Last Friday, Donald Trump received the letter in the midst of his Thanksgiving turkey dinner. The House Judiciary Committee would be giving him this week to decide if he will send witnesses in his defense to the proceedings which could end his political career, or whether he would save that for later if the case moves to the Senate. After two months of investigation and two weeks of public hearings, the impeachment inquiry nearing the end of the first stage.
There does not seem to be much room for maneuvering with respect to the investigation. So far, not a single witness considers that blackmailing Ukraine by freezing aid was linked corruption in the country, as the White House claims. What has come to light is the series of Mafia-like tactics the president used, an abuse of power which everyone sees as a way for Trump to benefit himself in order to weaken his main rival in the upcoming presidential election
All that remains to be seen in the story of what occurred is whether Trump can defend his position by providing witness testimony, or whether on the other hand, the main weapon in his defense will continue to be Trump’s tweets which publicly criticize all the witnesses who have already testified.
Systematic Discrediting
As if it had nothing to do with him, the anger he projects toward those who have spoken out against him has circulated on the internet, with Trump accusing his critics of being unprofessional, to lacking patriotism to being suspect for abusive behavior. It’s an entire catalog discrediting not what the witnesses have expressed, but their lack of standing to do so.
It is the same strategy that has worked for him so far in evading the course of an advanced democracy: making decisions and flouting measures that question his actions while running to social media to question the system from the seat of power. Thus, chances are he will not send any witnesses or lawyers in his defense. It is part of the strategy that keeps him in power, dividing American society as never before.
He knows that, although it is a legal process, politicians will end up deciding and the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate. If he keeps his faithful supporters, the inquiry will end up hurting the Democrats more than his own base. Opinion is divided. In the latest poll, those in favor of the ending the proceedings make up exactly half of those asked. That is why Trump keeps driving the system and institutions to the edge of a cliff, where credibility is near zero.
Without trivializing the word fascist – maybe Trump is not a fascist – it is clear that his actions are dangerous, and as president, he whitewashes those who dabble in fascism, from Brazil to the Philippines, through his European lapdogs. Because if there is no curbing authoritarian tendencies in the world’s premier democracy, who will accuse these others of not being democratic? That is why although impeachment will define the future of the White House, its importance and effects will impact us all.
Lo que importa el 'impeachment'
El pasado viernes, en plena digestión del pavo de Acción de Gracias, Donald Trump recibió la carta. La comisión del Congreso le da esta semana para decidir si envía testigos a su favor en el proceso que puede acabar con su carrera o si, por el contrario, se reserva para mas adelante, cuando la acusación se traslade al Senado. Tras dos meses de investigación y dos semanas de audiencias públicas, el proceso se acerca al final de la primera etapa.
En cuanto a las pesquisas, no parece que haya mucho margen de maniobra. Hasta el momento ni un solo testigo considera que el chantaje a Ucrania, congelando la ayuda, estuviera vinculado a la corrupción en el país, tal y como pretende vender la Casa Blanca. Lo que ha salido a la luz es la colección de métodos mafiosos empleados por el presidente que todos interpretan como un abuso en beneficio propio para debilitar a su principal adversario en la próxima campaña electoral.
En el relato de lo que sucedió, solo queda por saber si Trump puede defender sus argumentos aportando testimonios mientras se instruye la causa o, por el contrario, su principal arma de defensa seguirá siendo los tweets con los que ha ido acusando en público a todos los testigos que han ido apareciendo.
Descalificación sistemática
Es como si no fuera con él, la ira hacia quienes han declarado en su contra ha circulado por las redes, con mensajes que van desde la descalificación profesional a la falta de patriotismo o la sospecha de abusos de comportamiento. Todo un catálogo para desacreditar no lo que han manifestado sino la falta de categoría para hacerlo.
Es la misma estrategia que hasta ahora le funciona para saltarse los cauces de una democracia avanzada. Tomar decisiones y saltarse a los medios que puedan cuestionarle, mientras recurre a las redes para cuestionar el sistema, desde el sillón de mando. Lo mas probable, por tanto, es que no envíe a ningún testigo o abogado a defender su inocencia. Es parte del juego que le mantiene en el poder dividiendo a la sociedad americana como nunca antes.
Sabe que, aunque es un proceso judicial, acabarán decidiendo políticos y en el Senado la mayoría es republicana. Si mantiene a los fieles, el proceso acabará dañado más a los demócratas, que a los de su propio bando. Y la opinión está dividida. En la ultima encuesta, los favorables a que el proceso acabe en su cese son exactamente la mitad. Por eso sigue llevando al sistema y a las instituciones al borde del precipicio, allá donde la credibilidad es cercana a cero.
Sin banalizar la palabra fascista, - tal vez Trump no lo sea- lo cierto es que sus practicas son peligrosas y como presidente blanquea a todos los que buceanen el fascismo, desde Brasil a Filipinas, pasando por sus cachorros europeos. Porque si en la primera democracia del mundo no hay freno al capricho autoritario ¿Quién va a acusar a estos otros de no ser demócratas?Por eso aunque el impeachment definirá el futuro de la Casa Blanca, su importancia y efecto nos alcanza a todos.
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Ukraine's survival must be assured if it is to endure as a bulwark against Russia. And the West will only succeed in this aim if it acts collectively as one.