All registered voters may petition their Representative and demand impeachment. The candidates running for nomination should avoid making unwitting statements about impeachment. Some have already stated impeachment is not an option. Goodbye to you dopes! Impeachment is the option that should drive getting full disclosure of this entire corrupt enterprise of liars and frauds. We have barely begun to understand the scope and impact of this disgusting presidency and its complicit involvement with foreign agents and criminals. Start an investigation that is covered on C-Span. Hold hearings examining the report and questioning witnesses. Subpoena Julian Assange and question him about his involvement as Mueller reported. Subpoena Russian operatives and get them to testify about findings from the report. There is criminal behavior of the highest order, it just hasn't been outlawed yet, because the villains never put all these pieces together until now. They all contributed to undermining the 2016 presidential election. It was an international conspiracy that no current law prevents. Very much like the behavior that allowed Watergate and all that. We had to pass new laws post Watergate. We better know what new laws need passing now!
3
The next step is clear. Chairman Nadler must conduct his own investigation starting with Mueller's on-the-record testimony. Even if a GOP dominated Senate would never convict, impeachment should be considered.
5
Impeaching a traitor in the WH is not a political choice. It is a duty. Country over party.
7
If Democrats proceed to impeach based on an investigation that was itself a product of political corruption, they will get what they deserve. Trump will stomp them in 2020.
3
The Russians intervened in our election. dt encouraged them. His inept son tried to conspire with the Russians. This required an investigation.
dt then lied repeatedly and demanded others do the same. For a crime he didn’t commit? Why would he do that. Because dt is bereft of integrity and lying is his default.
Why is this so difficult to understand? And why do decent republicans not demand his resignation?
4
There are no decent Republicans left
4
Mueller needs to appear on Sunday shows and make it clear that if Trump was not the President he would have been indicted for obstruction. Simple English !
7
There are some things more important than retaining power, and I hope the Democrats do decide that even if it costs them power, someone has to say, this cannot be allowed to stand.
8
Does Trump’s documented behaviour amount to impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanours”? That’s a political rather then a legal judgement that the Democratically controlled House may choose to attempt to make. That the Republican controlled Senate will, absent a prima facia case, vote against such a bill of impeachment is again a political rather then a legal judgement.
The 2020 ballot box offers a far more effective path for America to rid itself of it’s popular minority president.
1
Although Trump's actions are obviously so much more impeachable than those of Clinton's, impeachment would martyr him in a significant portion of the minds of the public. Trump is blessed with a combination of ability and luck in getting away with things that would hang others. He has also got the support of the Republican Congress. It might be better if we just keep the heat on him and keep pointing out any wrong-doing until election time.
2
Trump did not try to make obstruction. He just lied out of angriness. So he is not guilty. Phew!
White people crime — can’t indict, won’t impeach him. Why do we have laws?
4
Nothing surprising in the report except more anecdotes confirming books written on the chaos and dishonesty in the White House. And Trump's reaction is so predictable, seeing a damning report as "complete vindication". Time to move on and concentrate on electing a good man or woman president who will represent all of us and make us proud.
Lying about an extra-martial affair is one thing, massive obstruction of justice and abuse of power is another. I had thought that there was nothing worse than 4 more years of Trump. I was wrong. Making the kind of behavior recounted in the Mueller Report the new normal is far, far worse.
Besides, the "Deep State" narrative is dead. I defy Republican Senators running for re-election to make defending Trump's behavior a part of their campaigns.
7
The Senate would Squash it, So what? this is not about Politics it's about Our Demoracy.
7
At least it will put GOP senators on the record for condoning/enabling Trump to the detriment of our democracy. The house must impeach. It's their duty to put a check on this "President."
4
Even if there is no impeachment, Donald Trump faces so many other charges aside from collusion with the Russians. The odds are in the favor of his being remanded to prison as soon as he leaves office and his Mafia-like protection. The real issue is whether we have the patience to wait, being that every day, Donald Trump continues to destroy our democracy.
4
Dems should:
1. Subpoena Mueller and get the whole report.
2. Do not impeach him. The Republican Senate would not go along. Don't waste political 2020 time on this.
3. Develop a narrative about Trump, and some Republicans, akin to crooked Hillary for the campaign trail. All Dems should unite behind it and say it again and again.
4. Meanwhile please pass some meaningful legislation.
4
The Mueller report changes the political calculus. If Democrats ignore Trump's impeachable offenses they will appear weak.
