The Trump spectacle turned into a massive defeat.
Nancy Pelosi, who is now the most powerful Democratic Party representative, was right all along: An impeachment proceeding against Donald Trump would be a mistake.
She resisted impeachment for a long time while the voices in her party who argued that they needed to do everything they could to hold Trump accountable grew stronger. Domestic pressure combined with the revelation of Trump’s pressure tactics against Ukraine finally forced Pelosi to abandon her previous position.
In the end, the impeachment was never about objectivity or justice. Did Trump abuse his power? Probably. Is he a president with any sort of moral code or genuine concern for the future of American citizens? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t matter. Except for Mitt Romney, the Senate is dominated by people who are either scared of Trump or who are toadying Republicans. As expected, they voted to acquit Trump.
Combined with the voting chaos during the Democratic Iowa caucuses, one can conclude that these spectacles have contributed to strengthening Trump’s corrupt hold on power – rather than weakening it.
The Democrats must now leave this behind and move on.
Meaningless Gestures
The same day the Senate was deliberating on impeachment charges, Trump delivered his annual State of the Union speech in the House of Representatives.* House Speaker Pelosi sat directly behind him, and after the speech she ostentatiously ripped up a copy of the address speech before live TV cameras. It should be added that this took place after Trump had just as ostentatiously refused to shake her hand.
Regardless of Trump’s behavior, similar gestures will not take the Democrats any closer to the White House. In the end it is just a move directed at party activists and more radical voices, and even if you sympathize with the sentiment, Democrats can only win back the presidency by turning to the voters.
Need To Talk Politics
Despite a strong American economy, something Trump is more than happy to boast about, there are many problems in the United States. Mass shootings are increasing and have become deadlier. Opioid abuse has become an epidemic that is crushing life after life. The smallest of hospital bills can cause households to fall apart. The inequality is enormous. Poverty, which hits the African American population the hardest, is ripping whole neighborhoods apart.
Here, only the Democrats have the answers, through policies for free public health care, increased equality in education, lower prescription costs, stricter gun control as well as a decent living wage.
To get this message across, they need to stop ripping up speeches.
To win against Trump you must simply back away from him.
*Editor’s note: Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union Address on Feb. 4. The Senate voted on impeachment charges on Feb. 5.
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