USA TODAY

Letter to the editor:

I understand that some people are apprehensive about the idea of impeaching President Trump because they think Vice President Pence would be as bad, or worse, in the Oval Office. I agree with these people.

But, we still need to make sure that Trump does not serve his full term, if for no other reason but to prove that our system still works. He must not be treated like just any other ineffective president. This isn't about politics anymore. If a liberal president did the things Trump has done, I would be calling for his impeachment, too. After President Clinton lied under oath and admitted to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, I wrote a letter to him and to the local paper calling for him to resign.

It's not enough to hope that Republicans put up a strong primary challenger in 2020 or to simply hope that he loses his re-election campaign. We need to show ourselves and the world that the Trump administration was an aberration to the American system, our values and our way of life.

We are still against sexual assault. We are still in favor of freedom of the press and freedom of the accused, and we will not stand by silently as the president attacks those rights. We will not condone the constant lying. We still value our educational and scientific institutions, which have created some of the finest minds and scientific advancements in history. This president is incapable of appreciating or even understanding these facts. He is belligerent, narcissistic and completely unable to put the needs of the nation above his own.

He must go. And we must not wait until Election Day 2020. Do not let the fear of what comes next prevent us from doing what needs to be done now.

Kevin McKague; Detroit, Michigan

More:Short of impeachment, 6 ways Congress can limit Trump damage to America

Reader comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

When did liberals start caring about the Constitution? And when did Congress start mattering? Oh, yeah, right after King Barack Obama left his throne.

— Mike Herman

One year after Trump's shocking win (love those polls) the U.S. and the losing candidate all still have their undies in a bundle.

The economy is doing a hell of a lot better than it did under President Obama, unemployment has dropped to 4.1%, we have fewer people on food stamps, consumer confidence is the highest since 2000, and we have a great Supreme Court justice.

— Doug Steltenpohl

Too funny. Liberals have created all this "turbulence." Their faux outrage at anything "Trump" is quite comical. They would be better off just saying "wah, we hate Trump." Just be truthful about it, liberals would rather see this country fail, than just let Trump do his job.

— Ken Scott

To join the conversations about topics in USA TODAY, email letters@usatoday.com, comment on Facebook or use #tellusatoday on Twitter.