House Democratic leaders announced the articles of impeachment today. The House Judiciary Committee will likely make a formal vote to send the charges to the full House on Thursday, for debate next week. The Senate trial will take place in January.
What I Say: It's a good day for democracy and the Constitution; but there are two roadblocks ahead.
1. The "high crimes and misdemeanors" in the spotlight here are too vague - too cerebral, if you will - for Bubba and Baby out in the hinterlands to grasp. Trump worshipers will say, "It was just a phone call, only a few words. So what? Politicians are always spouting off, give him a break." I'm afraid that nothing short of, to use the vulgar phrase, being caught with a live boy or a dead girl would topple Trump from his golden pedestal in the glistening eyes of his devotees. Unless most constituents are truly outraged over these things, Congress will not be either, collectively speaking.
2. Trump would be removed from office if two-thirds of the Senate voted to convict him. But the Republicans control the Senate, 53-47, and you can bet your bottom dollar that they will vote to a man against impeachment. Because if Trump goes down, so will they, even though they know perfectly well he is guilty as sin. (Just imagine how these Republicans would be hooting and hollering if a Democratic president had done the same things.)
Of course, it's not over till it's over, and the possible - though highly improbable - defection of twenty Republican senators could change the outcome. But the Constitution must be defended anyway, no matter how the votes fall.
God bless America.
7 comments:
Exactly on target. I just know that the would-be king will absolutely take the Senate vote as complete exoneration, an "I told you so" moment and he will go right on to commit more impeachable offenses. Eyes on the 2020 election. Help us all.
Yes. It's too bad that the Dems dont have an alternative figure, a statesman, a shining knight in contrast to offer. But they have no one I want to vote for, as I've blogged about before. And if I as a lifelong Democrat feel that way, how much more so must Middle America?
It could in fact, disgusting as it would be, be a landslide for Trump if he is acquitted. Shudder.
The Dems had bl**dy well better find that statesman/woman fast. I'm as liberal as they come but we just saw what a Socialist leader can do to an election and that would end up with four more (or God know how many) years of the monster we already have.
I totally agree. An acquittal by the Senate would only supercharge his ego - and his base.
Why is there no one between 40 and 70 to look up to now? A lost generation of leaders? Too much sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll?
Perhaps an interesting thesis for some historian to pursue in time to come.
If there is anyone left to write the history of the crumbling away of the West.
We may be witnessing the beginning of the end of democracy as we know it. Partisanship to the point of being recalcitrant, defiant, blind to reason, even violent. The ability to raise the most money being the only criteria for winning an election - money that comes from foreign entities, corporations and organized crime. A system where there is no longer a true division between the branches of government; where power and control and wealth are idolized and ideology and party loyalty are the only test of a politician. Sounds a lot like 2019.
Here's an interesting article about Russian efforts to polarize our citizens:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/russia-troll-2020-election-interference-twitter-916482/
Yes, unless things can be turned around soon, we may see the end of democracy. The Rolling Stone article is chilling. And a bit obtuse. The authors fail to convince me that "classes in online civility" can have any effect on this monstrous attempt at subverting our Republic. How would you even set up those classes, anyway? Who would attend? Who would teach? What a bizarre suggetion.
Who knows, maybe the Rolling Stone article itself is the work of Russian agents. How do you know the authors are who they say they are?
But here we get into madness and a James Bond/George Orwell world of infinite layers of intrigue and deception. If it all comes to that, a cup of hemlock might be the only way out. Either that or destroy the Internet. But who would vote for the latter?
But thanks for the link - I may blog a pertinent quote later today or tomorrow.
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