Time to face the ultimately cynical reason why the Republicans acquitted Trump...

[MrScorpio]

It was not for any reason that's beneficial for the republic, which would be remarkable for "Republicans." It wasn't even as a favor to Trump himself, as the ill feelings between Trump and Congressional Republicans are definitely mutual at this point.

It all came down to an act of self-service. Had the GOP Senators convicted Trump for the crimes that they all knew he committed, his cult would return the favor is spades.

By letting him slide, they felt that they could avoid the wrath of 75 million triggered white cultists at the polls for the duration.

The January 6 insurrection is still fresh in everybody's mind. Imagine that same spirit of violence against politicians spread around the country in subsequent electoral districts. Trump, in his unyielding effort to get back at those who would have voted to convict him in overwhelmingly Republican regions of Dumbfuckistan, all to make the Republicans who "betrayed" him pay.

The threat was implicit.

So, instead of doing the right thing, by holding Trump accountable and sending a clear message to any subsequent despot that preserving and defending American democracy is paramount, they cut him loose. It was the legislative equivalent of an amicable divorce. Trump keeps his bloodthirsty children and the Republicans keep the House and the Senate.

So, despite the outcome that pretty much everyone knew was going to happen, as there was never going to be 17 Republicans who would vote against Trump, there are two good things to look forward to here:

One, the Republicans stipulated that, as an ex-president, Trump could be criminally prosecuted and probably should. It looks like things are going that way. He's going to be working hard from here on out to keep himself out of jail, without any help from the greater Republican establishment. These state prosecutors are all smelling his blood in the water.

And two, the Republicans are going to come out of this looking weak and vulnerable. Acquitting Trump was an act of cowardice and weakness. There will be an entire plethora of Republican Senate seats up for grabs in the next midterms... I really can't think of a good reason why Democrats can't help themselves to some of them. If we can take places like Arizona and Georgia, why not other places as well?

It's time for Democrats to internalize Carpe Diem. We can do that, all it takes is the will to do so.