconsinandtheRiseofScottWalker(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,2016).

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anti-Semitismplaysasignificantrole.Theflexibleandpowerfulnatureofthisframe

enablesittoshifteasilytoencompassimmigrants,blacks(andinparticulartheBLM

movement),andnon-Christians(especiallyMuslimsand,forsomeadherents,Jews),

sweepingallintoageneralperceptionasenemiesoftheAmericanstateandAmerican

values.27

Theseviewsarenotnew.Colorblindnessneverencompassedtheentirerangeof

right-wingconceptionsofraceinAmericaandovertracismhasnevernotbeenpresent.

Twothingsarerecentinnovations:theconsolidationofthethirdformationasavisibleand

coherent(albeitcontroversial)viewpointanditspoliticalactivation,forwhichithasused

theRepublicanPartyasahaven,acover,andalegitimationdevice.Trumpisthethird

elementinthisbrew,havingidentified(orhavinghadidentifiedforhim)aconstituency

thatwouldrespondwithgreatvigortohispopulistandracializedposturing.Letuscallthis

constituencythehardcoreTrumpers,thoughtheypredatedhiscandidacytosomeextent.

WithTrumpasacandidate,theindividualswhoidentifiedwiththisracialformation

hadaunifyingfigurewholinkedthemtotheRepublicanParty.Trumphasdonemany

thingsthroughouthisrunforthepresidencyandhistermasPresidentthathaveappeared

tobeself-defeatingand/orpoliticallyperplexingtolong-termpoliticalanalystsand

politicalscientists.Acomprehensivelistoftheseactionsandstatementswouldbelengthy

indeed,butbeyondhisresponseblaming“bothsides”fortheCharlottesvilleUnitetheRight

marchandthedeathofHeatherHeyer,wehavethepardoningofcontroversialracist

SheriffJoeArpaio,hisinsistenceuponbuildingawallbetweentheUnitedStatesand27I’mnottalkingaboutgenderhere,butgenderisapieceofthis,complicatedabitbytheseparationbetweensame-sexmarriageontheonehand,andotherissues,particularlytransissues,withintheLGBTQcommunityontheother.Nonetheless,theframeincorporatesright-wingviewsonwomen’snaturalinequalityandontheneedforcontrollingwomen’sreproductivecapacities.

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MexicoandhisthreattoshutdownthegovernmentifCongressdoesnotaccede,his

banningofMuslimimmigrationfromseveralcountries,hisprotestagainst“theremovalof

ourbeautiful[Confederate]statuesandmonuments,”hisrepeatedthreatstowalkaway

fromNAFTA,hissaber-rattlingtowardNorthKorea,tonamejustafew.Thishascreated

consternationamonganalystswholooktohispollnumbers,whichatleastpartiallyreflect

reactionstohiscontroversialactionsandstatements,anddescribehispresidencyasa

“bumpyridedownhill,”identifyhisslippingpopularityasa“dire”threattohiscontinued

abilitytogovern,andnotethe“counterproductive”natureofhisattacksonRepublicansin

Congress.28AsMcManus(atypicalexample)closes,“Politicsisaboutaddition,not

subtraction,anancientcampaignadageholds.Trump’sownpollsshowthathehasn’t

learnedthatlesson.Or,atleast,hasn’tlearnedhowtoputitintopractice.”29

Whilenoneofthismakessenseasanattempttobuildandmaintainatraditional

politicalcoalition,ifwelookatitthroughalensofsignalingtowardthebase,theseactions,

theTrumpers’responses,andthefeedbackandreinforcementcreatedbythisrelationship

looksmuchdifferent.True,thosewhovotedforhimsolelyoutofpartisanloyaltyor

strenuousoppositiontoHillaryClintonareincreasinglydissatisfied,andreluctantTrump

votersareabandoninghim.McManusandothers,however,acknowledgebutdonotseethe

significanceofpointthat“It’struethatmostofTrump’smostferventsupportersarestill

committedtohim.”30Recentpollingunderlinesthispoint;“amongself-identified[primary]

Trumpvoters,anastonishing98percentapproveofhisperformance,”an“unheardof”

28DoyleMcManus,“Trumpissheddingsupporterslikenootherpresidentinmodernhistory”(LosAngelesTimes,August27,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mcmanus-trump-polls-20170827-story.html29Id.30Id.

