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| Impeachment Unites Many Americans in a Desire for ‘Anything But Politics’ | |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| It was a momentous day in American history. But, by all indications, it was not a momentous day in the lives of most Americans. | It was a momentous day in American history. But, by all indications, it was not a momentous day in the lives of most Americans. |
| So while the House of Representatives debated the impeachment of President Trump, one man in Houston was more focused on a $279 speeding ticket. Tourists in Chicago savored an impeachment-free shopping day. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 401 in Albuquerque followed a simple mantra: “Anything but politics, man.” | So while the House of Representatives debated the impeachment of President Trump, one man in Houston was more focused on a $279 speeding ticket. Tourists in Chicago savored an impeachment-free shopping day. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 401 in Albuquerque followed a simple mantra: “Anything but politics, man.” |
| Americans may be deeply invested in the outcome of impeachment. They might adore or loathe Mr. Trump. But as history played out Wednesday amid the bombast and rancor of impeachment proceedings, many of them seemed intent on looking elsewhere. | Americans may be deeply invested in the outcome of impeachment. They might adore or loathe Mr. Trump. But as history played out Wednesday amid the bombast and rancor of impeachment proceedings, many of them seemed intent on looking elsewhere. |
| HOUSTON | HOUSTON |
| It was Judgment Day, but Ray Martin had no regrets about conduct or process. | It was Judgment Day, but Ray Martin had no regrets about conduct or process. |
| Mr. Martin, 58, a building engineer, had decided to see what his newly purchased four-cylinder pickup truck could do on Interstate 45. It could do quite a bit, it turns out. He went to municipal court in Houston and accepted his $279 speeding ticket on Wednesday without complaint. “I didn’t even know I was doing 110,” he said. | Mr. Martin, 58, a building engineer, had decided to see what his newly purchased four-cylinder pickup truck could do on Interstate 45. It could do quite a bit, it turns out. He went to municipal court in Houston and accepted his $279 speeding ticket on Wednesday without complaint. “I didn’t even know I was doing 110,” he said. |
| As for the other judgment being rendered in Washington, he had not watched any of the impeachment proceedings but said he supported the president. “I hate that he’s going through it,” Mr. Martin said. “I feel like he’s good for America right now. He’s a strong leader.” | As for the other judgment being rendered in Washington, he had not watched any of the impeachment proceedings but said he supported the president. “I hate that he’s going through it,” Mr. Martin said. “I feel like he’s good for America right now. He’s a strong leader.” |
| — Manny Fernandez | — Manny Fernandez |
| CHICAGO | CHICAGO |
| The tourists and office workers milling around the open-air Christmas market in downtown Chicago had a few things on their minds. Snapping up porcelain ornaments and knit gloves for last-minute Christmas gifts. Staying warm in frigid 17-degree air. Deciding whether to have a second glühwein, the hot spiced drink sipped out of tiny white mugs shaped like boots. | The tourists and office workers milling around the open-air Christmas market in downtown Chicago had a few things on their minds. Snapping up porcelain ornaments and knit gloves for last-minute Christmas gifts. Staying warm in frigid 17-degree air. Deciding whether to have a second glühwein, the hot spiced drink sipped out of tiny white mugs shaped like boots. |
| “Impeachment? Not something we’re talking about today,” said Gary Nadeau, from Deer Park, Ill., who was on an excursion with his wife, Paula, and another couple. | “Impeachment? Not something we’re talking about today,” said Gary Nadeau, from Deer Park, Ill., who was on an excursion with his wife, Paula, and another couple. |
| The couples had stopped at the Christkindlmarket for wine and hot pretzels before heading to a matinee. “Have fun, see ‘Hamilton,’ have a little libation,” Mr. Nadeau said. “That’s it.” | The couples had stopped at the Christkindlmarket for wine and hot pretzels before heading to a matinee. “Have fun, see ‘Hamilton,’ have a little libation,” Mr. Nadeau said. “That’s it.” |
| They all agreed that Mr. Trump was likely to be re-elected next year, and that being impeached would not really change anyone’s minds. “It’s all just partisan,” Leah Peszek, 54, said of the impeachment proceedings. “Seems like a waste of time.” | They all agreed that Mr. Trump was likely to be re-elected next year, and that being impeached would not really change anyone’s minds. “It’s all just partisan,” Leah Peszek, 54, said of the impeachment proceedings. “Seems like a waste of time.” |
| “He’s a jerk,” she said of Mr. Trump, “But he’s doing good for the economy.” | “He’s a jerk,” she said of Mr. Trump, “But he’s doing good for the economy.” |
