Re:”Nearly all GOP senators vote against impeachment trial” (Jan. 27, Page A2):

A cynic and pessimist would read this Associated Press article, regarding the Senate procedural vote of Jan. 26, and think that the Republican senators’ objection to impeachment as being unconstitutional demonstrate continued spineless behavior and fear of retaliation from a twice-impeached former president and his misguided supporters.

The same cynic might also think that those supporters have no knowledge of the contents of the U.S. Constitution other than its Second Amendment. Rather than being a “well regulated militia” and even though they like to dress up in military garb so they can play war, they are biased fanatics and must have skipped school to stay home to clean their guns on those days when the meaning of the Constitution was taught.

A cynic and pessimist could infer that those Republican senators are simply kicking the proverbial can down the road to avoid having to take a stand.

An optimist, however, might think that when the trial begins and the Republican senators hear the evidence, which, in this instance, does exist and can be produced, they will recognize their duty under the Constitution to convict said former and seditious president and then vote by simple majority to prohibit him from ever holding elected office again.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, cynicism and pessimism will be the only winners in this contest.

Warner Price
Harpswell