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levelofsupportrenderedallthemoresurprisingtomostobserversbythepoliticalturmoil

aroundtheadministration.31

AfewpunditshaveaccusedTrumpofengagingindogwhistlepolitics,butthis

observationdoesnotquitehitthegold.Adogwhistleisastatementthatresonates

powerfullytoagroupofinsiderswhorecognizeitssignificance,buteitherdoesnotregister

atallwithoutsidersorappearsasanonsequitur.ClassicexampleswouldincludeRonald

Reagan’schoicetoinitiatehispresidentialcampaignwithaspeechcelebratingstates’

rightsinPhiladelphia,Mississippi,orGeorgeW.Bush’sstatementina2004presidential

debatethathewouldnotappointaSupremeCourtJusticewhowouldcondonetheDred

Scottdecision.32Trump’soutrageousstatementsandactionsarenotinvisible,nonsensical,

ormeaninglesstoordinaryobservers;theyareratheropenlycodedsignalstohiscore

supporters.TheyreinforcetherelationshipbetweenTrumpandhissupportersandsignal

tothemthatheputsthemfirstandprivilegestherelationshipaboveotherconventional

politicalties.TheseopenlycodedsignalscommunicatebothtohisTrumpersandtothose

outsidethiscircle.Tothoseoutsidethecircle,theopencodesignalsouroutsiderstatusand

ourexclusionfromthecorecommunityofinterest.Themoreoutrageanopenlycoded

messageoractionengenders,themoretightlyitknitstheTrumperstoTrump.

Examplesarequitefrequent;oneofthemostrecentwashisspeechonMonday,

August28,inwhichhedefendedhiscontroversialpardonofSheriffJoeArpaio.Trump

31DavidGraham,“Trump’sShrinking,EnergizedBase”(TheAtlantic,Sept.8,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/trumps-shrinking-impassioned-base/539160/.ThesubheadofthisanalysisreferstotheinexorableshrinkingofTrump’sbase,butprovidesnoexplanationforwhycoresupporterswouldabandonTrump.32Reaganwasspeakingtoright-wingopponentsofnationalenforcementofcivilrightswhorememberedthemurderofcivilrightsworkersChaney,Goodman,andSchwernerinPhiladelphia.BushwasspeakingtoconservativeChristianswhoseeRoev.Wadeasamoralabomination.

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announceddefiantly,aftermisgenderingChelseaManningwhileattackingBarackObama’s

commutationofManning’ssentenceandfalselyclaimingthatObamahadpardonedher,

“SheriffJoeisapatriot.SheriffJoelovesourcountry.SheriffJoeprotectedourborders.And

SheriffJoewasveryunfairlytreatedbytheObamaadministration.”33Thecodeusedinthis

speechsignaledculturalsolidarityontransgenderconcerns,linkedpatriotismwith

Arpaio’sharshpracticesagainstLatinos,includingracialprofiling,and,byaccusingthe

Obamaadministrationofunfairness,neatlyemployedthenarrativeofblackunfairnessand

suppressionofwhites.AlloftheserhetoricalelementsreinforcecoreTrumpernarratives.

