The impeachment trial begins today, Finally! The job before the Senate is to decide whether they agree with the findings of the house. That's it in a nutshell. Remember impeachment is a charge of misconduct made against a public official. That's what impeachment means in the United States. Yes, yes, there are alternative meanings and interpretations but in this context that is what we are talking about, an accusation! Similar to an indictment the house of representatives by a majority vote has accused the President of wrongdoing. Testimony was taken, witnesses have spoken, and the whole thing played out in the house. Now it is up to the Senate to either agree, or dismiss those charges.
So what is on trial here? It isn't the President. Yes, I know that many don't understand that. Apparently the Democrats' don't understands that either. I guess the word trial is throwing them. What is being tried is the findings of the house. That is the sole purpose the articles of impeachment were delivered to the house. The Democrats, the majority party in the house charged the President with some high crimes or misdemeanor, already had their trial. That was their verdict, to charge him. The Senate must determine whether those charges warrant removal from office. That's how it is supposed to work, according to the constitution. Article One section Two states the House shall have the sole power of impeachment. Seems clear enough to me, the house are the only ones that can accuse the president of wrongdoing. Article Two section Three says, The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. Also seems clear enough to me, they are to try the impeachment not the President.
Of course I also realize we are dealing with lawyers. And what is the purpose of lawyers? To argue. That's pretty much their job in a nutshell. This is what it says but this is what it means. And even whe they agree on what something means they argue it shouldn't mean that. I believe the founding fathers in composing the Constitution, the bill of rights and other documents attempted to make their thoughts known as clearly as possible. So yes I tend to take what they wrote, literally! Well now, isn't that a novel concept. In the case of impeachment I believe that is just what they meant. The house gets to decide on whether to charge the president ( or others ) of misconduct. The senate then gets to decide if those charges are merited or not. They do so by a complete review of the proceedings in the house. Were those proceeding fair and unbiased? An examination of the vote itself would raise serious doubt in anyone's mind if that person were indeed unbiased. Two hundred and thirty two Democrats voted to impeach while 196 Republicans voted nay. Unbiased? The Senate needs to weigh this carefully. If the Senate decides to find the president guilty wouldn't that be saying all 196 Republicans voted along a partisan line. Basically calling them corrupt! Did any Democrats oppose the impeachment? Yes, there were two. Just two. Did any republican vote for impeachment? Yes, just one. He is now an Independent, having switched his party mid-stream.
Well whatever the final outcome is, the lawyers will be in all their glory. It's a legal battle of epic proportions. Personally I don't think it will last very long. Right or wrong the Republicans now hold all the cards. The Democrats had their turn, they decided to file impeachment charges. The Senate, the Republicans, get to decide if those charges are justified or not. Nothing to do but watch and listen. Are our representatives truly acting in our best interests? Or could it be that our Representatives are only concerned with retaining their representative status? Pay close attention and vote in November. That is our job in all of this.
So what is on trial here? It isn't the President. Yes, I know that many don't understand that. Apparently the Democrats' don't understands that either. I guess the word trial is throwing them. What is being tried is the findings of the house. That is the sole purpose the articles of impeachment were delivered to the house. The Democrats, the majority party in the house charged the President with some high crimes or misdemeanor, already had their trial. That was their verdict, to charge him. The Senate must determine whether those charges warrant removal from office. That's how it is supposed to work, according to the constitution. Article One section Two states the House shall have the sole power of impeachment. Seems clear enough to me, the house are the only ones that can accuse the president of wrongdoing. Article Two section Three says, The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. Also seems clear enough to me, they are to try the impeachment not the President.
Of course I also realize we are dealing with lawyers. And what is the purpose of lawyers? To argue. That's pretty much their job in a nutshell. This is what it says but this is what it means. And even whe they agree on what something means they argue it shouldn't mean that. I believe the founding fathers in composing the Constitution, the bill of rights and other documents attempted to make their thoughts known as clearly as possible. So yes I tend to take what they wrote, literally! Well now, isn't that a novel concept. In the case of impeachment I believe that is just what they meant. The house gets to decide on whether to charge the president ( or others ) of misconduct. The senate then gets to decide if those charges are merited or not. They do so by a complete review of the proceedings in the house. Were those proceeding fair and unbiased? An examination of the vote itself would raise serious doubt in anyone's mind if that person were indeed unbiased. Two hundred and thirty two Democrats voted to impeach while 196 Republicans voted nay. Unbiased? The Senate needs to weigh this carefully. If the Senate decides to find the president guilty wouldn't that be saying all 196 Republicans voted along a partisan line. Basically calling them corrupt! Did any Democrats oppose the impeachment? Yes, there were two. Just two. Did any republican vote for impeachment? Yes, just one. He is now an Independent, having switched his party mid-stream.
Well whatever the final outcome is, the lawyers will be in all their glory. It's a legal battle of epic proportions. Personally I don't think it will last very long. Right or wrong the Republicans now hold all the cards. The Democrats had their turn, they decided to file impeachment charges. The Senate, the Republicans, get to decide if those charges are justified or not. Nothing to do but watch and listen. Are our representatives truly acting in our best interests? Or could it be that our Representatives are only concerned with retaining their representative status? Pay close attention and vote in November. That is our job in all of this.
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