After the Assault on the Capitol: Impeachment Debate Begins in U.S. House of Representatives

Hi, there, Dear Reader. It’s early afternoon here in New Hometown, Florida on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Presently, the temperature is 55˚F (13˚C) under cloudy skies. With the wind blowing from the west-northwest at 5 MPH (8 KM/H), the feels-like temperature is 55˚F (13˚C). Today, the forecast calls for rain and a high of 61˚F (16˚C). Tonight, we can expect scattered showers and a low of 50˚F (10˚C).

“We know that the President of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go, he is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love.”

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker of the House

Well, here I am, and in the background I have my smart television playing the House of Representatives’ debate on whether President Donald Trump should be impeached for inciting insurrection in the wake of last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called for the President’s removal from office, calling him a “clear and present danger” to America’s democratic traditions and the rule of law.

“We know that the President of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go, he is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love.”

Predictably, most of the speeches from Republicans that I’ve heard – I’ve missed a few – boil down to:

• “Democrats want to waste time on impeaching a President one week before his term ends.”
• “How can Democrats say that President Trump incited violence when they said nothing about the violent left when BLM and Antifa were looting and burning cities?”
• “My Democratic colleagues say they want unity and healing, but this impeachment will only cause more division and more anger.”

Here are some of the actual speeches by Trump supporters in Congress:

“For months our cities burned and the left said nothing — or they cheered it. Some have said the president lit the flame? They lit actual flames — actual fires. And we tried to put them out.” – Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

“If we had prosecuted BLM and antifa rioters across the country with the same determination these last six months, this incident may not have happened at all.” –  Tom McClintock (R-CA)

For months our cities burned and the left said nothing — or they cheered it. Some have said the president lit the flame? They lit actual flames — actual fires. And we tried to put them out

Matt Gaetz (R-FL)

However, not every GOP member of the House is opposed to impeaching the President. Six Republican Representatives, including Liz Cheney (R-WY), said they support their Democratic colleagues because they believe that President Trump committed impeachable offenses.

Here’s what Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) had to say on the House floor:

“A vote against this impeachment is a vote to validate the unacceptable violence we witnessed in our nation’s capital. It is also a vote to condone President Trump’s inaction. He did not strongly condemn the attack, nor did he call in reinforcements when our officers were overwhelmed. Our country needed a leader, and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office.”

Meanwhile, the President today issued a statement in which he urged Americans to avoid engaging in violent acts, perhaps as a result of reports that many far-right groups are planning more attacks to prevent the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

As read on the House floor by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), this is what the President wrote:

“In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You,”