| — Julie Bosman | — Julie Bosman |
| ATLANTA | ATLANTA |
| The conversation at an Atlanta sports bar wasn’t about sports. | The conversation at an Atlanta sports bar wasn’t about sports. |
| “Get him out of office quick,” said Tyjuana Rosenthal, who had been keeping an eye on the proceedings. “I pay attention,” she added, noting the Trump administration’s proposals for pushing people off welfare. “He’s trying to take away stuff that people need.” | “Get him out of office quick,” said Tyjuana Rosenthal, who had been keeping an eye on the proceedings. “I pay attention,” she added, noting the Trump administration’s proposals for pushing people off welfare. “He’s trying to take away stuff that people need.” |
| Canyon Williams was mesmerized by it all, seeing what seemed like history unfolding in front of her. “I’m kind of confused by some of the answers,” she said after watching the debate. | Canyon Williams was mesmerized by it all, seeing what seemed like history unfolding in front of her. “I’m kind of confused by some of the answers,” she said after watching the debate. |
| She had come to a conclusion: “He abuses power,” Ms. Williams said after her waitressing shift had ended and she had left the bar. But she also had some hesitation about Mr. Trump being pushed from office. “I just don’t want Mike Pence to be president,” she said. | She had come to a conclusion: “He abuses power,” Ms. Williams said after her waitressing shift had ended and she had left the bar. But she also had some hesitation about Mr. Trump being pushed from office. “I just don’t want Mike Pence to be president,” she said. |
| — Rick Rojas | — Rick Rojas |
| NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE |
| Zakariya Sayid, 27, stood behind the bar at The Horn Coffee in Nashville and prepared one of his signature Somali chai teas. The warm smell of spices greeted the regulars walking in from the cold. | Zakariya Sayid, 27, stood behind the bar at The Horn Coffee in Nashville and prepared one of his signature Somali chai teas. The warm smell of spices greeted the regulars walking in from the cold. |
| Mr. Sayid, who supports Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, worried that impeaching Mr. Trump was not a great idea. | Mr. Sayid, who supports Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, worried that impeaching Mr. Trump was not a great idea. |
| “If he does not get impeached, you added fuel to his campaign,” he said. “If he does get impeached, you have 80 to 90 million people who are mad. Now they see the whole world was against him. You give him a higher chance of re-election.” | “If he does not get impeached, you added fuel to his campaign,” he said. “If he does get impeached, you have 80 to 90 million people who are mad. Now they see the whole world was against him. You give him a higher chance of re-election.” |
| Normally he does not watch much news, but he had plans to check in after the vote on Wednesday. He thought of people who, until impeachment, had told him they were not going to vote for Mr. Trump next fall. | Normally he does not watch much news, but he had plans to check in after the vote on Wednesday. He thought of people who, until impeachment, had told him they were not going to vote for Mr. Trump next fall. |
| “Now, they’re thinking twice,” he said. “He’ll become more of a hero.” | “Now, they’re thinking twice,” he said. “He’ll become more of a hero.” |
| — Elizabeth Dias | — Elizabeth Dias |
| ALBUQUERQUE | ALBUQUERQUE |
| At the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 401 in Albuquerque, members filed in on Wednesday afternoon for a $5 lunch of tacos, rice and beans. Some ordered Budweisers for $2.75. The television was tuned to ESPN, where hosts were talking football. | At the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 401 in Albuquerque, members filed in on Wednesday afternoon for a $5 lunch of tacos, rice and beans. Some ordered Budweisers for $2.75. The television was tuned to ESPN, where hosts were talking football. |
| “Anything but politics, man,” said Miguel Perez, 36, a Marine Corps veteran from southern New Mexico who volunteers at the post when he is not working as a cook and bartender elsewhere in Albuquerque. | “Anything but politics, man,” said Miguel Perez, 36, a Marine Corps veteran from southern New Mexico who volunteers at the post when he is not working as a cook and bartender elsewhere in Albuquerque. |
| Mr. Perez said members of the V.F.W. Post, near Kirtland Air Force Base, learned their lesson when tempers got heated around the 2016 presidential election. “We don’t want our guys throwing beer bottles at each other,” he said. | Mr. Perez said members of the V.F.W. Post, near Kirtland Air Force Base, learned their lesson when tempers got heated around the 2016 presidential election. “We don’t want our guys throwing beer bottles at each other,” he said. |