9
@Sherry What about Hellery's convictable felonies?
The House oversight committees need to subpoena the full Mueller Report. In the meantime, these committees should present subpoenas to Mueller and to those named in the Mueller report to gather evidence so the committee can assess the evidence and decide how to proceed. I understand that impeachment may not be politically possible or even feasible--not because of legal or ethical considerations but because of politics. But Dems have a backbone and DO NOT ignore the smoke pouring out of the Mueller report.
17
I say let NY State prosecute him due to his misapplications from his charity. Everyelse would have gone to jail for that.
2
I don't see the downside to impeachment. That it would "energize" Trumps supporters? They're already energized. That it would turn off Independents? Any Independent who would seriously consider voting for Trump in 2020 is not someone who can be reasoned with. On the other hand, failing to impeach would telegraph to Democratic voters of all stripes - from Progressives to Blue Dogs - , to Independents and to Republicans themselves that Democrats are cowardly and as lacking in moral fiber as the Republicans themselves are. At this point, impeachment is not a luxury or even optional but a moral and civic duty.
29
@David
I dunno, I'm not convinced impeachment is a great idea. In the absence of new information, it will certainly fail to remove the president, thereby handing Trump yet another victory and another demoralizing loss for progressives. It will also help paint Trump as a victim. And it will be a distraction from all of the other issues that Trump has bungled and those missteps he is certainly likely to make in the next year and a half.
It would be folly to try impeachment. The Senate would definitely squash it. Then the Democrats would suffer as the Republicans did in the Clinton impeachment fiasco.
Let the people vote Trump out in 2020.
4
In spite of the efforts by NY Times, CNN and MSNBC there is not enough there, there. The effort put into all this only reinforces the lack of a candidate to defeat DT.
1
Dude, how much treason is enuf treason?
3
Prominent, distinguished, long serving members of the New York Congressional delegation, like Nadler, Schumer and Jeffries, are at the forefront of the Trump opposition and rejection. Good for us. This and a Metro Card swipe will get us on the subway. That Hudson River tunnel we need? Funds for the subway? Not a peep out of them. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made it clear how vital it is to field primary challenges against these entrenched New York representatives who otherwise are nominated unopposed, ultimately unanswerable to their constituents. Except Israel.
The Country is lost.. How can it's citizens or it's friends have faith in the United States Government at all with the very own government in USA doesn't do their jobs...?
The American dream is dead. Its only for the Rich and powerful who don't suffer economic Hardship or income inequality. If the government in America cared why don't they do away with the separate Retirement, and health insurance for government employees that the us tax payers pay . put every body on Medicaid including government employees and specifically retirement employees as well. Fair is fair we all owe 30 Trillion dollars.
3
“Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” is a maxim Democrats shoud learn and heed. Basically, it’s what Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been counseling.
However, Democrat after Democrat insists on discharging weapons prematurely and without aiming. They waste ammunition — often, it seems, to draw attention to themselves as much as to their putative cause. By making Democrats look like a disorganized, feckless rabble, they are abetting Donald Trump’s political success.
1
Republicans throw "impeachment"around all of the time, often with no relevant reason and certainly no consequences for their over-the-top rhetoric. We have a criminal in the White House and for Democrats to even consider impeachment is "Dicey"
For-profit media and for-profit politicians are destroying this country.
2
Trump deserves to be impeached for many reasons; however, for the House to initiate impeachment makes no sense if there are not the requisite two-thirds number of votes in the Senate to vote to impeach. If the the Senate fails to vote to impeach Trump it will serve to inoculate Trump from any further threats of impeachment. The net effect is that it would embolden Trump to be even more corrupt, reckless and dangerous. House Democrats should continue their investigation of Trump and publicize their findings. We can only hope that the cumulative disastrous Trump record will convince voters to vote him out of office in 2020.
2
To me it's preposterous to not impeach just because we think the Senate won't convict. Can you imagine if all crimes going to trial were approached in a similar manner? Who knows, maybe impeach ment will embolden some Senators to go against Trump.
2
Does anybody think that hearing ad naseum about Trump's endless attempts to stop the Mueller investigation is going to "bolster" Trump's national standing? I don't think so.
Channeling Adam Schiff - You might think that it's OK for the President to be above the law, but I don't think it's OK.
"No one is above the law" means something to the majority of Americans - it means something to the non-Kool-Aid drinkers.
