Repubs' Weak Trump Defense: "You Just Don't Like The Guy."

"If what we're talking about here is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable," said Gerhardt. "This is precisely the misconduct that the framers created a Constitution, including impeachment, to protect against."

For Republicans it all comes down to a popularity contest.

The real reason the most lawless, treasonous, morally bereft, mentally unstable President in United States history faces impeachment, according to rabid Republican defenders of the autocratically ambitious Donald J. Trump, is that Democrats simply don't like him.

That's it.

"You just don't like the guy," said Georgia Republican Doug Collins, ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, in his opening statement that criticized the impeachment inquiry as nothing more than partisan rancor.

Partisan rancor is right. Republicans are glaringly guilty.

Never mind all the proof that Trump is "giving aid to a foreign enemy," committed bribery and engaged in "high crimes and misdemeanors" -- all infractions the Founders deemed impeachable in our Constitution.

Republicans insist Trump's documented attempts to coerce Ukraine to dig up dirt for his own personal gain, while withholding military aid and trying to discredit our own intelligence on Russia's 2016 U.S. presidential election intrusions, is simply "hearsay."

But, all of the Republicans' distracting theatrics during Wednesday's House Judicial Committee impeachment hearing aside, Trump's abetting loyalists must know deep down that it's them who lack credibility in defense of this President.

Do we need to regurgitate all of Trump's ugliness and criminality?

Collins claimed the impeachment inquiry of Trump comes "way too early" in the Ukraine scandal investigation. What more does Collins need? A written confession from Trump?

In fact, for the President, who has spent these past three years inciting fear, division and lethal violence while intentionally trashing our Republic, impeachment proceedings are coming way too late.

The future of the American Republic hangs in the balance like no time since the Civil War.

Three legal expert witnesses Wednesday were asked: "Did President Trump commit the impeachable high crime and misdemeanor of abuse of power?"

All agreed Trump did. University of North Carolina's Michael Gerhardt expounded:

"If what we're talking about here is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable," said Gerhardt. "This is precisely the misconduct that the framers created a Constitution, including impeachment, to protect against."

Enough said. Let's act in defense of America. Impeach Trump.