Guilty as Charged David, such an excellent indepth damming information of the guilt of the President. But, except for a few of the Republicans, the rest were too scared to publicly find him guilty. If it was a secret ballot then the verdict would have been very different.
Guilty as Charged Thank you Cass and I believe you are right. If it was a secret ballot Trump may have been indicted. I regard the "weak Republicans" as not the ones Trump pointed out in his speech on 6 Jan, but the ones who were too afraid to support the impeachment for fear of political demise in the Primaries. I was pleased that what I said in my blog has been confirmed in later investigation, except the issue of whether he could continue to receive the perks of past Presidents seemed to have been ignored notwithstanding it came under a different section of the US Constitution.
The burning of Washington From Wikipedia....
"The Burning of Washington was a British invasion of Washington City (now Washington, D.C.), the capital of the United States, during the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812. To this date, it remains the only time since the American Revolutionary War that a foreign power has captured and occupied the capital of the United States.
Following the defeat of American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, a British force led by Major General Robert Ross marched to Washington. That night, British forces set fire to multiple government and military buildings, including the White House (then called the Presidential Mansion), the Capitol building, as well as other facilities of the U.S. government.[3] The attack was in part a retaliation for the recent American destruction of Port Dover in Upper Canada, as well as American forces burning and looting the capital of Upper Canada the previous year.[4] Less than a day after the attack began, a heavy thunderstorm —possibly a hurricane — and a tornado extinguished the fires. The occupation of Washington lasted for roughly 26 hours, and what the British plans were beyond the damage are still a subject of debate."
The burning of Washington Thank you John for the further information on the 1814 burning of the US Capital, Washington DC. In the current situation with the Impeachment Trial Of Trump, if ever there was a mirror of the moral decay that led to the Fall of Rome, this is it.
Bob Carlson I was going to send you a PM but realised they mostly don't work. Ali is trying to sort this out. I don't expect you to publish this but I have been following Bob's comments on other blogs and, whatever he may say now, he has been a supporter of Trump for at least the last two years. He argued against social separation and the wearing of masks. He supported the community celebrations in Florida and claimed it was one of the few states that were validating the US constitution by supporting people making their own decisions about what was in their own interests - whatever the consequences were for others. I suspect he is a closet "Libertarian" - I can do whatever I want until it all goes wrong and then it is your fault. Sadly, they seem to be a minority but powerful force in the US with firearms.
Invading the US Capitol This may be the first time the US Capital has been invaded by US citizens but it is not the first time it has been invaded. The last time it was burned to the ground. This was during the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812 when the US invaded Canada (for the second time) in an attempt to make it the 14th State. It failed abysmally and the British/Canadian/French militias soundly defeated the US forces. Until now, it remains the only time that a foreign power has captured and occupied the capital of the United States.
Invading the US Capitol An amazing glimpse of history here John. Does that mean the British/Canadian/French militias marched south and burnt the US Capital as it then was, to the ground? What was the US capital in 1812?
Where is the street art from? I present my most detailed blog ever of a current insurrection attempt in a country where one should least expect it that has traumatically divided the United States and I find you admiring the street art while sidestepping the action. Nothing wrong with stopping to smell the roses but come on Ake. Is there an Ake perspective to these events? How is the Swedish press and public reacting?
Response to your questions. I saw that you posted this blog before but then withdrew it. I am neither a Democrat or a Republican, but a moderate like David and Merry Jo, who seeks fairness and truth. Neither party upholds those values, but only answer to special interests. I have a sister, perhaps two, plus two children, perhaps three, who sees things your way. I see it the same way as 75 million other Americans. As with my family, any discussion is fruitless as there is no agreement on the facts, and arguments only strains relationships. So, I will not respond to your comments, but to your questions:
Can USA heal its wounds? No. Biden promised to unite the nation but everything he has done in the two weeks since his inauguration has further divided the nation.
Did Trump incite the mob to storm the Capital? No. The Chief Justice, who is required by the Constitution, to be the judge in any impeachment trial, will not do so, and there aren't enough votes to find Trump guilty.
I've been reading the history of our Constitution and the great debate during the Virginia Ratification Convention between the Federalists who wanted a strong Federal Government and the original republicans who were concerned that without the Bill of Rights, that government would strip us of our liberties. The concerns of Patrick Henry are now coming true.
Now to think of happier things...like watching the Super Bowl!
Response to your questions Wow. If there is ever a response I would not expect, it is your's Bob. Guess it highlights how Trump has polarised public opinion. I do not want to fracture our relationship but I regard Trump's speech on 6 January as clearer than a confession that he incited the mob to storm Congress. I set out the transcript of his speech as it speaks for itself. As I expressed in my blog, but more eloquently, the impeachment should be about right versus wrong but it's about hanging onto power. Or as one of the private comments I have received, who is a frequent visitor to USA, so candidly put it, "The USA is actually a divided States of America and their 2nd Amendment and Bill of Rights encourages civil disobedience the like which we don’t see here. They desperately need a Bill of Personal Responsibilities." I shake my head that your great nation could find itself in such dilemma. Our best wishes to you and your family during this fractured time...and always.
