My fellow Republicans, convicting Trump is necessary to save America--Adam Kinzinger

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

Adam Kinzinger, a Republican, represents Illinois’s 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Winston Churchill famously said, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” All Americans, but especially my fellow Republicans, should remember this wisdom during the Senate’s trial of former president Donald Trump.

I say this as a lifelong Republican who voted to impeach Trump last month. Virtually all my colleagues on the right side of the aisle took the opposite path. Most felt it was a waste of time — political theater that distracted from bigger issues. The overwhelming majority of Senate Republicans appear to feel the same way about conviction.

But this isn’t a waste of time. It’s a matter of accountability. If the GOP doesn’t take a stand, the chaos of the past few months, and the past four years, could quickly return. The future of our party and our country depends on confronting what happened — so it doesn’t happen again.

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. It's so f*cking depressing that a voice like his is so rare from the Right

Almost a third of our nation would accept the Fourth Reich if it came wrapped up in an American Flag

[Eyeball_Kid]

4. Kinzinger is right. He did, however, risk a misquote.

That quote about repeating mistakes through ignorance is more often attributed to philosopher George Santayana. But there were others in the past who are quoted as saying something quite similar. If Churchill said it, he borrowed it from someone else.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. A conviction is also necessary for Republicans to save their party and their individual souls.

[BComplex]

3. An anonymous vote is the key to national security, and potentially saving lives.

Trump's minions really do stalk and aim to kill those who go against trump. People's lives are in danger, and their families lives are in danger, if they vote to convict. That has to stop.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. Such threats are why we need competence in DoJ / FBI, rather than political toadies. (See Barr).

[Evolve Dammit]

5. A rare Republican, that is worthy of respect. So few are today. n/t

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. For some of them not all of them the consequences of confronting what happened

in all that went down is total exposure. The enablers were and are with Trump every step of the way. Confronting it can go two ways-the easy way or the hard way. The hard way is forced leaving no room for denial.

[raising2moredems]

8. While he is speaking up, too little too late

Took him almost 4 years to speak up. Full disclosure - I live in his district but have zero use for him. He's nothing but a younger version of the puke he ran against in the "tea party" year. IMHO, time for IL to gerrymander the living hell out of the state (SCOTUS approved). This district would vote for Hitler or Bin Laden as long as an "r" behind the name.
Little Adam has higher aspirations - most likely for Duckworth's senate seat. We'll be seeing him a la the SNL skit "quien es mas macho?".

[ProfessorGAC]

10. I Live In The District Too

You are wrong about waiting 4 years.
His vote against impeachment was on procedural grounds (not that I agreed with it) & he made public statements that his vote should not be construed as an endorsement of T---p's actions. That's why the RNC primaries him again.
He's been publicly critical of the administration early 2018.
When he broke from the Free-dumb caucus party line in 2013, they spent $1.5 million to primary him. He crushed his opponent.
Lastly, this district is purple, and has been for decades. Kinzinger replaced a democrat. (Deb Halvorson). This district has no history of voting for anyone with an "R" after their name. In fact, he won the GE by less than he won the primary. And, Dani was a relative unknown on the D side.
I agree he has eyes on a bigger prize and I don't like his randian view of economics.
But, I've met him & he's no maniac on the crazy train.
And while I disagree on his policy points, I'd rather have an R with principles than morons with no clue like Gaetz, Jordan, or MqQarthy, if I can't have a dem rep.

[murielm99]

11. I have met him, too.

I attended his so-called town hall at Rock Valley College. The crowd was mixed. Instead of answering the prescreened questions, he set up straw men and talked about whatever he pleased. He manspread. At one point, he refused to answer a question, saying he could not be expected to remember every vote he ever made. His disrespect for the crowd was overwhelming.

The only reason he had a town hall at all was due to overwhelming negative publicity. Normally, he only speaks at events like VFW or Chamber of Commerce meetings, places where he has a friendly audience.

I can't agree with you that he has principles. He has ambition, and that is all.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. They can save the country, the party, and their careers

or they can vote with Trump. I daresay most Republicans do not understand the choices involved because they are so convinced of their own righteousness and are drunk on power. No matter. Have at it, guys.