For Blue leaning participants:
Do you believe that the Trump Impeachment and Trial is a worthwhile endeavor (and why or why not)? What impacts do you think this might have on unifying the two sides?
For Red leaning participants:
Do you believe that former President Trump is guilty of inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection?
Please explain you answer
This was originally published in the Blog section...and then moved here for better visibility and discussion...so adding that content here
Sir Truth 5 days ago Anthony, I really like your point about how we each interpret words, and how our polarization can color how we each see the same event. Is there a way we can de-polarize enough to where we can take words the same way or do we have to solve that divide some other way?
Anthony RobinsonFeb 17 I'll own that I am the author of the blue (sort of periwinkle on my screen) comment that Cory tabulated below. As may be apparent I'm pretty blue on matters of Trump and purple on more traditional red-blue issues. My comment implies that I do think that Trump is guilty of inciting the Capitol insurrection, And so the battle is joined ... in order to find reconciliation. Where I suspect this conversation is headed is into how much we depend upon perception and interpretation of words to understand another's thoughts and intentions, and how difficult it gets in a polarized landscape to get on the same page in our perception of things. But before any more words from me, I'd like to hear other folks' thoughts. 3 Likes Reply
Sir TruthFeb 15
Do you believe that the Trump Impeachment and Trial is a worthwhile endeavor (and why or why not)? What impacts do you think this might have on unifying the two sides? Blue Answer: It would have been worthwhile if a majority of the Repub Senators who supported the Electoral College's decision had been on board with the plan. Since this was not the case, I think it is a poor plan on the part of the Dems who are blustering forward in their typical manner, being insensitive to the Repub point of view and increasing division. The case will just get mired in accusations and obscure constitutional questions, and they won't win their conviction. It would have been smart to build an alliance based on Mitch McConnell's decisive denouncement of Trump's role in the insurrection. While I'm not a huge fan of Mitch, he showed political courage there. The Dem Senators could have worked out with the Repubs another way to address the matter like Censorship and/or prosecution. Instead they have driven potential Repub allies into a corner at a time when solidarity is needed to oppose the menace to our democracy which has reared its head.
Do you believe that former President Trump is guilty of inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection? Red Answer: No, but I believe Trump is guilty of very poor judgement. While I do not believe that he is directly responsible for the Jan 6 riot, there are things he could have done to lower the temperature while still rallying for his cause. I also think “insurrection” is not the right word for what happened, as it gives too much credit to what I saw as essentially an angry, unruly, unorganized crowd of various rabble-rousers from multiple groups. So while I do not agree that Trump is responsible for what transpired, and it does not qualify for impeachment, I do not condone the way Trump has conducted himself regarding the whole election fraud issue. The good news is that I think there is a chance to find common ground. Hopefully we can all condemn the violence that is going on, period, regardless of who is behind it. As well as condemn the rhetoric on both sides that is leading to increased polarization and violence. I think there are many politicians, on both sides, as well as media figures, that have not done enough to tamp down the violent mobs that are causing havoc in many places in the country. Maybe this is a chance now for everyone to agree that it needs to stop. Maybe we can hold ALL politicians, celebrities, and media folks more accountable (even if that is mainly just letting them know it is not okay to stoke the flames). Serious dialogue is okay, peaceful protests are okay, but destroying property and assaulting people (including police) is not okay.