I've strenuously tried to avoid the removal trial, and luckily I've been especially busy the last few days, but it's hard surf the internet and not catch wind of things by osmosis and man, the utter nihilism of the GOP at this point is just fascinating.
These people believe in nothing. Alan Dershowitz is up there being a total clown and everyone in the building knows it. The idea that as long as politician regards his own re-election as a public interest, any illegal shit he does in furtherance of that re-election isn't abuse of power..
He outlined the three motivations for which a President might ask for a quid pro quo from a foreign country :
The "quo" is the public's best interest (stop bombing our ally, or you won't get this money). Everyone agrees that this is a legitimate use of a President's power.
The "quo" is in the President's personal political interest (it benefits the President politically). This may be impeachable.
The "quo" is for the pure financial benefit of the President (if you don't let me build a hotel in your country, you won't get this money). This is definitely impeachable.
He said that every President thinks that their own re-election is in the public's best interest, therefore a quid pro quo to help get himself re-elected is NOT an impeachable offense because HE THINKS it's in the public's best interest.
In a serious civil society with a legitimate, self-policing legal profession, he would be disbarred for that. Of course in a just society he'd have been disbarred for his torture advocacy long ago.
This is a total farce, and everyone knows it's a farce, and nobody can do anything about it.
You just have to beat these people. That's all there is to it. Once a political ideology pulls the "nothing matters we're just here to antagonize the other side as much as possible" cord, it's time to be rid of them for good.
They cannot be allowed to rule ever again.