As the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump begins, it is important to inoculate the proceedings from a Democrat senator coming up with a defining quote.  Each moment in American history finally settles into words that capture the event.

Looking back at the proposed impeachment of President Nixon, we have the famous question asked by the late Senator Howard Baker (R-Tenn.): "What did the president know, and when did he know it?"  It was actually credited to the future senator Fred Thompson, who was his counsel at the time.  (I had a chance for a brief time to be a committee staff member for Thompson.)

With respect to President Clinton there are several quotes; "It all depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" or "we just have to win," by Dick Morris, as Clinton Inc. got into huge trouble, or my favorite: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman Monica Lewinsky."  

So we can bet some of the best minds are busily helping Democrat senators prepare a perfect quip.  The quip must appear to be spontaneous, and thus capture for all time their historical (in their minds) attempt to cancel the election that gave us President Trump.

So far, all that President Trump's many enemies, including 93% of media reporting against him, have managed to achieve is doubling down on being shrill, boring, and mendacious.  They have definitely lost their audience, the American people.

With their current messaging failure, it is a good bet that the Democrat senators are looking for this century's defining "no sense of decency" Senate moment.

An epic quote emerged from the Army/McCarthy hearings of 1954:

In the spring of 1954, McCarthy picked a fight with the U.S. Army, charging lax security at a top-secret army facility.

The army hired Boston lawyer Joseph Welch to make its case. At a session on June 9, 1954, McCarthy charged that one of Welch's attorneys had ties to a Communist organization As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy's career: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?" — Overnight, McCarthy's immense national popularity evaporated. 

The phrase "no sense of decency" captured and defined the hearing and McCarthyism for the ages during an early moment in television history.  What wasn't reported at the time was that counsel Joseph Welch had prepared those remarks before the hearing.  In other words, his well acted, scripted attack was made to look spontaneous.  It did work. Now, over time, many hacks have tried to use it again and again, and it is often currently in vogue being used against something President Trump has said or tweeted.

At a precipitous time in the process, all a Democrat senator needs is a baited moment to spring what he thinks will be the defining moment for the historical record.  The press will be greatly helpful in hyping what all opponents of President Trump will coalesce around, thinking they have thus created their takedown shot. 

It can be left to the imagination of readers what the moment will be.  Perhaps a finding by Chief Justice John Roberts that Senate Republicans' vote to overrule, or perhaps other moments.  But have no doubt: it is being contemplated as I write this article.

However, there are two fundamental differences.  First, it is no longer the dawn of television.  There are now many 21st-century communication media to throw an early penalty flag or sanity check pointing out that it is not a profound moment or well acted quotable statement for the ages, but just more BS packaged differently.

The second new dynamic is that they are up against President Donald Trump, the best communicator in American history.  So try as you will, Senator Schumer and your team — you can't out-Trump Trump!