Will The Circle be Unbroken?

As factual arrows pierce the President's flimsy defenses, Republicans and Ever-Trumpers circle the wagons.  Although 30 point headlines drop a dime on him, Trump's poll numbers ascend.

Trump may be a national disgrace, but his continued level of support is a deeper stain.  For the first time since World War II, a european nation's territorial integrity has been breached.  Russia has annexed Crimea and is openly fighting in Eastern Ukraine.

The official bipartisan policy is to support Ukraine.  Yet our president was willing to increase Russia's leverage by denying the prestige of a presidential visit with the president of Ukraine, and delaying desperately needed aid.  He contravened national policy in order to get dirt on the Biden's and support for a discredited theory of Ukraine interference in our election.

Tribalism has propped up silly defenses of indefensible conduct.  Republicans contend that anyone in regular contact with the president cannot testify because of executive privilege.  They further hold that anyone who has testified can be ignored because they were not in direct contact with Trump.  Fittingly the circled wagons use a circular defense.

The second GOP argument is that the alleged sins of the fathers should fall on their sons, even with paternity in dispute.  During the 2016 campaign two editorials were written by Ukrainians that slanted in favor of Hillary Clinton's policies.  Based on this Republicans support the debunked theory that the Ukrainian government interfered in our election, and therefore justify pressuring the new reformist regime.

After being educated at Trump University, and being wowed by the generosity of the Trump Foundation, millions are clamoring to buy the Brooklyn Bridge.

End Game

People of good faith could debate well into the night whether incompetence or corruption are the hallmark of this administration.  But none can deny the sickly sweet smell of mendacity oozing from every pore of the White House and from every 35 dollar pour at the Trump DC Hotel.

The lies are beyond number and the greed without limit.  One hundred and two million dollars of tax payer money has been spent to date at Trump properties for his golf outings.  When Saudi Arabia needed to curry favor with the administration, they booked an entire floor at his hotel.  Others such as T-Mobile have followed suit, in only slightly less grandiose ways.   His designated czar for the Middle East, Kushner, punished Qatar when it failed to come through with a 400 million dollar loan for his family business.

Saudi Arabia has been happy to supply the needed funds.  The Crown Prince has been amply rewarded by the downplaying of the murder of a Washington Post Journalist, and a weapon deal in defiance of Congress.

Then of course, there are the web of threats to the interests of America that fit under the rubric of Russia and Putin, including the related obstruction of justice.

Trump must be removed from office.  Unfortunately, unless after pigs grow wings, Republicans grow their own additional appendages, the subsequent Senate trial will flounder.  GOPers will place personal and party interests before country.

Conversely, just beating Trump in 2020 is not enough to restore the rule of law and the sense of decorum.  Impeachment and criminal proceedings are also necessary.  So after we move heaven and earth (he has hell locked up), to defeat Trump, we must have a lame duck impeachment session.  The politics will be greatly diminished, if not totally removed.

The American people will be able to see the nature of the beast who ruled them without a hint of beauty.