US faces 2 more weeks of uncertainty

THE whole world watched with varying degrees of surprise and concern as a mob of thousands of Trump supporters took over the United States Congress Wednesday, disrupting the proceedings for the congressional certification of the results of the recent November elections for president and vice president.

Egged on by President Donald Trump, who had lost the election, the mob broke into the building, breaking down doors and windows, poured into the chambers where the senators and congressmen were meeting in the final step leading to the proclamation of President-elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among the first world leaders to express concern over what they saw as the trampling of democracy in the US, right in its center of government authority.

It was the first time the Capitol had been invaded and taken over by a hostile force since 1814, when British troops burned it down in the War of 1812. That was over two centuries ago and the US has since become the world’s most powerful nation, winner of many of wars, leader of political, social, and economic groups of nations.

But now, the world saw American senators and congressmen fleeing before a mob egged on by President Trump, who wanted Congress to reject the Electoral College vote that saw Biden as the winner. The mob took over the Senate and House chambers as the senators and congressmen fled for their safety, with the security apparently unprepared.

The mob action served to solidify Congress’ decision to proclaim Biden, as many Republican senators and congressmen joined in the general decision to end all debates. In the White House itself, a least two cabinet members and many staff members resigned.

Only two weeks are left in President Trump’s four-year term, which ends when Biden takes his oath on January 20. But there were calls for impeachment to end Trump’s presidency immediately, lest he and his followers think of still another move to stay in power. Many Republicans were now ready to join the Democrats in an impeachment process.

Among the President’s remaining cabinet officials, there was talk of applying the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, which provides that whenever the president is unable to do his job, the vice president becomes president.

All this is arising from the general uncertainty over what President Trump may do next after last Wednesday’s violence that left four dead and the great center of American democracy violated.