You probably think of me as a left wing liberal. Maybe far left. I have to admit that I lean that way. I haven’t always been this liberal, in fact I still don’t consider myself much left of center. In these times though I have to side with the far left to counterbalance the insanity of the right.

As we listen and watch the impeachment hearings I am brought to the realization that the Republican Party has succumbed to some sort of mind meld. How is it that so many good men and women can support the man who is Trump. Not necessarily the politician but the man. He is vulgar, he is an embarrassment to the country, he is arrogant, he is…oh this could go on too long.

I really do understand that conservatives agree with many of his policies. I get that. What I don’t understand is how so many Senators, Representatives, Governors, unelected officials, etc. can throw away their basic human qualities to support this man. Sure, there are going to be morally bankrupt men and women who will do anything to stay in power. Who would have thought there were so many?

Back to the impeachment hearings. Once again I get that many conservatives don’t believe there was anything wrong with the President asking for help in fighting corruption. We all want corruption stopped. Others say it was wrong to ask but since Ukraine got the aid and the president didn’t get the investigation everything is hunky dory. That is not how bribery works in the constitution. Asking for something in return for some sort of payback is the bribery. The fact that it didn’t work doesn’t matter. It’s the act not the result. Then there is the obstruction. The White House has committed obstruction of Congress by ignoring subpoenas. Not letting staff testify is a definition of obstruction. The White House cannot complain about unfair testimony if they are not willing to testify.

The impeachment of Donald Trump is a foregone conclusion. The conviction is not. This is a partisan issue in a partisan time. Maybe, just maybe if the Senate would hold a secret ballot we might see a different outcome.

How will those who vote to clear the President explain to their children and grand children why they voted they way they did? Can they sleep at night knowing they kept a man in office who is such a disgrace to our country? Leaving aside his policies again, just taking into account the respect our government has lost in the world.

And again to my liberal leanings, I would love to see a real Republican run for president in 2020. I am not sure I would vote for them but it would a sign of a return to goodness that our country needs. For now I will stay a liberal and will vote for a Democrat. I feel we need to turn the country back to the world’s best republic. Let’s get back to what makes us Americans. Decent, sympathetic, helping, with strong loyalty to our allies and honor and respect to each other.

Vladimir Putin is considering entering the race for U.S. president in 2020. Donald Trump has said he will step aside if Mr. Putin asks. When questioned about the constitutional barrier Mr. Trump said he will sign an executive order to allow a non-citizen to hold the office, and he will shine Mr. Putin’s shoes and do his laundry.

Mike Pence confirmed that he would gladly serve as vice president. And Rudy would be happy to do anything any of them ask. And all for free.

I am not sure I understand the CRWH and his administration. And it’s not what you think. The CRWH has said there is nothing to hide. And has said “read the transcript”. If I was so sure of my “perfectness” I would relish a chance to prove it. Bring on the impeachment, lace up the gloves, let’s get this over with. This will come down to partisanship. I have no doubt that the House will impeach. I have no doubt that the Senate will acquit. Why then would the CRWH want to drag this out. Put your best foot forward, let the people in your administration testify. What does he have to lose.

I know the Republicans don’t believe that the impeachment inquiry is legal, it makes no difference what they think. Finding out the evidence before actual impeachment is how it should work. A detective doesn’t arrest a suspect until the evidence leads to that arrest. Again this is partisan politics and my own beliefs will lead me to side with the Democrats. Many of you will side with the Republicans. What then is wrong with going through the process. If the CRWH and / or his administration are not guilty that will come out in either the inquiry hearings or the impeachment in the Senate.

So why the stonewalling? My belief is that this was an impeachable offense. Whether or not the Bidens were corrupt is a good question but not the end all question. The problem was the way the CRWH went about trying to start an investigation. Withholding duly authorized aid to an ally unless the ally starts an investigation is not legal. Why not instruct the AG to look into the corruption? I am not sure if the Joe and Hunter Biden took advantage of the Joe’s Vice Presidency or not. It’s not likely in my mind because the Ukraine government did not find evidence of wrongdoing. To me it’s not the question of whether the Bidens are guilty or not, it’s that the aid was being withheld until the President of the Ukraine publicly announced an investigation. That is the crime.

Some say that because the aid was released there was no crime. That’s like saying that someone attempting murder unsuccessfully isn’t guilty. It’s still a crime even if it doesn’t work.