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The United States House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump (R) a second time. The House cast votes this afternoon on one article of impeachment alleging that Trump incited an insurrection when he spoke to supporters on January 6, 2021. Some of those supporters rioted and stormed the U.S. Capitol.

The 232-197 vote was largely along party lines. Among those who voted, all House Democrats voted to impeach, and all but ten Republicans voted against. Four members, all Republicans, were not present or did not cast votes.

Trump was impeached on other charges in 2019, and is the first president to have been impeached multiple times. Only two previous presidents have been impeached—President Andrew Johnson (D) in 1868 and President Bill Clinton (D) in 1998. Both were acquitted in Senate trials, and no president has ever been removed from office. Articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon (R) passed the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 but Nixon resigned before they could be considered by the full House.

The U.S. Senate holds impeachment trials, which are presided over by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. It would require a vote by a two-thirds super-majority of senators to convict and remove the president from office. Trump’s term in office ends at noon on January 20, and it is unclear if an impeachment trial can be held after the subject of the impeachment is no longer in office.

The Siege of the Capitol

How did we get here? Come on. Don’t be silly. You know how we got here.

The blame for today’s reprehensible events at the U.S. Capitol lays primarily at the feet of the criminals and terrorists who stormed and vandalized the building. They chose to do what they did, and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But there are others who bear at least some responsibility for getting America to where it is today.

An obvious candidate for scorn is President Donald Trump (R), who continues to claim—falsely—that his reelection was stolen by widespread voter fraud. Oh, there was fraud, as there is in every election, but it was not enough to change the result. The only state where the outcome is really in question is Pennsylvania, and it alone would not be enough to give Trump a win. President Trump, you contributed to this outrage.

But he is not alone.

Virginia House of Delegates, Special, 2021

A special election will be held on January 5 to fill vacancies in the 2nd and 90th districts of the Virginia House of Delegates. I make the following recommendations in those races:

  • 2nd District: Former Delegate Carol Foy (D-VA 2nd) resigned in December to focus on her gubernatorial campaign. Candi King (D) and Heather Mitchell (R) stand as candidates to replace her. I recommend voting for Heather Mitchell.
  • 90th District: Former Delegate Joseph Lindsey (D-VA 90th) resigned in November after being appointed as a state judge. Sylvia Bryant (R) and Norfolk City Councilwoman Angelia Graves (Superward 7), who is running as a Democrat, stand as candidates to replace him. I recommend voting for Sylvia Bryant.

Election 2020 Results (Final)

U.S. Presidential Electors

Joe Biden (D)
Electors: 306

Arizona (11)
California (55)
Colorado (9)
Connecticut (7)
Delaware (3)
D.C. (3)
Georgia (16)
Hawaii (4)
Illinois (20)
Maine (3) (split)
Maryland (10)
Massachusetts (11)
Michigan (16)
Minnesota (10)
Nebraska (1) (split)
Nevada (6)
New Hampshire (4)
New Jersey (14)
New Mexico (5)
New York (29)
Oregon (7)
Pennsylvania (20)
Rhode Island (4)
Vermont (3)
Virginia (13)
Washington (12)
Wisconsin (10)

Donald Trump (R)
Electors: 232

Alabama (9)
Alaska (3)
Arkansas (6)
Florida (29)
Idaho (4)
Indiana (11)
Iowa (6)
Kansas (6)
Kentucky (8)
Louisiana (8)
Maine (1) (split)
Mississippi (6)
Missouri (10)
Montana (3)
Nebraska (4) (split)
North Carolina (15)
North Dakota (3)
Ohio (18)
Oklahoma (7)
South Carolina (9)
South Dakota (3)
Tennessee (11)
Texas (38)
Utah (6)
West Virginia (5)
Wyoming (3)

Ballot Races
U.S. President (VA)
Joe Biden (D):54.11%
Jo Jorgensen (L):1.45%
Donald Trump (R):44.00%
Other:0.44%
U.S. Senate, VA
Daniel Gade (R):43.91%
Mark Warner (D):55.99%
Other:0.10%
U.S. House, VA-10th
Aliscia Andrews (R):43.37%
Jennifer Wexton (D):56.51%
Other:0.12%
Ballot Issues
VA Redistricting Amend.
Yes:65.69%
No:34.31%
VA Veteran Tax Amend.
Yes:85.99%
No:14.01%
Loudoun School Bonds
Yes:68.87%
No:31.13%
Loudoun Pub. Safety Bonds
Yes:77.20%
No:22.80%
Loudoun Parks & Rec. Bonds
Yes:68.94%
No:31.06%
Loudoun Transp. Bonds
Yes:76.84%
No:23.16%

I Voted; Final Thoughts

I voted this morning at my precinct in South Riding, Virginia. If you are a U.S. citizen who is eligible to vote, and if you have not already done so, you should go to the polls today too. Since so many people voted early this year, many precincts—like mine—are not crowded at all. It took mere minutes.

The only thing I ask of you is that you take the time to learn what’s on your ballot and make an informed choice. Don’t vote on the basis of blind party loyalty, fake news, or campaign ads. Put at least a little real time and effort into it. No informed vote is a wasted vote.

I encourage you to read my endorsements, but don’t only read mine. Read other people’s views too. Read the candidates’ websites. Read a variety of news and opinion articles. Know what you are voting for (or against) and why. And remember that, no matter how things turn out, we can all act like adults in the aftermath.

Now, with that out of the way, a few thoughts. . . .

Scott Bradford is a writer and technologist who has been putting his opinions online since 1995. He believes in three inviolable human rights: life, liberty, and property. He is a Catholic Christian who worships the trinitarian God described in the Nicene Creed. Scott is a husband, nerd, pet lover, and AMC/Jeep enthusiast with a B.S. degree in public administration from George Mason University.