Trump Makes History

 “But he (Biden) will fail at that task, risking both his presidency and his party’s fortunes if he refuses to hold Trump and his enablers to account. A politics of ‘forgive and forget’ will not unify the nation.” John Nichols, The Nation

The final tally was 232 to 197. Ten Republicans voted with the Democrats to hand Trump a second impeachment. After all that has happened over the past seven days, and with more information coming out every day about coordination between the insurrectionists and some on the inside, only ten Republicans had the courage to impeach Trump. 

The rest stuck with Trump. The best counter argument they could muster was a call for unity, and consideration for the delicate feelings of Trump’s loyal base. A few cowards warned against inflaming the nation; others said impeachment wasn’t necessary because Trump will be gone soon. It was a procession of craven Republicans with more fidelity to Trump than to the Constitution. 

 We need healing! We need unity! We need reconciliation! Called the Republicans, as if the past four years never happened. As if more than 350,000 Americans haven’t fallen to Covid. As if their slavish devotion to Trump isn’t responsible for all the divisive rhetoric about blue states and red states, us and them, evil Democrats, and months of racist dog-whistling and demonizing of Black Lives Matter demonstrators. 

The Republicans ask that the millions of Americans who despise Donald Trump and endured four years of cruelty, incompetence, grift, self-dealing, law-breaking, norm-shattering and criminal idiocy, be gentle and patient with those who support armed insurrection. They ask those who waited for the chance to vote Trump out of power to refrain from seeking accountability. It’s like asking for mercy for the arsonist who just torched your house. Republicans only believe in swift justice when it applies to black & brown Americans, Muslims, immigrants, and others they don’t favor. 

I’ve never heard any sane person argue that we shouldn’t arrest child-molesters, rapists, and thieves for fear of sparking anger in the criminal community. The majority of Republicans are happy to let Trump walk away, unscathed. It’s astonishing. It’s also a disgrace and an insult to any person who has sworn the oath of allegiance to the United States. 

Four years of Trump. It’s fitting that he becomes the first president in American history to be impeached twice. That’s his legacy as well as the heavy stone Republicans must carry from now on. They sold their souls and the bill has come due. 

Ten brave souls from a party of hundreds. Only ten. 

Like a nation under siege, the presidential inauguration on January 20 will be protected by a National Guard force of almost 20,000. It’s unknown how many in that number are Trump supporters. State governments from sea-to-shining-sea are bracing for attacks. This is the carnage and chaos wrought by Trumpism. This is what happens when people worship false idols.