The current kerfuffle in Washington is not good for the country. I can remember the impeachment proceedings started against Nixon and the impeachment of Clinton. Both polarized our country and we certainly will not need to be further polarized. I do agree with the statement that no one is above the law, but impeachment is a political thing and not about a law or laws that has been broken. The applicable part of the Constitution simply says “high crimes and misdemeanors.” It doesn’t specify what those might be. It is like the old expression about pornography – “I know it when I see it.”
What have we got so far? We first got an accusation about a telephone call. The White House then released a transcript of the call produced by people within the White House with parts left out as indicated by the use of ellipses. Because of who compiled the transcript of the phone call and the use of ellipses, it fits into the category of hearsay evidence. Then we got the release of the whistleblower’s complaint in full. The whistleblower states that they did not have direct knowledge of the phone call but is concerned by what others said about it. It is also hearsay evidence. Neither of those pieces of evidence would be admitted into a court of law because they are both hearsay evidence. People are jumping to all sorts of conclusions and attacking or defending, but at this point, we don’t know enough to form a solid conclusion. The one thing that politicians of all stripes don’t want us to do is to be calm and not make a decision until we know enough to make a decision.
What might we need to be able to form a solid conclusion? It would be a full release of the transcript of the phone call. I’m not sure if that’s possible because it’s been placed in a highly secure server. We might hear from the whistleblower, but I think all of us would rather hear from one of the people the whistleblower quoted in their complaint. I don’t think that’s likely because it’s clear that the president is very vindictive from all he’s done so far. That fact alone would scare off most people.
I am afraid all this is likely to go on until we get some solid facts and not just hearsay evidence. As I have just pointed out, it seems unlikely that will happen. I am not suggesting we totally ignore the kerfuffle Washington. However, we need to keep an eye on it as we go about the things that are important to us such as family, work, and so on.