Thisisinterestingandpotentiallydangerousterritory.TheTeaPartyreliedon

interestpoliticstomobilizeindividualsintoactionwithintheRepublicanParty,but

TrumpersareapproachingthestatusofamodernmassinArendtianterms,agroupof

disaffected,disengaged,cynical,isolatedindividualswhocometogetherandderiveasense

oftheirplaceintheworldthroughassociationwithamovement.34Iamnotarguingthat

theUnitedStatesisonthevergeoftotalitarianism,butIdobelievethatArendt’sconceptof

amassismorehelpfulthantheconventionaltoolboxweusetoparseAmericanpolitical

participationinthepost-NewDealera.AnArendtianmassdoesnotrelyonbondsofclass;

rathertheyareperipheralindividualswhocannotfindstructuralrepresentationwithin

conventionalpoliticaloutletsandwho,asaresult,havebeenpoliticallydisengagedand

indifferent.Bereftofapositivepoliticalidentity,theycanbeorganizedaroundprinciplesof

resentmentorrevenge,andrequireonlytherepetitionofkeyideas.Distrustfulandcynical,

33KevinLiptak,“TrumpdefendsArpaiopardon,saystimingwasintendedtodrawattention”(CNN,Aug.28,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://www.cnn.com/2017/08/28/politics/donald-trump-joe-arpaio-pardon/index.html.34HannahArendt,TheOriginsofTotalitarianism(NewYork:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,1973),p.323-24.

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theyarereadytoembraceanysimplesystemthatmakessenseoftheirworldandvalidates

theirresentments.35

Massesareparticularlyinclinedtoembracepropaganda.AsArendtexplains,“They

donotbelieveinanythingvisible,intherealityoftheirownexperience;theydonottrust

theireyesandearsbutonlytheirimaginations,whichmaybecaughtbyanythingthatisat

onceuniversalandconsistentinitself.Whatconvincesmassesarenotfacts,andnoteven

inventedfacts,butonlytheconsistencyofthesystemofwhichtheyarepresumablypart.”36

ThroughtheirrelationshipwithTrump,Trumpershaveconstructedaself-reinforcing

worldinwhichinformationandevidencethatcounterswhattheyhearfromTrumpmerely

confirmsthebiasagainsthimandstrengthenstheirsupportforhimashelashesoutat

“fakenews.”ThislinkingandreinforcementhelpstomakesenseaswellofTrump’s

proclivityfordeclaimingeasilydebunkedfalsehoodsaboutthesizesofcrowds,dataonthe

Americaneconomy,oranynumberofotherexamples.Eachmediainterventiondebunking

hisliesunderlinesandstrengthenstheconsistentnarrativethatTrumpersbelieveabout

theunreasoninghostilitytowardTrump,andbyextension,towardthem.

Arecentanalysisby538’sNateSilverseekstoreassurethat,despitethe

Charlottesvillefirestorm’sfailuretodropTrump’sapprovalratingmuchbelow35%,the

overalltrendhasbeendownward,andacontinuedseriesofpoliticalmissteps,chaos,and

failuretodeliveroncorecampaignprocessescouldcontinuethistrend.37Silverestimates

35Id.at305-63.36Id.at352.37NateSilver,“7RulesForReadingTrump’sApprovalRating”(FiveThirtyEight.com,Aug.24,2017)..Accessedonlineathttps://fivethirtyeight.com/features/7-rules-for-reading-trumps-approval-rating/.

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Trump’sfloorforapprovalassomewhereinthe20s,38afigurewithwhichIconcur,and,as

