Every generation has its own political scandal that defines that era. It speaks to the values and beliefs of that time.
This month is the 25th anniversary of the revelation of the Clinton/Lewinsky affair and the eventual impeachment of the President. On last Sunday’s episode of Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd and his rotating group of panelists discussed the long-term effects of this particular news item.
Starts at 26:44
Once the details hit the presses, Lewinsky became a punchline. Clinton would eventually weather the storm and end his time in office with a mostly solid reputation.
One of the things that struck me was a comment made by one of the guests. If it had happened today, the #MeToo movement would have vindicated Lewinsky. Clinton would be in the same league as Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer.
If nothing else, this shows that change does happen. It just sometimes takes a quarter of a century for it to be accepted as the norm.
On July 25th, 2019, Vindman had to make a decision. He could stay silent as a certain former President acted in a way that was completely unprecedented (not to mention cross a moral and legal boundary). Instead, he spoke up. This, as we all know, led to the impeachment trial and the public slander of Vindman by certain people in the government and the press.
This book is amazing. It counters the lies and the trash that accuses him of being disloyal and unappreciative of what this country has given him. He was willing to forgo his career and his reputation to stand up to a President who is not only a con-man, but had no intention looking out for anyone except for himself.
When the sh*t hits the fan, a wise person knows when to call it a day.
Yesterday, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that in two weeks, he will be stepping down from his post. Kathy Hochul, who is presently Lieutenant Governor, will step into the job for what would have been the rest of Cuomo’s term.
It was the wise choice, if not the only choice. I have a feeling that if he would have continued to fight the charges, he would have been impeached, which given everything that is going on now, is the last thing we all need.
The sad thing is that this is how he will be remembered. Like Bill Clinton before him, his legacy will forever be tainted by his arrogance. During the worst of the pandemic, he used to come on TV everyday and talk about that day’s virus related figures. Compared to a former President, he was a reasonable and calming presence.
And unlike you know who, he knows when it is time to throw in the towel.
What bothers me is the following statement:
“In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate.”
Was he living under a rock during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby cases? Did he not see the media firestorm and the career crash that followed?
If he was not aware, why then did he sign the anti-sexual harassment law two years ago? Or was he so full of it that he thought he was above the law?
The only way to end this chapter is to continue with the impeachment, even if he is no longer in office. If it is dropped, it says that one only needs to resign from their job. A message must be sent that there are consequences to such actions are unacceptable. If the Democrats upstate do not do this, they are as bad as the Republicans in D.C. who looked the other way when you know who was accused.
In the history of the United States, having a President impeached once is history making by itself. But a President who is impeached twice in one term is a lesson for the future.
If there was ever a text book definition of a reason to impeach a President, this is it. After the impeachment proceedings connected to the Russia investigation, it seemed as if nothing could top those accusations. We were wrong. The easier path is to try to muzzle him, but that would be not be enough. The only way forward is to get him out of office, even if it is for a few days before the inauguration.
It is the only way we can move forward as a nation.
Making mistakes is part of the human experience. The purpose of mistakes, as we all know, is to learn from those mistakes.
During the impeachment trial last week, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) stated the following:
“I believe that the President has learned from this case” and that Trump “will be much more cautious in the future.”
If you know who learned anything, he will continue to get off scot-free. He will continue to have enablers who will yes him instead of doing what is right for the country. The firing of Alexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland stated that much.
The only way to teach him a lesson was to impeach him. But that opportunity has come and gone.
This is the man who claimed he could shoot someone and not lose voters.
The lesson is that the Republicans that voted to acquit you know who will hopefully learn is that the real power is with the voting public. Come November, we may decide we no longer want them in office.
In my professional life, I’ve never aspired to a managerial position. But if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that a good manager does not want yes men or yes women. He or she at least listens and respects the opinions and suggestions of their team members. Whether or not they act on said opinions or suggestions is another story. But at least the employee is given the courtesy to being heard.
After the debacle that was the impeachment trial, you know whose victory dance went well beyond the usual petty and immature behavior. He firedAlexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland for telling the truth.
In any business, when a manager hires or fires based on whether or not an employee will yes them, that is something to be concerned about. But when a person in political office, especially in the office of President of the United States only wants yes people around them, that is disturbing. He or she must have different voices around them.
