So it begins. While millions of Americans tuned in, I didn’t watch the first impeachment showdown, and neither did Trump.
Opinion by Martin Harris 14/11/19
The fact that the man at the center of this inquiry didn’t bother to watch the proceedings tells much. The little segment shown on NZ television revealed nothing new, and as biased as TVNZ may be (left wing, pro-Dem) they got one thing right: This whole impeachment process is a show-trial, a bit of pompous theater and a distraction from the real issue here. The real issue being Biden and Son and some serious corruption that could do some damage to creepy Uncle Joe’s political aspirations.
Acting Ukrainian ambassador William Taylor may have the voice of Walter Cronkite, but what he said on Wednesday is unlikely to oust Trump. About half the public opposes impeachment. Period. The House of Representatives, where Democrats have a majority, will impeach Trump. But the Republican-controlled Senate won’t. Everyone knows Trump tried to get dirt on the Bidens and thinks it is wrong. But not everyone thinks what he did was impeachable.
Art Cullen, editor of The Storm Lake Times in Iowa
Oh, you may argue that it’s about the “leverage” issue, that Trump was more concerned with sabotaging his opponents than any matter of conscience. As Art Cullen suggest, many would consider his actions wrong. Well, surely, isn’t this exactly what the Dem brigade are doing with this impeachment process: Attempting to sabotage Trump’s 2020 re-election chances? The pot calling the kettle black, surely?
Except for one difference. Trump has done nothing more serious than blow the whistle on an opponent’s corruption. The Dems have yet to dig up anything on Trump…oh, except maybe his tax returns for the past eight years (The judge having repeated that the subpoena may proceed). Claims of Russian collusion having coming to naught. Biden’s dodgy dealings (bigger than just Ukraine by the way: Hunter B just stepped down from a Chinese board in response to Trump’s attack) at least have substance.
Will this trial really lead anywhere? Highly doubtful, especially as the Republicans hold the house majority. So, then, we aren’t going to see Trump evicted from the Oval Office in leg irons. Is it, then, likely to have a major effect on Trump’s re-election changes? Not likely.
If Stefanik and Hurd fall in line behind Trump, chances are nearly every other Republican member of the House of Representatives will do the same. If support for impeachment divides almost entirely along partisan lines, that lessens the likelihood of significant numbers of Republican Senators voting to remove the president. That means that in our current hyper-polarized politics, in which even the notion of objective truth is perceived in tribal terms, today’s hearings have to be counted a victory for Trump.
Geoffrey Kabaservice , director of political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, DC
In fact, if the Dems aren’t careful, and knowing Trump’s prowess at political Chess, they may end up shooting themselves in the foot.
This “show trial” might just get interesting as things progress. We’ll find out soon enough. MH
If you REALLY want to watch 10 hours of drivel, here it is:
Get your copy from our online store or your local book and magazine retailer…IF you can find it:
As censorship heats up and free thought becomes an increasingly rare commodity, we appeal to our readers to support our efforts to reach people with information now being censored elsewhere. In the last few years, Uncensored itself has been censored, removed from the shelves of two of our biggest NZ retailers-Countdown Supermarkets and Whitcoulls Bookstores-accounting for 74% of total NZ sales.
You can help keep the free press alive by subscribing and/or gifting a subscription to your friends and relatives.