notedabove,Nixon’sapprovalratingwaslanguishinginthe20swhenheresigned.Silver,

however,onlymentionsinpassingwhatistomethemostinterestingpoint–thatarecent

reliablepollshowedthat61%ofTrumpsupporterswouldneverdeserthim,andoverall

20%ofrespondentsinaggregatedpollsreportedstrongsupportforTrump.39

ThisiswhereTrumpdepartsfrompreviouspoliticallydamagedorunpopular

Presidentsandwhyconstitutionalmechanismsarenotdoinganeffectivejobofcontaining

him.Acoreprincipleofdemocracyistheideathateverypoliticalfigure,nomatterhow

competentorcapable,maydothingsorrefrainfromdoingthingsthatwillcausetheir

supporterstoturnagainstthem,oratleastdesertthem.Democraticcontroloverelected

officialsmaybeveryweak,especiallyinareaswithextremepartisangerrymandering,but

theidearemainsthatalineexistssomewherethatpoliticiansmusttoe.Thisfundamental

premisecollapsesinthefaceofamass-orientedgroupofsupporters.Perhapsthemost

trenchantobservationissuedoverthecourseofthelasttwoyearsregardingTrumpand

TrumpismcamefromTrumphimselfwhenheobservedthathiscoredevoteeswouldnot

deserthimevenifheshotamaninbroaddaylightonFifthAvenue.

WhileevenNixonhadafewdiehardsupportersbythebitterend,thesesupporters

recognizedthattherevelationsofmisconductthatrenderedthethreatofimpeachment

credibleconstitutedpoliticalcheckmate.MembersofCongressdidnothavetobe

concernedthatabandoningNixonwouldbedamagingtotheirpoliticalfutures;quitetothe

contrary.WhileRepublicanpartisanscontinuedtogrumblethattheentireinvestigation

38Id.39Id.

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wasdrivenbypartisanshipandthatthepresswasouttogetNixon,byAugust1974,only

11%believedhisstorythathehadnotknownaboutthebuggingoftheDemocratic

headquartersandthathehadspokenupassoonashediscoveredwhathadhappened.40

Incontrast,TrumpersshownosignsofdisbelievingTrump,andindeed,inthe

mannerofArendt’sdescriptionofamassresponsetopropaganda,readilyaccept

convolutedexplanationsthatturneveryfalsehoodintoatruthandanattackonTrump’s

enemies.IamconvincedthattheywillnotgrumpilyandgrudginglyacceptTrump’sfall

frompower.Thisconcerndatesbacktotheelectioncampaign,whenTrumpandhis

supporterscoylyrefusedtopledgeinadvancetoaccepttheresultsoftheelection,andwas

heightenedafterwardwhenTrumpandhissupportersinsistedthatTrumphadwonthe

popularvoteonceillegalvoteswerediscounted.Recently,formerTrumpcampaignadvisor

RogerStonewarnedthatpoliticiansvotingforimpeachment“wouldbeendangeringtheir

ownlife.”Hecontinued,“Trytoimpeachhim.Justtryit....Youwillhaveaspasmof

violence,aninsurrectioninthiscountrylikeyouhaveneverseenbefore.Bothsidesare

heavilyarmed,myfriend.”41Grandstandingandpublicityseeking?Perhaps,butworrisome

nonetheless.AsurveyconductedinJunefoundthat52%ofRepublicanswouldsupport

postponingthemidtermelectionsifTrumpweretoclaimthattheycouldnotbesecured

40PhilipBump,“HowAmericaViewedtheWatergateScandal,asitwasUnfolding”(WashingtonPost,May15,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/05/15/how-america-viewed-the-watergate-scandal-as-it-was-unfolding/?utm_term=.66c1097fc6a9.41BrandonCarter,“RogerStone:PoliticiansvotingforTrump'simpeachment‘endangeringtheirownlives’”(TheHill,Aug.24,2017).Accessedonlineathttp://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/347839-roger-stone-politicians-voting-for-trumps-impeachment.

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againstillegalvoters,and56%wouldsupportsuchamoveifTrumpwerejoinedby

RepublicansinCongress.42

IbelievethatTrumpers–thecoresupportersTrumphasboundtohimselfthrough

hisconsistentandpersistentmessaging–willnotacceptaslegitimateanymeansthrough

whichhedepartsfromthepresidency.ImpeachmentorTwenty-FifthAmendmentremoval

proceedingswillbefuriouslydenouncedasillegitimate.Ifheresigns,theywillspin

narrativesaboutthedeepstate’sconspiracyagainsthim.Ifhemakesitto2020andfailsto

winre-election,theywillbelievethattheelectionwasillegitimate,probablywithsome

narrativeaboutillegalvoters.Evenifhemakesitthroughtwoterms,theywillvociferously

demandthathebepermittedathirdterm.Ifhedies,theywillbelievehehasbeen

assassinated.Therealquestionsremainingarehowtheywillrespondtohisdeparture,in

whatevermanneritcomes,andwhethertheirresponsewillentailviolence,andifso,how

muchstateviolencewillbenecessaryinresponsetomaintainorder.

