Today, the United States Senate will begin the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Former President of the United States, in his role in inciting an insurrection against the United States of America. 

If you've read this blog before, you'll know that I've been adamant on how Donald Trump, as President of the United States, meticulously set the board to oppose any election that he did not win. He started his attack on our democratic process last summer and did not let up even as he departed office. The insurrection at Congress was not a spontaneous event, it was the result of, at least, six months of incitement from the President of the United States and his surrogates. Trump encouraged the actions and praised the actors as they ravaged Capitol Hill terrorizing legislators and staffers.

They shouted "hang Mike Pence" while they searched the halls for Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They went as far to erect a gallows outside of the United States Congress. We can never forget what happened on that day but, that is what some in the Republican party would like us to do.

This trial will serve as the last chance Republicans have to endorse normal, American representative democracy. In 20 months time, the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will come up for re-election and, it seems as if they only care about winning the next election in 2022. Their goals are obviously to return to the halcyon days of the Obama presidency and act as America's "Official Opposition".

Here in the UK, the Official Opposition is a term that bestowed upon the largest opposition party in the House of Commons. Their only job is to disagree with the current Government as they await either an election or, a great scandal, to vote the current Government out of office. The trade-off is that they are expected to take over governing at a moment's notice. They have no legislative authority and they cannot pass legislation. Their only job is to scream at the Government while the governing party governs. This means the Official Opposition, while important are impotent. They can create news headlines but they cannot campaign on policy accomplishments during elections. I have always praised the US system because every legislator has the capacity to "do something" they can table bills and argue for the passage of their legislative agenda. I grew up thinking that we sent legislators to Washington to legislate; not yell. I care more about what you have done rather than what you have said which is why it is unfortunate that the Republican party has decided to become the town crier rather than a town leader.

Over the past forty years, the Republican party has plummeted into the well of the politics of yelling, however, unlike the Official Opposition of the House of Commons, they have the power to severely obstruct the legislative progress. Americans have been waiting nearly a year for additional covid relief checks but, the Republican party continues to stand against the help that people desperately need. Even now, the "moderates" still propose reducing direct payments to Americans while, just a few months ago, supporting tax exemptions on alcohol-fuelled lunches. They are focussed solely on winning power, which makes sense as a political party but, their past attempts at governance show that they only care about winning. That combination leaves many left behind. Which brings us to today.

The Republicans in the Senate are the last line of defense for their party. They can vote to convict Trump for inciting the attack on the Capitol or, they can protect his sullied name and tattered reputation in hopes of a 2022 victory. Should they vote to support that failed man, we should be allowed to ask one simple question. Why does the Republican Party exist?

What has transpired in American politics over the past few decades is nothing short of a disaster. Each subsequent Republican president has plunged this country into wars that we should not be in, financial crises, economic turmoil and now staggeringly high death tolls from the current healthcare crisis. In the same time, the richer have not just gotten richer, they have risen to Scrooge McDuck levels of wealth while the poor struggle to pay for their healthcare bills.

New data shows that the Republican party is already losing registered voters in enough swing states to lose them a presidential election but, is that message reaching the legislators on the Hill?

If Senate Republicans choose to convict Donald Trump, they will lose voters but, they may be able to claw back what little dignity they have left. The politics they appeal to are the politics of authoritarianism. This is likely their last chance to support our democracy.

The ball is firmly in their court. Our democracy has been under attack for a long time and, though they are complicit, I hope they make the right decision but, I fear they won't. At least Trump is out and, with hope, his disciples will be prevented from coming to power because, and I mean this, we may not survive another Republican presidency.