Letters to the editor: Impeachment
Risch
It has been reported that Idaho’s junior US Senator Jim Risch dozed off during the opening arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump.
When it comes to Ukraine, Jim Risch has been “asleep” (compromised) since meeting with Paul Manafort’s unregistered foreign agents — Vin Weber, Ed Kutler and Michael McSherry — in 2013. Risch subsequently accepted $3,000 in blood-money from those lobbyists for his 2014 senate campaign. The contributions were laundered by Manafort’s European Centre for a Modern Ukraine in a straw-donor scheme funded by then-Ukraine-president Viktor Yanukovych to curry favor in the US Senate — where Risch was in line to chair the foreign-relations committee — for the Russian takeover of eastern Ukraine.
A year ago, Yanukovych was convicted of treason for inviting Russia to invade Ukraine and reverse a pro-Western revolution. His police snipers killed more than 100 of the protesters who succeeded in ousted Yanukovych from power in February 2014, and he escaped to Russia. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and is still waging an ongoing war to occupy the eastern region of Donbas that has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Ukrainians.
Risch’s understanding of Ukraine and Russia has been corrupted as badly as Trump’s.
Gary Richardson, Boise
Impeach
Mitch McConnell is set to ram the impeachment trial through with no witnesses, working into the middle of the night to shorten it, with almost no press access, all to hide the Senate coverup from Americans.
But the facts of the case are not in dispute. Donald Trump admits everything he did. His agents admit it. And all legal experts agree his actions were crimes. His entire defense is that it can’t be wrong because he did it. Donald Trump, perfect infallible Emperor of the Universe. This is the man who stated publicly that he has the absolute right to order anyone killed, anywhere in the world, anytime, for any reason. LET THAT SINK IN.
A vote to retain this man in office is a vote to end America. To install a total dictatorship, unaccountable to anyone. A vote to acquit is treason.
Call your Senators NOW. James Risch (202) 224-2752 Mike Crapo (202)224-6142. Remind them of their oath to the Constitution, not to their party, not to Mitch McConnell, not to Donald Trump. They swore to uphold America. Hold them to it.
Nancy Parker, Caldwell
Impeachment
I was shocked to hear that evidence is being withheld and that no witnesses are being called in the impeachment trial. How can Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch be jurors and have an impartial trial without hearing the evidence? Ironically, one of the charges is obstruction of Congress, a ‘high crime’, where subpoenas were blocked so that witnesses couldn’t tell their stories. It’s still happening with the Senate! My elected officials swore to be impartial—now is time to honor their vows and demand all the evidence and witnesses. That way, with all the facts on the table, they can really make an impartial decision. I hope they will not be complicit in blocking evidence. That’s beneath their office and isn’t fair to us, the people they are representing. I urge Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch to do everything in their power to be impartial in this trial. This isn’t about politics, it’s about doing what’s right. Honesty and integrity are still values we appreciate and respect.
Aaron Day, Boise
Impeachment
“There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
When it comes to voting to bring in critical witnesses, and ultimately, to convict Donald Trump, Idaho’s senators, Risch and Crapo, will most likely take the safer, political and popular route along with all other Republicans, save perhaps Mitt Romney and Susan Collins.
Our two senators most likely will have chosen that route because they believe it is the most popular and will get them re-elected to continue business as usual, including sleeping during impeachment hearings. They may have a conscience, but it may not tell them the difference between right and wrong.
Their votes may determine whether their names will be forgotten the day they get voted out, or retire, and relegated to the slag heap of Idaho senators, including the likes of Larry Craig, fearful of departing from the party line when it came to something truly important.
OR, our two senators could choose to do the brave thing and join Idaho’s heroes, like Frank Church and William Borah.
Dave Greegor, Boise
Trump
Has the World Seen Donald Trump Before?
Over 700 years ago, in the misty past of the British Isles, King Edward II came to power. Edward rapidly became a disappointment to the English people, who were struggling to keep alive the hope of Magna Charta, signed 100 years before. Although Edward II came from a system of government known as feudalism, comparisons to Donald Trump’s personality and actions are uncanny.
Both came from a high society background, their strong points relating to economic matters. Once in office, both quickly became known for erratic, unprofessional, drama-laden behavior. Both were light of learning and of intellectual facility. Both relied on unelected and un-appointed advisers to help them govern. Both left major policy matters unattended on the domestic front, and both put foreign policy into disarray. Both lacked capacity in military matters. Both were ultimately judged unfit for governance and were impeached by their respective legislatures.