| Going further, Mr. Perez, who grew up on the border with Mexico, said that he understood the Democrats’ arguments for impeachment but was put off by the entire process. “Personally, I’d like them to leave the guy alone,” he said. “Just let the president do his job.” | Going further, Mr. Perez, who grew up on the border with Mexico, said that he understood the Democrats’ arguments for impeachment but was put off by the entire process. “Personally, I’d like them to leave the guy alone,” he said. “Just let the president do his job.” |
| — Simon Romero | — Simon Romero |
| VILLa RICA, GA. | VILLa RICA, GA. |
| More than a dozen television screens were on at the Cinema Tavern Sports Bar & Grill, and not a single one was showing the House of Representatives debate impeachment. | More than a dozen television screens were on at the Cinema Tavern Sports Bar & Grill, and not a single one was showing the House of Representatives debate impeachment. |
| Jamie Willis, 37, an electrician, was drinking a beer while watching one of the screens showing the Georgia Lottery’s Keno numbers. He said he preferred to catch up on news after the dust had settled. “I think people jump to conclusions too fast,” he said. | Jamie Willis, 37, an electrician, was drinking a beer while watching one of the screens showing the Georgia Lottery’s Keno numbers. He said he preferred to catch up on news after the dust had settled. “I think people jump to conclusions too fast,” he said. |
| Mr. Willis leans libertarian and originally feared that Mr. Trump might be a liberal in disguise. These days, with the economy booming, he says Mr. Trump may be the best American president of his lifetime. | Mr. Willis leans libertarian and originally feared that Mr. Trump might be a liberal in disguise. These days, with the economy booming, he says Mr. Trump may be the best American president of his lifetime. |
| Beverly Parton, 71, a retired teacher, voted for Mr. Trump but said she thought he had overstepped in his dealings with Ukraine. “If he’s using his office as a springboard to defame someone else, that’s not right,” she said. | Beverly Parton, 71, a retired teacher, voted for Mr. Trump but said she thought he had overstepped in his dealings with Ukraine. “If he’s using his office as a springboard to defame someone else, that’s not right,” she said. |
| Still, Ms. Parton did not feel that she had to watch every last impeachment hearing. She read a paperback thriller by Tami Hoag instead, waiting for her popcorn shrimp to emerge from the kitchen. | Still, Ms. Parton did not feel that she had to watch every last impeachment hearing. She read a paperback thriller by Tami Hoag instead, waiting for her popcorn shrimp to emerge from the kitchen. |
| — Richard Fausset | — Richard Fausset |
| NEW YORK | NEW YORK |
| Almost a year later, Maria Charman is still bitter about the government shutdown that threatened to close the Statue of Liberty and send her home from her job. As she stood below Lady Liberty’s torch on Wednesday, she said she would take personal satisfaction in the evening, when she planned to turn on the television and watch lawmakers vote to impeach Mr. Trump. | Almost a year later, Maria Charman is still bitter about the government shutdown that threatened to close the Statue of Liberty and send her home from her job. As she stood below Lady Liberty’s torch on Wednesday, she said she would take personal satisfaction in the evening, when she planned to turn on the television and watch lawmakers vote to impeach Mr. Trump. |
| “I’m going to watch the news because I want to see him go down,” she said. “To make a long story short, he should have been impeached long ago. He’s not for the people, he’s for himself.” | “I’m going to watch the news because I want to see him go down,” she said. “To make a long story short, he should have been impeached long ago. He’s not for the people, he’s for himself.” |
| Ms. Charman immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago and said she had been most bothered by the Trump administration’s separation of children from their families at the border and what she said was his inattention to the homeless and mentally ill. But the government shutdown — during which New York State stepped in to keep the Statue of Liberty open by paying $65,000 a day — also stung personally, and displayed what she said was Mr. Trump’s lack of empathy for the working class. | Ms. Charman immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago and said she had been most bothered by the Trump administration’s separation of children from their families at the border and what she said was his inattention to the homeless and mentally ill. But the government shutdown — during which New York State stepped in to keep the Statue of Liberty open by paying $65,000 a day — also stung personally, and displayed what she said was Mr. Trump’s lack of empathy for the working class. |
| “Man, to try to take away money from people’s pockets, from people trying to feed their family? It’s terrible,” she said moments after pushing a couple closer to each other and snapping a portrait. | “Man, to try to take away money from people’s pockets, from people trying to feed their family? It’s terrible,” she said moments after pushing a couple closer to each other and snapping a portrait. |
| — Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs | — Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs |
| BOSTON | BOSTON |
| In Boston, the television at Darcy’s Barber Shop was tuned to a man at a desk shuffling papers, but it turned out to be “The People’s Court,” not the impeachment proceedings. Bernard McCollin, the shop’s owner, said that he was following the impeachment closely, but that his young clients had little interest in it. | In Boston, the television at Darcy’s Barber Shop was tuned to a man at a desk shuffling papers, but it turned out to be “The People’s Court,” not the impeachment proceedings. Bernard McCollin, the shop’s owner, said that he was following the impeachment closely, but that his young clients had little interest in it. |
| Matthew Olivero walked in and handed Mr. McCollin a stack of mail. He had almost forgotten that the impeachment hearings were going on, since none of the businesses he had delivered mail to on that busy strip had it playing on television. He lingered awhile to banter about politics with the customer in Mr. McCollin’s chair, casting doubt on whether impeachment hearings were worth all the time and energy. | Matthew Olivero walked in and handed Mr. McCollin a stack of mail. He had almost forgotten that the impeachment hearings were going on, since none of the businesses he had delivered mail to on that busy strip had it playing on television. He lingered awhile to banter about politics with the customer in Mr. McCollin’s chair, casting doubt on whether impeachment hearings were worth all the time and energy. |
| — Farah Stockman | — Farah Stockman |
| LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES |
| At Spaces, a co-working space in downtown Los Angeles filled with designers and artists and lawyers, a television was broadcasting the impeachment proceedings but no one was sitting on the pink couch and watching. | At Spaces, a co-working space in downtown Los Angeles filled with designers and artists and lawyers, a television was broadcasting the impeachment proceedings but no one was sitting on the pink couch and watching. |
| Felicia Felix, the sales manager, blamed the lack of interest on the fact that Mr. Trump is unlikely to be removed from office. If that was truly at stake with the impeachment vote, she said, people would most likely be gathered around the TV eating popcorn and drinking beer. | Felicia Felix, the sales manager, blamed the lack of interest on the fact that Mr. Trump is unlikely to be removed from office. If that was truly at stake with the impeachment vote, she said, people would most likely be gathered around the TV eating popcorn and drinking beer. |
| “I’ve lost faith in the process and I’ve lost faith in the country,” said Ms. Felix, 28. | “I’ve lost faith in the process and I’ve lost faith in the country,” said Ms. Felix, 28. |
| But in a world of the bored, pained, resigned and tuned out, there is also Taj Garmon, a 41-year-old fashion designer who has been following every twist and turn of the impeachment saga. “I wake up to it,” he said. “I go to sleep to it.” | But in a world of the bored, pained, resigned and tuned out, there is also Taj Garmon, a 41-year-old fashion designer who has been following every twist and turn of the impeachment saga. “I wake up to it,” he said. “I go to sleep to it.” |
| Mr. Garmon, an ardent opponent of Mr. Trump, said he was the lone person in his office who seemed to care, but care he does: “I read about it all day at my desk,” he said. “I kind of obsess over it.” | Mr. Garmon, an ardent opponent of Mr. Trump, said he was the lone person in his office who seemed to care, but care he does: “I read about it all day at my desk,” he said. “I kind of obsess over it.” |
| — Tim Arango | — Tim Arango |
| Greeley, Colo. | Greeley, Colo. |
| In the dining room of the Red Sea restaurant in Greeley, Colo., Hienok Keflay, 35, a refugee from Eritrea, followed the congressional speeches between cooking orders of goat and berbere-spiced vegetables. | In the dining room of the Red Sea restaurant in Greeley, Colo., Hienok Keflay, 35, a refugee from Eritrea, followed the congressional speeches between cooking orders of goat and berbere-spiced vegetables. |
| To Mr. Keflay, who fled political violence in Eritrea and recently opened a restaurant in northeast Colorado, it was simply amazing to watch politicians and journalists freely debate whether to remove a president. | To Mr. Keflay, who fled political violence in Eritrea and recently opened a restaurant in northeast Colorado, it was simply amazing to watch politicians and journalists freely debate whether to remove a president. |
| “I see it as a beautiful thing — the law of the country is working,” he said. “From where I came from, you can’t say anything negative about the president.” | “I see it as a beautiful thing — the law of the country is working,” he said. “From where I came from, you can’t say anything negative about the president.” |
| — Jack Healy | — Jack Healy |