Crucial Tests for America

Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 18 April 2024
by Andreas Ross (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Mallory Matsumoto. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
The impeachment proceeding brought against Joe Biden’s secretary of Homeland Security was politically straightforward: Republican members of the House of Representatives impeached him and Democratic senators put an end to the fuss. But now things are getting more interesting.

Not long ago, people would have considered Republican impeachment proceedings against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to be mind-blowing. It was the first time since 1876 that the House of Representatives put a cabinet member on trial. The Constitution allows impeachment as a punishment for crimes.*

But in this case, the Republicans cited Joe Biden’s immigration policy as the secretary’s crime. It was audacious, but it is no longer surprising. In the tribal conflict between Republicans and Democrats, anything goes. People assumed Senate Democrats would shoot down the proceedings.

Will the Democrats Save Mike Johnson?

The rest of the week should be more exciting. Because when it’s not just about Biden and his Achilles heel on the southern border, but instead about aid for Ukraine, the Republicans appear to be divided.

Fervent Trumpists are facing off against a handful of Donald Trump opponents and a majority of others who are just tactical Trump supporters. Ultraconservative politicians acting on conviction are grappling with populists who want to blow things up, and foreign policy hawks are grappling with isolationists.

But the Democrats, too, are facing crucial tests, especially if they have to guarantee the political survival of Christian fundamentalist Mike Johnson, the House speaker whom some Republicans want to oust, in return for aid to Ukraine.

*Editor’s note: The Constitution gives Congress the power to impeach federal officials for treason, bribery and “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Impeachment is not punishment, but a process of bringing charges against a government official for wrongdoing. A trial may be held and the official may be removed from office.


Amerikanische Zerreißproben
Das Impeachment gegen Bidens Heimatschutzminister war politisch simpel: Die republikanischen Abgeordneten klagten ihn an, die demokratischen Senatoren beendeten den Spuk. Jetzt aber wird es spannender.

Vor Kurzem hätte man das von den Republikanern betriebene Amtsenthebungsverfahren gegen Amerikas Heimatschutzminister Mayorkas für spektakulär gehalten: Erstmals seit 1876 beschloss das Repräsentantenhaus, einem Minister den politischen Prozess zu machen. Den sieht die Verfassung vor, um Verbrechen zu ahnden.
In diesem Fall aber erklärten die Republikaner Bidens Migrationspolitik zum Verbrechen des zuständigen Ministers. Das war dreist, aber nicht mehr überraschend: In der Stammesfehde zwischen Republikanern und Demokraten sind alle Mittel recht. Dass die Demokraten im Senat das Verfahren jetzt abschmetterten, war einkalkuliert.
Retten die Demokraten Mike Johnson?
Der Rest der Woche dürfte aufregender werden. Denn wenn es nicht einfach gegen Biden und dessen offene Flanke an der Südgrenze geht, sondern etwa um Hilfen für die Ukraine, dann zeigen sich die Republikaner zerrissen. Glühende Trumpisten stehen einer Handvoll Trump-Gegnern und einer Vielzahl bloß taktischer Trump-Unterstützer gegenüber. Erzkonservative Überzeugungstäter ringen mit Populisten, die auf Zerstörung sinnen; außenpolitische Falken mit Isolationisten.
Doch auch die Demokraten stehen vor Zerreißproben – vor allem, wenn sie, im Gegenzug für Kiew-Hilfe, das politische Überleben des christlichen Fundamentalisten Mike Johnson garantieren müssen, den einige Republikaner jetzt als Sprecher des Repräsentantenhauses stürzen wollen.
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