“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”
These words were spoken by Gerald Ford just after he was sworn in as President following Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974.
We will soon be able to say the same thing about the presidency of Donald J. Trump.
“Forever Trumpers” will predictably scream bloody murder. So what? They have no one to blame but themselves.
They are responsible for what will be seen as the worst presidency in American history that came close to bringing down American democracy.
The good thing is that we may not even have to wait for Trump to be impeached in the House and convicted in the Senate to see him leave office.
I am convinced he will resign by the end of the year, or certainly within the first three months of the new year. Not because he wants to. Rather, this scandal is growing and will bring the entire Trump world down before it is done.
Think I’m being overly optimistic? Here’s why I think resignation is the most likely outcome.
First of all, Trump is guilty. His own notes of the telephone conversation verify the Whistleblower’s complaint and the Inspector General’s investigation of that complaint that Trump sought foreign help in his reelection plans.
Trump doesn’t believe he said anything wrong on the call with the Ukrainian President, but that doesn’t matter. The law is quite clear. Trump violated campaign laws when he asked the President of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden (read this section of the law for yourself – https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20).
Second, the impeachment investigations will provide ample evidence of Trump’s guilt, including that his request to the Ukrainian President to investigate Joe Biden involved a bribe related to US financial support for Ukraine’s military.
Third, the Senate will put Trump on trial. McConnell has already said that will be the case.
Fourth, there are cracks in the wall of support for Trump among Senate Republicans. The fact that McConnell said he would entertain articles of impeachment and Senator Chuck Grassley essentially told Trump to leave the Whistleblower alone are bad signs for Trump.
What is more, as Trump grows more extreme in his attacks on others, the more difficult it will be for Senate Republicans to stand with him. The more he talks, the more guilty he looks, making Republicans who support him appear as if they don’t believe in the rule of law.
Finally, it comes down to this. Senate Republicans know being forced to vote to save Trump is a minefield they don’t want to be forced to wade in. That Mitch McConnell is up for re-election will make him all the more likely to send a delegation behind the scenes to make the case to Trump for resignation.
They will argue three main points:
(1) There is no guarantee he will survive a Senate vote;
(2) Even if he does, being renominated won’t be a cakewalk, given that he already has opposition and the prospect that if he is nominated he will lose by a landslide that will also take down Senate Republicans;
(3) Resignation gives him a chance to control the narrative, blaming Democrats for never giving him a chance to govern and making it impossible for him to continue to serve.
Trump will also be able to say that in spite of what the Democrats have done, he has done more in three years than any president in history has and he has little left to accomplish.
An added bonus for resigning is that ahead of time he can work out a deal with Attorney General William Barr to ensure he will not face federal charges after he leaves office. New York state charges will likely be civil, not criminal.
Frankly, as things stand now, I don’t see any upside to Trump holding on. He is going to be impeached and even if he wins a vote in the Senate, he will lose some Republicans, making him look weak to the point where for all practical purposes he will be a lame-duck President.
So where we are today is that a Trump resignation is highly probable. The only question left is how soon it will happen.
The irony is that where this will end up is not really a surprise. Trump has always been incompetent, a liar, a cheat, and a self-absorbed pretender to greatness.
The real surprise was his election, but I believe as a people we have learned our lesson. Even if anyone can grow up to be president, Trump has proven that not everyone should be.
If Trump did any good at all, it was to convince us that qualifications matter because he is the living example of what happens when a president has none.
All that said, I want to enjoy this moment as things build toward Trump’s end and seeing the day fast approach when as Americans we will all be able to feel the relief that, indeed, our national nightmare is over.
linnposts.com 
But he always hits back 10 times harder….Wish I was as optimistic as you are, Jan.
Phil, at this point he is full of bluster than is nothing more than hot air. The facts are clear ad unequivocal, and that drives him crazy. The more he rants, the more the public will want him gone and that will give Republicans cover. McConnell wants to control the Senate more than elect Trump so they will push him to resign. They cannot win with him leading the ticket and they know it. I think resignation makes more sense than losing in a landslide. So I’m not optimistic, just realistic.
