The House has reached the threshold of votes required to impeach Donald Trump, on the charge of incitement of insurrection. Ten Republicans joined the vote to impeach.
Video / CNN
OPINION
Remember when Winston Peters lost the election?
Somewhat unbelievably, it has been less than three months since reporters were chasing an elusive Peters, in a late model Lexus, through the Northland countryside to seek his comment on the electoral defeat voters delivered to his party the nightbefore, election night.
Since then, Peters' Facebook page has lain dormant and his Twitter has published but one post: the outgoing Minister for Foreign Affairs paying tribute to his friends, ambassadors Hiroyasu Kobayashi (Japan) and Scott Brown (United States).
@winstonpetersnzfirst on Instagram was never too well-used, by the look, so no surprise that's still quiet.
Peters, 75, attended a function at Parliament on December 1, but said nothing in his speech of the election loss or his plans, according to reports.
The politician of 42 years - a good chunk of those as MP for Tauranga - and most recent prior Deputy Prime Minister has, I can only assume, retreated to lick his wounds and perhaps relax into a private citizen's existence that I like to imagine revolves around fishing.
Winston Peters on the campaign trail in October. Photo / File
In spite of the abruptness and many questions left unanswered in his political exit, compared to recent world events, in my view, it's still a reasonably gracious retreat for an ousted leader.
It's no "short statement and sad-smile photo op with supportive spouse" but it will do.
I've come to feel quite grateful for the reasonably quick electoral turnover period in New Zealand, in fact, as I've watched the drawn out and many-staged United States process run through an increasingly literal gauntlet.
An impeachment record holder and icon of reality television with his pre-politics stint on The Apprentice, US President Donald Trump has swiftly transitioned into the star of a disturbing spin-off from another successful format.
Let's call it, The Sorest Loser.
US president Donald Trump seems to be starring in reality spinoff The Sorest Loser. Photo / Getty Images
In The Sorest Loser, challengers compete to maintain the weight of their egos.
To win, they must not only refuse to accept any facts that will damage their egos - even when faced with overwhelming evidence - they must also attempt to recruit followers to the cause.
There's no winner in this incredibly long television event. Its legacy will be the sullying of everything it touches.
