Starting January 21, 2020, the Senate will begin the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump. The impeachment trial will be the hottest thing across all media outlets. From television, to radio, to social media from coast to coast. Guaranteed to be a media frenzy. With all the fanfare, hype, and political posturing, the more serious issue at hand, impartiality, will be completely overshadowed by political partisanship.
Partisan Party Politics
The Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell have already sent clear messages that they intend to take a partisan position supporting the President despite taking an oath to be impartial. This is the problem with the impeachment, the partisan antics that undermine the Constitution of the United States as it pertains to the impeachment of a sitting president, and the responsibility of Congressional Politicians.
In politics today, it is more important to stay in office than to do what is right. Even if this means supporting a President who lies, misstates the facts, and has shown a willingness to ignore the rule of law. This is especially unsettling when the Republican party has made outlandish statements and theatrics to distract from the truth. Clearly demonstrating their unwillingness to, at the very least, come to the table in an unbiased fashion.
Impeachment or Circus
The spectacle that was the impeachment proceeding by the House of Representatives was hard to watch. The over-the-top antics of Republican representative Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, and other Republicans were downright embarrassing. Their antics demonstrated a lack of respect for the Constitution of the United States and betrayed their oath of office.
However, the Democrats didn’t fare any better. The burden of proof is on the Democrats, and the Democrats fumbled and stumbled along the way. Democrats attempted to stick to a cohesive narrative support by facts, but diluted by Republican antics. Furthermore, they were unwilling to “sink their teeth in” when the facts supported their position.
Neither political party could gain much traction in their respective arguments. Democrats did not make good use of the witnesses, and the Republicans were too busy trying to distract by constantly bringing up Joe and Hunter Biden. Both political parties were clearly looking ahead to the upcoming Presidential election.
The battle for President
The Democrats tried to paint a President who sees himself as a king and above the rule of law. On the other hand, the Republicans were attacking Joe Biden, attempting to show how he used his position as Vice-President to protect his son Hunter. The tactic behind both the Democrats and the Republicans is to influence the 2020 Presidential election by impugning President Donald Trump and, subsequently, his Democratic Presidential opponent.
This brings us back to the Senate impeachment trial. It is safe to say fairness and impartiality will be in question, no doubt. The American people should be unsettled by this, why? If a political party is so emboldened to manipulate our governmental system in such a way to achieve a partisan goal, what is to stop them from doing the same to the American way of life.
If Republicans in the Senate are incapable of being honest and impartial, then they are distorting the rule of law. Thereby perverting our system of justice through manipulation. To allow this would open the door to the misuse of justice at every level of our judicial system nationwide.
The real question is…impartial?
How can the American people, after witnessing the impeachment proceedings, trust the Senate during the impeachment trial? Furthermore, in the face of partisan politics, how can we trust Congress to govern in the best interest of the people and the nation. The dysfunctional nature of Congress invites corruption.
Should Congress continue to thumb their nose at their constitutional responsibility, then it is time for a change. The American public, through the power of the vote, should make their voice heard for all of Congress to hear. Never forget it is “We the people…”, not me, the politician.