15
Since Jan 2017, our nation has suffered through the chaos of an administration built on lies, deceit, firings, resignations, destruction of professional lives, sex scandals, hush money, "above the law attitudes," a huge ego. The fact that we are still talking about collusion should be proof enough that this person who calls himself a leader did obstruct justice. It was his staff members who refused to let him. Impeachment is a risk. Last night's Colbert interview with the man who wrote the rules of the investigation may be the most common sense approach at getting rid of Trump forever because he has obstructed justice for the American people. Refer to Footnote #1091 of the redacted report.
7
Now that the Mueller Report is available in redacted form, which is quite damning even if incomplete, what should the Democrats do?
Should they impeach Trump? With over 50 Republicans in the Senate, the chance that they would obtain a conviction is questionable at best. Even if successful what we would get is a President Pence. That is definitely not an improvement, so I suggest that impeaching Trump is a meaningless effort.
The more important concern is defeating Trump and the Republicans in 2020.
The Democrats should deal with the “kitchen table” issues that all Americans face daily: jobs and a living wage, healthcare, safety of our citizens in their daily life including gun violence, violence against women and people who identify as LGBTQ, moral issues relating to immigration and social justice, and issues such as dealing with global warming which is a major threat to all of humanity.
The Democrats should also “Benghazi” the Republicans using the Mueller report as a roadmap. There need to be continuous hearings starting now and running to September or October, 2020, in which the “bad news” for the Republicans just keeps rolling out on a daily and weekly basis. There does not need to be a final conclusion. The message should be a more than year long stream of stories, with live sessions and video of people from the Trump administration squirming in their seats before Congress, admitting that they lied, or taking the Fifth.
19
I think the Congressional Democrats have no choice but to initiate impeachment proceedings. Maxine Waters is correct, the Democratic led Congress, after calling Mr. Trump a crook and a sleazeball since before he took office would be pretty hypocritical if now all they do is continue to investigate and do nothing with the evidence they have.
It appears from the report that Mr. Mueller did a very thorough job of investigating and though he did not find Mr. Trump's behavior could stand up to a criminal proceeding, he gave the Congress all the ammunition they need to impeach Mr. Trump for his reckless disregard for truth and probity. It is a political process not a criminal trial.
Mr. Barr is apparently going to give the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees the full unredacted report, save for the grand jury material. From what I have read of the redacted report, this should be more than sufficient for Congress to prepare a case for impeachment.
Impeachment will have political ramifications for both parties, but if Democrats sit on their hands at this juncture they are absolute hypocrites.
16
I don't like Trump but this issue has always been.....problematic??? The basis for this whole investigation has always been a report commissioned by his Democratic opponent in the election. The whole basis of the counterintelligence investigation has always smelled worse then a truck of fertilizer. Whether or not Trump's ineptness reaches Impeachment level would be interesting. But I suspect the Democrats can't afford a close look at the basis of of this whole mess. The Steele was commissioned has a PARTISAN document. And the FBI using a commissioned by the opposition Partisan report has a basis for an investigation? That's Political with a capital P. My guess,The results of the impeachment investigation could be has embarrassing to the Democrats has it is Trump. Combined with the fact there is no chance of conviction in Senate? I suspect the Democrats may prefer a Root Canal to an impeachment.
2
@Stephan said "The basis for this whole investigation has always been a report commissioned by his Democratic opponent in the election."
Not exactly. The Steele Dossier was used as one of several pieces of evidence to get a FISA warrant to surveil Carter Page, who was under investigation as early as 2013.
What got the Russian interference investigation was the report from the AUSTRALIANS that George Papdopoulos has bragged to one of their diplomats that the Russians had hacked the Democrats server and were going to dump files. Papdopoulos said that in April 2016 and was originally not believed. When the files started to be dumped in July 2016, just before the Democratic convention, the Aussies contacted the FBI.
The Steele Dossier was only presented as evidence AFTER the July email dump.
7
So much inaction by our elected Representatives and Senators has caused the voters to become distrusting (and disgusted) of Congress.
Our current President is so refreshingly (and most of the time disgustingly) different from prior Presidents, there is a strange, underlying attraction to his behavior. This could ring well for his re-election.
Congress needs to act. And act in a refreshingly different manner.
I am full of fear.