If nothing else, the firing of Ambassador Sondland and Lt. Vindman should set off alarm bells. The man whom we have unfortunately elected to lead this country is unwilling and unable to listen to anyone who does not agree with him. With the 2020 Presidential election less than a year away, this should be the last straw for the voting public.
But I have a feeling that for many, it won’t be. That is what scares me.
Albert Einstein was not just a genius when it came to science. He was a genius of of the human condition. One of his most famous quotes is the following:
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
I can’t think of a better quote to sum up the hideous fact that you know who was acquitted today of both articles of impeachment.
But in spite of the fact that the majority of Republicans continue to fall over themselves to curry favor with you know who, there were a few who stood up for the country and the Constitution.
Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) was the only Republican in the Senate to convict the President for abuse of power.
If there was a way to thank him in person, I would. While his fellow Republicans put their careers and their conscious over the voters and the country, Senator Romney did the opposite.
What concerns me is the precedent that the acquittal establishes. Today’s ruling says that the President is above the law. He or she is not beholden to the same legal boundaries as the rest of us. He or she may also sell the office of the President of the United States to the highest bidder, whether they be foreign or domestic.
After today, one thing is clear. We must vote in November. If our Senators are too chicken to get you know who out of office, then we, the voting citizens must do so. This man and those who enable him are a menace to our country. I can only fear what he may do with another four years in office.
If there is one thing that Americans are known for, it is the pride we have in our democracy. For more than two centuries, it has been a beacon of hope that the voice of the average citizen is heard and respected.
But American democracy is on the decline. The impeachment trial of you know who is set to wrap up this week. For weeks, there have been whispers that he will be acquitted of both charges.
If this happens, I fear that this could be the end of the American democracy. The purpose of separating the Executive Branch, Congress and the Supreme Court is to ensure that governmental power is not exclusively in the hands of one of three branches.
Some argue that censure is the way to go and to let the voters decide in the fall.
If another President (regardless of party) was being impeached under less egregious accusations, I would agree that censuring him or her is the way to go. But given that we have a bully man-child used car salesman as President who believes that he is above the law, censuring him is not enough.
Do you censure a school bully who verbally and physically attacks their classmates? No. You remove them from the school. This President must be removed from office by the Senate. If we don’t, then I fear that it will be the death knell of American democracy.
When it comes to feminism, nothing destroys it more than women knocking down women.
While Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) was spending his week in Washington for the impeachment trial, he sent surrogates to Iowa for this week’s Iowa caucuses. During one of these events, Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) booedHillary Clinton, Senator Sanders rival for the 2016 Democratic Presidential nomination.
I have two issues with her choice to boo Mrs. Clinton. The first issue is that the 2016 Presidential election has come and gone. It’s history. Focusing on what was and cannot be undone is futile. The second issue is that infighting between women, especially in the arena of politics does nothing to help our cause. It sends the message that women are nothing but drama queens and unable to lead this country.
The Presidential election is months away. If we are to get you know who out of the White House, we need to be strong and stand together. We are allowed to disagree on certain points, but at the end of the day, if we are not united, our divisions will destroy us. Which opens the door for you know who to win another four years in office and destroy this country.
The reason that many of us pay attention to any impeachment trial is that it is not an event (not that it should be) that happens very often.
There were two major bombshells during today’s impeachment trial.
The first bombshell came this morning. Senator Lamar Alexander (D-TN) spoke out as to why he did not believe that witnesses were necessary during the trial. His reason for believing that witnesses are not necessary is the following:
“There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence.”
The second bombshell came a short time ago. After hours or debating, the Senate voted. In what was a close race, the majority of Senators voted against witnesses.
Is it me, or are the Republicans trying to rush this trial through? It’s as if they are more concerned with sucking up to you know who and saving their own skins instead of doing what is right for the country.
There has been, as it is natural, comparisons to past impeachment. As most of us above a certain age can easily recall the Clinton Impeachment, the comparisons are easily made. But as I see it, there is a difference. Clinton’s failings were moral. Not that he didn’t deserve what was coming to him, but he did and what you know who did are on completely different levels. Clinton did not sell out this country or threaten to withhold badly needed funds if his political rival was not investigated for some imagined crime.
We will have to wait until next week to find out the results of this trial. I can only end this post with the concern that if you know who is acquitted, all h*ll will break loose.
Writergurlny 
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