Notes about Trump's second impeachment

As the Poo Coup by Trump supporters has already resulted in Trump's second impeachment, a few notes are in order.

Make no mistake, Trump's conduct was impeachable. I might have deliberated longer this time than on his first impeachment, because the scandal that caused the first one wasn't limited to just the United States in its scope. But in the end, I would have impeached. In addition, Trump's crimes do not excuse recent high crimes by governors and mayors of both major parties.

However, as justified as Trump's impeachment is, it does have a risk of setting a dangerous precedent. Will peaceful protests by supporters of other parties be unfairly compared to the violent Poo Coup and be used as a basis to impeach these parties' leaders? If a real people's party emerges from the ashes of the existing parties, I wouldn't be surprised if the media paints its peaceful rallies as violent uprisings. What I've always called the right-wing media is not purely right-wing by some measures but is rather up-wing. Perhaps the Republican right has become so thoroughly discredited that the media has begun ascribing all dissenting viewpoints to it, even if doing so is laughable on its face. This is in essence a McCarthyist tactic.

The media is portraying a recall effort against failed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California as a coup, even though the recall is a peaceful and legally permissible process. You may know of Gruesome Newsom for his draconian COVID-19 response, and Republicans and Democrats alike are supporting the recall effort. Even Justine Bateman humiliated Newsom.

A year or two from now, if a new party holds peaceful rallies on courthouse lawns demanding single payer healthcare, police reform, and restoration of civil liberties, I'm sure CNN and the right-wing Gannett syndicate will call them violent right-wing Trump supporters who should be arrested.