Lisa did the right thing in voting her perception of the impeachment evidence

As a member of the Alaska Independence Party, I have no allegiance to the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Green parties. I can vote for any person, bill, proposition, or issue I desire without having to worry about who might be offended or who will object to my vote. That said, I do want to see veracity, accuracy, and truth prevail in the political arena from all sides. This has lately been missing in many of the Republican senators and representatives in office now and especially lacking in the untruthful, dishonest, and downright lying former president who was soundly defeated in the last election.

 Donald Trump was impeached (brought to trial) by the house of representatives for inciting the riots at the Capitol Building resulting in insurrection, causing much damage and death while he was in office and then tried by the senate after he lost the election. All this was legal and within the scope of the Constitution. It appears that some members of the republican party were sleeping during civics class when they try to find fault with this.  

While our senators and representative are supposed to act with regard to the will of the people (their constituents) when addressing issues, proposals and bills in front of them, they seem to ignore that and vote whichever way they personally feel or whichever way their fellow party members want them to vote. The only time they should vote their own feelings is during the impeachment and if required, the resulting trial. The senators listen to the evidence and arguments pro and con and then cast their vote regardless of how anyone else wants them to vote.

The practice of some senators to pre-announce the way they will vote without hearing the evidence presented is a travesty and goes directly against the rules of impeachment. How many jurors in a trial would be disqualified if they pulled that stunt. Criticizing their fellow senators and threatening retribution for voting to convict him is intimidation and bullying.

Fifty-seven senators voted to convict due to their comprehension of the evidence they heard at the trial. There should be no Monday morning judgment of this. I wish that I could rely on the other 43 senators to have listened to the evidence pro and con and decided or themselves rather than voting lockstep with their fellow party members. For Republican senators to criticize, move to censure, and attempt to discipline their party members who voted to convict Trump is deplorable and reprehensible.