7 of our top opinion columns this week: ICYMI
In today's fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week's top USA TODAY Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback.
1. I used to cover Republicans who are cowering to Trump. I don't recognize them now
By Jill Lawrence
"For the 40 years I have written about politics, there has been something to like or respect about nearly every politician I've encountered. Even when I passionately disagreed with someone on tax or gun or war policy, there was always at least one thing. ... (The Founders) clearly anticipated and feared someone like Trump, and tried to give us the remedies and protections we'd need. Those safeguards have failed. Let's hope the union the framers envisioned doesn't fail, as well."
2. Senate acquittals of President Donald Trump leave a damaging legacy
By The Editorial Board
"Senate Republicans are no doubt congratulating themselves for staging the first impeachment trial in history with no witnesses and nothing approaching full consideration of the issues at stake. By bringing the proceedings to their predictable, preordained and premature conclusion on Wednesday, they chose the path of least resistance."
3. American trapped in Wuhan: Despite coronavirus, I won't evacuate without my wife and son
By Justin Steece
"There are about 1,000 U.S. citizens in Wuhan, and Washington evacuated 195 Americans (recently), but the process has been confusing. I first heard about the flight from the WeChat group, and I was told that Americans who do not work with the U.S. Consulate had to pay $1,000 per seat. Sadly, my wife and I were not able to get on this flight, not only because she is not an American citizen and is still recovering from her surgery, but also because they would not allow my son to board the flight."
4. If impeachment-tainted Trump loses in 2020, he'll be back
By Michael Medved
"The president reportedly despises the quotidian details of actual governance, so it’s likely he’d enjoy four years of a well-publicized (and surely profitable) permanent campaign more than the daily grind of a second term. Of course he means to win this November, but if somehow he falls short, no one should expect him to go gentle into that good night. To paraphrase another actor-politician the Donald happens to despise, even if he does lose this time: 'He’ll be back.'"
5. From snake oil to science: I peddled 'clean' eating, wellness — until I learned the facts
By Denby Royal
"For years, I was deeply embedded in the wellness world in my own life. Then I decided to work in the industry as a holistic nutritionist, praising and promoting the newest alternative health treatments and products. But not only was I unable to back it all up, I was dripping with self-righteousness over my lifestyle."
6. Sen. Bill Cassidy: House impeachment managers failed to prove case against President Trump
By Bill Cassidy
"The Constitution speaks of 'treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.' Even if House managers had proved their allegation beyond a reasonable doubt, it still would not have approached the severity of offenses like treason and bribery. It would not have been enough to remove the president."
7. Books helped me get through a life sentence. Exploitative fees rob others of benefit
By Chris Wilson
"The great resource in prison is time: the time to think and improve. The best way for prisoners to fill that time is to read. Reading opens up access to instruction across any subject. It teaches job skills. It reminds those left behind that a world exists beyond the cage. ... Imagine where we’d be if our society made a few basic investments — like covering the costs of books — for each of them. Imagine how much human potential we’re losing every day we fail to do so."
You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment acquittal, coronavirus in Wuhan, China: Top columns
