246 years ago, a people risked and lost life and fortune to free themselves from the tyranny of a despotic ruler. Against all odds, they succeeded in liberating themselves from that ruler and created a representative democracy in which their leaders derived authority from the will of the citizens throug…
246 years ago, a people risked and lost life and fortune to free themselves from the tyranny of a despotic ruler. Against all odds, they succeeded in liberating themselves from that ruler and created a representative democracy in which their leaders derived authority from the will of the citizens through periodic elections. Since George Washington took the oath of office on April 30th, 1789. There have since been 45 peaceful transfers of Presidential power. Not once has a President attempted to overturn an election illegally through deceit to retain power for himself. Until now. This has been done publicly, out in the open for all to see. The facts are clear, they are recorded in the phone call to Georgia and the multitude of videos of the President himself as well as all his enablers spreading his big lie. The insurrection itself played out on live TV for the whole country to see and was personally witnessed by every member in this chamber.
So, the question is not “did he do it?” The question is “what are we going to do about it?” A year ago, we asked the same question and the answer we gave was “yeah, he did it. But there is an election coming up, let the people decide” How did that work out? The American people know, the world knows, all of us in this room, we all know what Donald Trump did. He tried to end 234 years of our representative democracy. A democracy that many hundreds of thousands of Americans have died to defend over that 234 years. Today it is our turn to defend it. What will we risk? Will we risk our lives? No, not our lives. We will risk our jobs. Conventional wisdom has it that Republicans will vote to acquit Donald Trump not because he is innocent, but because to vote to convict him will be political suicide. You might lose your job. When the moment comes, and your name is called and you must choose between defending our republic or saving your job, the world will be watching. And History will remember.
“the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
Excellent highlighting of the actual decision Republican senators will be making. So very important that the truth behind this is made clear to the American public.
Do they even have a concept of the difference? They’re so self-consumed, inhaling nothing but their own breath, they are lost boys (apologies to the girls amongst them) following Peter Pan...
Yes, well said. If this and other well founded arguments do not result in conviction, I think America has to ask if impeachment and trial in the Senate serves any purpose?
It does. It places a marker saying that in a democratic society, certain behaviors must always be challenged. And it makes blatant the disregard for democracy many Republican senators have. Both are useful; not decisive, but useful.
My closing arguement on Thursday:
246 years ago, a people risked and lost life and fortune to free themselves from the tyranny of a despotic ruler. Against all odds, they succeeded in liberating themselves from that ruler and created a representative democracy in which their leaders derived authority from the will of the citizens through periodic elections. Since George Washington took the oath of office on April 30th, 1789. There have since been 45 peaceful transfers of Presidential power. Not once has a President attempted to overturn an election illegally through deceit to retain power for himself. Until now. This has been done publicly, out in the open for all to see. The facts are clear, they are recorded in the phone call to Georgia and the multitude of videos of the President himself as well as all his enablers spreading his big lie. The insurrection itself played out on live TV for the whole country to see and was personally witnessed by every member in this chamber.
So, the question is not “did he do it?” The question is “what are we going to do about it?” A year ago, we asked the same question and the answer we gave was “yeah, he did it. But there is an election coming up, let the people decide” How did that work out? The American people know, the world knows, all of us in this room, we all know what Donald Trump did. He tried to end 234 years of our representative democracy. A democracy that many hundreds of thousands of Americans have died to defend over that 234 years. Today it is our turn to defend it. What will we risk? Will we risk our lives? No, not our lives. We will risk our jobs. Conventional wisdom has it that Republicans will vote to acquit Donald Trump not because he is innocent, but because to vote to convict him will be political suicide. You might lose your job. When the moment comes, and your name is called and you must choose between defending our republic or saving your job, the world will be watching. And History will remember.
“the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
Perhaps sir, you could forward this to Jaime Raskin?
Better yet, we should forward to Republican senators.
Amazing and articulate final argument!!
Excellent highlighting of the actual decision Republican senators will be making. So very important that the truth behind this is made clear to the American public.
Well done Steven. For me the question is, "What do we do if the Republican senators choose their party over the Constitution?"
Do they even have a concept of the difference? They’re so self-consumed, inhaling nothing but their own breath, they are lost boys (apologies to the girls amongst them) following Peter Pan...
The key to everything is in that last Edmund Burke quote and the two words: "good men". Everything.
And good women.
Too bad they've already made up their minds.
And that makes them complicit, not to mention shirking their duty as jurors.
I know that, and it makes me want to scream... again.
You and me both. I was screaming at the TV yesterday.
May I quote and post on FB
Sorry David, I do not post political content on Facebook.
Understood. I am glad I asked. I won’t quote and
I won’t paraphrase either, but you certainly wrote a beautiful argument for a closing. My compliments.
Excellent.
Excellent challenge
Yes, well said. If this and other well founded arguments do not result in conviction, I think America has to ask if impeachment and trial in the Senate serves any purpose?
It does. It places a marker saying that in a democratic society, certain behaviors must always be challenged. And it makes blatant the disregard for democracy many Republican senators have. Both are useful; not decisive, but useful.
Well said.