The Senate Impeachment Trial and Joe Biden’s Political Arc

The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump has once again brought the hallowed halls of the United States Capitol into the spotlight of American politics. For former Vice President Joe Biden, the trial has served as a poignant reminder of his long and complex relationship with the Senate. Throughout his political career, the Senate has been a constant presence, shaping his triumphs and tragedies, and now, as he seeks a third act in his political life, the chamber has become an obstacle to his bid for the White House.

Biden’s connection to the Senate began in 1963 when, as a young student at the University of Delaware, he visited Washington D.C. to see friends. In a story he often tells, Biden recounts how he parked his car in front of the Capitol and, drawn by the rare Saturday session, entered the empty chamber. Sitting in the presiding officer’s chair, Biden was awestruck by the experience. Whether this story is true or not, it speaks to the deep reverence Biden holds for the Senate.

Just a decade later, in 1972, Biden was elected to the Senate at the age of 29, making him one of the youngest people ever to hold the position. Over the next 45 years, the Senate served as the backdrop for all of Biden’s political achievements and personal struggles. He forged his political career in the halls of the Senate, carving out a role for himself as a deal-making moderate, a law-and-order liberal, and a powerful committee chair.

Biden’s first unsuccessful bid for the White House came from the Senate in 1987. Plagiarism accusations forced him to withdraw from the race. A few months later, he nearly died from two brain aneurysms while serving as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 2009, when Biden finally left the Senate to become Vice President under Barack Obama, he still presided over the chamber, remaining a fixture on Capitol Hill throughout his two terms.

“The United States Senate has been my life,” Biden said in his 2009 farewell address. “Except for the title ‘father,’ there is no title, including ‘vice president,’ that I am more proud to wear than that of United States senator.”

However, the Senate of today is different from the one Biden left in 2009. Only a third of the current membership served alongside him. The rough-and-tumble partisanship of the House of Representatives has now infected the upper chamber. Nearly half of the current 100 senators are former House members.

For Republicans, even those who served alongside Biden, there is little recognition that some sort of collegiality should be extended to him in the midst of the heady, partisan impeachment saga. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who once spoke fondly of his friendship with Biden, now insists that Republicans need to call Hunter Biden to testify.

The impeachment trial has also brought unwanted attention to Hunter Biden’s personal troubles. Biden refers to his surviving son as a source of pride and has been deeply affected by the public scrutiny of his family.

Despite the challenges, Biden’s allies remain confident in his ability to handle the situation. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Chris Coons both believe that Biden’s character and resilience will see him through this trial.

As the trial winds down, there is a real question about whether Trump’s gambit to drag down a top opponent was worth it. For Trump, who is likely to be acquitted, he can run against Democrats in the fall for leading a “witch hunt” against him. Biden, on the other hand, has struggled to absorb the attacks and respond effectively.

The Senate and its ongoing trial have become an obstacle to Biden’s bid for the White House. However, the former vice president’s deep connection to the chamber runs deep, and he remains hopeful that he can overcome this latest challenge and continue his pursuit of the presidency.

“I think he’s not surprised,” said Ed Rendell, a longtime Biden friend. “I think he was a little discouraged.”

Despite the difficulties, Biden remains focused on the 2024 elections and the opportunity to lead the country. The Senate impeachment trial may have momentarily derailed his campaign, but the former vice president is determined to press on and make his case to the American people.

In conclusion, the Senate impeachment trial has once again brought the United States Capitol into the spotlight of American politics. For Joe Biden, the trial has served as a poignant reminder of his long and complex relationship with the Senate. Despite the challenges, Biden remains hopeful that he can overcome this latest obstacle and continue his pursuit of the presidency. The Senate, a constant presence throughout his political career, will no doubt continue to shape his journey in the years to come.