One sentence says a mouthful and shows the continued biases that drive these discussions and articles:
"Scattered across the country for Congress’s spring recess, Republican lawmakers sidestepped the specific behavior — including Mr. Trump’s repeated efforts in 2017 to fire Mr. Mueller — documented by the special counsel."
Two simple questions: (1) Was Robert Mueller ever fired? and (2) Did these White House internal discussions ever result in a letter to be provided to Mr. Mueller?
Fiery discussions, especially in the midst of relentless media pounding on rumors that there was evidence of collusion (there wasn't any collusion), do not constitute obstruction of justice.
Publically criticizing the investigation or pointing out the one-sided makeup of the investigatory team - not obstruction.
You need to hearken back a bit to find actual obstruction: How much effort did the Obama administration expend to obstruct the Congress from obtaining information on the IRS targeting scandal and Lois Lerner?
And how hard was it to find out anything official from the executive department on Benghazi?
And crown that with the destruction of servers and government cell phones by Hillary Clinton and the State Department.
Those were documented and obvious efforts to obstruct. Here we have exasperated words and no actions.
Why impeach him now when most other Republicans would have a better chance in 2020? Most of the people "in the middle" have figured out what he is by now.
3
To have a question like this being advanced but Mr Nadler would be a mistake. I say this because of his hatred for a rival. A feud if you will as reported in the prestigious NYT. I would think Mr Schiff would be a much better choice as the chief running back for this effort. They don't call him the artful dodger for nothing.
I'm looking forward for the next chapter in Days of our Lives. Thumbs up on this idea.
No, no, no! No impeachment, because if successful, it will be President Pence for remainder of Trump’s term and Pence gets a shot at two more terms. Best solution is to put time and effort towards defeating BOTH of them at the polls next year
3
Of all the nationally recognized voices appalled with the moral and ethical vacuity of Donald Trump, none other than George Conway's seems to call for the action of impeachment as clearly across party lines.
The conservative lawyer and husband of the Trump shill Kellyanne Conway recently referred to Trump in The Washington Post as a cancer past due for excising from the Presidency in turn quoting John Dean's comment to Nixon.
Why Conway? The Republican Party lost its way completely after John McCain's death. Not that the Republican's were anything but the rich man's party for years of course. But the full collapse of decency or any moral compass whatsoever has been fully absent in the Republican Trump era.
Its not only Trump's epic level of corruption, which may be the center of Conway's hatred of the man. For many of us, it Trump's anti-environmentalism, his putrid racism, his rabid insensitivity to cultural and international norms.
Power reveals the center of a man. And in great contradiction to Evangelical leaders like Michelle Bachman, Trump is not in any way "good". At the center of Trump's soul is a vacuum as vast and horrific as the recently discovered black hole.
Listen to George Conway Congressional Democrats. Impeach.
6
Obstruction of justice is a serious crime in is itself, but obstruction also compels us to unearth the serious misconduct it is meant to obscure. Mueller couldn't (or wouldn't) indict a sitting president, but Maxine Waters is right: Congress has no choice but to act. In addition, Barr himself has very likely committed obstruction by presenting an unfounded and premature opinion to the public in which he pretended to exonerate the president, knowing full well that it was a publicity campaign that would be refuted by a full reading of the report. In doing so Barr further divided the country into two irreconcilable factions. Trump followers are unlikely to dig deeper. The only way to resolve this division is to have the truth come out.
As far as impeachment goes, if not now, then when? This sham president has been openly corrupt and artlessly obvious in his cover-up. His firing of Comey to shut down "this Russia thing", and his attempted firing of Sessions happened before our eyes. He then stood on a podium with Putin and and took a stand with this despot against our U.S. intelligence agencies. The list goes on and on. Our democracy, and the cohesion of our country, demands action.
Impeachment should not be decided over hypothetical political risks. It is required. It will likely not pass the senate, but a foundation will be laid that will justify continuing investigations into Trump, his family and comrades. Pence won't be around to pardon him after 2020.
4
Don’t impeach. Better things to do and let the voters take him down.
1
First, didn’t republicans gain seats in both the House and Senate after Clinton’s impeachment?
Democrats are such a scared bunch- and yes, I am a dem.
I do believe that Mueller places the whole shebang right in the palm of Congress.
To not act in seriously starting impeachment proceedings might well backfire against the democrats. They must try because anything short of such action will only encourage more illegality on the part of the president-
5
1. For two years Democrats and the media relentlessly beat the COLLUSION drum. This was false then and it's still false now.
This morning, Rep. Jim Jordan said Comey testified at his deposition that when he was fired in May 2017, there was ZERO evidence of collusion. Nevertheless, he leaked information for the purpose of ensuring that a Special Counsel would be appointed to look into Russian collusion. If true, this is appalling.
The Democrats now pivot to the obstruction angle.
2. Trump came perilously close to obstruction if he didn't actually cross the line. His family members and campaign people showed a callous disregard for basic ethics and patriotism by being willing to meet with Russians and receive dirt from them.
Trump's behavior was inexcusable and Democrats it as evidence of consciousness of guilt even absent underlying guilt. The conduct is also consistent with innocence.
The problem is that Trump went about it in his usual way which is in the style of a major league jerk.
3. The Democrats will now waste another two years in chasing this rabbit and not deal with the problems facing this country in an effort to regain the WH.
We desperately need term limits.
4. Russia clearly interfered with the election. Although there is zero evidence that it had ANY impact on the outcome, the Democrats have tried to taint Trump's win and made him defensive about his legitimacy.
5. Russia and Putin are the winners. They succeeded in turning us against each other.
2
I am stunned by the lack of outrage and refusal to act upon the most corrupt and toxic administration in modern US history! I am tired of political rhetoric and decisions based on whether or not Impeachment will cost the Dems the 2020 election for POTUS! The election is 18 months away and in the meantime, this president will do his best to undermine our democracy and take vengeance upon his adversaries. He has NOT been vindicated and was publicly perpetrating impeachable offenses prior to the Mueller report. Our elected officials need to be courageous and do what is best for our country and not be held hostage to polls and elections which, by the way will once again be interfered with by Russia because we have no plan to stop them!
Americans are weary, mistrustful and not looking forward to 18 months of slimy political campaigning,mud slinging and empty promises.
Congress, do what you were sent to do! If the Impeachment fails, so be it; we will as Americans be able to say we stand by our Constitution , "of the people, by the people,for the people".
18
No! Put time and money into selecting the next Dem candidate, promoting the values of our country and winning the 2020 election. We must put our energy into repairing damage, restoring civility and rebuilding global relationships. The Senate will never impeach; let 45 fade into obscurity and be prosecuted by New York and federal courts beginning in January 2021.
8
I’ve been anti-impeachment for fear of messing with the election and knowing that GOP senators will protect the president at all costs. But having read the main points of the report, and given the new Trump-appointed AG’s deliberately misleading and untrue framing of the report, it’s time to impeach. The report exposes a corrupt president whose primary instinct is self-preservation without regard for US law, and is indeed a road map to impeachment. Congress must use the system set in place by the constitution to remove such a person from office. In light of the contents of the investigation, not enacting articles of impeachment shirks the duty and responsibility of maintaining our republic. It’s time to act.
18
@Leone, so you want President Pence?
@Leone
I was of the same opinion until I saw the report. It is time that congress performs their duties to the people they serve. Enough.
6
For the sake of the future of the US, no impeachment!
There are way more important issues, the ticking time bombs of wealth/income inequality and climate change...
I think many people find the US government repulsive, and that includes Congress.
The media thrives on controversy, not the slow plod of serious discussion and attempts to really find solutions.
The media essentially created the Trump Presidency, and all the hysteria it hypes is tiresome and guarantees a bleak future.
I am sure there are a good number of Presidents whose administrations would have looked ugly with this much scrutiny.
Democrats, focus on issues.
Trying for impeachment will guarantee that Trump voters, and other Republicans will see the investigations as an attempted coup, and coming together to resolve complex problems will be far more difficult.
8
Justice is not served by removal from office followed by a certain pardon from the vice president. Both Nixon and Agnew should have gone to prison for their crimes but carrieed on suffering only a little embarrassment. That is hardly equal justice under the law.
The Mueller report is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the life and business dealings of El Trumpo. We the people must vote him out in 2020 and let the SDNY and other jurisdictions met out the justice he and his family deserve. Congress can do its job compiling evidence and provide that information to prosecutors soon after we elect a likely democratic president. But we cannot and must not let one of the most vile and dishonest oligarchs on the planet be pardoned. And that is what will happen if Trump were impeached.
