After watching the first day of impeachment, only one person stood out, that was Chief Justice John Roberts. Every other player in this farce should be ashamed of themselves, this includes all the appointed House Managers, all the President’s defense counsel, Senators McConnell and Schumer and the “press”.
In the history of this country there have been 19 previously successful impeachments by the House; 15 judges, 1 U.S. Senator, 1 Cabinet Secretary and 2 Presidents. In all these previous affairs it seems there was a level of decorum that was followed; somber, serious, humorless. But with the current impeachment all of those are out the window. There is not even the thinnest veneer or façade of any of those adjectives.
The Japanese have a concept called the honne, 本音, and tatemae, 建前. The honne is what you truly feel, the tatemae is what you show for all to see. There is, or should be, a divide between these two. Unfortunately for us, all we saw in the Senate was pure honne. The actors in this farce need to honor the tatemae required for this historic event they are participants of.
The farce actually began with Speaker of the House Pelosi holding a signing ceremony to transmit the Articles of Impeachment and passing out specially monogramed souvenir pens. I do not recall a single time in which any Speaker of the House actually conducted a public signing ceremony, and on top of that passed out dozens of souvenir pens. This was a side show with prizes, not a somber or serious moment as Speaker Pelosi has claimed it to be. All honne, no tatemae.
Move to Day 1 of the “trial” and more shenanigans by nearly every person that spoke at the podium in the Senate. It was disgusting. It looked more like the Jerry Springer Show live from the Senate floor. I was half expecting to hear the phrase “baby daddy” come out of someone’s mouth in their nonsensical rantings and ravings. Every single person at the trial seemed to be looking for that Johnnie Cochran “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” legacy. Again, all honne, no totemae.
Then you have the gaggle of talking heads as well that laughably call themselves “reporters” and “news people”. You do not even have to wonder which side they are going to fall on. A group of people given considerable immunity from government scrutiny and civil libel/slander prosecution are rallying around a side subjectively and selectively reporting events that support their particular points of view. DISGUSTING. Do not call yourself a “reporter” or a “news person” if you rally for a side, other than the side of facts.
There was nothing serious or somber about what went on yesterday. One can only hope that today is a different day, especially given the admonishment by Chief Justice Roberts. The House Managers and the President’s defense counsel need to remember they are not just acting for their base, they are on a global stage. Friends overseas have been asking me about what was going on, and the best I can say, in a kindly fashion, is political theater.