Mitt Romney (R-Utah) will vote to convict President Trump for abuse of power and acquit him for obstruction of Congress in the Senate impeachment trial.
Axios reported that Romney appeared choked up on the Senate floor as he announced his vote. The decision is sure to infuriate Trump, who has railed against Romney several times in the past over the senator’s criticisms of his conduct. Even if Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) vote to acquit Trump, he will not be able to tout a bipartisan acquittal without the context that there was a bipartisan call to remove him from office.
This is a big and personal deal for me.
I campaigned strenuously against Romney despite admiration for his personal life and role as a true ocnservative while srving as governor of Massachusetts. I even campaigned as a Republican, working for Rick Santorum because I saw Romney as a hypocrite for accepting the support of the racist and evangelical GOP.
To me, Romney has been an enigma, a man who I suspect has deep loyalty to America and a religion, that whatever its faults, does a lot to support its members in ways I wish all of America would adopt.
- Romney also acknowledged the potential political backlash from his decision, stating: “Does anyone seriously believe that I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before God demanded it of me?”
Could Romney decide to run for President in 2020? I do not think he would run to win but he could run on a “True Reform” ticket as way to reform the GOP. The fact is that Trump is not left or right anymore than Duterte or Netanyahu are “right” in theor countries. Trump is a demagogue. Many major figures would likely side with Mitt .. Bill Krysal, GW Bush, Kasich .. but even more important the Kock family and the bankers. I suspect 20% of voters would vote for a person labeled as a traditional R. Romney would push the debt, foreign affairs, NATO, a REAL plan of Israel, disgust for MBS …but mostly the issues of integrity and morality.
Romney is gambling. First step to Romney 2024! He also has the white horse ready to ride in on for 2020.
Romney isn’t going anywhere. He’s Utah’s senator for life. Don’t underestimate the Mormons. They may disagree with Romney on some things, but they respect him as a man of principle. They have more integrity than the evangelicals.