Way to go team, way to go. Ms Pelosi will lead the team to victory, shedding light and exposing the real going’s on. Go team go!
13
Trump thinks that checks and balances are harassment; while grabbing women's genitals is just another day in his privileged life. Every time he whines and cries because things aren't going his way (and, largely, because of his actions and statements) I picture a large infant throwing a tantrum. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
13
Unfortunately for trump, he made the big mistake of running for office, thus putting his criminal activity directly in the spotlight.
How stupid is that?
16
After preparing my 2018 returns only to learn that I owe $4K more than last year thanks to the GOP's "reforms", I want that jerk's tax returns on a silver platter NOW.
16
Seeing many trolls on the comment section only means one thing: Trump and Russia are really worried! Go Nancy! Go Adam! Go AOC! Go Dems!
11
It appears that the new U.S. government order of command is Nancy then President Trump and thirdly is Vice President Pence.
Actually God is number one. For all men and women are sinners and fall short of the glory of God.
This is a bad idea. Similar to Reid scuttling cloture threshholds that leads directly to a GOP appointed judiciary, this will lead to turnabout of a different type. Did McConnell protect the 'integrity' of SC nominees by adhering to the 60 vote minimum? Of course not. Now take a close look at where the federal judiciary is headed today.
Every single presidential candidate will be subjected to unreachable standards of past conduct and no amount of apologies or 'personal stories of growth' will save them.
This will end badly.
1
"But they will layer on “interconnected lines of inquiry,” including whether Russia or other foreign actors hold financial or other leverage over Mr. Trump and his associates that at any point could have influenced American policy
Talk about the kettle calling the coffee black. I’m sure that if anyone bothered to look there are far more extensive and glaring examples of financial leverage being wielded over congressional members that influences American policy. It’s called campaign contributions.
2
This is exactly what happens when one places party over and above anything else. The GOP (and it's supporters) would likely follow Trump over a cliff before admitting that he has possible (quite likely at this point) ties to Russia. They are willing to put our country and our democracy at risk to prove their point and to cater to the whims of Trump, the man child. There is nothing patriotic about Trump or his followers. "Make America Great" was never necessary. This country was (emphasis on the word, "was") great and never needed Trump or the likes of him to make it great again.
8
The article sounds as if sudden onslaught of investigations brought on to Trump administration is only due to democratic majority in the house. That sounds like partisan and retributive action on part of the democrats; IT IS NOT.
NYT would do justice to the article by pointing out that prior congress with republican majority failed to investigate number of blatant violations and corrupt practices employed by Trump's WH.
9
Speaker Pelosi, Mr. Mueller, Representative Schiff: Please hold Mr. Trump, his associates, and the Trump Republicans accountable for each and every illegal action, including treason, that these people have visited on our nation, its democracy, and the world. Please. Seek. And. Destroy. In the name of the traditional aspirations and values that we will never set aside no matter how often we fail to attain them.
9
Why would a president with no misdeeds be so anxious to stop the investigations? Nixon, Watergate.
7
Clearest indication that Democrats are fearful that Mueller may not deliver the goods on President Trump.
2
Trump's threats to halt Congressional oversight in his SOTU address can be considered to be an abuse of power.
Trump threatened to stop carrying out his Constitutional duties as president unless the investigations into his dirty deeds ended.
Nixon was more careful when he simply complained that a year of the Watergate investigation was enough. He didn't threaten Congress.
9
The truth will come out! It always does.
8
History Declares ; When cornered by ,A Divided country, or Tremendous pressure from oposite political view supported by Facts at edge of their collapse,
Them All had chosen for A-WAR. For whatever reason...
Well your Mr. Trump recently, threaten a War to their political
Oposition, If They,do not bend to His Wishes and Obey.
carefully analyze this statement, from the bully volatile, egocentric,personality seems, entering An scenario of chaos,sadly.
Wow the Great USA , Leadered To a wrong path.in Times of storm.
Why arrest and jail the Golden State Killer, simply based on overwhelming evidence of criminal wrongdoing? After all, like Trump, he claims he’s completely innocent.
This is ridiculous. Any other citizen guilty of half of Trumps crimes would have been tossed in prison DECADES ago.
6
I am incredulous that the Trump's tax returns have not been looked at by the the Special Council. I was under the impression that 'all things' within the governent were anyone's business from another agency. Of course not that they would have been released but I am still confused.
3
If Mr. Schiff is a hack as the President claims then we clearly need more hacks.
12
What is Donald Trump holding over Mitch McConnell and these Republican lap dogs who pretend to support this embarrassing excuse of a human being as President of our United States of America?
It is stunningly mind boggling and extremely frightening to the vast majority of Americans.
10
“It’s called presidential harassment. And it’s unfortunate. And it really does hurt our country.”
This is great, not at all ironic coming from "long form birth certificate man." Now tell us again about the snake who should never have been trusted because it was clearly a snake.
8
trump demands? who is he to DEMAND anything from the american people. as much as he fancies himself as, he is not a dictator, and we are not a dictatorship! if he doesn't get off his high-horse, he's going to get trampled by one, and it won't be pretty.
10
" ... the Treasury Department's decision to ease sanctions on three companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has defended the decision ... " (CNN, 14Jan2019) Mr. Trump and Co. seem quite interested in helping Russians, not so much American federal workers. Or companies hurt by the trade wars. Or farmers hurt by trade wars. Or allies (former allies?) fighting our mutual enemies. Or ... To paraphrase Hamlet's mother, Mr. Trump doth protest WAY too much. " ... two instances in which Mr. Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation ... 'I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,' Mr. Trump said ... 'I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.' ” These comments to smirking Russian officials in the White House. Add in his humiliation by Mr. Putin at Helsinki, and his efforts to hide any records of discussions with Mr. Putin. How much evidence of obstruction and collusion do we need? Guilty.
13
Fix that headline.
They weren't "asked," they were warned.
4
The details of policy and law have become circumvented by republicans who place loyalty to party above our country. As such they are traitors who suck the lifeblood out of democracy. Lowering taxes is their primary distinguishing policy which of course enriches them at the expense of others and our country's well being. It is time we treat them for what most of them are: greedy beings who are best represented by the cartoon icon "Mr. Burns". Is it just coincidence that the so-called "base" is made up of brainwashed religious fanatics?
5
Oh my! the tangled trumpsky criminal web under investigation. poor poor trumpsky.
4
Trump's threats concerning the wall vanished. His threats concerning the investigation are laughable. Trump, Devon Nunes, Kavanaugh, McConnell, Graham, Cruz and the rest of the hypocritical cowards who opposed everything Obama did whether they liked it or not and used their most repulsive racist dog whistles to do it, have all been asking for this moment. They richly deserve what they are about to get. It is about time that working Americans clawed back the money and the political power that has been stolen from them in the years since Reagan promised his "trickle down" economics. I hope that today's Republican Party is the first casualty of the resurgence. America needs a truly conservative party, not a bunch of floor flushing grifters, toadies and thieves.
4
Tax returns.
Yeah, baby!
2
Pelosi is sexy. There, I said it.
5
$500 million for childhood cancer; but $5.7 billion for a "wall"! Does anyone else question this president's priorities? Whoever wrote the speech thought a little sugar would help the medicine go down.
How much do we taxpayers spend each year to fund the Secret Service' budget to protect the Trump family on their various trips to their luxury resorts and golf outings, etc?
11
Cabinet Members and those in the orbit of the President that are subpoenaed have a choice: be truthful or go to jail.
Michael Cohen should serve as a reminder that lying to Congress has consequences.
6
Trump is not eloquent most of the time. I am not a fan. However, he did not threaten Congress and Pelosi and her fan's attempts to claim he did is a ruse. Pelosi is a vicious, vindictive, hypocrite who has no real desire to work in Congress. Never has. She was voted back as majority leader for one reason (maybe two). She pulls in millions for Dem elections and coffers. Everyone is afraid of her, and like Sharpton, would rather pay to play that face her ugly wrath fully supported by the media.
If the democratic party believes it is their role, not Mueller's, to investigate this president then I've no more use for the party. It is the party of mob rule and false accusations and ugliness, something they claimed against the Reps.
News flash! We've paid over 25 million dollars with Mueller's investigation which he happily extends beyond the initial mandate. How much more time and money will we spend? It's endless, at the request of the biased Dem party filled with identity politics, while they do nothing for the citizens. They chose not to do their day jobs. I'd like to stop paying their salaries, all Congress salaries, but then they don't need that money anyway. Lobbyists continue to pay.
2
News flash, Congress is constitutionally mandated to investigate where they believe wrong doing occurred. They have full subpoena powers, it’s their duty. If your suggesting that they shouldn’t exercise their authority as check against unfettered presidential power, then maybe the democrats have no need of you. I’m always at a loss when people who really support the Republican Party but claim to be something else, bury their heads as deep in the sand as they can get it, so that they can convince themselves that there’s nothing to the fraud that’s been perpetrated during Trumps campaign.
None so blind as those who will not see.
3
@Ma
1. Pelosi managed to get Romneycare through Congress. It saves an additional half a million American lives a decade. If you can't admit that that's a record to be tremendously proud of, imho your words ("vicious, vindictive, hypocrite) apply more to you than to her, no?
2. Three Trump people jailed and three more who will be so soon. Thanks to a GOP Department of Justice and a Republican special prosecutor. If that's not a reason for congressional oversight committees to do their own investigations too, in a democracy, than WHAT is?
3. "Mob rule" means that you only investigate your own opponents because they are opponents, not because there's evidence proving that investigations are necessary.
That is exactly what the GOP has done with Hillary: after years of extremely expensive investigations, nothing was found, nobody jailed. So what does Trump run on? "Lock her up!". And then of course he had to admit, upon entering the WH, that there was actually no evidence to do so at all.
And now, with tons of evidence, you nevertheless would want Congress to put its head in the sand and pretend as if nothing's going on today ... ?
Don't you see how absurd that is?
3
The Republican led Benghazi hearings lasted Two and a half years and cost $7.8M. The end result of all that? Nothing. Zero. Now that was a witch hunt.
On the other hand, the Mueller investigation is twenty months in and has already indicted thirty plus criminals. It may be costing some money but at least these investigations are rooting out the criminal elements running rampant in the Trump administration.
2
"Intelligence Committee Republicans, who have already begun to accuse the Democrats of politically motivated overreach, did not endorse the inquiry’s parameters"
This is the funniest line of the day. The NYT does not need a comics page when it can report on House Republicans.
4
How many times
Must obstruction backfire...
Before it's forever banned?
President trump asked/threatened/cajoled Comey to drop his investigation. It's called obstruction. He blustered and promised pardons and lied as the noose tightened. Flynn and 25 others were indicted --confessed, flipped were sentenced. And now he dares cajole a Democratic Congress? Make a deal? DACA, healthcare, no wall, taxes and the budget, infrastructure rehab --make an offer and let's deal?....
The answer my friend
Is cajoling in the wind
The answer is cajoling in the wind...
3
Go Nancy, or as I call her Nancy! It is about time someone stood up to this con man and started looking into his connections and motivations. A more corrupt man I cannot imagine. Just also make sure he cannot pardon any of those caught up in his con, including, most importantly, himself. If all the investigations exonerate him them fine, but if he is found guilty, he must pay, just like any other criminal.
7
"But Democrats and even some Republicans conceded that the targets offered up by Mr. Trump and his administration were far more numerous than his predecessors’, and his threats and protests have been more vocal."
This is quite an understatement. We have a president who is suspected of receiving the aid of a adversarial nation to win the presidency, pursuing policies friendly to that adversarial regime, and his political party that has let him get away with all of it. There is really no apt comparison to previous situations, as much as beltway journalists would like to normalize all of this.
9
Here's a fact-based exercise that might help in the debate over Congressional oversight of the executive branch.
Pick any year going back to 1950. Link to the Congressional Record for that year. Pick a day --- no, pick a random sample of days. Look at the Daily Digest for those days to see how many committees were having oversight hearings. Repeat this exercise for other years.
If you do this, you will discover that active Congressional oversight is the norm. Under our Constitution, it should be. What was abnormal was the canine subservience of the Republican majority during 2017 and 2018.
7
I would assume that Mueller has seen Trump’s tax returns. Is there a reason he wouldn’t have? I would imagine that’s where he would start. No??
2
Let me get this straight. First Trump used the threat of closing the government to try to force building his wall and now he has added it as a threat to end any investigation into him. What's next on his list?
3
Trump will do anything, go to any lengths, do as much damage to our nation as necessary—to get himself out of trouble. I fully expect him to go to the extreme of starting a war—with Iran, if that meets with Putin’s and MBS’s approval—to protect his own interests. I’m truly frightened.
1
This is going to be the ultimate test for weather the American system of checks and balances is still working and, perhaps in a bigger sense, weather democratic institutions can trump over the corrupt power of money. As such, it can escalate into a battle of biblical proportions.
All of these investigations will soon come to a crashing end like the McCarthy hearings of the fifties. Soon we will wake up from this long national nightmare, and
Mueller, Schiff, et al. will fade into history.
2
@Edward let’s hope Trump and his cronies fade first, within the next few months.
2
@Edward
Viz, unhinged and untethered, delusional, willfully blind. See, e.g., the Trump cult. Soon, Edward, those dozens of indictments, convictions, admissions of guilt, plea deals, and cooperation agreements will disappear in a magical puff of fairy dust.
1
Speaker Pelosi shouldn't be talking about who treated whom with more respect after her petty and childish behavior on the podium during the President's speech on Tuesday night. I can only surmise that the mainstream press' ongoing kid-glove treatment of the Speaker has led her to think that she can get away with anything, because they're never going to call her on it. The sad thing is, she's probably right.
3
I don't think the House was asked to stop investigating. The cut I saw of trump showed him making his usual veiled threat to force someone to do as he wanted.
What are the chances of investigating McConnell, his wife, and Ryan?
2
That’s an interesting question, since Ryan isn’t in office anymore, it does make one pause....
The Universe is calling to demand payment from its misbegotten son, for all all the unaccounted misdeeds of his life.
1
Look, we all know what is going to happen: even without new investigations, Trump isn’t signing any border deal and will call a national emergency to try to build his White Whale ( I mean “wall”). This is the relative quiet before the storm. I just hope the Democrats and the ACLU and other organizations, as well as the lawyers who deal with eminent domain cases are prepared to strike back and stop him. If that happens, he will be permanently weakened. Unfortunately, I think this is the best-case scenario.
Tax returns are to Trump as tapes were to Nixon.
2
We should never forget that the largest group of morally bankrupt criminals here is the Republican Party! They know Trump and Trump’s inner circle committed a multitude of crimes against the United States. But they will defend the indefensible as long as it will keep them in power. We should never forget these criminals at the ballot box.
2
One of the reasons the Democrats won the House is that Americans want oversight of Donald Trump, who is likely compromised by foreign countries.
The Framers' greatest fear was a president like Trump - a president who is a puppet of a hostile foreign adversary.
Let the oversight begin!
3
Speaker Pelosi is absolutely correct. We need to know whether or not we have a crook in the White House, who lost the popular vote by over three million votes. While we are at it let’s pass an initiative to get rid of the electoral college, a relic from a time when the vote tallies from the states had to be delivered by horse back.
3
So what he's basically saying is that he will only do what is good for the American people and pass bipartisan legislation if the American people accept to not create any problems for him by investigating potential wrongdoings.
First of all, that of course amounts to admitting that there ARE wrongdoings.
Secondly, that the GOP and GOP base find such blatant admitting totally acceptable, can only be explained by the rampant cynicism cultivated for more than a decade by the GOP and Fox's Fake News, which made GOP voters believe that DC is and has always been full of corruption, so that prosecuting someone now becomes an "unfair" punishment.
It will take decades before the GOP base becomes "great" again. And that is the real problem here, not Trump himself, because of course, there's a whole series of GOP candidates waiting to take over from Trump, and who actively support and spread the exact same cynicism. Only when the GOP base starts waking up will this stop.
41
Tribal politics is immensely destructive to democracy. Here we see it working as it should, scrutinising, investigating and possibly holding to account - however it is lost is the fury of partisanship. A fair democracy is something people have fought and died for, yet many seem quite prepared to let it go to seed and turn a blind eye to corruption if it’s their ‘side’ being held to account. And this applies to both sides of Congress. The Watergate committee may have had disagreements, but both sides agreed on the same course of scrutiny and action - and this should apply to all things, the mundane as well as the scandals.
Scrutiny is part of the job. It doesn’t make you less of a Republican/Democrat if an individual within your party is being investigated.
25
Go Get "Em, House Intelligence and other committees.
Do not let The Con Don scare you. He is just one very corrupt human being.
WE THE PEOPLE have your back and we outnumber the Robber Barons and their operatives by the hundreds of millions.
Get them OUT of OUR governments right now - before they can further destroy them.
8
Days before the evening of Trump's State of the Union Speech after Pelosi gave Trump her consent to proceed, Credo sent out a petition asking Democrats to boycott the speech. I disagreed and wrote back my response on 1-31-19:
“I think it would be a mistake for Democrats to boycott Trump’s State of the Union Address even though it appeals to me on a visceral level. The Democratic Majority in the House will initiate numerous investigations (many, perhaps, simultaneously) on Trump and his administration that is long overdue and appropriate and will be highly damaging to Trump and to Congressional Republicans for not distancing themselves from Trump. If Democrats play the same game as Republicans and Trump employing extreme partisan tactics (such as shutting down the government or preventing legislation from reaching the floor), before the investigations begin, the public might conclude that Democrats are no better than Republicans when it comes to playing highly partisan games. Boycotting the Address will be very visible and exploited by Republicans against the Democrats. That might diminish the public’s reaction to disturbing facts revealed by the various House investigations as just one more example of partisan politics. Let the notoriety of employing extreme partisan tactics as a means to an end be owned exclusively by Republicans.
“Sincerely”
2
Our Constitutional government needs to be re-established. Laws protecting voting rights, equal representation (not gerrymandering), health and safety (not deregulation) need to be written and passed. Immigration needs to be addressed head on so people don't have to sneak into the country. Environmental issues need Federal action NOW. Our President is not above the law, ever.
As long as the Senate is controlled by Republicans any bills shoring up Constitutional Government will not pass in their house, or become law because Trump will not sign them. A Republican Senate will never override his veto. However, Congress can write those laws, pass them and then show the American people what type of society Republicans really want when they turn their backs on important legislation.
The House, and Pelosi, have the opportunity to show the American people what good governance is, to explain how we are meant to live in a free society. My hope is that by the November 2020 election, voters have a better understanding of what democracy is and their responsibility to create and defend it - and vote Republicans out. It's the only way we can move forward as a country.
9
@Barbara Snider bravo, excellent intelligent and perceptive comment!
We must never lose sight of the original mandate of the Special Counsel's investigation. It began as a U.S. law enforcement and counterintelligence investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in our presidential election and included any possible links between Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government. The scope of the probe was to include any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation. The Special Counsel's mandate was and continues to be a daunting mission.
The immense importance of having a foreign power attack our democracy should never be forgotten amidst the immense challenge of unraveling the twisted and corrupt web of Trump's global business affairs. It is hard to imagine that in a real world legal environment, just two years would be enough for completion of Mr. Mueller's complex investigation by even the most renowned prosecutors in the country. The impatient American public however unrealistically demands expediency over efficacy in this investigation of what should be acknowledged to be a clear and dangerous act of cyber warfare by an adversarial nation.
As a country we should welcome all relevant congressional committees to expand their investigations and work in tandem with the Special Counsel's team where appropriate. It is our united national sovereignty that is at stake, not just Donald Trump's presidency.
17
how long is an adequate time? do we just leave it on the table forever if we haven't found anything yet, after 2 years, worth prosecuting?
and since this is an investigation into influencing and tampering with an election, can someone tell me the status of the investigation into the "influencing and tampering" of the democratic primary, and ultimately the presidential election, by hrc and the dnc? as I recall, solid email evidence was discovered that hrc and dnc conspired and collaborated to get Bernie out of the race. and, there was no denial of the validity of the evidence by either hrc or the dnc.
while you may feel that "foriegn" influence on the election is horrific (and remember we the usa do it all over the world), I'm more worried about our own politicians and party conspiring to rig an election. and that is going completely un-investigated. go ahead, say the word. we all know it. hypocrisy
1
As long as it takes, if you’re old enough you would remember Newt and the republicans 6 year investigation into Clinton. What started out as a investigation into “White water” morphed under Ken Starr into go find anything you can. Starr has pretty much the same mandate as Mueller. Too bad unlike Mueller, Ken Starr just got rich but found nothing. Mueller on the other hand, didn’t get rich, but found a lot, and so far has a great win loss record.
1
@bored critic if you watched Bernie’s response to the SOTU, you could see why he should have been the President of the United States! The NYT, HRC, & DNC, among others, collaborated to torpedo his bid.
Imagine… pathetic, isn’t falsifying your heritage to take advantage of affirmative action perks… the same as stealing. Watching Elizabeth Warren whimpering ‘I’m awful sorry’ when begging for forgiveness. Reminds me of an old pals tales, who happened to be a sitting judge. According to my old judicial bud ‘they all beg for forgiveness’ when handcuffed and hauled off to prison for their crimes.
Imagine… socialism in America, sounds so macabre; but watching our liberal buds sit on their hands during the State of The Union Speech gave the impression our liberal wunderkinds are either unsure of their socialist whims, or who is the Grand Master of their socialist cult. I mean when Pelosi wasn’t shuffling thru what appeared to be reams of paper. She was rolling her nervous eyes looking over the socialist legislators wondering who’s going to stand in recognition of their efforts to steal democracy.
Imagine… watching the pathetic antics of our elected officials; reminds of the years I spent in Russia where socialism turned all aside Political Kommissars into parasites to be used by Commissars for their whims. Talk about a little bit of socialist madness gone the way of whispers, shifting eyes and wondering who’s going to be the next victim of a vigilantly committee gone the way of socialist justice.
2
@Wolfgang
FYI: you're confounding economics and politics.
1. When it comes to political regimes, you can either have freedom of expression, free elections, and a separation of the three branches of government. That's called "democracy". It's the case of all Western countries today, from Norway to Portugal an from the US to Austria.
Or you can have none of this, as was the case in the USSR and today to a certain extent in Venezuela (and in China, to a large extent still in today's Russia, in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, etc.). In that case, lawmakers aren't independent from the president, but selected by him, which means that they have to write into law no matter what he decides he wants.
2. When it comes to economics, within capitalism you have savage capitalism, and socialist capitalism. In savage capitalism, you have a law system that systematically benefits big corporations and keeps most ordinary citizens poor, sick and uneducated. In socialist capitalism, a law system is in place that makes sure that the money produced by ordinary citizens is distributed in such a way that if you work hard, you'll be healthy, well-educated, and have a decent job and paycheck.
Apart from that, there's "planned economy", also called "communism", where contrary to capitalism, the government eliminates the private sector entirely or takes the place of its CEOs.
Most Western countries today have socialist capitalism. The USSR had a planned economy.
Those are VERY different things.
2
@ wolfgang
I like Social Security. I like medicare. I like the VA. I like the Postal Service.
Real evil? Hardly.
Letting the richest heirs of wealth buy our government and corrupt justice is unconscionable. Oligarchy and creeping Fascism is our biggest concern.
2
@Wolfgang Yep, that's exactly the way it works in Denmark.
DJT “It’s called presidential harassment. And it’s unfortunate. And it really does hurt our country.” Yet again we see Trump conflating his well being with that of the country. L'etat, c'est moi.
30
Go get'em Nancy. You are wearing the White hat. He is the dastardly villain. Fill his days with fret and worry.
24
it will be entertaining to watch the liberal mob turn on Mueller when after two years he finds nothing NADA zip bupkis
4
@obmummer
Do some research. Many people have already been convicted, or are cooperating with the prosecution to get a lesser sentence. That is something!
1
Not for nothing, so far there have been a lot of guilty pleas for the fraud they committed
2
How many from Trump’s have already been indicted?
You know what was hilarious? Trump pretending yesterday not to know who Adam Schiff was! (Huge laughing cat face here!)
26
The Dems will lose the next election with this partisan waste of time and money.
4
@Karen
How? The GOP spent tons of taxpayer money investigating Hillary and Benghazi for years. They didn't find anything, and then massively won the next elections.
So this seems to be a winning strategy ... ;-)
2
@Karen Lose? Hardly. It is refreshing to see the House doing its job for a change. Donald Trump is not above the law, nor is his family or business associates. How many of his people have been indicted? Convicted and put in prison? Everyone who has not drunk the Trump Cool-Aid KNOW he is a criminal who colluded with Russia, has broken laws for decades, and will end up in prison. Count on it. And please know the abundance of investigations are worth every penny.
3
PS. Mrs. Clinton was investigated by the Republicans for over three year, millions wasted.....and ZERO indictments. Nothing illegal found....how many indictments from Muller? Over fourteen. Guilty please? Four members of Trump campaign team pleaded guilty to felonies, etc.!
1
The Democrats are doing exactly what they were elected to do. Put the brakes on the runaway train of Washington completely out of control by Trump and clowns like Devin Nunes; who was so pathetically a partisan hack it is not worth talking about. The G.O.P. are not only the biggest hypocrites in the world; they have proven that there is no there/there. Beside passing a bill that gives huge tax breaks for the wealthy; surprise/ surprise; and whine about how immigrants are ruining your country; what have they done?! Fixed your crumbling infrastructure/No. Done anything to rein in the mass shootings and the N.R.A./ Are you kidding. Addressed the ever growing climate change crises/ Of course not.Stood up to Putin, Xi, and Kim/ now I know you are kidding. Done anything about the ever growing gap between the haves vs. the have not`s in your society/ Nope.How about solidifying your relations with allies around the world/Gag. Been honest and upfront with the American People/ GAG. So there you have it folks; two years of TRUMPOCRACY at it`s finest. The decline and fall of the good old U.S.A. is well under away. And Nero fiddles on...
39
Most criminals would certainly prefer there were no such thing as police.
31
Let no Republican either in this Congress or the White House criticize Democrats in the House for investigating anything regarding President Trump. We who were not born yesterday still remember the Starr investigation of President Clinton which led to his impeachment by the Republican House over a consensual sexual dalliance in the White House. That Gingrich-led travesty of Congressional misbehavior in the 90s has set a standard for how low a Congress can sink into the swamp. Let neither Mr. Trump nor Republicans in Congress forget how badly they coated themselves in partisan manure.
40
The House will find that Trump, and his gang, are traitors conspiring with Russia to undermine the post WWII world order established by the West.
Mueller also will reach, or has reached, the same conclusion.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
11
I guess when you’re in the real estate business the irs and the law can look the other way. Especially if you have a fixer who can lead them in 100 different directions. But come on. You’re the president of the United States now! Make America great again!
5
so odd that Pelosi was not of fan of investigating Clinton's breaches with that little server in her closet that exposed literally all of our nation's secrets
7
@Joe Yoh
I'd rather say: so odd that:
1. the GOP claims these things and then investigates for years, doesn't find any proof, and doesn't lock up anybody.
2. Trump ran on locking her up, and then once he entered the White House, decided to just forget about it.
What made these old white men so weak?
1
FYI: Republicans in the House investigates Mrs. Clinton for about three years! Wasting millions! And....ZERO indictments, NOTHING was found!
Mueller has sent out over fourteen indictments, four people on Trump's campaign team have pleaded guilty to multiple charges including several felonies!
BTW Dick Cheney, Ivanka and Jared, Condeleza Rice, etc., USED private servers and their private emails for government business!!!
1
You morally bankrupt Trumpettes conveniently forget that several members of Trump’s inner circle - including his daughter - have non-government servers. You also don’t want to face that investigations into Clinton’s servers by Comey at the FBI - who Republicans were championing at the time - turned up nothing. And PLEASE, your endless server issue isn’t even a sliver compared to all of Trump’s flagrant breaking of laws including nearly all those around him
1
If Trump has nothing to hide why is he not cheering on the investigations to prove his innocence. I think the POTUS doth protest too much. Why has he not released his tax returns? He promised to do so during the campaign. Every POTUS before him released their tax returns. Just another false promise like most everything we have heard from Mr. Trump. What could he possibly be hiding? Perhaps these are all witch hunts as Mr. Trump says. But why is there so much interest by so many members of Congress to want to challenge this president's honesty and integrity? Could it be that there really is a witch ( aka a corrupt, dishonest, immoral, perhaps treasonous, egocentric pretending to be acting the role of POTUS for the good of the country, but actually selling the country out to those in Russia and elsewhere who would like to see a diminished America) in the White House? Or, many witches? Investigate. Investigate. Investigate. Follow the money until we can all say either there was "no collusion", or until we see this self-serving psychopath behind bars or as a refugee in the Kremlin.
11
Something is rotten in Denmark.....William Shakespeare...
Could speech analysts look at his RATE of speech for the SOTU? He acted like he was sedated!
6
@ginger
I bet a staffer switched his Adderal for Xanax.
Any ? asked regarding the Russian Investigation should always include the following reply....
All we want is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....
5
The criminal saying “Don’t investigate me, or I’ll commit more crimes!”
14
Vladimir Putin knows wherefrom every Russian dollar laundered through trump came. Makes me just plain giddy every time I see money laundering and trump in the same sentence.
8
One might think that any sitting U.S. President, especially one so concerned with the safety and security of the nation would be concerned about any possible foreign interference in its internal affairs; particularly when it involves preserving the integrity of the highest elected office in in the land.
But apparently this administration perceives any kind of investigation into that as a threat.
And one can only wonder why.
14
It's also just been reported that companies such as T-Mobile, have been booking rooms at Trump's hotels while lobbying the Trump administration for approval of their merger with Sprint. This is draining the swamp? And if it's acceptable for the President then why not everyone else?
Judges should own hotels - defendant's lawyers would love the convenience, wink - wink. Cabinet members should own hotels to make it convenient for their meeting partners, wink - wink. Heck. Every government official should own a hotel, for everyone's "convenience".
This is the stuff of tin potted dictatorships. Luckily we have laws to protect us from this kind of stuff.
Why is the President getting a free pass on this Constitutional issue?
11
Why not, three judges in Seattle own a jail, they say they are just “silent partners” and don’t sit in the bench so how could they possibly route poor defendants there. It’s called SCORE, and there is nothing to stop their friends that do sit on the bench from keeping their friends the silent partner judges, jail full of poor people.
I toured there as part of an independent review of the jail and its practices, people were there because they hadn’t paid a fine a decade ago, or for some petty something. They were held 20 to a cell the cells were made for 10, while they waited some 18 hours to make their first phone call. Cells that had no heat, bagged lunches that were 2-3 days old, nothing to drink. I think it needs more scrutiny, those people incarcerated there deserve it.
1
I remind myself daily our President is a symptom of of a disease.
The current administration will run its course in due time.
What I worry about is what follows if Democrats fail to stop the spread of willful ignorance while they still can.
5
I liked the historical perspective about the Harding administration.
None of this bad behavior is new.
The Founders understood human nature.
It can be quite disgusting, no?
So, presidents (who are only human) get checked and balanced.
That was their solution for the worst impulses of a Donald Trump - an unscrupulous person they feared would gain power.
So, the Founders accounted for that with a good plan and tools for future Americans.
You and me.
- A free press informed us about Trump.
- Enough of us were outraged.
- Free elections let us change our government last November.
- The rules of our Constitution mandate oversight and investigation where needed.
- The new, freely elected House majority is doing its job.
All is going according to plan.
Our Founders brilliant, blessed, beautiful plan. They knew, and rightfully wanted to check, human nature
God bless their plan.
God bless America.
13
Brilliant! Thank God for the Founding Fathers’ great plan! Indeed, God Bless America!
This is their JOB as the House. Oversight is patriotic.
12
Trump did say we needed to “drain the swamp.” I don’t think he anticipated that the swamp would be in his own backyard.
2
If Trump were completely innocent of any felony or malfeasance leading up to and since the election, he'd have nothing to worry about. The fact that he seems terribly worried, irked and rankled by Democrats' expansion of their probe into his activities speaks volumes about his culpability. With Congress, the SDNY and Mr. Mueller all investigating a panoply of wrongdoing, let's hope Trump finally gets the comeuppance he deserves. No one is above the law — especially the president. This dreadful president.
8
President Trump is threatening to hold the whole country hostage over investigations into his presidency and business dealings. I should be astounded, but I’m not. We all know he is a petty, petty man, in way over his head as president, and has never once acted like he is innocent of any accusation against him.
So, it may be up to Mitch McConnell to show some backbone to move any veto-proof legislation through the Senate, for the good of the country. We will see if he is up to the task.
6
Trump and his "threats". Exactly what are we supposed to be so afraid of? Take him down, already.
9
Trump says investigation will lead to no legislation. But it can certainly lead to incarceration. Now that we actually have some members of Congress ready to perform their constitutional duty of oversight, I say investigate, investigate, investigate until our government is cleansed of all grifters, liars, tax cheats, con artists and treasonous conspirators with hostile foreign powers.
9
It has been noted that, following the SOTUS, President Trump first claimed not to know Mr. Schiff before declaring that Mr. Schiff was just a "hack" seeking attention. Which is it, then? Yet another petty attempt to ignore/dismiss any facts that prove inconvenient to him. I suspect that many who chose to witness Tuesday's speech did it with "scorecards" in their hands, carefully noting each lie as it was delivered. How sad is that? Citizens tune in to their president to catch his many, many predictable lies. Pathetic.
91
I'm glad to hear this. I want to see the documents around the FISA process abuse declassified (which Trump said he would do if the investigations didn't stop). From everything reported on the subject - mostly elsewhere of course - as to how egregious and extralegal this FBI spying campaign was I think it's important for the country to understand just how out of control the entire intelligence community behaved during the 2016 election.
3
How could there not be an investigation? It was discovered before Trump was sworn in that the Russians tried to compromise our election in 2016 and that there were frequent interactions between Russian intelligence officials and members of Trump's team? Then early in his tenure Trump fired Comey after Comey refused to end the Russian probe. And Trump felt betrayed because he considered at that time that Comey was a friend of his as he aided Trump in investigating Hillary. Trump even bragged to a Russian official that he had gotten rid of Comey. Then along came Mueller, who Trump felt would soft pedal the investigation in that he was a registered Republican. But Mueller didn't. Look how much Mueller has uncovered thus far. It turns out that long after Trump publicly swore that he had nothing to do with Russia, that he actually was still putting together a deal with the Russians to build a grand hotel in Moscow. The investigation has been no "witch hunt" or "partisan harassment" but a careful investigation to protect American assets. Could the President be a Russian asset? He certainly has chosen to follow Putin rather than our own intelligence services.
12
What type of society do we want for ourselves? Do we want to live in a nation of laws, or do we want to live in a nation where a criminal gets to choose whether or not he is investigated. It's time to decide. And remember, the whole world is watching.
18
The words "If you want peace, do not investigate me” are those of a tyrant. He is a person who has no concept of principle, who respects only power and is happy to use his power for personal advantage, rather than the advantage of his country.
In future civics courses, his conduct will be used to give examples of the breach of the rule of law and of the definition of corruption.
18
Trump asked for no rediculous investigations. The Democrats aren't doing rediculous investigations. Yes government doesn't work when there are rediculous investigations. How many Republican committees investigated Bengazi? Why are we waiting for the Mueller investigation to end? There is enough circumstantial common knowledge that a non partisan jury would convict Trump.
5
It's not the PR-produced "presidential harassment." It's oversight. It's checks and balances. It's accountability. No President is king. It's one of the principle ideals of this country.
14
Trump is on Twitter this morning claiming harassment. Well, some of this might have been eliminated if he had released his taxes. I never understood how he was allowed to get away with not releasing them, even though it is not law. Pressure should have been applied. But, Trump knows what is in these taxes and maybe he knew he could not take the chance of releasing them. Two years in, it is high time we know his financial entanglements.
144
@Suzanne Victo
It is beyond my comprehension why we are allowing Trump to keep his tax returns confidential.
It's obvious that the info in those returns would surely reveal damaging records of all the many illegal dealings he has had both across our entire country and abroad (Russia included)
Don't Americans find it beyond frustrating when our President refuses to turn over his records, and the average Joe gets hounded and constantly reminded about the penalties of a late return ?
It's high time for this nonsense to stop. Impeachment procedures should be started immediately.
7
@Suzanne Victor The GOP permitted him to become their nominee without his tax returns or any due diligence. This is political malpractice on their part. When you strip away Trump or Trumpism, there is almost nothing left of the party of Lincoln.
8
@Suzanne Victor
Once again, the main culprit here is the GOP leadership.
They could have easily decided from the very beginning to not allow any candidate to be nominated if he refuses to release his tax returns.
10
"That, and the long history of congressional oversight of the executive branch..." As other parts of the article make clear, it's not just a norm or long-standing custom; it's a Constitutionally mandated role of the legislature.
35
They got Al Capone for taxes. Let's offer the same service to The crude mafioso in the White House who has met his match in Mrs. Pelosi and the Women of Congress. Every American should be appalled by this President's public and private threats against our environment, our LGBTQ community, women, the poor and our Judiciary. We, not he, can be proud of the ranks of American women, both visible wearing white on these pages and less visible, working hard in towns around America to rescue our nation. Ms. Pelosi is at the spear tip of a feminist/womanist movement to topple the patriarchy and bring this country not backwards, but forwards to a new level of honesty and compassion in our eternal search for the perfect Union, one that stays true to our immigrant character, offers a new deal to people of color, and demonstrates compassion to the working poor, children and the elderly. Power to the people, not the billionaires. Forward and never back.
38
The over reach of the Democrats in their quest to smear the Trump administration will backfire. Nothing has been found in two years, nor will it be. At the end of all of this, the Democrats will only have opened themselves up for the same treatment. That is going to be an interesting dynamic. But for now, the debate has been lost and slander is the tool of the losers. That is why Democrats like to call Trump a misogynistic racist. Good one.
4
Nothing was found during the past 2 years ... You might add that during these past 2 years the “investigations” were being led by Trump loyalists such as Mr Nunes...
5
@Duane Mathias
Over 30 for indictments, seven guilty pleas and several conviction so far:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/20/17031772/mueller-indictments-grand-jury
So much for “nothing has been found.”
Not to mention that Putin’s Puppet was one of the main proponents of the birther lie, making him, unquestionably, a racist.
9
Overeach my patootie. Republican stoolies and lickspittles let the most corrupt crime family and so called toddler president get away with anything. High time they were investigated on every front! Yay! Go Nancy, you rock!!
11
Thank you Democrats for having a back bone. Time to stand up to the Liar in Chief and his minions. I can hardly wait to see Trump's tax returns...Remember when he was pushing the tax cuts for the rich he told everyone that he was going to pay more in taxes and let's look at his latest ridiculous claim that he and his hotel in DC are losing money....
33
Trump is a white-collar criminal, using the presidency as a cash machine for himself, the Trump Org, and his gang.
He's been a criminal for decades.
No surprise he doesn't want to be investigated.
His unconstitutional attempts to shut down law enforcement and Congressional oversight are impeachable.
The ongoing farce of him being treated as a legitimate president instead of already facing impeachment proceedings shows that we've lost our democracy and the rule of law.
27
Republicans spent 8 years investigating literally nothing. CONSTANT abuse of power, especially in the repeated and pointless investigations of Benghazi and email after the first investigations were completed.
The trump administration and the Republican congress is not a political party and leader. It is a crime syndicate run by a petty and incompetent mob boss. There is more evidence already in the public than was used to push Nixon out of office and convict 43 members of his party. This is FAR bigger then Watergate.
We overwhelmingly elected Democrats so we could put these crooks behind bars.
29
"Please stop investigating me!" "It's called presidential harassment. And it is unfortunate. And it really does hurt our country." Says trump, while he is diligently sending his minions to Hawai'i searching for the real President Obama birth certificate and Senator Gowdy is producing a made-for-FoxTV-movie about his endless Benghazi hearings.
21
This is good news. It will surely help to re-elect Trump. Thank you Dems.
5
It’s certainly possible. As long as we continue to allow the less populated states with the least educated and least productive citizens to have an outsize influence in presidential elections via the electoral college, an unfit, racist demagogue traitor like Trump will always have a solid chance to get elected.
Trump was installed in the White House because of de facto affirmative action for white people, and it’s not like they’ve gotten any smarter or less bigoted in the meantime. The disaster of 2016 can happen again.
9
Trump had no right to ask. In fact, he did not ask. He threatened. He threw more ultimatums at the American people. How dare he!
21
Finally! This is how OUR government is supposed to work. The republicans closed their eyes and plunged their ears under Ryan the stench covered the states. I don’t understand why anyone would want a crook in office yet these republican voters don’t seem to mind look at Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins. Unbelievable. It just goes to show what really matters to republicans. Thank God the dems are back in power and we can at long last get to the truth and put these bums where they belong!
19
Trump smiled when all those women in white were cheering. He thought they were cheering him. Actually, they were cheering the fact that they, the women in white were going to get him.
31
Yes, and he is to vacuous to know that they were elected because of him.
6
Not a Trump fan but get on with the investigations, indictments, and bring closure to this dark chapter of American leadership. It appears this will drag on for the next two years because the president is not indictable while in office (what a dumb rule) but we're all waiting to see Trump a starring role in the hit show, Orange is the New Black. Unfortunately, the executive prison has golf everyday, massages, book writing sessions and fine dining. What a joke.
8
Trump calls it "Presidential Harassment ".This from a so-called President who has bragged about assaulting woman both physically and verbally.
25
I just want to go on the record and remind everyone that I endorsed Nancy Pelosi when all the ultra- left-wing crazies wanted to replace her with somebody else.
16
The tweeter-in-chief thinks he's another despotic leader that he so admires. The man in the oval office has surrounded himself with criminals and the investigators are still digging toward the bottom of the swamp. How many have been found or pled guilty? How many still to come? The House of Representatives is doing it's job...finally. Good for us. And good-by to the Nunez's.
How far do we have to go to get to the bottom of not only collusion with Russia and Russian interference in the election but dirty deals perpetrated by Trump including his payoffs to his mistresses. Now the New York State Feds after him. The more they dig the more will come out about his underhanded business dealings and loans. Let's see his income tax returns NOW.
19
Mr. Trump has characterized as “ridiculous” Congress’s long overdue inquiry into the vast sea of corruption engulfing him and his Presidency. His characterization might reasonably be attributed to these facts:
Mr Trump’s “birther” claims against President Obama were utterly ridiculous;
Mr. Trump’s claim that he did not sexually violate numerous women is ridiculous;
His claim that he had no assistance from Russia in stealing the U.S. Presidency is ridiculous;
His appointment of unqualified billionaires to his Cabinet is ridiculous;
His disregard of 800,000 federal workers is ridiculous;
His oft-repeated promise that Mexico would pay for his silly wall is ridiculous...
Because he is a ridiculous person and a ridiculous President, Mr. Trump foolishly describes a serious investigation into his vast web of corruption as “ridiculous”.
No, Mr. President. The investigations are not ridiculous. They are imperative.
22
Sooner or later when you keep spitting to the air and feels invencible thinking the saliva would never fall on my face. Hmmm! Well the saliva just landed on the face of cheetos. A man that has spent his life insulting, bribing cheating and been amoral. What do you expect? He has the strong believe and is convince that he owns the world. I would like to see him investigating and drained poor. I do not want him to be impeach, the man next in power it is worst. But if he is sued by every single american and then continue attacking hm after it is what will be the real justice to the American people.
5
Unlike the 2009 financial crash, where no one responsible served a single day in prison, any guilty party stemming from the investigations, especially Agent Orange, needs to be locked up and cordoned off from the rest of society. What he/they have allegedly done to America is despicable. It will take generations to rid the country of this stench and what they destroyed.
10
Finally, after years of Republican control, Congress is doing their job! Thank you Nancy!
22
I believe Trump and his corrupt minions present what military strategists call a target-rich environment. Have at him, House Democrats, but be strategic.
We need to rescue our democracy while we still can!
19
Why would they stop? All Trump does is continue to inflame. He's shown he's only good until his next sound bite at which he unoads on his next target. His message at the last speech was pretty much the same - give me what I want or I'll wreak havoc. So stop the investigations if you want prosperity to continue. Then the next breath is another threat.
He can't even hold his temper in check when he's negotiating. Most people know enough to shut up at least until they get want they want. He's unable to do so
He's spent his whole life bullying. People he did business with he lured into a business arrangement, then halfway through when they had too much invested to stop, he cheated them. In his company he was used to people just saying yes sir, no matter what. And even then, if he got mad for some imagined slight he'd fire them.
He's just not used to someone having equal power that he can't bully or threaten or snatch something away. He tried with the government strike. Won nothing. An unfamiliar feeling that he needs to get used to,
13
Bring on the checks and balances! This president has spent 2 years behaving like a spoiled, entitled, out of control toddler. It's a relief to know that, at the very least, some adults have entered the room.
13
Was Trump’s reference to “war” (“if there is to be peace...”) in his speech mere rhetorical flourish?
Hardly:
1) it carries an implicit threat against the democrats. If necessary, a real war can also be used as the ultimate way to throw the investigating dogs off his scent.
2) it demonizes his opponents as warmongering and un-American.
3) it is a reminder that this man still has his finger on the buttons and levers of power
9
How refreshing it is to have elected representatives who are not cowed, frightened, weaklings afraid to do their constitutional duty for fear the "base" will disapprove. The Democrats have a "base" too, but it is one that wants to see the rule of law prevail, that wants to know for better or worse if the president has loyalties to foreign powers, or is using the government to enrich himself and his family. This president should have been investigated before the Republican Party ever bolstered is candidacy. If Republicans had done their job back in 2015-16, Trump would never have been in the running and we'd be a different, better country today.
24
This is wonderful news!
What may be more important is that party and others (especially the radical left and younger Democrats) are finally rallying around Speaker Pelosi. Maybe they are finally seeing why experience matters and why so many "older and well-informed" Democrats continued to support her.
11
Vice-President Pence said (yesterday in an interview) it is part of the constitutional System of Checks and Balances to provide oversight of the Executive Branch but any congressional investigations involving President Trump would be obviously “partisan” inferring the public should dismiss them.
Extrapolating what the VP said, no President could be impeached if the opposing political party of the President was running the House Judiciary Committee. On the other hand, if the US House was under control of the party of a President, doing little or nothing if evidence of Treason, Bribery, or High Crimes and Misdemeanors existed, this would somehow be non-partisan.
Of course, the White House is trying to confuse the issue while trying to nullify the Constitution and the constitutional duties of Congress, putting the President above the law.
I think all Americans should be able to understand the ridiculous ongoing political hypocrisy and return to actual data points - that Congress, regardless of which party is the majority, needs to perform its constitutional duties of oversight even if it means investigating a President.
10
I hope the Democrats understand they will most likely need some very big industrial size earth digging trucks to find all of trumps misdeeds and crimes as he has been at It all his life. I do support Madame Speaker and those who are now starting the investigations into trump, since the Republicans were lets say less than sincere in there pretend investigations. Like Mueller's investigation each stone turned over will most likely lead them to turning over another stone. Please take your time as the Republicans did when investigating both Clintons. Money was no object then, regarding cost.
10
You know Trump is up the creek without a paddle when you consider that the only previous president who used a State of the Union address to call for an end to investigations was Richard Nixon. In his SOTU address, Nixon said, "A year of Watergate is enough." Turns out it wasn't.
19
I am petty. I want the Democrats to do an investigation into Trump that last just as long as the Republican investigation into Benghazi. I want a democratic leader to come out and say exactly what Mitch McConnell said about his role when President Barrack Obama was in office "Our number one goal is to make sure this president is a one term president". If Trump wanted unity I would have given him a chance, but in his two years in office he has never once actually done anything towards unity. So yes I want this whiney petty man to be investigated, made to pay for his crimes and harassed as thoroughly as he has harassed others. Let him reap what he has sowed.
15
Every criminal or potential criminal would prefer not to be investigated if given the choice.
10
Nothing different except when republicans investigated Clinton except this time the Democrats have valid reasons.
7
I stopped watching the SOTUS years ago. It’s like watching the repeat of a show you’ve seen many times. As an independent I vote on issues that often cross party lines so party affiliation is meaningless to me as I stand in a voting booth.
The party in power stands and claps many times during the speech while the other party sits. The script features invited guests chosen to make a point promises to work together and to do great things, barbs at the other party etc... and they NEVER have music.
I would propose, no matter who is POTUS that the show open with “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns and Roses.
It would fit very well into the show as our two parties disgrace themselves on national television.
50
@Mark The blaming both sides for the parlous state of politics in the US is getting stale. True, members of both parties will attack the other if it is politically advantageous, occasional grandstanding is inevitable, no party will win elections by praising the other. However, only one has chosen again and again to paralyze the government in order to deny any accomplishments to the opposite party without regard for what is in the national interest. Only one party has chosen to close its eyes to blatant corruption and consistently break long standing norms expected for civil politics. That party is the GOP. There is simply no symmetry between the parties. The Democratic party is behaving the way one expects a party to behave, warts and all. The GOP is behaving like a wrecking ball.
48
This year there was a chorus of "Happy Birthday."
2
@Mark
I also vote based on issues important to me, not based on party affiliation, and 99.9% of the time that means pulling the D lever.
26
Have at it Nancy. While you're at it can you take down McConnell too? That would really be great. Thanks.
32
Trump's public words at the Helsinki press conference were specious from the get go. Then on top of that Trump has more private meetings with Putin that he refuses to talk about. There was something "rotten in the state of Helsinki" amd and the Democrats know it. By launching these investigations Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff are doing their jobs. Kudos to them.
18
Trump didn't "ask" the House to stop investigations, he threatened them - ordering them not to investigate him "or else".
We can see how afraid of his threats, everyone is.
14
Hey democrats! Investigate who profited from Trump's tariffs.Today's Wall Street Journal reports that bankruptcies amongst farmers are up 96% in 1 year.
So much for "trade wars are easy to win".
27
The Don offered them ‘peace and legislation’ or ‘war and investigation’ but not both. However, those are, to paraphrase him, ‘fake choices.’ We know this for a fact, namely, after the New York banks stopped lending him money due to his poor investment choices (he wanted to out do his dad), the Russians were able to use him to launder their stolen money through the company he inherited from his father. This made The Trump Organization, for all practical intents and purposes, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian oligarchs connected to the former KGB attorney, Putin, who runs the Kremlin. The only question left for us to discover is what did the Russians got in exchange for their indirect ownership of the boy who inherited his father’s company, almost ran it to the ground, but were saved by the oligarchs. There is nothing partisan about this, it is just common sense. Trump is neither a Republican (his current party registration) nor a Democrat (his former party), but a failed businessman, owned and operated by foreign investors with ill gotten gains, who lied and cheated his way to the presidency. Don’t take my words for it, just wait for the tax records or the Mueller report, whichever is released sooner.
17
Only a year to go before the Iowa caucuses. Better get moving, Dems or it may be too late and President Trump will have been elected for another four years.
2
Glad to see that Americans are waking up to the fact that we are a country run by criminals and miscreants. It is now blatantly in the open and in our faces every minute of every day. It has reached the zenith with the our current leaders. Knowing they will get a way with anything including shooting someone of Fifth Ave., is empowering for them. Restoring laws, and throwing most if not all of these criminals in jail may slow down the level of criminality, but greed is a powerful emotion. It will never be dispensed of in a capitalistic society. Just hope that some justice metered out will restore faith in this country. I've been waiting a long time for it to happen on an appropriate scale.
7
The irony in this action by Pelosi and the House Democrats is that it implies that Robert Mueller's 2-year investigation has either found nothing, or it is incompetent and thus a complete waste of time and taxpayer money.
2
@Kathleen880 Not really, Mueller's findings might not be fully released by order of Trump, but what ever the House finds will be made public, either by a report or leaks, they don't play by trump rules. Just saying the more folks checking trump out, works for most Americans.
8
@Kathleen880. Or, it might imply that there is so much dirt there that it may take 10 years of digging if just by the Special Prosecutor. Or it may mean that the House wants to undo the damage done by the Republicans in their half-hearted " oversight" over the last 2 years. Or it might mean that the Democrats want to see their names in the paper a few times as actual acting members of the government.
Go a complete waste of time I refer you to the Benghazi investigation.
3
For Trump to whine about these investigations borders on ludicrous. The actions he took during the presidential campaign and during his first first two years in office have been bizarre to say the very least. His odd behavior, coddling Putin/Russia and other despots; denigrating NATO, our allies, our intelligence agencies, etc., should raise questions in anyone's mind. Let the chips fall where they may!
9
If Trump is totally innocent, why does he act so guilty? If he has nothing to hide, why did his White House Counsel just hire 17 new lawyers (at taxpayer expense)? And, quite frankly, his threat to reject all legislation if investigated is a hollow threat. During the previous two years when his party controlled Congress, can anyone name any legislation he signed beyond the deficit-busting tax bill?
12
Well, I think we can all now be assured by Trump's outsized reaction to the threat of investigation that there is something in his tax returns that he is willing to fight tooth and claw to keep hidden. No innocent person responds this way. All one's common sense and human instinct about how the human animal works scream this.
Since we're playing the guessing game, my guess is that the tax returns will reveal a pattern of accepting very large sums of money from Russian buyers of condominiums under circumstances that should have created an apprehension of illegality in a reasonable person. I think Trump will face charges, perhaps official but certainly in the court of public opinion, of money laundering.
Oh yes, the tax returns will also reveal that he is not worth anywhere near the amount he claims to be worth. But we all know that already. As a famous NYC billionaire once said of Trump, "He's a clown. Who lives on credit."
10
Sounds like deja vue back to the 1974 state of the union address given by President Nixon.
‘I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of the matter to an end. One year of Watergate is enough.’
Richard Nixon
"Nixon said in the address that he hoped having put in place “a new structure of peace in the world” would stand as the “chief legacy ... from the eight years of my presidency.” Seven months and 10 days later, Nixon resigned, after 5½ years in office."
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nixon-on-watergate-investigation-during-1974-state-of-the-union-enough-already-2018-01-29
Trump is basically echoing the same thing. That he brought prosperity and peace to the nation. Even though North Korea still has nuclear weapons. So according to Trump's standard an investigation should be predicated only if a president is doing a bad job. If things are going well then no need for investigations. That's like a policeman saying " I have a good track record of arresting drug dealers, my record speaks for itself. I should not be investigated for stealing their drugs and money."
7
Speaker Pelosi is having none of trump's nonsense and is transparently and ethically doing her duty as described in the Constitution. Trump is a large toddler, unused to rules and enamored of fit-throwing which typically draws a 'time out' (prison). Indeed, this may be the first time in trump's life he cannot buy his way out of trouble.
The schadenfreude is real.....and so are the consequences of selling democracy and our country out for self-enrichment.
Welcome to the Thunderdome trump.
6
Banana republic in full view. The democrats have no sense of truth or responsibility - but it is always easy to generate another perjury trap as a fallback. It is time for these hacks (trumps words, but he is correct on this one) to end their nonsense. Hopefully it backfires to teach them a well earned lesson (any more democrats on the committees with a racist or sexual harassment background?).
1
I don't think we can underestimate the degree to which serious, career public servants like Pelosi, Nadler, Schiff, et. al despise and abhor Donald Trump. With the powers invested in them, Don, we now declare you dead meat.
6
This message came from the WH on Feb. 6, 2019, “I ask you to choose greatness.”Last night, President Donald J. Trump previewed the next chapter of his presidency…Choosing greatness is a vision that can break decades of political stalemate. It’s an agenda that all Americans, Republican or Democrat, can get behind."
‘Greatness’ doesn’t align with the reality of a president who bullies the whole government for 35 days in an attempt to get $5.7 billion for a wall that will do nothing more than politically satisfy his minority base.
“Greatness’ does not mean threatening Democrats in the House with “Ridiculous partisan investigations” when there exists the real possibility of Russia or other foreign actors holding some type of leverage over Trump to influence his political decisions.
“Greatness’ doesn’t allow attacks on the justice Department, the media, respected journalists and making fun of people with disabilities while being allowed to withhold his tax returns.
“Greatness” does not mean continuously working to be above the law of the land.
5
No one is above the law. Not even a crook like trump.
9
The King of "Lock Her Up" and the court of Benghazi cry crocodile tears of indignation now that the shoe is on the other foot. After years of Republican investigations yielding exactly nothing......we finally have a meaningful investigation into presidential corruption. How's it feel to be on the other end of the chant, Donald?
11
Its hard for me to believe that republicans will blindly follow a crime boss aka Individual 1!
What have Republicans and democracy in the United Stated devolved to?
5
Hillary Clinton was investigated for close to 3 years and several million was spent. No one was indicted or charged. Can we say the same for Trump?
10
Maybe the GSA could enforce the terms of the contract the US Government signed with the Trump Organization concerning the Trump hotel in the old post office building. The Trump Organization's lease contract with the U.S. General Services Administration, signed in 2013, provides that "no elected official of the government ... shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom."[167] In a letter to the GSA, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wrote: "Elected government officials are barred from receiving any benefit under the lease, and now that Mr. Trump has been sworn in today as President of the United States, Trump Old Post Office LLC, a company he largely owns, is in violation of the lease's conflicts-of-interest provision."[167] [Wikipedia]
5
As always, Republican hypocrisy was stunning, as was Trump's hubris. I believe the GOP will pay for its hypocrisy in 2020, but Trump will pay for his hubris much sooner.
5
We continue to be amazed that people expect to find truth & reality in Dumpf's returns. A shady figure who lies about almost every part of his life can't be expected to have filed accurate income tax returns.
In other words, If you want peace with apples, you can't have war with oranges. Everybody knows it doesn't work like that.
1
There is apparently a new sheriff in town, and she’s not playing around, and won’t kow tow. A lady with more squabbles and brains than many of her male counterparts. Thank God, for the lady in Big Chair!
3
Individual 1's dream job, appoint the judiciary, while under the auspices of the presidency, being provided with a direct line to the private ears of most corrupt people on the planet.
Greed is his motivation for everything, and hopefully his downfall.
6
And all those who call this partisan, just imagine and ask yourselves, how many of these actions would President Obama be allowed to get away with? I put it another way as well would a black President or public official get this far? You know the answer.
For the sake of the republic, he must be held accountable. No one is above the law is what this country is supposed to be all about. Let us see how this plays out.
I am up to my ears in popcorn, thank goodness I enjoy it so much.
3
Dating myself, Remembering Watergate.
2
Why is it taking so long to get Trump exposed for the self-serving plutocrat he obviously is using his position to enhance his financial empire and wipe that self assured smirk off his face? Trump needs a lesson in humility, if not for the benefit of his family but definitely for the U.S. of A. His speech writers may have tried to cleverly wrangle a dispute between the opposing parties and their priorities but it is obvious to all outsiders that the man is a charlatan and needs to be cut down to size.
1
Taking a step back to gain perspective on Trump’s Russian connections it just becomes more and more clear that for many years now he is financed and corrupted , lock stock and barrrl, by Russian oligarchs and their Kremlin bosses.
Our body politics is infected by FSB and GRU influenca. Until we expunge this infection our democracy will continue to swirl the drain.
3
"Republicans, who have already begun to accuse the Democrats of politically motivated overreach..."
The blatant, and overwhelming hypocrisy of the Republicans is just jaw dropping. Do they think we all have short term memory loss or something?
"Hillary is now a synonym for "fake conspiracy theory" and Republicans investigated President Clinton for six years, to came up with nothing but that he lied about a sexual indescretion, and they impeached him over it!
That seems hardly worth noticing now, considering what destruction, grifting, and outright denial of truth, not to mention undermining of the first amendment, have been perpatrated by the man currently residing in the White House!
276
@1 bite at a time
And don't overlook the other Clinton getting roasted by GOPers over Benghazi.
The crazy thing is that Tricky Trump has violated so many norms and/or laws (allegedly!); where do you begin to investigate? It's a complicated menu to choose from. Maybe the Dems would be wise to choose the easiest ones to get to the bottom of.
The top of that list would be getting the tax returns. That, I believe is his kryptonite (or the water Dorothy poured on the Wicked Witch). I'm sure he would protest, citing its being (still) under audit, with a straight face.
To follow would be Trump Law #1: presidential candidates must submit tax returns to register.
33
If the Republicans feel Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats are being motivated only by political concerns and the next election, I refer them to Mitch McConnell's proclamation in 2009 or 2010 that "our Number One concern is keeping President Obama from being re-elected."
4
I was watching our wonderful Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the other day and then I 'spied' on the SOTU, just to see all our ladies in white (which WAS totally awesome!!) and all of a sudden it dawned on me who Ms Pelosi reminded me of.
There was another outstanding woman in politics in the not too recent past who also was a strong, independent and super intelligent woman. Her nickname was "The Iron Lady"--Margaret Thatcher.
We have (thank Heaven above for her) our own "Iron Lady" in Nancy Pelosi and I'm so happy we do!!!!
Great job, Speaker Pelosi and Democrat leaders. It will help to unmask the true enemies of the Americans.
3
Gotta say how impressed I am by Ms Pelosi in her return gig as Speaker of the House.
Ms Pelosi promised the sceptics, the Young Turks in her own party that she could still deliver as Speaker — and by golly she has.
Ms Pelosi is like a breath of fresh air in the fetid den of corruption of Washington DC. She won't abide fools and knaves. She won't tolerate adolescent tantrums.
Ms Pelosi shows the rest of America and indeed the world what true leadership is.
7
As anticipated in the SOTU message, the Democrats seem more intent on spending our tax money on a vindictive witch hunt than on anything serving those who elected them.
1
Mr Trump clearly does not understand what many of us learned in childhood. Don't mess with Nonna.
2
@Cameron
Curious as to what you think Nonna has accomplished already? In her refusal to host the SOTU during it's normal date 1). Far more people tuned in than normally occurs... 2). The jobs and unemployment data for January was released - all to the President's favor... 3.) the late term abortion bills with no restrictions became news in NY and Virginia - which are favored by 13% of the population.... and 4). The Democrats in Virginia have imploded in a sea of hypocrisy. All of which Trump used to his advantage in his speech.
As to her refusal to budge on the wall, she has been compromised there too. More than 70% of viewers agreed with Trump's comments on illegal immigration. Many of those new Democrat reps are far less progressive than the AOCs and Ilhan Omars of the new caucus. And many of them believe in border barriers.
1
Trump and his mob have sold out America’s foreign policy in exchange for personal financial gain and covert election assistance. The list of misdeeds is too long to type here.
If we have a country this mob will be exorcised and incarcerated.
6
The Constitution clearly spells out the responsibilities and obligations of Congress to conduct proper oversight of the Executive Branch, POTUS. The Constitution does not say: "Based on prevailing political winds..." or, "According to the sentiments of the President's political base..." or, "Based on the awkward moment in election cycle, Congress should delay its responsibilities...". Without the Constitution we are but a Banana Republic subject to the devious whims and machinations of the incompetent and the corrupt. Congress, do your job; that's why you were elected!
12
It seems clear that both Republican leadership in the Senate and Democratic leadership in the House should know that the agreement they are working to achieve in creating a bill for border-security funding before the 15th should have sufficient support in both parties to override a veto by Trump, AND they should make that perfectly clear to him when it is submitted for his signature. Otherwise, they will not only be wasting their time, but our time. If they allow another shutdown to take place, seems to me that voters should fire the hypocrites and their president the earliest chance they get.
3
Also please consider the headline: someone is usually intimidated by not from. Deterred from might have been a better choice.
1
"Tax returns!" "Tax Returns!" chanted to the tune of "Lock her up!"
4
Trump’s obligations to Russian oligarchs have been clear for at least 3 years now. More layers of kompromat are just icing on the cake of his treachery and venality.
Hurry!
11
The president is essentially saying please do not investigate my crimes.
17
"Intelligence Committee Republicans"?
Much like the Rush Limbaugh, isn't that an Oxymoron?
6
Trump is “up to his eyeballs in alligators” to recall a saying from Vietnam. “Little Adam”, Representative Cummings, and the Democrat-led committies will make his life miserable over the next two years, and the 2020 election will do him in along with his Republican facilitators if Mueller doesn’t get him first. Trump is hitting a hornets’ nest with a stick, and he is about to get stung.
9
Trump is showing that he has something to hide by his actions, hopefully one of the investigations will turn up something that will force him to step down.
2
First, I strongly believe there is something medically wrong with Ms. Pelosi. Her actions at the speech were troubling. She is clearly leading this Party in an effort to stop Trump from gaining any success that would guarantee his 2020 election. About time these Members start thinking what's best for this Country instead of what Pelosi wants!
4
Secretary Pelosi is exhibiting signs of a degenerative nervous disease. Her movements are shaky, her voice is unsteady and has trouble finding the right words.
2
“Medically wrong”? Speaker Pelosi is nearly 80 years old and in barely a month has a longer list of accomplishments than Trump has achieved in two years with full control of government. She speaks in complete, articulate sentences and can respond thoughtfully to questions posed to her. She understands negotiation strategy and can read people and rooms. Of course she is looking to stop the damage caused by Trump and in turn keep him from being re-elected. This is what the people—the majority—want her to do.
Do you worry about Trump’s physical fitness for office? He sits around watching TV and tweeting all day, subsists on junk food and appears to have never exercised a day in his life. He sniffs constantly and is an unnatural shade of orange we are supposed to attribute to “good genes.”
Forgive me if your response was meant as satire. It’s increasingly hard to tell in these “up is down, down is up” times.
3
@Sally
Please watch Secretary Pelosi when she speaks on camera. Her head shakes slightly and might possibly be the beginnings of Parkinsons. She also has to search for the right words. Many observers believe that HRC was taking anti-Parkinsons meds when she ran for president.
Mr. Trump's administration is under fire from the House oversight committees because that is their job. It is their Constitutional duty to act to investigate his administrative actions and the actors involved. Prior to this spring, party affiliation has driven the committees. Now they will hold him and his secretaries accountable. It is about time!
7
Nice! Democrats get a chance to lead but they plan to squander it on vindictive political actions. Taxpayers can look forward to paying Ms Pelosi and her crowd to run up a tab while accomplishing “0”. And Times readers cheer her on. That’s right, go get ‘em!, You fools are paying for this circus.
2
I hope that the Pentagon can be compartmentalized from Trump. We cannot allow him to start a war, and kill innocent people because of Traitor Trump the Red Don.
5
In reply to Dad Multiverse
Your wish is impossible to fulfill. Under the Constitution, President Trump is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
If there were “no there” there: Agent Orange would not be protesting so adamantly. He’s too obtuse to realize that with 37 indictments and more in the offing as well as the numerous admissions of guilt and subsequent sentences that his hoax ship has sailed. It merely remains to be seen how corrupt and treasonous he and his henchmen were willing to go in this unprecedented power grab and looting of a government I am certain he assumed was too big to fail... it’s failing miserably under his over lordship. The audacity sickens me to the back teeth. MAKE AMERICA NORMAL AGAIN: Move over Madoff.
6
This is democracy. We elected this congress to do its job; keep the executive branch in check and review what the heck has been going on with Trump and the Russians.
Godspeed.
19
It comes down to Mueller— does he have evidence of collusion between Trump and the Russians or not? If not, and this pursuit ends with only discovering hush money for sexual liaisons and discussions about building a hotel in Moscow to show for it, then the Democrats are going to look like a vindictive bunch continuing their investigations to get him one way or the other. Why not move beyond and work on bipartisan legislation that helps the country and let the next election remove him from office, if that’s the will of the people?
5
To think Paul Ryan could have made these demands and he just chose to smile at and with Donald Trump for two years, totally limp.
As a Wisconsinite also, I find Paul Ryan to be an embarrassment, a failure. He’s failed our home state, he’s failed our country. He was supposed to be a leader for our country, our government, our nation’s conscience, and he allowed the Trump dysfunction to grow like a festering infection, no matter the consequence to Americans, all Americans.
I’ll never forget Nancy Pelosi taking her oath, surrounded by all those kids, symbolically, for the good of their futures. And I’ll always be grateful.
We shall overcome...
27
The Mueller investigation was started because of the Clinton paid for fake Russian Dossier as evidence to begin the investigation. That is why it is a witch hunt. In addition, we are now finding out that Bruce Ohr told Comey, McCabe, Mueller, Strozk and Paige that the Dossier was a political piece and had never been corroborated. Knowing it was fake, they obtained FISA warrnats using the Dossier which was the "Insurance Policy" that Strozk and Paige were texting about. This makes Watergate look like a tea party.
4
@P McGrath As you likely know, the ‘Sterle dossier’ was originally initiated by Republicans. Facts please.
7
@Ruth
The Republicans put a stop to the piece far earlier than anything that became the Steele Dossier. This has been reported on to the most infinitesimal detail in the press by those who were deemed to have initiated it. Those are the facts.
@Ruth:
AMEN!!!
Trump’s SOTU gives new meaning to the term “bully pulpit”
6
Republicans have never held back on their investigations of Democrats, even when there was obviously no basis for them. Trump is a walking, talking crime begging to be uncovered and yet most members of his party just holds their noses and look the other way.
It is the duty of Congress to provide oversight. If Republicans cared more about the country than their own seats they would have begun investigations of Trump's many crimes and misdemeanors years ago.
13
" “Our job involves making sure the policy of the United States is being driven by the national interest,” Mr. Schiff said, “not by any financial entanglement, financial leverage or other form of compromise.”"
I was amazed at the scope of the House investigations, and extremely pleased. It's way past time time to investigate the obvious: is the president beholden to foreign countries, starting with Russia but also including Saudi Arabia, the first country he visited and one that deserves censure, not closeness?
In many respects, this president is an open book, signaling his intentions often, but also hiding the nature and calls with Vladimir Putin.
If even the FBI was alarmed enough during the campaign to feel the president was working on behalf of a foreign country, why isn't this an appropriate topic for Congress ?
The cries of partisanship from Republicans are laughable--this from the party that held more than 10 baseless investigations of Benghazi to embarrass Hillary Clinton, and assorted other trumped up charges.
Nobody should expect this president to behave appropriately in light of these investigations, with so much to hide. But the more he protests, the more likely it is the Committees will uncover sound evidence of corruption and undue influence.
16
Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the richest, corruptest, smartest of all?
Why Individual 1 or course it's clear, soon to be indicted within a year!
4
In order to stop Russia or any country from interfering with our elections, we MUST know what they did, how they did it and how can they be stopped. It does not matter which party you belong or even if you don't have a party, you should want the truth to come out so that we can save our democracy. If other countries can play Americans by exploiting their hate or selfish motives to want a politician to be elected at the expense of our Democracy, we can no longer hold our values and way of governing together. America will be the puppet of the highly paid hackers, it will not matter how great our military and weapons are.
Let's truth guide us all.
21
Except truth does not guide Republicans, only the demonization of minority groups, pure greed, and selfishness.
5
"...threatened the...prospects of bipartisan legislating."
What prospects of bipartisan legislating? Republicans, especially the hard-headed...oops...-line conservatives of the Freedom Caucus, apparently aren't even aware of the concept of compromise and bipartisan legislation on major issues.
There hasn't been bipartisanship on a major issue since the Democrats got conned into accepting Bush's false intelligence and going along with his invasion without an exit plan into Iraq.
As long as McConnell keeps subjugating the Legislative Branch to POTUS by burying legislation that is objectionable to him, there won't be either.
10
"Perhaps most personally for the president, a Ways and Means oversight subcommittee will hold its first hearing on Thursday to start building a public rationale to pursue Mr. Trump’s tax returns."
Bingo. As many have shared, 'follow the money'.Here lies the beginning of the end of djt.
The self-serving web he continues to weave of rhetoric and lies will come to no end. It will escalate because the guy is scared, really scared. The seat of President of Our United States must never be a safe haven for a malevolent human being. Keep going, keep the pressure on, keep on digging. Do not cave in, ever.
15
It is not as though the numerous investigations of the Trump administration and campaign are causing prison overcrowding. The special counsel and congressional committee investigations have uncovered no crimes attributable to the Trump administration or campaign. They have only produced misdemeanor charges against Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos for making misleading statements about lawful activities. The sentencing guidelines for lying to the FBI for someone with no other offenses is zero to six months. It is expected Flynn will serve no jail time and Papadopoulos has already been released after serving 12 days of a 14-day sentence.
1
@William Case You can keep trying to convince yourself of that. You are not convincing anyone else.
Have you ever heard of the saying "where there's smoke, there's fire?"
Where there are 35 indictments, mostly involving Russia, there are Russians interfering in our election.
The fact that so many are willing to ignore anything to protect a liar and a grifter who is lining his pockets, and those of his friends, with tax payer dollars, because they have allowed him to play on their fears of becoming a white minority, ( which he can't stop, btw) is about the saddest comment that could be made about the SOTU right now!
6
If they were 'lawful activities' then why lie?
5
@William Case
So?
1
Ms. Pelosi is correct: President Trump's railings in his State of the Union address against Congressional investigations were outright threats. I am confused by the title of this article.
Trump, the cornered con man, doesn't ask. He demands.
14
What goes around comes around. Now it's Trump's turn! His problem is that he and the cronies whom he has installed in his cabinet have backgrounds that make investigations into novels. Given the fact that many of his supporters don't even read newspapers, it won't matter to them.
Of all the inquiries, the one I hope is the most successful is a peek into his tax returns. It will reveal no doubt that his proportion of taxes is far lower than any ordinary citizen, not that it will disturb his supporters, as well as expose his manipulations of the tax code to his interests.
And maybe, just maybe, one of the investigations will produce some juicy stories for the tabloids.
19
@vincentgaglione:
"Given the fact that many of his supporters don't even read newspapers, it won't matter to them."
I love that line!!! Certainly do wish I could use emojis here, I'd have several laughing ones to put in my reply. LOL!!!!
Thank you for a nice laugh this rainy & flooding morning!!!
My heartfelt thanks to Speaker Pelosi and Rep Schiff. They are doing their jobs, their constitutional duties.
Would that others would take those responsibilities also to heart.
31
Trump came to Washington to do for the country what he had done for Trump Inc.He decided that he did not have to change his behavior in the new high office-he made the calculation that he could operate according to his instincts and patterns and that the office would not change him, that he would change the office.The House of Representatives Under the Democrats are letting him know that our government is run according to the Constitution-that the Chief Executive has important powers but not the powers of an Autocrat.
23
@Janet Michael ".,..to do for the country what he had done for Trump Inc....."
That would be bankrupt it. That is why he needed a television job.
4
Regarding the State of the Union Speech and Trumps assertions of no socialism in America.....
The one major change that could bring more humanitarian and less authoritarian capitalism to my native country is a strengthening of both MediCare and Social Security.
LBJ had originally intended MediCare to be from birth but the Vietnam War expense precluded that possibility. Using these humanitarian programs as scapegoats for paranoia about socialism is demogagery at its worst.
While capitalism is a proven economic engine for America, balancing some socialistic quality of life programs certainly makes sense!
34
Socialism is a typical right wing threat thrown out by ignoramuses stoking fear
When the right leaning Cato Institute studies ‘ socialist ‘ countries like Sweden they determine there’s often more freedom there than here.
When you are financially strapped due to high health care ,child care and retirement obligations much freedom do you really have?
Exactly
7
Congressional oversight of the Executive Branch is not presidential harassment. The GOP have been enabling Trump, rather than overseeing the ethics and constitutionality of his actions and his omissions. They know it.
But harassment is their latest go-to.
48
Browsing these comments is like entering into the Twilight Zone. As collective, you guys and gals are far too intelligent to be this partisan. Especially when we have career politicians on both sides of the isle who have become incredibly wealthy while serving this country.
Step back for a second and ask yourself why long seated Democrats and Republicans dislike him? Why are both sides fighting his attempts to bring our troops home? Why are they fighting a wall that they have voted to funded in the past? Why is every possible positive acomplishment ignored and every mistake magnified? Can we agree that Obama made some really good and really bad decisions?
Yes we have a president who can be brash, smug, self aggrandizing, insulting ect., all of this is true. Character traits that lead people to either love him or hate him. I think both camps are wrong in these judgements. Few of us would be able to withstand the amount of criticism and scrutiny he has faced since well before he was elected. Most would have buckled after enduring a single week of it.
Why would someone at his age, with his brand recognition & money (however made) jeopardize his retirement years and subject his family to this type of harassment? For Russian bribes? Seriously? There is a good reason that a jury is selected form people who have not been exposed to opinions beforehand. The mob has convicted many a man only to later realize their rashness and hasty judgement. Wait for the facts.
5
Ignoring his past behavior which psychologists will tell you is the best predictor of future behavior is foolish and head buryng
That his goal is to make $ from the office,
is a statement from him, not us. He complained how much $ he was losing by doing this gig
So all else aside what are YOU afraid of?
Ronald Reagan said of Iran Contra
Go ahead look into my role
He was exonerated
Trump is petrified that his whole scamming life will unfold - people will see he’s a fly by night artist grifter tax cheat money launderer ....
He should have never run for any office much less this one
His arrogance is coming home to roost
It’s about time
He will be remembered as the slimiest politician in a sea of them
An honour in your eyes?
8
After the last two years of congressional appeasement, l suppose real opposition would look like harassment to this administration.
The real question is when the investigations are done, and the findings support removing him from office, will YOU accept that?
6
Then explain the convictions, and the prison time, if Trump is as innocent as you say he is, then he’s got nothing to worry about. You talk of his “retirement” like he’s going to live on a 401K and social security, like Trump is going to have to chose between eating, and heart medicines, spare me. Trump not only destroyed small business that had the misfortune to cross him, Trumps famous I’m not going to pay you now. But Trump also took money from investors and promptly ran his stock value to zero, anyone dumb enough to have owned shares, and didn’t sell because they believed his lies about how solvent his casino was.
In fact, when Trump was using his casino as an ATM, he ran up 800 million in debt, even piling in his personal debts, which was more than most companies were valued at. Keep in mind Trumps become rich by not paying taxes, remember he got to write off hundreds of millions in taxes, for decades, I guess going bankrupt has it’s upside, unless your an investor, or are owed money to, then your last on he list. If Trumps your man, so be it, but he’s not fit to be POTUS.
3
The Democrats and Speaker Pelosi are following through on their responsibility. Oversight by Congress is not harassment. It is the Constitutional duty of Congress to oversee the executive branch. The lack of oversight by the Republicans over the last two years will be questioned long into our future.
There are many things to look into, Trump needs to be held to account, and there needs to be much more transparency and investigation into the businesses of the Trump organization.
56
I am proud that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic House will hold Trump's feet to the fire, and look into his many (alleged) misdeeds. We the people will now have an up close and personal look into what the Founding Fathers meant when they set up the co-equal branches of government. Trump's two year holiday from any legislative checks on his power is now over. And not a moment too soon.
60
It will be to Trump's advantage to try to inject as much politics into this as possible, to paint this as only so much politics, so prepare for tweets. It will take uncommon discipline and statesmanship for Democrats to refuse to be baited.
19
Democrats have never been cowed by Trump, which is good, but what we really need is more Republicans to not be cowed. After all, Trump is an old man from the previous generation, mired in 19th century thinking, but the future is in the youth and the younger people who do not carry all that baggage and are not afraid to move forward into the present century.
27
I'm really getting tired waiting for The Muller Report. It's been years; should we wait decades? Is precision perfection?
1
@RonRich The real world is not built on impatience and biased intolerance. You have NO active participation in anything relating to the malfeasance of the Trump administration so kindly refrain from boring the world with such banal comments.
4
@forgetaboutit Well, actually I do have "active participation in anything relating to the malfeasance of the Trump administration".....it's called citizenship.
BTW-thanks for crediting me with "world" influence.
1
"...they accused Democrats of being more interested in keeping a politically damaging issue alive for the 2020 elections than finding new facts."
Way different than the seven - yes, seven - impartial Benghazi investigations launched by congressional Republicans (since those were about the 2016 elections).
40
Nancy Pelosi has Trump in her sights and she's never going to let up until he's either impeached or resigns. The GOP despises her, which she proudly wears as a badge of honor. She's the only high ranking Democrat willing to hold Trump's feet to the fire and I'm grateful she's the Dems' leader.
58
Since a republican President called for an end to investigations, republicans should immediately issue apologies for their investigations of Hillary Clinton and Obama, not to mention the needless persecution of Bill Clinton. Their party leader obviously demands no less.
30
Trump is demanding $5.7 billion RIGHT NOW for a border wall, while simultaneously proposing only $500 million over 10 years for childhood cancer research (less than 1/11th of his wall number). It’s estimated that over 11,500 children in the US will be stricken by cancer in the next year and about 80% of them will survive more than 5 years. Unfortunately that also means that approximately 20% (~2,300 kids) of those contracting cancer this year will not survive that 5 years. Is it really that difficult to tell which type of funding could have the most positive impact on American lives? Can anyone imagine this self absorbed excuse for a man shutting down the government over inadequate funding for childhood cancer research? How is it not obvious to everyone that this president’s priorities are truly upside down?
41
Democrats need to be careful of the lesson of recent Republican debacles of investigation. Benghazi and Obama's birth certificate are examples.
Have they had quiet talk with Mueller? I doubt it, because he won't talk.
The danger is that there may be something real there, but they'll over reach and come up short on big talk.
Two years is plenty of time for them to launch all this, and to fall on their faces from over reach.
Don't let reach exceed grasp. That can turn victory into defeat.
6
I’m always at a loss when people assert that there is nothing to the Mueller investigation.....and that Trump is innocent of any wrong doing. The fact is, Trumps history demonstrates his willingness to lie, cheat, and steal to get what he wants, including becoming POTUS.
Trump's newfound willingness to use a teleprompter, read speeches written by others, and appear to be behaving as an adult shows the beginning of what he will do to get reelected. Unfortunately, what he will do to stay out of federal courts and prison for for more years may also include some pretty awful actions.
45
@Rick Pearson. You seem to forget that obama never gave a speech without a TelePrompTer. Wheh he spoke extemperaneously, he stuttered and stammered like a bumbling fool, which he is not.
2
Trump is petrified and a cornered rat lashes out.
What extreme actions will Trump attempt as Mueller and the House investigations reveal more Trump crimes.
58
I have to admit that I was often disappointed by Pelosi's work as Speaker when Obama was president and wasn't sure she was the best person for the job now...
...BUT I can only ADMIRE and APPLAUD her for standing up to Trump during his government shutdown tantrum and for her statement here!!!
At last, a Democrat unwilling to be browbeaten, intimidated, or simply so frustrated by Trump's inane antics that she doesn't give up and let him dominate!
Thanks!
Here's hoping that the rest of the Democrats, especially the smooth-talking Senate "leadership" appeasers (and we all know who they are!) will be inspired to follow Rep. Pelosi's lead and STAND up for our government and STAND UP AGAINST Trump, his corruption, and his assault on our government and system of laws!
--Lifelong Dem
72
Unquestionably, the highlight of Trumps speech was when Pelosi gave him 'the clap' ;)
Brilliant Madame Speaker, just brilliant!
86
Hello! Oh, Trump doesn't want be investigated as he made clear in his usual and endless SOTU speech.
But with the House's new membership he has no choice and he will be investigated whether he likes it or not.
38
I was a Pelosi doubter... no more. She is wickedly precise with her political evisceration of Trump. Trump is no match for her. It's just brilliant to watch. After two years of daily anxiety from watching the despicable deeds and Trump and his sycophants, my hope is returning and a cage for Donald is waiting.
Bravo speaker! One day history books will tell of how you helped to saved our Democracy from Russians and Trumpian traitors.
102
Go Nancy!!!!
57
There must be a well communicated valid legislative reason to obtain Trump's tax returns. As in the Teapot Dome scandal that was the impetus for the law, the House would need this tax information to determine if the president had conflicts of interest and acted to benefit himself at the expense of the government and its citizens.
Also unless significant illegal or unethical acts are uncovered that require the divulging of tax information, Trump's tax returns should remain confidential. The president like any other citizen has the right of privacy for this information. There is no law that says he must divulge this information to run for president and the law discussed in this article was not provided as a device to do this. Simply put the Democrats must act in a fair and responsible manner in performing oversight and not act in a vindictive manner otherwise Americans will see their behavior as mean spirited and political and will withdraw their support.
6
@P Lock ... there is a reason that trump refused to allow his tax returns to be made available. The precedent has been established and unquestionably been accepted as the norms by past modern candidates. Apparently, you are an adversary of governmental transparency.
8
@P Lock so to put in other words, you’re saying is the democrats shouldn’t behave like republicans. That’s the way it reads.
2
@P Lock
It may be of some interest to you and other American people to check out Norway’s access to anyone’s tax returns legally online and guess how that affects social equality?
Democrats are all in when it comes finding collusion that probably is not there, though Mueller should be allowed to finish. If it turns out wrong the future could be very bleak for them and the left media....
It does make one wonder if Mueller is getting any joy out of watching the country divide itself, especially when he can finish up a long investigation any time he wants...
6
@JAC
Three people already in jail, three more who will be so soon, and you STILL prefer to talk about "no collusion"?
No prosecutor gets "joy" out of finding wrongdoing. They get joy out of defending the Constitution and this country's laws, because that's what they value more than anything else. And any patriot should do so too.
71
The country isn’t dividing itself. Putin is making that happen. Mueller will show us how it’s been done by this former KGB agent.
12
@JAC
I doubt if "getting joy" out of any aspect of this has any place in Mueller's thinking. He is doing the job he was given and I suspect doing it well. I don't see how he could "finish a long investigation anytime he wants". The evidence will dictate that. "What he wants" has nothing to do with it.
5
All of the shame and embarrassment I have experienced over the past two years related to the ignorance, deceit and lack of character exhibited by our president is significantly lessened today.
Speaker Pelosi, I am proud of you and the way you are standing up to the irrationality and threats of Mr. Trump. The courage, integrity and resolve you are displaying is inspirational.
I can only speak for myself, but I strongly suspect that tens of millions of American voters are relieved and grateful that we have regained a leader of your strength and experience, that you hold a major position of political power in our country.
Many of us will sleep better knowing you are on the job.
Mrs. Pelosi, know this — just as we are counting on you and the congressional Democrats — you all can count on us.
Best wishes!
107
@Tom I feel just the opposite. For the first time in years, the last two have been ones of pride and satisfaction. Our President speaks my language. Conversely, Speaker Pelosi embarrasses me. Her comments about ‘crumbs’ from tax reductions and the hypocrisy of the wall being immoral after she voted for billions for fencing makes my skin crawl. I do t expect you to agree but feel compelled to register a counter opinion.
4
@William pelosi was an embarrassment to the office of Speaker during Trump’s speech. She looked totally out of control, miserable, twitching, standing up while reading the speech, rolling her eyes, showing nothing but contempt for the president. I, and millions of Americans, have nothing but contempt for pelosi.
2
Alright I will, I keep hearing and reading all these fantastic things Trump has done, all his “accomplishments” yet, that’s not what is happening. If you’re referring to the “tax reform” package that they passed, a large majority of that money went to the 1%, it added 1.9 trillion a year to the deficit that the Republican Party was adamantly opposed to “ballooning” when we were in the midst of the deepest recession since the Great Depression (oddly both caused by Republican fiscal policies, in fact a trade war and protectionism sparked it).
When the country needed that kind of stimulus to get the economy moving again, instead the Republican Party hamstrung Obama under some delusion of being fiscally responsible. And let’s not forget the promise of the “tax reform” that all working class people would see a $4,000 dollar a year cut in taxes, effectively a raise, more money in our pockets declared Trump, and Ryan, both knew that it was a lie.
Trump and his thugs gut the ACA, not because it didn’t work, but because their rich “campaign donors” had a 3% tax levied against them to help pay for it, Trump promised that everyone would have insurance, that didn’t happen either. Trumps NAFTA deal, is really the same, and you don’t see congress running to vote on it either, why, because they like the status quo. In terms of “speaking” your language, dost that include his racist trope, and lies about the Mexican horde that isn’t happening. Well if the shoe fits.
1
The president and his administration are on the strategic defensive. Those who are against what this regime represents have no need to use the same scurrilous attacks that the president and his sycophants. They only need to zero in on the issues and present the facts.
I had to laugh when the president said, "Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards."
Transform the first part of the sentence and here is what we get:
"Wealthy politicians and donors push for tax breaks and refuse to divulge their tax returns while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards."
An exact description of the president himself.
34
“It’s our congressional responsibility, and if we didn’t do it, we would be delinquent in that,” Ms. Pelosi said of the House’s oversight role, hours after Mr. Trump used his State of the Union address to warn that “ridiculous partisan investigations” threatened the nation’s economic health and the prospects of bipartisan legislating.
That, Ms. Pelosi said, “was a threat — it was an all-out threat.”
Right on Speaker Pelosi! Begin to restore public democratic rule and order to government. It doesn't always result in universally favored agreements but one person-one vote is better than the contentious Game of Thorns the GOP prefers. What exhaust and angers 'normal minded' citizens is the utter contempt shown for engaging public rationality and oversight. Does it ever occur to GOP leaders that they are the minority party because their policies and motives are the least popular! They are persistent in their disdain for 'public' governance that's insanity. They should change their name to the Communist Party or more easily join America's existing one; at least individually members wouldn't appear so mentally obtuse and uncomfortable in the public's eye. Red China's updated leaders love and embrace capitalism too and without pretense because it's working for them personally.
19
Trump is the main entity threatening economic progress in this country, not a Democratic Congress. The POTUS can distract, blame, and scapegoat all he wants, it won't change the fact that he is a poor and ineffective leader.
42
Again we hear a Senate republican (Lamar Alexander TN) exhort us not to listen to the president's words or review his actions.
20
President Trump campaigned as a businessman, and it's a matter of public record that he has many foreign business interests. The Mueller indictments further confirm that many of Mr. Trump's associates worked with foreign companies, despots, and less-than-reputable businesses. Finally, President Trump refuses to release his tax returns so we don't know the extent of his foreign entanglements.
If there's nothing to uncover, why would President Trump or anyone else object to expanded inquiries? If a Democrat was in the White House, and there were similar questions, inconsistencies, and gaps in knowledge, I would absolutely demand bipartisan inquires. And I'd be writing the same comment here.
The truth of the matter is President Trump's entanglements are most certainly corrupt, if not criminal. My hope is that between the Mueller investigation and Congressional committees, we can all learn the truth about Mr. Trump. Such knowledge would be critical no matter which political party occupies the White House.
37
I hope the House Intelligence Committee calls Devin Nunes and makes him testify about what he did, and who he told what, when he went to the White House to disclose confidential and protected intelligence information about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It could produce some interesting information about his, the administration's, and Trump's, obstruction of justice.
31
Citizens United invited all the dark dirty money into politics. Trump’s hucksters and kids were shaking down every country and hiding the donors. Cohen did it with the companies he told he would lobby for, and Barrack was selling access to the highest bidders. Let’s not forget ivanka wanted to overcharge for food and beverages and Melania’s buddy got 35 million for god knows what.
Grifters and conmen are running the country
27
Donald is always hurling threats; its one of his signature moves. He'll huff and he'll puff but he won't blow down Nancy's House.
Nancy Pelosi is perfectly aware that Congress is a co equal branch of government. She intends to uphold her oath of office and see to it that every member of her caucus does the same. She wouldn't have tolerated that antics of someone like Devin Nunes.
Fun fact. Nixon resigned 8 months after his own SOTU speech in which he declared that one year of Watergate was enough. So fingers crossed that history repeats itself.
39
Mrs. Pelosi said it all during his cry for unity. Trump turned around just in time to witness her withering "clap of death," accompanied by a perfect smirk, when she finally decided to stand up and join the applause after his call for what he insincerely termed "unity." A normal person would have gone into full collapse...but, of course, we all know that Trump is definitely NOT normal. :)
18
Thank God there is someone in Congress like Nancy Pelosi who refuses to be intimidated by an autocrat like Donald Trump.... while many of us acknowledge that the country made a mistake in electing Donald Trump , individuals like Speaker Pelosi realize that we can correct the mistake we have made by calling out that which is unacceptable and intolerable , with the citizens of the United States as witnesses . If we are who we think we are, we will not be cowed by some idiotic threat delivered by this president in his State of the Union address last night.
When Trump's poll numbers dip into the 35 - 34% range, he will start to see some Republicans in Congress miraculously wake up to the fact that they are tied to a sinking ship. And while Donald Trump won't go down without a fight, we still have to make sure that we rid ourselves of this malignancy , which is his presidency.
21
What took them so long to get started? I understand not wanting to do anything during the shutdown. But they could have done background work so they could hit the floor running as soon as the shutdown ended. They have had the House for a month! Time is of the essence - this horrid presidency is destroying our country.
3
@SYJ
They DID that work of course.
9
@SYJ
They did what they could. The GOP didn't appoint their members to the Intelligence Committee until a few days ago.
6
It's nice to see some of congress standing up to the president, now if only the rest of congress would join in.
27
If ALL of Congress were brave enough and Free enough to stand up to Trump , America would be able to put down that traitor very quickly.
"I am worth the trouble" ... what a wonderful statement!
I think I'm starting to absolutely adore Pelosi.
And that's not only because she managed to beat Trump as soon as she became Speaker (I've followed her for years, I know that she's extremely experimented and competent for this kind of job), it's also because of how the Democrats are approaching politics today: women everywhere!
Warren, Harris, Abrams, Pelosi ... they all have something in common: their purely physical style is PERFECT to embody what studies show is the very essence of 21st century leadership: strong morals, high IQ, high EQ, warm and emotional, and most of all, not afraid AT ALL to show vulnerability.
Some called Warren's voice "shrill". Kamala Harris has a kind of laugh that seems to "insecure" for what we used to associate with a leader. Abrams constantly smiles, and neither her hair nor teeth resemble the 20th century "leader" stereotype. And Pelosi of course, thanks also to her age, has physically, in her way of walking and moving, something extremely fragile.
And yet there they are, fighting with courage and oh so much more strength than those old GOP men for what is right, with dignity, fierce compassion, and humor.
The first weeks even I, as a woman, had to adapt a little bit. But now I have. Female leadership DOES look different, women talk in a different way, move in a different way, smile in a different way (and much more). And they have the guts to do so and to go for it anyhow.
WOW.
30
For those who screeched for Nancy Pelosi not to be Speaker of the House - we, her supporters will accept your apologies! GO NANCY!!!
26
That Trump could threaten the Democratic House not to investigate him shows he still doesn't even have a basic understanding of what separation of powers means, and more importantly the power of Congress.
Once they've led enough of his former cronies and perhaps his son away in an orange jumper and handcuffs, and perhaps forced Trump himself to vacate the White House, maybe he'll figure it out.
14
With 40 new seats in the midterm elections, it seems that the voters want accountability and a balance to Trump in Washington.
Nunes' previous chairmanship was questionable at best. In not recusing himself immediately, it meant that someone who advised the Trump campaign on intelligence and was on the transition team as well as a person who acted as an intermediary with foreign contacts with Flynn had a major conflict of interest and was known to convey information to the White House as in his night visit.
Swalwell has noted that he early asked Nunes to request a bipartisan independent commission to examine the Russian interference and cyberattack on our election in 2016 as was done after the 9/11 attack. He refused.
The new House committees have taken on a big job. Hopefully records have been kept properly, including the interview with Rohrabacher about his activities during the campaign.
There are intelligent and experienced prosecutors among the Democrats who will bring transparency to some of the Trump and Russian murk. At least some of their GOP colleagues, I suspect, will join them. Country over party.
20
Dems, bring it on.
12
So tired of Trump’s bully swagger and his lunch money threats. Wasn’t enamored either by Melania’s behavior in the balcony—all eager for her close-up and seemingly insensible to some honored guests, including the un-hugged 10-year-old cancer survivor to her left. What a bunch.
15
It's like Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver, after having watched Eddie Haskel get away with bullying the Beaver for two years, decide to bring the hammer down, no matter how much it upsets Wally.
5
If only Republicans in Congress took some responsibility for investigating their crooked and self-serving "President." Instead, they lend credibility to the, "Democrats are sore losers" refrain, as if there is no substance to their concerns about Trump. My neighbor, a curmudgeonly retiree, has never voted in his life and has no intention of ending his boycott. He says, "They are all self-serving crooks." However, even HE admitted that, "Trump is worse." That's saying something! He usually makes no exceptions. Republicans' unwillingness to hold Trump accountable repeatedly reinforces my neighbor's cynicism. The Democrats will hang on - but will any Trump voter believe one iota of what the investigations reveal? Will they even hear it? Republicans can change this.
7
House Intelligence Committee:
America installed you to protect us. Please hurry and smoke out DJ Trump for removal of office. Besides corruption, his mental illness, incompetence and dangerous foreign policy puts America and the world in grave peril.
15
Not ONE step back!
8
Since the firing of James Comey, Donald Trump has been sorely shaken. He is the very picture of a terrified, guilty man.
And now, after hundreds of unconvincing “No collusion” and “Witch hunt” tirades, the president quakes at the thought of being investigated by a Democratic-controlled House, overseen by a competent, courageous Speaker.
Bullying not working, Mr. President?
Is Speaker Pelosi’s unwillingness to cower from threats of turning your “base” against her unnerving? This tactic worked so well on congressional Republicans during your first two years in office. But that tired threat isn’t going to fly this time.
The Speaker of House has a spine. Her political acumen makes yours look pathetic by comparison.
Her resolve and character are beyond your ken, as are those of the Democrats in the House.
Mr. President, the jig is nearly up.
If you aren’t guilty of major wrongdoing, the convincing imitation of guilt you’ve been acting out is truly incomprehensible. Your SOTU threats to dissuade the Democrats from investigating you, were certainly an illconsidered attempt.
Of course, if you’re innocent of wrongdoing, you have nothing to fear.
If not, if you DO have crimes to hide — Speaker Pelosi, a Democratic majority in the House, and the Rule of Law are your worst nightmare. The hollow threats of yesterday evening only made your indefensible position worse.
17
Democrats are partisan obstructionists with a socialist open border agenda.
4
Let’s get this clear. We are supposed to choose between a Republican, decorated ex-Marine who ran the FBI for 12 years and is totally respected by virtually everyone in Washington for his integrity
vs
a known serial liar who dodged the draft, repeatedly cheated people in business, insulted our POWs and fallen troops, is willing to attack your wife's crotch because he believes he is entitled and supported Hillary Clinton using your money!
There are people in the country confused about this choice?
23
I am heartened to read so many of these comments. I can tell that many of the commenters here actually paid attention during junior high Civics class, and took to heart the value of our beautiful Constitution and the way way our government was structured by the Founders, to make sure that those who would presume to be king are denied that type of power by the way they set up our government. Oh that DT had studied Civics as these commenters here had done. Many of us love this country and put it first before ourselves. Trump could learn a thing or two from the citizens.
78
Trump is a puppet of Russia and the GOP who is using him as a covert fascist and open racist to cover up their agenda
to dismantle American democracy which will have an effect on other nations to abandon the politics of democracy and seek other authoritarian systems of controlling its population.
Russia is a clear and present danger to American democracy,
as Putin wants to make American democracy corrupt so that the people of Russia will accept his own autocratic system
of rule and control.
It is about time that America wakes up and realise that there is an enemy ideology working in the White House and in the
ideology of the GOP, with its historic racist ideology and
anti-democratic practices, like voter suppression and designing a legal system which is racist and restrictive
to African Americans.
America is under attack from within and from outside countries, like Russia.
What is to be done?
Get on and start impeachment hearings about Trump, and put on criminal trial all his henchmen.
Lets go Dems - do your job according to the Constitution
and protect the people from enemies external and within.
40
Trump "America will never be a socialist country!"
Dems - sit stone faced
Trump "We've got record employment for blacks and hispanics"
Dems - sit stone faced
Trump "We've got record employment for women"
Dems - Jump up and down and celebrate!!
Enough said.
6
@There for the grace of A.I. goes I
Donald was just reading what someone wrote the speech. We learned about his work schedule, we know now lazy and thin skin this guy is.
11
they weren't records
2
That "childhood cancer" routine was an unoriginal pathetic trick by the Trump administration. What was it: 1 million dollars over ten years per state? How stupid do they think we are?
29
Trump knows what and his cohort did and he is afraid of congressional investigation. Deep down Trump is nothing but a coward and despicable.
49
You bully and kick someone around and spread lies about them for a couple years and now they come back with a lot of friends to confront you...
28
Go Nancy! Call it by its rightful name. No one must be permitted to intimidate Congress--least of all, the (so-called) president.
But please, please hurry...and Mr. Mueller, too.
42
Investigate, investigate, investigate. All without delay. A rattled Trump (and only the guilty should fear scrutiny) will implode sooner or later. Or merit impeachment. Or agree to a plea deal that includes resignation to avoid criminal prosecution.
We already know witnesses will testify Trump violated federal election law. We already know Trump was pursuing a $300 million payout for a Trump Tower in Moscow. We already know his campaign manager provided proprietary polling to a Russia cutout in Madrid in the midst of the election. We already know multiple people in Trump's campaign and transition lied to the FBI about contacts with Russians. We already know Trump fired Comey over 'that Rusher thing.' We already saw Trump threaten a Congressional witness's family in plain sight.
Frankly, public hearings that just presented the known facts could serve as a basis for impeachment. Bill Clinton was impeached over lying about a consensual affair in a civil proceeding. Bart Kavanaugh can attest to the gravity of that. Trump blew through that threshold within his first 6 months.
Let's quickly get this abominable administration over with.
39
The media has largely missed how deep and far the Trump-Russia rabbit holes go and has therefore missed the big picture. My own work telling the story of decades of Trump-Russia ties and showing the meta-narrative is available here https://realcontextnews.com/articles/trump-russia-chart-dossier/
11
Compared to the old men in dark suits who jumped up to kowtow at djt's every word, Speaker Pelosi's ladies in white presented the country with a stark difference.
And it was more than just symbolic. It was the American voters saying through them they want to right the wrong done in the 2016 election.
Here's hoping we can replace many of those dark suits in 2020 with more ladies in white.
41
@TexexnvThank you. You said what I felt watching it. It was quite beautiful.
10
If our arch enemy Russia has been trying to use Trump, shouldn’t we be trying to protect him rather than crucify him? After all he is one of us. Feels like we’ve been here before yet learned nothing.
1
@John Doe
The only way to protect him is to investigate him, so that Putin knows that Trump can't just execute his wish list because Congress actively blocks him from doing so.
7
Um, no. If they are using him and he is complicit, he must be removed immediately. If they are using him and he is none the wiser, he should be diminished and isolated because he is incompetent. The only reason for impeachment is if he is truly criminally liable for the mess we have made. Otherwise, Congress must do it’s job of checking and balancing, to make sure damage from the incompetence is minimized.
12
@John DoeToo bad he did/doesn't feel the same way about the US. He put self before country and that is inexcusable.
8
Do the inquiry on every member of congress too. Trump has been in any office of any kind for just two years. He is the least likely to be influenced.
4
@Jim
No need to investigate his actions before he became president, right?
@Jim
Trump is influenced by whatever is on TV. He watches, tweets about it a few minutes later. Armchair president.
5
Trump’s threat to Congress should be another ground for impeachment in my opinion.
31
I think the President may not admit it but I think he knows that he’s in deep trouble. I hope Congress acts in a bipartisan manner to contain this President if the long overdue investigations cause him to act inappropriately.
13
Does Trump think he is the gingerbread boy?
In his youth, he ran away from the draft because of phantom bone spurs.
As a “builder” he ran away from hard working men and women who were not paid for their labors.
As a real estate developer, he ran away from bankers?
He has declared bankruptcy several times.
If the NYT stories about taxes are true, he ran away from the IRS.
If he thinks he can run away from a co-equal branch of government, he will find Pelosi more than the able fox that ate the gingerbread boy.
32
Democratic Congressional people: we need scads more "ridiculous partisan investigations" (DJT in his SOTU speech) into our 45th president. Speaker Pelosi got that Trump was threatening her last night. Can't wait for the House Intelligence Committee to do its job and send Trump on his thrill ride out of Washington. Trump is terrified and fighting back hard. Maybe he can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters, as he bragged in 2016. Count on it, broad inquiries into President Trump's business, financial and other affairs won't be ridiculous.
18
"It's our congressional responsibility.." sounds good to me, Rock On!
21
If Mr. Trump thought he could bully his way out of House investigations in his State of the Union speech, he is totally wrong on several accounts:
1) Mr. Trump has no knowledge or respect for the US Constitution which he took to uphold. Mr. Trump is learning the hard way how the separation of powers work in the US Constitution. He has now been handed 2 defeats in the last month from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
2) Elections have consequences. Despite Mr. Trump's claims of tremendous victories in the Senate during the 2018 elections [Note: the Republicans only netted 2 more seats, yet many Republican senators abandoned Mr. Trump's insistence on keeping the US Government Closed for his Wall], the US House is now firmly in control of the Democrats when 40 seats shifted to the Democrats.
3) The newly elected House Democrats are in no mood to acquiesce to Mr. Trump. The House Democrats have the power to investigate Mr. Trump's numerous violations of the US Constitution [Emoluments, Foreign interference in the US elections, possible illegal Inaugural Donations and Payments, Trump's Tax Returns showing what foreign banks and governments he owes money to, etc.]. The House Democrats were elected to investigate Mr. Trump for all his numerous unconstitutional actions and involvements. That is exactly what they will do over the next two years.
22
Since Trump likes appearing before Congress but avoids forums where he might be asked, "Care to explain yourself?", how about killing two birds with one stone by establishing the U.S. equivalent of Question Time in the British House of Commons? Each week (or at least fortnight), the House could subpoena the President to appear before it sitting as a Committee of the Whole, with the chair of the Whole deciding who gets to ask questions. Prepare by watching "Prime Minister's Questions" on C-SPAN or the BBC.
Trump's first such appearance would be his last He would have an apoplectic fit in 30 seconds or less.
18
@Publius Thanks - I am going to check my BBC schedule shortly. Sounds fascinating.
2
follow the money,...this guy is a long standing con artist and the Russian money has been flowing like a river into his dealings for years. Putin owns him, follow the money....oh yeah and speaking of flowing, it would be nice to have the purported tape from the Russian hotel, but I'd be happy just to have his tax returns opened to public scrutiny. Undoubtedly he lies in those tax forms as well, but as we've all seen, he is a terrible liar, so things will be revealed.
15
Seven special committees to investigate Benghazi and the press ridiculously buys into the GOP fable that Democrats are being aggressive in investigating Trump's romance with Vlad? It is hard to believe it is only their stupid showing......complicit?
29
Thank you to all of those elected member of House and Senate who are dedicated to these efforts. The financial structure of the United States has been fundamentally different from other parts of the world. How so? In keeping the less-stringent structures from infiltrating ... that is the danger ... to identify and prevent a degradation of this particular collective strength. This is our humble wish.
2
I am very proud of my party. I did grudgingly watch some of the SOTU, mainly for a look at the new representatives and Speaker Pelosi. The former presented a fresh, energetic force and Madame Speaker was a formidable, dignified counterbalance to Trump’s odious grandstanding and ridiculous attempt to threaten her authority. The democratic side behaved civilly and more respectfully than Trump deserved. Part of me was hoping for outbursts of “you lie”! but didn’t really expect them
I am grateful for the responses she and the other committee leaders made today to those who would stifle investigation into matters of serious wrongdoing by this administration. The hangers on who continue to deny that there is justification for it are in for a rude awakening.
625
@MG I am proud too. I like the energy of the new House members and the political acumen of Speaker Pelosi. “The times they are a-changing.”
44
@MG
Pelosi while strong is a false vessel in which to place Hope.
2
@Alan MacDonald We don't have to hope. We are watching her political acumen and it's impressive.
44
After years of GOP investigations into Clinton's emails and Benghazi, the GOP doesn't really have a leg to stand on when complaining the Democrat's investigations are "politically motivated overreach."
984
@Dion so, you believe Hillary Clinton did nothing wrong? I would love to hear your explanations.
2
@BobsOpinion Any indictments or convictions? That should answer you question. Poor judgement maybe.
41
@BobsOpinion
So, after all of the hours of hearings, and all of the stretches of credulity brought against HRC with no sanctions or indictments to be imposed, I would love to hear your explanations of how you know something all of those GOP attack dogs couldn't find.
Also, whether she did something wrong was not the point of Dion's post. It was about obvious political motivations even admitted to by some Republicans.
57
From a NYT piece on the Democratic resurgence on display last night:
“We are not here to play,” Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, a freshman Democrat from Pennsylvania, said as she joined other Democratic women earlier Tuesday to celebrate their growing clout. “We are here to be serious.”
In other words, Donald Trump's worst nightmare.
64
Trump wants $6 billion for a wall against Mexico and he wants it right now.
He wants $500 Million over 10 years for fighting childhood cancer, $50 Million a year, less than 1% of his insane border demand.
That’s the slime bucket this guy is.
304
In reply to John F McBride Seattle
Interesting that you call a person who wants to give $500 million towards curing childhood cancer a “slimebucket”.
2
Pablo Escobar used to give millions to his local communities. I guess that makes him a great guy too.
3
Who at the Treasury Department has control over the safe that holds Trump’s tax returns? With all of the criminality and thuggishness that goes on in this administration, I wouldn’t consider it a stretch to say that someone will eventually reach in and alter them, if they come close to being released via a subpoena. It’s possible that Allen Weisselberg (or someone in the Trump Organization) had to provide copies to Robert Mueller’s team, but that doesn’t mean we’ll ever see them. I suspect that Congress will never see them, either, due to legal challenges that will carry on past 2020. Trump will prevail on this one.
7
@Frau Greta
After reading the NYT piece about his and his father's previous taxes I do not think they will actually be an honest picture of his returns. I suspect there will be lies, fabrications and everything under the sun he could use to have his tax bill lowered. I guess you could say I do not believe they will be a truthful picture. But yes, they should be revealed.
6
Trump says any inquiry into his strange and dubious ascent to the Presidency should be called "presidential harassment." Republicans should know. They originated the concept of presidential harassment, first during the Clinton administration and repeated during the Obama administration.
Clinton was saddled with one investigation after another as soon as he walked in the door of the White House, finally ending up with a Special Prosecutor who should have been called the Special Persecutor.
The Obama administration endured endless Congressional hearings about events in Benghazi and other events over which they had no control.
Democratic inquiries into this administration look like a walk in the park in comparison.
92
When history is written, it may be that Nancy Pelosi will have saved our democracy by adhering to the the "rule of law" in the Constitution rather than succumbing to an autocrat who threatened her not to stand in the way of the "rule of Trump" and his narcissistic claim to "greatness" by allowing him to be above the law. The Framers purposely established a tripartite form of government of co-equal branches of that would be a "check and balance" on one another. To have any president come before Congress and demand they abandon their oath to the Constitution is beyond an outrage; it's a blasphemy on our union demanding a firm rebuke by Congressional leaders as Speaker Pelosi did. And, just where was our Senate Waldo in Majority Leader Mitch McConnell? The man who ignored his constitutional duty to provide "advice and consent" on the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court and to enforce the "emoluments clause" that may be at the very root of the criminal behavior of Donald Trump and his family.
139
"In a separate statement, [Republicans] called on Democrats to subpoena unnamed witnesses they recommended, and privately, they accused Democrats of being more interested in keeping a politically damaging issue alive for the 2020 elections than finding new facts."
Let's never forget to remind them of the Benghazi charade they pushed for two years, two years AFTER it happened.
36
“It’s our congressional responsibility, and if we didn’t do it, we would be delinquent in that,”
You hear that Mitch?
There's someone who knows what their responsibilities are as a member of Congress. You are a member of congress too Mitch, beholden TO the Constitution. The constitution is not beholden to your procedural whims. You are beholden to the Constitution.
84
Trump has no respect for anyone and is unfit to be president. How many lies and misleading facts does he have to present before the Republican Party realizes that he is unfit for duty.
20
This is what real leadership looks like. Kudos.
16
The final words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag are: "Liberty and justice for all."
That is because America is a democratic republic, with a constitution that places no King, royal, dictator, nor person above the law. Donald Trump is attempting to trample that proposition with the help of Ruppert Murdock's un American TV propaganda machine. And the People's House is the only thing standing in the way.
There will be a constitutional crisis that will determine whether America continues as a democratic republic where no person is above the law and America will do what it has always done and reject having a king.
28
Kudos for the Speaker.
88
How on earth did Trump or whoever wrote his speech think that his threat would have any impact on Pelosi, Schiff, Cummings, Nadler or anyone? Trump fancies himself a mob boss. He ain't.
256
@Ralphie Stephen Miller is the guy behind the worst parts of the speech, guaranteed.
11
I’m betting Stephen Miller penned it.
6
In reply to Ralphie Seattle
Yes, indeed, he cannot be a “mob boss” because all “mob bosses” operate in Democratic controlled states.
“It’s called presidential harassment. And it’s unfortunate. And it really does hurt our country.”
The irony here is that the term "presidential harassment" would be an apt description of Trump's behavior, not that of the congressional Democrats.
67
I think any American should be concerned by the threats of the president last night. The bully pulpit is one thing; it’s another level entirely to literally state peace and legislation is only possible without investigation. No president is above the law and no president should be threatening to intimidate any congress into declining to exercise their power to check upon the executive branch. I was discouraged by this because if we are going to call for unity in earnest, unity over the law would be a good place to start. There are not classes of law in the US, period. If there are different laws for different classes of people, we have violated our basic principles.
The Chinese New Year began last night. It is the Year of the Pig. This makes me want to say the Pig symbolizes things that it doesn’t actually say by tradition, but I don’t mind seeing some optical symbolism here.
18
This woman needs to go, constant show boating now substance.
She does the same thing with threats, threatens trump all the time, nothing ever happens....
1
Yeah, because a president who wishes to be an authoritarian goon is more what we need.
31
The majority of us think she is brilliant and doing the hard work of saving democracy from a petty tyrant. You can thank her later.
27
Um, she said there would be no money for a stupid border wall. And after a ridiculous shutdown by Trump, there is still no money for a stupid border wall. Pelosi does not issue threats — those are promises.
16
Welcome to your worst nightmare Mr. Trump...a veteran political tactician with power who knows how to use it...Speaker Pelosi.
You're already done, you just don't know it yet.
150
The train has left the station finally. Trump and his criminal and treasonous co-conspirators do not have the competence to stop it. We are reaching the beginning of the end.
30
“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way!” A windbag’s impotent threat, as if Trump would ever sign legislation put forth by House Democrats. No one expects much legislative accomplishment, but at least now there is a means of foiling some of Trump’s wrecking of the nation & government. But we can expect legislation that the people want & which will require Republicans to show where they stand.
Complicit House Republicans have looked the other way & failed to perform their oversight responsibilities; Democrats must simply do their duty, wherever that takes them. I am confident the Democrats will investigate what they feel they should investigate. Whatever the Democrats do will unleash Trump’s reflexive acrimony so the Democrats should be actively transparent in the reasons for & conclusions of any investigation.
Assuming actionable or noteworthy findings, will each respective House Committee also appropriately identify & admonish the previous respective GOP-led House Committee(s) for dereliction of duty, for failing in its oversight responsibilities? They should, & fully explain their reasons. Sunlight helps all see clearly. On the other hand, are there any substantial penalties for facilitating the erosion of our government & Constitution? Probably not. Likely the only solution is to vote them out of office; it is apparent such people cannot be trusted to act in the nation’s best interest.
19
Well said, Speaker Pelosi. We the House and we the Democrats will not be intimidated by Trump's threats. The Democratic-majority House will not be compelled by Trump to abandon their Constitutional oversight duty.
Trump's extraordinarily inappropriate and unprecedented threats tell us that our democracy would be in jeopardy were the House to not reopen the feckless Republican-led efforts, or were they to not investigate every other like hypothesis of wrongdoing.
Democrats, please investigate the heck out of this White House. Subpoena the heck out of them. And turn everything the heck over to Mr. Mueller, as well.
The dishonest, treasonous, feckless House Republican jellyfish are long gone. The McConnell Republicans in the Senate have abandoned their Constitutional oversight duties but the House Democrats certainly won't.
Given Nunes (voted out) and the other House Republican jellyfish, it is over rich that Trump and his House Trumpy Republicans are accusing the Democrats of political overreach or are calling them political hacks.
I am convinced that we will find fraud and treasonous Russian connections in his tax returns. I believe we will find out he is nowhere as rich as he said he was.
34
@Robert
“I believe we will find out he is nowhere near as rich as he said he was.”
That would certainly fit Trump’s pattern of deceit.
He is obviously nowhere near as intelligent as he’s claimed to be on several occasions.
8
All the investigations will go nowhere. Instead of actually legislating for the country they will waste time and taxpayers money. That’s why he will be reelected in two years. After witnessing the Democrats during last nights state of the union, I’m truly convinced that the party has no real agenda or goals. I guess that’s why Republicans are in charge in most places in the country.
2
It never ceases to amaze what people choose to see. What I saw: Trump stands at the lecturn and spews lies all the while pretending that he wants to mend the political divide. The democrats want regular working people to have health care, higher paying jobs, and representation.
Under McConnell’s leadership, republicans stand for nothing but nastiness (recall the vile disrespect during Obama’s SOTU), obstruction (Merrick Garland), and lining corporate pockets (tax cuts). The wall is just a distraction from all of the above. That you cannot see it is mind boggling.
57
@Mike DeMaio.
So these investigations will go nowhere? How prescient of you. Just try telling that to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and team, the U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of New York and the Attorney General of the State of New York. Already there have been convictions and plea deals by individuals in.the Trump White House and presidential campaign. You can be sure that more indictments are on the way.
I understand why Trump voters are so deliberately obtuse on this matter. They were duped, willfully so in my opinion, by a pathologically lying charlatan. The evidence of the man's unsavory character was there for all of us to see. You chose wrongly and the norms that have governed the United States may have been damaged beyond repair. He falsely claims credit for the economic recovery that began under President Obama. He lied or fudged numbers in the SOTU last night. Congressional oversight of this administration is long overdue. Trump's threat is toothless. Pelosi, unlike her spineless predecessor Paul Ryan, has steel in her character. Let's get in on!
55
@mike DiMaio
Your assertion that the GOP is in charge is bewildering.
Did you know that in November 2018, the GOP lost 40 seats in the House of Representatives? That number may rise to 41 given that the election in NC 09 was fraudulent.
Another fun fact is that in the 36 Governor’s races in 2018, Democrats took 7 seats that had been held by Republicans. Republicans did not take any seats from Democrats. In Wisconsin, it was a trifecta-- the Republican governor, lieutenant governor and AG all lost.
11
Not many days when “Trump threatens...” isn’t the start of a story.
12
Just another indication that the guy thinks he is the country. Preposterous but, oh so typical. Go full force on all investigations and don’t be cowed by that bully. You’ll not hurt the country, but do it a huge favor by exposing him for the fraud he is.
33
Can a sitting House member, say for example, Devon Nunes, be indicted?
22
“Five hundred million dollars over 10 years — are you kidding me?” she said, according to the aide. “Who gave him that figure? It’s like the cost of his protection of his Mar-a-Lago or something.”
There’s a new sheriff in town! She’s tough, smart and honest. If Democrats follow her lead, and avoid scandal, real or fake, we may exorcise this demon in a couple of years, potentially taking all three branches of Congress. Then it’s an all out sprint to save the planet.
77
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is my role model as an outstanding woman who has the will, compassion, and keen, subtle intelligence to offer leadership in changing our nation, and world, for the better for all of humankind.
57
@Elizabeth Hartley Filliat
I don't know much about Ms Pelosi, but find myself admiring her more and more every day. I hope your country's next president is in her mold.
8
As do I!
2
I was extremely concerned that the new wave of House Democrats would, in a power play, keep Speaker Pelosi from regaining the Speakership. I knew she was the only one who could stand up to Trump in a clear, concise and strong voice. I was truly relieved when she prevailed and I have not been disappointed.
I love you, Nancy. You may just save our country, the country I love. At least I know that this great woman is doing her best. And I believe that will be enough to see us through the Dark Age of Trump.
213
@sophia I was one of those who did not want Pelosi to become Speaker. I am quite happy to say I was wrong.
2
Shades of Hal Holbrook playing "Deep Throat" in that classic film "All The President's Men"!
That mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of a parking garage, counseling a baffled and perplexed Robert Redford:
"Follow the money! Just--follow the money!"
After two years of Mr. Donald J. Trump, I find it impossible not to believe--
--that many a key to many a mystery--
--is lurking in those long-withheld TAX RETURNS.
I'm no lawyer. So I really cannot say: can the now Democratically controlled House of Representatives COMPEL the President--legally--to divulge those returns?
Or, should our embattled President, Mr. Donald J. Trump REFUSE to pass them along, would he have a leg to stand on? Legally?
Good question. A tag from Horace rings in my mind:
Grande certamen, tibi praeda cedat
Major an illi.
"It'll be a big fight whether YOU get the lion's share of the prize--or HE does."
And by YOU, New York Times, I really mean US. We, the people of the United States.
I do honestly believe we have the right to know. To have those long-guarded books thrown open to public scrutiny.
Naturally--like so many others--I "smell a rat." But my nose is not a court of law.
A court of law is a court of law!
I wonder if (someday or other) our President may not find himself sitting in one--
--facing a whole lot of music--
--for this and that. Well, New York Times--
--should be interesting. Stay tuned!
I sure will.
4
We are living in a totalitarian state, and have been for as long as I’ve been alive. We are the slaves of two corporate political parties, who have been in power for well over 100 years. They make laws that make it impossible for a third party candidate to win. If we want to be free, we must abolish those two parties, so a person who favors people over corporations can be our leader. Sometimes you are forced to fight for your freedom; this is one of those times.
7
Thank you, Speaker Pelosi. The truth will out, sooner or later, and actually, for all concerned, the sooner the better.
19
Please let's see those tax returns now. They will clearly reveal this pseudo president's conflicts of interest, personal as well as political.
Bring on the "presidential harrassment", it's two years long overdue. Lack of it has really "hurt your country"
19
Doesn't the picture leading this article say it all? The "Grande Dame" making her grand entrance among her subjects. This woman's only MO is to keep Trump from being re-elected, not for the good of all the people or her electorate. It is democrat uberalis. There is no real bi-partison approach in her actions in Congress.She is a perfect example of why term limits should be on the table. However, it is too threatening to lose all your power, money, and prestige so probably will never be voted upon. She and others of her DC power elite ilk would fight it tooth and nail.
2
@Bob: The only thing to do with a comment with so many distortions is to ignore it.
41
@Bob I was expecting this response. But I'm also guessing you love the idea of an American aristocracy.
