Disclaimer: Everything mentioned and stated here are my own personal opinion and this blog serves as a record for me to store and share my thoughts.

America is in a huge governing crisis. When I watch the news on this impeachment series, I can only imagine the minds of both Republicans and Democrats involved to be as such:

Do they not know that they are ridiculing themselves on an international stage? The back-and-forth between officials of the House, the backbiting remarks made by Trump and spiteful retaliation by his opponents are beyond humiliating. Quite possibly, the US is the only country to use Twitter, to such ends, as its political battleground. Although entertaining to certain extents, a line needs to be drawn.

US deep partisan divide has been exposed. Very exposed. Disunity and disharmony are as clear as day. On December 18, 2019, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump, almost along party lines. The 45th President of the United States was impeached on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The first article of abuse of power was passed by 230 votes to 197, almost fully on party lines with 2 Democrats opposing. This charge stems from Trump’s reported attempt to pressure Ukraine into announcing investigations onto his Democratic political rival, Joe Biden. On the other hand, the second article was passed by 229 to 198, from the President’s refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, withholding key documents and barring his key aides from giving evidence.

This divide is expected but recent events have brought to light the flaws of the impeachment process. Each side, with their narrative, neither side listening to each other. Democrats are operating from pure facts, disregarding moral repercussions and Republicans are shamelessly parading in a field of lies and straight-up ignoring anything seemingly incriminating to them. Impeachment is no longer unnerving and is now a political weapon for both sides.

Congress knows that they have a clear partisan divide but they are only allowing the whole world to see how they operate. A government cannot run properly if each side is only looking from their political lens. Each time a new bill is suggested, there is always a face-off between the Republicans and Democrats; this can be detrimental to the public image of their government, who is always at each others’ necks. Maybe they see it, maybe they don’t. But they need to realize that for the past four years, the US government has been running a circus show.

Everyone knows politics is the adult equivalent of children fighting over desk space. But oh-my-god everything going on right now is absurd. After the Democrats’ announcement of the four key witnesses, Trump and Republicans have blocked all four from testifying in the House. On the other hand, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, obviously dismayed to learn such unfairness, is currently withholding passing articles of impeachment to the Senate until the rules governing the trial becomes more to the Democrats’ liking. The Constitution recognizes the office of the Speaker of the House but she is not the House itself. Nothing grants her any authority to block or suspend resolutions. On the contrary, if she holds back an impeachment, to influence Senate trial procedures, she is interfering with the Senate trial. Although I understand her position, Nancy Pelosi’s morality should be questioned. Completely disregarding the Constitution, she is only manipulating the House to achieve her goal at the Senate trial.

So now basically, one party does not allow bringing of any kind of evidence and the other is causing an impasse on the trial. At this point, they should just organize a staring competition. So yup, US reputation, and prestige are well down the drain now. Governments around the world can only hide their faces in second-hand embarrassment.

Forget about the world, let’s sympathize with the Americans. This whole spectacle has undermined the credibility of America’s government and its judicial system, especially when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already declared that he has no intention of being an “impartial juror”. Technically that’s not wrong. The Constitution left the impeachment trial up to the Senate, knowing that would make it a political process. Besides swearing an oath of confidentiality, there are no rules or any standard of fairness. But it’s not right either. Where is your conscience though? I know politics is not a game of conscience but wow, declaring such words is a whole different ball game. Without the key witnesses and not having the right documents, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mentioned that “it’s going to appear to the American people as a sham trial”. Well, at least he realizes that.

I wonder if the American people realize that they have elected such “righteous and principled” men and women into the government. It’s a shame. America has always been at the forefront of anti-corruption but look at where they are now. In the upcoming trial itself, senators could vote on their conscience, regardless of the political fallout. But then again, they are also focused on representing their constituencies. Mitch McConnell even mentioned that the Republicans will be acting in ‘total coordination’ to get Trump acquitted. Just wow.

Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard who voted ‘Present’ hence abstaining, said she believed Mr. Trump was guilty of wrongdoing but that she could not support a “partisan process, fuelled by tribal animosities”. Her statement seems morally inspiring but unfortunately, it also highlights the erosion of value in facts. Although there is hard evidence of Trump’s misdeeds, she chooses to ignore it because she thinks the whole idea of impeachment is a political charade.

In all of this, you can definitely see how morality, law, and facts intertwine. The problem is that there is no attempt of any sense of cooperation between the two sides. Is there really no way to meet halfway?