10
Research the numbers and you'll see Bill Clinton's approval rating increased during and after the impeachment. Perhaps because the GOP overplayed a weak hand, perhaps because the original complaint involved a land deal that ended with a perjury trap over an affair with an intern, or perhaps because he's empathetic Bill... The GOP lost seats in the 1998 election with House Speaker Newt Gingrich resigning in January of 1999 as a failed leader.
By my score Clinton won the political argument, Gingrich and 'Keyhole Kenny' Starr won the propaganda side. The GOP gave us a government shutdown and polarization that persists until today. Ultimately no one came out the better for it.
Impeachment is a risky road to travel and I think it better politically for the D's to keep DJT around as a failed president 'with issues' who's under perpetual investigation. Whether that's the constitutionally correct option is a question for wiser heads than mine, but Trump has been consistent in alienating moderates to shore up his 40% base. That's not a winning strategy for 2020.
My worst fear is that a desperate Trump will start a war as the ultimate diversion or do something so profoundly bizarre the 25th amendment option becomes viable and the nation suffers the consequences.
Because, in the end, it's always about Trump.
7
Although I am very torn on the question of whether or not Congress should pursue impeachment proceedings, at this point I come down on the side of waiting for the 2020 election instead. The reason I have come to this conclusion is that if Congress were to somehow both impeach and convict Trump, removing him from office, Pence, as President, would immediately pardon Trump. That would be disastrous. On the other hand, if Trump is defeated in 2020, he could be immediately indicted for many different crimes (looking at you, SDNY!), and no Democratic president would ever pardon him. That, to me, is a much preferable outcome.
10
There exists now some reasonable basis for inquiring further into whether President Trump violated existing law concerning obstruction of justice. Reaching an affirmative conclusion, compels consideration whether the violation amounts to a "high crime or misdemeanor" for which the President can and should be impeached by the House and tried by the Senate. Even if the President's conduct were to be so characterized and presented as such to the Senate, it seems all but certain that the Senate would not convict by the required two-thirds vote no matter how compelling a case might be made by the House. In that event, instead of being a serious attempt to remove an unfit sitting president from office, this really is no more than an attempt to convince the voting public to vote against the President in the 2020 election, as if it did not matter who the President's opponent in that election is (his or her his political past, character, policy ideas and so on). If so, whether the whole thing should be undertaken in the first place is also a reasonable question. Like it or not, that question cannot be answered with certainty in advance of the 2020 election. But our existing House Members must decide for themselves now what they think the likely answer from the voters (which could turn against those responsible for wasting their time with all this) will be. IMHO, going through this exercise will not serve Democrats or the nation well and should be dropped.
1
Why is everyone, right, left, and center, missing the most important point. Russia interfered in our election, "bigly". The question that should be asked is: would Trump be President if not for the machinations of Vladimir Putin? Can we all accept that possibility that our President may not be legitimate?
39
In reading the Muller Report I was shocked at the depth of effort, resources, and number of Russian Departments that were involved in getting Trump elected. It is as if the Russian Spy Agency’s dropped everything and focused on electing Trump. The Muller Report details a full court press by Russian Spy agencies to support Trump in ever way and destroy Hillary. I suggest that everyone read the Muller Report. It is one thing to hear the news summarize the report, it is a mind altering experience to read it. It is like the Grand Canyon - look at pictures in a book vs standing on the rim looking down.
6
@Patrick Flynn Obama in October 2016 stated in a press conference that he was aware of Russian attempts to meddle in US elections, there is no way they could effectively negate individual votes because of how our election system is run.
@Patrick Flynn The nation's response to this Russian attack on American soil, if not with tanks and guns, has been woefully inadequate; in fact, Trump has had us virtually licking Putin's boots.
However, Trump is our legitimate President. It is our fault if just enough American voters in the right places were stupid enough to fall for Russia's tricks, since there is no evidence that they changed actual ballots. We've divided ourselves internally, and thus weakened ourselves as a nation. America has become like Trump: a rich, physically powerful bully that is internally conflicted and cowardly. We elected a President that is like who we are becoming. So far...
Barr lied to Congress and the American people. Mueller report says Trump is corrupt and obstructed justice. Congress needs to have Barr arrested and Trump impeached.
26
@Beto Buddy Mueller's personal opinion is not evidence in any sense.
Speaker Pelosi and her team need to read the report as do every Congressman and woman and Senator. Mueller lays the groundwork for the Congress to begin impeachment proceedings of this president. It's time to take action and hold this president accountable for his criminal and corrupt behavior and defrauding the American people with his lies.
