Based on Impeachment 0.1 one would think support in the Senate would not be forthcoming. Clearly there are still many within the Senate who support the President, whether out of misplaced loyalty or misplaced fear is unclear.

That loyalty is misplaced is obvious if it is anticipated that it will be reciprocated. Time and again President Trump has been happy to throw the most loyal of colleagues under the bus if it suited his purpose or indeed whim. But is fear misplaced?

That depends on the extent to which you feel Trump’s actions in the transition have accelerated what would inevitably have been a rapid diminution of power as he leaves office. His baseless claims of election fraud and incompetent insurrection have significantly reduced his stature and support. Members of the GOP need to consider how far this has impacted regular Republican voters. It is almost certain Trump could become the leader of a devoted and substantial group of supporters. But probably not an election winning, following.

If the deep state is anyone who fails to support unquestioningly Donald Trump it now includes Lindsey Graham, Mike Pence and the PGA of America! At this rate their will be more in the deep state than in the… er shallow state! The more that are moved into that category, surely, the less credibility it has for conspiracy theorists.

For four years the GOP has sustained president Trump in office despite him being a clear and present danger to the constitution of the United States. His egregious behaviour will only be properly evaluated with the fullness of a historical perspective but I am willing to bet he and those that supported him will not be looked on favourably.

The incompetent insurrection and the berating of Lindsey Graham as he passed through the airport are tastes of what it is like when you put your faith in a demagogue. You conjure up forces which it is not so easy to hold in check. Fortunately, Trump’s capacity for harm is mitigated to some extent by his self assured incompetence.

The GOP have much to answer for and certain members ought to be held personally responsible for their role in the events of 6 January. In the full knowledge of what their flat earth complaints about the election had triggered they continued to raise objections they knew full well to be baseless. Sadly, I fear their guilt will be lost as the page of history is quickly turned.

But if they could muster enough Senators with some semblance of patriotic commitment the GOP leadership must wonder whether it would make sense to take Trump out of the equation for the 2024 election once and for all. If he runs it is more than likely he will split the Republican vote and give the White House back to Joe Biden.

On the other hand they may feel that Trump will self destruct if left to himself. Let’s hope so. It is almost certain citizen Donald Trump will continue to be Joe Biden’s best recruiting sergeant and quite likely secure the 2014 election for him.