He amazes, he seems to defy gravity and good sense, he leaves us aghast and exhausted with his hypocrisy, but it is a glorious hypocrisy, one worth watching and learning from!

These are the thoughts that come to mind as I was watching Mitch McConnell’s (MM) speech just after he had voted to acquit Trump for incitement of an insurrection.   MM  is the politician’s politician, and as such is worth listening carefully to what he was saying.  Within the same day, within hours, he defends Trump by holding his Republican caucus together to acquit, then convicts him in words of being “practically and morally responsible” for the insurrection, the damage, the deaths, and the attack on the constitutional duties of congress upholding our democracy.  He says Trump has not gotten away with it yet.   Suggesting that there is Department of Justice consequences for his actions.

MM acquittal decision was based on the admittedly questionable (by MM himself) constitutional argument that someone who no longer holds office cannot be impeached, because the penalty of removal from office is not possible.  And if it is impeachments purpose to prevent someone from holding future office, then he argues that impeachment could be applied to any non-office holding citizen.  The argument is specious and simultaneously an amazing high wire act.

What he is doing, is worth noting.  He is clearing his conscience by attacking Trump in his speech, but that is a minor point.  He is giving his party the narrowest, high wire argument to support their reasons for acquittal… while at the same time making it clear to donors, people that write big checks.. .that it is OK to come back to the Republican party.  They they will be cleaning this up and he, MM will be taking back the GOP from Trump.

Wow, what a high wire act… gives hope, gives danger, and entertains.   Frankly, I’m OK if there is no net if he falls.