So the fix was in to begin with

[DSandra]

Mitch intentionally didn’t allow the impeachment trial to start until after Trump’s term was over so that he can use this tepid excuse to give Trump essentially a “get out of jail free” card. How despicable and cowardly, and Mitch cements himself as the worst senator in decades and the gravedigger of American democracy.

[Skittles]

1. well NO SHIT

is anyone really surprised by this outcome? It would be the same even if 100's had died - IT IS PARTY OVER COUNTRY, THEY NEED TO KEEP THE MONEY ROLLING

[sarisataka]

3. The only thing that should surprise anyone

Is that 7 Republicans voted guilty, one more than voted to actually have the trial.

[Skittles]

5. they'll showcase their names in the news

they SHOULD be showcasing the traitorous bastards still covering for that traitorous piece of SHIT

[myohmy2]

8. "IT IS PARTY OVER COUNTRY,"

...something we need to keep in mind...

[Hortensis]

2. Nonsense to "gravedigger." Democracy is winning. I confess

I wasn't sure it hadn't already been taken over until this last election, but democracy prevailed on all fronts.

Points for becoming aware of the danger, though. So important!

[DSandra]

4. For now, but this is essentially like Hitler getting out of prison and plotting his next move toward

Becoming dictator.

I’ve been around long enough to know that many Democrats have long suffered with overconfidence, including “no one would ever vote for Trump.”

[dhill926]

6. well, Hitler was young...

and the Weimar Republic was a shitting mess...not to mention the entire nation was humiliated at the end of WW1. I think we'll be fine. There will be bluster and bullshit aplenty, but imho Trump is done...

[DSandra]

7. That's wishful thinking, and dangerous

It may give you solace now, but even I was hoping that Trump was only using the “election was stolen” thing as a con job to get millions of $$$, and not actually trying to attempt a coup, and look what happened...

[Hortensis]

9. There's all the difference in the world between declaring democracy

in its grave and girding up for the continuing battle.

I disagree entirely with the "overconfidence" notion. I don't know what decades your life has covered, but during most of my adulthood we've been fighting for survival of ourselves and our nation -- ever since the nation became/was insidiously moved to the right, already under way by the 1980 election.

Our fault, if it is a fault, is that, being relatively decent and honest ourselves, we've failed to foresee just how depraved so many of our neighbors could become. It's natural that people with moral centers assume others also have limits to how low they can sink.

It's also natural that people fitted to democracy, those who don't long to be freed from the burdens of citizenship, are repelled by strongman authoritarian leaders and don't understand those eager to offer unconditional loyalty in return for an invincible mob to join.

[BannonsLiver]

10. It wouldn't matter when it happened

There was never any chance there would be 67 votes.

[gibraltar72]

11. DUH.

[Blue Owl]

12. I hope Mitch swims out to sea into some shark-infested waters