PUBLISHED TO
In the future, it’s possible that everyone will be asked, “Where were
you when 20 white guys in suits invaded a closed-door hearing, violated
the security of an electronics-free environment, tampered with a
witness, and basically brought the impeachment of Donald Trump to a
temporary halt on the orders of Donald Trump?”
But if they are asked this question, it won’t be because it was a Great Moment in History. It will be because it was was a sad low point in human affairs.
But it’s not as if the day did not include a genuine demonstration of ethical behavior. That came when Republicans, after holding up the process for hours, had stacks of pizzas delivered. Apparently realizing that, unbelievable as that may seem, chowing down on a double-meat in the middle of the House chamber might just cause a rethink among Democrats who had at that point not called the sergeant at arms, the Republican Rep. Mark Meadows instead had the pizzas stacked outside and tried to lure the press into eating them. ““There is no quid pro quo,” shouted Meadows. “You can eat it!” However, reporters pointed out that they were not allowed to take gifts from Congress. The pizza sat uneaten, and eventually the same Republican gnomes who had stacked it in the hallway appeared to take it away.
Proving, if it needed to be proven, that the Capitol Hill press corps had infinitely more concern about following ethical guidelines than had Republicans in Congress.
Making the whole event even more ridiculous was the fact that a full dozen of the men who were staging a finger-wagging faux sit-in that included sending, “Here I am in a secure area where I’m not even allowed to have a phone!” tweets, popping out every now and then to whine for the cameras, and beating their chests loudly enough to be heard across the Potomac, were on the committees that were there to participate in the hearing. Not only were they not being cut out of this “secret” hearing, but they were participants, able to question the witness.
Even if Wednesday does not become the subject of “Where were you when …?” questioning, it will still be marked down as an important date. Because it was the date on which Republicans surrendered. They surrendered the idea that they could fight the impeachment of Donald Trump on either the facts or the proceedings. And they decided there was only one way left: destroy the institution they were elected to defend.
But if they are asked this question, it won’t be because it was a Great Moment in History. It will be because it was was a sad low point in human affairs.
But it’s not as if the day did not include a genuine demonstration of ethical behavior. That came when Republicans, after holding up the process for hours, had stacks of pizzas delivered. Apparently realizing that, unbelievable as that may seem, chowing down on a double-meat in the middle of the House chamber might just cause a rethink among Democrats who had at that point not called the sergeant at arms, the Republican Rep. Mark Meadows instead had the pizzas stacked outside and tried to lure the press into eating them. ““There is no quid pro quo,” shouted Meadows. “You can eat it!” However, reporters pointed out that they were not allowed to take gifts from Congress. The pizza sat uneaten, and eventually the same Republican gnomes who had stacked it in the hallway appeared to take it away.
Proving, if it needed to be proven, that the Capitol Hill press corps had infinitely more concern about following ethical guidelines than had Republicans in Congress.
Making the whole event even more ridiculous was the fact that a full dozen of the men who were staging a finger-wagging faux sit-in that included sending, “Here I am in a secure area where I’m not even allowed to have a phone!” tweets, popping out every now and then to whine for the cameras, and beating their chests loudly enough to be heard across the Potomac, were on the committees that were there to participate in the hearing. Not only were they not being cut out of this “secret” hearing, but they were participants, able to question the witness.
Even if Wednesday does not become the subject of “Where were you when …?” questioning, it will still be marked down as an important date. Because it was the date on which Republicans surrendered. They surrendered the idea that they could fight the impeachment of Donald Trump on either the facts or the proceedings. And they decided there was only one way left: destroy the institution they were elected to defend.
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