How the hell did this happen? As an American I've spent the last four years being embarrassed by the man in the White House. I breathed a sigh of relief when Biden was elected. But I while I should have realized that Cadet Bone Spurs wasn't going to go away quietly, I was shocked at the violent mob that stormed the Congress. My country has certainly been the scene of protests - some violent, most peaceful - over the years, but I have never seen, nor even contemplated, that the president would direct such violence against elected officials, many of them from his own party.
I can only hope that those people who call themselves Republicans go back to being Republicans and not Trumpniks.
How the hell did this happen? As an Australian I also wonder how the hell this could happen, Karen. As Australians we know only so well how Trump's vitriolic language affects us in our relationship with our largest trading partner, China. Having ended his reign with a bang not a whimper, Trump galled me and many others that he gave our Prime Minister a Medal of Honour just before Trump left office to ensure we remain “the gum on the boot of the USA that has to be wiped off” as China has claimed. What happens in USA affects other countries as well. China has whacked trade bans on many of our major exports to bring us to our knees for being an ally of USA, and have made no secret that is why they are doing so. The World needs a strong and united USA...not a basketcase. We Australians are proud and resilient and will recover. Will USA?
Can we Heal? You've put some words to paper with emotion and thought... we could spend hours in conversation, debate and a shared understanding. I am not a republican. I am not a democrat. I am a centrists. I am sick of many politicians from both sides of the aisle. In my opinion, I do not think anything will be done to Trump as greed generally rules and too many Senate members want Trump's financial support and support from his rich friends. Even if they disagree with him and think he is a loon they won't speak of it publicly because the do not want to offend --as the Trump fans will not re-elect them. It seems a real conundrum for the Republican Party. While Trump was in office there was great anger from the Democratic Party. Now that Biden is in office the anger is coming from the Republican Party. I do believe Biden is the right man at the right time. I do suspect he will inch things forward fighting the barriers created by politicians. People have lost the ability to debate calmly and find compassionate compromise that will provide good for the greater number. Trump's big issues may end up being financial law suits which he may not win. His bucket of money may decrease but he always seems to pull it out somehow. If the bank in Germany has truly decided to stop lending him money he may be in a mess. We hope for healing but we have lots of hatred running rampant. MJ
Can we Heal? I read your comments MJ that highlight the conundrum (great word) that I was not brave enough to state so clearly. As I view from across the Pacific I can view it theoretically objectively, but of course am restricted by media bent. But what I saw of the events on 6 January from 8am to midnight and reading the transcript of his Save America March speech, and viewing the emails of the plans to attend and cause havoc, I only needed to know how to read to understand the import and impact and the logical conclusion with the crazed aftermath. Seeing Biden's measured and empathetic speeches I know America can heal....but does enough of the populous want it to???
Notes from the Dangerous One One of the longest blogs you've put out there. Well thought out. Although the lovely Merry and I refuse to be classified as a member of either party, your thoughts clearly illustrate the thoughts of both sides in a very ideologically divided nation. The simple fact is that while possible retribution is at hand for the 45th President, there are not enough votes however, to convict him in the Senate. To many "frightened" Republicans will not vote to convict as this will have severe back lash among their constituents. Trump's defense could easily be defined as a First Amendment issue around free speech. It would be ideal if he could never be allowed to hold public office again. The Republican Party is extremely fractured right now and does not remotely resemble "The Party of Lincoln." Crazed congressional ultra-right wingers are attempting to hijack the party. My guess is that in four years, Trump will not run again. I do not believe that he "enjoyed" being president as it was nothing like he imagined it would be. How the Republican Party will shape up is anybody's guess.
Notes from the Dangerous One To see Trump jumping up and down pumping his fists like a prize fighter during his rallies, expressing how much everyone loves him, I see a narcissist that craves the attention. I hope for your great country's future that he does not stand again, otherwise now divided will be forever broken. If retribution is not at hand for what happened on 6 January, I suggest there needs to be a change in your Constitution as I presume to let a President get away with insurrection just prior to leaving office was surely not considered by the founding fathers. Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in USA again, but with USA Covid and political ferment, I fear 'tis a long way off. Thanks for the bravery of your comments.
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Guilty as Charged
David, such an excellent indepth damming information of the guilt of the President. But, except for a few of the Republicans, the rest were too scared to publicly find him guilty. If it was a secret ballot then the verdict would have been very different.