Directions: Answer the following questions from Republican Senator Rand Paul’s speech regarding the Democrats’ decision to impeach Donald Trump though he is no longer in office.

1. How do the Democrats’ attempts to impeach Donald Trump affect the country, according to Sen. Paul? Be specific.

2. What point did Sen. Paul make about the accusation that President Trump “incited” his supporters to violence on January 6?

3. What action did an enraged Bernie Sanders supporter take after listening to Sen. Sanders criticism of the Republicans' health care plan (saying how people would die)?

4. What did each of the following Democratic Congress members say that could be called incitement?
a) Senator Cory Booker
b) Rep. Maxine Waters
c) Sen. Kamala Harris
d) Democrat mayor of Seattle

5. How did Sen. Paul say he was affected by Rep. Waters’ call to her supporters?

6. For each of the following statements made by Sen. Paul, do you agree or disagree? Explain your answers.

a) “Hyper-partisan Democrats are about to drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol the likes of which has never been seen in our nation's history.” (from para. 7)

b) “Instead of doing the nation's work with their new majorities in the House, the Senate, and the Executive branch, Democrats are wasting the nation's time on a partisan vendetta against a man no longer in office. It's almost as if they have no ability to exist except in opposition to Donald Trump. Without him as their boogieman, they might have to legislate and to actually convince Americans that their policy prescriptions are the right ones.” (para. 8)

c) “On January 6, then-President Trump said, ‘I know everyone here will soon march to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.’ Peacefully and patriotically.  Hardly words of violence.” (para. 11-12)

d) “No Democrat will ask whether [Democrats Cory Booker, Maxine Waters, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris or Seattle’s mayor] incited violence. … Yet Democrats insist on applying a test of incitement to a Republican that they refuse to apply to themselves.” (para. 14-26)

e) “Shame. Shame on these angry, unhinged partisans who are putting forth this sham impeachment.  Deranged by their hatred of the former president. Shame on those who seek blame and revenge and who choose to pervert a constitutional process while doing so.” (para. 27-28)

7. a) What is the purpose of impeachment? Who can be impeached?
b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the impeachment of a sitting president. Justice Roberts does not want to (and will not) be involved in the impeachment of a private citizen. Instead, Democrat Sen. Leahy will fill the roll. He is not impartial. Democrats already know they will not be able to convict Trump. They do not have the votes. Why do you think they are spending the time and further dividing the country with what Sen. Paul calls a sham impeachment?  Explain your answer.