On Wednesday, February 5, 2020, President Donald John Trump was formally acquitted of two articles of impeachment by the United States Senate. Still, there was some last second drama as the nation waited to see the final vote: 48-52 to convict on abuse of power, and 47-53 to convict on obstruction of Congress.
Every Democrat and both independents in the Senate voted to convict. Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah voted to convict on the first article but not the second. In doing so, Romney acknowledged that he was likely to face severe consequences and retribution from the president and his party. But it took equal political courage for Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Doug Jones of Alabama to defy the heavily pro-Trump sentiments of their constituents and vote to convict on both counts.
The impeachment battle is over, for now. Trump appears to have been greatly strengthened by the process, but this may be fleeting. Romney’s somewhat surprising decision to vote against the president and to condemn him in the strongest terms on the Senate floor may have more of a lasting effect that people realize. It will do more than simply rob Trump of the ability to say that the impeachment was wholly partisan, it will show up the moral weakness of Trump’s reluctant supporters in the House and Senate. Going forward, every congressional Republican with the exception of Romney will be a co-owner of each misstep and outrage that the president commits. And none of them be able to say that no Republican knew better.
The case against Trump was made, and only fear and partisanship kept him in power. It’s a decision that everyone will regret.
I wouldn’t worry about the Gallup poll. Just noise.
Given the times we’re in, it’s impressive that Romney and Manchin (and Sinema) voted as they did. Jones too, but he’s done this kind of thing before so I’m less surprised. (Southern white liberals are a small but hardy tribe.)
As I said on another thread, the fact that we kept our caucus together, and got one republican vote for conviction, has to be counted as a victory (and I said that it would be back in November). I would have liked to have gotten a second republican vote, but one can’t have ponies and rainbows every time.
Given our relative isolation down here in the South, we sort of have to be.
https://twitter.com/InactionNever/status/1225201294664720384
I hope Susan Collins goes away now maybe never to be heard from again. But that is too much to hope for I suppose.
“Despite Mitt Romney, Trump is Acquitted”
Despite Mitt Romney? As if one vote had any chance of changing anything? As if he had any influence whatever?
To my surprise I’ve seen absolutely no pundits or blog comments anywhere bringing up the idea that there might be a Mormon backlash against Trump for attacking Mitt. Why wouldn’t this be a possibility and if so wouldn’t this peel some support from Trump in the election?