Three is a charm ? – impeachment blues

For the third time in history  the US Senate has acquitted a president who has previously been impeached. Andrew  Johnson in 1868; Bill Clinton in 1999 and now Donald Trump in 2020. Three is indeed not a charm in this case.

With a Senate comprising 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats the outcome of the vote was almost predictable. 67 votes in favour were needed to convict the President  on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of congress.

So what does this acquittal mean ? Well one thing is maybe Trump still enjoys significant support from his Republican base, who seem to be satisfied with the way he is running government. Another way of looking at the vote is that it may constitute a statement on the popularity of the Vice President and a non-desire by the Republican Senators to rock the boat so close to a General election and risk losing the Presidency all together by indirectly endorsing Biden,  as an impeachment could be perceived as an acknowledgement that he was an actual threat to Trump being re-elected as President.  This acquittal could also mean fodder for the 2020 election cycles. Congress and Presidential. Definitely a topic for the debates and campaign trail meets.

Do you want to know what I think?  Well it is simply this – whatever your grievances or opinions on the POTUS let the polls decide. In a democracy legitimacy of Office is inextricably linked to the results of a free and fair election.

But whatever the meaning of the vote Trump sleeps easy tonight.

AW  5 Feb. 2020.