As Bad as it Sounds...

Yeah, it is as bad as it sounds.

McConnell persuaded his GOP Senators to keep their heads in the sand

I continue trying to wrap my head around what the GOP Senate heard in voting to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial:

1.The President of the United States withheld Congress- and Pentagon-approved funds from a desperate ally in its battle against Russian aggression, merely to solicit help for his 2020 campaign by coercing it into opening investigations against the Democratic party and his chief political opponent (specifically told beforehand by federal election commission chair Ellen Weintraub such an act would be illegal). 

2. Numerous US officials and departments expressed concern--alarm, actually--about the funding delay as a matter of defending US national security interests (found to be illegal by the non-partisan GAO).

3. Diplomatic and national security experts found Trump's ask of a favor at least grossly inappropriate, and possibly illegal.

4. The investigations--the Biden matter was never considered for investigation by the once-GOP-led House, and the Ukraine election interference was itself debunked by a Trump administration investigation in 2017--didn't even have to be conducted, just announced enough, it appears, to smear Trump's opponents.

5. Trump and his secret "corruption force" (led by-- intrepid do-gooders?--Rudy Giuliani and Lev Parnas) advocated for continued employment of an internationally-recognized corrupt Ukraine prosecutor while, at the same time, orchestrating a smear campaign to oust the US career diplomat who backed official US policy in the matter instead of Giuliani's wishes.

6. In addition to asking for Ukraine's help in smearing his 2020 opponent, Trump said he'd accept future such help if someone offered it--just as he would in asking China in 2019, and in the 2016 campaign, asking Russia. Establishing a pattern of his disregard for the law and ethics.

These are the facts. There really isn't any dispute. They're facts.

And the GOP Senators said, "This isn't so bad." And the GOP Senators said, "Other people did bad things, too!" And the GOP Senators (except for courageous Mitt Romney) said the facts weren't enough--and they refused to search for any more.

So, I still can't process what the GOP heard.

Because, yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.

Game not over...yet

People in my GOP-laden world are positively giddy at the inevitable outcome of Trump's

It's only "game over" if the people say it is.

impeachment not leading to his removal from office. They claim exoneration (again) despite Senators such as Rubio and Alexander insinuating that the House proved its case.  And they claim (as does a currently-pinned tweet on Trump's account) that it's "game over."

But it's not.

No, Trump should not be tried for his multitude of acts of corruption and abuse of power (that will now no doubt continue unabated for the foreseeable future), but the "game over" really is most important pertaining to the fate of the country.

If Trump's term (which scarily may extend to eight years) is just a blip, a temporary stain on democracy as was Nixon's, then we'll be okay.

If, however, it's the beginning of a run of Trumpian candidates elected as a result of the red-meat thrown to his base, then we're in trouble.

Institutionally, Trump has attempted to systematically dismantle the media--long known as a watchdog against political corruption (i.e., Woodward and Bernstein). He has purposely and unremittingly cast into doubt the dependability of our own Intelligence Community. He has questioned and criticized the judiciary. His actions and obstruction have stymied reasonable oversight from the co-equal Congress. He has isolated us from allies and sidled up to dictators of brutal regimes to, perhaps, assuage his power or his ego (or both).

Personally, he derogates anyone that disagrees with his opinions (including his own staff). He continually lies to the American public (I think the Washington Post count is near 16,000 so far). He has espoused or implied racist and misogynist views. He has claimed he is "The Chosen One" (supposedly jokingly in the face of those who have claimed it for real).

But I think this country can be turned around. As more comes out about Trump's corruption in office (just today, the DOJ shows that Trump was purposely withholding Congressionally-approved aid in at least June), more of the reasonable public will see he's not the savior. He is, in fact, a vile human being, and a man not worthy of leading the United States of America. Those Senators that so shamelessly backed this aberration will also be called into question (especially my state's own Trump lapdog, Ron Johnson).

And therein lies our country's future--truly cleaning up the horrific mess and chaos caused by Donald J. Trump.  And that includes any politician that has so supported him.

For them, I hope--for the sake of the country--that such is the real "game over."