The Scorpion and the Frog is a well known story with myriad variations en.wikipedia.org/...
The modern variant is derived from a Russian allegorical fable descended from an ancient persian tale. The story goes something like this:
One day, a scorpion decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey. Down from his rocky mountain he went, crawling through forests over hills he travelled until he reached a river.
The water was swift and the river was too wide to jump and too deep to ford so the scorpion, who could not neither fly nor swim, was compelled to stop and contemplate his predicament.
Unable to see a way across the river, the scorpion searched up stream and down hoping to find a fallen tree that might serve as a bridge. The scorpions search was unsuccessful. Unable to find a way to cross the river, the scorpion had all but decided his journey was over and that he might have to turn back and return to the mountain.
Then the scorpion spotted a frog sitting in cattails along the opposite bank of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help in crossing the stream.
The scorpion shouted out across the water "Hellooo there Mr. Frog!" Are you a good swimmer?
The frog replied that of course he was! At which the scorpion made his proposal.
"In that case then Mr. Frog, would you be so kind ferry me on your back across the river?"
Knowing that scorpions had a bad reputation, the frog responded.
"Well now, Mr. Scorpion, How do I know that if I carry you to the opposite bank of the river that you wont try to kill me?"
Because, the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would surely die as well, for you see I cannot swim!"
Now that logic seemed to make sense to the frog. But still cautious, he asked the scorpion. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore"
"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river"
"Alright then ...but how do I know you won’t just wait until we get close to the other side and then kill me?" asked the still skeptical frog.
"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so very grateful for your help that it would unfair to reward your service in that cruel way"
So the frog finally agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and picked up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back digging his claws into the frog's soft skin and clinging on for dear life.
The frog slid out into the current and began the swim across the river. The water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface and the scorpion clung on tightly so he would not drown.
The frog kicked steadily across the strong current but then halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back and turning to see what it was, out of the corner of his eye, the frog saw the scorpion remove his stinger. A cold numbness began to creep into his limbs and the frog, still carrying the scorpion, stopped swimming began to slip below the river’s surface.
"You fool!" croaked the frog, “What have you done, now we shall both die! Why on earth did you sting me?"
The scorpion gave a little shrug and as they both sank below the turbulent water he replied.
"I could not help myself. It is my nature."
The scorpion and the frog
Senate Republicans would do well to heed the lessons of the frog. If they decide to carry pResident Trump through impeachment and determine he is worthy to remain in office, by his very nature he will do again and again and again all things that come so naturally to him. He will betray his oath of office, abuse his power, soil the constitution and betray anyone and everyone in selfish pursuit of his narrow self interest and personal aggrandizement.
My message to Senate Republicans is this. Heed the lesson of the Scorpion and the Frog, don’t play the part of the frog. Stop carrying Donald J. Trump. Shake him off your backs before you all perish. Seize this opportunity.
The upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate gives 20 or so Senate Republicans immense power. More power than they could ever imagine. For those 20 can swing the decision. Those few Republican senators are in a position to exchange a profoundly ignorant, erratic, volatile, bumbling, bombastic, egomaniacal and dangerous Donald J. Trump for milquetoast Mike Pence and a chance for a clean slate in 2020.
In any sport other than American politics that trade would be a slam dunk, a no brainer, a done deal, regardless of the hometown fan reaction.
The justification to impeach is simple — the evidence is unequivocal. Trump abused his power and has defied congress in his attempts to cover up that abuse. If Republican Senators fail to do this Trump for Pence deal, we should all wonder what motivated them? Do they freely choose to retain Donald J. Trump in spite of the overwhelming evidence against him, are they all just blindly partisan, or does Trump hold receipts hanging over the jurors in his trial?