The Impeachment of President Donald J Trump

[Oexmelin]

Pretty much, yeah.

And the Democrats should be screaming bloody murder. Instead, they are tsk-tsking and throwing their hands in the air, while comedians - who, at least are calling out the Republicans for the authoritarian cult they are - are doing it for the laughs.

[Oexmelin]

The Constitution lays out the process for the impeachment; it doesn't guarantee you'll get the outcome you deserve.

Of course, otherwise it wouldn't be a Constitution. It's a vessel. It's just been emptied of all meaning, to remain as a lifeless totem.

[DGuller]

Any constitution is ultimately just a piece of paper.  What comes of it is entirely up to the people governed by it.  When a critical majority of people think that they're in a mortal fight that transcends constitution, they'll wipe their ass with it and think they're doing the only reasonable thing.

[Admiral Yi]

The reality we live in is that absent a major realignment of parties such as 68 or 72, no Republican president will ever be impeached, for anything.

[Admiral Yi]

The Constitution lays out the process for the impeachment; it doesn't guarantee you'll get the outcome you deserve.

Of course, otherwise it wouldn't be a Constitution. It's a vessel. It's just been emptied of all meaning, to remain as a lifeless totem.

Disagree.  It still holds the meaning that 67 votes to convict means he's gone.

[Admiral Yi]

4 hours of senators saying their piece, than a final vote on Wednesday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfPQALBwZTY

[Razgovory]

I read "A Very Stable Genius", a book that came out earlier this month, written by two WaPo reporters.  It didn't paint a pretty picture.  Trump really did want to throw reporters in jail.  I wonder if he will actually try it.  He's a spiteful man, and he will try to get back at people for the impeachment.  This will get worse, and I don't know how it will get better.

[crazy canuck]

Any constitution is ultimately just a piece of paper.  What comes of it is entirely up to the people governed by it.  When a critical majority of people think that they're in a mortal fight that transcends constitution, they'll wipe their ass with it and think they're doing the only reasonable thing.

It is up to the people who are elected to perform their sworn duties under the constitution.  The failure of two of the branches of your government to do that is what renders the constitution an empty vessel. 

[Josephus]

Democracy in the USA is finished. I stated so a couple weeks ago, and some of you disagreed. We knew Trump was corrupt, but now we know the Senate is too. We knew the outcome of this impeachment, but by not allowing even one key witness (Bolton), the whole process was a sham. And this is just the end of the beginning. If Trump gets four more years, you're really doomed.

[DGuller]

Any constitution is ultimately just a piece of paper.  What comes of it is entirely up to the people governed by it.  When a critical majority of people think that they're in a mortal fight that transcends constitution, they'll wipe their ass with it and think they're doing the only reasonable thing.

It is up to the people who are elected to perform their sworn duties under the constitution.  The failure of two of the branches of your government to do that is what renders the constitution an empty vessel.

They would've done their duty if they knew that's what their voters demanded.  However, their voters demanded the opposite, a blank check to Trump to do anything.

[grumbler]

Again, it's the OJ Simpson trial all over again:  a defendant obviously guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and a jury desperate to find some reason, any reason, to acquit.

The Constitutional provisions for impeachment, like any other element of the Constitution, assumes that those responsible for executing its provisions will act in good faith, especially as regards checks and balances.  That can no longer be assumed, at least as far as the Republican party is concerned.

The question is:  how many voters will recognize that fact, come November?

[Syt]

Presuming that there will still be significantly support for Trump and his sycophants come November, what has to happen for this deep division in the American political landscape to mend?

[crazy canuck]

Any constitution is ultimately just a piece of paper.  What comes of it is entirely up to the people governed by it.  When a critical majority of people think that they're in a mortal fight that transcends constitution, they'll wipe their ass with it and think they're doing the only reasonable thing.

It is up to the people who are elected to perform their sworn duties under the constitution.  The failure of two of the branches of your government to do that is what renders the constitution an empty vessel.

They would've done their duty if they knew that's what their voters demanded.  However, their voters demanded the opposite, a blank check to Trump to do anything.

There is not much separating that logic with the Republican position that there should not be an impeachment only an election.

[Berkut]

Any constitution is ultimately just a piece of paper.  What comes of it is entirely up to the people governed by it.  When a critical majority of people think that they're in a mortal fight that transcends constitution, they'll wipe their ass with it and think they're doing the only reasonable thing.

It is up to the people who are elected to perform their sworn duties under the constitution.  The failure of two of the branches of your government to do that is what renders the constitution an empty vessel.

They would've done their duty if they knew that's what their voters demanded.  However, their voters demanded the opposite, a blank check to Trump to do anything.

The state based setup of the electoral college and the Senate is really turning into a problem. I don't see any practical way to fix it.

You are right though - the Senate is catering to their voters. And the fact that they only need to cater to about 35% of all the voters is resulting in this rather broken system.

[Sophie Scholl]

Presuming that there will still be significantly support for Trump and his sycophants come November, what has to happen for this deep division in the American political landscape to mend?

Violence and bloodshed I fear.  I don't see anything else truly making a difference.  Hopefully riots, protests, and small scale things only and not a full blown collapse.  This isn't just about Trump.  It goes much deeper.  He's merely a symptom of the disease and not the disease itself.