About those articles of impeachment
The Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives released its proposed articles of impeachment against President Trump. Normally, in this space, you’d see me analyze the language in those articles.
I won’t.
Most of the facts are clear. Trump had a call with the president of Ukraine. The government withheld aid required by Congress. Trump’s administration refused to comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony.
The articles of impeachment state those things, in language that reflects how congressional resolutions are written, language that is pretty similar to the articles of impeachment created for Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.
So why not analyze it?
Because you’ve made up your mind. You don’t care what it says. You know Trump is treasonous. Or you know the investigation is a waste of time attempting to undo an election. Whatever you know, I can’t change your mind. There’s no point in shouting about it.
When we each have our own news sources and don’t trust any others, there is no reality. This is what we have lost: our shared reality.
I’d really like to hear from administration officials who were part of what happened, people like chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. But we’re not going to get to hear their side of the story.
I’m pleased all this came out and that our democracy still has some shreds of checks and balances. But I am concerned about what happens now, and for the next few decades.
It’s only going to get worse.
Thank you for saying exactly what needs to be said:
When we each have our own news sources and don’t trust any others, there is no reality. This is what we have lost: our shared reality.
It is indeed a shame that your country (I am Canadian and thus removed somewhat from the insanity) exists in a political shambles. Democracy? Fair elections? These things are also endangered in the 21st century. If you haven’t watched The Great Hack, produced by Netlix, I suggest that you do so. It describes in chilling detail how wealthy alt-right supporters and a sociopathic Brit named Alexander Nix impacted the Brexit vote and Trump’s election in 2016. Look out in 2020!!
“I’d really like to hear from administration officials who were part of what happened, people like chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. But we’re not going to get to hear their side of the story.”
Josh won’t complete that last sentence, but I will:
“because Trump forbids them to testify.”
Sad commentary.
But what you really said was :
Because you’ve made up your mind.
. . . [You’ve let the media tell you how to think]
You don’t care what it says.
. . . [You’ve got far more important things to deal with]
You know Trump is treasonous.
. . . [The lie of the decade spoken a million times, has become the truth.]
Or you know the investigation is a waste of time attempting to undo an election. Whatever you know, I can’t change your mind. There’s no point in shouting about it.
. . . [no one, no one, not even God can overcome the mainstream media]
I go with you Josh, every point. But as a tax payer, I would still like to know what happened to the 7-billion tax dollars that disappeared to Ukraine during the Obama/Biden administration!
Scary times.
If the administration wanted to put an end to the investigation and clear the air, they would have allowed and even encouraged witnesses to testify. Instead, they obstructed voters’ ability to judge the case. We are the victims here.
Hey you, over there. You believe this.
And you, over *there.* You believe that.
As for me?
Here’s where I am.
“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am [befuddled, dumbstruck, praying] stuck in the middle with you.”
What I would really like to hear is a defence of Trump that sticks to the facts and doesn’t immediately veer off into Hillary, Obama etc. I know, I may as well wish for the tooth fairy.
As a Canadian observer, like many, I’ve been all over the map, from optimism to despair. Right now, it’s bottom of the barrel despair.
Here’s what I fear will happen. Quick trial in the Senate, Trump is absolved. Now he and his enablers are truly emboldened. The potential problem – the upcoming election. The easy solution – not have an election. Start a war with Iran, declare an emergency, and put aside the election. Who’s going to stop him? Congress? Senate? Supreme Court? Doubt it…