Tolstoy began his great novel, Anna Karenina with this famous line: “Happy families are all alike; unhappy families are all unhappy in their own way”. My grandchildren don’t know or can’t remember what it was like to live through impeachment proceedings. But this will be my third rodeo, and I can tell you that each impeachment hearing is different–and unhappy– in it’s own way.
The Nixon debacle came at a time when my personal life was in turmoil. My then husband lost his job in the recession. I returned to school to get my dietitian’s license, while raising three children under 7. I was so tied up with financial worries, exhaustion, and stress, that Nixon’s impeachment was the farthest thing from my mind. As a university grad assistant, I heard college professors discussing Watergate. . I didn’t see impeachment as a major concern, or anything that would change my life for the better or worse. . Nixon’s resignation speech was painful to watch, but life went on pretty much the same. I know I voted for Jimmy Carter in the next election.
The Clinton impeachment hearings came at a time when my children were raised, and I was nearing retirement. That winter, I came down with the flu, and spent hours on my computer with the Drudge report. It was like reading an enactment of the National Inquirer; sex, lies, and the famous blue dress. It was great entertainment and got me through a rough bout with the flu. For Republicans, is was schadenfreude at it’s best. Even liberals found the cigar wielding president a salacious distraction. When the impeachment didn’t pass the Senate, I don’t remember being upset. My life would go on pretty much the same, although I would miss the presidential soap opera.
Now we have the Trump impeachment inquiries. I’m probably not going to watch the hearings during the day. They won’t have near the entertainment value that we had with Bill Clinton’s time on the hot seat. And of course, it will be all over the news, night and day, until the final vote is taken. But from my standpoint, this impeachment would have much more impact on our nation.
If Trump goes down, a liberal president is a foregone conclusion. And most everyone’s life will change. Like it or not, we will have Medicare for all. Since I’m already on Medicare, it won’t make much difference to me. But as we seniors know, Medicare A doesn’t cover everything. I’m wondering what will happen to the cost of supplemental insurance and Medicare part B? My husband and I currently pay over $10,000 a year for this coverage. . Will the premiums go up even more than they have the past few years? For sure, taxes will increase to pay for all the freebies. Since my time on this earth is limited, it won’t change my life so very much. . But the direction of my grandchildren’s future will take a sharp left turn.