After voting to convict Donald Trump in impeachment trial no. 2, Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Pat Toomey has not escaped the orgy of petty vengeance in which state Republican leaders are currently writhing across America, but at least the Trump toadies condemning him have been honest about their motives.
“We did not send him there to vote his conscience,” said David Ball, chair of the Republican Party in Washington County, Pa., in an interview with KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh. “We did not send him there to do the right thing or whatever he said he was doing. We sent him there to represent us.” (Emphasis added.)
Of course, the only members of “us,” according to Pennsylvania Republicans, are diehard, Trump-can-do-no-wrong GQPers. Rational Pennsylvanians apparently are not entitled to any representation in the Senate beyond what Bob Casey can muster. Toomey is spoken for; he is obliged to dance, and dance, and dance only with the crazies who brung him.
Spiteful censure motions aimed at Toomey are rippling across Pennsylvania. The Republican parties of Washington, Westmoreland, York, and Lawrence counties already have voted to censure him. Other counties may follow suit, and the statewide GOP is conferring as well. A Toomey of conscience unleashed across the Commonwealth! Given a natural disaster of this magnitude, we can only applaud the resolute response of Pennsylvania’s finest. Our bloodthirsty Reds are not going to be undone by rabid Republicans in any other state. Censures all around! And always remember to do the wrong thing.