Trump impeachment

SO, they finally impeached President Donald Trump for what they said were impeachable offences against the nation.

We are told that the impeachment vote was 232 “For” impeachment (including 10 Republicans) and 197 “Against” and four did not vote.

That would make President Trump twice called up for impeachment, possibly the first in US history.

It seems that the relatively softer option for “censure”, was probably considered to be “too light” by the Democrats as a punishment, for which they deemed to be impeachable offences. Censure would be more like just a “slap on the wrist for being a naughty boy”, really.

The interesting thing was that this was virtually done at the 11th hour of his term as he has only a few days left, before the January 20 inauguration.

The third option, of just leaving him to just complete his term over the next few days, was probably too dangerous an option to consider, in their opinion.

I wonder if the impeachment now invalidates any return by President Trump, to contest the presidency in the next election.

Well, VP Mike Pence now takes over the presidency for the next few days.

His work will most definitely be cut out and probably be unprecedented, given all the “goings on” in the US –– even though his “reign” will be very short.

What is perhaps important for us here in Fiji and the South Pacific, is what the Biden administration will bring to the table for us in the next four years –– consolidation, strengthening or a lessening. COVID-19 and its variants, may have just added real weight to that decision and preempted any normal policy options. We will know soon enough. EDWARD BLAKELOCK Pacific Harbour