I'm Not One to Offer Mitch McConnell Political Advice, but He Should Make Sure Trump Is Convicted

By Charles Pierce, Esquire

25 January 21

Right now, the former president* has the power to monkey-wrench Republican politics from hell to breakfast.

f the new Democratic congressional majorities want to make impeaching the former president* an annual event at this time of year, like Mardi Gras or the Super Bowl, I'm certainly down with that. It's not like there aren't enough fresh charges laying around to carry the thing every year for the next few decades. (And what happens to our annual party if that worthy happens to die in the interim? Cadaver Synod, baby!) It appears that the 2021 festival of parliamentary revelry kicks off on Monday. From NBC News:

The transmission will trigger preparations for a trial that could start as early as next week, but Senate leaders indicated it may be delayed to allow Trump to organize his defense. "Make no mistake: A trial will be held in the United States Senate, and there will be a vote whether to convict the president," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. "Senators will have to decide if they believe Donald John Trump incited the insurrection against the United States."

Far be it from me to offer political advice to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, but he's out of his mind if he doesn't whip the 17 Republican votes needed for conviction and then vote himself for the inevitable resolution banning the former president* from ever holding political office again. Right now, the former president* has the power to monkey-wrench Republican politics from hell to breakfast. To use only one obvious example, he can freeze the 2024 presidential primaries until the nomination becomes worthless to whoever finally wins it. And, of course, that's assuming that he doesn't jump in himself. Just by going along with Schumer and impeachment, McConnell could rid his party of 275 pounds (est.) of dead weight.

McConnell's current attitude seems to indicate that he's at least contemplating cutting the former president* loose. Instead of the ferocious partisan rhetoric he mustered up a year ago, McConnell this time has been sticking to pallid banalities about fairness. And his announcement that he's undecided on the merits of the charges already has touched off a volcanic eruption at Mar-a-Lago. This is a tremendous—and tremendously easy—opportunity for McConnell to pretend to be a patriot. And then we can talk about censuring Cruz and Hawley.