Happy President’s Day!
Some people dream the dream, some people live the dream, and some people defend the dream. God bless the defenders. –Unknown
Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:
- Impeachment
- Steve Daines
- Jon Tester
- Greg Gianforte
- Mitch McConnell
- One More Thing
IMPEACHMENT:
The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump ended Saturday. It was not much of a surprise; Trump was acquitted by a vote of 57-43. A conviction needed 67 votes. Seven Republican senators voted to convict.
The Dallas Morning News reported:
Though 10 votes shy of the two-thirds needed, it was the most bipartisan vote for conviction in any of the four presidential trials in U.S. history and, by far, the shortest.
Montana’s U.S. Senators split their votes. Republican Senator and Trump insider, Steve Daines, voted not guilty. Daines issued a statement following his vote saying in part:
“I voted to acquit President Trump of a second impeachment because I believe the trial was unconstitutional. I do not believe the Senate has the authority to remove a former President from office who is no longer in office.”
I guess Daines forgot that the U.S. Senate voted 56-44 earlier in the week that the trial was constitutional.
As for Montana’s senior Senator, Jon Tester, he voted to convict. He stated that, in part, said:
“Ultimately the House Managers presented a clear, evidence-based case that proved to a majority of my Republican and Democratic colleagues that former President Trump incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th that came within a hundred feet of destroying our democracy.”
Trump’s defense team used Tester’s comments in 2019 about Trump when he said, “Even in states where Donald Trump won big that it does you any good to run away from Donald Trump, I think you need to go and punch him in the face.”
Trump’s defense team only used the part, “I think you need to go and punch him in the face.”
With Greg Gianforte’s assault of a reporter used in the trial and now Tester’s statement folks around the globe are probably thinking Montana has some awfully tough guys.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted not guilty, but gave a speech that basically said Trump was guilty:
“There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.”
McConnell was just re-elected for another six years. He’s 78 years old. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he is looking to the next election in two years and the chance that he can take back the majority in the U.S. Senate. He would not vote to convict because he knows Trump is in control of the Republican Party. He needs his support and Trump’s supporters to accomplish this.
The former President released a statement that could have been just three words, “I’ll be back” but instead said:
“We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future. Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”
Trump will talk a good game and he will wield his power for a couple of years. I don’t see him being the GOP’s Presidential nominee in 2024. He may be mired in legal issues for the remainder of his pitiful life.
ONE MORE THING:
I don’t normally announce that I had a birthday because I’ve had enough of them!
As you may have read from past columns, I have a lot of former friends/family who supported and drank the Donald Trump Kool-Aid and were pissed at me that I posted negative things about him. They were also pissed that I fact-checked them when they posted goofy shit that was not true.
So they unfriended me and blocked me because of politics.
A mutual friend told me that a handful of these people wished me a happy birthday the other day. Since they blocked me there was no way I could see the greetings. That shows the ignorance of Trump supporters.
The Western Word 
IMHO Daines’ claim about the alleged unconstitutionality of a trial after Trump is out of office is merely self-serving BS. “A technicality” ruse to excuse himself so he didn’t look quite so gutless this time around on the actual issues, and to let himself off the hook as a willing and active co-conspirator in Trump’s “stolen election” disinformation campaign. His mind was made up before the trial to be a loyal radical right Trump drone no matter what.
Terry – I think you are exactly correct. Thanks, JmB
“hypocrisy is the compliment that vice pays to virtue” Mitch mc conman is the perfect example. To call Trump supporters ignorant is almost a compliment. At least they could be de or unignorantized (I don’t think that word would pass the scrabble test). 🙂
John – Thanks. Trying to find the right word to describe Trumpers is tough! (Without being too vulgar). -JmB
I agree mike. We need to be understanding and examine our own biases. If ever there was a time for love and serious consideration with those we disagree, the time is now. We need to gently try to explain the truth. Try to live as if the truth is true. When did racism, greed hate, fear, mendacity, etc. produce an acceptable corrective?
John – Good points. I think the racists went off the rails when Obama was elected. They showed how terrible they actually were. Trump started a lot of it. Thanks for your response. -JmB