The British Parliament learned from Edward. They strengthened the law allowing removal of bad government officials and counselors. They strengthened the power of parliament to approve the king’s appointments to government positions. Will America do the same?
(Source: Hume, David, The History of England, Vol. II, 147-181)
Robert Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah
Impeachment
I hope Idaho’s so-called congressional delegation is working on their excuses for ending up on the wrong side of history by trying to help cover up Trump’s lies and his repeated attempts to sell out America and her values to Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un or the latest up-and-coming despot. Their grandchildren are going to want to know why.
Joe Numbers, Boise
Trump
It’s over; Donald Trump got away with it. A foreign power who was desperately dependent on American military aid was strong-armed to help a president with no morals. He has intimidated the entire GOP.
The primary tactic used since the start of his presidency has been to divide Americans against each other. I am one of those libtard snowflakes that he loves to insult and denigrate. I stand for social justice and responsible fiscal policy and affordable healthcare and for the truth. The president’s supporters are all-in for giving him a pass on anything and everything that he does. They seem to have enthusiastically adopted his lack of manners and they gleefully embrace a constant state of anger and victimhood.
This is a very sad and infuriating turn of events for the USA. There are individuals that could tell us more about the details of these crimes and his motivations therein. But letting them testify under oath was too much for the cowardly Republican senators to allow.
Vote ‘em all out; they are neither statesman nor courageous Americans. They put party before democracy and the interests of the nation on the most critical vote they have ever taken.
John Lodal, Boise
Impeachment
I am aghast at the Senate vote to disallow documents and witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Are we now saying down to the lower courts there is no defense. If it’s allowed at the highest level, is it not reasonable to think a trickle-down effect could occur? That would be incredulous, wouldn’t it? Of course, everyone would agree with that. Yet here we are with probably the most important decision that has ever happened in this country. How are we a free America now? It’s an American travesty, and our Idaho Senators are complicit.
Mary O. Christianson, Boise
Impeachment
Shame on Mr. Bolton. He has information about the criminal acts of Donald J. Trump and he sits back and waits for his book to come out. Shame on Pompeo and his devious dealings with Ukraine. Shame on Risch that he pre-decides his Mitch McConnell decision to allow no witnesses in this sad, troubling impeachment of this despicable President. They will be held accountable in the destruction of our democracy. Let Trump get away with what he did and will continue to do. How dare he ignore supnias from congress. What he has started is his reign for king. He obviously can do whatever he wants with no oversight by the Constitutional requirements of Congress. These senators worked to impeach Clinton for lying about sex with a consenting adult but no need to impeach a lunatic who chooses to pressure a foreign country for political favors for his 2020 election. Oh my, Idaho, please come to your senses and vote out Risch and Crapo at least. Vote for anyone but Trump. This is so very serious for our kids’ and our grandkids’ future. A smokescreen is happening as Trump destroys our environment, our justice system, our Constitution.
Corinne Mitchell-Samson, Boise
Witnesses
There were witnesses at the Senate impeachment trial -- millions of them -- and their testimony will be taken in November. The shameless audacity of the party in power, its allegiance to winning the day rather than preserving everything that makes this nation truly great, must be recognized. We are the witnesses.
David Horsman, Meridian
Hypocrisy
The Government Accounting Office released a statement Jan. 16 claiming that the president violated the law when he withheld funds from Ukraine. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her media allies quickly pounced.
Trump didn’t withhold the money. He delayed it to ensure it wasn’t going to be wasted by corruption, which is the president’s responsibility. But the release of that GAO statement on the opening day of the Senate impeachment trial was no coincidence. It was more collusion by Pelosi and the Swamp.
But since we’re talking about GAO reports as evidence of impeachable crimes, the GAO determined that (the administration under) Barack Obama broke the law seven times. By the left’s logic, Obama should have been impeached seven times. Where was Pelosi’s outrage then?
More than three years of investigation found no criminal activity and certainly nothing impeachable. The Democrats fabricated two “impeachable” offences neither of which involves anything illegal. A CNN news site shows how these are both erroneous.2 Democrats hate Trump because he is standing for conservative/Jewish-Christian principles which they hate.
When Trump wins this year, the Left will really go ballistic.
Allen Marsh, Post Falls
Senators
Dear Senators Risch and Crapo. You took an oath of impartiality at the beginning of the trial. Voting “nay” to any witnesses or testimony which would allow you to make an informed vote is not impartiality. You violated your oath. In doing so you showed that you think nothing matters anymore. Not truth, defense of our constitution, our democracy, our nation, or the people of Idaho. Hopefully, the voters of Idaho will step up and show you that things do matter.
Roger Hayes, Moscow