Jan, I so hope you are correct. Jane Asche
So do I, Jane.
Jan, I wish I could share your optimism but at this point I just don’t see 20 Republican senators willing to change. But we’ll see. It seems that almost daily more evidence is revealed of the president’s illegal activity as well as those around him. And he is becoming more unhinged almost by the hour. What frightens me most is what he and his supporters are willing to do to keep him in power. I’ll hope for the best.
Wilbur, there is nothing they can do. If they were to try to seize control, they would be summarily arrested and put in jail. They are all bluff anyway. Insurrection is not an option in this country and they know it. Stop worrying. Just pray for the end to come soon and come hard.
Together with all other decent people, I hope you’re right, Jan. One thing that has me worried is, would his successor Mike Pence be any better? From what I’ve read and heard, he’s just as blinkered as Trump.
Nigel, I think Mike Pence will be a terrible president, but I don’t believe he is a corrupt person in the way that Trump is, and I don’t believe he will run the country like a crime boss as Trump does. So, yes, I think he will be better than Trump in the sense that he will not pose a threat to the future of our democracy. If he gets the Republican nomination in 2020, something I doubt will be the case, he will lose. Given what Trump has done and how the Republicans have shown no courage or principles in standing up for the country, the next president is going to be a Democrat.
Jan-I’m turning your article into a prayer!!! Please, please dear Lord! Thanks for your perspective!!! Va
Virginia, I will join with you. This is history in the making and I believe the American people know the right thing to do and will do it, thereby forcing Republicans to do the same thing.
The only thing sweeter than reading this is hearing you preach the Gospel at Lynchburg College Chapel.
Have you ever thought of reading your blogs?????
Not sure what you mean, “reading my blogs,” Dixcy.
Very good commentary. I do hope you are right and he will resign. However, I can’t see this egotistical demigod resigning!! He will hope that he can get enough support to keep his position. So afraid he will be reelected. He has a lot of support in this area from dedicated Republicans. Keep on writing and keep praying that the USA will survive!! Cousin Gay
Republicans are in the minority, Gay, and not all of them support him. If he runs, he will definitely lose, but, as I said in my blog, it won’t get that far. Thank you for commenting.
Jan, I hope you are right with your bold prediction. You make a strong point that is well thought out. It’s difficult to remain optimistic about D.C. The bully seems to win no matter what he says/does. His supporters baffle me. Always enjoy your posts.
Hi John. Trump has been slippery for sure, but this time the evidence is not really in dispute. The only argument he and the Republicans have is that what he did wasn’t all that bad. When you break the law and violate your oath of office based on statutes and law, it’s bad, and more importantly, an impeachable offense. I still believe the damn is going to break and Senate Republicans will force him to quit. Thanks for your comment.
We have been given everything we need as human beings to make the world work–prayers are not and never will be the answer. Thoughtful actions by individuals are the only option period. Racism, bigotry and greed are very powerful mobilizing forces and those that are committed to these ideals do so by choice. The election of an African American president sounded the alarm of “never again” among these folks. The end they seek justifies any and all means.
I don’t see the GOP ever giving up support for the president and the evidence for this is overwhelming–they always fall in lock step. This is the one of the core reasons why we’re in this mess. The failure of our religions are also one of the root causes in that they stress what people are supposed to believe rather than how to live with the ideal of shared experience and care for each other regardless of skin color or belief. Think about it. If religious people were truly following the “good” things that their religions profess would we have ever needed a civil rights movement? Would we have homeless people and health care issues? Would we have had the Holocaust? The list is long. Yes, there are righteous, great religious people and leaders who have done great things however I submit that these people are righteous simply because of who they are and not the religion they follow.
Scott, you make some very excellent points, causing me to think of something I read somewhere that genuine religious devotion has not been tried and found wanting, rather, it has not been tried. Thank you for taking the time to comment in such a thoughtful and provocative way.