Perhaps, to date, the greatest farce of this impeachment trial has come not during the defense team's willfully bogus arguments, but before the majority leader has even officially commenced the day's proceedings. I write of the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
To the authentically theologically oriented, hearing the Senate chaplain beseech the vastly dismayed God of 100 to bless the proceedings and direct the chamber's criminal element of 53 to do justice and fairness with a tender conscience must be the most blasphemous, heretical charade of the century.
What the chaplain should ask is for all of America to pray for the latest in a series of long-forgotten, ancient divine miracles: that Senate Republicans cut the bullshit and hypocrisy, and carry out their constitutional oaths by doing their fucking job. In. those. words.
Then comes the pledge of allegiance, as though our consciences had not already been insulted enough. Consider the words that each GOP senator violates with his or her heart and mind:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
But perhaps things aren't quite as bad as I have imagined. If one just eliminates from the pledge allegiance, Republic, one Nation, God, indivisible, liberty and justice, one has a true bobbydazzler of an oath for Republican senators.