The House of Representatives poises for voting on impeaching the President. The opposition raises their fists and pantomimes their objections. The Speaker of the House calmly outlines the process; it is provided in the House Rules, the Constitution, and the many supporting documents that have maintained the process through the history of the nation. The Senate stands ready to process the indictment from the House. Their reaction is proscribed by the Senate Rules and the Constitution, too. Each player has a role. It is proscribed. All that is different from one to the other is the named of the accused and the details of the wrongdoings and missteps.
Both sides oppose the other. They speak and shout their scripts on cue. They threaten rue to the other for their actions. But the script is known and so is the conclusion.
Impeachment will be voted forward. It is a done deed. All know it. The deeds are many and heavily documented. Even admitted in public. The votes are there as well. And the opposition has little to complain about.
But impeachment is only an indictment of the accused for the crimes and misdemeanors enumerated. The trial on the matters is held in the Senate and they must answer the process accordingly. The trial will find a full presentation of the facts to the Senate body. When done, the Senate will act as judge and jury and conclude whether the facts presented are worthy of removing the President from office. They alone have the duty to make this decision. Yea or Nay votes are tallied. If too many Nays, then the indictment fails and a not guild verdict is rendered. The issue is over. The impeachment stands only as an unsuccessful indictment.
Or maybe not. The People will decide on the Senators’ futures. If they believe their senators did not render a fair and accurate verdict, they can and likely will remove the senator from office on the next election day. The House members, too, will be so judged on their role in the matter.
The process is ponderous. So are the crimes and misdemeanors alleged. The process mirrors the seriousness of the charges and the impact on our nation’s governance. Not on a whim are these matters considered. Serious people follow serious consideration and serious process.
It is as it should be. The only matter unknown at this time, is the verdict of the Senate, and then of the People.
Stay tuned.
October 31, 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment