And now we have Herr Trump defying the constitutional right and obligation of Congress to call witnesses. Each day we are sliding further and faster down a path to fascism.
Very scary news features: April 24 PBS Newshour, first feature: Election 2020 and foreign influence alarms from experts. And TYTnetwork April 24 showing McConnell telling his rich donors he will block everything if the next president is a Democrat. Rachel Maddow A Blocks this past week. I agree with commenters on this forum that the House should not be afraid of how Senate Republicans “might” act on impeachment. This is a lawless president who would be a dictator. He must be stopped. Our future elections must be protected.
Note to all politicians: please don’t say “the American people want to move on” or whatever. You do not speak for me.
24
If the Clintons or the Obamas owned hotels on which they made money every time a foreign diplomat or Secret Service agent rented a room from them, well, we can be sure that a GOP Congress would have impeached almost immediately after inauguration! Why are the Dems so lame? Impeach on Emoluments now. It's a winning argument.
16
It was a dark day when Elizabeth Drew stopped writing for The New Yorker on the reg.
And House Republicans impeached Bill Clinton for being a Democrat. His dalliance with Lewinsky was just an excuse.
12
The impeachment of Bill Clinton for sex lies by the adulterous worm Newt Gingrich seems to have removed all credibility from the constitutional process prescribed to remove corrupt, insane, and/or incompetent presidents from the office.
8
It is your duty to impeach this man! Get a spine.
14
if you can't impeach this president, then who can you impeach. The evidence is clear and he is the most deserving president EVER of impeachment. If the Dems don't do it now, they never will. Get rid of this despicable human being, he is a clear and present danger to this country.
18
Interesting that Republicans get a pass because, well, after all they are Republicans. No one even bothers to question their total abdication of responsibility, their complete capitulation to Trump and his criminality, immorality, and dementia.
When did Republicans cease being Americans? My answer: around 1996. That was when I ceased being a Republican.
19
The real danger is in immersing oneself in this reverie for 1968 world view. It seems every journalist in America is swooning over a nostalgic dream of a return to those heady days of student rebellion, John Lennon singing "Imagine no borders", throwing molotov cocktails at the Pigs, protecting Mother Earth, free pot, "do your own thing"(as long as it is the same thing as everyone else is doing)...and of course Impeaching a President.
Every wonderful fantasy about impeaching Trump begins with finding a parallel to the sordid tale of Richard Nixon.
NO originality here......its all a mind numbing replay of 1972.
Shortly after startling the youth of america, by winning an election in an Electoral LAndslide.....Nixon actually did end the Vietnam War. He would go on to sign into law....the EPA, extensions to the Voting Rights Act, EEO, Woman's Rights.
dBut Within two months(April 1973)...the inside the Beltway Crowd had begun a incredible investigation of a closed case involving standard, accepted political dirty tricks of bugging and stealing from the other teams Political HQ.
Even after midterms in 1974.....the Dems(out for revenge) still did not have enuf votes for Impeachment......only after RNC Chairman twisted a few Repub arms....did it even get close.
Finally that RNC Chairman had a closed door meeting with Nixon and dropped a dirty ultimatum....the next day, Nixon resigned.
The RNC Chairman pulling the strings?,,,,GHW BUSH
2
Excellent piece. Regarding a "crime" - there certainly is one, quite clearly laid out by Mueller.
'The Trump Campaign Conspired With the Russians. Mueller Proved It.
By the standards of a potential impeachment inquiry, the evidence is clear.'
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/opinion/mueller-trump-campaign-russia-conpiracy-.html
4
What you permit you promote.
Come on, Democrats, stand up to this law-defying, norm-obliterating, con of a president.
11
Is it me, or is this portrait of George Washington channeling Henny Youngman, "Take my president, PULEASE!!!"
3
Politically impeachment is a deadend as long as the Senate is solidly Republican.
1
I wish there was a constant parade of ads on TV and social media, just quoting the words of Republican politicians:
“Based on the Constitution, the law, and the clear Senate precedent, I conclude that these offenses (perjury and obstruction of justice) are high crimes and misdemeanors.
- Mitch McConnell, 1998
“Let it be said that any president who cheats our institutions shall be impeached.”
- Lindsay Graham, late 90s
“This great nation can tolerate a president who makes mistakes. But it cannot tolerate one who makes a mistake and then breaks the law to cover it up.”
- Orrin Hatch, 1999
“What is on trial here is the truth and the rule of law.”
- Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
“....because impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”
- Lindsay Graham, 1999
There are many, many more. Just plaster the media with these. Eventually even Graham and McConnell will wear down.
9
Our elected officials in the House of Representatives should listen to one of their own, Representative Barbara Jordan. In 1974, she delivered a short speech on the articles of impeachment. It could be spoken today. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/UG6xMglSMdk
2
"The road to that bright happy region {impeachment} is a dim narrow trail so they say. But the broad one that leads to perdition {easy way...wait for the 2020 election to extricate him from the White House} is posted and glazed all the way." "They say there will be a great roundup and cowboys {democrats} like doggies will stand. To be marked by the writers of judgement (future historians) who are posted and know every brand." These lyrics from an old cowboy song say something to the democrats who are afraid to do what they know they must. They will be noted in history books for allowing this President to get away without impeachment. They must impeach. It is the right thing to do.
3
TWO MISTRESSES hushed-up before 2016 election TO DECEIVE the American people and put an employer and a friend in the highest office in the land.
I'm just wondering: "WHO endorses 'No Problem'?"
Lawyers are still spouting-off: No crime, unless proven that Trump acted “willfully . . . with a bad purpose to disobey or disregard the law rather than in good faith.”
The point of secret hush money is BAD PURPOSE. The payments were known on April 5, 2018. The People received:
"Asked why his lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid the money if the allegations were untrue, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, 'You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael's my attorney.' Asked if he knew about the payment to Daniels, Trump said 'No.' Asked if he knew where the money came from to pay Daniels, Trump told reporters, 'No, I don’t know.'
https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1HC2SN
Trump denies MISTRESSES, HUSH MONEY, AND COVER-UP; and he used the White House Press Secretary to expand lies. Sarah Sanders: ".. the rank-and-file FBI agents had lost confidence in their director.."
WH Council cancelled Trump & Miller letter of "angry, meandering tone". Sarah Sanders and Sessions lied about Trump only using Sessions & Rosenstein recommendation.
WH Chief of Staff intensionally blocked Nielson's attempts for presidential support to prevent repeat of Russian interference. Trump benefitted in 2016; and Mulvaney is loyally ignoring Russia for 2020.
Congress has a duty.
2
It's a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation. The clock is rapidly ticking toward the 2020 election. Hearings and an investigation are going to take months. Likely outcome, given the present makeup of Congress, "deja vu all over again" as happened with Clinton: impeached in the House, but not convicted in the Senate. Trump would claim his non-conviction as vindication, much as he has with the tepid results of the Mueller report, rallying his base against those "spiteful liberal Democrats."
On the other hand, not impeaching does carry the worry of setting a bad precedent. If we don't hold the line of accountability with Trump, we may have to deal with even worse down the road. Trump makes the case for impeachment even stronger with all the fight against subpoenas by Congress for his financial records and the like. If he's truly got nothing to hide, truly is as innocent as the proverbial angelic choirboy, what's he so afraid of? Trump may want to echo Nixon, "I am not a crook," but the suspicion of "Crooked Donald" seems to be getting far more likely than whatever amount of truth exists in the "Crooked Hillary" epithet.
7
To proceed quickly ; to impeach that is to carpe diem...seize
the day or that is the initiative to followed the road to impeachment road map that Bob Mueller has clearly made
for the case of obstruction of justice which Trump is easy to
prove....
Yes; the Democratic House Members cannot let time pass
without making their oaths of office their primary goal...
there is no other choice; because if politics is their goal and
not our Constitutional rights...the Democrats are just a partisan as the phony Republicans who say they support
Donald Trump...who so rightly deserves to be impeached
by the Dems as well as the GOP....We cannot let Vladimir Putin ….claim victory...can we....as Mitch McConnell this
question...ask Justice John Roberts this question...as General
Mattis this question...do we want Putin's man to continue as
our President....don't you think we deserve to ask leaders of
Congress and how about asking Attorney General Bill Barr
does he want Vladimir's man as our President...just go and
ask in front of all the TV cameras...because that IS the question isn't it....who is running this country Vladimir or
we the people...go ask...and don't be shy....about it....and don't kick the can down the road....ok !!!!
2
America's BIG PROBLEM.
How to get the BULL out of the China shop.
1
DEMS must hold their impeachment water until they have a senate majority.
1
If the Dems try the impeachment thing they will get trounced next election. They need to dial it down. Sore losers
1
Give Donald Trump the same justice that Loretta Lynch gave Hillary Clinton.
1
While the Constitution and separation of powers...and which branch has them...is important in any administration. Which party holds each chamber in the Congress is also critical. The GOP is more threatened by Trump than any other factor. The GOP holds the Senate. And, politics, even in the Watergate Affair, we central to what happened. Note that Agnew had to be eliminated before anyone moved more easily to impeachment. No Democrat wants Pence. Political considerations are always on the mind of those in power in D.C. Read the article by Philip Wallach to see why this time around is no different, yet very different in the factors moving the power brokers' decisions. Getting rid of Trump, most likely better without impeachment, in 2020 is the political move. If he wins after all the impeachable crimes and misdemeanors he's evidenced in the past two years, the American public and its system is obviously broken and the country deserves him. https://www.rstreet.org/2018/04/26/when-congress-won-the-american-peoples-respect-watergate/
To summarize, half the people think we should impeach though there's no chance Trump will be held accountable and the other half think we should not impeach as there is no chance Trump will be held accountable.
Somebody needs to finally have the guts to point to the obvious truth: The wealthy and powerful are NOT..I repeat NOT subject to US law. Just say it. End this laughable charade once and for all. What's the point of it? We don't put Presidents in jail. EVER. Most of them SHOULD be in jail (many for crimes dwarfing in horror and severity the crimes of Trump), but that can not happen here. Our system forbids it. Period.
1
You do understand that there has been no crime, don’t you?
All of the criminal charges were brought with the sole purpose of encouraging the defendants to “roll over” and give evidence on the conspiracy.
Does anyone really believe that these defendants actually decided to go to jail rather than answer questions?
In order for anyone to believe that there was a ‘hack’ carried out by the Russian government as described by Mueller in his indictment we must believe;
1. That the investigation traced the cyber footprints back to the GRU headquarters in Moscow. One problem the GRU no longer functions as an intelligence gathering operation and hasn’t since the early 1990s. It is now the operational control unit of the counter terrorism branch of the Spetsnaz.
2. That the investigation identified by name the 12 individuals involved. Except that all of the names are the equivalent of “John Doe” or if you prefer “Ivan Ivanovich”.
A quick review of the applicable federal law reveals that obstruction requires the overt attempt to prevent the prosecution of a crime. Once the investigation revealed absolutely no crime. The underpinnings of the obstruction claim falls to pieces.
Beyond that each of the obstruction claims stems from the President lawfully executing his duties as POTUS. Remember each employee of the executive branch serves at the pleasure of the President. Firing Comey didn’t prevent him from answering questions.
Please try to impeach, a gift to the Republicans.
1
Since the Mueller Report Report was presented, the latest polls confirmed that Trump's approval rating dropped by at least 6 points so the idea that the "threat" of impeachment would be a risk to the democrats is unfounded. The risk of NOT doing it is a much bigger, especially for future Presidents who might believe they could, without repercussions, flout the law.
Trump will ALWAYS have his committed followers, no matter what including 90% of Republicans, so that won't change. The idea that current Independents or some democrats would change their mind and vote for Trump because of potential impeachment proceedings is nonsense.
4
The case for impeaching this president must be made by the Democrats on behalf of the American people, not just the party. This president has failed to protect and defend the constitution by his continued denial of the credible interference by the Russians in the 2016 elections and the credible impending threat to our 2020 elections by the same or, perhaps, other foreign adversaries. His failure to acknowledge the warnings of our national security agencies and to mobilize efforts to counteract these attacks on our democracy provide a clear and present danger to our nation.
This is the national issue to which all Americans can relate and stand. Not only is this the right issue and right time, the right action for Congress is to start impeachment proceedings as a matter of duty. This president must face Congressional consequences and know that the American people are holding him accountable to protect us from foreign cyber "invasion." He must know that the American people, not just the Democratic party, are holding him accountable to protect our constitution,
2
Congress has a duty to do it, period.
They can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Even Fox (KGB TV) News’ judge Napolitano said, on Fox, that trump committed numerous acts of obstruction, which he enumerated.
Republican controlled senate is full of despicable hypocrites.
4
Congress has a constitutional obligation to provide oversight. Impeachment is a political decision.
There is no obligation to impeach but there is a constitutional obligation to provide oversight.
House Chairs should just go about their oversight responsibility with a firm purpose. If they provide a deadline they must enforce it---not grant continuing delays. This is the people's work that they were elected to perform.
If witnesses refuse to honor subpoena's then they need to enforce them absent all the talk and drama. Sam Ervin simply stated they either come and testify or go to jail. Not very complicated.
This approach should apply across the board. No drama---just do your constitutional duty and stop the drama. The American people will listen to the testimony and decide for themselves if they want the President impeached.
1
Drew prefers looking brave to getting rid of Trump in 2020.
That's beyond silly - it's stupid. Failed impeachment (which is unquestionably what will happen) is Trump's best hope for re-election.
Those who urge impeachment are desperate to save America from this viciously destructive President.
But a failed impeachment, which is guaranteed, is Trump's best hope for re-election.
If you think he's harmful now, will he be like when the Senate "vindicates" him and he has 4 more years to undermine the nation?
I tend to lean toward Nancy Pelosi's reasoning. But when Elizabeth Drew speaks I must listen. This is a tough one. My fallback has to be Dianne Feinstein. What is her position?
..."Trump deserves impeachment. But we're not going to impeach him. So that we can win the next election"....
The American people have Mueller's Report, kind of. Most of us are not going to have an emotional reaction to 400 pages of investigation. But we will have an emotional reaction to televised person-to-Congress testimony that explains what happened on a blow by blow basis. I'm old enough to remember the Watergate investigation and live broadcasts that kept us riveted to the Nixon story. The nation will be emotionally ready for impeachment when the Trumpgate story is unfolded in a made-for-tv drama.
A TV spectacle may be the only way that Americans will be persuaded that the current 'executive' administration is killing our democracy.
1
The most important reason to impeach is to get him off the ballot. He is going nowhere and Ms. Drew and house Democrats know it. Two thirds of the senate would have to vote to remove him. No chance. The first two years of Trump's presidency, Trump's haters have gleefully thought about Mueller exposing Putin and Trump planning how Russia could help him. It was a self-delusional prediction. It never happened. They were wringing their hands in anticipation the Steele dossier, paid for by the DNC and Clinton to obtain raunchy details from some Russians about Trump. It was used by Mueller's team to wiretap Carter Page. They never revealed who paid for the information in their application and Page has not been charged for anything. Popadopoulos, for his horrible crimes got 14 days, out in 12. There never was any collusion. So now their hopes are on obstruction. What did he obstruct? Comey was fire for what he wouldn't release, not for what he planned to release. Mueller wasn't fired. He was given full and free access to the staff and documents in the White house. Rosenstein offer to resign was turned down. There is no question of the bias of the investigation. One of Mueller's own team got caught sending texts that he was going to do anything he could to keep Trump from being president. Democrats accomplished nothing legislatively during the last to two years and now they will spend the next two years in committee meetings to get trump but nothing else. This is all a waste.
I think Trump, Barr and the Trump mob are trying to make the Democrats think that Trump is trying to set a trap by baiting them into impeaching him so they don’t impeach.
I think what Nixon and Bill Clinton did combined would not even make the top 25 of Trump’s impeachable offenses.
The House needs to impeach Trump, period.
2
The rationale of the Republicans, unspoken, seems to be that while they all know that Trump is a crook, they are afraid of their base, so, for totally political reasons, they will support him.
The rationale of the Democrats, spoken out loud, is that while they should impeach him for his crimes, but due to political reasons, they may be unwilling to do so.
The Democrats also say that they want to look like they are focusing on getting things done. Well, let’s face it, with the GOP holding the Senate, the Whitehouse and the SCOTUS, they aren’t going to get anything done. It could be that the best thing they can do is to have a trial where they can lay out all the evidence for the American people and then get the GOP senators on the record voting not to convict a crook.
I am directing people to a letter in today's Financial Times by Eugene Cohen. He poses four questions for Trump. It's critical as outlined recently by Prof. Tribe at Harvard that Congress do its job. The Cohen Queries will for sure sink this calamitious, corrupt administration.
I can't agree with Ms. Drew's perceptions here. She writes as if there were a finite possibility that the Senate might convict President Trump. There isn't. The worst evidence that anyone's wildest imagination can think of, if it actually were found, would be declared "fake" or just "the President carrying out his constitutional responsibilities". If the House impeaches President Trump, he will remain in office, and his chances of being elected to a second term will increase significantly. I'm also amazed by Ms. Drew's statement that the real reason that Republicans impeached President Clinton was because he had sex with an intern in the Oval Office. They impeached him because Bill Clinton was a Democrat who had interrupted what, after Reagan and the elder Bush, was supposed to be permanent Republican tenure of the presidency, like the "permanent Republican majority" in Congress that triumphalist Republicans spoke of. That was why the Clintons were accused informally of murder and anything else that could be invented against them. Republicans hated President Obama above all because he was a Democrat. That he is black made it worse to them, but any Democratic president would have been illegitimate to them. And they can't imagine that Democrats would impeach President Trump for any reason except a mirror image form of the same attitude. Winning the 2020 election is the only realistic way for Democrats to remove an unbalanced, dishonest person from the presidency.
1
"The Democrats may succeed in avoiding a tumultuous, divisive fight over impeachment now. But if they choose to ignore clear abuses of the Constitution, they’ll also turn a blind eye to the precedent they’re setting and how feckless they’ll look in history."
Another aspect of putative Democratic fecklessness is related to Mueller's observation that Trump was restrained and frustrated by pushback from White House staffers such McGahan and Sessions and Comey. The supply of such honest, conscientious and patriotic public servants is dwindling due to resignations, firings etc. Once there are no such staff left, so is there no associated restraint on Trump to prevent him from doing anything, ANYTHING, he wants, and future generations of Americans may lament our failure to stop Trump when we had a chance!
The Democrats do not have an obligation to impeach Trump but they do have an obligation to do what is right for the country. Putting Trump through impeachment proceedings that will not result in removal from office is not beneficial to the country.
To be sure, Trump is unfit for office; he is unethical, immoral, and lacks the intellectual chops for the office, but the framers wrote into our Constitution another way to deal with the incompetent - a short term in office that requires a public vote to gain another term. That is what the Dems need to concentrate on: keeping up the investigations and vigilance on this corrupt person to ensure the public is well aware of what Trump is come 2020.
It seems as if Pelosi and the Dems are giving trump and Republicans a pass, yet again, on their abusive behaviors - from stealing a SCOTUS justice, voter suppression, vote fraud by Republicans, defending the Russians by defending trump, and the rest of it highlighted in the Mueller report and in legitimate press accounts.
Republicans, on the other hand, won't let the Dems off the hook for trivialities like deleting SPAM from a personal e-mail account, or lying about a personal sexual indiscretion between consenting adults (but dismiss GOP pedophile candidates running for Congress), and are audacious and vindictive enough to accuse their opponents of murder actually done by real terrorists (Benghazi). Compare whitewater investigation by Republicans to their investigation of the Moscow Tower project. Or the fake Uranium scandal versus the real Saudi, UAE Jared deal and scam.
The double standard in accountability between the two sides is astounding with the left easy pushovers and the right vindictive and malicious frauds.
Impeach, indict and lock 'em all up.
Congress must act. They cannot allow this to stand.
What a joke. You can't help but feel contempt for those who focus on a long and probably irresolvable debate on whether trump is impeachable and neglect a positive agenda that will attract voters to the Democratic party and secure great benefit for the lower and middle classes. The following are at the heart of what makes our party different from the Republicans and should be stressed:
A living minimum wage of $!5.
Government sponsored Health-Care-For-All.
Free tuition at state colleges, and most important:
Control of the banks whose risky ventures were instrumental in bringing bring about the 2008 debacle.
The urgency is great, not to only remove a renegade know-nothing from the entertainment world, tool of the wealthy (another fanatic will replace him) but to push for the people's agenda to be enacted .
2
Impeachment is not an option. IT IS A NECESSITY. It is the job of the democrats to make sure there is not another DT waiting in the wings. The disrespect of the Presidency, the nepotism, the flouting of the law, the racism, all in plain sight gives a majority in the house the mandate to start proceedings. The Mueller report does not have to be read to see the arrogance, listen to the lies, and see the people who he has named to his cabinet. If not now, when? Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their party.
Given that the Republicans in Congress will not protect the Constitution, the Democrats must. While impeachment hearings will energize Trumps base, it is incumbent on Congress to hold them and to educate the public on the facts of the case. Trump will cry "fake news" witch hunt" and "presidential harassment". The Democrats must explain "presidential malfeasance" and just what "high crimes and misdemeanors" were committed by Trump. Trump will fight, but the Democrats must fight as well or Trump will believe that he IS above the law and his actions will become more undemocratic and Republicans will become less supportive of our Constitution. Democrats, including Ms. Pelosi, do not be of a weak heart, take the fight to the tyrant!
The anti Russia hysteria, or what never Trump types like to call, signs and indications, are just wrong. Trump is a loud mouth bigoted fraud who lucked into a full blown economic recovery. The blame is the Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign that was just plain plug ugly. These so called principled arguments just don't cut it especially with the laughable claims that the Russians demoralized the American voters. Now the country has to deal with a dumb electoral college system that seems to make a Trump second term likely.
Freedom loving people all over the world will be left wondering how this American president escaped justice by virtue of a DOJ memorandum which was not the law but was accepted by the FBI as their holy writ.
Trump used this memorandum to diminish the FBI and desecrate their name by calling the investigation a witch hunt. The FBI and Department of Justice are supposed to protect the people from criminals, not make it possible for the US president to commit criminal acts and get by with it.
That DOJ memorandum has to be amended so this can never happen again. Mueller, seeing that justice could not be done and after investigating the president for two years, did what was expected of a man who believed that no person is above the law and the Constitution is the basis of all our laws.
Mueller tried to correct the dictates of the DOJ memorandum by passing the obligation to do justice to the Congress.
Autocratic governments protect criminal leaders. That should not happen in the United States.
Impeach this president to save our democracy.
So it's all up to the Democrats? Knowing that the Senate and the Supreme Court are now both lackeys of Trump and the extreme right-wing, I guess that's what it's come down to. We need one Party that cares about this country and the Constitution...so yes, we're left with the Democrats to protect us and maintain the rule of law and our democracy.
The photo of Richard Nixon brought back memories of a gut wrenching time in US history. Maybe the media can continue to remind us of that time- perhaps a split screen with photos of Nixon then & Trump now? A picture is worth a thousand words...
I think an official impeachment inquiry by the House is inevitable.
They simply cannot lay own and play dead to Trump.
What in the world are we waiting for? My opinionis that Democrats must start impeachment soon. Most (75% per the polls) want impeachment. trump is not "allowing his people" to testify. What? Isn't that against the law? At the very least they can do as he did, answering a writting questionarne giving responses "I don't recall" 37 times.
Barr is just going to spew his own twist on the report. I'm not sure what else Mueller can tell that is not already in the report. I hope the House is not waiting for his opinion about impeachment. He already that in his 2 year report.
Democrats need to their their job. Two years of republican moaning and groaning about the republicans doing nothing against trump. I hope that is not the case for this Democrat House.
Trump just might win in 2020. There are some Democrats who write they will not support the nominee if their person loses. I hope they will come to their senses and elect whoever the Democrat candidate is. Democrats must rid the WH of that liar corrput man who does serve our country.
I would like the media to stop talking about a man who is thoroughly mean. Young people are avoiding news because they don't want this nastiness inflicted upon them. Some people cheer his meanness; obviously I'm not talking about them. I suggest good news outlets shift to reporting extensively on leaders around the world who perform kind acts that can inspire people to be good. Bury news and opinions about this mean man somewhere it won't be seen.
Democrats will have to answer to history? How about McConnell, Meadows, and Jordan - the three will have to answer to the devil as well.
Imagine if every headline about Trump that we read was instead about Obama and happened during the Obama presidency. "Obama may colluded with Russia.", "Obama asks Russians for help during election", etc., etc., etc. The American right would have gone completely off the rails.
This debate wouldn't even be happening for the G.O.P. They'd have impeached him already.
Please do impeach. It's Trump's best chance of prevailing in 2020. Seriously.
Democrats who " worry that his skill at hurling spitballs and assigning humiliating nicknames, and his relish for the fight... could end in their failure to win an impeachment fight" are not worth their name. There is no place for wimps in the Democratic party.
IMPEACH. Congress needs impeach Donald Trump. He needs to be impeached so he can be indicted for the tax invasion and other illegal issues since they feel a sitting President can not be indicted. God help us if he stays in for an additional four years.
Americans lack discipline.
After 8 years of silence, Americans can now say God Bless America again and protect our little children from immoral and indecent laws. This election was not about emails, nor about jobs or money. This election was about putting God back in the equation and in doing so, Trump will make America great again.
Christians do not use the constitution to demand that atheists and agnostics go to church nor believe in God, Jesus, the 10 commandments nor the Holy Bible....that is their choice. However, atheists and agnostics abuse the constitution in their demand that Christian families and their children accept indecent and immoral laws. Is this what separation of church and state is all about??
Of course the president must be impeached, as he has committed multiple crimes against the USA, and must be held to account for them. If not, Congress and Democracy will look weak. In summary, the president must be impeached, and in addition, America must vote Republicans out of office in 2020.
“Ms Drew is a journalist based in Washington who covered Watergate”. Ms Drew is a fantasist attempting to recreate A 45 year old journalistic triumph. The fact that the 21st century American public no longer relies on professional print journalism to inspire political and social opinions appears to be sadly lost on her and on the NYT.
I find it amazing that the Democrats would not leap at this chance to hold Trump accountable for his egregious behavior. While the collusion issue was obviously a stretch propagated by unhinged cable news hosts, there is ample evidence laid out by Mueller indicating that Trump tried to obstruct the investigation of collusion. I realize the Democrats are incredibly weak and timid when confronting Republicans but what does it take for them to grow a spine and go on the offensive? Trump is incredibly unpopular with an approval rating of only 28% and even a majority of those polled that voted for him in the last election say they will definitely not vote for him. In other words, there is NO political down side to impeaching this disaster. Not impeaching him plays right into Trump narrative that the Democrats are weak and he will spin it as indicating that the Democrats are guilty of something and even they know that impeaching him is wrong. Do Democrats really want to give him that gift going into an election?
304
@FXQ
Totally agree. I think the House should take the Mueller report at face value and proceed immediately to impeachment. What's the use of additional investigations by Congress?
Take the Mueller report as true, impeach NOW, and move on. Making quick work of it will pull the rug out from under the argument that Dems want to draw things out. Plus, it puts the pressure on Republican senators to decide whether the rule of law matters.
25
@FXQ
So youre admitting the collusion issue was a stretch??
That means youre admitting Trump was innocent, that the story was a hoax.
So now you want to go after an innocent man who fought back against an investigation that should never have been initiated in the first place?
4
@FXQ
According to https://fivethirtyeight.com/ Trump's approval rating is currently 41.5%. Where did you get the 28% figure from?
11
The Democratic line is:
Trump deserves impeachment. But we're not going to impeach him. So that we can win the next election.
Democrats were not elected to win the next election. They were elected to do a job. If they can't persuade the public that the low-life in the oval office should be impeached, then they are not qualified to hold office.
1405
@Diego
It's likely there will be no election. Trump is avoiding even acknowledging within his own administration that Russia is a threat, and is taking no action. Why? So in the lead up to 2020 election, if his numbers are as bad as they are now, (or after the election if he loses) he can suspend/invalidate the election saying that Russian meddling had an impact. Then he'll say that a new election will be scheduled for some time in the future. And the GOP will go along with it.
54
@Diego In theory, I agree fully. The unhappy practical political reality is that unless the Republicans in Congress start thinking for themselves instead of moving lockstep in a goosestep, impeachment will change no one's mind and give an increasingly tyranical DT more ammunition against his witch hunt.
22
@Diego
Why is all the heat on the Democrats? The storyline from media, including the NYTs, has been that the Dems are in serious trouble if the redacted Mueller Report doesn't identify wrong doing by Trump and his goons. Well, the report shows wrong doing by Trump and his goons and the Democrats are in trouble. If they impeach they lose. If Dems don't impeach they lose.
Maddening.
How about this publication and other media asking the Senate Republicans the question if overwhelming evidence of crimes are presented by the House, will they vote to convict this president, or will they become participants in Trumps ongoing lawlessness and crimes.
299
About Democratic timidity and impeachment, I am wondering how much of that is about avoiding exposing fractures within the party. A bit in the same reason of its timidity getting behind a muscled climate change mitigation policy. With our election process setup giving third party no chance of having much influence, the democrats as the become the house of "not the openly corrupted republicans".
That is a lot of space to cover. From the clearly somewhat corrupted pro-status quo cynical democrats to a lot more liberal and idealistic "lets rewrite the rules" folks.
Lets not foul ourselves, we need to both enforce the rules we have
and rewrite the rules in big ways as the world changed tremendously in the last 50 years and is bound to change even faster in the next 50.
1
This obsession that some liberals have with impeaching President Trump makes me think of the fight that Russian Social Democrats had over the Nikolay Bauman affair in 1902. While I am not a Social Democrat or any kind of Socialist, I understand the frustration that Vladimir Lenin felt with his fellow Social Democrats who were willing to put the need to punish Bauman before other priorities that would affect the lives of millions of people. Today, there seem to be many liberals (including Ms. Drew) who seem to think that impeaching President Trump is more important than winning the 2020 election, even though the results of that election could affect the lives and health care of millions of people.
The question of whether to hold off on impeaching Trump due to consideration of political practicalities or to proceed to impeach based on principled action in defense of the nation is indeed a dilemma. I tend to favor the latter and, like Ms. Drew, believe that the judgment of history will agree. It may even be that the electorate will favor Democrats in 2020 regardless of what the Senate decides in an impeachment trial, rewarding them for putting the country ahead of party politics. The flaw in my own argument, however, is that many Americans have already demonstrated, by voting for Trump in the first place, that ethics, principle and integrity matter less to them than what they perceive to be their own self interest...much like Trump. So the uncertainty and the dilemma remains.
would much much rather be on Ms. Drew's potentially "wrong" side of history than take a chance on having Trump win a second term that our beloved RBG will likely not survive. i totally agree with Mr. Lockhart's view that impeachment poses too large a risk for Democrats in the 2020 election. Beat Trump at the ballot box!
