The worst of Trump is yet to come — and his Republican sycophants fear it

The president will invent any lie if it suits his purpose. That behavior is only going to get worse after the impeachment of Trump fails to result in a fair Senate trial.

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Republican lawmakers will be waiting for the phone call; the one that judges fear after going easy on a repeat offender.

“Did you hear what President Trump did?” a staff member will ask them during a midnight call.

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Or maybe they will get an alert from Facebook about a new post.

“New book by former Trump advisor to reveal secret financial deals benefitting president’s family.”

Or a senator may be walking down a hall when a bunch of reporters approach shouting questions.

“Did you know about Trump’s plans to withdraw from NATO?”

“Did you hear about Trump’s proposal to cut Medicare and Social Security?”

“Did the president consult Republicans before asking for Russia’s help in the election?”

These are hypotheticals of course. None of them may happen. All of them could occur. Some may have already.

Because President Donald Trump is going to do something that embarrasses himself, our nation and the Republican party. That is a certainty. Republicans can only hope whatever he does won’t result in a war or ignite a powder keg of racial unrest.

Trump has no conscience.

This is a fellow who managed to wiggle off the hook during the Mueller investigation into Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential election and almost immediately called the Ukrainian president and asked for a political favor, igniting another political scandal.

Trump has no fear.

He has the support of 90 percent of Republicans. Nothing will make them waiver. Anyone who is elected to federal office as a Republican must now swear allegiance to Trump.

That is why the Republican-controlled Senate will not call witnesses during its sham trial of Trump. That is why it will not subpoena government documents Trump has refused to turn over during the impeachment inquiry.

That is why GOP Senate leaders have already announced they have reached the conclusion that Trump is not guilty of abuse of power or obstruction of justice.

They must stand by Trump no matter what he does. There is no going back.

There are many who believe that the public will turn on Democrats in Congress who vote for impeachment.

But if I were a Democrat, I would feel justified. I would feel I had done my duty the next time Trump does something that violates his oath of office or jeopardizes the national security.

And he will.

Because Trump has made it clear that he has no respect for the Constitution, the U.S. Congress or the court system. He feels the U.S. attorney general should act as his personal attorney and not as the head of the Justice Department.

Trump has launched investigations into the FBI and the CIA. He says they attempted a coup.

The news media cannot be trusted because they criticize Trump. Therefore, they are enemies of the state.

Trump will invent any lie if it suits his purpose. That behavior is only going to get worse after the impeachment of Trump fails to result in a fair Senate trial.

Cabinet officials will not have to testify before Congress. The president will not have to explain his actions. Secret operatives, reporting only to Trump, will be in control of the government.

The country already is deeply divided. There is no hope for unification. Trump doesn’t care, so Republicans don’t care.

The fact is that Trump has not done his worst. He has been told by people he trusts that he could shoot someone in the street and get away with it.

Is there anyone left who would tell him different? Chances are they would be fired.

The Republicans have decided not to hold the president accountable.

He is free to be, well, Trump. Deep down, that must scare the hell out of them.

Email: philkadner@gmail.com

Send letters to: letters@suntimes.com.

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