Straightforward?

The language leaves little room for interpretation, according to Rep. Raskin and other experts on MSNBC. Of course, they interview different experts on Fox and similar networks, people who predictably find different meaning in Article 3 of the 14^th Amendment or just throw spaghetti at the wall.

The Supreme Court is going to be called upon to make a ruling, beginning February 8, so until then and however long it takes for them to reach a decision, we will have to endure the back and forth, the round and round, the hyperbole, the points and counterpoints, along with breathless predictions of how the SCOTUS will actually vote.

It seems to me that the high court will decide in deference to Trump, mindful of the potential for violence and feelings of disenfranchisement among the hair-triggered and frazzled Trump faithful, and it will be left in the hands of voters in November.

Of course, they could also interpret things in a way that calls for removal of Trump from the ballot immediately—for the same reason he would be ineligible if he was 30 years old or born in Germany. He was an officer—the highest officer in the land—from 2017-2021, and decided he didn’t want to step down after he got demolished by 7 million votes in the 2020 election, not to mention a significant margin in the Electoral College.

There was no rigged election, no consideration for the sacrosanct nature of a peaceful transfer of power. Trump simply hates to lose. All the ensuing lawsuits and Mike Johnson’s amicus brief didn’t change a thing, and Trump doggedly clings to the narrative that he thinks best serves his ends.

The argument for letting the voters decide may sound good on the surface, but is really immaterial here, weak and distasteful, because Article 3 states a qualification, or disqualification, that’s clear enough for most any strict constructionist to see. Trump still would get to vote, but would be unable to run for office. Sounds like a win to me, regardless of what ends up happening with the four indictments and 91 felony counts– litigation that could linger in the court system for years, if Trump can keep getting away with his delay tactics.