The Republican lost cause
The House Impeachment managers presented a powerful case, conclusively demonstrating Trump’s guilt. The big question remains, will 17 Republican Senators be moved to fulfill their Oath and hold Trump accountable? Pundits search for clues as to how the Senators will vote. Experts handicap the arguments for and against impeachment. Yet, one nagging question remains from Trump’s first impeachment…why so much doubt over the GOP vote? Why with overwhelming evidence are we left to “guess” about the GOP verdict?
The answer is more basic then most would imagine. This GOP is not the GOP of Olde. Decades ago there was a political vision (albeit warped), some common understanding to unite around. This no longer exists in this GOP. For evidence one need not look further than their offered presidential candidate in 2020. An impeached, criminally investigated, sociopath. More telling was the platform put forth. They offered none, no traditional GOP values, it was just Trump.
Returning to the original question, “why is it so difficult to decipher the GOP intentions?” Are they afraid of a mean Trump Tweet? No, that isn’t an issue now. Maybe fear of being “challenged in a primary?” A primary might be inconvenient, but Senators have won primaries before. The GOP’s reticence to hold Trump to account is even more basic than fear. This GOP is Trump.
Since Trump, the GOP has stopped legislating, disrupted Congress to the point of impotency, conducted investigations of conspiracies, fought against executive oversight and used their offices to promote propaganda. Sadly, this GOP has become divisive, cruel, racist, craven and deeply cynical. We need not “guess” how they will vote. This GOP remains “all in” with the fascist and deeply unconstitutional idea of Trumpism and they will vote to acquit… they are Trumpism.