Clinton was impeached, but not convicted, in December of 1998 toward the end of his second term and there were no more midterms left while he was in office. There was no downside for the Republicans when considered whether to impeach or not. However, the starr investigation had raised a lot of resentment among Democratic voters and there was a good chance Clinton would have been reelected in spite of his impeachment if he'd had another term left.
We know today that if this president were impeached by the Democratic House he would not be convicted in the Republican Senate and he has another term left. I can hear Trump now crowing about proof of his innocence. The downside for the Democrats and for the country is huge. We cannot risk bringing charges against the president unless there is irrefutable evidence that Republicans cannot ignore.
Republicans have proven capable of ignoring just about anything. Why not proceed with irrefutable evidence that decent folk can’t ignore? Why let the GOP set the rules? That’s a guaranteed loss.
2
President Ford paid the price for not holding Nixon accountable. Obama didn't hold Bush accountable for a fake reason to start a war with Iraq. Its bad enough that the House has not held anyone in the administration in contempt of Congress or charged the White House with obstruction given their orders to refuse subpoenas. To not attempt impeachment is ignoring their oath to defend the Constitution. They might as well just go home and let the Executive branch tweet legislation.
3
I wish the Democrats would stop equivocating about what is best for the party, and look at what is best in terms of upholding the constitution. Otherwise, they are almost as guilty as the Republicans that support Trump (in spite of his horrendous behaviors) for the "good" of their party.
5
It is disappointing to read an experienced, mature reporter like Ms. Drew advocating the Dems to move forward with impeachment. She seems to make the case that the Trump situation parallels Nixon and Watergate. However, one of the many problems with that comparison is that Nixon was caught red-handed about Watergate while Trump (I'm not a fan and didn't vote for him); Mr. Trump has not been caught doing anything other than exercising poor judgment including every time he Tweets.
Their duty is to "support and defend the Constitution".
The hearings, investigations and oversight are their duty to provide a check on the Executive and inform the public
Impeachment iwithout conviction and removal is, in essence, "vindication" for Trump and condemnation for the House Democrats.
If the votes are in the Senate, proceed. If not, issue a letter of censure and include the "findings are clear and once out of office, the president can and should be held accountable as the facts and laws of our land dictate".
This fulfills their duty, informs the public and holds the president responsible before the law, when the time is right.
Martyrdom is not a strategy.
2
I would like to place emphasis on what others have already stated: a failed impeachment would nearly guarantee the re-election of Mr. Trump. A carefully executed, in-depth review of the Mueller report by the House is a good first step toward ensuring his political downfall.
1
What Drew does not mention is that during Watergate the people trusted Congress more than they do now. Under this criminal president, the Executive was able to begin the final push from execution of the law to making law when it looted the Treasury under the National Emergencies Act to finance the Wall, and vetoed the law that would have corrected that looting, a veto which Congress failed to override.
The Executive has been on the road to omnipotence—monarchy—since the Congress voted to expunge its censure motion of President Andrew Jackson from its journals. The impeachment of Andrew Johnson provided a thirty-year reprieve. Now, because the voters no longer fully trust the Congress to make laws, the Congress is beginning to realize its impotence. Just as I doubt that Congress's Sergeant-at-Arms can arrest Trump for contempt of Congress, I doubt that he will resign if impeached by the House, or leave office if removed on conviction by the Senate, or leave office after being defeated in the 2020 election. This guy's a Caesar that the Senate can't fight.
I can only hope that the military he commands will remember that they took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, not to obey the Executive.
4
Most important for our, or any country - adherence to its laws and respect for its Constitution. People have died to defend our country. All we’re asking is for a few people to put their jobs on the line - and these are people that will always have a fallback position, they don’t really loose anything compared to what others have lost.
From the beginning of our country there have been debates and power struggles and self-interest. While there has been political turmoil and in the case of the Civil War, actual death and destruction, we’ve made it through by facing the crises head on. Starting hearings, finding the truth is important.
Voters may not understand all the implications that Trump represents for the destruction of our Constitution and ultimately our way of life, but our leaders need to be able to investigate all aspects of Trump’s alliances and modes of destruction.
At the same time, voters need a vision of why we are going through this process and where this is all taking us, what will constitute the better society. If Democrats base everything just on electability and try to avoid the real issue, they are no better that the lies they say they want to confront.
8
It's past time for our government to stop pussyfooting around with the decision to impeach or not impeach this bully of a man who has made it very clear that he will defy any attempts to control his behavior. He thinks it is his right to run the country the same way he has always managed his businesses. His authority is not to be questioned, and in his own words "his people do what he tells them to do." The United States is not one of his real estate empires. It is a country formed on the blood and sacrifice, ideas and adventurous spirit, bold inventions and chances taken of thousands of people who value freedom and love of independence. It is a model of democracy envied by many and duplicated by few. How many of us truly care whether or not an elected official is able to maintain his or her seat in the House or Senate if they are unwilling to fulfill their oath of office. If not, then they are no better than the President.
8
It's clear that Mueller felt constrained by the OLC opinion of "not indicting a sitting President". But then he went into great detail about Congressional power to impeach and provided them with the facts needed. Additionally, he reminded us that impeachment provides only for removal from office, and that punishment for crimes committed could then be accomplished after removal. He also spent dozens of pages verbally destroying the defense arguement that the President could not obstruct justice by performing his Article II powers. (It was almost like he was smacking them around a little bit) I found it fascinating. Bottom line is: Mueller did not go into such detail to then say...'nothing to see here'. One of my favorite lines is from a former prosecutor who said, " It never took me 400 pages to say 'nothing happened'."
7
No. This is a trap. Under no circumstances will a sufficient numbers of Republican senators vote to convict. This is not 1974. Giants like Howard Baker and Barry Goldwater do not exist.
Impeachment would result in acquittal by the Senate. Then we would be treated to another round of "total exoneration" and "They're persecuting me" self-pity. Both of those play to his base and financial supporters, both of which have surrendered principle to indulgence in racism and rent-seeking.
Remove this menace in the 2020 election. While we're at it, sweep away the debris of the once-proud, but now sadly-dishonored, Republican Party.
2
@thomas briggs, I think you missed the central point of Drew's article—the reason that an impeachment, even without conviction, is necessary for a non-tyrannous future.
3
@thomas briggs
Trump will say say anything so we need to quit worrying about what horrible thing will come from him.
History will judge us for not doing our duty. The facts are clear - nobody in our nation's history has behaved this badly or illegally as president. Trump must be impeached. Let the Republicans defend the indefensible.
Why lecture Times readers on the chances of a conviction in the Senate?
Do you sincerely believe your fellow commenters are unaware of that likelihood?
If the objective is to get rid of Trump, the obvious way is to defeat him in the 2020 election. The surest way not to do so is to proceed with an impeachment process that has ZERO prospect of getting rid of him and almost guarantees his re-election.
Remembering the wise adage that at night all cats are gray, we should be seeking ONLY the best and surest way to end the Trump nightmare for the sake of our country.
1
We are representative democracy not a plebiscite. If the Dems conflate impeachment with the next election then it is no different from McConnell not advancing the nomination of Garland. At that point there is no difference between the parties and you don't vote at all.
6
@JL
This is just silly. Keeping Trump from winning in 2020 makes us Republicans.
Wake up, my friend.
@JL: The US Government is a public corporation with a board of directors comprised of the Congress and Senate.
At a minimum, the House must hold hearings on the findings in the Mueller Report.
Unfortunately, the legalese and nuances of the Mueller Report allow for distorting spin. And Mueller opined on the criminal law aspects not on national security aspects. Hearings will bring clarity.
From the national security perspective, the facts outlined by Mueller are frightening. It shows Trump the Candidate and his Campaign as welcoming the Russian help, encouraging further help, and not doing the one thing that would have stopped the Russians: report the strange Russian contacts to the FBI.
The Mueller Report also lays out some of Trump’s business interests with Russians and the possibility that there are pornographic tapes with Trump in Moscow. Both suggest Putin leverage over Trump and raise national security concerns.
And Trump as President has given this country more reason to fear that he is doing what is best for Putin, not the US. Indeed, his actions seem based on Putin’s agenda. Congress and his aides have had to step in and overrule him occasionally. And he has failed to take steps necessary to protect this country from further election interference by foreign countries.
We must have hearings to allay concerns that Trump can perform his duties. And, if the House decides to impeach on national security concerns, let the Senate Republicans go on record as betraying the country.
6
E. Drew and her coterie leads the Resistance and will never concede that their foolish promotion of Hillary was a mistake. Imagining that Trump is Nixon and is low-hanging fruit, politically , works to Trump’s advantage. I doubt Drew loves Pence but I do not doubt she hates Trump.
2
@Scott G Baum Jr, I think we may be bigger than a coterie, Mr. Baum, though I do agree—and you're part of the evidence—that not enough of us understand the threat to the Republic and to Constitution (short-term and long-term) posed by the Business Right and its unaccountably popular catspaw and would-be Caesar, Donald Trump.
2
Trump must be held accountable for the awful things he has done and will continue to do. He must be impeached because (a) he will not cooperate with any of the normal oversight actions (letters, subpoenas, hearings), (b) the enforcement bodies (DOJ, Courts) are controlled by republicans and (c) if the DOJ guidelines say he can't be indicted, it MUST be that has to be impeached for crimes and misdemeanors.
3
@Charles pack
He will not be impeached and you know it.
The Democrats are apparently fearful that impeachment would lead to more divisiveness. I doubt that is even possible.
7
The chance that the Senate will convict is much higher than the chance of a trump victory in 2016. He was bucking odds of 11 to 1 and the Senate is about 2 to 1 against.
Yesterday Fox News commentator Napolitano, a former consultant for Trump, a judge, voiced the opinion that Trump is guilty of many counts of obstruction of justice. The Republican wall is beginning to crack!
6
Reality check: it makes no sense to invoke Congressional responsibility when the Republicans in both chambers of Congress are adamantly opposed to criticizing President Trump, much less to impeaching or convicting him.
Stop this Democratic feel-good talk. Channel the energy of disgust into constructive legislative proposals which, even if rejected in the Senate, show the Democrats trying to govern to meet the needs of Americans, and give the America voting population something positive to vote for.
There is nothing in the Mueller report that supports impeachment. No evidence of collusion, cooperation, conspiracy -- whatever the media chooses to cal it today -- between the Trump campaign and Russia.
As for obstruction -- no evidence for that either. As president, Trump has the authority to fire people in the executive branch. No investigations were impeded. He was being investigated for a non crime.
If the author wishes to lay out a case for impeachment, please do so. I don't read anything here that supports impeachment. But then again, facts never stop a journalist from pushing a narrative.
2
@Ralphie, Drew read the Mueller Report. I think we both should trust that those who have read it know more about what's in it than those who have not. Especially if those who have read it (like Napolitano and Drew) have no record of lying. Eg., AG Barr has read it but seems to readers I trust to have lied about it.
1
Congrats, Ralphie!
Your audition to be the next Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh or Laura Ingraham passed with flying colors!
How does a “democracy” impeach a President impartially? Let me make my bias clear. I did note vote or buy the blatant, demagogic nationalism of Donald Trump. His views of our country and its place in the theater of world affairs is abhorrent to me. At this crucial nexus of worldwide, interconnected concerns, he is a bitter pill to swallow and we are stepping backward and not forward.
Now, the seeming ancillary and oxymoronic need for an “impartial impeachment.” First off, with a Republican Senate it will never be voted affirmatively, but that’s not its purpose. As a people in the still nascent stage of assessing this best/worst form of governing, we need to figure out the parameters of power. It won’t be amicable but it should be civil, as the discussion may bridge the divide fomented by this administration.
Let the healing begin.
4
The Democrats look weak if they don't proceed with impeachment. The redacted Mueller report provides the roadmap. To do nothing is a total abrogation of their responsibility to hold a rogue lawless president accountable and will set a dangerous precedent. I understand the trepidation based on the Clinton impeachment. However, Clinton lied about sex. Trump's offenses are exponentially more serious. Trump threatens our national security, undermines our democratic institutions, lies, obstructs, and abuses power. It's time to stop the hand wringing and impeach.
4
My goodness Ms. Drew: "Republicans didn’t want to say out loud what they were actually going after him for: extramarital sex with an intern."
Clinton wasn't impeached because he had sex with an intern. He was impeached in an effort by the Republicans to overturn the previous two elections. What in the world do you think Whitewater was about?
Then this: "they’ll also turn a blind eye to...how feckless they’ll look in history."
When we talk about history's judgement we're talking (if we're talking about anything really) about historical consensus. Should the House not impeach Trump it will get little more than a footnote in what gets written about this era and consensus doesn't form around footnotes.
1
The danger in not impeaching president Trump is that he will continue his presidency for 2 more years to the detriment of American democracy. Special Counsel Robert Mueller disclosed several incidents of obstruction of justice by Donald Trump in his lengthy 2 year investigation.
Time for Congress to start impeachment proceedings against our lawless and unfit and ignorant president and his people. Misdemeanors and crimes abound. We are in crisis in our democracy today. The danger in Congress not acting soon is more dire than we can imagine.
We lived through Watergate in 1973, and it's now time for us to go through the fire against Donald Trump.
4
Trump coming to power is turning out to be like a deadly cobra bite on American decency and democracy. How badly damaged will we be before we come out of this nightmare.
3
Trump should be impeached because of "high crimes and misdemeanors"
Trump appears to have commited a great many offenses -- including lying, obstruction, and failure to perform the duties of an executive (redering may essential offices empty) and deliberately avoiding the mandated Senatorial "advise and consent" for high appointments for many offices.
All this plus emoluments and likely inappropriate financial dealings with foreign agents.
Congress has, as well, the liteny of crimes in the Mueller report, with the additional charge of attempting to block all possible witnesses from testifying. It is time to open an Impeachment inquiry.
The dangers of not Impeaching are:
1. An incompetent, dangerous, and criminal person is permitted to occupy the office of the president and use the power of the office to commit more crimes.
2. Republicans use a failure to Impeach to claim Trump is innocent of all charges.
3. Republicans are spared having to explain to their voters why they are so eager to support such a vile and criminal incompetent.
4. Democrats and Independents who do not wish to live in a dictatorship wonder why Democrates and one Socialist in the House could not be bothered to do their duty. Then vote accordingly.
The "danger" of Impeaching is that the Senate might not convict--and every single Republican running for office will be forced to defend lawlessness, including inviting an adversary to swing our election.
Choice: Democracy or Dictatorship.
4
@Mark Johnson, Yes, "failure to perform the duties of an executive (rendering many essential offices empty)" and more importantly encouraging those officers who are in office to break the laws that the President is charged by the Constitution to see "faithfully executed," including, perhaps, the appropriations law Trump recently violated to build his Wall.
1
by far the most important thing is to get trump out of office.
impeaching him will not do that, as the republican senate will not convict him. and, since he can now point to a phony exoneration by mueller -- which nonsense his followers and a lot of other simpletons wil believe -- the chance that the impeachment movement will hurt his reelection is greatly reduced. concentrating on defeating him in the 2020 election is the dems only sensible strategy. putting all our energies into that is the surest way to get him out of office.
impeachment may make a lot of dems even more self-righteous. but it will not rid us of this cancer on the united states. beating him at the polls in 2020 will do so.
@samg, Drew's question was, Suppose he wins?
Trump has lived his entire life breaking the law and getting away with it. Trump has faced few if any consequences for tax evasion, cheating contractors and tenants and racial discrimination. Why would he think he needed to act any differently as president? It’s decades late but it’s time for justice to catch up with this very flawed, poor excuse for a human being. Impeach Trump and put him under oath and let the American people see just what kind of person he is. My guess is that the self proclaimed person with the best memory ever will be answering every question with “I don’t remember”.
4
Few people followed up on this and no one even mentions it now, but MIchael Cohen said at the end of his testimony before Congress that he felt he had to speak up also on account of the fact he believed there would be no peaceful transfer of power if Trump lost the 2020 election...did they think he was talking crazy? I thought it the most profound statement Cohen made that day and it still sticks with me today. Back during the campaign many news and reporting agencies commented on the fact that the Trump campaign apparatus seemed loose, chaotic, not the well oiled machine of some of his counterparts. After winning the election with Russian interference and FBI Directory Comey's Clinton email rehash, weeks before the election, the die was cast. Was this chaotic, or well orchestrated plot? Why do we see Republicans shaking hands with Russian oligarchs we sanctioned, why the softening of republican rhetoric towards our old enemy? Why the silence of the Christian Right? Mueller couldn't answer collusion because there was no truth-telling enough to get to the bottom of collusion. Honestly I don't think Democrats can win in 2020 without impeaching the president. Without impeachment, they leave the scoundrel full unfettered access to the wheels of power with the ability to cook yet another plan with our adversaries in 2020 coupled with conflict in Iran they so want, where in war-time changing presidents is deemed risky. Listen to Cohen,the big liar was giving Congress the big truth
3
Constitutionally, if interpreted correctly, The Congress must seriously consider impeachment. The Congress not the democrat party is on deck. Partisanship arguments are the cowards way out of Congress performing it’s role mandated by the constitution.
If oversight doesn’t take place the constitution becomes weaponized as a political tool used to manipulate the American people by the President. Trump has demonstrated this daily. He plays ball it when it suits him and he blatantly works around it when it doesn’t, stonewalling or creating a crisis.
2
"The principal challenge facing the Democrats is that they’ll have to answer to history."
Why are we even talking about it being the Democrats having to answer for this debacle?
How come the Republicans don't have to answer for the fact that they allowed this appalling person to represent them in the first place?
How come they don't have to answer for the fact that Mitch McConnell ignores every monstrous thing Trump does, apparently just so he can continue packing the courts with ultra-conservative Federalist Society picks, some of which aren't even remotely qualified to be judges?
Even if the House-led Democrats are able to bring a perfect case against Trump, McConnell probably won't even allow it to come to the floor of the Senate. Personally, I put the responsibility for this situation at his doorstep.
3
What must our allies and enemies think about our hesitation to uphold our Constitution? We unleashed a monster on the world, now we have a chance to, at the very least, reign him in a little, and we're letting that chance slip through our fingers.
Our President and the GOP are a danger to the entire planet.
4
Not a question of what the President knew and when he knew it. This time it is whether this President was a co conspirator in covering up illegal campaign activities. the House fails the people if it does not thoroughly interrogate these actions.
2
This corrupt and failed president already has one competitor for the nomination in former Massachusetts Governor Weld, and it appears more like Maryland Governor Hogan and Ohio Governor Kasich will join the fray. Impeachment by the Democratic House will make the debates for Republican nomination much more interesting and effective against the president. His nomination could not be taken for granted.
1
Politicians are beyond frustrating! How hard can it be to uphold your oath of office? How hard can it be to do the right thing for your constituents and for the good of the Republic?
We are where we are today because Republicans refused to obey their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic! Republicans failure to provide checks and balances on a corrupt and lawless presidency has brought us to this momentous time in history. But, if Democrats now do not restore the rule of law, protect and defend the Constitution, then they too will be held accountable by the electorate.
I cannot overstate the fact that most Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Congress, and many Americans are angry about having to choose the lesser of two less than desirable choices every election.
Congress - please, just uphold your oath of office! One way or another, you will be judged accordingly at election time.
3
It’s imperative that impeachment proceed.
No politician or business person has been held accountable for the past 40 years of lies, obsfucation, mendacity and sheer criminal policies and activities.
A nation of laws is an oxymoron at this point.
I would like to point out that Trump appears to have found his mojo similar to the departed Toronto mayor Rob Ford. Belligerent and ignorant. That seems to be the qualifier for office these days in Zukerland!
There is no disputing that this country is in mortal peril. The CEO is, using one of his favorite descriptions, “a disgrace”. Too many people do not see things this way and they are, from my perspective, supporting an existential attack on this country. The president is simply a self serving person and accomplished con man. Vote him out!
1
Democrats can be righteous and protect the Constitution by starting impeachment proceedings in the House or work to beat Trump in the election. I vote for beating him in 2020.
Trump is an awful human being and a blot on the office of the Presidency. Future generations will study our history and judge him as among the worst. Perhaps they will even be able to explain how a significant portion of our country became besotted by this man, learn from it and do better. This is not the time, Trump has a real chance to win re-election. For the love of this country and its future, that cannot happen.
Republicans have abdicated all responsibility to the Constitution and offices they hold. Impeachment proceedings will fail in the Senate. McConnell, who hasn’t a moral bone in his body, will see to that. Nancy Pelosi is a seasoned politician - politics is how this will be won. Listen to Nancy.
1
The struggle I think many Americans on both sides of the aisle are having with Trump's stunning level of corruption is that most of us are, in some way, ahem- corrupt.
This is the same problem Americans have with the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements.
In many ways, Obama was truly too good for many Americans. He didn't "represent" them.
Many Americans have cheated on their wives, not paid enough taxes, and have ranted and raved online and to their spouses.
Humans, not just Americans, are incredibly flawed. I don't mean to justify Trump, only to understand why his "base" not only doesn't care about their leaders pimples, but revels in them.
We are, all of us, ugly Americans. White folks - all of us- are on the spectrum of racism, misogyny, greed and gluttony.
So what is an appropriate response to Trump? Mostly it needs to be sound policy clearly delineated and, in this still somewhat functioning democracy, delivered in plain English to the struggling upper middle, middle and lower classes both in the big cities and the rural areas.
How will the Green Revolution turn into a middle and lower class jobs revolution? How will raising the living wages of teachers in rural and urban America help the economy in real ways? How will taxing the hyper-rich individuals and corporations pay for medicare and college?
And, yes, sure, Impeach, but only if McConnell and Graham can be convinced that they've destroyed their beloved rich man's Party.
As tired as I might be of investigations, I am absolutely exhausted by the lies, abuses of power, racism and bigotry, and trump’s failure to carry out the duties of his office and uphold the constitution every single day. I haven’t even included the vulgarity and more that makes him the worst president and likely the most horrible person to occupy the White House.
Impeachment may be risky and conviction by the senate is not assured, but exposing the public to all the wrongs, which may include a passive response to all of this by trump’s republican and other supporters is important.
Whether by impeachment or election of an opponent, trump must be removed from office. Criminal prosecution would be icing on the cake.
The liberty of democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is fascism, ownership of government by an individual or by a group. FDR
1
Impeachment advocates forget that the only reason Nixon's advanced as far as it did was because of an unpopular war killing thousands of middle-class boys and the war's subsequent drag on the economy.
The public doesn't care about political shenanigans even if they are "high crimes and misdemeanors," as they unconsciously recognize "politics is the entertainment branch of industry" [Frank Zappa].
With the economy doing well and no new military misadventures, Trump impeachment proceedings would be seen as a colossal waste of time and money, and would be punished by the electorate.
I’ve read that during impeachment proceeding, the courts cannot interfere, so trump cannot use them to obstruct or delay. Considering that he is stonewalling everything, this is one main reason to impeach him.
The other is because he and this repub party are a stain on our country and they need exposing.
If Trump is impeached, the Republicans will come up with another puppet of a the billionaires much more likely to win the next Presidential election.
Yes, keeping a lunatic in the While House for two more years is risky, but replacing him with a relatively sane Republican President would be disastrous.
What I don’t understand is why Putin just doesn’t drop Trump as a used-up asset. Of less value to him now than a used Lada. Putin has accomplished his goals—no Hillary, exacerbated societal division, exposing US feet of sand, etc. Revealing Russian compromat would hardly worsen US-Russian relations, esp. since the current Kim-Putin love fest is now in swing (just a great demonstration of Trump’s childish approach to diplomacy), and anyway, relations are already pretty bad. Indeed, laying bare and confirming Trumpian crimes would only worsen our societal angst. But while it’s clear that the House has a Constitutional duty to at least continue to investigate (which maybe drive Trump further around the bend...a good strategy?), it’s also clear that the Senate, dominated by McConnell, has only reactionary right-wing concerns on its collective mind (yes, that’s making an assumption!) and long ago forgot its duties and responsibilities to the Constitution. 2020 must not only be a reboot, but a reset. If not, fuggedaboutit.
When they turn the pages of history,
When these days have passed long ago,
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
-- Neil Peart
Choosing between looking "feckless" and helping to re-elect Trump isn't a tough choice.
Many of us recognize the clear responsibility of the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings - Trump is viciously destructive to the nation.
But I'm convinced that impeachment proceedings play into his hands - he wants it and thinks, probably correctly, that it's his best chance at re-election.
Dozens of very smart commentators urge impeachment. They're wrong for a simple reason: it isn't going to help us in 2020.
The Democrats may be looking toward protecting their majority in 2020, but there is more to it. What the Democrats are worried about is knowing the odds of acquittal in the Senate are high because the GOP is a feckless bunch, they do not want to risk turning the President into a martyr, further increasing his chances of winning a second term, and losing the House in the bargain, leaving nothing standing between an angry and unbridled Trump and his systematic disassembly of American norms and democracy. Having often brought a knife to a gun fight, Democrats no doubt are laser focused on the admonitions of Edmund Burke that "a king is not to be deposed by halves" and Niccolo Machiavelli that if one strikes the prince, he had better kill him. (figuratively, people)
1
@G James
Absolutely correct. I'm surprised at how many Times readers don't get it.
We have endured 21/2 years of lunacy and a severe blow to our democracy and credibility among our allies. This American demise has proven that we were indeed the world’s leader and the democracy of hope. Now that we are failing, now that we have become authoritarian, the rest of the world has followed our example and the crazy men are out in force with their sick ways to control their populace. Bullies are rushing to fill the vacuum America has abandoned.
I do not believe impeachment is a solution. Today’s voters are more partisan, less knowledgeable and luck patriotism. Impeachment could backfire and could be used as an excuse to cry betrayal and jump ship to save themselves.
Both Trump and Republicans work together to destroy our country. Impeachment might help few Americans to face reality but I doubt it very much that brainwashed people can be convinced easily.
I strongly believe that people don’t all comprehend things at the same speed. For many, Trump’s crimes should be fed to them in slow motion. Some people don’t learn till they hit bottom. Let’s continue exposing him in court, let the Muller report become a best seller. We know Trump’s Achille’s weakness which is his skin thin and with time, Trump’s crimes and the crimes of our Republicans parasites, will become crystal clear to all.
Outside of the NY Times and WaPo echo chambers, there is precious little support or interest for a Pyrrhic impeachment process. The markets are at record high, unemployment near record lows, military action is minimal. The president isn't going anywhere until the next election. Pelosi knows that. The voters will decide his fate, not another "journalist based in Washington."
1
I am afraid we have traveled too far down the road with Trump and Paul Krugman's oligarchy. I can imagine nothing short of the entire country rallying together to return this nation to one that truly represents its people.
Oh....., is that why the nation is kept divided?
Drew is right. Pelosi is wrong. We need to encourage Pelosi to change her mind.
Mitch McConnell Is blocking all legislation from the House anyway yes?
So Mitch McConnell will not allow a hearing on impeachment either.
I say impeach and force Mitch to block that too.
Make clear to the world that Mitch McConnell and the Republicans are the ones blocking all legislation.
Will this make Mitch look strong? Maybe. BUT it will also make very clear why nothing is getting done on the hill.
You see, ”master legislator” Nancy has yet to figure out the Republicans best trick ever...turning your opponent’s strength into a weakness.
Forget, for the moment, or at least lay aside everything you know about Russia and the Mueller report.
Right now--at this very moment, under our very eyes Trump's defiance of cooperation with congressional subpoenas constitutes an impeachable offense. Have we taken leave of our senses, that we don't seem to understand, that the gauntlet Trump has thrown down, not "within the last two and one half years", but only YESTERDAY--if we fail to pick it up, then that will mean, for now, and in the future, the President will, in fact, be above the law.
Wake up, America--impeach this disgraceful blotch on the character of our nation!
1
It’s astonishing that roughly 40 million trump supporters, 12% of the total population, continue to control the political fortunes of America. Without them, Trump TV would fold like a cheap suit, Limbaugh would be the program director at some backwater AM radio station in Florida, and Senate Republicans would (hopefully) come to their senses and we’d be on our way to getting rid of the treasonous menace in the White House. So much for the will of the majority....
1
Elizabeth Drew assumes facts not in evidence. The Democrats are on the road to impeachment. That is clear. There is nothing that one would be doing under a declared impeachment process that is not already happening.
McGahn subpoenaed, taxes requested under law, Mueller Report and all documents subpoenaed. Barr set and Mueller called to a Judiciary Committee hearing.
I don't see daylight between impeachment and the actions being taken by the chairs of House committees. Do you?
First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. -
- attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller 1892-1984
1
@William
Better to speak in 2020 with your vote. "Speaking" now with failed impeachment is a "voice" for Trump in 2020.
1
Time for Congress to say, "This is not okay." Impeachment goes on the record for all of history and if anyone were deserving of this blot on his history it is this president who flouts the rule of law every day. He sullies everyone and everything he touches. It is a hard decision. The Republicans, who have a diseased loyalty to a man who would sell any of them out for a handful of beans if it suited his purpose, can continue to grovel. There doesn't seem to be anything most of them wouldn't do to hang on to their jobs. But Democrats do not have to bend the knee to this would-be strongman.
I love Nancy Pelosi. I think she is brilliant and has done great things for this country, but I believe that she has taken a wrong turn here. Yet I give her credit for proceeding with caution. No one could ever accuse her of leading a "witch-hunt."
And it's not a "witch-hunt." It is respecting righteous anger.
Trump wants the house to impeach him.
He needs to rile up his base and perhaps even get some independents back. DT would love to have this fight with the democrats.
Giving Trump what he wants will only help him. We should not be fooled to help reelect Trump.
Investigate, investigate and investigate even if it all has to go to the courts.
This way all Americans can see Trump's dirty tactics. He needs to be called out and shown what a disgrace and immoral man that he is.
In 2020 Americans (not Russians) can vote this disgraceful president out!
1
Wether or not this creature can be removed from office is besides the point. This govt. was designed to run like a well oiled machine, and our founding fathers put priovisions in the constitution to deal with situations just like this. If the House of representatives goes ahead with the proper proceedings they will have done their job. If their senate fails to remove this danger from office, they will have failed in THEIR obligation.
I understand the fear in getting the population in a tizzy by draggnig this thing further, but what other choice does the house have but to do their assigned task ?
Hopefully a successfully competent impeachment hearing, one in which all the facts are brought out and made known to the public, will have an effect on the spineless senate, and they will act accordingly. If the people learn the facts, and become enraged, and let their senators know this, they will perhaps feel they have no choice but to act to remove this tumor from office.
1
Impeach? Or try to win the 2020 election? The two actions are not mutually exclusive, and I think both need to be done. But the order in which those are done could be critical.
Do we go for impeachment now, and then try to win the 2020 election?
Or do we try to win the 2020 election but, if we lose, then try for impeachment?
Sort it out. Which way do YOU think is the right way to go?
Ms. Drew has fashioned a career that can only be summed up as ultimate insider. She occupies an echo chamber that is almost as isolated as that of Fox news devotees. If this is what the elites on the left are thinking then it would be good to think differently. After all they brought us the debacle of 2016.
It is hard to imagine any president abusing the powers of the office to a greater extent than Donald Trump. If Trump cannot be impeached, we might as well cross out the impeachment clause of the Constitution. Ms. Drew is correct: the Democrats' rationale for not initiating impeachment proceedings is a pure P.R. move. And if we need to know what kind of leaders put public relations above their constitutional duty, we need look no further than the current occupant of the White House.
I argue that both Nixon's and Clinton's impeachment strengthened the impeaching parties.
In Nixon's case, it led to Carter's decisive victory in 1976.
In Clinton's case, despite the 1998, elections, in 2000, the GOP took the White House, held the House, and the Senate. They only lost the Senate when in July 2001, Jim Jeffords switched allegiances, becoming an independent caucusing with the Dems. In 2002, the GOP took back the Senate as well.
So impeachment, especially if it's well-founded, makes everyone stand up and be counted. McConnell MAY try to delay the trial, as he controls the scheduling, claiming, yet again, we need to wait for the election, but that cannot but hurt the GOP to do so. There's more evidence to convict Trump than there was against, Nixon, Clinton, Harding, and Andrew Johnson, combined! (and throw in Grant's corrupt admin as well).
We KNOW that there is a hard-core of voters that will make any excuse for every one of Trump's crimes, but the REAL goal is to get people who stayed home or voted third party in 2016, 93 million of them, to get out en masse and inundate the polls with anti-Trump and anti-Republican voters. This is why in state after state, Republicans are DESPERATELY trying to find ways to STOP American citizens from exercising their most precious franchise: The right to vote for their leaders.
Impeaching Trump will show that Democrats in Congress have found their spine, that they haven't shone in 40 years, and inspire non-voters.
Why the rush to impeachment?
Why not wait until the campaigning for the general election starts?
That is when all the negative testimony will have the greatest effect.
If you are in combat and the enemy draws fire, are you going to just sit there or defend yourself and fire back? The Constitution and the institution of Congress is under fire.
What else does one need to be afraid of? If the impeachment proceedings take place (presumably with just cause,) then proceed. If you lose an election, we all lose. The irony is history (if there is one) will judge the Dems much harsher if they don’t proceed.
3
Ms. Drew and all those who are calling for impeachment are like those who supported a war that was to turn Iraq into a functioning democracy--the moral thing to do. What follows impeachment? That is the question. Mueller did not indict because to do so would have come to nothing but a court battle and suppression of his report. Everyone agrees that impeachment will not result in removal from office, therefore it is nothing but a show that the misguided want to put on. And, no, Ms. Drew, congress is not silent nor will it be silent. Your false choice: Impeachment or silence? Tell me please what follows the defeat in the Senate of the effort to impeach? It will be a triumph for Trump that will be heard around the world. But, again, please, THEN WHAT?
3
Does anyone even know what steps are/have been/will be taken to protect all Americans from electoral meddling?
No one knows. Isn’t dereliction of duty grounds enough for impeachment?
Democrats need a spine. Elizabeth Warren read the Mueller report and knows what Congress’s duty is and said so the next day. Whats wrong with the rest of the field of Presidential candidates?
1
The members of the Senate and the House swore to uphold the laws and the Constitution of the United States. There is abundant evidence that the president is guilty of obstruction of justice on more than one occasion. Congress, therefore, has a moral and a legal obligation to begin impeachment proceedings. This is not indistinct. It is very clear.
1
I believe that our country is at a constitutional crisis point. The Executive branch of the government is flatly obstructing the constitutionally-mandated duty of the Legislative branch to perform its oversight duties. The Judicial branch (including the Supreme Court) will be asked to resolve the conflict, while being increasingly staffed by judges sympathetic to the so-called conservative politics of the Executive. As the stalemate awaits resolution, additional sympathetic judges will be nominated by the Executive and installed by a subservient Senate Republican majority.
I do believe that any effort to impeach Trump will be reflexively blocked by Republicans in the Senate. But time is not on our side, and the fight must begin. The Mueller Report surely describes conduct by elected officials that should be considered unacceptable and even outrageous by most patriotic Americans.
Let's not wait for 2020 and hope elections will solve this problem. The structure of our Constitution is being tested and citizens must demand that it is defended. Our elected leaders must stop being timid and self-serving. There will be no reason to worry about future elections if our Constitution fails.
3
Elizabeth Drew provides reasons for impeachment that are compelling and above politics.
Here is one of process: In the face of Trump's refusal to answer subpoenas --- impeachment may be the fastest way to win a court battle about the release of his tax returns, receive Mueller's full report, and hear from former and present WH staff.
Also, members of his cabinet may be more reluctant to enforce some of his highly damaging policies --- like those on the climate, schools, health, housing, and the Federal Reserve Bank.
Most important, impeachment, if handled in the letter and spirit of the constitution should be the best way to educate the public on the extent of the short and long-term damage Trump is causing here at home an around the world.
One political factor --- because the Senate would most likely refuse to convict, Pence would not become President.
2
On its merits, the Dems need to move forward on impeachment. The Mueller report and his behavior right now in terms of not wanting to be accountable to Congress is alone an issue.
Politically, I am torn re the results of the Clinton impeachment and whether it is a good idea for 2020.
I am very concerned about electing Trump for another term. The country is moving towards an autocracy every day. I hope a majority of us see that and will understand in time.
2
I wholeheartedly agree. As Ms. Drew so accurately points out, Congress was elected not to win elections but to carry out its constitutional duty of oversight, i.e. to be a check and balance on the president. And if Republican senators want to abrogate that responsibility, let them do so and brear the brunt of voter displeasure.
In her CNN Town Hall the other day, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said their was no "political inconvenience exception" to the oath Congress takes to uphold the Constitution, in this case to vote to impeach. She said Republicans in the Senate should be held accountable by history if they vote to endorse Trump's conduct. I agree!
1
A more powerful argument for impeachment - although conviction by this GOP senate is impossible (regardless of charges or evidence) - is that not impeaching invites future shirking of constitutional obligations when the risks (from some future lawless president) might be higher. But a counter argument is that Trump will be more likely re-elected following Senate acquital and he is an IMMEDIATE existential risk to all living beings on this planet; so it is essential to get him away from the nuclear button using an election process more likely to succeed than an impeachment process guaranteed to fail. Deal with the immediate risk first.
I'm pretty tired of hearing Nancy Pelosi state that the Democrats would be making a political mistake if they try to impeach Trump--that means her decision is entirely political. I expect elected politicians to do their jobs without considering how popular something would be, and that includes Ms. Pelosi.
5
@David R
Agree. They have to do what they swore to do, or their decisions are as worthless as Trump's. Do we have no one who cares about the country, the constitution, the citizens?
This op-ed is extremely weakened by the desire, even at this junction, to defend Bill Clinton. This op-ed is the one "try to have it both ways." Why not say that committing perjury (let aside the sexual harassment or claims of more serious sexual crimes with a variety of other women, rising to rape) is sufficient to impeach, and failing to do so presented a bad precedent. After all, in the MeToo era is it really legitimate to claim that perjury in sexual harassment cases is no big deal?
Apparently if it means saving a President from your own party, and saving yourself from the agony of President Gore (just like Republicans want to save themselves from President Pence.) If President Bill Clinton had been convicted, then-President Al Gore would have won a term in his own right clearly, and history would have taken a much better turn.
Instead, this op-ed merely anticipates the response that Trump and his followers will make, if Democrats impeach it will "really" be for something else, just because they don't like him personally and his politics. If the shoe were on the other foot, Democrats would defend their own President accused of the same offenses, they'll say-- and this op-ed proves them right. I favor impeaching Trump, but Ms. Drew reminds me that Democratic partisans are no better.
1
Ms. Drew makes a strong case for impeachment, but has a misplaced idea that the Democrats in Congress must begin the impeachment process right away.
Impeachment is a political process, not a legal process. So the decision to impeach is necessarily a political decision.
It would be nice if a large majority in each house of Congress were gung-ho for impeaching Trump, but that's not the case.
Under these circumstances, with the Democrats holding a majority in the House of Representatives, they certainly have the option to begin the impeachment process. But that is a political choice, not a legal obligation.
And if the political objective of the Democrats is to get Trump out of the Oval Office, and to trounce the Republicans in the 2020 elections, impeachment may or may not be the best route.
There is no doubt that Trump has committed impeachable offenses. He probably commits one every day of the week. But Pelosi may have good reasons not to begin impeachment.
For one thing, Trump is practically begging the Democrats to impeach him. I'd rather not give him what he wants. Trump has a skill of low cunning, he is looking a couple of moves ahead in this political game, he and seems to think that he will come out ahead in an impeachment fight.
Pelosi is also looking several steps ahead, and I believe she is much more savvy about politics than Trump. I'm inclined to follow her lead, Leaving Trump to linger on a hot seat set to slow simmer may be the best path of all.
2
On the one hand, you have Trump and his minions saying the Mueller report completely exonerates the president and his campaign from collusion. They are also suggesting that there was no obstruction of justice.
On the other hand, we can read in the Mueller report that there were significant numbers of contacts with Russians and others during the campaign. They may not have been the kind of contacts that would be grounds for conviction in court, but they were there. And one of the reasons for thinking that they didn't matter was the incompetence of Trump and his campaign.
Don't forget they didn't expect to win and were trying to feather their nests for after the election. They were not playing to win but trying to enhance "brands" and set up profitable enterprises.
When Trump accidentally won, he, being the person he is, decided that it was because of his brilliance, best campaign ever, and took extreme umbrage at suggestions that the "victory" was anything other than totally legitimate. A lot of commentators went along with that. Look at what Mueller reported in that context and the duty of the House seems obvious. Investigate and, when the evidence warrants, bring forward articles of impeachment.
1
No matter what side you're on, we are a country of laws. If we don't all respect that, then there is no country to fight about.
6
@Peter: We are in the midst of a huge controversy over how legal language is interpreted in here in the US, and how any kind of national law is sustained.
This op-ed and these comments are mystifying. Who said the Dems aren't moving toward impeachment? The Mueller report has been out for only a few weeks; the Dems have had control of the House for only a few months. In that short time they have been building a case through their investigations and subpoenas that will make impeachment inevitable.
Through either impeachment hearings or committee investigations the same evidence will be gathered. The only rationale I have seen for impeachment now rather than after later is that it might be harder to enforce contempt of Congress...and even that is a view, not an established fact.
1
Democrats on their own can not hold Trump accountable because Republicans own the Senate and don't care about the rule of law. After years of hearing them preach how they worship the Constitution that comes as a surprise, but there it is. Democrats can hold a show trial but it is hard to see any actual point to that.
Tilting at windmills is fine and all but if it decreases the chances of removing the trash from the White House, then impeachment would clearly be a mistake. The US has moved far, far beyond normal politics and the rule of law already so just one political party following the rules will only hamper their chances of success.
To impeach or to not impeach: that is the question.
Whether it is nobler as a Democrat politician to promote the slow outrageous drip-drip of subpoenas and hearings,
Or to take arms against a sea of high crimes and misdemeanors
And Constitutionally end them,
That is the question.
I urge the House of Representatives to honor their oath to the Constitution, to begin impeachment impeachment hearings, and to end this tragedy.
3
@William
Where are all the high crimes and misdemeanors? The election was decided by the American People, who looked at HRC and decided NO, THANK YOU! PASS Trump can talk to Putin, and anyone else he feels like, it's a free country. Somebody put up some phony facebook posts? WOW, that really make a big impact. This whole impeachment movement is really sour grapes, for advancing a horrible person that the swing state voters could not stand. Simple.
Congressional Democrats are at a crossroads. While upholding the Constitution and showing the whole world that the US is still governed by the rule of law, impeaching Trump is a political process, not a legal one. The term “high crimes and misdemeanors” - is not one used in criminal procedures. In the end, it’s the GOP-led Senate, not a court, that will have to decide whether to convict Trump.
Some point out the lesson Newt Gingrich learned in impeaching Bill Clinton in 1998. Democrats defied the odds and won seats in the midterm elections. Newt Gingrich, resigned from speakership and returned to the private sector.
Although Trump deserves to be impeached, there’s fear that his supporters would see the process as a coup, allowing hostile forces to sow more discord, dividing the nation.
Democrats should adopt a multi-track strategy – to purse legitimate investigations into Trump’s crimes and keep the public informed of every development, while focusing on winning big in 2020. There’s much they can do to reach out to voters.
2
Ms. Drew cogently argues that the issue is not politics but principle—constitutional principle. She has swayed me to conclude that the House has a constitutional duty to impeach. The Republicans appear to have abandoned just about every one of their bedrock principles. The Democrats should be faithful to principle and act to uphold the highest law in the land.
1
One additional advantage of having the House vote "yes" on impeachment, even if McConnell rejects the move, is that Trump will forever be known in history as one of the very few presidents to be impeached. An additional advantage from an election standpoint is that House and Senate members that vote against impeachment will also be forever tarred with their support for Trump.
5
The argument against impeachment seems to be that the Republicans lost ground when they impeached Clinton. But the Republicans lost ground because the public was smart enough to realize that consensual sex between adults, even when compounded by a perjury trap, was not an impeachable offense. Obstructing an inquiry into the interference in a presidential election by an unfriendly foreign power and the cooperation of one of the candidate's campaigns is different.
4
Accountability. Our country is in the midst of a moral zeitgeist because we do not hold people accountable who breach our so-called moral code - especially those in high positions.
5
Ms. Drew said:
"And the Democrats who prefer to substitute the 2020 election for an impeachment fight don’t appear to have considered the implications if Mr. Trump were to win: Would that not condone his constitutional abuses and encourage his authoritarian instincts?"
That statement alone makes the case for REQUIRING impeachment proceedings. Yes, we are weary of the whole thing. But I am more weary of wobbly, politically fearful politicians who won't condemn this menace. Knowing that the Senate will not remove it is no excuse.
Over the next few years (yes, years!) more and more facts about Trumps behavior will be revealed. More and more former WH staffers and aides (as well as Trump business associates) will reveal more horrors and possible criminal behavior by Trump. The legislators who do not act now will be lumped into a historical basket of gutless career politicians...so worried about their jobs that they fail to perform them.
Members of the House: consider your legacies. Is being re-elected really more important than this epic moment in our history?
Courage or cowardice? How will you be remembered?
9
Our Democracy is a young experiment and is being tested. Whether or not to start the impeachment of trump is not a political argument, it is a Constitutional decision.
Starting impeachment proceedings is making a public statement that the United States is governed by The Rule of Law that all citizens are subject to, a system of Checks and Balances to deter any one person or body of people from gaining the majority of control. It is a system government Of the People, By the People, For the People.
It is all too clear to me that the current administration holds no credence to any of the above. To the Democratic Congress; Now is not the time to remain silent.
11
Impeachment isn't what it used to be. If you recall there was an impeachment not all that long ago and no one would blame you if you don't recall, because it was effectively a non-event; more memorable for its lengthy distraction than anything else. Proceeding with impeachment against Trump would be a similarly lengthy process which would further divide the country while further elevating the President's stature in the minds of his already rabid followers. History will have its say in how Trump's antics should be remembered. There'll be no stopping that, but the focus of the present should be fixed upon stopping the President from being re-elected and impeachment is not likely to be of much help in that regard.
1
Democrats need to show some guts through the impeachment process not only against Trump but against all members of the Republican in the House and Senate. They have all the evidence needed to do so.
2
The conflation of public "good" with political self-preservation is an illness both parties suffer from. The dismemberment of objective truth, along with the emphasis on feelings over facts leaves no room for civil discourse. When will politicians wake up to their larger responsibilities?....... Question- If Trump was impeached in the House and survived a Senate trial; would he be immune from those charges AFTER leaving office? Double jeopardy?
Quite probably the vast majority of voters are sick to death of listening to arguments as to why Congress should not engage in action against a chief executive who has violated his oath of office innumerable times and continues to do so on a daily basis.
We elected them to protect our Constitution and they are too cowardly to do their job?
7
The argument that impeachment will detract from legislating is moot because as long as Trump and McConnell are in place there will be no significant legislation anyway. The latter just got thru threatening to block everything Democrats might want to do post 2020.
Impeachment would send the message that Trump’s behavior is unacceptable in future Presidents. It has to be done, even if unlikely to result in removal.
7
Yes, Democrats have a responsibility to act.
But let's not forget that Republicans have been silent as Trump has ignored Congressional requests/subpoenas for documents and information. They are letting Trump set a dangerous precedent.
If a Democrat in the White House did anything remotely similar to what Trump is getting away with, the Republicans would be apoplectic.
Only Mitt Romney has spoken out thus far. The silence of the others is irresponsible and let's hope the electorate will hold them responsible.
5
Censure. It's not nothing. And I don't understand why the Democrats in Congress have not started proceedings.
3
Time is growing desperately short.
Mueller’s Report proved indecisive.
He is promising pardons to people for breaking our laws.
The Republican Party as we used to know it is done. It will soon be formally known as The Trump Party.
His next appointment to the Supreme Court will give him a 6-3 majority there.
He is packing the lower courts with judges who are loyal to him.
There have been recent reports of armed militia on our Southern border who have assigned themselves the task of carrying out his wishes.
His 35-40% base continues to be wildly supportive of him.
His minions and satraps in the federal bureaucracies are spending
every day joyously tearing down the social and economic supports it took this country decades to build.
Foreign allies to this country who are essential to our defense and wellbeing are being turned into enemies of ours.
The economy is currently on sugar-binge high that is being fueled by record deficits.
Efforts to get hold off his taxes and financial records will consume
months if not years.
He could soon be declaring national emergencies to gain editorial control over our news media.
It is not inconceivable that he could cancel or postpone the 2020 election and actually get away with it.
He is a mentally unstable man with immediate access to our nuclear codes.
Nero fiddled, while Rome burned.
The sounds now emanating from the White House are of a man in the midst of his 19th major nervous breakdown.
15
Time is growing desperately short.
Mueller’s Report proved indecisive.
Trump promises pardons to people for breaking our laws.
The Republican Party as we used to know it is done. It will soon be formally known as Trump's Party.
His next appointment to the Supreme Court will give him a 6-3 majority there.
He is packing the lower courts with judges who are loyal to him.
There have been recent reports of armed militia on our Southern border who have assigned themselves the task of carrying out his wishes.
His 35-40% base continues to be wildly supportive of him.
His minions and satraps in the federal bureaucracies are spending
every day joyously tearing down the social and economic supports it took this country decades to build.
Foreign allies to this country who are essential to our defense and wellbeing are being turned into enemies of ours.
The economy is currently on sugar-binge high that is being fueled by record deficits.
Efforts to get hold off his taxes and financial records will consume
months if not years.
He could soon be declaring national emergencies to gain editorial control over our news media.
It is not inconceivable that he could cancel or postpone the 2020 election and actually get away with it.
He is a mentally unstable man with immediate access to our nuclear codes.
Nero fiddled, while Rome burned.
The sounds now emanating from the White House are of a man in the midst of his 19th major nervous breakdown.
1
These moral storm warnings are useful contributions to the question of how to govern the country at the moment, and possibly somewhat into the future. But the argument, that unless one Party solitarily presses for virtually irreversible division, against an individual office holder on a moral par with slavery, his damage to the country will somehow become more tempting to emulate than it has been, overlooks that slavery was not tempting where its financial excuses were negative or marginal. Only a shrinking, self-strangling, retrograde culture, now represented by one Party solitarily, finds his damage agreeable. I do not see civil war over a shrinking problem to be morally compulsory today, or ever.
Mueller doesn't like Trump. He did everything he could to nail him but he couldn't. So he is not an impartial observer. Let's not present him as such.
Mueller interrogated everyone in Trump's environment and prosecuted them for anything he could find - including unrelated crimes like tax evasion - in order to force them to testify against Trump. You could repeat that trick with any president and find something. To celebrate the success of this trick as proof of Trump's guilt stretches for me the truth.
Trump should be judged on what he did. Not on what he said. Just as any American he has the right to get angry and say say things that are not very wise. If you take that criteria into account not much remains of Mueller's long list.
Does anyone remember Obama and the affair around the extra IRS checks on conservative outlets? Should the Republicans have impeached him for that? The logic of this article is that they should as it argues that no impeachable crime - however tiny - should stay unpunished.
Do the Democrats really want Trump's tax returns for determining whether he had any dealings with foreign governments? It is much more likely that those tax returns will indicate that Trump is less rich than he claims or that he regularly cheated with his taxes.
The article notes that impeachment would be politically risky. It fails to note the reason: many voters would consider it abuse of power by Congress and be disgusted.
2
@Wim Roffel you clearly haven't read the full report. I suggest you do so. Should Congress fail to do it's sworn duty, the Southern District of New York is already gearing up their charges.
I would also suggest you stop listening to a word that comes out of Rudy G's pie hole.
Enjoy your weekend, you can put it to good use by reading the entire Mueller Report.
Peace,
Rockin'
While Director Mueller’s report leaves many unanswered questions, it lays out several instances where Trump obstructed justice. The Congress of the U.S. has every right, and every duty, to follow up on Director Mueller's investigation, and be deliberate, fair and fearless.
For the sake of our nation, Congress must act.
6
The Democrats pay lip service to the "Revolution" they think happened at the midterms but in reality the GOP's gains in the Senate, (4 Seats), all but insured that point is moot. Apparently the Dems faith in their candidates running for President in 2020 isn't enough to overcome any backlash from a vote to Impeach Trump coming from the House. I would be nice if the Democrats really believed in themselves but it feels like they don't.
2
I have argued against impeachment (with a heavy heart), but I am, even at an advanced age, able to change.
I respect the experience of Pelosi and the wisdom of that experience, but I now think she is wrong. Win or lose the next election, if we impeach Trump we can, at least, hold our heads high.
But, if we do go ahead with the impeachment process we can't ignore the election that is progressing at the same time because if Trump is impeached but not convicted by the Senate, we might well have him back for another four years. That is unthinkable. It will destroy what's left of our democracy.
6
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said that impeachment is an option if the Mueller Report leads there. The Mueller Report is out and many have stated that it is a blueprint for impeachment. The House Democrats are conducting their own separate investigations.
I believe that Speaker Pelosi is experienced, wise and cagey and knows that timing is everything. Like any brilliant general, she is trying to keep her troops disciplined, keep her powder dry and wait until she sees the whites of their eyes. She is well aware of the responsibility of the House to hold the President accountable. And when the time is right, she will.
7
Let's talk about the real politics. If the House impeaches Trump, we will have President Pence. President Pence cannot help but look better than the current President, and will be harder to beat in 2020. In fact, since he has been the silent VP and is barely mentioned in the Mueller Report, we will have President Pence around for two terms. That is why the current President knows that he is invulnerable, and is acting out more and more. Either way, the Repubs win.
This was McConnell's plan all along.
2
What happens if the House impeaches but the Senate acquits.
The Dems have the votes in the House where only a simple majority is required to impeach.
The Dems will need 20 GOP Senate votes to combine with the Dems 47 Senate votes to get the 67 Senate votes to convict.
The Dems will not get these 20 GOP Senate votes.
Trump will be acquitted.
What has impeachment accomplished.
Let the House committees continue their investigations of Trump's crimes.
Let the Dems run against a weakened Trump in 2020.
22 GOP Senators are up for re election in 2020.
Let them run on a ticket headed by a weakened Trump.
3
The author nailed all the important points; the House has an obligation to file articles of Impeachment, and she gives good advice on how the House leadership should spin the investigations they are holding, so the Democrats can claim the moral high ground and show they are being responsible to the country.
There should be no hesitation on the part of the Democratic leadership, but after reading this well reasoned and thoughtful consideration of the question: to impeach, or not to impeach?; I am sure they will know what history calls them to do.
6
Until today, I was against the long, agonizing process of impeachment. When I read that Trump is batting subpoenas around like they are the newest political piñata for his amusement, I say, yes to impeachment. If he had nothing to hide there'd be no need to be further obstructing justice.
9
Impeachment is the best chance the Democrats have to prevent the reelection of Donald Trump. If done before the primary, it will force the 20 candidates to take a position and show the public where they stand. They will give new meaning to the concept of obstruction of justice since none of the 10 items identified by the Special Counsel were sufficient to make a legitimate case.
Nevertheless, Mr. Trump is now going after the [Democratic] deep state that has hounded his presidency. As his investigation slowly becomes more credible, the case for impeachment will fall apart. Mr. Trump will have a great second term - particularly if the GOP regains the House as a result of progressive infighting.
Elizabeth Drew, is a political journalist paid to attract attention to the worst our political system has to offer. More is demanded of statesmen (and too little has been demanded of would be stateswomen).
Democrats make the McConnell cult vote in the Senate and see how those 22 Senate R's do in their reelection .
Please everyone take a reality check.
The Mueller report only highlights about 1/100 of the illegal, immoral and treasonous acts that The Con Man in Chief has committed over the past three years.
Impeach , convict and imprison .
12
Impeach Trump.
Find the tax returns. And his academic records too.
Let him speak under oath in front of the cameras.
And let the whole world will know what a fraud this short-fingered vulgarian is.
Unless the Legislative branch behaves like it is a co-equal branch of the Executive and the Judiciary, Trump will continue to besmirch American democracy.
9
@Opinioned! Odd. I don’t recall that providing tax returns or academic transcripts is a requirement for being president.
1
@Eric Nor is providing a birth certificate. But I remember one politician running a multi-year campaign demanding a president provide one. Trump claims he's "like a smart person" and worth more than "$10 billion." Here's his chance to prove it.
2
The Democrats must impeach Trump for obstruction of justice, for abuse of his office, and for violating his oath of office: Trump is the ultimate Republican, and the Republicans have been all over violating the establishment clause (the first 10 words) of the First Amendment, and the first four words of the Second Amendment, and (remember McConnell, and Merrick Garland?) the "advise and consent" clause.
Democrats must also make it abundantly clear that they are serving the interests of the people: we must not let the USA degrade into a fascist dictatorship, or a Christian fascist dictatorship.
9
All of this isn't so complicated as commentators and the Mueller report make it seem. Trump bowed down to Putin, did everything but kiss his ring and the clear intent was to either allow or encourage Russia to keep hacking our election. Whichever it was, it was impeachable. We know, too, that Trump continued to seek a massive business deal in Russia at the same time he was running for president. Holy caviar! What does it take?
Trump said during the campaign that he could be president and continue to run his businesses very well. Under pressure, he backed away but there is no doubt that all of his lifetime habits have been pumping the money machine and his mind has barely strayed.
Trump is not merely a bad boy untutored in the job of president. He has violated his solemn duty to "see that the laws are faithfully executed" by trying to undermine and destroy Obamacare. He has no right to choose which laws he likes.
Then there is the kidnapping of children at the border. Then there is calling white nationalist, neo-nazis and racists "very fine people". Then there is using the power of his office to attack private citizens on Twitter. Then there is trying to destroy the free press by calling news media "the enemy of the people". (Where in the Constitution is the power given to any president to decide what is news?)
Madness descended on an escalator and Congress hasn't figured out yet that our duty requires the high risk of strong moral commitment to save the nation.
12
I believe that Donald Trump must be impeached not only because of his transparent crimes and obstruction demonstrated in the Mueller report, but because he has violated his oath of office to an obscene degree since his inauguration. The likelihood of his conviction and the political effect upon either party should not even be considerations. Now there is yet another reason: Trump's plan to evade and obstruct any further investigation leaves no other avenue to finding the truth.
If we fail to impeach we take a great step toward becoming Russia.
8
Regardless...It is fascinating that the person who can and will defeat “President” Trump in 2020...will Have to be an absolutely
Perfect human being, most likely non-White, not Male. Yes, this is to “eliminate” a White, openly expressed Sociopathic Personality Disorder, thereby a blatant Liar who, though “elected” to Serve the American Public, serves, purely and Proudly, Himself.
1
@Richard Deforest"8 Michelle Obama is going to join the race. What do you think her book tour and heavy PR are really about. Why would Barack not endorse his own VP? It makes more sense in the context of Michelle intending to throw her hat in the ring.
To remind even well-informed followers about some points relating to this crime spree at the apex of the Republic: 1) The term "collusion" is vernacular language. It is not legal terminology. Mueller wrote right at the beginning, his charge was to search for outright "conspiracy", i.e., provable meetings together to break laws. Further, he stipulated that by custom he would not seek to prosecute the president as a private citizen. That function he clearly left to another instrumentality in govenrment, House review. And 2) The shoe that did not drop, the international espionage into which numerous Trump figures engaged––always with the understanding to sustain plausible deniability for the conniver in chief––is also being currently investigated. The case is open, has been since Comey got axed. Even with Barr in power, the careening stagecoach driver of Bushian-like monarchial presidency and with it the end of tripartite governance, that investigation will get out somehow. Thus the over one hundred contacts between Trumpists and Russian operatives will have their time, with no doubt incriminating further a deranged sadist and usurper and all his Rolodex swamp filth.
6
Politics. "It's just politics." Political theater. Translation: lacking in substance, inconsequential, irrelevant. "How does that affect me?"
I can still water my lawn. "Pass the onion dip." They pick up the garbage. Deliver the mail...sort of.
The country is divided. At each other's throats. Neighbor to neighbor. Father to son. Might have something to do with politics, whatever that is. Politics: That which can never touch me or my family. My church. My school. Me. Mine. "I'm way OK." (And, if I wasn't OK, it wouldn't be very politic to say so.)
The border. The wall. "Now, do I have to pay for that?" Answer: Yes. Politics. "And...my drinking water's polluted...kids have lead poisoning and are flunking out of kindergarten!" That's your problem.
Forget politics. Think: Economy. Think: Wage Stagnation. Think: Healthcare. Think: Bankruptcy. Think: Cult of Personality. Think: Propaganda. Think: 1984. Think: Free money from the Fed. "Stock market's doin' OK."
Not to worry: BBQ chicken wings with blue-cheese dressing for snacks tonight...
1
Trump has greatly abused the power of his office and committed multiple counts of felony obstruction. He should be impeached.
7
God Bless Ms. Drew! Finally common sense before us. As she stated with historical purpose “....(the) most important article of impeachment approved by the House committee on a bipartisan basis was Article II, which called for the punishment of Nixon for abusing presidential power by using the executive agencies (such as the Internal Revenue Service) to “punish his enemies” and for failing to uphold the oath of office to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” It also said, significantly, that a president could be held accountable for a pattern of abusive or even illegal behavior by his aides.” This is Trump to the tee!
I’m afraid Pelosi is for all about hype and the perfect press release and is a toothless wimp. Lets fire Pelosi and impeach Trump for the sake of the union and the institution of the presidency. Amen.
1
@SenDan
Pelosi, as the daughter of a leathally effective Baltimore pol, needs to put on the war paint.
Trump is clearly trying to run out the clock and make dealing with him tiring and basically disgusting. It is who he is and what he does.
Not bringing well crafted evidence based articles of impeachemnt forward and getting them voted on is a huge wet kiss for the Republicans and Trump. Trump needs to be challenged quickly on his bogus claims of priviledge where there is no priviledge. The taxes need to be released and Muchkin needs to be looking a contempt citations. But if people are not allowed to testify--add that as an impeachable charge.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Barr should be impeached already for the 54 days he sat on the Mueller report and his blatant lying about the content as obstruction of Justice. He is also charged with performing the duties of his office for the American public and the constitution--something he appears to be utterly unwilling or incapable of doing.
"The president and his allies argue that the country is 'tired' of investigations..."
The question is not whether "the country" is tired of investigations; rather, it is whether "the country" is tired of a having the Oval Office occupied by a self-absorbed, dull-witted narcissist whose activities beg to be investigated. You can bet if Trump's tax returns and underlying business activities could survive scrutiny in the light of day, he'd be begging to have them published on page 1 of the NYT and claiming he himself prepared every line because nobody in the USA knows more about taxes than he does.
3
Risky? Suppose he's impeached, and not convicted in the Senate. Trump and his gang and followers and the pundits at Fox News will all celebrate and things will just get worse. And what are the present odds for a conviction? Pretty slim to zero.
@Betaneptune If you watched Fox News today, you'd see his support is slipping there too. Judge Lawrence Neopolitano pointed out one obstruction of justice after another. He was not preaching to the Trump choir. Take a look. Worth your time.
If the Democrats had a strong candidate sure to win in 2020, then I could see why they want to waffle on impeachment.
But they don't have a strong candidate. Biden's record is going to come back to haunt him, as well as his touchy-feely past.
Bernie is seen as too radical (A Socialist! Get my shotgun, Martha!)
Most of the others no one has heard of. Nor do they have strong enough records to run on.
I fear the primaries will result in a meh candidate who won't be able to stand up to the bully Trump in the debates.
Furthermore, even if the Democrat candidate wins, just think of the damage Trump & company could do in November, December, and early January.
He is too dangerous to be left in office.
The House has to try to impeach him, and hope that there is enough popular support that the Republicans in the Senate who are vulnerable in their campaigns will have to vote to convict.
Save our country from this menace!
4
That you've written this opinion piece, that the mention of impeachment is on every news station, that my jogging partners talk about it at 5 am every morning...I think we're on the road...
4
Impeach. ?
Look at the yellow vests in France.
They hit the streets for a gas tax.
I’m old and half broken down, knee deep in old age, but I’m ready to march on the White House and shake the bars off the hinges. This bag of hot air and his dribbling republican cronies need to be chased out of Washington and driven back into their festering snake pits.
Civil disobedience is long overdue. Unless the next generation is happy having the powerful keep their boots on their necks and
making them beg to be fed.
8
No one has mentioned it, but it seems to me that the Democratic Party needs to mobilize some kind of "education team" that can put together a summary of all of Trump's offenses that represent abuses of power and failures to uphold the rule of law. The issues raised in that summary should be hammered into public consciousness by constant repetition in order to ensure that as many voters as possible are thoroughly aware of the extent of the damage this unfit president has done to the country. This is not a time for Democrats to be hiding behind a pretense of deference to the presidential office. Such a pretense can only result in Trump's having a second term in which to continue dragging the country into the slime of disgrace.
8
@SC Reader would those be the real offenses or the myriad fake offenses that the pundits, DNC, and media fabricate daily?
There's no one who's not afraid of Donald J. Trump and it's his single most worrying achievement. Bully's only survive unchallenged.
4
Democrats lose, time after time, because, ironically, they are so terrified of losing.
They are doing it again with Trump. They say they their prospects of winning in 2020 are more important totem than their duty to act as the coequal branch of government to control Trump. That makes them like weak, ineffectual, and cynical. I think that shirking their constitutional duty now actually hurts their prospects in 2020.
If they do go after Trump now it will get nasty. But if they keep the moral high ground as the battle progresses, Trump will be the loser. The public will be so disgusted with the whole thing that they will just want Trump and his enablers gone in 2020.
4
I have nearly despaired on hearing the word "deserve" tossed about: "He deserves to be impeached" --as if it were not a matter of law and the Constitution but some personal thing, what one man "deserves", as if a punishment.
Impeachment isn't personal, not a handful of gossips deciding what he deserves but they are gracious enough to refrain from to suit themselves.
It is not about him. It is not about them.
It is about rule of law, not of one man. It is about every single American alive today and born tomorrow and the years to come..
It is calling one man acting and speaking and writing as president to account for himself under oath -- to be asked questions, given a chance to explain his purpose, his intent, his reasoning, and respond to follow up questions, to testify regarding the evidence, including his own writing and videos of him, to refute or corroborate evidence and testimony.
He has the right to that chance as impeachment assures.
In the end, if Congress decide that an self-serving, anti-Constitutional liar using High Office to, ex.punish Americans who make him look bad, who as a point of pride deliberately remains ignorant of and shuns and ridicules knowledge presidents should have, as if it were a strength is fit to be president, so be it. Let them sign their names to that
No politician has the right to deny America its chance to defend, protect and preserve itself from assault through the right to impeach.
Never Sit Down
Never Shut Up
IMPEACH
11
My thinking has changed on impeachment.
If Trump is the constitutional threat we all know him to be, it is the obligation of the Congress to take up impeachment, even though we know the outcome is nearly foregone.
The House will impeach and the Senate will acquit - largely on party lines (despite many columnists claiming the GOP is as concerned with the orange, pathological lying buffoon).
But that also leaves the Dems with an opening. Every Senator who goes on the record defending Trump will have to defend that partisan vote.
11
Trump should be impeached. To not do so sets a precedence of accepting and allowing criminal behavior by a president. Republicans can chain themselves to Trump if they so choose.
6
"The Democrats may succeed in avoiding a tumultuous, divisive fight over impeachment now. But if they choose to ignore clear abuses of the Constitution, they’ll also turn a blind eye to the precedent they’re setting and how feckless they’ll look in history." Thank you, Elizabeth. I've been saying the saying much the same thing for the last two and one half years, but the Times doesn't publish my opinions on their front page. I am overjoyed there is a voice with the creds to get the message out.
6
Too bad the President consistently and repeatedly endeavored to obstruct justice by firing the head of the FBI, lying about the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting and trying to undermine the Special Prosecutor's investigation, among other things, rather than doing something impeachable. Like having an affair with an intern and lie about it in a deposition. Now THAT is impeachable. All this other stuff? Nah.
2
The House MUST impeach Trump. If they chicken out, as Pelosi is currently doing, the precedent will be horrendously damaging to our system of checks and balances. They MUST have an impeachment vote as soon as it can be done!
5
It is all so utterly simple. No impeachment, no more system of checks and balances. That is precisely what will happen, indeed, is already, patently, in the process of happening. The question of the Senate, the trial, the elections, none of that matters. The House must fulfill its own obligations and oaths to the Constitution, which is to protect it. That, in current circumstances, requires impeachment.
Besides, let us see Republican senators voting "not guilty." They will look like fools.
7
I was with you until the part about Bill Clinton. What he did was so much more than a simple extramarital affair. And perjury is not something to be downplayed.
Trump doesn't have a base--he has a collection of small fervent minorities, whose ideologies and fantasies embrace everything from violence to cruelty to children. Slave owner, Yale graduate, South Carolina senator John C. Calhoun described this as a majority of minorities. Not organic coalitions, but single issue groups bundled together behind an authoritarian leader.
No Democrat will shake loose Trump's racist supporters. None will move his supporters towards a sensible immigration policy, as evident by his government shutdown that cost the US economy $15 billion. No Democrat will shift Trump supporters toward supporting choice for women. Collectively, these groups make up Trump's base. Ideology is a better predictor of Trump's support than age race income or education. Trump's campaign included these multiple hot buttons, foremost supporting misogyny and white nationalism.
That said, despite the warnings, there is every reason to pursue multi-paths to Trump's defeat. Impeachment would make clear the willingness to assume the responsibility and power of governing by American interests and values, unlike Trump's willingness to put personal and private interest first. Policy and legislation would put forth the Democrats plan for prosperity and civil liberties (amendment nine) in a changing world. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive!
2
So naive. True, the Dems were elected to do a job. But so were the Republicans, who control the Senate, aka, the jury.
Comparison to the Congress that impeached Nixon is absurd. Then the Dems controlled BOTH houses. And there were actually Republicans who valued patriotism over power. Baker. Weicker. Javits. What do we have? McConnell. Graham. Cruz. Big donors who snubbed Trump in 2016 are lining up now, even in the shadow of the Mueller Report. They didn't stick up for Nixon in '73.
Why not pursue impeachment? Because, as you say, they were hired to do a job. Get rid of Trump. But how?
Impeachment ain’t happening. It could even backfire. The law does not require a useless act, much less a self-destructive one.
This is NOT having it both ways. This is an alternative strategy. Might there not be something in the returns and business dealings that will resonate loudly enough to break through the noise and sway public opinion for real?
The Founders did indeed include the impeachment clause. But they didn’t foresee a McConnell, much less a Trump. McConnell called HR1 “a blatant power grab.” He wouldn’t let Obama’s SCOTUS nominee get a hearing. What do you think he’d do with bills of impeachment?
No, if the Dems are going to rid us of Trump, it WON’T be through impeachment. Defending the Constitution will be better served by a strategy that might actually have a chance of defending its values than one that barely pays lip service to doing so.
1
Ignoring impeachable behavior is unforgivable. It gives Trumpers the license to say he has done nothing and the general public will see that Trump has no consequences and will believe him. Trump will continue his bizarre self serving behavior and there will be a precedent for ignoring it. This is giving a dictator free reign. Even if impeachmet fails the effort will remain in the minds of the public who will watch Trump more closely afterward. But the most important thing is to follow the Constitution and validate the Mueller report. The future can be a just let the chips fall, but hold on to your integrity because without integrity you may very well lose the next election.
1
No Democrats are saying "we're not going to impeach him." They're saying we're going to lay bare his offenses even better than the Mueller report has (or what we've seen of it).
Having done that, the formal impeachment process will go much better and get more buy-in, which matters. He still won't be convicted in the Senate, but he will be a howling wounded mess leading up to the election.
I (still) trust Leader Pelosi.
1
Worried about how esteemed the Trump era will be in history?
Sorry, we're way past any chance of looking good now.
Still digging the hole deeper.
Forget history, just stop digging.
Elisabeth Drew draws the distinction: there’s no choice for Republicans. If we wish not to prosecute a president for many impeachable offenses, we condone those offenses. The GOP is obliged. The president has abused power. It’s an automatic for Democrats. That’s politics. Our nation’s future is in the hands of a complicit GOP. We are tested. To force the GOP, Democrats must pose the question.
A republic if you can keep it.
1
If impeachment is not for DJT, then who? If they DON'T impeach him, they're guilty of not upholding their oath of office. And they should be hammering the republicans every single day for not joining them in impeaching a man clearly unfit for office. Any one of a dozen reasons qualifies him for impeachment, over 7,000 documented lies just for starters.
1
We are Americans because of our shared beliefs in the law. If the laws are not enforced we will cease to be Americans
1
The Dems are correct to not attempt to impeach. The Republican Senate has already stopped it from it passing.
Allow the Dems to bring non-stop subpoenas and witnesses to testify, with the courts backing them, as they will. They should be allowed to do this as is the impetus caused and provided for by the Mueller report. Barr has not provided Trump with an out from this as he first thought.
With his endless lying and egregious tweeting, Trump will be his own worst enemy. The Dems don't need to suffer the country through the morass of an impeachment proceeding.
@Dr. Wiz Don't know if you caught the news today but subpoenas are being ignored and aides told not to testify--all brought to you by DJT. These actions are further obstructions of justice. It's almost as if Mr. T. wants to be impeached and relieved of the post.
Problem is, if we impeach Trump we wind up with Pence, who, IMHO, would be even worse. Start public hearings -- yes. But realize we may currently have the lesser of two evils and, if the Senate won't convict, would it be better to wait to bring criminal charges or, goddess/god forbid, impeach if he should, with Russian help, manage to steal another term.
If we don't impeach Trump, we're setting a precedent that says that treasonous self-dealing and obstruction of justice is tolerable in a president.
1
As much as it pains me to say the problem is not so much with Trump but with today's Republican party. If they can get away with putting a dunce in the White House and packing the court and gerrymandering elections and nobody stops them then the country may as well hang up its spurs. The Republicans will have a license to rob the bank and leave the rest of us in the dust.
1
Elizabeth Drew is the gold standard of political observation.
If we, as a country, can impeach a man because of his peccadilloes and the lies he told about them, then impeaching Trump should be a no questions asked matter. It will be of course, the political power play that rules the day. The careful judgement of that is what we are waiting for.
The other party however, has not much to stand on should they care to obstruct. Trump cares not a whit for them as a body politic. As soon as they turn their backs, they will isolate him and the healing can begin.
This excellent oped , from start to finish, caused me to look up the word feckless because of it's use in the last line. I wasn't surprised to learn it's the perfect word to describe the Democrats if they do not impeach Trump; feckless- lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.. It's especially the lack of a strength of character that struck me . It goes along so perfectly with Elizabeth Drew's description of some "Democrats who continue to fear Mr. Trump even in his current weakened condition..." I can't help but see the tremendous fear of so many Democrats as to what will happen to their political careers and how Mr. Trump may damage them or jeopardize their party. Isn't one of the simplest and most basic truths of life that it's necessary to have the strength of character to not fear bullies? Indeed, what a precedent these irresponsible Democrats will be setting for the country, it's citizens and the U.S. Constitution.
1
I assert that the Democrats must pursue the foundation for impeachment with all deliberate speed.
We may uncover more than the 10 or so obstruction to justice charges Mueller outlined in Volume 2.
This invites to the lack of confidence after the financial crisis when Obama and Democrats were focused on getting the country moving again, but didn't invest any effort in prosecuting the financial crimes and, more importantly, letting the big money walk away with billions while millions lost their homes through no fault of their own.
There's also the involvement of foreign governments in our elections. Trump has paid no penalty for inviting Russia. The Democrats and Independents need to pillory the GOP for allowing this to happen.
Simply replace the Mueller report's summary of Trump and Russia with Clinton and China and ask "Why that would be acceptable? " It's true that critical thinking skills are not taught in the RWNJ blogosphere, but that doesn't mean the compare and contrast technique taught in middle school is ineffective.
2
After reading Ms. Drew’s analysis of Congress’s Constitutional responsibilities, I am completely sure that impeachment is not a choice, it’s a demand which cannot be ignored.
Given the delineated and undeniable charges of obstruction of justice, and the majority votes available to bring these charges,
the House need fear no evil. Think of it calling the Senate Republicans’ bluff.
Or, think of it this way: how nice not to have to fear Trump any more.
3
The Democrats always give the impression of being afraid of the voters, of whom they have a low opinion. The accommodation the Democrats think politically shrewd in fact leaves the scent of weakness, which is politically devastating. Their responsibility requires them to impeach, if only to lay down a marker for the future. And to show their seriousness, which is probably the right thing politically, too.
3
This is the difference between strategic and tactical, forest and trees, micro and macro, etc. Simply, brilliantly conceived, eloquently, compellingly presented. Worst case scenario: Trump
serves another term; Dems hibernate in the wilderness for another 1500 days, our democracy is torn to shreds yet still salvageable and returns stronger, healthier, wiser than ever.
Vote.
4
Impeachment is a great way to prepare for the coming election. Publicize the hearings and put them on nation wide TV. At the end of the hearings Trumps base will shrink and the democrats will be the strong, steady party, Impeach because it us the right thing to do. Stop trying to predict the unpredictable. Stop being mere political animals and show that you care more about the country than you care about your own jobs. That will be a refreshing and stimulating change, and that is what you have been asking of the Republicans with no effect.
.
.
5
Thanks to the Republicans, having an affair with an intern and lying about it in a deposition is the yardstick by which we should be measuring conduct that is impeachable. And, last I checked, Clinton's impeachment didn't exactly hurt the Republican Party - Bush won the Presidency and very shortly thereafter, the Republican's controlled the Senate and the House. Thus, there is no substantive basis for failing to proceed with impeachment.
3
Congressional party leaders can’t afford to have their dealings and activities exposed. Their hands in the cash register have enriched them beyond their expectations.
This is nothing new, the quid pro quo is the law of the land and every politician ultimately succumbs.
Bottom line is that they have to protect and preserve their financial support. It's pure suicide to go against the grain.
As in so many administrations heretofore, the transgressors only penalty is a short lived pr episode that is quickly forgotten and as quickly forgiven. Politics 101
Please. let's be frank: the only reason Don Trump isnt impeached is because a GOP Senate would never affirm it unless...unless, of course, a suddenly more ambitious Mike Pence calls on the evangelicals to abandon Trump.
1
The worst possible outcome of an impeachment, without conviction, is the possibility of Trump’s re-election. His re-election would prove without a shadow of doubt that the People considered the impeachment by the House without merit and forever stain the gravitas of impeachment.
@Greg W, Seattle You truly are an optimist.
With each day of tweets, Trump is close to impeaching himself. He's making a strong case for impeachment. The democrats don't have to deliberate and wait much longer. Legal scholars like Laurence Tribe have said that Trump's actions and interference in the legislative process prove that Trump is breaking the law. He can ignore subpoenas and demand his minions like Mnuchin ignore them, but at the end of the day he will be impeached. And if the Republicans shoot it down in the Senate, so what. It's still a win win in 2020. It will be cathartic for everyone except his supporters and Republicans
4
It's not about politics, it's about the kind of behavior that cannot be acceptable now, and for future administrations.
10
The Speaker of the House should create a comittee, with judge Gallerand as president or "acting president", to determine if there was obstruction of justice (or any other act ) comitted by Trump who should require an impeachment and proceed accordingly.
1
It's interesting reading Times opinion and reader comments vacillating between impeachment and not. Dems know Trump would be acquitted in the Senate, that their arguments are weak, that public opinion doesn't really support them, (and that having nothing to do with the legal questions involved, the nation just doesn't want to go through an impeachment trial). While they want to convince themselves (and Us) of the justice of their cause, what they really seem to want is to do as much political damage as they can with inflammatory words but, in the end, talk themselves out of actual impeachment--and all the time they feel the ground slowly shifting under their feet going into 2020. Of all world economies the U.S. is doing the best but it looks like all the Dems want to do is attack the driver of the bus, throw him from the driver's seat, run it off the road, and declare it to be a victory for America. They then hope to be cheered for this by the populace as saviors of the nation! Take another puff on that marijuana cigarette, Dems.
3
@Ronald B. Duke Ohhhh. Poor Donny, everyone picking on your friend DJT. Surely you can help him further by recruiting even more Russian friends.
Elizabeth Drew is correct on all counts. The Democrats as part of their obligation of office must attempt to relieve the Republic of a president who has betrayed, as the incumbent has, their oath of office. Drew is also correct that the Democrats may not have the "capacity for handling the matter skillfully." The sad state of this "feckless," leaderless party unable to mount a coherent, vigorous challenge to the vile Republican Party and its president is a wonder to behold. Doubtful they have one Sam Erwin in their gallery of 435, they must, however, venture to do their duty.
3
Democrats in Congress do your job! Start impeachment hearings now, regardless of the outcome.
The vote for impeachment by the house, will be a record for all time of the sleaziness and conspiring by the Trump administration.
This country cannot stand a second term of the Trump/Putin ticket.
I fear that we will all be part of the new Republican Party in the future, whether we like it or not, if these crimes are not accounted for.
Make a stand for the sake of our country.
4
There is no point in starting down the impeachment road if there is not a sizable number of Republicans whom are willing to support it.
Let the Senate GOP leadership come to Pelosi and say "If you impeach we will seriously consider the evidence and possibly convict." Then impeachment will start.
@Brad . The GOP may not have a choice when the evidence mounts against trump. The tides will turn, I believe, so if they don't do the right thing, it might become hard for them to be reelected. And that's all they care about...reelection.
3
There are lots of people in the House and Senate. Issued to deal with - impeachment among them: divide the work and make sure it’s all publicized. Let’s grow up any do what needs to be done.
1
Checks and balances?
Aren't they what make our government reliable?
Isn't a Congress that fails to act against an Executive Branch guilty of misconduct, equally guilty for failing in its duty of "checking?"
Democrats are right to be concerned about the short term political ramifications of moving against Trump. Public relations is something the Republicans and Trump are better at. But that sad situation does not absolve Congressional Democrats of their Constitutional responsibility to act.
Is that what we want our military to say? "Folks, we might get hurt or killed doing this, so we're just going to look for excuses not to fight." People with important "duties" for our nation, have an obligation to act on them. Congress is no exception.
8
Why not a strongly worded censure of Trump based on the Mueller report as an alternative to impeachment? In the rather likely event that one or more new nefarious deeds by Trump are exposed between now and Nov. 3, 2020, it might look bad for Republicans that they didn't support such a censure.
1
NO. Impeachment is the appropriate Constitutional remedy - and stain on his historical record. No one cares about a censure.
I believe it would be a major mistake for the Democrats to open impeachment proceedings. Here is what almost everyone recognizes would happen if impeachment proceeding were started: 1. The House would vote to impeach. 2. The Senate would never get enough votes (2/3 needed to convict). Remember that there was never a successful Senate conviction in our history. 3. Trump would brag that this would prove he was innocent of all charges, just as he has done with the Mueller report. His followers would rejoice. This is nothing like impeachment proceedings against Nixon after Watergate. In that case, the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach (with support of Republican members) and the recommendation was sent to the full House, at which point Nixon resigned. Why? The House, with a Democratic majority, was certain to vote for impeachment. The Senate had a 58% majority of Democrats including 1 Independent), with 2/3 (67%) needed to convict. In addition, several Republicans had indicated their intention to vote to convict, making it extremely likely that the full Senate would convict. Nixon, who was able to count, resigned the presidency. Nothing like this would happen this time. It is better for Democrat-led House committees to hold hearings and present information to show the electorate why Trump is unfit to remain as President. Let the American people vote him out!
Here’s the simple counter argument: He’s Guilty
1
Agreed. Putting impeachment on the table gives focus to every aspect of an investigation. For example, is the effort to review Trump's tax returns partisan political harassment, or is it a good-faith, valid, and justifiable inquiry to determine if his personal financial concerns and ambitions have influenced his conduct of foreign policy, to the detriment of the national interests and security of the nation? Even on collusion, Barr in his press conference before releasing the report did not declare Trump and his campaign to be above reproach. Far from it. Barr said, as at least a few commentators have pointed out, that there was no criminal culpability for accepting aid from foreign actors and/or governments unless the campaign participated in the theft of the stolen and disseminated e-mails. That may not violate a statute, but it surely rises to a high crime and misdemeanor, for which Trump has no plausible deniability. Which compounds the obstruction issue. And, politically, can the Democrats allow Trump and his allies to spend the next 18 months referring to him as the exonerated and vindicated victim of a malicious witch hunt? That's what we'll be hearing unless the pressure--legitimate, constitutional pressure--is kept on him. Convene a special select impeachment committee now and get on with it.
9
I respectfully disagree. There is nothing in the Constitution that ever mandates that Congress must impeach a President. That is left to the discretion of the Congress. And there is a well known legal maxim that the law will not require you to do a futile thing. The Republican Senate will never remove him from Office. The thing that is in the best interest of the Country is to remove Trump from the Office and that will not be accomplished by impeachment. In fact impeachment may reelect him. Ms. Drew says that the Democrats in '74 were able to both impeach and legislate. But they had BOTH the House and Senate. The Republican Senate will stymie any legislation giving the appearance that the Democrats are dong nothing but trying to remove the President. That could lead not only not only to Trump's reelection but also the loss of many seats in the House.
"The argument that the Democratic House wouldn’t be able to focus on substantive legislation is the flimsiest rationale."
The Democrats certainly can focus on substantive legislation---but the press has shown, so far, that it cannot.
We are missing much-needed constant attention to Mitch McConnell's stonewalling of substantive, important, legislation already passed by the Democrats, HR-1? HR-4? HR-8?
6
What we need to transmit to every voter in 2020 is that they, too, can be targeted by the DNC with a fake dossier and accused of a heinous crime, treason or being a serial killer, based on that. For a few years after, the whole media would then treat them as guilty without a doubt so that the will become the most notorious ,say, serial killer in the nation. When after two years it will turn out that they were after all not guilty and the crime made no sense,
Then the true nightmare will begin, because the DNC will accuse them of not being friendly enough to the fake accusers, that is attempt to try an obstruction which did not happen.
It is very important to be honest about such things.
While the Democrats are up to such tricks, the Republicans, will talk about jobs and the economy.
That is why Bernie Sanders wants to give voting power to felons, since they will be the most enthusiastic about the methods used by the DNC.
5
I agree whole-heartedly, the decision to impeach or not to impeach shouldn't be the result of a political calculation. If for no other reason than posterity, do we really want future generations to believe Trump's actions don't warrant impeachment? Democrats have far more relevant material with which to work than Republicans had against Clinton. Trump should be made to walk through this process, even if the action of the Republican Senate is preordained.
9
Nothing good can come to the Democrats from impeaching President Trump. If he is impeached and then acquitted by the Senate, he will take that as vindication and the majority of voters will probably agree. In the unlikely event that he is actually removed from office, the new President Pence will run for reelection as an incumbent in 2020, having served for only a few months before the 2020 election. The majority of voters will believe that he deserves more time than that and he will win the 2020 election. So it is heads the Republicans win, tails the Democrats lose. There is no good outcome from impeachment for the Democrats, just like there was no good outcome for the Republicans from impeaching President Clinton.
1
We're out here trying to teach our children and grandchildren and anyone who'll listen that we must stand up for what is right, what is good and ethical and moral correct and for what is true. Not to do that is to give a green light to corruption. There's nothing political about this, this is about doing the right and honorable thing, standing up for truth and honesty. If it's inconvenient, so be it. Our children are waiting to see what's good and honorable and this moment in our history must be respected.
If there is no impeachment after a movement to do so, then so be it but at least by moving to impeach Tump, the world will know that the Democrats are honorable, know right from wrong, and are worthy of our respect. Our children will thank us.
Politics has nothing to do with this.
9
Ms. Drew is a great reporter, but she has not read the constitution. The constitution does not REQUIRE impeachment; rather, it PERMITS impeachment. The Democrats highest obligation to history—and to the present—is to make sure that Trump does not serve a second term. Whichever best serves the goal of blocking a second term—impeaching Trump (and then failing in the Senate, where Republicans will make Trump out to be a victim), or not impeaching Trump while focusing on blocking his re-election—is the better course. Politics is not a dirty word. Politics is the essence of freedom and responsibility.
1
It’s so good to keep hearing that “I” word. There’s PLENTY there to start proceedings. The House will look like they rolled over if they don’t do it. We should vote for more of that? Who cares what the Senate does with it, it’s not the point. Trump’s going to play the victim either way...don’t give him more ammunition. He makes Nixon and Clinton look like angels. And they actually got positive things done on top of it. Come ON!
5
There is a serious danger in not proceeding with impeachment that has not been mentioned: we have an incompetent man-child in the White House. He and we have been fortunate that no real crisis has yet arisen during his tenure, but it is 21 long months before January 20, 2021, when the person elected President in November, 2020 will take office.
For the good of the nation, efforts should begin as soon as possible to remove Trump from office.
10
Think how frightening it would be if the Democrats avoid condemning Trump through impeachment and then he wins re-election. It would establish that his behavior is acceptable.
15
What is most troubling is the political calculus that seems to be driving the decision to avoid impeachment proceedings - Democrats have been claiming that they would hold Trump accountable if the Special Prosecutor's report revealed sufficient evidence to support impeachment but now that the report is out and the evidence is apparent, Democrats are claiming that the political consequences of an impeachment may be complicated, distracting and overall too politically damaging to the Party.
The refusal of our Representatives to do their job because the task has POLITICAL consequences, is shocking. Yeah - impeachment has political consequence; it will certainly be distracting; it may result in the loss of seats and it may not result in the conviction of the President in the Senate. So what? There is the principal of the thing and the responsibility to the rule of law that the job requires.
The job of Representative isn't always glamorous or easy. But it is a job and there are constitutionally mandated responsibilities that come with it. Refusing to carry-out those responsibilities because there may be consequences for doing so is inexcusable and embarrassing.
8
I try to imagine impeachment hearings going on. In my mind's eye, this seems like a very strong thing, with so much right on its side. Simple justice.
5
I called my Democratic representative and told the woman who answered the phone that I want my rep to support impeachment now. The woman told me she would pass my comment to my rep. She also told me that they were getting lots of calls from constituents supporting immediate impeachment.
If Democratic leadership insist on not impeaching the worst person ever to have darkened the doors of the Oval Office, Democratic candidates everywhere will suffer. What's the point of voting if your elected representatives won't do the right thing at such a crucially important turning point in the country's history?
16
First, let us admit, if we can, that this is no longer a political problem. You have a legal problem involving law-breaking. It is the duty of any citizen in any democracy to obey the laws and to enforce them insofar as his station in life allows him to do so.
If you admit that, then the course of your House of Representatives becomes much clearer. As I understand your Constitution, the first step in bringing your president or other elected highly placed official to justice is impeachment.
In impeachment, as in any other prosecution, the prosecutor must have evidence. In this instance, the putative defendant is doing his very best to deny anyone obtaining that evidence.
That activity on his part demand that congress proceed with unusual diligence to investigate his actions. Doubtless, this demands a careful, widespread, and patient search. It will be expensive, frustrating, and hugely time consuming. Nevertheless it must be done unless you wish to live under tyranny for the rest of your country's existence.
Get the very best, stone-cold, unarguable evidence available. Then, with that in hand, discuss impeachment.
As your neighbour, I wish you the very best in solving this problem.
9
Just keep up the investigations; at some point, Trump’s Humpty Dumpty will have a great fall. Impeachment throws it to the Republican dominated Senate, and that will shut down any chance of any true investigation.
1
@JWinder
My understanding is that the impeachment process conducted by the House of Representatives includes investigation that must be concluded before the matter is referred to the Senate. Once the House has referred the impeachment charges to the Senate, the Senate determines the punishment that would be appropriate in the case of the particular impeached individual. (If I am in error about this, please correct my comment.)
It’s not politically risky: once Trump gives testimony on Camera like the others, he’s finished.
4
Here's what the Democrat leadership's talking points on the issue should be, and the caucus ought to be unified.
We are following the facts, and though it is an unappealing and difficult process for all Americans to endure, we are obligated to press on with impeachment, as it is our duty to the democracy and our office. Regrettably, the president's actions have forced us into this position and congress must respond. To ignore it would be negligent and tacitly accepting such actions as normal in all future presidents, Republican or Democrat.
13
The executive branch of our government is deliberately and brazenly operating above the law, i.e. as a dictatorship. Congress has not only a right, but a duty, under the constitution to impeach the president. Not pursuing impeachment in face of such egregious violations of the law by the Trump administration sets a precedent that voids the remedy of impeachment, leaving us with no means of removing a president who breaks the law, leaving us in effect with a dictatorship. Congress must act to impeach.
12
I would be for impeachment as a clear statement of strength by the Dems, but I'm not all that interested in calls for "principled" action. Not given the behavior of the GOP. Dems would have to go a long, long, long way to begin to be derelict at the level the GOP is. If it helps us win, let's impeach. If it hurts getting Trump out of office, I don't care about the calls for principle.
2
The GOP does it because Trump is being successful in implementing their political conservative agenda against the poor. So Democrats should do it too because of the elections? No difference.
I would like to hear what the Democratic crowd running for president has to say about it. One by one. If the House is playing GOP games, I want to know if the Democrat candidate will do the same.
3
No, the danger is the Dem's so obsessed with this guy that they either enter a state of permanent derangement to the point either the nation totally rejects what was once a proud vital political party leaving a country with one party Republican rule (which no matter if you lean right or left is not good for the country) OR the Dem's actually end up doing Russia's bidding, play into Putin's hand by stoking complete chaos in America to the point the country enters a period of severe civil unrest if not internecine Beirut-style violence -- leaving the free hand Russia has always wanted on the world stage free of American power push-back. Now that would be one of history's greatest ironies that the most anti-Russia-obsessed/conspiracy story driven political party since Joseph McCarty is the one that ends up enabling Russia's fondest dreams.
So I guess you are unable to articulate what powers have been abused. Why was that omitted since it’s your basis for impeachment?
1
Democrats should have impeached him the first they took the House. They are cowards or they are lazy.
3
@Kurt
My guess is paralysis by analysis.
@Kurt
"And" is the word you're looking for.
Two of President Trump’s defining qualities are that he is a bully and a gambler. No politician should be afraid to challenge him on an impeachment case because if they remain in fear than President Trump has already won. He is also gambling that no Republican senator will vote to impeach him. On this point, sadly, his gambling instincts are correct. Mitch McConnell will sit and allow his limbs to be taken from him before he or any other Republican senator votes to impeach Mr. Trump. But this is still America and not yet the kingdom of Donald Trump. Make the decision to impeach or not on facts, not fear. History will remember well where those in this matter stand. President Trump is not above the law.
7
The Democrats have to answer to history as Ms Drew says. Unless there is a smoking gun, that Mueller did not find, the net result will be that Trump gets elected in 2020, becomes more arrogant and as Joe Biden said today a lot of what we think of America gets destroyed.
Do investigations and insist that there is no case of impeachment unless something serious turns up. We have been seen all of Trumps transgressions and as Pelosi said we need to have an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that he should be removed. we do not have that now
No president in the history of the country that was impeached has ever then convicted. So who cares about the GOP senate.
For the long term sake of our democracy and government separations of power, the Congress must protect and enforce it’s power of executive branch oversight.
The Congress needs to impeach this lying, corrupt, compromised conman Trump. And send him on his way with a well deserved stain on this embarrassment of a presidency.
Regardless if corrupt Trump would ever be convicted.
That’s not the point, and it really doesn’t matter.
7
After Obama was elected the Democrats held no hearings about the previous Bush administration, there was plenty to investigate. That was bad enough, the Democrats should not repeat the mistake. The impeachment is due now. There is an abuse of power and corruption and incompetence galore, what else does it take to remove such a man from office? The nation can't take anymore.
It is also time to reduce Russia/Putin phobia.
7
Trump must go, what he did was far worse than anything Nixon ever did. Even the President is not above the law.
7
Impeach Trump on what constitutional grounds? Is the point to help Trump? Because that ‘s what Ms Drew is adovocating.
Ms Drew is reaching and nothing Trump has done regards “Russiagate” rises to the level of Watergate.
“Moreover, the report by Robert Mueller, the special counsel, left clear openings, perhaps even obligations, for Congress to act. Mr. Mueller did not say that there had been no collusion, or conspiracy, or whatever between Russian oligarchs and intelligence agents and members of the Trump campaign.”
A tiresome rephrasing of “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”. How did the Iraq war go, and is it legal yet?
As Omar said on The Wire: "You come at the king, you best not miss." Failure to impeach, which is likely, would be a bigger disaster. Voting that rids us of Trump is the only way to legitimately end this once and for all. And making Pence the President is an even worse outcome.
Thank you, Elizabeth Drew!
I hope and pray that the Democrats will find the guts to impeach.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We elect a Congress to act, and to take risks, not for show.
But let me suggest that maybe a new democratic way is coming.
Leonard Cohen wrote a "Democracy" song, in 1992.
He sang, "Democracy is coming to the USA" (See YouTube)
I sense that resistance to Trump is stimulating a democratic wave.
But Democrats may blow it, by refusing to act on impeachment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder if Elizabeth Drew and the Times would care to comment
on the "Democracy" song and the promise of a democratic wave.
2
Democratic failure to impeach tells every American voter and the whole world that Trump did nothing wrong. If you, Democratic legislators, don’t do your job, you are even worse than the Republicans. The Democratic mantra: expediency first, America last? I won’t send another penny to the party if you don’t impeach. You don’t deserve to win in 2020.
3
People should really wait until they see the IG report and be certain that the collusion pushers won't be investigated/indicted.
I basically agree. Prepare for fecklessness.
1
You don’t have to impeach, just do 11 hearings to keep that on voter’s mind. It worked against HRC it can work again against DJT.
2
Now that Mueller struck out, it is incumbent on Democrats to move toward impeachment. Why should they stop at being losers, when they excel at being sore losers. They are still trying to undo an election, trying to drive the President crazy with fake accusation after accusation for over two years. Maybe if they throw enough heat his way they will find something or get him to act out. The Democrat playbook is getting awfully tired. They must fulfill their duty and impeach Trump. It is their obligation and destiny to fail again. And they should not forget their accomplices in the media desperately need the ratings and pageviews (just ask Wolf "Impeachment" Blitzer!)
3
Congress should do the right thing, regardless of the political consequences. But the Right only cares about power so will do nothing, regardless of any question of right or wrong. And the Dems are timid and disorganized because that is who they are.
Our Founding Fathers made a mistake in their assumptions about who would be elected in Congress.
1
Members of Congress have taken an oath to defend and protect the Constitution. Neither that oath nor the Constitution tells them how best to do meet that obligation. That is their decision to make. It is a political decision, and has always been regarded as such.
Right now, the best way to defend the Constitution is to get rid of the man who is violating it. Articles of impeachment in the House will not do it, because 2/3 of the Senate will not vote too convict.
So a vote to impeach in the House would only be a symbolic gesture, but one that could upend Democrats’ chances in 2020. Consider the following:
The impeachment will almost certainly become the focus of the campaign; the GOP will see to that. Trump’s unfitness for office will become secondary. Is that a campaign the Democrats want? Is it one they can win? The answer to both is surely, "No."
A great many voters have already made up their minds about Trump, and do not feel strongly about impeachment. They will be repelled by the controversy when all they want is is a stable, functioning government attentive to their needs, and not a bunch of of politicians quarreling among themselves. How motivated do you think they will be to vote Democratic with that spectacle on their screens day after day?
I know many Democrats feel strongly about impeachment. They are angry and want "justice." But sometimes, for the greater good, we have to put aside our personal feelings and take the longer view. This is one of them.
3
Republicans don't care.
Even the so-called "moderates" (according to the media), are NEVER going to turn on Trump.
Republicans would love to make the U.S. more like Russia.
4
"Several Democrats are trying to have it both ways [not bring a vote for impeachment while ] attempting to expose Mr. Trump’s tax returns, his business dealings and whether his financial interests guided some of his foreign policies"
This analysis is broken. Opening presidential tax returns is something that ought to be a matter of course - for any president regardless of party. That's obviously a different category of action from moving for impeachment which should only be done with overwhelming public approval.
Impeachment is a far inferior result to Trump not getting elected for a second term. It's a shortcut with pitfalls whether it succeeds or fails.
Developing and constructing a coherent plan for governance, reaching out to all groups and resisting the trend to US Balkanization; that's a lot harder work than simply moving for impeachment.
1
Trump and his allies will refuse to cooperate with an investigation. Getting them to answer subpoenas will take court action that will last until the next election. He should be impeached with whatever information is available to them without a fight. The Mueller report should be enough to impeach him for obstruction of justice.
4
We need to know going forward whether we are a people of principle, reason, majority representation etc, or a backward, corrupt, authoritarian inclined 3rd world country (who accidentally reached heights prior to the current backward turn).
I understand that the posturing for the next election is, in some way, strategic.
We need to put principle above political strategy and set forth in a careful, reasoned approach to impeachment.
We have struggle with the question of impeachment one and all, and with the best of intentions.
Now is the time to make the principled move and set out the evidence in an impeachment proceeding.
6
If America were a Republic, impeachment would matter, but, despite Republican protests to the contrary, America perceives itself to be a Democracy, and in a Democracy the only people allowed to pass judgement are the voters. It will be done in 2020.
There is also one significant difference between now and Watergate -- the timing.
The Watergate burglary occurred in the summer of 1972, just months from an election. Few could say that when hearings finally did begin in 1973, they were political. Rather, the hearings were a direct outgrowth of the underlying crime and allegations that the White House may have been involved in covering up the crime.
Now, we are a full year and a half away from an election. If Democrats decide to wait and punt the issue until after November 2020, and if Donald Trump were to be reelected, a credible claim could be made that impeachment was merely an attempt to overthrow the election.
Of course, punting might turn out to yield the outcome that many Democrats hope for -- a presidential victory as well as a takeover of the Senate. That may well turn out to be the case.
What's less likely, however, is a split decision where by some fortuitous circumstance Mr. Trump gets reelected, but Democrats nonetheless still manage to capture the Senate. In the current polarized atmosphere, it's hard to imagine many voters going to the polls to vote for Mr. Trump on the one hand, but casting a ballot for a Democratic senate candidate on the other.
Yes, the Watergate hearings began not long after the election in 1972. But that's only because the break-in was discovered only months earlier.
Acknowledging that congress is a mess, and could not even get the 'do not call registry' right, Trump is a bigger mess.
If Pelosi goes all in for impeachment, whatever happens, Trump will be bruised, it's inevitable, he has too many vulnerabilities.
7
I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here. I agree with Hillary Clinton (and others) who've said we should investigate this very seriously — and see where the evidence takes us — before we jump the gun to impeach.
1
Congress is as guilty of violating the US Constitution by not opposing this president as this president is by thumbing his nose at Congress, bending ideas of executive privilege entirely out of shape, and generally behaving in a completely debased and disgraceful manner. Congressional inaction proves Trump's point: nothing with regard to US federal politics has anything to do with justice, the rule of law, accountability, democratic principle or the Constitution. It's entirely about graft, partisanship, ego and seeking advantage. Alas, Trump is right; those who think some positive action will ensue are delusional. Congress and the presidency are far too venal. They're two sides of the same coin and they both know it.
1
Mueller's report is a blueprint for impeachment. Trump, correctly sensing Democratic fear of somehow alienating the electorate, is mocking them and thumping his chest in a show of triumph.
He's fighting tooth and nail ever attempt to make him and his guilty lackeys suffer any consequences.
Not impeaching tells the electorate that the president can commit crimes and stonewall and pay no price for such outlandish acts.
Had a Democratic president behaved as Trump, the Republicans would have gone for juglar a long time ago. The willingness to play hardball is what makes the Republicans seem powerful.
An impeachment now has no similarities to the Clinton impeachment. It was a gross overreach and the Republicans paid the price.
No impeachment now will cost the Dems major credibility.
Now is the time for Congress to do its duty.
3
Trump publicly welcomed dirt from the Russians in front of hundreds of millions. He had nothing to hide.
Hillary hired a company to hire a British agent to reach out to the Russians for dirt on Trump. The Russians provided the Dossier which we are learning was pure disinformation from the Kremlin...which set off the whole Mueller investigation in the first place.
What is worse?
2
@rpe123: It was a Republican donor who hired the company that produced the Steele report. Why do you people keep omitting that? And it was not the Russians who provided the dossier.
2
@Anna Read the facts in the NY Times...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/us/politics/steele-dossier-mueller-report.html
@rpe123: Maybe you should reread the NYT article you reference. Steele provided the dossier, not the Russians. Steele used Russian sources, of whom he said their information was "raw intelligence" that would be a "starting point" for further investigation, not something that could be believed "as is". And it's a Republican donor who started the report.
Obama was always way too cautious. The Democrats should not make that same mistake. The times they are a changing.
1
Democrats should not jump to impeachment. Part of the "responsibility" that Democrats have, and that Elizabeth Drew rightfully puts at the forefront of her argument, would be to prepare the American public.
First, hold lots of congressional hearings that are televised (C-SPAN). Mueller dropped hints that this would be Congress's responsibility. This will slowly drip, drip, drip out the evidence, especially obstruction of justice, where there is not one incident but multiple incidences of Trump's attempts to obstruct justice.
That in some cases aides in the White House stopped him, doesn't matter, because with these hearings, the sum of the many, man parts of Trump's misuse and abuse of power will be hard to ignore and walk away from.
Trump supporters, of course will walk away, and the Republicans will counter attack until it becomes clear to them that the public is disgusted--as Drew points out happened with Nixon and Watergate.
Really Trump should not object, since if he is as innocent as he proclaims and is already "exonerated" (which he is not), then he should welcome the opportunity to prove the Democrats wrong.
If public opinion turns against Trump in a meaningful way, then the Democrats should go for impeachment, claiming this is only logical thing to do in the face of all the congressional investigations.
But, the Democratic candidates out on the campaign trail should focus on kitchen table issues, common sense, and getting things done for all people
1
This could have been written during Hillary’s campaign. It’s too bad our elected leaders think winning elections, and not preserving the laws of this land, is their job. Whether their electorate wants impeachment is irrelevant. It is the duty of House members to act on the Mueller report!
3
Hey, House Democrats. Impeaching Trump is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
And there's no reason you can't do that job as well as the job of advancing legislation to promote the agenda you were elected to pursue: higher wages, quality education, affordable healthcare, improved infrastructure, protection of the environment, and economic growth.
3
Trump deserves to be impeached, convicted, and removed from office. He is too dangerous and unstable to remain in office. What are the arguments against this?
1) If successful, Pence would become president, and he's not much better. I wouldn't vote for Pence, but that's because of his political views, not his personality, which doesn't seem severely disturbed.
2) If the House impeached Trump, the Senate might not convict. That might be a possibility, but we don't know that. Lots of Republican senators have reservations about Trump. If the House impeaches Trump, showing evidence of tax evasion, constant lying, not taking care to protect and preserve the Constitution in regard to his dealings with Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other authoritarian regimes.there might come a tipping point,where senior Republican senators approach Trump and ask him to resign.
3) The process would be disruptive. That is true, but the Constitution awards the president a fixed term in office, and gives Congress the remedy of impeachment. Trump is an experience good. Like a marriage, we had to have time to get to know him. If our spouses were anything like Trump, most of us would divorce them.
With the freedom the Constitution gives our legislature to impeach and convict, it is their political responsibility to proceed. Otherwise, they would be shirking their moral duty
4
@Diogenes. Tax evasion? When? Dealings with Russia? It was Obama who handed over the Crimea and our uranium. Dealings with authoritarian regimes? It was Obama who stuck us with the Iran deal.
The Democratic Party leadership must do their duty and put country before party when it comes to impeaching Trump. If he isn't held accountable his actions will become more increasingly authoritarian and we could be in danger of losing our democracy altogether.
This is a moment, similar to the American Revolution and the Civil War, in which the fate of our country hangs in the balance. If the Democrats fail to act, history will judge them accordingly.
5
Why is all of the pressure being put on Democrats?? The only reason they are hesitating is because Republicans in the Senate are not going to find Trump guilty. So criticize Republicans- they are the problem...
2
I was on the fence about impeachment, primarily because I thought no Republican would join the Democrats. But with today's news about Trump's efforts to stymie all investigations, and Ms. Drew's persuasive arguments, I now believe it's imperative we pursue impeachment. The last two years have seen some of the most malign and dangerous political actors, spurred by the President's complete lack of respect for the constitution. The nightmare isn't going to end quickly, but we need to start to claw back some decency in government. And we need to answer fools like Jared Kushner who believe the Mueller investigation was worse for the country than Russian interference and the obstructions of his father-in-law.
5
Ms. Drew does not have to run for office or get anyone elected. I trust Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to know when it is best, if ever, to move to impeachment. Getting Trump out of office is more important than worrying about what James Madison would have thought. He did not have to deal with Facebook and Fox News nor George III’s Twitter account
1
The House can impeach but you need a two-thirds vote in the Senate to find him guilty pursuant to the articles of impeachment and to remove him. That is literally impossible. What is the point of this? To demonstrate the powerlessness of Democrats to succeed? If we had the votes in the Senate, fine, but to fight and lose “bigly” only plays into his hands.
1
the congress is not just the democrats. it is also the republicans. so when Ms. Drew calls on congress to act that must include republicans as well as democrats. of course there are no republicans who are willing to do their constitutional duty a bring trump to heel. it is therefore incumbent upon the democrats as the only political party willing to defend the constitution to make sure that they have the best chance to defeat trump and his republican lackeys in 2020. the best course for the democrats is to not impeach trump but rather as HRC suggest investigate the heck out of him.
2
Unfortunately we are in a different place than we were in the past: truth, integrity, evidence, reasoned argument no longer matter. What matters is maintaining our beliefs, and preserving privilege. Republicans want us to excuse all these things Trump and his associates have done as insignificant. At the same time, they want the Clinton email scandal and Steele report to result in jail time. It is the overall acceptance of this hypocrisy that is the fundamental issue in America today. Conservatives would be well advised to realize that historically, tables often turn.
1
What irony in that photo where Donald Trump #45 is standing next to a portrait of George Washington #1. Washington could not tell a lie and Donald Trump cannot tell the truth.
3
I have long admired Elizabeth Drew and bemoaned the long periods between her presence in the news. So it saddens me to disagree with almost every argument she makes in this article.
As Andrew Cuomo once said in a different context, (approximately) "If I don't get elected I can't accomplish anything." The House may well impeach, but in anything remotely similar to the current political environment, it is certain that the Senate would not convict. If for no other reason, the country must be protected from the storm of jubilant lies Trump would unleash following his acquittal. His behavior after the release of the Mueller report is a pale foreshadowing.
In the abstract, the arguments Ms. Drew makes for impeachment are of course correct; in the reality of the political world we live in, they are totally irrelevant and would be destructive if followed.
Ms. Pelosi and her cohorts can answer their grandchildren's "What did you do during Trump time?" with "we worked very hard to ensure that he would be a one-term President, we elected the Biden/Harris (say) ticket, won both the House and Senate overwhelmingly, except for the few Romney/Weld/Hogan Republicans still standing whom we welcomed into cooperation to repair the awful damage of 2016-2020."
So I wonder what happens if the House votes to impeach Trump and Mitch McConnell refuses to allow a trial in the Senate?
Right on! It’s bad enough that the GOP has become completely spineless! The Democrats should not follow them in this regard. And, as you point out, what if he wins again? In that case the Democrats would look absolutely terrible! But the Democratic establishment seems hellbent on proving how oblivious it has become by making one wrong decision after other.
2
Agreed! Congress must do its duty and impeach this criminal immediately.
5
Kim Jong Un sends Trump a bill for $2 million dollars for Otto Warmbier's medical "care." Later, Trump says he and Un fell in love.
How much more ridiculously -- and dangerous -- does this have to get before the Republicans in Congress admit this has to stop.
6
The whole horrified world is watching.
3
Were it not for the 24-hour cable "news" coverage, the choice is an easy one. Impeach. Quietly dedicate the necessary resources to the task, while continuing governance per the mandate given at the mid-term election. The media is a beast unrelenting in its all consuming greed for reporting "BREAKING NEWS". Quiet, reasoned discourse is well nigh impossible in this environment.
Democracy is not well served.
1
Okay impeach Trump.
Senate says No.
Then what ?
1
At least the Democrats have done their duty and exposed the GOP for not doing theirs. There is this myth that it will strengthen Trump if the impeachment fails because of Clintons impeachment. But its not 1998 and Trumps crimes make Clintons perjury look like a parking ticket. Its not an equivalent scenario and people need to stop treating it as such. Nixon’s impeachment is much more fitting an analogy here and when hearings began on it, there were very few GOP supporters of it.
1
Rinse and repeat until the stain is gone.
Congress needs to do its duty under our Constitution and damn the consequences. If it refuses to live up to its oath then we need to get people who will.
3
Elizabeth Drew has it exactly right. This is a moral and civic duty, of course. But also what’s at stake is fidelity to the Constitution and the problem of a bully unchallenged. We do want want those in office to equivocate under the false guise of caution; the nation require elected members of the house to exercise leadership.
1
If the Democrats impeach Trump on a party line vote, based on something that can be reasonably argued is not a true crime, it will establish a precedent for future Republican Houses to impeach Democrat Presidents for something less than criminal. It's a dangerous precedent that Trump haters seem to ignore.....They've already set a precedent on party line votes for Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet members. It will be unlikely or at least very difficult for future Democrat Presidents to get anyone approved without using political capital and compromise.... The bitterness of the 2016 loss and the hatred of Trump has made Democrats do foolish things that will haunt them and us all for many years.
1
This isn’t a “close call”. Not only did Trump clearly obstruct justice, he did so to cover for his and Russia’s mutual interests. And the Mueller report lays bare his glaring deriliction of duty to the USA, Trumps worst “high crime” imo
1
While the Democrats have spent all of their energy on witch-hunts (e.g., against Trump, banks, technology companies), Trump has been reducing taxes and crippling regulations, and presiding over a booming economy and unprecedented low unemployment. If the Democrats desire any hope in 2020, they would be wise to drop the nonsense and start making some constructive policy contributions. As of now, they are increasingly establishing themselves as the butt of jokes for many Americans. Give up the Trump-ghost and get something done.
4
All I would say, short of a SEX scandal so disgusting they can't even put it on the evening news, a clear and present danger to national security would be the "red line" the GOP would not be able to ignore. Sadly human rights abuses, ethics violations, even fraudulent financial records- may still not be enough.
I wanted him removed from office in Jan. 2017. He simply wasn't qualified to assume the office, regardless of his political and moral positions and behaviors. No legitimate political organization or party may put forward a totally clueless individual to run for such an important position- I don't care if he/she is 35 and naturally born. The GOP had other choices and should have made them, regardless of the entertaining insults Trump hurled at the competition. "It's just not good enough" the party leaders should have said. THEY should have exposed his every weakness, his inability to repay his loans, his disloyalties to his wives.
What about renting out his hotels to drug traffickers looking for a way to launder their money in Panama? Where did all the money for his golf clubs come from after U.S. banks wouldn't loan to him
any more? They would have/should have put a stop to this runaway train themselves. The fact is, they didn't then and they apparently won't now. Unless the military has to step in with a dire warning about an imminent threat of some kind. That's how (unfortunately) it usually goes. Commander In Chief? What, are you kidding?
1
Many of the pleas to impeach Trump sound like vengeance, rather than an opportunity to move the country forward.
1) Trump is a bumbling, egotistical and Narcissistic NYC hustler with no political background and no interest in learning about how the US government works. VP Mike Pence is a skilled politician whose record of abuse is worse than Trump’s. If you impeach Trump, you will swap a bumbling fool who has been able to do little, for a skilled politician who is genuinely evil. I’ll take the annoying, bumbling fool any day.
2) About 25% of American voters voted for Trump and most of them still like him. We have issues with social groups distrusting other American social groups. The Trump fans will know “for a fact” that an Impeachment of Trump will have been done by the Deep State or the Jews or Mexican rapists or the College Elite. The Militant, Alt-Right Extremists are well armed and with a Trump impeachment, there will be blood. [Google CIA records of the background of terrorists’ attacks in the USA if you doubt my projection.] We need a government that can recognize the issues that the Trump supporters have, and then take steps to do what we can to assist them. Trump supporters are Americans and I look forward to a President that will work for ALL Americans. Impeaching Trump will harden the walls between our social groups and will not add to the functionality of Washington. The rest of the world will forget a less and less important past world leader,- the USA.
Curious how many republicans on here are asking for democrats to impeach. Seems oddly high.
Hey! Why isn't anyone talking about all the collusion in the Mueller Report?
I'm only on page 65 and collusion is everywhere.
"The Trump Compaign showed interest in WikiLeak' release of hacked emails..." and then pages 51, 52 are conveniently blacked out.
Trump was planning a press strategy & messaging campaign around the Clinton emails by WikiLeaks. And then pages 55, 56, 57, 58 are conveniently blacked out.
p. 60: WikiLeaks asks Trump Jr. to check out a site and gives him the password. Jr. does it. WikiLeaks asks Trump Jr. to disseminate fake news on Hillary. Jr. replies that he's already done it. WikiLeaks asks Trump Jr. to disseminate a link that helps readers research the Hillary emails. Jr. does it.
Looks like collusion also in the Justice Dept. Who closed down the Mueller inquiry before he could finish with Jerome Corsi and Roger Stone? These guys seem to be the links between Trump Org. and the GRU Russian military officers-- thru WikiLeaks. How do we know that *anyone* is still pursuing this?
2
Wait until you get to the loose ends with Manafort...and Trumps obstruction to alter Manaforts testimony.
The real “high crime” that Mueller exposed was the one staring us in the face all along, at least those of us who havent ignored the news at Trumps direction. Trump betrayed America and has acted in bad faith in administering his office, having chosen to defend the attackers of our electoral process rather than our electoral process.
The attack was real and “sweeping”, mostly carried out by Russias military intelligence unit. The Trump campaign was previewed the anonymously leaked emails strategy. Not only did they not report, but they signaled their willingness to accept the help, at the very least (perhaps more - Mueller couldn’t track down all his leads because of the obstruction of Trump and his aids.)
But the Trump team denied and obfuscated and downplayed Russias role in the attacks from the very beginning. As a campaign strategy this is deplorable, but one could argue not grounds for impeachment. As President of the United States, it is inexcusable. We will never forget his betrayal at Helsinki. It violates his oath and is a very obvious deriliction of duty. And it goes beyond mere words, Trump has neglected to do a thing to stop Russia from attacking again. Once more, we can’t prove there’s an agreement here, but its plainly obvious that Trump wants the help and winks at Putin for it.
Such bad faith in our leadership is totally unacceptable. He’s literally a traitor. It borders on treason, as he aids our attackers for his and Russia’s mutual benefit. Impeach now.
2
In principle, who can possibly object to the reasoning here? However, in practice it’s clear that proceeding with impeachment will not likely accomplish what such an indictment ultimately intends. First, the polarized political context probably would cause doubt among many citizens about how true an attempt by a Democrat-dominated House to impeach actually is. Second, accusations against Trump ... notably obstruction of justice ... would have to be proved. What he wanted to do in this regard is not the same as what was done. Third, the Republican-dominated Senate would almost certainly not convict ... including because there would be too much political risk at home for them in favor of doing so.
@wak
Just a suggestion: do some reading about impeachment. It's not what you seem to think.
2
The danger of not holding a Mr. Donald J. Trump accountable for treason with a White Caucasian, hostile, foreign adversary, Contempt of Congress, and Obstruction of Justice.....
It is quite likely that this malignant, sociopathic, compulsive liar will persist in his lawless behavior and harm our Nation.
8
Impeachment will just drive more people into the Trump camp.
Focus on 2020.
I will support impeachment if the following two requirements are met.
1) Put Judge Judy in charge. I don't have any time for stupidity or nonsense.
2) Every Democrat MUST go to Kinkos and get a poster that says, "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire" and march around the rotunda while AOC bangs on a drum.
If I could take Congress seriously, I would say go for impeachment. But since they are nothing but a sad attempt at a clown show I would rather they all put their heads down and figure out how to fix broken levees, rebuild Puerto Rico, fix bridges and railroads, and for the love of God will someone replace all of the pipes in Flint, Michigan and get those people some decent water.
3
Had already figured out how the Dems planned to lose the Presidency in 2020...
Now, have figured out how the Dems plan to lose the House in 2020...
.....
From what I've seen, there's only one Dem that could take on Trump in 2020...
And she's already got a really big job in DC with a really big hammer...
3
How has the president abused power? How has the president opposed the Constitution? Why is every Democrat ablaze with the hope of impeachment on the grounds of corruption and crime when after 2 years worth of investigation there is still no substantive proof that Mr. Trump is guilty of anything?
You are all blinded by your biases in your preconceived judgement of facts that clearly prove you wrong. You cried that you wanted to see the Mueller report after Barr gave his summary, he voluntarily gave it to you. You still cried because it didn't satisfy your drooling lust for incriminating evidence against Trump and once again you cried, "But it's been redacted!" You will never be satisfied with facts and you will never stop crying simply because you don't like Trump. How about you take a look at your own party and its own clandestine practices.
The questions you should be asking is why Mr. Comey accused Mr. Trump about prostitutes and lewd movies in hotels in Moscow, and was then proven a lie by Mr. Meuller in the report. Why did Democrats push Sessions, and also Barr, the only two people with the intention of conducting an internal investigation on the FBI, to recuse themselves?
The entire investigation on Trump has just been a smokescreen to delay investigations on Democrats spying on Trump in 2016. The only reason Democrats have been pushing for impeachment is to get a Democrat in the White House so that any investigation on their own party can be prevented.
2
@Dominic Ciarlante That is completely warped. You know that even in redacted form, Mueller reports numerous contacts with Russians, welcoming their help in electing Trump. And you know that Trump's hand-picked toadys for AG were tasked to either stop or spin Mueller. Sessions hid behind a recusal and got canned. Barr did the deed and is being lauded. Misdirecting attention toward Democratic actions is a diversion from the misdeeds of Trump, from his 10,000 lies to spilling state secrets to Lavrov in the Oval Office to his constant feeding of hate and division in the country, and his palling up with dictators and alienating our allies. There has never been a worse president. One can only hope that Congress and the voters will correct this electoral mistake of massive proportions.
2
Bias? This is what bias looks like.
@Dominic Ciarlante: Read the Mueller report.
Of course it's politically risky, but appropriate. It's much more of a risk to have a President that doesn't understand the Constitution, doesn't think the rule of law applies to him, doesn't think it's against his oath of office to let the Russians have any influence in our elections, and encourages his appointees and staff to lie and subvert the law. This couldn't be more important to the future of America - to insure that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in a President.
2
The post Newt Gingrich Republican party with it's sophistry and "because I can" scorched earth partisanship is not something that can be blithely excused by saying:
"Of course, the focus on what the Democrats will do doesn’t relieve the Republicans (who also fear the president’s verbal lash as well as his remaining power with the party’s grass roots) of all responsibility. "
Having used impeachment for purely political reasons in the past, as well as undertaken many bad faith investigations for political advantage, Republicans have convinced many that congressional oversight is now purely an exercise in political power.
Thus, having thoroughly destroyed what were once venerated institutions, Republicans can now hide amongst the wreckage with impunity.
13
How refreshing to read this very well reasoned argument for the House of Representatives to begin crafting articles of impeachment with the intention of voting to pass them and get them to the Senate.
I trust House Speaker Pelosi will read it and act on the wisdom it conveys.
The author reminds us that the Democrats are under a constitutional obligation to act. Certainly if they can get their subpoena demands complied with, they will only get more fodder for the impeachment. If the Dems don't file articles of impeachment, then they will go down as one of histories greatest losers.
The author importantly points out that it is not necessary for Congress to have a "smoking gun" of a criminal level of evidence of misbehavior; a simple misdemeanor, or bad behavior, as understood by Congress meets the threshold for impeachment.
Congress has enough to proceed, and should impeach, so they stand for the constitutional oath they took, to protect the "general welfare" of the country.
If Congress doesn't act, then they will also have wasted all the time and money spent to finance the Mueller investigation.
5
Congress could discharge it’s responsibility to. Act, and if the findings support impeachment then so be it. If the findings support impeachment and they fail to act, then they are culpable of negligence, both dem and gop.
1
"Madison and Hamilton didn’t say anything about holding off on impeachment because it would be politically risky." and "It’s hard to imagine they’d put political convenience on the same footing as the security of the Constitution."
I'm no historian, but could the founders have imagined the rise of such a rigid two-party system, drawn largely around a rural-urban divide? Lined up the right way, senators who represent a mere 25 million citizens could acquit a president against the wishes of senators representing 300 million. Getting rid of a rule-breaking president was never supposed to be this difficult.
2
The Democrats in the House must show some leadership. Instead the leadership is dithering with its finger to the wind. Keep it up, and this behavior will provide one more reason for Congressional poll numbers to stay in the single figures.
5
Tell the republicans. Why are democrats held to this high standard and republicans receive a pass and can be bigots in public.
Hey democrats go sacrifice yourself you yell on principle! The republicans are waiting for you to fall on your sword.
Rally republicans to actually do their duty! Bipartisan impeachment proceedings!
2
Impeach him now. Why would we wait for Trump to cause more chaos. As a country we need to end the trump circus. The rest of the world is watching, lets get this done so we do not have to look at this nasty man. He stole the election with the help of putin. Now let's get this done so we can proceed to getting the country back on safe footing. Let's not be foolish about this. Let's get this done now.
5
Face it! If you loose the election by impeaching, the true character of the USA will come to fore.Are you afraid of looking at what you have become then?
1
We should thankful to Ms. Drew for sharing her long perspective on what to most of us is a crisis that is harsh, brutal and immediate crisis.
I also believe that the Democrats should move forward with bills of impeachment, but there is still information to be gathered - through the current House investigations and requests for testimony & documents. Let the process continue. As the investigation gets closer to critical issues, Trump will react and show his true colors.
5
If Donald loses the election, he will be indicted. It is the job of the Democrats to make sure he loses the election or... that he resigns first. The goal is to get him out of there.
If he quits, Pence can pardon him and his family. If he should win -- again with Russian help? -- he has only postponed the inevitable.
The smart move is for Dems to keep the pressure up on Donald until he sees the futility of continued obstruction. If he continues his criminal practices, they must impeach, but tactically, to make sure he loses his appeal.
3
Can someone be pardoned by the President (or governor) before they actually have been convicted of a crime? If so, how is that just or even common sense?
What's the likelihood that Trump would be indicted on state charges as well as, or instead of, federal charges (and thus be beyond the reach of a presidential pardon)?
Impeachment might also lead to a 9-10 year term for Pence, no?
What are the chances of Trump leaving office peacefully and without violence from his "base" (numbers of whom have rather base ideas and desires)?
1
Yes, the President can pardon ahead of charges actually being brought against an individual. Probably the most famous case was the pardon of Nixon immediately after he resigned, but before any charges were formally brought against him. A Presidential Pardon is only applicable to Federal crimes and the recipient is still vulnerable to state charges if they committed crimes on the state level.
That being said, a pardon doesn’t absolve guilt. In fact, in order to use a pardon you have to admit guilt than produce your pardon before the court. If a defendant believes they are truly innocent and would like that to he established they would need to face the true ramifications of a trial by rejecting the pardon. So to accept a pardon is to admit you are guilty of the crimes the pardon shields you from being punished for.
What it takes to impeach is unclear. "High crimes and misdemeanors" is a vague term which can mean almost anything. So the Founding Fathers weren't much help in guiding us when to impeach. At the same time, by requiring a 2/3 majority of the Senate, they assured that most removal attempts would fail. The message that the Constitution sends is that you can impeach for whatever reason, but you're probably stuck with whoever is in office.
There is no law telling us what is impeachable and what is not. So the message from the courts is as unhelpful as the message from the Constitution.
The bottom line decision on impeachment is left to the House, which the Founding Fathers believed to be the lesser branch of Congress, inclined to represent the majority of the people, schooled or unschooled.
Ultimately, then, the decision to impeach rests with 435 Congresspeople answerable to us. So it's not so much about legalities, politics, morality or ethics. And it certainly isn't about the risks of not impeaching. What it is about is pretty much what jury decisions are about--that is, what does your gut tell you.
Don't let anyone tell you that we have to impeach or not impeach. The founding Fathers pretty much left it to us and chose to rely on our common sense. Don't rely on an encyclopedic knowledge of the facts, don't rely on what happened to Nixon, and certainly don't rely on what Trump and his cronies say. Just go with your gut. And move on.
2
I respectfully disagree. The founders internationally split the two houses with the House being pulled alongside the popular fever of the nation and attempted to counter this with the cooler Senate. The Senate was structured as an anti-democracy institution. With it being comprised of senators chosen by the states, but not by votes of those states citizens. With longer terms and more authority they were the control valve on the population’s temper.
They gave us room to ensure we could muster up the fervor to Impeach at any given time (impeachment is one thing and removal from office is another) and that “crimes” are as serious as the population charges at any given time. They expected the Senate to act above the fervor and to ensure the stability of our institutions and our republic.
Unfortunately, we have broken congress fundamentally. We now elect both houses and now have a fever in both that prevent Congress from fulfilling its obligations. Now the senate says they should narrowly listen to their “voters” as loudly as the house says the same. Resulting in a legislative body that is continually at war with itself and an executive branch that uses this infighting to usurp all congressional power. As has gone on for decades.
We’re heading toward a constitutional collapse and Trump is hurling is there faster, but our inability to impeach is truly a realization that our congress is no longer an equal branch of government. It has truly rotted from the inside out.
2
I’m convinced. For a long time I felt that the best way to deal with the resident was to hold daily/weekly hearings exploring every single decision and detail of how this administration has conducted itself and making clear the damage they have done and are doing to the country. The Mueller Report, the resident’s actions and responses since it’s release have convinced me. List every single action in excruciating detail (that’s how I had my students take notes), publicize and explain exactly why they are worthy of being an impeachable offense. It’s not just politics, it’s survival as a country and it’s the responsibility of the house. Let the senators live with their votes.
If the house does a very thorough job, my bet is he folds like a cheap suit and begs Pastor Pence for a blanket pardon.
3
The Democrats need to have the moral courage to do the right thing. No other president in my lifetime (including Bill Clinton) deserves to be impeached as Donald Trump does. Even though Mueller essentially failed at his job, to me Mueller, a Republican, didn't want to take down a Republican president. It was a mistake to canonize Mueller, he might a straight arrow, but he's a life long Republican. Ken Starr was a Republican, and fulfilled his mission, and if Mueller was a Democrat,Trump would have been properly indicted for conspiracy, treason and obstruction, Mueller gave Trump a pass. But Mueller had enough integrity to put the real evidence in the report, and there's plenty there to more than justify impeachment. If you read the report, you see there's no way Trump is fully exonerated, he's not even half exonerated. If Trump is not made to account, those who follow him into the White House may be worse. The Democrats must have the backbone to take the proper course of action and impeach without fear. Trump will not win in 2020, for he's terrible at the job, worse than George W Bush, and that's quite an accomplishment.
2
Wouldn't it make sense for Congress to plan the Senate impeachment trial after November 3rd 2020 and didn't the Trump administration latest stonewalling of Congress make that all but inevitable?
1
Trump does not understand his job.
He is running the country like he did the Trump Organization- fast and loose with the law, morals, and the truth. He did not get indicted because his own people blew off his orders- think about that.
His payments to his mistresses alone ought to have Franklin Graham hollering for his head and "repentence" but *crickets*.
Call your representatives - it is time to label this administration the lawless failure that it is.
5
I’ve gone from opposing impeachment to favoring it. The change is not grounded in any deep consideration of constitutional principles, nor have I changed my opinion that impeachment will fail. I still firmly believe it will. My position changed because I believe impeachment puts Trump and his party on trial. No president that I can name has been as incompetent, cruel, dishonest, crooked, or as disinterested in the job and the public he swore to serve as this one. How has he survived this long? You don’t need to look very far to discover the answer. In the face of the amassed evidence, every member of congress should be calling for his removal. It should have happened long ago. Impeachment will make it clear to anybody who cares to really pay attention to the evidence there is only one reason Trump is still president. It’s because Republicans have lined up to protect a reprobate, narcissist fearing that opposing him will cost them their jobs. It’s really that simple. I say impeach Trump so they can disgracefully intervene once more. Let’s see if at this point, it saves their jobs or gets them tossed out on their ears. Any other bodily part will do just as well.
5
I think the better option is not to impeach Trump but allow him to "impeach" hemlelf with words and deeds and then "convict" him at the ballot box in November 2020.
Let's face reality. The imperative is to remove from office a president who is a cler and present danger to our democracy.
The quickest and surest way to do that is put up a decent Democratic presidential nominee and unite to get out to the polls every single Democratic vote possible. Let's put most of our resources toward that.
Don't worry about "precedent." There can be no louder rebuke than an unfitted, awful president getting resoundingly tossed out of office in disgust and derision.
1
"But to act, they probably must first conclude that he’s also a grave danger to their party and that they can oppose him without too much political risk to themselves."
Huh? I strongly disagree with the above assertion that GOP "must" do anything but fulfill their Oath of Office, which says ZERO about protecting or defending the President. It does include quite a bit about protecting and defending the US Constitution and serving the nation's people and the national (NOT party's or personal, or personnel's!) best interest.
GOP: Reclaim your honor, your credibility and your dignity -- impeach Mr. Trump and let the wheels of justice turn.
3
The Obama administration's failure to hold Wall Street miscreants to account in the wake of the financial crisis was unquestionably a factor in the outcome of the 2016 election. Possibly, a large factor. The Democrats seem all too ready to let bad and illegal behavior slide, even when the consequences for the the country are extremely dire.
FDR would never have put up with this. Not for a second. It's well past time for the Dems to stop acting like a bunch of timid rabbits. What our democracy needs now are ferocious lions.
3
CONGRESS needs to act, but we know the Republicans will unanimously refuse to do so, so that makes it fair to put ALL the responsibility on the Democrats - am I getting this right?
1
@C. B. Caples wrong.
when the mueller report et al is brought forward ny
congressional investigation in public, the voters will
be so appalled that the GOPer congress will jump
on impeachment. same thing happened to nixon.
we nixonites jumped ship almost unanimously.
The members of Congress have to do their jobs and uphold the Constitution. This is an uncomfortable requirement that becomes more necessary with every lawsuit that Trump files to limit their responsibilities.
3
I may sound as dumb as a lump here, but why is this up to the Democrats? If there is a corrupt president of the United States and Congress represents the citizens here, why is this not something both the Democrats and Republicans pursue? Is a political party that blindly loyal that they would rather go down with the rotten ship than to do the right thing? And I am speaking for Republicans other than McConnell. That guy, like Trump, never does the right thing. It wouldn't matter which party he was, or if he was an Independent, he would be self serving and cruel at all costs.
7
I have come round to thinking that: yes, you're right, Ms. Drew.
Two phrases stuck out:
(1) "Total silence."
Our President--who doubts it?--is pure CROOK down to his fingertips. The record (as revealed in the Mueller report)--ghastly! The man has weaseled and wormed and squirmed and dodged fit to beat the band. And I look at these Congressional time-servers, these would-be white-washers and exclaim, "Who are you kidding? Who are you fooling?
"Not us, that's for sure!" And therefore--
--SOMEONE should stand up in front of the people of America, FOR the people of America and tell our scowling Chief Executive:
"Sir--you've been weighed in the balances--
"--and found WANTING."
(2) "Answer to history." Does this not give Mr. Mitch McConnell NIGHTMARES? If he ever thinks of history. Which I doubt.
Your President, Mr. Graham--a man you called your fellow conservatives to stand behind--
--that man is more than just a crook. He is PROFOUNDLY inadequate to the job. Morally--ethically--intellectually, Mr. Trump is (and pardon my language) a walking, talking, breathing RUIN. He defiles everything and everyone he touches.
He has defiled the office of President.
He has defiled the government he purports to serve.
Time to wash ourselves CLEAN of this man, Ms. Drew.
With soap and water thoughtfully supplied by--
--some obliging Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Get to it, guys!
We're waiting.
3
@Susan Fitzwater
Agree. And the only way to get clean is to put the witnesses on television, so the entire country can hear them and see them.
All of them. For history. For our grandchildren. For our ancestors. For truth.
3
This is the most cogent piece I have read on the should they/shouldn't they discussion about impeachment. I agree that the Democrats must pursue impeachment, even as they also fight for new legislation. Most importantly, they need to figure out how to act as one. Just as the 'optics' of going to various neglected states would have been a good idea for Hillary Clinton, so the effort to impeach, even if it fails, is important. They can say we did not succeed, but they cannot say we ignored the issue.
7
I was against impeachment until now. But Trump’s refusal to comply with lawful subpoenas shows a disrespect for the fundamental basis for our democracy; three equal branches of government and the right of the legislature to oversee the executive. I do not believe that House leadership should turn to The Federal Courts to enforce duly issued subpoenas. They have the remedy within their Constitutional powers; that remedy is impeachment.
I was, an still am, worried about the political consequences of moving toward impeachment in the House, although no one can say with certainty what those consequences might be. But at some point, duly elected officials must go on record to either preserve the rule of law, or endorse the path to totalitarianism.
6
If the democrats in the house are to impeach Trump, they are going to need all those crying for them to do so to support the process by not complaining that Congress isn't getting anything done.
Too often the voter and media take Dem leadership to task for not coordinating their policies and taking too long to create them. Messy is a good thing, it means many ideas and voices at the table.
Impeachment won't be pretty. Pelosi hesitates because she know her constituents often get cold feet when true democracy is at work.
Either stand by the process or don't go down that road. Russians weren't the first to exploit American divisions, Republicans were.
6
Trump makes Nixon look like a boy scout. At least Nixon had some understanding of his criminality.
10
Trump is despotic, vulgar and corrupt partly because his behavior works. Apparently, no one in his life ever stood up to him with the stamina and steel wills required to set boundaries. He rightly concluded he can get away with pretty much anything by bullying and exhausting his opponents.
Sorry, Congress, you have the duty to contain this aspiring dictator with targeted investigations and likely impeachment. His open disdain for the rule of law, daily attacks on the free press, serial lying, hate mongering, self-obsession, pandering to Putin, and utter failure to protect the nation from the Russian government’s cyberwar can’t be brushed aside in some vain hope you’ll thereby win in 2020.
It must be possible to legislate and advocate for popular policies while also unapologetically standing up for the Constitution and rule of law.
8
While the Mueller report makes it absolutely clear that Trump should not remain in office, the unending talk about impeachment is a good indicator of why it would be a mistake for Dems to go there. Impeachment is a beltway issue. Voters in the Midwest do not especially care. The risks mentioned by Ms. Drew are very real. What is not real is any chance that the Republicans in the Senate would vote to remove Trump from office. Thus, impeachment would be seen as a political stunt by most voters.
Here is another example. The Times Sunday magazine had an excellent article on the Republican hatchet job on the CFPB. But such issues get absolutely no attention. All the news and cable shows want to talk about is Trump. What Dems need to be talking about is the real harm to the interests of working families, family farmers, the environment, etc. that Republicans have been doing for decades. Dems need to run against not just Trump, but also Republicans in Congress and in statehouses, where real damage is also being done. Impeachment would suck all the air out of the political atmosphere. Real issues that people care about would be ignored. 2020 would then be just about Trump, when it should be about which party will actually represent the 99%.
@Ken
"Voters in the Midwest do not especially care."
Once it's on t.v. every day, with every witness explaining in detail what this illegitimate "president" and his family do and have done, those you think don't care might surprise you.
2
@Ken The House MUST begin public review of the Mueller report. When the public becomes aware of
the crimes don con has committed, the public outcry
will lead to impeachment. don con is NOT popular
with many congressional GOPers. They will respond to the public, as in the nixon impeachment.
1
Democrats swore to protect the Constitution. The separation of Powers is under attack. Trump is above the law as it stands today. He's demonstrating that he didn't commit Obstruction of Justice by committing more Obstruction of Justice. There is no excuse for not impeaching. Elijah Cummings and Adam Schiff are defending the Constitutional Separation of Powers all alone. What a disgrace!
Democrat cowardice is Trump's greatest asset.
1
It seems to me that the Constitution of the United States is, after all, a moral document that promulgats ideas of basing this country's government upon fairness, integrity, decency (albeit not so when slavery was viewed--another matter), and balance--arguably all issues which revolve around notions of morality.
Using that venerable document on a daily basis to inform our government and our legal system is paramount to sustaining the solid democratic principles on which this nation was founded and, importantly, which has allowed it to survive to this time. This is no small matter.
It may be that impeachment proceedings against president Trump would be disruptive politically (to both parties), but that is secondary to keeping alive our national trust with "political morality"--and actively upholding our Constitutional ability to hold our leaders accountable for their actions.
The Mueller Report appears to be a document that offers the House of Representatives ample basis on several levels for opening an impeachment process against Mr. Trump: his blatant and repeated abuses of power, his shady behind-the-scenes involvement with courting Russia during and following the 2016 election, along with other questionable behaviors on his part. To my mind, all of this is enough to qualify this man for impeachable offenses.
Let us not abandon the vital Constitutional foundation upon which this nation rests by placing politics before legal moral principles.
2
Some supporters of Mr. Trump will obscure the myriad facts underscoring impeachment with the line that "liberals just hate Donald Trump." But what they willfully disregard is that the objections to this president were never arbitrary but rather based on the same pattern of behavior that's described in Mr. Mueller's report. Where we are now was predictable (and, by many, predicted) three years ago.
But this isn't a moment for "told you so." It's also not a moment to lose sight of the Constitution just because Mr. Trump's supporters - many of whom voted for him simply to "burn it all down" - now caution against such a Constitutionally momentous act as impeachment. It's tragic that we've come to this point but here we are and we have to meet the danger head on, with an appropriate and effective response. Now that nobody can legitimately deny the facts in plain sight, we at long last have to take responsibility, collectively, for stanching this presidency.
3
I can’t think of an example of a time when Democrats lost votes for having conviction and being fierce. It is usually the opposite. Performing their constitutional and patriotic duty by opening an impeachment inquiry and bringing all of these misdeeds into the light can only help garner more votes, stir up the dem base, and show the predatory GOP that we are not easy prey.
7
The Democrats are doing more than, "trying to have it both ways." Impeachment is the duty of the House of Representatives, composed of both Democrats and Republicans. I am tired of the Media placing the burden of whether or not to impeach on the Democrats. The NYT should be exposing what Republicans are saying about impeachment, since they share this responsibility. Perhaps after further testimony before Congress, the road to impeachment will become clear even to Republicans. If not, the Democrats will have have exposed Trump's illegal and unethical behavior and with that, the inappropriateness of his position.
5
Hmmm . . . let's see, preserve a democracy and our republic or bow to a vainglorious dotard who would sue his own brother and starve him out of medical coverage along with his family in order to pressure a larger portion of the family estate into his own pocket? We are dealing with an unworthy human being. Forget about Chief Executive. Donald Trump isn't even a worthy citizen, human being, sentient animal, lower mitochondria, amoeba. I've observed bacteria with a greater consciousness of morality. Give me yeast. At least it produces wine. Trump is the product of a far more noisome organic decomposition and debasement.
3
The really puzzling question is: How could a man who was running a (fraudulent) Trump University be trusted with the Oval Office. Something truly bad must have affected the judgment of Americans.
The sooner the mistake is corrected the better.
3
Democrats need to point out the president's abuse of power and show how the republicans are perfectly ok with that so there can't be impeachment. Then use it in the election. Censure over impeachment. Reveal Republican hypocrisy now so that when they get hysterical over the next Democratic president they have to eat their words.
1
Ms. Drew, the point you're missing in this discussion is the simple fact that the Senate, with 53 Republicans will never vote to remove the President, REGARDLESS of the evidence. Mr. Mueller laid out a clear case, with 11 substantial instances of obstruction, but did not indict simply because of DOJ policy against indicting a sitting president. He even stated specifically that if evidence exonerating the president was found, they would have said so. The fact that they didn't, is a hidden way of saying that they found plenty of evidence of obstruction. All of this is lost on Senate Republicans. They've tied their futures to this man and that's that. Besides, given the failure of the White House to comply with ANY requests, even subpoenas, means that these things will be tied up in courts for who knows how long? Which means that in 20 months, these issues will still be ongoing, right up to the November 2020 elections. People who care, which is just about everyone who is not a Trumpster, will remember this when they go to vote on November 3, 2020.
2
Before proceeding to impeachment, there must be a lengthy investigation of Dear Leader's behaviors, decisions, finances, conflicts of interest, dealings with Putin, nepotism, flunkies, recklessness and lawlessness. Congress has a duty to amass vast evidence of his unfitness for office through public hearings. Congress must take its time, dotting every 'i" and crossing every "t." The full picture must come to public light in every sordid detail. Nothing should be rushed. Thus the hearings might take us all the way to next Spring, with the question of starting Impeachment procedures arising at the start of September 2020... and GOP candidates for election/reelection forced to voice their opinion on the matter as a matter of public record.. Let's give Dear Leader the satisfaction of the biggest, longest, deepest, widest Congressional investigation in all of American history!
2
If Trump behaved as he does in a boardroom they'd show him the door; if he talked likes he does in a bar he'd end up on the floor yet Congress seems to prefer to do nothing at all. In my lifetime I've seen presidents shot at, assassinated, impeached, resign and choose not to run for re-election. I'm sure the republic can survive without Trump.
3
The most convincing argument I've read so far advocating for impeachment, particularly now that the current president is refusing all investigative inquiries, stonewalling, even trying to extend his corrupt hand into the state of affairs of former WH employees, feeling he can prevent the likes of Don McGann from testifying before Congress about the activities of his presidency.
Even Willliam Barr wouldn't countenance some of the behavior we're witnessing from the White House.
1
Ms. Drew,
Any rational American who makes decisions based on facts knows that Trump should be impeached.
However, to suggest that moving ahead immediately with impeachment is "politically risky" is a gross understatement.
If you believe that Trump is the greatest danger to this country both foreign and domestic since WWII, then you must agree that the most important thing is to get him out of office.
The GOP has imploded from an ethical and moral standpoint. Republican Congressmen and Senators have placed party and personal interest before Country. As shocking as it may be, there are currently not enough (not even close) Republican Senators who would be willing to vote to convict Trump.
So when you say "Impeach Trump now!" what you are really saying is "Exonerate Trump now!"
Rightly or wrongly, the average American voter does not follow what is going on in detail. Enough voters will assume that Trump was indeed exonerated. That could very well be enough to get this clown re-elected.
The more prudent path is to investigate Trump and his administration. Document the malfeasance, corruption, abuse of power, obstruction, treason, self-dealing, fraud. Educate voters relentlessly.
Vote Trump out of office and then send him to jail.
No, that isn't fulfilling Congressional duty to the letter of the Constitution, but it achieves the same ends. More importantly, it saves the Republic and it is what Trump fears.
2
@Al Miller
"Rightly or wrongly, the average American voter does not follow what is going on in detail."
They may become as fascinated by the details of Trump's perfidy as they were during the McCarthy hearings and Watergate. Give them/us some credit for caring about our country.
The realpolitik is that the Republicans will not, under almost any circumstance, vote to uphold impeachment. All of the rationale to follow the course of impeachment will not override the Republican stance. Nancy Pelosi understands this, and to chase a forgone conclusion and lose is politically unsound. Once integrity left the equation the country lost part of its soul but I don't see how this is recovered unless the voters sense that this stinks and the smell needs to be removed. There is a large amount of the populace that believes government is a problem and Trump is the anti-government in the flesh. He will be followed because he dismantles the government, regardless of whether its in the disgruntled person's self interest. Frustrating.
2
Why does it have to be only the Democrats impeaching Trump? I think the Republicans in the House should join them. This is their president. Their party elected him. The Republican party allowed him to wrest the nomination without complying with any traditions that other nominees have honored. He is dishonorable and brags of criminal activities.
Impeachment is not political. It is a move that is necessary to protect and uphold our Constitution. All members of Congress have taken an oath to uphold our Constitution. It is time for them to act on that oath and begin to move to remove this man from office.
I would like to see Barr removed also. He is not obeying his oath of office either. We cannot have a democracy if we allow this corruption to continue.
Trump and his enablers bring shame on the United States of America.
Make us proud. Do what you were elected to do in November, 2018.
5
History is recording whether we are willing to defend our constitution, against all enemies, both domestic and foreign.
4
Trump's most impeachable acts may be the innumerable lies he has told about a range of important subjects - from Obama, to Hillary, to the FBI, the environment, climate change science, and so forth. These are all on the record (Twitter) and the damage done through this almost daily barrage of misinformation is incalculable.
2
I am completely in agreement with the views in this article.
"But even if the Republican-controlled Senate doesn’t vote to remove Mr. Trump, a statement by the House that the president has abused his office is preferable to total silence from the Congress. The Republicans will have to face the charge that they protected someone they knew to be a dangerous man in the White House."
Yes, this will be a bitter fight but I say bring it on. The Democrats in the House must do this.
4
The House Democrats are making a mistake in avoiding impeachment. I worked for years in red, "conservative" states. The people I've met can be rational swayed by logic. I suspect they will break with Trump as the data comes out. Chris Wallace on Fox News seemed to be questioning his support of Trump. The Democrats risk coming across as weak and indecisive.
2
April 25, 2019
Trump is an America's problem with overwhelming and shocking display by himself to assert his sense of power fiat and reckless professional display of ineptitude in administrating his office of office. His media documentation in his misdeeds and his lack of history of law and respect for the various departments serving Americas's interest in statute and with respect to engage his executive judgments to serve in the best and honorable purpose with all branches sworn to the management of our commands in needs that allow for just the maintenance or our collective domestic and foreign needs as ever evolving and / or even devolving to the concern of the working by the leadership of the office of President of United States of America.
The danger is apparent and yes risky and every one of us to act - as Ms .Drew advises respectfully and urgently.
2
@Joseph John Amato
Note to above comment -
fiat - Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fiat
An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree. 1788, Alexander Hamilton, Federalist no. 73 The reflection that the fate of a fellow-creature depended on his sole fiat, would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution; [...] A royal fiat. A presidential fiat.· Authorization, permission or (official) sanction. A ...
1
Dem leadership is so cowardly. They act and react out of fear that their actions may cause Trump to be re-elected so they either equivocate flacidly or screech about how horrible he is.
Here's a hint... you can't predict the future! And nothing looks as pathetic as inaction in the face of adversity. Do your job. Uphold your oath and let the cards fall as they will. So do us all a favor...
Stop screeching. Stop equivocating. Stop being pathetic. And act. Make a case and present it to the people. Realize Trump will be constantly on the attack with name calling and lies and beat him to the punch buy framing your story in your words - instead of fighting against his.
4
@DCS
Agree! Write the script, Democrats, and stick to it.
The Democratics risk more than committing sins of ommission by not acting to a now known clear and present danger to the foundation of this country-free elections.
It's a sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.
It's hard to believe Ms Neilsen's testimony has not been acted upon.
3
Well reasoned and said, Elizabeth --- and BTW, he is the virtual image of an insane faux-Emperor Trumpius, and he is clearly committed to making America "act like a global Empire"
"Empire is as Empire does".
MEGA --- Make Empire Great Again. NOT
2
Well reasoned and said, Elizabeth --- and BTW, he is the virtual image of an insane faux-Emperor Trumpius, and he is clearly committed to making America "act like a global Empire"
"Empire is as Empire does".
MEGA --- Make Empire Great Again. NOT
1
@Alan MacDonald
The biggest problem that the Revolutionary new progressive democrats, with their; Green New Deal, Medicare for All, disciplining crony capitalist corporations with an Economic New Deal, and saving us with a Global Environment New Deal --- may be just as tough a "Danger in Impeaching Emperor Trump", as it is in overcoming the old entrenched Democratic Party, that works for the same Disguised Global Capitalist Empire, but with a 'smoother-lying' neoliberal-con 'D' Vichy Party working for the same entrenched Empire.
1
Both parties are so morally bankrupt that this is pot & kettle. Neither should be impeaching anyone, rather, they all should man up and resign.
1
If not Trump, who?
Agree, agree, agree.
I’ve always enjoyed Elizabeth Drew’s journalism.
If the Dems go forward with impeachment, the will need a bold, no nonsense, tough storyteller.....but just who would that be?
Plus ALL Dems must get in line and shut up.
1
@MB
There are many Democrats who can lead the investigations, question the witnesses, explain documents and other evidence.
Start with the Speaker and members of the House Judiciary Committee:
Jerrold Nadler, New York, Chairman
Zoe Lofgren, California
Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Ted Deutch, Florida
Karen Bass, California
Cedric Richmond, Louisiana
Hakeem Jeffries, New York
David Cicilline, Rhode Island
Eric Swalwell, California
Ted Lieu, California
Jamie Raskin, Maryland
Pramila Jayapal, Washington
Val Demings, Florida
Lou Correa, California
Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania, Vice Chair
Sylvia Garcia, Texas
Joe Neguse, Colorado
Lucy McBath, Georgia
Greg Stanton, Arizona
Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Florida
Veronica Escobar, Texas
Absolutely; the least we ought to do, and Trump deserves every bit of it, is a public outcry for justice to be served. Trump is a malevolent brutus ignoramus by choice; and we have no choice but to nail his corrupt demeanor...and stop the trampling of this suffering democracy. It's about time!
1
Impeachment will be rejected by the Republican Senate, thereby giving the president “Proof” of innocence, exonerating and vindicating him.
Your fear that the president would consider his “abuses” condoned and his “authoritarian instincts” encouraged is moot. Of course he will; the president does that consistently.
Survey data indicate the public at large wants legislative progress. The rest, including flailing about impeachment, is a political not a morality war. It will correct nothing, not even the sense of liberal’s righteous outrage.
4
@Richard Lewis
The McConnell Senate cannot reject the impeachment. The stain of impeachment will never be expunged from Trump's filthy record. History will know what he did and who helped him do it.
His enablers in the Senate can refuse to convict him and remove him from office, but the impeachment is in the hands of the House of Representatives.
house investigations are being hamstrung by president...return the favor and hamstring the pres with impeachment....but take out pence or don't bother.
surely he was in on some of the impeachable offenses..such as flynn?
Clearly Trump has committed impeachable offenses. But there need be no rush to impeach. First let's hear from Mueller, Barr, McGahn, Rosenstein, Comey, McCabe, Jared, Don. Jr., Ivanka, Reince, Kelly, et al in testimony before the relevant House committees. Let's see the tax information. Let's let the various federal and state investigations play out a bit. And who knows what additional offenses will be uncovered -- and committed -- over the coming months. Result: stronger case, less credible resistance.
@Warren Wilson
Agree. Question them all. It will be fascinating. Hear what they say. Watch the shift of opinions by the viewing public as the witnesses tell their stories.
Impeach his co-coconspirators first..Mnuchi, Barr, and any other federal agency head or assistants that have denied the will of Congress, lied or manipulated answers or refused documents or violated the law. They are beholden to the people, not Trump. Congress holds their budgets in their hands. Cut their salaries, cut their federal agency of monies that are used to thwart upholding laws such as the ACA and Immigration.
All of this is treason and Congress needs to move ahead with impeachment hearings and investigations. They need to REOPEN the Mueller Investigation..abruptly shutdown by Barr no doubt and hidden.
Democrats were elected to these seats to DO something about this President and Keep their oath of office..not dance around what needs to be done. Nancy Pelosi will never support impeachment...it cuts into her financial supporters...many who also profited by the big tax cut given by Congress.
We must do what is right...not what is easier.
1
Why can't the House take a vote on CENSURE immediately and then wrestle with impeachment?
1
Another great Trump photo. As if George Washington is lamenting, "You did THIS?!"
1
The GOP is 'protecting' Trump because of his position as President. It's the same thing the Catholic church has done for centuries when they protect their pedophilic priests rather than protecting their church's children. Their "solution" is to hide the offence. The GOP's loyalty should be to the people of America AND the constitution, NOT to Donald Trump himself. They should be ashamed and embarrassed to be backing a man so truly unqualified to be in public office... any public office.
1
The impeachment argument- pro or con- among Democrats is a complicated one. According to Ms. Drew, "even if the Republican-controlled Senate doesn't vote to remove Mr. Trump, a statement by the House that the president has abused his office is preferable to total silence from the Congress."
Who, other than Trump, is asking for total silence? The don't-start-impeachment-proceedings-now crowd is looking to investigate and display to the public all the malfeasance of this President so that it will have at least a chance of getting rid of Trump- either through impeachment and conviction (which would probably take almost to the end of Trump's term) or at the ballot box.
The most ethical thing to do is to get rid of this menace to the American people named Donald J. Trump. It may be via impeachment or it may be by undermining whatever support he has in the country via wide-ranging Congressional investigations, i.e., sunlight. That is a practical question that I am not sure how to answer, though I lean towards "not yet."
But it is not more honorable to commence a proceeding likely to garner support for the president as a victim if that makes four more years more likely, leading to a further disintegration of whatever is left of this democracy.
1
Yep; I fear Mrs. Pelosi is too old, too political, and not sensitive enough to fundamental issues.
I was against impeachment because of its divisive nature, but Mueller's report is compelling; Now I will not vote for a Democrat who does not advocate impeachment -- not even in the presidential election!
The evidence has been collected, there is no need for more hearings or more information.
The issue now is does the House do its duty or not.
1
@Publicus
Make no mistake about it. You probably wouldn't have voted for a Democrat no matter what.
As for age, Donald Trump isn't exactly a spring chicken either.
1
The dems are, quite reasonably, looking for something that will tilt the table so more Republicans jump on board, hence the subpoenas.
1
Until the Democrats has access to all the proven facts that would show the president is promoting the "breaking of laws of the land", impeachment needs to sit on the shelf for now.
Shoot, Ready, Aim is not a winning strategy!
4
During the first two years of the Trump administration, the Republican-controlled House did nothing to check the mad king’s rule, and the Democrats complained. Now, the Democratic House has a clear mandate to act and may not. How can they possibly think this will help their case in 2020?
1
@Bob
During the first two years of Trump's presidency he was under a comprehensive investigation by a competent and independent investigator by the name of Robert Mueller. Mr. Mueller is respected by both republicans and democrats. Mr. Mueller completed his investigation and found no evidence of what Trump was being investigated for. In other words Trump was found to have done nothing wrong. This is what the American people see.
@jaco
The American people also see that Donald Trump was not "exonerated".
Some things are wrong as in the case of our president. If we do not impeach now when will we ? Must a president shoot someone on 5th Avenue !
Try to do this and see what happens.
1
You've got 557 days and counting to impeach your president before the next election--oh, and run a primary, a campaign, and perform your other government functions too.
Do you want to start now or wait till after lunch?
1
The big mistake the US founding fathers made was not to adopt a parliamentary system such as we have in Canada. If Trump was Canadian, the House of Commons would have long ago voted no confidence and he'd be gone.
2
For his disgusting behavior and 9,000 lies, at a minimum, the President Trump should be Censured by the House.
My hope is the upcoming hearings make it clear the President has failed to defend our county from both foreign and domestic threats and should be impeached. Much will depend on whether Republicans have totally caved and put the President’s interests ahead of The Constitution. I’m not optimistic hope they realize their party’s future is at stake.
1
There should be no doubt that impeaching this president is the correct, moral, logical, legal, honest, and necessary thing to do if our Constitution is to survive.
There should be no doubt that Donald J. Trump is a very dishonest person, who has so much to hide, and for a thousand reasons, should never have been put into the Oval Office of the US Presidency by our Electoral College.
Please, wait no longer ~ It's time to impeach him!
If some Republican Senators object, they will be appropriately shamed by the American people~ and that should be of no concern to our Congress.
2
@lolostar
The investigation was a hoax. There was no collusion. There never was. Now you want to impeach an innocent man because he fought against the hoax???
1
@SportsMedicine
Did you read, carefully, the entire (redacted) Mueller Report? Did you see the part, among others, that said that IF Mueller team had reason to believe Trump was NOT guilty of obstructing justice, then they would have said so (which they didn't)?
If you did not do so, or skipped or don't understand that part, might I suggest that, with all due respect, you stick with sports medicine and leave the legal and political to others. We promise not to tell you whether or not, or how, to conduct a surgery or round of physical therapy.
It continues to astound me how often citizens focus on defeating Trump in the 2020 election when, as we can see by his increasingly flagrant behaviour, that he will not step down quietly even if defeated. Retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters pressed this point today, thankfully, and issued a stark warning for the American public, Congress and Senate. In his words, "Trump's got to go". Do it quickly, before you can't.
@Layne T. Thank you! Am so tired of the we’ll vote him out crowd. There doesn’t have to be an election. They take that for granted for some reason after years of this stuff
2
Launch impeachment hearings....the best reality show ever with the highest cost to pay if we do not.
He will not be impeached by the Senate but Democrats cannot abrogate their congressional responsibilities a la the Republicans over the past two years and remain on the high road. He can be defeated at the polls and go through impeachment hearings at the same time. There does not seem to be a real choice. I would crawl over glass to vote this man out of office.
3
I have one exercise for NYT posters and anyone else that cares to comment on this issue.
First read the Mueller Report in its entirety. I fulfilled my patriotic duty and did as such.
Now one should clearly be able to see that high crimes and misdemeanors have been committed.
If one cannot see that TRUMP has obstructed justice multiple times and he tampered with witnesses many times as well, then you are being blatantly dishonest.
Oh, I forgot one other exercise, insert Obama or Clinton's name in the Mueller Report for Trump's and let us know how you would feel.
2
It's not so much that the House has the right to impeach when the evidence warrants. It's that the House has the DUTY to impeach.
Article II, Sect. 4 of the Constitution says that all civil officers "shall" be removed from office for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Not "can be" removed.
We Democrats have been attacking Trump and his GOP enablers for placing politics over oaths of office and Constitutional duties for two years and rightfully so.
It's Pelosi's duty to put impeachment squarely in play. The political effects of the move are not only of secondary importance to the rule of law but also totally unknown.
3
At a time when the country is presumably growing exponentially awash with geniuses, the “X” axis shows an stratospheric growth in income inequality. The danger is that VP Biden will run as a run-of-the-mill centrist catering to the very group the country needs to diminish. Congressional committees should continue their investigation. With each revelation, Trump, the re-election candidate will be rendered weaker. At the same time, the Democratic candidates should simply concentrate on finding economic & social solutions. With the Sri Lanka’s explosions, the world’s instability keeps expanding. Naming a Golan Heights settlement after Trump doesn’t bode well.
2
You've got 557 days and counting to impeach your president before the next election. So good luck with that and with running a primary and a campaign in the meantime too.
So long as Donald Trump continues to exemplify the values of the republican party, he will escape impeachment.
That said, it would be wise to let the House committees hold the necessary investigations, issue subpoenas to the people named in the Mueller report and pursue obstruction to the SCOTUS.
Based on what has been revealed to date, Trump has committed obstruction of justice. His stonewalling of subpoenas only adds to his contempt for the law. The only difference between Trump and some gangbanger wannabe is the quality of his legal advice.
2
You've got 557 days and counting to impeach your president before the next election. So good luck with that and with running a primary and a campaign in the meantime too.
1
You've got 557 days and counting to impeach your president before the next election. So good luck with that and with running a primary and a campaign in the meantime too.
There is a cancer in Washington and it may be terminal for this nation.
Trump and his version of the Republican Party are killing America as we know it, and this cancer must be excised. The responsibility to address the behavior of this president does not rest with Democrats alone, yet the spineless Republican Party has become little more than a mirror of this corrupt president, and they will defend him regardless of what he does. So where does that lead us?
Climate change, immigration, infrastructure, income inequality, corporate welfare - all of these issues and more- will never be adequately and legislatively addressed until our totally broken and dysfunctional system of governance is reformed. THIS is the PRIMARY issue that should be the central focus of Democrats going forward, beginning with a targeted and unrelenting effort by all who still value the rule of law, our democratic institutions, and our Constitution to rid the presidency of this very unstable and sick excuse for a national “leader”.
Impeach!
Leaving Trump in office may be the "smart" move since his glaring gross incompetence is a serious liability to the Republican Party he represents
However, Trump's criminal behavior is a fundamental question of right and wrong, not political "savvy". Impeaching Trump sends the correct message to all Americans: No one is above the law including the "wannabe" dictator Donald Trump. The Republicans will demonstrate their ongoing contempt for our nation when they continue to support Trump. They will pay for that misguided move in 2020,
Furthermore, Trump continues to destroy US credibility around the globe and represents a potential threat to our national security and to the current fragility of world peace. Donald Trump would love to have a chance to stand on a ship's bridge wearing a flak jacket and helmet shouting "Mission Accomplished"..
Impeach Trump: -Yes, it is the right thing to do.
5
It isn't risky politically, and I don't care even if it is.
Congress has to cleanse the office of the taint that the gangster grifter has brought to it.
Trump has obviously committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
Time for the Dems to play hardball, and while they're at it, get rid of Pence and Barr too. They're all in on the criminality.
7
Trump is abusing the Constitution in so many ways. Examples:
1.) Wielding the Judiciary as a political weapon
2.) Declaring a national emergency to legislate by fiat
3.) Obstructing justice by asking Don McGahn to end an investigation into his candidacy
4.) Attempting to interfere with investigations in SDNY
5.) Stymieing Congress' ability to do oversight and ostensibly prove that he has violated the Emoluments Clause in his inauguration and at other times during his term
The Founders, often wistfully invoked by members of the right, established a remedy for this: impeachment. They also NEVER indicated that this seal should only be broken if it is politically expedient to do so.
We are, by now, painfully aware that the GOP has abdicated all responsibility and moral authority for the sake of policy agenda and re-electability.
Still though, Democrats must persist, they must be the adults in the room, and must try to salvage American Democracy.
Impeach 45. Convict 45. Equal just for all.
5
I agree. The opposition between moving forward with more important things and impeaching is specious. How, for instance, can we proceed with a real effort to forestall Russian interference in the 2020 election if we have a president who has actively obstructed investigations into such interference in the past?
In order to move forward, we must impeach.
5
Ms. Drew, I couldn’t agree more! Mr. Trump will only use his already outrageous abuse of the law and the norms of the office to do even worse things in the future. It should be pointed out that the Senate has never successfully voted to impeach a sitting president, so the argument is moot concerning a vote there.
Imagine for a moment the behavior of this narcissistic tyrant should he win another term in office. He must be challenged and made to realize his complete ineptitude in the job. Imagine also the people he might surround himself with in a second term, as if his choices so far aren’t bad enough!
The time is now! Fear not, my friends, and carry on!
4
Democrats and the American cannot expect to have their "real" interests addressed if the system is this corrupt.
Here's a nickname - Toxic Trump.
If they don't care about the Constitution and acting ethically, then they certainly don't care about your health care, wages, environment, or infrastructure.
It's not two separate issues, it's one!
3
Yes. Agreed all the way down the line.
1
The ones who ought to be calling loudest for impeachment are the Republicans.
Trump isn't just culpable on his own. He's wrecking the GOP from within, revealing their gutless hypocrisy, and blackmailing them into betraying their oaths.
The Democrats would do well to confront them with that.
1
Whatever one thinks of Pelosi, she is a smart politician and recognizes that the Democrats came away smelling pretty awful from pursuing a ridiculous notion that Trump was a Russian agent. Unlike the ideologues within her party, she is savvy enough to know when one should cut losses.
2
Pelosi has put the brakes on impeachment. So is Trump leaving us breathing space for policy discussions? Since the Mueller report, Trump still commands the news; now it's how the Mueller report exonerates him, his rejection of subpoenas for his underlings, his threat to investigate the investigators.
And fair elections? Jared Kushner says all the Russia did was meddle with a few false Facebook accounts and Trump himself hasn't reversed his belief in Putin over our Intelligence services. And he didn't have anything to lose in 2016; he had already gotten publicity for his brand. Like the dog that caught the car, now Trump has the presidency, a 2020 loss will likely end up with a jail cell, another form of government housing. So does anyone doubt Trump will sell our country to Russia and any other country who can flip the election to him.
Putin, are you listening? My country for your help.
Left as it is, the equivocal Mueller report will be spun as exoneration; it will be an albatross hung around the necks of all Democrats. Finishing the Mueller report with very feasible impeachment in the House will be the strongest tool against a Trump win in 2020. In place of Trump rallies, we'll run impeachment hearings.
A House impeachment will be enough. It discredited Nixon and Clinton. Charles Blow, NYT: the Senate has never convicted. Impeachment in the House marks the President forever; it is the strongest conviction Congress has ever given a President. So let's do it, Dems.
1
Clinton’s approval ratings went way up after he was impeached.
@Harlod Dichman
And Nixon resigned after he was impeached. And in the following election, a generation of progressive Democrats entered Congress, voted in to correct the corruption of the Nixon administration. The post Nixon impeachment was a proud moment for the US; I know; I experienced it first hand.
Why does this need to be pointed out. The Republicans got Clinton for adultery. Trump is on record for two mistresses while wife #3 was in the maternity ward. Yet, the Dems can't even get Trump for denying and not taking action on Putin's hostile, divisive actions against us.
It's a tale of two impeachments. The smart analogy is to the Nixon impeachment. The Dems were rewarded for doing the right thing in the Watergate hearings. The Republicans were punished for doing what they do so well; blowing up adultery into a crime against the state.
Excellent points that need serious consideration by those who have the responsibility to see that the USA doesn't devolve into just another banana republic. History will not look kindly on those who prefer convenience to duty.
Sure, there's going to be a Twitter storm frosted with presidential drool and spittle.
But there's at least one risk that wasn't mentioned here and that is the risk abdication of this responsibility holds for the future. Is the current ambiguity the sort of standard we want set for future US leaders? Because where the Reps found Trump, they kind find plenty more like him.
In the somewhat shorter term, fear this. Let Trump roll along without discernible check and he gets re-elected. The prospect of 4 More Years of Lame Duck Donald on the menu is sickening. The man is a catastrophe for our nation. Imagine that sort of man unchecked by the prospect of no further review of his record.
Ms. Pelosi should think very carefully here as inaction can reap the whirlwind just as surely as the wrong choice. The Dems choosing to pull their punches on this will shatter the morale of many who have been energized by the party's new generation of leaders. All that will accomplish is leaving the government in the hands of the duplicitous minority that is the Republican Party They regularly bamboozle enough voters into buying its swill to defeat a Dem party that chooses to write off much of it's base before getting to the first primary.
This country deserves better.
3
This isn't the first time in the present century that our elected officials have failed to prosecute serious wrongdoing by Republicans in the White House. I'm still troubled by the Obama administration's decision not to open an investigation into the war crimes evidently committed by Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush (not just torture but launching a war of choice based on lies, resulting in hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths).
Now we have Trump conspiring to obstruct justice and to conceal both his apparent financial crimes and his all-too-accommodating relationship with Putin. In short, we have a would-be tyrant in the White House, a venal, narcissistic liar who is plainly unfit for office.
Politics is one thing. Justice and humanity are another. Do the right thing, Democrats. If you don't, who will?
3
When the electorate (indirectly) puts an unfit individual in office, it is the JOB of Congress to remove them. Congress is failing in its most basic functions, including this one.
1
There is simply no doubt in my mind that the Founding Fathers would view this president and what he has done over the past two years as exemplifying the case for impeachment.
It may be that this republic is doomed to go the way of others throughout history and fall to the strange appeal of the autocrat, but not even to try to oust this corrupt power hungry narcissist in the face of ample compelling reasons to do so is the worst sort of precedent I can imagine.
1
The following story is true, certain speculations about foreknowledge of Russian election interference are now established as fact after a two year investigation.
One name has been changed in this story however as I tell it, simply as a wake up call to our republican friends residing in the House and Senate.
Mueller Report;
"The investigation also identified numerous links between the Russian government and the Obama campaign. Although the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from an Obama presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts, the investigation did not establish that members of the Obama Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activity."
Obama was then elected President. Although Obama knew that the Russian government had actively took measures to interfere in the election and their intent was to help him get elected Obama concealed this personal knowledge from the public. Obama then persistently rejected the conclusions of our intelligence agencies that Russia actively interfered in the election even though he knew that they had. Obama later stood next to Putin in Helsinki and again defended Russia's absolute denial or any involvement whatsoever.
Should Obama be impeached?
1
@Mr. Bantree
Nice try. But anyone who has been watching Trump's pathological need to obliterate anything accomplished by the previous administration knows that If Obama said anything it would be totally construed in the wrong way.
A famous rabbi said it best: (slightly paraphrased) "You may not be able to complete the task, but that doesn't relieve you of the duty of starting it."
Democrats have a Constitutional, historical duty to start the impeachment proceedings, despite the great probability that the Senate will not convict to remove Trump. Impeachment is a formal process of bearing witness and documenting the abuses. When the Republican lapdog senators decline to take it seriously, their terminal cowardice will be clear once and for all, fodder against their reelection.
It's lunacy to believe that we can count on an election alone to get rid of Trump---look what happened last time. Dirty tricks, voter suppression, and Russian manipulation will be worse than ever. But we can send Trump into his campaign with a scarlet I on him.
1
My fear is that an impeachment followed by a failure of the Senate to convict could trigger a civil war, as the sort of armed militias that are out rounding up undocumented aliens in the Southwest (and, from reports, plotting the assassination of George Soros and Hillary Clinton) are tempted to attack what they see as "disloyal" Democrats.
@Paul Stamler Sad, scary but probably true. But if Trump is defeated in 2020, those same militia plus thousands more with guns will be out in even more force to "protect" the traitor who at that point will have worked them into a frenzy. Better to start the civil war sooner than later when the new confederate army will be less organized and more police and military will be inclined to stop them rather than rally behind the defeated candidate Trump. Also, if he wins re-election we will have lost all chance to stop him and his fascist wave from taking over if we don't at least start to impeach now. Good luck America.
At this point, there's no greater danger than letting Donald Trump think that he can act and say as he pleases with total immunity -- not only because he has proven himself to be a habitual liar, but because he has no regard whatsoever for the U.S. Constitution, which is the one thing that legally binds us together as a nation.
America. Do we really want to risk our Union for someone who has no respect for it?
3
“...a president who has clearly abused power.”
A good percentage of the electorate believes otherwise. It’s therefore not at all clear.
"It seems clear that what the Democratic leaders are actually worried about is public relations."
And well they should be! As long as we're a democracy, what the public thinks is exactly what they should be worried about. Trump has always been a symptom of a much more serious issue: the delusional thinking that has taken over some 40% of the voting public allowing the election of such a misfit. Until that delusion is swept away, you can be certain any impeachment vote will fail in the Senate. Then we'd be left with that even more angry and delusional Republican Party working to re-elect Trump or (worse!) an apparently more competent individual with the same racist and oligarchic policies.
The Democrats' first chore: Create and direct a public narrative that is truthful, adheres to our nation's traditional values, and opens the minds of misguided Republicans to their delusional thinking. And, please, do this before they lead us into some national disaster that will make today look like the good old days.
It's not just "public relations", it's leadership. Once 50% of the Republican base favors impeachment, then pull that impeachment trigger.
1
The way you get to a successful impeachment, which results in a conviction in the Senate, is by first holding lengthy, detailed hearings, broadcast on tv to the entire world, in which people like AG Barr, Special Prosecutor Mueller, Don McGahn, and a host of other Trump administration officials and 2016 campaign staff are paraded before the world and are made to answer probing questions (or to take the 5th to avoid incriminating admissions).
That happened during Watergate. Only after the hearings starting in mid-1973 did opinion begin to swing conclusively against Nixon. It took months for that shift to become inexorable.
The Democrats in Congress need to start with hearings, and only when opinion begins to shift, then vote articles of impeachment.
The pressure applied by the electorate, with a vote coming up on November 3, 2020 (and 22 republican senators up for re-election) could then possibly shift enough votes to result in a conviction.
Holding off on drafting the Bill of Impeachment until hearings are well under way, and a great deal of evidence is in hand, should not be a problem.
1
I'm told that sixty percent of our citizens are against Trump and his corrupt regime. The last I checked, this was a majority. So why is it that we're acting like a cowering, marginalized minority? That we should fear what Trump voters will do if the House impeaches him? Why should we be the ones who are afraid?
The fact is, the sixty percent of us have cowered before the forty percent for far too long. Trump derives his power from this vicious, hateful segment of our population. But they, in turn, derive their power by our cowering, our appeasement, our silence. And the longer we are silent, impeachment or not, the longer Trump will be in power. He has already told us more than once that he plans to stay in office more than 8 years. That he has "his military" to back him up.
And what is our response to this? More cowering. We have kowtowed to Trump voters for far too long -- in fact, so long that we now live under the nation's first dictator. And the more we cower, the more tyrannical and despotic his reign will be. Trump voters know that we're terrified of them -- that we'll not act if it incurs their wrath. They have this power over us. And we need to stop this, now. Our passivity will be our downfall.
The gloves need to come off against Trump voters. This isn't a call for violence. This is a call for the only way we may retain our democracy. And sadly, there will be no peaceful return to it.
2
I'm told that sixty percent of our citizens are against Trump and his corrupt regime. The last I checked, this was a majority. So why is it that we're acting like a cowering, marginalized minority? That we should fear what Trump voters will do if the House impeaches him? Why should we be the ones who are afraid?
The fact is, the sixty percent of us have cowered before the forty percent for far too long. Trump derives his power from this vicious, hateful segment of our population. But they, in turn, derive their power by our cowering, our appeasement, our silence.
And the longer we are silent, impeachment or not, the longer Trump will be in power. He has already told us more than once that he plans to stay in office more than 8 years. That he has "his military" to back him up. And what is our response to this? More cowering.
We have kowtowed to Trump voters for far too long -- in fact, so long that we now live under the nation's first dictator. And the more we cower, the more tyrannical and despotic his reign will be.
Trump voters know that we're terrified of them -- that we'll not act if it incurs their wrath. They have this power over us. And we need to stop this, now. Our passivity will be our downfall.
The gloves need to come off against Trump voters. This isn't a call for violence. This is a call for the only way we may retain our democracy. And sadly, there will be no peaceful return to it.
Censure the president. Impeachment has great emotional appeal but is not worth the misery the country would suffer. There will not be enough votes in the senate, thus it's a waste. Censure is lasting and allows moderate Republicans in the senate to consider voting. A censure document can have articles defining abuse, and maladministration. Such a resolution carries the weight and prestige of Congress. Andrew Jackson was humiliated and years later the censure resolution was erased.
2
Trump's zealous partisans aren't swayed by anything Mueller found, and because so much of the President's sleazy behavior took place in plain sight, day after day, some dismiss it as "old news." Trump relies on that decay factor. What seemed shocking yesterday seems almost mundane today, when the President's roller-coaster mood-swings and grandstanding misdeeds push previous outrages into the background.
What we know is that nothing Congress or prosecutors do -- or even anything Trump does -- will change peoples' mind about him. We've seen that in the approval/disapproval poll numbers that have remained steady since the release of the Mueller report. Either you'd seen enough to know that the President is a crook, or you don't care because he's a victim of some Deep State conspiracy.
All Congress can do is follow the Constitutional procedures and use it to educate and inform the public, as it did during Watergate, holding televised hearings, examining the evidence, and questioning witnesses. Impeachment isn't the verdict, it's a process.
At this point, Trump isn't going to win over any new fans. He isn't even interested in doing that, only in holding his 43 percent "base" (+ or -). The Democrats just need to do their jobs, let the various committees conduct their investigations, and present a clear, united, and POSITIVE alternative to a Republican party that relies on fear and loathing. Let's stop living on a troll farm.
3
Hillary Clinton's stance on the issue is more substantive and advises a more cautious approach though she is quite clear about what's at stake.
"...Congress should hold substantive hearings that build on the Mueller report and fill in its gaps, not jump straight to an up-or-down vote on impeachment."
"A crime was committed against all Americans, and all Americans should demand action and accountability. Our founders envisioned the danger we face today and designed a system to meet it. Now it’s up to us to prove the wisdom of our Constitution, the resilience of our democracy and the strength of our nation."
What a terrible crime that we were denied her presidency.
1
Here, Ms. Drew has provided us all with the language we need to call our representatives. It's very easy to find the two separate telephone numbers for the House majority and minority judicial, intelligence, ways and means, and oversight committees. Just google them. Please call both the Democratic majority and the Republican minority telephone numbers and let them know how you feel. The minority may need to hear from you more. Be polite, but be firm. It's up to you to see that the country doesn't drift away in the river of inaction.
1
I agree but timing is everything and we have time. I suggest we continue the investigations to gather more damning facts, hopefully many that will cause Republicans to re-think their positions then impeach....maybe sometime around March of next year. Sounds good to me.
1
How I wish that someone in the IRS would be as brave as Daniel Ellsberg had been in 1971, because We the People need to see the infamous Tax Returns.
2
Wonder if your comment could be held to be attempted conspiracy or, if someone in the IRS actually did act to fulfill your wish, it would constitute actual conspiracy.
It seems that the current Attorney General (and Mueller?) would answer with a resounding "NO!" And you'd surely have Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin on your side.
2
It’s posted in public so anything goes! No collusion!
1
Please stop it!. What is the point to look for impeachement now? The republicans in the senate will not go along period. Yes the Mueller report is quite damming and anyone with a minimal of honesty will see that this president should go. But, we are talking about the new republican party the one that Mitch McConnell belongs to and that control the senate.
1
True, but if Senate Republicans vote "not guilty" after (if) the House finds plenty of valid reasons to remove him from office and recommends that to the Senate, that could have lasting negative consequences for the GOP in future elections (if we are still able to have free and fair elections with near-universal adult enfranchisement).
Also, the impeachment (the process) could take into account and make known factors not included or fully addressed by the Mueller Report that either require removal from office (or not) or would be meaningful to swing voters as they decide whom to elect.
2
Isn't there anyone at the IRS who could be as brave as Daniel Ellsberg was in 1971 and release the Tax Returns?
Trump is unfit to serve as President because he has done nothing to protect the planet and its creatures from the horror that climate change will bring. There is very little time lift to take actions that can mitigate the flooding, storms, droughts, and starvation climate change will bring. --not to mention the billions and billions of dollars it will cost and the loss of our beautiful planet as we know it and our grandchildren never will.
We can't wait for Trump to go away. So impeachment is all we can do.
Its baffling as to why impeachment wasn't started months ago.
GOP partisanship aside, if this Individual 1 doesn't warrant impeachment, who does?
1
Not sure since, per AG's rules, a president may not be indicted while still in office. That seems to mean that unless impeached, found guilty, and removed
from office by Congress, Trump really could walk onto Fifth Avenue and shoot someone in broad daylight and in front of 100 eyewitnesses and "get away with it."
