Tom Toles for January 29, 2020

I’m amused by the Trumpists who are (ahem) trumpeting that convicting him of this will be a horrible precedent because no President would be able to do their job with that hanging over their head. On the other hand, I’m concerned, as Toles is, that not convicting him will only encourage similarly illegal behavior. Senators: It is a three part government. All three roles are given power because they are supposed to be checks on each other, so as to balance the behavior of the whole mix. Giving all the power to one element: Really really bad precedent.

I always thought that if nothing else, the thought of impeachment SHOULD hang over their heads to keep them from NOT doing their job properly.

The stamp would be reversed when stamped. Which is symbolically OK.

Just a framed document in tiny hands, not a stamp. The stamp of their actions would be “treason approved”, reversed.

Turkish delight.

SPQR : odd that there is no equivalent acronym for the US Senate and the American people or more importantly a strong feeling that they are enacting the will of the people.

“Democracy dies in silence”, (Washington Post).

A Reichstag Lights the Match – {4 beats/line, then 3}

The Reichstag lights its very own match

to torch itself on behalf of der Führer.

Thus does a precedent hatch

which Democracy can’t endure.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dictator….following his puppet master, Putin on the Rich

“Most Hard Democracy Requiem”

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Democracy had a good fair run,

But it’s no longer much in style:

Too much effort to maintain it,

It’s just no longer worth the while.

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Give us a firm Autocracy,

A shiny brass leader to guide!

As Congress fades to obscurity,

So does brighten our country’s pride!

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Misdemeanors and high crimes

Are all as piffle to us, then.

Definition of “corruption”:

“To oppose official regimen.”

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So join the fad that’s now in vogue,

Powerful nations have done it.

And where Democracy is concerned —

Let’s do our best to shun it!

Reprehensible Republicans are TRAITORS TO AMERICA!!!

Congress is supposed to provide a constitutional check on presidential abuses of power, not participate in the coverup of the same.

Toles should have written “The U.S. Senate hereby grants . . . .” The House is ANYTHING other than complicit.

It’s an unquestionable reason why that the Republicans are ruining our republic.

Just a reminder not to reply directly to the troll, lest his comments be bubbled up to the top of the list, where it’s the ONLY one that 90% of viewers will bother to read.

But only if you are a Republican. Democrats still have to follow the law.

With the small print mentioning… this only applies while Republicans are in power

He wants someone to read that to him.

Only future Republicans Presidents. Others will have to watch their steps.

Crooked liar Trump will hang it next to his Article Two,

“It’s my country and I’ll do what I want!”

So take your timeout, TimCulbertson2; no one’s keeping you here.

Watched a documentary about how Hitler came into power and how he used FEAR to intimidate the German Congress into lockstep agreement with all his decisions and invasions…..sound familiar?

…Unless the president is a Democrat…

What really bothers me about all this impeachment and trial is exactly what constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors? For the Repub House during the B.Clinton impeachment, lying about one’s sex life was enough for his removal from office. But, for the Dem House during the Trump impeachment, obstruction of justice and collusion with a foreign power for personal gain is enough for his removal from office.

While I think the Dems have got it right, the Repub Senate seems to be bent on giving their man Trump a get out of jail card. Now, clearly, all these processes are political, so the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors may be a mute point.

Checks and balances? It is to laugh…

Far too many people of both genders still believe in the superstitious primitive tradition of obeying a strong male authority figure. Admittedly the Orange Buffoon, who is obviously weak in person (middle schoolers would say he’s all mouth), is very good at appearing like a strong leader to the cognitively impaired. They are a minority and they must be defeated in November.

An against-trolls item: – I searchlined “internet troll psychology” to get this Google-page {a list of articles}: [Such articles make me reluctant to interact with trolls.] … https://www.google.com/search?q=internet+troll+psychology&oq=internet+troll+ps&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l5.14071j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What price are the Republicans willing to pay for putting this jackass in charge?

It would be nice if the American electorate could start a fund to match the contributions from the resident’s defense team to at least try for a fair trial …

https://www.salon.com/2020/01/29/trumps-legal-team-gave-thousands-in-contributions-to-republican-senators-ahead-of-impeachment-trial/

Every dictator is a traitor to his country, for the plain and simple reason that no people deserve to live under a dictatorship. (Obviously, traitors always PRETEND to be patriots, and there are a FEW cases in history when they started OUT that way…….) People who enable or excuse a dictator are also traitors to their country. (See above.) Any questions?

. . . but only if Republican . . . Any imperfection from a Democratic White House is still impeachable

It is IMPORTANT that actually patriotic Americans go to the polls in November and remove these traitors from office. Their priorities in office? Republican Party first, paying tribute to the White House toad, second, cashing in perks and money for themselves, third,…working for America 123rd (or never). /S

There has been much debate on the question “How can anyone follow trump?” with variations on that theme, of course. I was pondering that lately as I watched so many, be so upset over the death of Kobe Bryant.

A most sorrowful event, to be sure. I cast no aspersions on his name.

If people can worship sports heroes and their teams, as if they are Gods. Is it so hard to imagine the same phenomenon with trump? They imagine their heroes to be, what they want them to be. Ignore what they find unpleasant and celebrate that which they like.

How say you? How is it different?

He left out the phrase “So long as they are RepubliKlan”.

Only if Republican.

Mostly licenses for the Boltons of the world…