The President of the United States has been impeached. Again. A second time. Unprecedented. This time, with the most serious impeachment charge in history: inciting a violent insurrection and sedition against its own government; an organized, orchestrated and manipulated plot to force Congress to overturn an election that he lost by more than 8 million votes!
It must be noted that all electoral authorities of all the States in the Union and the American judicial system have characterized and judged the Presidential Elections of November 3, 2020 as the most secure and fair elections in the history of the United States. All trumped up (pun intended) electoral protests foisted in about six contested States were all thrown out by the judges and laughed at by serious lawyers nationwide. In all instances, there never was a scintilla of evidence presented!
Nonetheless, exhibiting the strange hold with which Trump has been able to strangle the Republican Party with, a majority of the sitting Republicans in the US House of Representatives voted against certifying a Biden victory. A disgraceful display coming alongside an insurrection!
This is a continuing story. Thus far, what the world has witnessed via broadcast media may just be a mere 20% of the actual, real events. Initial reviews already confirm that the assault upon the Capitol in Washington D.C. was shocking, chilling and horrific, planned, trained and prepared for! More than a hundred thousand pieces of evidence and audio/video clips are now being analyzed by the FBI and State prosecutors, while over two hundred arrests and cases (and counting) already in the hands of the US courts.
At this juncture, whether ‘bad news’ precedes ‘good news’ or vice versa, no longer matters! Whichever point of view one adheres to, Donald J. Trump is irreparably damaged goods. And as an inevitable result, the G.O.P will require major repair.
American democracy survived and remains victoriously sturdy albeit somewhat scathed and shaken. My sense tells me that America will not waste the immanent opportunities for reform and betterment brought forth by this Trumpian near-lethal fracas. Who knows, historians may yet assay this episode as catharsis.
It remains unclear, however, what will happen when the trial begins in the Senate, after Biden’s inauguration on January 20. By then control of the Senate shall have passed unto Democratic Party hands but they will need 17 Republican Senators for a final conviction (a two thirds vote is needed). Conviction is required to finally strip Trump of potential malevolence.
The political drama in Washington DC last January 6 was a hateful conflict between Truth vs. Fantasy. Truth on the side of the Democratic Party and the serial deception and fantasy of Trumpian Republicans. Indeed, Racism and White Supremacy, its underlying but definitive impetus. Latent and civilly subdued for years, until Donald J. Trump was elected.
At the heart of Wednesday's riot at the U.S. Capitol, (1/6 is the new 9/11!) the very desecration of the seat and symbol of American government, is the Trump’s baseless claim that November's presidential election was rigged and stolen from him. Propagated into fury, misguided and misled unthinking hordes swearing by “the Donald” swung into deleterious action.
A sitting President of the USA was the instigator of violence and the principal propagator of a myth that swayed thousands upon thousands, hordes upon hordes of America’s misguided and misled upon a hateful, murderous assault against America’s Capitol, the citadel of Democracy. Trump profoundly fertilized latent but long-seething racism and white supremacy. Previously, for months on end, Trump has been boasting that the only way he could lose was if the election were rigged. Later lying that he won by a landslide victory. Heightened and frenzied by false claims of fraud, exhorting his followers with his "Stop the Steal" speech to "show strength" and march to the Capitol where Congress was about to certify Biden's electoral vote victory. Mayhem and insurrection followed.
Yet Donald J. Trump remains uncontrite and unrepentant. He has declared himself without responsibility for the physical, institutional and moral damage he has caused America. He has not conceded!
Here is the Conclusion of the Impeachment Resolution:
“Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
As a consequence of the Trump-instigated events, the American military establishment, issued an unprecedented statement signed by all Chiefs of Staff of all the branches of services headed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (all eight of them), “putting the U.S. Constitution above any loyalties. (In Unprecedented Joint Letter, Top Military Brass Denounces US Capitol Riot | Military.com)
In preparation for the peaceful transfer of power, the ultimate act in a vibrantly functioning democracy, the American Capitol is now patrolled, secured and sentried by some 20,000 National Guard troops. This is more than three times the number deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
Political humorist Seth Myers has this to add: Trump was impeached “for trying to extort a foreign country to help him cheat in the 2020 election and then inciting a violent insurrection after losing that election and also, he told the people to inject bleach during a deadly pandemic he failed to stop; tried to ban Muslims, called Mexicans rapists; paid hush money to cover an affair with a porn star; and had his lawyer call a press conference in front of a landscaping company and an adult sex shop!.”
Let me end with another borrowed piece of humor.
Overheard from a white supremacist neo-Nazi redneck. “Donald J. Trump is a ‘genius. That’s what “J” stands for!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tomas 'Buddy' Gomez III began his professional media career in ABS-CBN's (previously Chronicle Broadcasting Network) DZQL-Radio Reloj in 1957, after which he spent 25 years with the Ayala Group.
In 1986, the then Pres. Cory Aquino appointed him Consul General to Hawaii and later served as her Press Secretary.
During the Ramos administration, he was chairman and president of state-owned IBC-13 Network.
After government service, he became an ‘OFW’ in the U.S., working as front-desk clerk and then assistant general manager of a hotel. He also worked as a furniture and antique restoration specialist.
He is now retired and lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Disclaimer: The views in this blog are those of the blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views of ABS-CBN Corp.
featured blog, blog roll, buddy gomez, cyberbuddy, US presidential elections, Donald Trump, US politcs, Trump impeached again