3
@Bob: An American "aristocracy"? Try to guess whose cabinet has the most billionaires in presidential history. We're waiting...
13
Hooray Nancy! You go girl!!
28
The House Oversight Committees are all part and parcel of the democratic apparatus that this Trump individual as president took an oath to uphold and protect.
As such, he should be defending any and all such these proceedings, not trying to stymie them.
Otherwise, the only logical conclusion that can be drawn from his strident protestations is that this Trump individual is trying to hide something.
22
This is a breath of fresh air. Our constitution says the legislative branch is co-equal with and shall provide oversight of the executive branch. Under Republicans, neither has happened. Picture the House Intelligence Committee proclaiming "nothing to see here" and closing its investigation, when mountains of publicly available reports depict the opposite. Picture Mitch sitting on his hands while the government shuts down, when the large majority of Americans wanted the opposite. Hearing Schiff and Nadler proclaim "those days are over" just means that the Constitution will, hopefully, prevail. As a citizen, I desperately need to feel that the Constitution and the truth win out in the end. If they do, we have hope. If they do not, we are doomed. I'm rooting for hope.
1042
@JohnH...Would you be so kind as to elucidate those passages in the Constitution of the United States that "says the legislative branch is co-equal with and shall provide oversight of the executive branch"? Thank you.
If there really was a 'deep state' running the government, as many Republicans suggest, then someone in it would have leaked Trump's tax returns by now. Looking forward to seeing what they have to show.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
906
@Chazak gee don't you think the IRS can do its job and if there was anything in his Taxes, they would of done something? Yes it is Ridiculous these investigations and they are demoralizing what's left of any Democracy in this 2 party Dictatorship as Sanders call it Government!
4
@Chazak Trump, although heavilly sunned (orange) does not like sunlight anywhere near his tax returns or his business accounts. They are akin to holed buckets, as neither will hold water.
38
@David, who do you know that offers friends and neighbors to review their tax returns? In our business world especially, what we claim and what was reality often diverge. And oh, yes, let’s keep all the investigations going, it’s a great jobs program for lawyers.
2
Agree with Madame Pelosi.
The statement “If you want peace, do not investigate me” is deplorable.
One. It means that Trump is a despot.
Two. It means Trump has something to hide.
Mueller and the AG of the SDNY are real patriots.
1296
@Opinioned!
Well, not to parse this out, but there is the SDNY and the AG of NYS, The SDNY is a federal court within the judicial branch of the federal government and does not report to the AG of any state or to the AG of the dep. of Justice, which is under the executive branch of the federal government.
21
@Matthew
Opinioned probably meant the US Attorney for the SDNY.
6
@Opinioned!
Three. It means Trump is afraid.
1
So, "An obscure provision in the federal tax code gives the chairman of the committee unilateral powers to request from the Treasury Department tax information on any filer, including the president"?
Then get them already! I am convinced that they will be very revealing indeed. Even if there is nothing overtly illegal (which I seriously doubt), they could still reveal that Trump is hardly the big, successful billionaire that he claims.
Maybe the threat of that revelation would shame him enough into resigning. Doesn't seem like anything else would.
669
@Expat Annie - Only Trump's supporters still believe the obvious lie that he's a successful billionaire businessman. We all know what his tax returns will reveal - he lost his inheritance 10 time over through his own incompetence and ignorance. The tax returns we have seen show that he lost close to $1B in a single year. Let that sink in. And to top it off, it wasn't even his $1B. Of course he never paid it back.
173
@Expat Annie
All hail obscure provisions.
55
@Expat Annie
He will resign BEFORE those returns are made public, but only to save himself. And he'll still declare himself a winner.
48
I don't care how long it takes, I want every single person who has been associated with him, during the campaign or while in office, be investigated and exposed if applicable. Then punished. We must truly make sure that the incredible corruption is dealt with strongly and lead by example that this cannot be tolerated ever again.
Laws need to be put in place that were previously not required. The debacle of Donald Trump has shown us that many things that were norms but not actual rules were easy to ignore. (tax returns, emoluments, ethics reviews etc etc)
1417
Bygones will be prosecuted. Forgive and serve your time.
7
@Celeste If we went back far enough, I'm certain we'd find some long time criminal activity. Only the ones slick enough to have hidden it well would escape, but for sure Trump associates with a lot of second raters.
But then, if you need to convince yourself that you're always the smartest one in the room at every moment, you will, consciously or not, make sure you've increased the chances that you are indeed the smartest in the room. That's except for the smarter people who will bend a knee to you; then, you can convince yourself that makes you smarter than them after all.
Btw, the emoluments clause merely needs more definition of what would break it and what would not. The current version is actually enough to say Trump is guilty, though. But you see, it doesn't matter what laws exist if they will not be applied to someone who breaks them. The Constitution is just old paper if those entrusted to follow and enforce it beyond the responsibilities of ordinary citizens choose to abdicate their responsibilities...or even directly betray the Constitution themselves.
86
@Celeste
Exactly, and this is why laws exist. Most people are honest and conform to expected norms, but there are outliers and they are capable of inflicting enormous damage on society if allowed to act without consequence.
139
"“ridiculous partisan investigations” threatened the nation’s economic health "
Trump is just setting the stage to attempt to shift blame to the Democrats when his tariff wars, damage to the Affordable Care Act, and increased interest rates and trillion dollar hole from the tax cut to wealthy Republican donors, damage the economy
72
It’s two years past the time congressional oversight should have been exercised and the damage is already severe. It’s ridiculous how long the Republic has waited for this and obscene to suggest it is a partisan issue. If the 2016 presidential election had tipped the other way, there would have been a zealous amount of oversight of Secretary Clinton as president. As a concerned citizen who loves my country, I expect the same treatment of a Republican President as a Democratic one. Any argument to the contrary shows hypocritical bias and an admission that the attacks on the Clintons were never legitimate but partisan wastes of taxpayer money.
61
To date, taxpayers are in for $64M of security protection for the presidents play time in Florida.
The movable secure wall that follows his family around the world in their pursuit of foreign investors is also paid for by us.
If V. Putin is the primary benefactor of Trumps presidency, who else would it be, then he needs to chip in.
76
Thanks to Dems for understanding they have a job to do. Now get it done. We deserve no less.
37
Nunes needs to be investigated.
361
@L'historien For obstruction, for conspiracy?
6
@L'historien
He would just be a start.
6
Yes! This is the absolute BEST news I've heard in a long, long time. Go House go!
220
Many thanks to the House of Representatives for doing its job and working on behalf of our country.
Now if we could convince the Senate to do its job and cease being a "wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trump administration." [with thanks to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, for this spot-on quote.)
168
How many investigations, years, and taxpayer dollars were spent by Republican House members examining Secretary Clinton's emails, foundation, and accounts of Benghazi?
In January 2019, Kelly Cohen reported, "House Republicans are demanding that the Justice Department update them on the ongoing review of the FBI’s actions during its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, as well as its investigation into Russian election interference and the Trump campaign."
Trump and Republicans refuse to stop investigating Clinton. Trump doesn't understand he is not in a position to ask Speaker Pelosi to stop House investigations of Russian interference.
150
@ Scientist You hit the nail on the head. The only "ridiculous investigations" were those of Hillary, which were endless and resulted in NO charges to anyone. What is "ridiculous" about the Mueller investigations, which yielded so much in only 2 years?
54
@ Scientist
"Trump and Republicans refuse to stop investigating Clinton."
Of course - this is just part of Trump's playbook and never-ending 2016 campaign. Two themes stand out: build a wall and lock her up. He'll run these into the ground as long as he can while appealing to -- and getting donations and applause from -- his base. Like a terrier ragging its prey.
13
As one of Congressman Schiff's constituents, I appreciate the seriousness with which he approaches oversight responsibility, a striking contrast to Congressman Nunes' perverse abdication over the past two years. There is nothing ridiculous about the swirl of false denials and criminal behavior of many on the President's staff, and the only reason investigations seem partisan is because Republican traitors--frankly--have been all too willing to look the other way.
122
Trump's threats must be ignored. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men. The majority of Americans are sickened by Trump's mob-boss mentality.
84
"House Expands Russia Inquiry as Pelosi Declares Democrats Will Not Be Cowed"
"Trump warned Democrats not to investigate him. Instead, they’re playing hardball."
"For weeks, President Trump has been warning Democrats not to investigate him and his administration too aggressively. He repeated that message at Tuesday’s State of Union: “An economic miracle is taking place in the United States, and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations.” House Democrats are clearly not cowed.
In fact, quite the opposite."
Richard Nixon tried the same warnings and threats on the Watergate scandal and within the year, he had resigned. Nixon obviously had plenty of his criminal activity to try and hide.
So, it seems, does Trump and all of the issues with Russia, Putin, the Trump children and businesses, Trump's associates and former attorney and others as well as Trump trying to get the deal to build his tower in Moscow. Trump is following the Nixon line of threats and it's not going to get him anywhere. Just what does Trump want to not get investigated? He is trying so hard to scare Democrats off that a reasonable person would suspect there is stuff, illegal stuff, that has to come out.
52
Trump has treated the office of the presidency like a landfill. He has deposited so much garbage and criminal detritus in the Oval Office since his theft of the election that it will take years to sort out the myriad levels of felonious activities and malfeasance perpetrated by the head of the Trump crime family and his evil cohort. Kudos to Nancy Pelosi for sticking to her guns and vowing to get to the bottom of the horrid swamp that is Trump and Company. We need Speaker Pelosi now more than ever. She may be the silver lining beyond the cloud of misery that Trump has wrought since January 2017.
154
Trump claims he could not release any of his tax returns because they are being audited. My question is for IRS..... why it’s taking so many years to audit his tax returns? The tax returns can be made public even during the audits.
My son made only 70K then and IRS froze and seized his bank account within a year despite sending all the requested documents. It wasn’t until he involved the his US senator, the congressman and state AG, that his audit was resolved. He did not pay any fines and got his refund.
Why IRS is protecting Trump?
22
Schiff - keep a close eye on Nunes. He cannot be trusted.
87
am a retired federal prosecuting attorney (1995-2010) and a Navy Vietnam veteran ('65-'69).
I am convinced that this Russia investigation will finally reveal Trump's betrayal of the United States of America; just as I have been convinced since Robert S. Mueller III, Captain USMC Vietnam ('68-'69, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart) became the Special Prosecutor will reveal the same.
But you need not take my word for it. If you want to know the "Big Picture" and learn what Trump, his family, and minions will be facing shortly; pick up a copy of "Proof of Collusion, How Trump Betrayed America" by Seth Abramson. I just finished it. And I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Indeed, it only affirms my belief, from the day that Robert Mueller was appointed, that he, and his team of prosecutors will bring down and kick out Donald Trump, the first president to betray our country. So "Bravo Zulu" (Navy parlance for "Well done") Captain Mueller. You and your prosecutors deserve a medal for saving us.
344
@Richard Thank you for this, Richard. I just ordered a copy from Amazon. Why haven't I heard more about this piece? But I agree, when the report is finally made public, and it will be, we will finally be vindicated.
21
@Richard Let's hope the Pentagon is ringfenced. Putin is not going to like this. Traitor Trump the Red Don will soon be desperate. Nobody can predict the outcome, we must work towards the best by heading Trump off.
8
@Richard thanks for the tip. I too just downloaded the book. The introduction is compelling: there has been no fact-based defense of Trump's actions thus far, only disingenuous rhetoric, e.g. "collusion isn't a crime", etc.
6
The committees are entitled to issue subpoenas and were going to issue them anyway, but Trump coming into the House of Representatives and threatening them what's a seriously stupid move
43
@James Panico
He is a seriously stupid man, you expected anything different?
23
And so it emerges.
Trump knowing that his tex returns are about to be made public, tries an attempt at unity.
No thank you.
We still need to see that tax returns.
Tick tock.
Mueller and the SDNY are about to put an end to this crime.
33
The American Mussolini wannabe Donald Trump has purposely and publicly threatened to legislative branch of OUR government over doing it's constitutionally mandated oversight of his presidency.
Think about that. Can you imagine the uproar on the right if Obama had done so?
This is the single most outrageous thing that Trump has done as president as well as the most dangerous act (among many) that he has taken to debase and destabilize our republic. All Americans should be calling their elected officials to demand that this seditious threat receive the condemnation and opposition it deserves.
63
Pay attention, Republicans. This is what ACTUAL congressional oversight looks like. It's the opposite of sycophancy, a term I KNOW you're familiar with.
346
Go Nancy Go, and please continue for the next 713 days left in this person's term!
365
Bravo. My comment deferred to yours.
26
@Majortrout
Egads....are there really that many days left in his term?
17
@Majortrout
Just what I sat down to write: Go, Nancy, Go!! And Adam, and Jerry, and all of you charged with overseeing the Executive Branch. Go, go, go! Save our democracy, give Orange Don a comeuppance he will recognize.
3
If they are going to investigate Trump then they should go back to at least Bill Clinton and investigate them all.
3
Whataboutism.
52
@Sean Mulligan Why? They did that already.
32
@Sean Mulligan
That comment makes no sense. There are legitimate concerns about many aspects of the Trump campaign, inauguration, and administration. Guilty pleas and indictments serve as proof there is a problem here, no?
Going after other administrations is just another example of the continuing search for false equivalence that Trump fans are so fond of. Trump is corrupt, but so is everyone else, they seem to say. No, everyone else is not. This administration clearly is, if you go by the court records so far--and the investigations are not done yet.
Buckle up, it's going to be a long and bumpy ride.
112
Whatever--If Mueller doesn't come up with collusion, ain't much Pelosi's House will discover not already known and two years of "investigation" and millions spent on the deep-swamp snipe hunt.
But then the point is for the DNC Politburo to feed the narrative to our sympathetic Sovietized mass-media (the real collusion) till 2020.
8
Ken Starr.
6
@Alice's Restaurant - The Trump administration IS the swamp. He hasn't drained the swamp, he's swamped the drain.
121
@Christopher M
Corruption replete long before Trump arrived on scene, e.g., Obama Comey-Lynch "the matter"; Obama 60 Minute dog-whistle to Comey--"No there, there"; Rice use of NSA-FBI-FISA to spy on citizens at will; Strzok's sweetness with Hillary; CIA's Clapper and Brennan lying as required and often; CIA Bush-Cheney WMDs lie--Middle East becomes firestorm; and malfeasance by the cohort in Congress.
2
"The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine."
Let's hope Trump and his entire crooked family and gang of cronies are about to discover just what that means.
619
@Pat: May I live long enough to see them all walk into prison, and not just for token sentences. Real sentences.
Corrupt traitors, all of them.
136
@Pat
From your keyboard to God’s ear. That degenerate family, they shoot elephants and cut off the tails and hold them up as trophies. They’re not only hopelessly greedy and corrupt, they’re cruel and despicable.
29
@sophia
Judging from his public statements, Mr. Trump does not know what a real sentence is.
We got your Back Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Schiff. Go get him. Take him out. Save the republic.
867
@Matthew Let's hope that the Pentagon will refuse any orders from Traitor Trump the Red Don.
15
@Dad
I cannot imagine being a member of the military and being ordered to risk my life on the say-so of Donald Trump.
21
@Pat - Or Chickenhawk George's random invasions of ME countries in his effort to atone for going AWOL during Nam.
Maybe President Trump's core believers who hang on his every word will take him at his word and applaud his "commitment" to bi-partisanship. The rest of us, especially those of us that are skeptical and cynical, figure that it sounds good, however insincere and disingenuous. He has contempt for those that do not agree with him and seems uninterested in your right to differ. Also, he appears to be patronizing and condescending because after all, those inquiries are unnecessary and groundless. Who knows how they started; certainly they will come up empty, so maybe just stop them now? Actually, the more he pleads for the witch hunt to end, the more likely his stress level increases, his worries abound and probably he has skeletons in every closet. Remember a few months ago when the new Democratic congress took their seats, he reached across the aisle for about a minute and said he could work together with Ms. Pelosi and the Democrats, but they better not look into his dealings - or else. He will take a war stance. That sounds like a threat, no? But maybe we are so used to hearing that kind of language that it just doesn't faze us any more or we are use to it. I cannot imagine any previous president using language like that in obvious war of words.
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@Andy Panda
Speaking of 'contempt for those who do not agree... isn't that the dictionary definition of Nancy Pelosi? I think if a committee is to be formed to watch dog Trump we need an independent council to over see the Speaker and the role of these House committees. Let them see what it is like to have your very move and breath scrutinized.
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@robert brusca guess there should have been anindependent council to over see the past Republican House committees to see what the failed to do. what's good for one is good for the other, just saying.
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@robert brusca
It is counsel, not council, sir. You cannot appoint a special counsel to oversee the work of the Speaker of the House and congressional committees from exercising their legitimate oversight off the executive branch. There is no provision in the Constitution or federal statutes for such a patently ridiculous suggestion. Congress is a co-equal branch of the American government and not subservient to any president. Except for the past two years when the gutless Paul Ryan was speaker and the duplicitous aviator named Mitch McConnell.
Bet you had no complaints when the GOP endlessly investigated Hillary Clinton and came up with zilch.
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The days of Devin Nunes wasting our time and money with faux investigations leading to faux conclusions is OVER. Pelosi has the clear advantage in skills, intellect and experience.
Trump, on the other hand, doesn't know what he doesn't know. Worse yet, he has no interest in finding out what he needs to know. That makes him dangerous.
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@dcaryhart We must stand up to the bully, or they will be emboldened. This may be our last best chance for peace.
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In the words of FDR, President Trump has nothing to fear except fear itself. Of course, “fear itself” is another way of saying, “you thought you’d get away with selling out your country for your own personal interests, but you didn’t, and Nancy Pelosi smells a desperate man and will see this to its end.”
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