In the days ahead, I suspect we'll look back on this moment in our national experience as the "Great Pause," a time when little of real importance occurred, when we marked time waiting for a defining event.

On the surface, it looks like there's a lot going on. But nothing happening today really marks this moment as memorable. It's all too much a reality-TV show -- all hype, no happening.

Congress is in a state of high dudgeon. Not sure what "dudgeon" means; maybe it's a highfalutin synonym for legislative constipation, which Congress surely has got and some there actually favor.

Leadership in both of our pretend parties, but especially in the GOP, is -- to put it gently -- becalmed. Or, to put it less gently, gobsmacked. Don't ask what gobsmacked means either. One of the few interesting things in the news these days is the new words you come across to describe things that never happened before and, if we're good to one another, won't happen again.

Our not-so-new president adds to the mystery of the moment. He's either a Republican (he's the GOP's top person) or a Democrat (depending on whom he had dinner with last night) or a true independent (meaning neither party wants to get too close to him).

We've got real problems. There's a child-refugee problem, a huge spending problem (not even counting the hurricanes), a wall problem (ours, not Mexico's), a tax-reform problem and an infrastructure-repair problem.

Maybe even another problem with the federal health care program, though considering the mess Republicans in Congress made of that the first go-round, you'd think they'd want to leave it alone.

But these "problems" are all just a sideshow. Their permanent settlement awaits the main event upon which all pending decisions hinge. And what's that?

It's what special prosecutor Robert Mueller's investigation turns up on Russian election meddling, if anything; on the Trump campaign's collusion, if any, with Russian President Vladimir Putin's mischief makers; and on the extent of Donald Trump's business and financial connections with and dependence on Putin's corrupt oligarchic Russian billionaires. If any.

And, of course, there's the real hammer hanging over Trump's head: the possibility -- and that's all it is at this point -- that his removal of James Comey as FBI director constituted obstruction of justice. That's the alleged offense that drove Richard Nixon from the Oval Office. Remember?

It should be noted -- and emphasized -- that despite the sleazy stories surrounding Trump and his assorted operations, political and commercial, nothing illegal has yet been proved. But there's no ignoring the bad odor that emanates from the campaign and some of its less-than-savory actors.

The bottom line is this: The risks to Trump personally in Mueller's probe and to the country at large are enormous. If Mueller finds him guilty of anything really serious, Trump's presidency is at an effective end, even if he remains in office.

Mueller is, by all accounts, a straight-shooter and an unimpeachable investigator and prosecutor. As relentless, we hear, as Inspector Javert, but minus the mean streak. Let's hope so.

Washington is awash in speculation about whom Mueller will call to testify. Heading the list are some of Trump's kin and former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who did an abbreviated stint as national security adviser.

Somewhere in an otherwise commendable military career, Flynn lost his way, appearing in a Putin propaganda show on Moscow TV and even dining with Vladimir and the boys -- things he neglected to own up to in testifying before Congress. And that's a no-no, one that cost Flynn his security clearance and could cost him more before it's all over.

The fear among Trumpsters is that if Flynn faces something worse than merely disgrace, he could turn on Trump and hand up him -- and the campaign -- as Putin's pawns and thus create a case for impeachment.

Of course, Trump could always pardon him, a la Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But that's almost as good as a confession of guilt and might be more than even congressional Republicans could abide. And they're great abiders.

I couldn't care less for Trump the man. But as president, his impeachment would be a body blow for the country when it can least afford it. Our ability to lead in the world and best protect our national interests lies heavily with the respect accorded our system and its freely chosen leader. Impeachment would damage both.

So what's the answer? We need Trump to grow up. He's president now, not a reality-show prop. Stop the teenage tweeting. Somebody should tell him.

John Farmer may be reached at jfarmer@starledger.com. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.