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Florida Today Published 4:00 a.m. ET Feb. 5, 2020

'I've never felt as hopeless' about our government

Marco Rubio said, "Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a president from office."

How is it that a president's actions can meet a standard of impeachment, yet it still is in our country's best interest that he remains in office? The partisan nature of this impeachment has nothing to do with the actions taken by the House and everything to do with the Republican party's mishandling of the situation.

I'm 27, and I have never felt as hopeless about our government and the future of our democracy. I'm incredibly disappointed that the Senate has voluntarily given up the ability to conduct a fair and impartial trial based on evidence and facts. The people of Florida and America deserve the truth. We deserve a competent, ethical president and a functioning system of checks and balances, yet the last three years have proven that we have neither.

Donald Trump lost the popular vote by 3million, the Senate is set up in a way that allows Republicans to hold the majority despite receiving fewer votes, and the judicial system has been flooded with Trump appointees who will affect our country for decades. All of this is in spite of the will of the majority of the country. Our democracy has failed us, and Marco Rubio has failed his constituents.

Alyssa Shelton, Titusville

Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during closing arguments in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump on Monday.(Photo: AP)

The 'impeachment farce'draws to a close

Finally, the witch huStories nt is almost over.

Yes, boys and girls the impeachment farce is almost over. Remember, this farce began beforeTrump was even sworn into office. By the time Trump took office "The Swamp" had already started an investigation. The two-plus-year Mueller investigation was a big nothing burger but it did expose the corruption in our intelligence agencies. The investigation continues but it won't be good for coup leaders.

After that failure, Rep. Schiff conducted super-secret hearings with numerous witnesses that offered opinions but no proof. With that "evidence,"Schiff claimed he had conclusive proof that Trump should be impeached. When the two articles of impeachment were sent to the Senate, the House managerstook 24 hours to explain them when it could have been summed up in five minutes. But they tortured the public with repetitious blather.

The impeachment committee continued sputtering along and used a phone call between Trump and the newly elected Ukraine president regarding U.S.aid and known corruption in Ukraine. Since then the public has seen a video of Vice President Biden demanding that a Ukrainian fraud prosecutor be fired before he would give Ukraine $5 billion. Hmm.

With a sinking ship, Schiff got a tip that an upcoming book would expose Trump and salvage his ill-attempted coup and he demanded more witnesses. But what happened to that "conclusive proof,"hundreds of pages of sworn testimony from the 17 witnesses he already had interrogated?

Let voters decide in November.

Jack Ward, Melbourne

Trial reflects country's 'sad state of affairs'

The recent dog and pony show also known as the impeachment trial accurately reflects the sad state of affairs in which our country has found itself. Acquittal of Trump was a foregone conclusion before the House began its investigation. Party line voting is now how things are done. It is why Senate Leader McConnell wouldn't even allow Obama to nominate someone for the Supreme Court. The Senate was going to say no, even if King Solomon was the nominee.

Here is where things get really bad and why our country is the most divided since the Civil War. Trump blocked testimony, not unlike what dictators do. The GOP didn't want to hear more testimony fearing the wrath of Trump (also typical of dictatorships). They didn't want to hear anything that might cause them to rethink their decisions. It was as if the GOP and their constituents put their hands over their ears and yelled "Waahhh!" I can assure you that if the tables were turned, the GOP would be going ballistic.

The Senate does not accurately reflect what the majority of Americans want. The low-populated state of Wyoming has the same power as our most highly populated states. GOP senators represent millions and millions fewer people than their Democrat counterparts, yet they are in control. We are not a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people but rather a nation of the states, by the states, and for the states. We may just perish.

Les Forster, Melbourne

Choosing'Party of Trump' over moralintegrity

Since when is making a moral judgment partisan? And since when is it better for our country to keep a corrupt president in office than to restore our constitutional democracy?

Both of our Florida senators have chosen to side with the Party of Trump over moral integrity. They agree that Trump has attempted to harm our foreign policy by bribing a foreign government for personal gain, and that he has obstructed Congress' investigation. And yet they want to retain a president who promoted violence even before his election, lied to the people over 15,000 times, verbally approves the alt-right's racist and anti-Semitic actions, undermines our own government agencies and public education, tears apart families seeking asylum and reverses environmental protections.

Our opposition to this president is not partisan. It is true that we can vote him out of office, but if our senators refuse to put a stop to his destructive behavior through impeachment, they are setting a precedent for allowing future presidents to follow suit. Sens.Rubio and Scott, I ask you not to follow your party's orders. Do us proud and choose right over political gain.

Bonnie Ida, Melbourne

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Letters and feedback: Feb. 5, 2020 - Florida Today