Thisisaproblem,butnotnecessarilyaconstitutionalcrisis.Theconstitutionhas

managedtostructuregovernancethroughmanyhistoricalinstancesofresistance,

includingarmedresistance,tothestategoingbacktothe1791WhiskeyRebellion.The

reasonthatthissituationispotentiallyacrisisliesinwhattheconstitution,asinterpreted

bytheSupremeCourt,hasallowedtohappeninCongress.Whiletheframerssawthe

constitutionasasolutiontothemischiefsoffaction,theycouldnothaveanticipatedthe

emergenceofthetypeofmasspoliticsdescribedbyArendt,inwhichthemassesholdthe

franchiseandhavebeenabletouseittosecurenotonlyaPresident,butakeyhandfulof42ArielMalka,andYphtachLelkes,“Inanewpoll,halfofRepublicanssaytheywouldsupportpostponingthe2020electionifTrumpproposedit”(WashingtonPost,Aug.10,2017).Accessedonlineathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/10/in-a-new-poll-half-of-republicans-say-they-would-support-postponing-the-2020-election-if-trump-proposed-it/?utm_term=.3f8c041b65c1.

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congressionaldistrictsthatarelargelyimpervioustotheimperativesbothofordinary

politicsandreality.

Ithasbecomeacommonplaceobservationinpoliticalsciencethatweliveina

momentwhenpartisanandideologicalpolarizationarebothatahighlevelandmapwell

ontoeachother.Whilenotalloftheblameliesinthepartisangerrymanderingof

congressionaldistricts,this–andtheSupremeCourt’swillingnesstoallowtheproblemto

fester–haveservedasadangerousaccelerant.43TheCookPoliticalReportconveys

somethingofthescopeofthestructuralissue.Ifwelookatthecongressionaldistricts

whereTrumpreceivedthestrongestsupport,wenotethatthesedistrictsare(liketheir

Democraticcounterparts)heavilytiltedinapartisanfashion.Giventheselevelsbothof

supportforTrumpandpartisangerrymandering,therepresentativesfromthesedistricts

havenomeaningfulincentivetobreakfromthePresidentandmanygoodreasonsnotto

breakfromthePresident.

Table2:CongressionaldistrictswithhighestlevelsofsupportforTrump44

DIST MEMBER PVI 2016D% 2016R% CLINTON% TRUMP%Alabama-04 RobertAderholt R+30 0.00% 98.50% 17.30% 79.80%Kentucky-05 HalRogers R+31 0.00% 100.00% 17.50% 79.60%Texas-13 MacThornberry R+33 0.00% 90.00% 16.80% 79.50%Georgia-09 DougCollins R+31 0.00% 100.00% 19.30% 77.80%Texas-11 MikeConaway R+32 0.00% 89.50% 19.00% 77.50%Tennessee-01 PhilRoe R+28 15.40% 78.40% 19.60% 76.40%Missouri-08 JasonSmith R+24 22.70% 74.40% 21.10% 75.30%Georgia-14 TomGraves R+27 0.00% 100.00% 22.10% 75.00%Texas-04 JohnRatcliffe R+28 0.00% 88.00% 21.60% 74.90%Nebraska-03 AdrianSmith R+27 0.00% 100.00% 19.70% 73.90%

43InoteherethatextremepartisangerrymanderingisagameplayedbybothRepublicansandDemocrats,attimeswithcross-partisancollaborationinthedrawingofsafedistricts.44CookPoliticalReportPVIMapandDistrictList,(CookPoliticalReport,August2017).Accessedonlineathttp://cookpolitical.com/pvi-map-and-district-list.ThePartisanVotingIndexscoremeasureshowadistrictperformscomparedtothenationonthewholeintermsofitsleantowardonepartyortheother.

