Sweet time
THE House majority bloc is not in a hurry to act on the impeachment resolution because it’s a done deal. Signed and sealed, so to speak. And it will be delivered to the Senate at the date of the House majority’s choosing.
As then-U.S. Congressman Gerald Ford once said, “An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.” At this moment, 15 House members who do not support the governor want him removed from office.
For their part, the governor’s supporters could say that his political opponents should allow voters — the ultimate “judges” — to decide. Election Day is less than a year away anyway.
True. But that’s not how politics works. Yes, voters will have the final say in November 2022, but meanwhile the governor’s opponents will try to inflict as much political damage they can on his re-election efforts. They’re making the most of an opportunity.
In any case, the AG’s office and/or the U.S. Attorney’s Office are taking forever to act on the allegations of the governor’s political opponents. So impeaching him is easier. That it will occur in an election year is the proverbial cherry on the political cake.
No days off
SO now, to mix our metaphors, we head to the main event venue, which is the nine-seat Senate. There, six votes are needed to convict the governor. The pro-administration majority bloc has seven members. At least five of them may be considered “reliable” supporters of the governor. One of them is his running-mate. But then again, one of the House impeachment committee members is the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate. Potato potahto and all that.
By now, the Senate should be drafting the rules and procedures for the upcoming trial, and setting a tentative time line. The trial should not take more than a month — or two weeks.
The proceedings could be instructive. It is likely that, for the first time, many of us would hear a spirited and robust legal defense — from, say, attorney David G. Banes — that addresses the charges against the governor involving his first class travels, utility bills, reimbursement claims, etc.
Like most members of the public, we are looking forward to an orderly and lawful political process involving politicians practicing politics.
Whatever the result, moreover, there is still an election set for Nov. 8, 2022. And then, most likely, a gubernatorial runoff. Unlike the world’s oldest profession, there seems to be no rest for the professionals of the second oldest.
You can do it lawmakers
WHAT the “anti-Torres” House members have clearly shown is that lawmakers are perfectly capable of collecting information, soliciting comments, and deliberating over a long period of time before making a decision on a major issue.
We are hoping that the same amount of zeal lawmakers have displayed in getting to the bottom of a bottle of a $189 Johnnie Walker Blue Label could also be exhibited when they are dealing with legislation that affects the Commonwealth economy, the business community, their employees or other taxpayers.
