Smokin' Trump (Photo: Milt Priggee/Oak Harbor, Washington/PoliticalCartoons.com)

Letters edited for length and style:

Failing the fairness standard

Never before in its 34-year history did USA TODAY’s Editorial Board take sides in a presidential race. Yet, on Sept. 29, 2016 you asked voters to avoid casting a ballot for Donald Trump.

Now USA TODAY is calling for the impeachment of Trump, citing its endorsement of the same for former President Bill Clinton two decades ago. If fairness is one of your core values, you certainly didn’t meet that criteria here.

Clinton was impeached for breaking the law. He obstructed justice and committed  perjury by lying to a federal judge. Trump has not committed any crimes.

Trump will be the first president to be impeached and re-elected.

Bill Bittay; Venice, Fla. 

President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Hershey, Pa., on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo: Matt Rourke, AP)

Balance of power is the grounding weight that holds the foundational strength of our tremendous American system. Without this equilibrium of authority, true abuse of the American people is inevitable.

We currently have a major imbalance that is apparent for the world to see during this impeachment saga. The articles of impeachment introduced by House Democrats, are vague and weak. President Donald Trump has surpassed his executive authority just as most former presidents have. Neither Congress nor the president is above the law. They are co-equal in the eyes of the Constitution and in service to the citizenry.

We must move away from the relentless investigations and stalling by all political factions. The best answer to our current international embarrassment is to defer this nonsense to the courts. This may assist in the realignment of our checks and balances. 

Henry J.H. Wilson; Barrington, Ill. 

Donald Trump ‘wants a spectacle’

President Donald Trump is not satisfied with avoiding conviction in a Senate trial. He wants a spectacle and platform to humiliate the Democrats, former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son, Hunter. If Trump gets his way with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,  a World Wrestling Entertainment event will replace a serious impeachment  trial.

Trump has turned the presidency into a farcical reality television show. 

George Magakis, Jr.; Norristown, Pa.

A majority of the American people will soon see the strictly partisan Democratic  impeachment as a side hustle to 2020. Although it is early, campaign and polling data will change as events play out. President Donald Trump will continue to strengthen in the battleground states as the circus, directed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has faltered.

The idea that “rude and crude” has become a constitutional standard of tossing an elected president out of office is as absurd.

Paul Bloustein; Cincinnati, Ohio

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to [email protected].

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