Here are two key points made on day three of Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial:
1. Impeachment is not about punishment; it is about protecting our Republic. This impeachment is meant to prevent future insurrection.
2. Trump has never conceded the election. He still claims he is the rightful President.
Those two points put together can lead to only one conclusion: The Senate must convict and disqualify Trump.
Trump executed a months-long campaign to overturn the election, ultimately it led to violence in the Capitol Building. No matter what you think about his level of culpability in the insurrection of Jan 6th, one thing is clear: Trump refuses to follow the rules of our electoral process. He has never stopped saying that the election system is fraudulent. Going back as far as the 2016 election – an election he won – he has relentlessly pushed baseless claims of election fraud. Why would you allow someone like that to continue to take part in our democratic process? By continually denigrating the electoral system, he has disqualified himself from running for office. Now it is time for Congress to certify that disqualification.
Trump has stated in his own words that the insurrection on January 6th is just the beginning. If the Senate allows him to walk away (again) facing no consequences… he will be back to try again. Perhaps next time he will succeed in overthrowing democracy and installing himself as dictator. If the Republicans do not stand up to Trump now, they will be his servants in the future.
Trump has never shown loyalty to anyone, so it amazes me how many in the GOP continue to show loyalty to him. He turns on anyone when it suits his needs. He nearly got his own Vice-president killed by making Pence a scapegoat for not preventing the certification of the election. I don’t understand the thinking of Senators like Lindsey Graham, or Ted Cruz, who continue to defend Trump. In the past, Trump often directed anger at both Senators. How can they possibly delude themselves into thinking that by standing up for Trump now, he will reciprocate with anything other than treachery? If Trump is willing to sacrifice a loyal follower like Pence, what hope do Graham, Cruz, or anyone else have of staying in his good graces? Trump is like a rabid animal. He lashes out with no logic or reasoning. These sad members of the Republican party who think they can keep him in line should have learned the truth on Jan 6th. It appears most of them have not.
Forty-five Senators still claim there are no grounds to impeach Trump. Clearly members of this group are either conspiring with Trump, or they are fearful of repercussion from Trump. If they are co-conspirators they need to be rooted out and removed from Congress. If they are fearful, they need to wake up. Protecting Trump will not make them safe. Letting Trump walk away from his criminal actions only makes him more dangerous. Sooner or later, that danger will come for them too. Trump will not remember their loyalty. Trump has no allies, only patsies. The Senate can either stand up to Trump and make America stronger, or they can cower in fear and put the whole country in grave danger.
3am Cynic 