By refusing to call witnesses, Senate Republicans abandoned their Constitutional oaths in favor of supporting the illegal acts of Donald Trump, thus allowing the co-equal legislative branch of the government to surrender to a president who will continue to abuse power with impunity.
This trial was a sham and a cover-up.
Republicans are ignoring the will of those they have been elected to represent. With 75 percent of registered voters wanting witnesses, this is a slap in the face of justice. Instead of representing their constituents, they chose to protect their own selfish political interests.
While the motive for wanting witnesses is obviously different, depending on which side you support, the public demand is overwhelming. Undoubtedly, Republicans want to hear from Hunter Biden and former Vice-President Joe Biden, while Democrats want testimony from acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
With specious arguments -- even saying that if they believe it is for the public good, a president can take whatever actions they need, regardless of legality. To avoid Trump’s wrath and that of his red hatted supporters, Republicans refused to hold Trump accountable for his attempt to coerce Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political opponent.
In his statement opposing witnesses, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) admitted that Democrats had proven the case for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.
Nevertheless, he argued that, despite this, it is up to the voters to decide if this was relevant.
Are you kidding me?! This failure of our system of government is the death knell of our democracy.
Now that the precedent has been established, any future president can refuse to accept the constitutionally mandated Congressional oversight that the Founding Fathers, and so many brave members of the military, fought, and often died to protect. It will be no more.
Make no mistake; the State of the Union speech Trump is to give Tuesday night will be nothing more then the same campaign speech he’s been giving for years. And why not? No one will stop him. Republicans in Congress have proven their fealty.
No doubt the speech will be one of self-congratulatory smugness, where, like when the Mueller report was released, he will claim total vindication.
He will also more than likely press Ukraine for dirt on his opponent, Joe Biden, and, if Biden isn’t the eventual Democratic nominee, he’ll use the power of his office to illegally investigate whoever turns out to be his opponent.
And why not? Republicans in Congress have already given him free rein, so any attempt to stop this can now be argued by the precedent this decision has given him.
With no limits on his power, what will happen next?
Republicans must live with the consequences of their actions. And so will the rest of us – until November 3, 2020.