Republicans need a Wizard - Where is Oz?

 The Republican Party's shame - Cowardice! 

#TrumpCult Opinion echo published in the Iowa City Press-Citizen

Where is the Republican Wizard!

A week after the infamous and deadly U.S. Capitol takeover on Jan. 6, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump for inciting insurrection.

In fact, the impeachment proceeding advanced to a Senate trial on February 9th, on Tuesday and, eventually, will proceed to a vote to convict; but (cowardly) Senate Republicans have tried to muddy the issue of Trump's accountability. 

By questioning the constitutionality i.e., convicting a past president,  of the incendiary process, most Senate Republicans, including Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst, took action to (cowardly) shift the focus away from Trump and the attack on the Capitol. 

The vote to convict Trump will settle the matter. To protect democracy and our Constitution, I pray that Grassley and Ernst vote yes to the charge of inciting insurrection. Trump’s behind-the-scenes efforts to overturn the Electoral College balloting and his well-publicized words and deeds on Jan. 6, are clear evidence for conviction. And barring Trump from holding any federal office in the future is also necessary. I hope Grassley and Ernst and other Republicans find the will to abandon Trump and stand up to the insidious Trump cult within the Republican Party; if not, the stain of shame will likely define their Congressional legacies. This country needs and deserves healthy political parties. Iowans expect no less.

— Robert Dietrich, Iowa City