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Oklahoma-03 FrankLucas R+27 21.70% 78.30% 20.90% 73.60%Oklahoma-02 MarkMullin R+24 23.20% 70.60% 22.80% 72.90%WestVirginia-03 OPEN(Jenkins) R+23 24.00% 67.90% 23.30% 72.50%Kentucky-01 JamesComer R+23 27.30% 72.60% 23.90% 72.40%Tennessee-06 OPEN(Black) R+24 21.80% 71.10% 23.60% 72.30%Texas-19 JodeyArrington R+27 0.00% 86.70% 23.30% 72.00%Texas-08 KevinBrady R+28 0.00% 100.00% 23.60% 71.90%Texas-01 LouieGohmert R+25 24.10% 73.90% 25.10% 71.70%Texas-36 BrianBabin R+26 0.00% 88.60% 25.10% 71.70%Illinois-15 JohnShimkus R+21 0.00% 100.00% 24.50% 70.70%Missouri-07 BillyLong R+23 27.40% 67.50% 24.60% 70.10% TheTrumpersarecurrentlystructurallyincorporatedintoourpoliticalsystemina

waythatmagnifiestheirinfluenceandgrantsthemsignificantprotectionagainsttheusual

checksagainstfaction.ThisputstheRepublicanPartyinanobviousbind,butitalso

encouragestheDemocraticPartytoframetheproblemasonefortheRepublicanstosolve,

hopingthatthetensionsandinfightingwillteartheRepublicanPartyapart,allowing

inroadsforfurthergrowthontheDsideoftheaisle.ButasIhavebeenemphasizing,thisis

notimeforpoliticsasusual.ThestakesarehighandtheTrumpproblem,whileitmost

directlyaffectstheRepublicanParty,isanAmericanproblem,notaRepublicanproblem.

RegardlessofhowTrumpleavestheOvalOffice,themassremains.Thegroupthat

hasnowcoalescedmaynotsoeasilydisperse,havingforgedacollectiveidentityandcause.

Itremains,readyforthenextpoliticianwhoiswillingtodiscardtheconventionalrulesof

engagementtomobilize.ThecontinuedpoliticalincorporationoftheTrumpersasagroup

isdangerous;atbestitmightshiftsomeareasofthecountrybacktothepolitical

configurationcommoninsomeareasoftheAmericansouthinthe1920s,whengaudy

populistracismviedwithconservative,racistlegitimationprojectsforhegemonyentirely

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withintheDemocraticParty.Atworst,thisgroupcouldprovokeviolenceandplacethe

nationinthepositionofhavingtoengageinitsviolentsuppression.

CantheTrumperscanbereincorporatedintoademocraticrepublicasengaged

politicalactorswhoacceptthefundamentalpremisesofdemocraticgovernance?Ifthey

cannot,thesolutionsavailabledonotlieintheconstitution.Constitutionalstructurecannot

fixbrokenpolitics.Rather,weareleftwithhopefullyalesserformofthetragicchoices

posedbyconstitutionalfailure;thenationultimatelychosetodrowninbloodoverthe

uncertainpathofconstitutionalunionsymbolizedbyJohnBell.45Thelonghistorythe

nationhasofsacrificingdreamsofequalitytomaintainthecontinuedcivicincorporationof

thosewhoopposeitdoesnotgivemecauseforoptimism.That,too,ispartofour

constitutionalhardwiring.

45SeeMarkGraber,DredScottandtheProblemofConstitutionalEvil(NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,2006).