16
The report describes "a president who has been weaving a web of deceit, lies and improper behavior and acting as if the law doesn’t apply to him...”
That pretty much sums it up.
Most sane people know he should be impeached. But we also know the repubs have no principles and would never vote for it.
So just keep investigating, maybe something so egregious will surface even the toads would regain consciousness.
Hammer the tump with what we know in the coming election, and maybe we'll rid ourselves of a tyrant. Probably the best we can do.
11
The Dems are giving the American people the wrong signal by playing this insulting game of "should we-shouldn't we" impeach the president. This isn't a game, it is about our democracy, about our country with a government in D.C. that we take pride in having, and in trusting our politicians. Today, tell me, who do you trust in D.C.? It certainly is not Trump. So when I hear the Dems can't make up their mind I say to them when they come to me for political campaign funds my reply will be: WELL, I JUST CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND.
14
Barr is truly the Trojan horse here, and an obvious lackey for #45, helping him immensely to be placed above the law, subverting our constitution and the will of the people. It is hard to see how the Dems can avoid bringing impeachment proceedings; but we'll see what the committee hearings discover.
9
We the people should consider the clear and legitimate question of whether Congress should be impeached for maligning, harassing, frustrating, obstructing, limiting our duly elected president from performing his duties and keeping his promises to the electoral college of the USA. Any attempts to waste precious few resources for impeaching a president during whose presidency America is doing better than it ever has are totally unjustified and those pedaling such a narrative will be doing grave harm to our nation and to our fellow Americans. Republicans were wrong to obstruct Obama from introducing Obamacare with a public option and Democrats will be dead wrong if they even consider impeaching president Trump. Dirty partisanship should end or democracy will fail to serve the people.
3
@Girish Kotwal Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution: [The President] shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed..." Repeatedly attempting to obstruct justice as clearly shown in the Mueller report is a violation of his constitutional duty. "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Clearly he has violated this oath. If the Democrats are too impotent to hold presidents accountable through the impeachment process because, well, um, golly-gee, they might suffer at the polls, we will have lost our country.
1
@Girish Kotwal. It’s actually too late to impeach most of the Republicans who maligned, harassed, frustrated, obstructed and limited duly elected President Barack Obama from performing his duties. Though unlike Trump, he went ahead and performed them anyway.
1
Please do it! Please, please, please! Just like occurred with Bill Clinton, it will virtually guarantee Trump’s re-election. Nothing will send a message to the Country’s heartland that the elite coasts are ‘in charge’ more clearly then to try and overturn the election. Nadler and Schiff will be the face of the attempted coup. It will go nowhere in the Senate so it’s a no loose proposition for Republicans.
I beg of you Jerrold; pull the trigger!!
3
Democrats would be wise to stick with All-Trump-All-the-Time. That will ensure the base remains on-board; without them there is no chance of regaining the presidency in 2020.
While there are gains to be made by toying with the idea of impeachment, Speaker Pelosi is right: it would be foolish and self-defeating to attempt to impeach the president.
Policy must take a back seat to keeping the focus on President Trump every hour of every day. The country can easily survive two more years of little being accomplished in Washington. Nothing is more important than winning in 2020.
5
Barr appears to have lied to and deceived Congress about the Mueller Report. If you actually read the Mueller Report it clearly says that Trump is corrupt, uncooperative and lied and obstructed. Congress needs to charge Barr with lying to Congress and aiding in the coverup. Then impeach the President, he’s obviously a crook.
6
@Beto Buddy House investigations can get at the same damning information that impeachment can, without more political circus. The important thing here is revealing all Trump and co. perfidy going into the 2020 election, while Democrats concentrate on putting together a winning strategy for 2020, including popular legislation from the House that McConnell probably kills in the Senate. The rot we have to deal with goes beyond this one man, even if he's the POTUS.
Impeachment would go nowhere, since Republicans in the Senate would not convict. The result would be the same as doing the House investigations anyway, without an impeachment Kabuki dance. If the House turns up what they expect, then they can impeach; all but the most die hard Trump fans would support it, and those fans would look like fools.
1
* Get Mueller to testify with congress
* Ignore Barr (persona-non-grata) from now on..
* Start Impeachment in the house
* Let senate decide who votes for/against
* Continue with the congressional hearings
* Support the states (NY, Virginia, DC) cases
BTW, keep Obamacare alive in the house on a regular basis.
