In the wake of President Trump's self-incriminating memo which showed him soliciting a foreign government to interfere in our election process, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi opened a formal impeachment inquiry which many suspect will lead to the President facing trial in the Senate.
While it's always been a forgone conclusion that Senate Republicans would fail to convict President Trump regardless of what the House uncovers, now that a vote for impeachment is actually on the table, cracks in the reliably-partisan facade of the GOP have started to show.
Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who decided not to seek office in 2018 after it became clear he would lose the Republican primary to a more pro-Trump politician, recently published an op-ed in The Washington Post urging his fellow Congressmen to refrain from supporting the President.
"But I already had seen too much. Traveling overseas, I witnessed the damage being done to our standing in the world as a result of President Trump's fondness for authoritarians and his scorn for allies. His hostility toward security alliances and trade agreements had placed our long-term security and our economy at risk."
"His adoption of the tyrant's phrase 'enemy of the people' put journalists in even greater peril, all over the world. His resentment toward refugees and profane description of certain countries were destroying generations of goodwill."
Now, it's clearer to Flake than ever that something needs to be done.
"We have learned from a whistleblower that the president has abused the power of his office to pressure a foreign government to go after a political opponent. A rough transcript of the telephone call has removed all ambiguity about the president's intent."
"In light of these revelations, the House of Representatives has launched an impeachment inquiry and will likely be forwarding to the Senate at least one article of impeachment."
Even if the Senate fails to convict the President, Flake believes this should be Donald Trump's last term of office.
"If the House decides against filing articles of impeachment, or the Senate fails to convict, Senate Republicans will have to decide whether, given what we now know about the president's actions and behavior, to support his reelection. Obviously, the answer is no."
Flake left congressional Republicans with an ominous goodbye.
"Our country will have more presidents. But principles, well, we get just one crack at those. For those who want to put America first, it is critically important at this moment in the life of our country that we all, here and now, do just that."
"Trust me when I say you can go elsewhere for a job. But you cannot go elsewhere for a soul."
Some people online thought Flake's message of human decency spoke to the Republican party people wished would return.
Others couldn't help but notice how Flake chose to speak out until he was safe in a job with absolutely no impact on or from Trump.
In fact, as valid as Flake's message may have been, it ultimately seemed to fall on deaf ears between the conservatives who didn't like his bad-mouthing the President and liberals who still haven't forgiven him for voting in lockstep with Trump despite repeated "moral reservations."
Some Twitter users were surprised to be hearing from Flake at all.
Whether or not Flake was the right man to deliver this message, his words will surely ring true for many Senate Republicans.
How will history remember those who chose to ignore Trump's crimes for their own political gain?
The book RIP GOP: How the New America Is Dooming the Republicans is available here.
*****
Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.
@GregAbbott_TX/X
