Dear Sen. Rubio,
As a Democrat, I've been cautious about the whole idea of impeachment from the start. It took the July, 2019 incident to tell me what I think we both know, that the President has so little basic knowledge and respect for our 250-year institutions that he will continue to recklessly misuse the powers of his office until he is stopped. He has defied Congressional oversight short of impeachment, and your caucus has not just acquiesced to the defiance;you have encouraged it.
At no point have I expected him to actually be removed from office. Although polls indicate it has a bare majority of popular support, my own innate conservatism tells me it takes a larger public outcry to remove him without furthering the wicked polarization that has gripped this country. I personally think the President poses a clear and present danger to the Republic's future, but I appreciate my fellow voters who think it is more important to send him home Nov. 3.
I've assumed you would be a vote for acquittal. My solace has been that, as an attorney, you might insist that the Senate trial be a thorough presentation, subpoening that which the President illegally kept from it he House.
Friday changed things. The only reason not to seek more testimony and more documents would be if you were ready to vote to convict. You know this, and nothing about the defense arguments Saturday changed this. Even though Schiff's Thursday night closing remarks are getting the greater attention,you, in particular need to respond to a major point Schiff made Friday night. You have run for president, and for all I know will run again. Is this what you would have done? Did you run so you could tear down two of the three branches of government? Cheat? Compromise national security for personal political gain, and then claim the loophole that it national security actions can't be redressed?
If you and the other five Republicans who have run for president vote against removal, each says one of two things. Either “I would have been that man” or “I am too scared to say I would not have been that man.”
As a constituent, I find that loathesome. You come from a political community that stands hard against this very mixture of tyranny and cronyism in Cuba, against its lack of accountability to the under-class its policies have created. Is that really who you are? Is he really what you would have chosen to be?
The coward choice seems more likely,and if you think you have a hard time running in 20216, look up how fun it was for George H.W. Bush to run for re-election being followed around by “Chicken George.” This road leads there. What you keep from coming out this week will come out at a point when it will hurt you more than it hurts the President.
Trump isn't going to like it if you six vote to convict, but it will be a whole lot easier for the rest of usto accept a 53-47 vote that falls short of removal than anything you could do with the Republican majority. I urge you: Vote to convict.