Protesters call for Donald Trump’s impeachment and removal

After two days of Donald Trump‘s second impeachment trial (Tuesday was the argument over whether the trial is constitutional, and Wednesday was the first day of substantive arguments), we have a very sharp contrast between the parties.

The Democratic House Impeachment Managers who are presenting the case against Trump, especially Reps. Jamie Raskin and Joe Neguse, effectively used video and slides to show that, after a months-long campaign of lies about a “stolen election,” Donald Trump incited his militant supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, at the very moment the Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden‘s Electoral College victory, and that these terrorists immediately followed Trump’s orders and attacked. Trump then pathetically tried to cover up his incitement with a statement and a tweet hours after the fact, telling the terrorists to go home in peace, but not until after telling them, “we love you. You’re very special.”

Thanks to Republicans, stimulus checks are cut in half and come very late

At long last, Congress is has passed a $900 billion follow-up COVID relief bill. The last such legislation, the CARES Act, was passed and signed into law in March, and totaled $2.2 trillion. The CARES Act featured, among other things, “stimulus” payments to many individuals of up to $1200, loans to “small” businesses (with up to 500 employees), and additional unemployment benefits for three months. By mid-May, House Democrats had already passed a follow-up bill, the HEROES Act, often referred to as a “second stimulus,” to provide more assistance as the initial CARES Act relief was running out for almost everyone. However, as with most House legislation, the HEROES Act has languished on Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell‘s desk all this time.

Finally and very late, McConnell and Republican Senators have decided to move forward with new COVID relief legislation. The agreement between Democrats and Republicans provides for the following:

–direct “stimulus” payment checks of up to $600 per adult and child

–further loans to small businesses

–$300 per week in extra unemployment benefits

–mere one-month extension on eviction moratorium

–funding for COVID vaccine distribution, testing contact tracing

–expanded tax deductibility for business meals, a/k/a the “Three Martini Lunch” provision, sought by Donald Trump and Republicans

What did not make it into the legislation were some things sought by Republicans, such as widespread corporate immunity from legal liability, and some things sought by Democrats, such as a larger ($1200) direct stimulus payment, and aid to state and local governments to offset things like lost tax revenues due to decreased tourism. But note the difference in which party sought what.