I see that Mitt Romney is the only Republican Senator to vote for conviction today in the finale of President Trump’s impeachment trial. I heard part of his statement on the radio on the way home from work, and I thought it was honest and accurate – and should put the balance of the Republican Senators to shame.
And, yes, I’m disappointed that a few more of those Republican Senators, particularly Collins and Murkowski, didn’t join Romney in seeing the case and the evidence as being strong enough to vote for conviction. After all, the defensive wall of the Republicans has now become, Yes, he did bad things, but they’re not bad enough. From No he didn’t to I don’t care! is a long way to fall, isn’t it?
Yes, I know that I’ve said I think this is part of Pelosi’s November strategy, and that she will encourage the Democrats to wield this as a club against every Republican incumbent up for reelection next November – and every Republican challenger who clings to Trump like a lamprey to a fish. But it’s not as if Pelosi tricked the Republicans into this dishonorable position. Trump was neither forced nor enticed, but instead took positive steps into the land of political corruption. Pelosi, after due consideration, brought the inquiry, had her committees conduct them, and then had the articles passed.
The evidence was clear, even without the witnesses. The Republican Senators, as did the Republican Representatives before them, had every opportunity to behave with honor, to take governance seriously. They didn’t.
And that’s why I’m feeling down. It’s not that the conviction effort failed; I’ve known it would. It’s the failure of virtually all Republicans to clear the high bar of behavior that was thrown up to challenge them. Indeed, just about all of them seem to have stooped to make sure they didn’t touch the bar as they slipped under. That sad commentary on a once legitimate political party – which still enjoys an unwarranted amount of support in the citizenry – is what depresses me.
Romney, today, joins Amash as men who, while I may disagree with them on governmental matters, have my esteem for evaluating the President and his actions, finding them desperately wanting, and taking the strongest possible action to stem it. My hat is off to those two men.
