EDITOR’S NOTE: For another view, see: Point: Beyond Impeachment — Restoring our Democracy
It’s hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans — whether or not they were ever partisan — haven’t formed an opinion by now about the state of our national politics.
After all, we’ve all been forced to endure years of various accusations and investigations that recently culminated in the impeachment and failed prosecution of President Donald Trump.
And, even after a moderate Senate acquitted on the articles of impeachment brought against the president by the angry liberals running the U.S. House of Representatives, it seems that there may be no end in sight for this nonsense.
Those who continue this effort do so at their political peril. It appears the American people have had enough.
Talk of impeachment began soon after the November 2016 election, even before Trump’s inauguration. A Washington Post headline printed the day the president took the oath of office declared: “The Campaign to Impeach President Trump has Begun.”
Early on, his adversaries placed the goal of removing the president from the Oval Office on the front burner. While he sought to deal with policy issues such as job creation, trade, sensible regulation and criminal justice reform, he was always treated as the enemy by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues. There was no honeymoon for Trump.
Members of Congress including Reps. Maxine Waters, Al Green, Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff carried the torch in the crusade to find something — anything — by which to hang articles of impeachment. While the concept of impeachment was proposed by the Founding Fathers to be a remedy for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” Pelosi’s lieutenants set a low bar for their impeachment efforts.
First it was alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. Then an affair with a porn star. Then not being critical enough of racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.
What they ended up with — an alleged quid pro quo in Ukraine — resulted in two weak, politicized charges sent to the Senate after a partisan investigation and vote. In the Senate, it was easily rebutted and dismissed in — once again — a partisan vote.
Now, as an American people, we are faced with a new challenge. How will this impeachment affect the national conversation? After creating a constitutional crisis, how do liberals expect us to pick up the pieces and get back to our normal lives again? Has this partisan exercise ignited a “cold civil war” in America?
Liberals have drawn the battle lines to energize their base. Speaker Pelosi insisted that President Trump is “impeached forever,” and that “cannot be erased.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated his colleagues will not accept an acquittal as legitimate. So how does he intend to get back to work now that the acquittal has occurred?
Protests and rallies were organized on both sides before and during the trial, and those seeking Trump’s removal will inevitably continue their crusade. And we are now in an election year, when tempers are likely to flare even more.
While the blame game is going to spark some lively debate among the president’s detractors, it’s interesting to see that the president’s approval rating is actually at a personal best in Gallup polling.
There is no doubt liberals still want to try to turn this issue around, make more claims against the president and his supporters in Congress and maybe even roll the impeachment dice again. What’s next?
Possibly accusations of emolument, charging that he is using the presidency to make money for his hotels and resorts. Rep. Green still has three articles of impeachment alleging bigotry and racism.
Those instigating a perpetual campaign of personal destruction against Trump are risking a firestorm that may burn them the most. They seem to fail to recognize that the American people will soon have their own say regarding the president’s political fate, and liberal witch-hunting may be helping the president more than hurting him.
