So who is betting Republican Senators will make an honest attempt to do the right thing in deciding the fate of Donald Trump’s impeachment?
I’ll take that bet with anyone who is.
That’s because never in the history of our republic have so many Senators showed so little commitment to doing their job all at the same time.
It’s pretty stunning when you think about it, even if their show of no integrity was predictable before the trial started.
That I am disappointed in what is going to happen, though, is my own fault. Once again my expectations got the best of me.
When Mitch McConnell voted that Trump’s impeachment trial was unconstitutional because Trump was out of office when he’s the reason the trial wasn’t held while he was still in office, I should have known the jig was up.
Instead, I listened to the house managers present a solid and emotionally moving case against Trump as if enough Republicans would listen to convict Trump for betraying his oath of office, only to realize after a few of them commented on what they witnessed that my hope was foolish.
Now that I have my feet under me again I see that the audience to whom the impeachment managers are making their case is not Republican Senators.
It’s the American people.
That is what this trial is about, informing the public of just how close the invaders came on January 6 to stopping the vote to affirm the election, the realness of the threat they posed to the lives of so many, including Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi, and how bravely Capitol police fought against the invaders literally for hours.
It is about showing us, the people, the timeline that leaves no doubt that Donald Trump laid the groundwork for the insurrection months before and days after the election, and then in his last act desperation had his people participate in the planning of it so that his speech that day was the spark the mob needed to set the situation on fire.
The trial is for us because in a democracy we the people always have the last say.
Had the Capitol attack been successful, that would have been the results. Donald Trump would have been re-installed as President, our votes would have been nullified, and American democracy would have ended.
None of what I have said is hyperbolic. On January 6 Donald Trump almost succeeded in overthrowing our government.
That so many Republicans participated in what happened is a despicable thing. No wonder Josh Hawley of Missouri is sitting in the balcony ignoring the proceedings. He is not man enough to own up to what he did to help make it all happen.
Indeed, had he not signed on to Trump’s Big Lie, it is likely that the electoral college votes would have been counted without interruption and no attack would have happened.
That is why the trial is not for him or any other Republican Senator because except for a few none of them has the integrity or character to vote based on the evidence.
The good thing is that their vote is not the final one. Ours will be in 2022 when more than 20 Republican Senate seats and every House seat is on the ballot.
That may seem like a long way off, but it will come soon enough.
When it does our votes will be the final verdict on what Donald Trump did to our country on January 6, and by our votes, we will hold those Republicans accountable who lacked the character to do what was right by our country when they had the chance.
So Right! Thanks!
Thank you, Bob.
Well said, Jan! Now we must make sure that last word counts!
Absolutely, Jane. We did in November. We can do it again. Thanks.
Jan,
Your bet is a safe one, since the vast majority of Republican Senators do not have the courage to do the right thing and vote to convict Donald Trump!
They know that what has been presented by house managers is undeniable proof of Trump’s guilt in urging violence against members of Congress, his own Vice-President, and Capitol police who were simply doing their jobs.
You aptly note that they “lack the character” to stand-up for democracy, and that they must pay the price in 2022 and beyond. You single-out Josh Hawley of Missouri as maybe the ultimate scumbag ignoring the proceedings!!
Thanks for continuing to expose these pathetic people…..
Bill Blackwell
Thanks, Bill. Who Republicans have become is truly astounding. I read a large group of non-Trump Republicans had an online meeting to discuss their future.
Bill, that most Republicans show they have no principles is utterly astounding. All we can do is defeat them because we will never change them.
Jan, I think we all agree with what you have said here. But Democrats will have a tall order ahead in the polls in 2022. They will truly have to “fight” for those 20 seats (and more) to withstand the now solidified “Trumpublican Party”. The reason for this is that “public opinion” is only slightly in our favor. Three days ago 53% of Americans favored conviction and disqualification. Tomorrow and maybe in the next week, that number may climb a bit following the House Managers’ Case. My guess is that the media over the weekend will try to help in this regard. But the whole ball of wax for the “republican party” comes down to conviction or not. We have become convinced that they will not convict. But I still have this nagging feeling in my heart (or maybe it is now in my stomach) that this is the time for the “old republican party” to make its Alamo last stand. And if they do, it is all in the hands of Mitch McConnell. I am not betting on Mitch McConnell. We all know the reason why. But he must be getting pressure from many republicans to take a stand. He has strongly signaled that “he might”. Even if he did, can he convince eleven other senators to convict. If he can, then the republican party has “some” chance of survival. And even if he can, I am not suggesting that he and eleven others have suddenly found a “conscience”. But if he cannot, then I am now suggesting that it is non-Trump republicans that will leave and they will have to start a new party, or they are dead in the water.
John, The only part of what you wrote I question is when you describe the Republican Party as a “solidified Trumpublican Party.” The name is spot on, by the way, but I would say they are solidified only as a small radical element. The party itself is split with the larger part non-Trumpian. That half just had an online meeting to discuss where they go from here, including forming a new party. No definitive conclusion was reached, but it shows real Republicans are ready to battle the Trump sycophants for control. Besides, Trump himself is done. After what the House managers have done, his political career is over forever. In addition, he may end up in jail in Georgia, which would be poetic justice for sure. Thanks.
Totally agree, but I do wish someone would ask the republicans what was their plan if by some horrible chance trump was able stop the count. Do they really believe the Democrats would have just folded and moved on. The Constitution of course does not allow for any of this but I would like to know their position
They don’t care, is my guess.
Well said Jan. According to Gallup only 25% of Americans identify a Republicans, and that number is shrinking. I have to believe that, unless Republicans are successful at suppressing the vote, Democrats should improve their numbers in 2020. But I’m not betting the house.
In this environment, Wilbur, the only sure bet is on Republican corruption, but I have to believe they will ultimately pay the price they should.
Since we seem to be on the same page overall, and not wanting to be argumentative to prove a point, I would like to clarify my comment. When I said “solidified”, I should have clearly said “solidified power and control” over the still existing republican party. Only 10 of 211 House republicans voted to impeach Trump. If we are correct at this point, less than 10 republican senators will vote to convict – resulting in over 80% voting to acquit. A CBS poll of 2/9/2021, shows that “under one in five rank-and-file Republicans favor a conviction” – that’s more than 80% that support acquittal and “value loyalty to Mr. Trump”; all of this following the insurrection. In my view, the insurrection led by Trump, has increased that control, by rallying his legislative followers to acquit no matter what he does, while most remaining gop members sit silent. So while, yes, “a small radical element” is doing the heavy lifting, if Trump is acquitted he will maintain his political power over the party. And I think he will continue to wreck havoc from the outside. As House Manager Ted Lieu said yesterday “I’m not afraid of Donald Trump running again in four years, I’m afraid he’s going to run again and lose because he can do this again”.
John, all your points are well taken. That said, I think this trial has exposed Trump’s assault on our democracy so vividly that he is done as someone with political influence outside Republican circles, and soon enough Republican leaders will move away from him. He will end up a despised man both in life and in history.
Oh how we all hope that is true. I respect and accept your optimism and expected results.