The LuLac Edition #4,209, January 22nd, 2020

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo.

With the Impeachment trial of President Trump starting the week, what better time to share this insight on it from Dr. Joe Leonardi. Leeonardi, a former candidate for Congress gives some crucial insights into what we are seeing this week. His take on it is refreshing considering the number of "experts" you see on Social Media.

IMPEACHMENT

These days I tend to keep my political opinions pretty much to myself. They are my opinions and it is not my goal in life to endlessly and fruitlessly influence, debate or argue with others.
I am not going to give any indication of my view on the impeachment and trial of President Donald John Trump. The House has already impeached, and The Senate will decide on removal. The outcomes will be what they will be, regardless of expositional opining.
One thing that concerns me about the process, is the ignorance of the process. It is not a criminal proceeding. Rules of evidence to not apply. Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is not the standard. The House's Impeachment, and The Senate Trial, are one- hundred precedent political proceedings. What is not discussed, perhaps because it is not realized, is that it is much more political than it was intended to be. People and pundits and supposed "Constitutional Scholars” (Scholars? Read the document, Hemingway would have been proud of its concise language and ease of understanding) like to claim insight and knowledge of the Founders intentions, but what is not discussed was what the Founders did not plan for or foresee --
•Political Parties
•Popular Election of Senators
One of the underlying themes of my novel, One Day I Was, is the that the founders did not make provisions for the two party system which currently casts a horrible shadow over all of United States politics. The Founders did not take into consideration just how partisan impeachment could be, because of the fact that they did not make provisions in The Constitution for the repugnance of recognized, ruling political parties. Yes, there were factions, but the Founding Document makes no arrangement for what became political parties. If anything, they went to great, albeit unsuccessful, lengths to prevent their assertion and ascension. The House and Senate, The Congress as a whole, was not to share a political affiliation with the head of The Executive Branch, The President.
Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, The Senate was designated as the upper chamber -- A group of legislators which was to be above popular, partisan, political contests. The beauty of the bicameral chamber was to give the people a voice through The House, and the other chamber, The Senate, was supposed to be a check on The House, because their members were to be chosen in elections which were indirect, removed from the winds and whims of popular opinion.
Today, we can see the damage the foolhardy pandering 17th amendment has wrought. Instead of being an objective, above populist politics chamber -- One side is intent on removal of The President, and the other side, so afraid of incurring a tweet-storm wrath, and what that wrath may bring at a popular ballot box, has in essence, opted to make a decision without full, or due, consideration of the articles of impeachment presented.
This was a similar problem when President William Jefferson Clinton went through the process, one which was, and is, more about defending and defining political ideology than upholding and defending The United States Constitution. And for that, as a veteran of our Armed Services, I am sickened and sad.