What I and others want to know (please write about this, NYT) is how any statutes of limitation and/or protections from double jeopardy may apply to the current situation and to Presidential wrong doing or wrong-doing by the person of the president, generally.
1
Well said. The most cogent analysis yet. The House (and the Senate, but forget them) has a constitutional responsibility. political considerations should be secondary. Do your job and let the political chips fall where they may (you won't be hurt.) The obscenity that is Trump can't get away with this, as he has throughout his corrupt/grifting life.
1
Having lived as a cognizant adult through Watergate, Iran-Contra, and the Clinton impeachment, I would like to say that the stench emanating from our halls of power today reeks of a familiar evil. But I cannot, for in those times there was an integrity within the Fourth Estate that has been slowly chipped away with a combination of new technologies and legislative slight-of-hand.
This odious sculpting process has produced in the main, Fox News, which, much like its on-line offshoots, the bloggers and e-zines of the raging right, works now as a personal press agency for our current president.
The quality I am detecting, this new essence blended into the foul aroma of the obvious corruption is fear.
We are about to fall prey, along with the truly fake news of Fox, to a new threat; fake law. When a party line appointed attorney general is pushed out in front of the release of an investigation of government wrongdoing to spin an Opposite World web of falsehoods and deceit; when the Treasury Department flatly refuses to honor a lawful request from the People to see documents pertinent to a case of obstruction of justice; when a president foolishly claims out loud that he intends to sic the Supreme Court on our house of duly elected representatives, then we are plumbing to new depths, the likes of which would not be recognized by any of the aforementioned leaders that this nation has elected to power.
We must not succumb to this fear. Trump must be censured and/or impeached.
2
The longer Congress waits to impeach Trump the more damage that Trump and his mode will inflict upon our country. The very survival of our country is at stake!
1
I ended last week thinking impeachment would be too great a distraction from all the critical issues sitting on the shelf unattended. I began this week -- with Trump's provocation of Iran and China over sanctioned oil exports that China relies on -- clear that impeachment is existentially essential.
The Mueller report tells us that Trump -- with most babysitters having jumped ship -- is surrounded by ambitious acolytes more then eager to do the Crazy Stuff that the previous crew refused to. Trump is running out of time. His tenure is a colossal fail even with his feeble effort to spin a winning look to serial chaos.
Provoking Iran and China, each with wobbly leaders and restive citizens like the US, risks combustion with the first spark. The GOP clown car lost its brakes a long time ago and (to mix metaphors) won't act as a circuit breaker when the power spike surges through.
Impeachment looks more and more like the strait jacket that keeps Trump from bouncing us off the walls.
False alarm? Phony hysteria? Consider the three dominant influences between Trump and the crazy stuff he doesn't even know he's doing: Stephen Miller, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton.
This isn't time for the Democrats to be counting angels on their political pinhead. Upholding the Constitution and the rule of law can't be about expedience or strategic advantage.
Otherwise we risk our own Brexit moment -- Trumpexit -- and wallow in indecision and crippled leadership on all sides.
5
Elizabeth Drew: "Madison and Hamilton didn’t say anything about holding off on impeachment because it would be politically risky."
Really? Below is a section from Hamilton's article, The Federalist Papers #65. The purpose was to explain the reasoning behind the assignment of impeachment to the House, and the trial to the Senate (rather than, say, the Supreme Court). Note: the CAPS are Hamilton's.
"The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself. The prosecution of them, for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt."
While it says nothing about "holding off", it leaves no doubt that impeachment is political, and is quite clear about the risks.
@Andy Beckenbach The passage you cite is pertinent--but doesn't show that E Drew is wrong.
Clearly the Republicans are responsible for this mess, it should be on them to clean it up.
Until then just let Trump continue to defile the corpse of the Republican party.
Democrats don't have the guts to do it.
3
Watergate took forever; but eventually congress did its duty. We've only recently learned that it's very possible that Nixon colluded with a foreign government through the Chennault Affair to win the 1968 election. He got a pass at the time, when Johnson and others speculated that even Nixon couldn't be that bad. He ended up being worse.
Do your job, congress.
Max Weber in "politics as vocation" historically defined the proper role of a politician in a brilliant essay. The politician must balance his moral conviction with his ethic of responsibility. Lets bring this up to the present. Trump has committed impeachable immoral corrupt acts as president, much more than his predecessors. He may even try to retain power as a dictators as has been hinted in editorials here. The representatives job is to ensure Trump maintains office for as little time as possible and does not assume dictatorial powers in the interim. If a move for impeachment and conviction was successful then this goal would be met. However, its very unlikely the Republican dominated Senate would convict under current circumstances, On the other hand interminable debates on impeachment which the public will oppose now could strengthen Trump and make reelection of a wannabe Dictator more likely. Some intermediate solution as suggested by Hilary Clinton seems best at the moment. This problem has no immediate or obvious solution and makes Weber's essay no less relevant now than 100 years ago when it was written.
I wish I could like this 200 times!
2
OK, let's say he gets impeached by the house. At this point in time he would then be acquitted by the senate. No doubt about it. Based on this I assume many congressional democrats think it prudent to build the best case they can before moving forward with impeachment. They'll likely only get one shot.
"But the Democrats would also run enormous risks if they didn’t hold to account a president who has clearly abused power and the Constitution..."
Not sure why the author thinks the only way to "hold to account a president" is through impeachment. There are many ways to hold a president accountable and the author provides examples later in the article by stating Dems are investigating his financial interests, tax returns, etc. I'm not sure why this was framed as a negative.
Investigating tax returns etc might, maybe impact whether or not a relatively small group of swing voters support DJT in the 2020 election. Other than that, without following through with impeachment proceedings if they find via investigating his taxes/finances that he committed a serious crime, the effort is almost worthless and itself a distraction from other pressing matters and duties.
1
Mr. "I alone can fix it" has demonstrated repeatedly that can also break it - the law that is - with impunity, increasingly pushing the limits.
Next up "I alone AM the law".
With McConnell, SCOTUS, the Freedom Caucus/Tea Party gangs all too willing to ride shotgun for him, if they're not stopped now, the law becomes whatever he says it is. Until he turns on them too. And he will - he doesn't like to share.
Then it's Democracy R.I.P.
1
We must impeach, otherwise we send a horrible message for the ages. Treason is not politics, it's a deadly breach of trust. Not just toward the living, but also toward those who died to protect our freedom.
3
@Rita
Thank you for putting it all into context for those who only live in the eternal present.
"The principal challenge facing the Democrats is that they’ll have to answer to history." Funny how we've only come to expect that from Democrats. I guess we've pretty much given up on the others.
The Democrats must impeach Trump, but please, not before they get hold of the tax returns and other financial records. I think that's where the motherlode is. Anything less is not likely to sway the Republican Senate. They seem pretty OK with everything so far.
2
Ridding ourselves of this menace is priority #1.
How that should be accomplished most efficiently, with the least damage to society, I'll leave that to those more savvy than I to hash out.
2
@Pat
There actually is a very quick solution. It involves a highly personal application of the 2nd Amendment, that has been unpopularly successful 4 times in the nation’s history.
Great column. Easily the best I've read on this issue. Thanks for publishing this fine piece.
2
This rises above the calculus of elections. It's a moral imperative. Democrats who won't come out fully and clearly for impeachment lack the courage of their convictions, and so relinquish any claim to any leadership, especially Presidential.
Whether Trump would be convicted in the Senate isn't a consideration. If Republicans refuse to do their duty, then let them pay the consequences for their dereliction.
1
The Democrats are scared to upset the wealthy one percent. They care more about themselves and their political careers than they do about the country.
1
@Greg
Here's a suggestion. Take a closer look at the wealth of this president, his hand-picked administration of millionaires and grifters, and the incomes of the Republican Senate before talking about " the Democrats are scared to upset the wealthy one percent."
Another thing.
WHO do you think penned that G.O.P. tax bill for the über-wealthy and corporate elite?
Give me a break.
Mr. Trump has been mocking us and the rule of law for long enough. If he had been accused of these things, like perjury, obstruction of justice, insider trading, conflict of interest, sexual harassment, and hate speech in the private sector, he'd have been sanctioned already. All his wrong doing though, pales in comparison to the Congress and the voters who let this go unchallenged in court.
1
The lack of financial investigation from the Mueller team, left too many unanswered questions. I'm sure a case could be made for impeachment on what is already known. However, more investigation could strengthen the case. If the House can proceed without opening up impeachment proceedings, they should. If they are stonewalled to the point of paralysis, by all means, open the proceedings. Set a date and stick to it.
@Walter Ingram
Mueller’s team was very specifically tasked with looking into allegations that Russia had influenced the 2016 election. In looking into this, it found numerous related side alleys that involved possible criminal behavior, and sent that information on to the appropriate State and Federal investigative agencies. The Southern District of New York is the most famous, and most likely to succeed, investigative body, that received info from Mueller's team.
Before writing this comment, let me be clear about one thing: I absolutely detest Donald Trump. OK, that said, I'm totally against impeaching him. Why? Because the Mueller report didn't tell us anything about Trump's character that we didn't already know long before he was elected. Impeachment (which is assured of failure anyway) is simply short circuiting our electoral process. We have an electoral college, we have a lot of red states, there are a lot of people in those red states who love Trump and they voted for him and he won in a fair election. Why are we trying to save the people who voted for him from their own foolish decision? We shouldn't be wasting out time talking about impeachment; we should be thinking about whether the electoral college system is working as it was intended, and trying to figure out how to avoid the same outcome in 2020.
2
@Leo
Perhaps you need to read (or re-read?) Volume 1 of the Mueller report, in which it is well documented that the Russians hijacked our electoral process, to specifically benefit a certain individual, and that that individual’s handlers, advisers, and campaign managers cooperated, albeit loosely, with this coercive behavior.
I think many of us are worried about anything that could, at any level, permit Trump to win a second election. I regard his continued presence in office as a considerable danger to our republic. So much more will be destroyed, and the animosity that the American community is feeling today would increase so dramatically that the threat of violence, armed conflicts, would be quite real. The militia wandering the New Mexican border is the harbinger of what could descend on our country. Yet, simultaneously, I see the great need to impeach Trump, even if it is a largely symbolic gesture. So it is all a dilemma that requires patriots to move strategically. Perhaps requiring some to agree to lead impeachment while others agree to stay beyond the fray and focus on the needs of our citizens. This will need to be a massive campaign that functions like a well-oiled machine.
If Repiblicans successfully block impeachment then the public will hold them accountable.
We saw under W that this supposed 'public opinion' is utter nonsense. People took to the streets and the internet creating the 'me too' movement. The GOP was forced back to the fringe but the Dems failed to prosecute That administration's crimes. Then they let the wolves in and encouraged Russia to infiltrate social media. Because they wanted payback - on the majority of Americans.
The vast majority of Americans do not support any of these policies. They particularly do not want to become a puppet state to Russia. There will be riots, there will be freedom of speech zones, and ultimately we may go the way of Turkey. Then with no geopolitical clout our currency will tank and our billionaires will find they have become petty nobodies on the world stage.
And, much like clean potable water, there will be no recovering a democracy once it is poisoned.
Put the onerous on the Republicans. This isn't even a democratic decision. It is up to them whether to publically be loyal Americans or to be the servants of a Moscow installed dictator.
I might point out, if Trump is innocent then investigations will lead to nothing. I know courts are often wrong and corrupt, but only criminals think going to court and being convicted are the same. It shows how they view and Use the justice system. They don't understand America.
"A journalist...who covered Watergate" is like saying Hunter Thompson was "a journalist who occasionally talked football with Nixon." True, but hardly enough to do justice! Thanks to Ms. Drew for shooting down canards and flimsy rationales. Agree that Democrats will have to answer to a higher tribunal than they seem aware of at moment. Also, Republicans--they too will be judged, even though many news outlets seem to take for granted that they are incapable of taking moral responsibility. Some news outlets even seem gleeful about this. Democrats cannot avoid tumult and division whatever they do imo. For this week it's enough for me if they limit their comments to "of course we are not taking anything off the table." Dems would do well to channel a little more executive attitude, which is roughly "No options ruled out, I might haul off and do just about any crazy thing." Then their job is to set the table by calling Barr, McGahn, Mueller et al to testify. Others may refuse, so be it. All the more reason to initiate impeachment hearings. Post headline that Trump admin is creating a "conundrum" for House Dems may prove accurate, but Dems can and should flip script and create conundrums for a lawless obstructive president. Am not confident, with Ms. Drew, that Dems will handle this skillfully, but also expect that Pres. will continue to sabotage himself in eyes of public by overreacting and refusing to "ride a win." My preferred timeline: start impeachment hearings in late May.
This sort of equivocation is exactly why many Democratic voters are so tired of the Democrats. They always do nothing when the obvious path seems difficult.
Others have noted that the Iraq war was started on false pretenses with no one held to account. The same is true for the financial crisis, when Democrats were in charge.
Dems hesitation here smells like fear of fox news.
3
A word of caution.
When folk deride Speaker Pelosi for being too political, because impeachment is "the right thing to do," they are ignoring the political context, quite perilously in my view. It feels good to say do the right thing, but it's nonetheless a gamble that the right thing will have the right consequences. B. Sanders made that assumption in 2015, and look where it got us, folks. If Trump wins re-election in 2020, the consequences will be devastating--perhaps more so than we can even begin to imagine. Pelosi and co. are a vital part of the effort to prevent that. Her political instincts have served her well, and have served us well, and I for one trust them. I DO want to see Trump impeached, and convicted. I want to see the family banished forever into the dustbin of history. But I want to recapture the White House (and the Senate) even more. Impeaching Trump is certainly not an existential imperative; but can anybody say to same about defeating him?
2
What happens, god forbid, if the don't impeach and Trump wins re-election in 2020 and/or Democrats lose control of the house?
While Democrats have the power, they must act according to the oaths they swore to uphold.
We can't afford the risk that Trump and his Russian cheerleaders find a way to keep him in office, that would surely be the end of our democracy.
It comes down to which path provides a greater chance of getting Trump out of the office. Impeachment or election.
Impeachment seems messy and requires Republican help to succeed.
Election seems clear cut and doesn't require Republican help to succeed.
I'm torn between the two but prefer saving all our energy for the election that doesn't require Republican help. I don't think they'll help us throw this bigot out of the office. Do you?
2
Trump has drawn a clear line in the sand for every member of Congress: It will soon be time to choose which side of it you're on and how future generations will remember you-- not to mention how your children, friends, spouses and millions of other Americans will feel about you two years from now.
1
Impeaching Trump wouldn't be "politically risky" for Democrats; it would be political suicide. After the Senate acquits him of any and all Articles of Impeachment passed by the House he will transition from playing his favorite role of victim to the cry of "vindication", which will resonate beyond his base and practically ensure his reelection.
Ms. drew makes the fundamental mistake in thinking that impeachment is a moral imperative demanded by the Constitution under particular circumstances and not the political process authorized by that document. Whether or not to impeach Trump is a political calculus and the certain lack of the votes of 20 Republican Senators to remove the president of their own Party, makes the answer easy. Remember that only 2 of the previous 44 Presidents have been impeached and neither was convicted. Regardless of morality both efforts were political malpractice as would any current effort.
3
This is a really difficult choice. I see reasons for a middle course and for impeachment. Trump is very unlikely to be convicted given that Trump's Republicans quake in their boots in the face of his bullying. Not impeaching gives permission for Trump and future presidents to have no fear that they will be held accountable.
Nixon, despite his deviousness, believed in the Constitution and the rule of law enough that he didn't disrupt the proceedings of the Senate Watergate hearings or the House Judiciary. We can't count on Trump to do anything but play the victim and to attack the House. What will make a difference is if enough of the people get angry enough to protest Trump's continuance in office. The House of Representatives needs backing from the American people. The House has my backing.
"The Democrats may succeed in avoiding a tumultuous, divisive fight over impeachment now. But if they choose to ignore clear abuses of the Constitution, they’ll also turn a blind eye to the precedent they’re setting and how feckless they’ll look in history."
Ms. Drew, the calculations, deliberations and fevered introspections regarding impeachment are premature.
It is a spectacle that is entertaining to behold but will ultimately prove to be a side show to the main event.
Some people will believe that a "non partisan" denunciation of Trump and "Trumpism" will calm the political waters and dampen the thirst for retribution on the part of democrats who were so deplorably disenfranchised in 2016.
That is not the case.
It's not Trump who is the issue today. It is the republican machine that needs to be dismantled, pulled apart, and yes, deconstructed.
If that endeavor is not undertaken the republican party will rise up again, inflated by all the dark instincts and criminal intentions that drive them today, and continue their mission if division and destruction. And the world will suffer.
That is who they are, and that is what they do.
So impeachment can wait.
Impeachment can be put off until the republicans beg for it...
2
"Madison and Hamilton didn’t say anything about holding off on impeachment because it would be politically risky. It’s hard to imagine they’d put political convenience on the same footing as the security of the Constitution."
In fact, they would be appalled at the current state of our government. Both parties have been for far too long shoved integrity and their Oath to the Constitution lower and lower into consideration, when choosing to act in service to the people of this country. If we do not demand that this change and force the issue, we will be just as responsible for destroying our Democracy. This is happening very quickly and our response must be swift and deliberate.
1
Not to dismiss the sometimes nasty politics of the time, but I'm not sure that Madison and Hamilton anticipated that a President like Trump would retain support in either chamber of Congress. Impeachment in such a case should not be considered politically fraught at all.
But in the 21st century, we have a political party controlling the Senate that has sold its soul, thus making impeachment and conviction highly unlikely, absent some new revelation (as if there is not already enough). I don't know that the Founders would be excited about an impeachment that had zero chance of removing a deeply flawed President from office.
Impeachment is not the only means of holding Donald Trump accountable. He may face criminal charges upon leaving office. And in the meantime, he can be censured. Like impeachment w/o a conviction, censure will not bring a moving van to the White House but it will make a statement about accountability and allow the Congress to claim - correctly - that they did something.
1
There is absolutely no question that impeachment is in order. The Mueller report is very clear. Pelosi's argument against is a dereliction of duty. First, she insisted that we must see the report. Now that it's out there with impeachable offenses clearly state, we must see the "full" report without redactions.
It matters not what the senate does or does not do. It's pretty obvious McConnell wouldn't even bring it to the floor. The constitution demands it. If Bill Clinton deserved impeachment for trying to hide a sexual peccadillo, then this president, clearly guilty of obstruction and near-treasonous actions on the world stage, should not and cannot be spared the punishment.
If the appropriate action is not taken, history will not judge this congress kindly.
Great piece, thanks for writing it, thoughtful take on this perilous moment. I, for one, was of the opinion that Democrats should just let impeachment go, too dangerous, and would end in failure thanks to to a corrupted Republican controlled Senate. However, post Mueller, and halfway through reading his report, believe that those are just excuses, the conduct outlined in the report calls for immediate action by the House.
Time is growing desperately short.
Mueller’s Report proved indecisive.
Trump is promising pardons to people for breaking our laws.
The Republican Party as we used to know it is done for. It will soon be renamed The Trump Party.
His next appointment to the Supreme Court will give him a 6-3 majority there.
He is packing the lower courts with judges who are loyal to him.
There have been recent reports of armed militia on our Southern border who are devoted supporters of his.
His 40% base continues to be totally devoted to him.
His minions and satraps in the federal bureaucracies are spending
every day joyously tearing down the social and economic supports it took this country decades to build.
Foreign allies to this country who are essential to our defense and wellbeing are being turned into enemies of ours.
The economy is currently on a sugar-binge high that is being totally fueled by record deficits.
Efforts to get hold of his taxes and financial records will consume
months if not years.
He will soon be declaring national emergencies to gain editorial control over our news media.
It is not inconceivable that he will cancel or postpone the 2020 election and get away with it, if and when he decides to.
He is a mentally unstable man with immediate access to our nuclear codes.
Nero fiddled, while Rome burned.
And we are already burning.
5
@A. Stanton
Mueller's report only proved "indecisive" if you were expecting a slam-dunk indictment of Donald Trump.
But taken on its own and within the imposed limitations of its investigation, this report has proved itself worthy of all the other ongoing investigations spinning out of it -- Why else would Attorney General Barr go to such extents to not only redact it, but keep the original hidden from view?
It's not over yet.
2
"Mr. Mueller even invited Congress to address the matter. Almost as a plea, he added that “no person is above the law.”"
This would seem to be what fearful Democrats (and Republicans) are skirting. To all those who said let's wait for the Mueller Report: there it is. Not acting is not an option.
3
Finally, an accurate analysis of Volume I of the Mueller Report: that he could not establish a coordinated conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russian GOVERNMENT. There was collusion all over the place, Mueller just couldn't make a case for criminal conspiracy.
As to impeachment, as nervous as I am about the potential fallout, I see no other moral recourse for Democrats in the House. The allegations against Trump & Co. are egregious compared to Clinton and Nixon (maybe even Johnson) and avoiding impeachment proceedings would be tantamount to a tacit endorsement of Trump's behavior.
As to the GOP, I see no hope that they will honor their constitutional duties. I truly believe at this point (I wouldn't have two yrs ago) that we could unearth a recording of Trump and Putin agreeing on a quid pro quo and the GOP would rationalize it away.
History will look upon the Republicans in congress today and, I believe, judge them harshly.
Let's not let that judgement of history condemn the Democrats in the same way. Sometimes we must act on the faith of our convictions and take the first step in a journey of which we may not know the end.
3
If the Congress wants or needs to investigate possible obstruction, fine; but to discuss impeachment when to date there is no crime is irrational.
2
It isn't so much the risk, though that is considerable, that makes actual impeachment proceedings pointless, but rather that there is effectively no chance of the impeachment resulting in removal from office. At this point Trump could engage in bestiality on the Senate floor while simultaneously declaring his allegiance to Russia, with the Senate Republicans reaction to this being: 1) It's all Obama's fault. 2) We need to investigate Obama. 3) Hillary did worse things. They and their supporters live in a fact free world and will remain there.
2
The president is clearly obstructing justice by preventing his former WH counsel to testify.
It was a dead giveaway that by not testifying the president admitted he had something to hide.
2
If the republican senate will not vote to impeach then they will have gone on the record, and their place in history will be on the record.
Pelosi needs to go all in, with no half measures. He will only get worse.
8
Let me add the word “China” to this, after living there for 23 years. Not impeaching a clearly impeachable president who also attacks the fundamentals of our liberal democracy daily simply because its politically infeasible will be another ideological weapon in China’s arsenal: “See, we have been saying for years that the idea of constitution, democracy, separation of powers are all just political fictions. This is clear example why we shouldn’t accept these values. And don’t you believe the Americans’ propaganda that our rule of law (more like ‘rule by law’) is inferior to theirs. Look how dirty politics is? It’s only wise for the Chinese people to not engage in politics.”
1
"It seems clear that what the Democratic leaders are actually worried about is public relations."
This statement strikes me as blatantly false. I do not believe Nancy Pelosi, Elijah Cummings, Jerold Nadler, Adam Schiff, or any of the other House Committee heads are worried about "public relations", nor are they afraid to face their duties. Right now our government is hanging by a thread from falling into an abyss. The only thing saving it from disaster is the fact that Democrats hold the majority in the House. As satisfying as impeaching Donald Trump would be, it is IMPERATIVE that the House does NOTHING that would endanger that Democratic majority. If the House and Senate both are under Republican rule come 2020, and Trump is reelected, our country is in grave danger. The Democratic leaders of the House understand this, and they are, in my mind, pursuing the proper course. Hold public hearings...bring out more facts...enlighten the less informed citizenry...and proceed from there. If impeachment is warranted at that time, then proceed. But the members of the House presently face serious obligations; it is wrong to infer they are trying to find an easy way out by not jumping to impeachment at this time.
1
Impeach Trump or not, Censure Trump or not, and whatever the outcome of the 2020 election is, America is going to have to grapple with a subset of the population that only believe Trump and who will act as 'mature' as he has, if they don't get their way. It's long past time for the adults to stand up to these insolent children.
1
Congress must at least open impeachment hearings to establish clearly the constitutional basis of their demands on the administration. So far, President Trump has shown both ignorance and disregard of the law. The notion of taking a possible impeachment to the Supreme Court is just one example. Apparently, he will continue to instruct his minions to disregard congressional calls for testimony and documents. Our system is not designed to deal with a president who blatantly refuses to obey the law. One avenue that should be pursued is sanctions against individuals who follow Trump's orders in disregarding lawful directives. They should be jailed for contempt, and the ABA should move to disbar any who are lawyers. Impeachment, however, is the only option for dealing with a renegade president. If with the fact laid out, Republicans continue to refuse to do their duty, their disloyalty will be proven.
1
Whatever happened to the Mueller Report? It was supposed to be the " smoking gun ", but now seems to have been discreetly moved aside and replaced by The Federalist Papers of Hamilton and Madison, which of course had been left rather negligently on the shelf during the Obama years.
2
I would agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Drew if Trump weren't a Narcissist Supreme. The country is not dealing with a normal person here. This is no Richard Nixon who is going to slink away into the relative unknown and let the country move on, much less heal. This is a man who will use impeachment as best he can to his best advantage whether it is successful or not. Every move Trump makes is an immediate strategic self-preservation response.
And so strategically what puts Trump at the greatest disadvantage? To go through impeachment and win? To go through impeachment and lose? Or to suffer a landslide defeat at the polls in 2020?
And if Trump is impeached, what about Pence? What are his chances of a 2020 win as Trump tweets non-stop to rally his troops?
I'm hoping for a humiliating landslide Democratic victory over Trump because it will be healing and empowering for our democracy.
Of course, there is always the chance Trump will win - but I can't bear to think of it.
1
I think the sad reality is that no matter what the Dems do, they won't be able to dissuade many of the 63 million Trump lemmings from following him wherever and for whatever.
And indeed, Trump and the group of "news" people like Rush and Sean and FOX at large and others, who indeed do dominate the markets, since they don't have to deal with facts, will have a ball.
It really won't matter much if they don't proceed with impeachment but just run the investigations and get some plans passed, since the Senate is likely to ignore anything that they produce.
And if the Senate DID also impeach Trump, his followers (including Putin) would figure out a way to get him re-elected anyway.
The president has responded to accusations of obstruction by continuing to obstruct.
He has directed his Treasury Secretary, in direct violation of statutory law, not to release his tax returns to Congress. He has told other members of his administration not to respond to Congressional requests for information. He has failed to provide documents requested by Congressional committees.
He will continue to delay and prevaricate until called to the bar.
Additionally, failing to impeach would give Individual 1 the opportunity to characterize the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt. And that's precisely what he will do. Mueller, the FBI, the CIA and Congressional Democrats (not to mention our friends and allies) will be beaten senseless by his constant invective.
Impeachment is not just a Constitutional imperative, it is a political necessity. Fear is no excuse.
3
If the Republicans had any integrity whatsoever, and were capable of acting for the good of the country, our laws, and democratic and constitutional processes, they would be calling for the impeachment of Trump.
It shows how far we have sunk in that the media only frames the question in terms of Democratic responsibility. What about Republican responsibility? Republicans can end the Trump disaster any day they want. Instead we have an ongoing Constitutional crisis this country hasn't seen since the Civil War.
4
The pontification must stop. Governing today is much more than just making statements. Impeachment would be a useless endeavor given the impossibility of getting a conviction in the McConnell-controlled Senate. Neither is the analogy to Nixon perfect. I was issued a draft card in 1969 and, frankly, couldn't tell whether it was blue or red. The two parties were barely distinguishable. Today, there has never been a more stark difference in policy between the two and any self-respecting Progressive should be devoting 100% of their time to reclaiming the Senate and White House. History will provide all of the humiliation that the incumbent president deserves.
1
First of all Mr Nadler must subpoena, and receive the full Mueller report, including all the material redacted by the Justice Department. The fact that some material is even being withheld shows that Mr Trump has something to hide and is trying to cover it with "executive privilege." A decision by Congress to impeach or not impeach must be based on all the facts and withholding any of them must in itself be considered obstruction of justice, which is an impeachable offense.
The president has responded to accusations of obstruction by continuing to obstruct.
He has directed his Treasury Secretary, in direct violation of statutory law, not to release his tax returns to Congress. He has told other members of his administration not to respond to Congressional requests for information. He has failed to provide documents requested by Congressional committees.
He will continue to delay and prevaricate until called to the bar.
Additionally, failing to impeach would give Individual 1 the opportunity to characterize the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt. And that's precisely what he will do. Mueller, the FBI, the CIA and Congressional Democrats (not to mention our friends and allies) will be beaten senseless by his constant invective.
Impeachment is not just a Constitutional imperative, it is a political necessity. Fear is no excuse.
7
This essay is the sharpest, clearest reasoning for pursuing the impeachment President Trump.
This has to be a matter of national security and Constitutional decorum. Republicans, who would already have gone after any Democratic president for having committed—or having been suspected of—a mere fraction of the many sordid, unquestionable allegations of unpresidential conduct as outlined by the Special Counsel, would already have sent their greedy findings to Mitch McConnell in the Senate for the hasty and forgone guilty verdict.
It’s more than understandable that Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to proceed cautiously on this matter as both a way to harness the aggressive wing in the House but also send a message to the independent and Republican voters whose support yielded her the speakership after a six-year absence.
This impeachment process must be done but judiciously and without the public takeaway that Democrats were running the president out of town on a fence rail.
2
"even in his current weakened condition"
What the Sam Hill?! What planet are you living on? He's de facto above the law. Immune from any check from Congress. Nearly immune from any judicial check. No cabinet members or advisors telling him that he's wrong.
3
The pontification must stop. Governing today is much more than just making statements. Impeachment would be a useless endeavor given the impossibility of getting a conviction in the McConnell-controlled Senate. Neither is the analogy to Nixon perfect. I was issued a draft card in 1969 and, frankly, couldn't tell whether it was blue or red. The two parties were barely distinguishable. Today, there has never been a more stark difference in policy between the two and any self-respecting Progressive should be devoting 100% of their time to reclaiming the Senate and White House. History will provide all of the humiliation that the incumbent president deserves.
1
The pontification must stop. Governing today is much more than just making statements. Impeachment would be a useless endeavor given the impossibility of getting a conviction in the McConnell-controlled Senate. Neither is the analogy to Nixon perfect. I was issued a draft card in 1969 and, frankly, couldn't tell whether it was blue or red. The two parties were barely distinguishable. Today, there has never been a more stark difference in policy between the two and any self-respecting Progressive should be devoting 100% of their time to reclaiming the Senate and White House. History will provide all of the humiliation that the incumbent president deserves.