• Editor’s note: Last summer in serving on a jury in Thurston County Superior Court, the Judge instructed me and my fellow jurors that the opening statements of the prosecutors and defense attorneys could not be considered in our decision making. We were told we could ONLY consider the evidence from witness testimony and documents. As is taught in 9th grade civics, this is standard procedure in a trial in the United States.
• Without documents and witnesses allowed in the Senate, this is not a trial of President Trump, for which he will crow of his acquittal at the State of the Union Address on February 4th.
• Polls reflect approx. 70% of Americans want the Senate to call witnesses and documents in the impeachment of the President.
• The Republican Senate is not representative of their constituents in denying evidence.
• Trump’s defense team did not refute the facts laid out by the Dems.
• President Trump considers Presidential power to be absolute,
• Will the Constitution of the United States be usurped?
• Select stories from last week underscore Autocracy may win.

Steve Klein, Yelm Community Blog host

“Senate Republicans eye quick Trump acquittal after witness vote”

By Burgess Everett, John Bresnahan, Politico. Read more

“Impeachment defense is also Trump’s idea of executive power”

“A central Senate impeachment argument will center on the Democrats’ idea of abuse of power and Trump’s view of the Constitution’s Article II on ‘absolute power,'” by Associated Press. Read more

“For the first time, a majority of Americans want the Senate to remove President Trump from office”

By Matthew Rozsa, Salon Magazine. Read more

LA Times Op-Ed: If Trump loves America, why is he so contemptuous to our cities?

By Windsor Mann, Los Angeles Times, Read more

“Trump Has Spent $115 Million On Golf Trips ― Or 287 Years Of Presidential Salary”

By S. V. Date, HuffPost. Read more

“How Trump fused his business empire to the presidency”

“As Trump kicks off his fourth year as president with an impeachment trial tied to his actions involving Ukraine, critics say the president has yet to face accountability for blatant conflicts of interest tied to his private businesses,” by Anita Kumar, Politico. Read more

“DC sues Trump inaugural committee, alleging abuse of funds”

“The District of Columbia is suing President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee and two companies that control the Trump International Hotel in the nation’s capital,” by Colleen Long and Michael Balsamo, Associated Press. Read more

“Veterans of Foreign Wars demands apology from Trump for downplaying brain injuries from Iranian attack”

By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN. Read more

“Trump’s Presidency Brings Us Closer to Midnight on the Doomsday Clock”

By Harvey Wasserman, Truthout, Read more