ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The Democrats have introduced a deadly strain of citizenship in the wake of the tumultuous presidential campaign: If you don’t like the outcome of an election, pay no attention to the law and substitute your own do-it-yourself presidency.

Two Democratic congressmen, one a senator and the other a member of the House of Representatives, have introduced an amendment to the law to prevent Donald Trump from carrying out his presidential duties. Elsewhere, a Secret Service agent, assigned to protect the president — whoever he or she is — insists she follow her own standard of presidential protection. Since she deems President Trump is not worthy of protection, she won’t protect him.

Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ted Lieu of California, both Democrats, propose requiring congressional approval before a president can order a nuclear first strike on an enemy. They accuse President Trump of sending “mixed signals” about nuclear proliferation and whether he would order a first strike. Such a strike would answer an incoming strike from a foreign foe when there wouldn’t be time for hearings, committee approval, getting House and Senate versions of the legislation and then final approval of both chambers. By the time Congress could even consider environmental impact statements, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and maybe even Peoria would lie in ruins, sending irradiated smoke aloft to poison the continent. But this would be a small price to pay for the fears and partisan mischief of Messrs. Markey and Lieu.

U.S. law gives the president the authority to order a first strike when a horrific emergency demands immediate action. Mr. Trump said, in answer to a question during the presidential debates, that he would not order a first strike, but wouldn’t “take anything off the table.” Well, of course he wouldn’t, and neither would any other president, Democrat or Republican.

These two worthies introduced their goofy legislation last year, but it didn’t get anywhere, and it won’t get anywhere in Congress this year, either. Only a small number of congressmen are nuts. But their legislation stands as a demonstration of how far, and how far into insanity, some of the sore losers are prepared to go to render Donald Trump “the illegitimate president.”

Craziness is in the air. The mis- and malfeasance of Kerry O’Grady, the special agent in charge of the Denver office of the Secret Service, has posted on social media her considered opinion that Mr. Trump is “a disaster.” She says she wouldn’t protect him, as she took an oath to do.

“As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle not to violate the Hatch Act [which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan politics]. So I keep quiet and skirt the median. To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take a bullet for both sides.

“But this world has changed and I have changed. And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe to be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside here. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her.”

Agent O’Grady is entitled to her opinion of Mr. Trump, and even to accord to Hillary Clinton the capitalized pronoun usually reserved for the divine. But she is not entitled to her contempt for the law and for her oath to protect the president of the United States. She demeans herself and the many men and women who, at great risk to themselves, perform their duties to protect their president and their country. They deserve our heartfelt thanks. Agent O’Grady deserves to be dismissed from the force, as we assume she will be.

Sen. Markey and Mr. Lieu have committed no breach of duty or law. They are only doing what certain congressmen do, more’s the pity. The nation and her superiors at the Secret Service expected more of Agent O’Grady.

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