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The latest in President Trump’s long line of press-bashing tweets can reasonably be read as a further indication of his rage, frustration–and sense of being cornered, with the walls closing in.

This outburst is also more evidence of a  White House–a Presidency–in disarray, dysfunction and chaos.

None of this bodes well for the President and his family personally and many Americans may take satisfaction if not outright pleasure from that. But–and more importantly–the situation is dangerous for the country.

America has real foreign enemies and some deep domestic problems. A weak and wounded Presidency emboldens those enemies and makes domestic challenges harder to address.

Yes, as the Washington Post has quoted one Trump-connected source as saying, “Winter is coming” for the President. It may include a kind of cyclonic cloud of new legal problems for the Trumps. But as a result–and no one should kid themselves about this– the country as a whole could be in for an especially harsh “winter” of danger and uncertainty.

The answer to this is not to excuse the President’s behavior, or the actions of his administration. It is not to shut down the Mueller probe or undermine the free press. Quite the contrary. What is needed is accountability.

“When the history is written for this era, the complicity and cowardice of the national Republican party will be as much the story as the President they abetted.” — Dan Rather

The Founding Fathers anticipated a weakened president (even if their imagination might not have stretched to what is unfolding here). This is why they created co-equal branches of government. When a president is this weakened, the answer is not to look away. It is for Congress to step up and do its job. When the history is written for this era, the complicity and cowardice of the national Republican party will be as much the story as the President they abetted. The time for a GOP “profile in courage” is quickly dwindling, if not already disappeared. It is up to the American public to hold Congress accountable in the upcoming elections.

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 20: U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) congratulates Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) (C) during an event to celebrate Congress passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

I have been and remain an optimist about our country. But at the moment, optimism must be tempered with reality. We cannot underestimate the danger to the nation, but we can also revel in the wisdom of our democracy that in local, state and federal elections, the people can make their disgust heard and usher in a new era of change, accountability, and justice.