Setting Precedents
Impeachment’s Real Issue! Trump, Himself, Is Secondary.
This is not about a single election, but the values of each senator and integrity of the Constitution.
More than anybody else in the United States, the President’s words have meaning. Some people, especially brainwashed fanatics, will believe anything and, as we saw on January 6, follow instructions.
Republicans are supposed to be the Law and Order party, but most tried to ignore their duties under the Constitution when put to the test.
It appears the statute of limitations applies to the Charge most of the time, but not the trial. Other laws apply for a speedy trial. The impeachment was passed before Trump was out of office and the trial was scheduled quickly. So, the impeachment is valid.
If you don’t hold people accountable, their behavior gets worse. You also empower others to act in a similar or worse manner. (per Denny Lynn, FB, 1/27/2021).
Standard for future presidents
The real questions before the Senate:
- Is the President’s behavior after the election and leading up to the attack on the Capitol considered normal and acceptable now and any time in the future?
- Is a President immune from the results of all speeches?
- Is the United States going to remain a country of laws under the Constitution?
- Does the impeachment clause apply up to the last day of the President’s term or some arbitrary earlier date?
In general, can a President order or incite anything as long as it does not involve a direct attack on peaceful citizens by the military? For example, did the President’s speech that morning imply or grant permission for the mob to attack the Capitol and stop a Constitutionally mandated election process?
This might also be a good time to discuss a statute of limitations for actions in the last 30 or 60 days of office.
Prevent insanity or worse
Has the President shown any respect, at any time, for a peaceful transfer of power?
The best scenario is limited insanity. He just could not, and still does not, accept the fact that he lost. That carries over to his brainwashed followers.
Insanity. n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality… (www.psychologytoday.com)
There’s the darker option. He was trying to overthrow the Constitution. What then? Would he force a change in his second term to remove term limits and make himself dictator forever?
Either way, he must be convicted so he can never run again.
Otherwise, he might get elected with free reign granted by this Senate.
Hypocrisy
Maybe the impeachment was partly politically driven, but if someone threatened my life, I would do everything in my power to make sure it didn’t happen again.
I always understood Republicans as being the Law and Order party. Their behavior in the House and Senate implies that they are, as long as it applies to others, like the man against abortion until it is his daughter.
Most Republican senators appear to have made up their minds before even convening and viewing evidence. That is a selfish political decision, not one like a trial or based on the long-term good of the country. Strange since their lives were in danger, too.
Senators, is what’s convenient for you the example you want to set for the country?
Republicans, be careful of the precedent you set because the next time, it might be a Democrat President.
Conned by Trump
I voted for Trump the first time because Clinton’s most glaring defect was that Laws and rules applied to everyone but her. Trump’s worst problem was that He didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, which seemed much less of a problem.
As I discovered, Laws and rules applied to everyone but him too. That was only one of five show-stopper problems. He is
- A bully, but never responsible for any problem — blames anybody and everybody else.
- Lies frequently, even more often than the average political stereotype. If he said it was raining, I’d have to look out the window to see if it was true.
- Takes credit for everything, even if not involved.
- Generally incompetent - a perfect example of a Dilbert manager.
None of these traits, by themselves, are impeachable.
However, the cumulation of those traits drove a mob to attempt to overthrow the United States Constitution.
The House did its job by passing an Articles of Impeachment bill.
The Senate must do its job by acting as impartial judges, not clueless politicians.
They may still choose not to convict, but if they don’t do their jobs at all, they should not be reelected.
My observation:
I wondered ever since high school 50 years ago how Hitler came to power and was so popular in Germany.
Watching the riot by the brainwashed and conspirators on Jan 6, I now know. The Senate has one chance to prevent something similar here.
How we got here:
An opposite view:
Hannity: ‘Irrational psychotic rage’ driving impeachment push
Pressure on Republicans
Trump sends a message to Senate Republicans ahead of his trial | News Break