“Impeachment lust”!

How alluring those words sound, even if they were spoken by Trump’s defense attorney in describing the Democrats’ pursuit of justice.

Regardless of who first spoke the words, I admit that I got sucked into a passion-fueled frenzy while watching the proceedings to convict the 45th president.

I’m going through a withdrawal, of sorts.
How am I going to live without all matters about Trump dominating the news cycle and headlines?

A new, new normal has been ushered in, and speaking of lust, I glommed onto one of the impeachment managers: Rep. Joe Neguse, (D-Colo.). A rising star, Neguse’s performance was brilliant. His passion was palpable. That he knew the law and the guiding principles of The US Constitution regarding impeachment are undeniable. He was elected in 2018.

And then there was impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett, delegate from The Virgin Islands, the other shining star. She stunned us with her regal appearance and bearing, her lofty oratorical delivery, and her firm standing in the law.

My passions were kept aflame by the strength of the impeachment team’s arguments, their poised and clear delivery of studied remarks, video exhibits, and evidence worthy of conviction.

We are left with the heavy sigh of defeat and resignation. I hope that time heals the wounds inflicted during the Trump era, and that the history books may help future generations understand why, and how nearly one half the nation got seduced by the politics and power plays of Donald J. Trump.

I will leave that there.

For years, I have been writing about how we get what we deserve from our elected officials, thus underscoring how important it is to vote.

The 2020 elections left no doubt about the power of our vote. It was well demonstrated in Georgia, and across other parts of the country – mainly urban centers – that the Black vote is valuable and must be reckoned with as we go forward.

Make no mistake, 2022 will be a harbinger for the next few decades, so we cannot rest on the laurels of the Biden/Harris 2020 victory. But we need a deeper bench!

Have you seen that Lara Trump – Don ald’s daughter-in-law – has been posited as the next in line to lead the Republican Party?

Are our legacy-holders ready to hand off the baton of leadership?

There are currently 54 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Many have served for decades, get ting re-elected time and again.

Where are the disciples of John Lewis, Jim Clyburn, Maxine Waters, and others who have served so well in leading roles, for so long?

I’m sure Cory Booker (D-NJ), the lone Black Democratic senator left once Kamala Harris was elected vice president, wel comes Sen. Ralph Warnock (D-Ga.).

But what about in the House?

Del. Plaskett has a limited vote, and Rep. Neguse is in a singular position vulnerable. He needs a young, energetic, fired-up team.

For example, the “Squad.” Each of them has been under frontal attack for the past four years, but there is hope that since their reelection, they will be allowed to thrive to advance their progressive agendas. They need to be given a very wide berth, especially because of their appeal to the younger voters.

Kudos to everyone who has joined the “draft Stacey Adams” campaign. May she prevail on whichever path she chooses: Georgia governor? Democratic Party leader? Other? I hope she receives our consolidated support.

Despite these few standout superstars, without a deep bench, their work on behalf of the poor, disenfranchised, Black and brown constituents is compromised.

Since the 2020 election, the Black voting block is undergoing a closer analysis and scrutiny – and that’s all good.

Charles Blow, New York Times columnist and author of “The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto,” theorizes that Blacks will be able to take political control over several states, to wield undiluted political power if we begin a reverse migration and return south.

Blow’s is not a dystopian fictional idea. Instead, he offers a thoughtful statement about how the political power that Black voters now wield can become more solidified over a short period of time, and across a large territory.

I say his proposal should be given serious consideration.

If nothing else was proven during the era of Trump, we cannot afford to cease building on the voting bloc power platform we established during the 2020 election cycle.

We still have so much work to do, but in the words of Maya Angelou, we (will) rise.