Go to the polls in 2020 !!!
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Libs should definitely try to impeach. If you actually think he committed conspiracy or collusion, it’s your Constitutional duty to pursue impeachment. You are otherwise breaking your oath and duty to America.
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Maybe more should be said about "the mistakes made by Republicans"? Republicans based their impeachment of Bill Clinton on a sex scandal. Neither the Senate, nor the public, bought into impeaching the President based on a sex scandal. Democrats would impeach Trump based on clear evidence of obstruction of justice. These two things are NOT the same!
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@rls
Agreed, and in addition to obstruction of justice, both attempted and successful, there is ample evidence that Trump is simply not equipped to do the job. The trouble is that the votes will not be there in the Senate. Too many Republicans place their political futures above the needs of the nation and the preservation of our system of government.
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@ss Everybody assumes that failing to remove Trump because Senate Republicans will not vote to remove him, will hurt Democrat's 2020 election prospects.
In Jan. 1999, the Senate started its hearings on whether or not to remove Bill Clinton from office. In Nov. 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote by a very thin margin, only to have the Supreme Court hand the WH to W. Bush.
Looks to me like impeaching Clinton helped the GOP.
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The fact that it's even a question should be enough to not go forward. But worse, the question being asked is simply wrong: whether Democrat's chances in 2020 would be helped or hurt by an impeachment. The question should be, guilty or innocent?
The moral bankruptcy of this administration should be obvious enough to anyone. But the surprising inability to deal with it is an indictment of the legislative process, and perhaps represents the greater crisis. If our system of checks and balances isn't strong enough, how do we move forward?
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Shouldn’t every member of Congress be involved in an impeachment effort? The current GOP members of Congress need to wake up and do their jobs which includes Presidential oversight.
4
If Democrats are unwilling to impeach in the aftermath of the Mueller Report, then that entire section of the Constitution dealing with impeachment will be rendered meaningless. The bar will be set so impossibly high that nothing could ever hope to reach it.
Furthermore, while I respect the fact Speaker Pelosi is forced to walk a difficult tightrope on the issue, I see no reason why impeachment would be any more “divisive” (to quote her primary objection) than the current state of affairs.
The Mueller Report lays out a strong case for a president set on destroying the rule of law and undermining checks and balances. It paints a picture of a man with autocratic dreams and entry-level ability.
If Democrats are unwilling to impeach, they will send a message that the rule of law is subordinate to the need to maintain the illusion that the system is still working and there’s nothing to worry about. It will be an unforgivable dereliction of their constitutional duty.
That will set the stage for the next Trump, who will likely be far more capable of realizing his kleptocratic dreams at the expense of the entire world.
Democrats need to make a stand and stop this madness. They have the legislative tools to do so. It’s time to act.
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I think the first order of business is demanding Barr's resignation. We can talk about impeachment once he's gone.
I happen to agree with Pelosi for once. Impeachment has no upside for Democrats. The stragtegic thing to do is to run Trump and Republicans into the ground in 2020.
That said, I also agree with Waters. If the report suggests impeachment is appropriate, which it does, Congress has a responsibility to impeach no matter which Party holds power. Quite frankly, there is justification to impeach regardless of whether Trump is ultimately removed. If nothing else, impeachment is probably the only threat which can compel Trump to testify. That fact alone is a strong argument in favor of impeachment.
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The bottom line is Trump did not commit a crime according to Mueller.
The president is not a paragon of virtue, but that is not an impeachable offense.
Congress should get on with the work of the country and let the people decide in2020, as they did in 2018.
5
Instead of chasing their tails with impeachment, the Democrats should spend their time seeking an electable candidate (there currently are none) and formulating a platform that might lure some Republicans over.
Otherwise, they are looking at 4 more years of Trump.
4
Both pro and anti impeachment sides have merit in my opinion but I suggest a middle lane approach here.
Democrats need to publicly state that impeachment is NOT off the table, but that further investigations need to be done. Then investigations need to be launched into trumps financial dealing with the Russians prior to the election (money laundering), into his corruption and self dealings while in office, into his misuse of power (illegal orders), his son-in-law’s financial dealings which shaped our foreign policy in the ME, among others. Each investigation should have the length and resources of the mueller investigation.
What will this do for us? First, it will provide a much stronger case against the man if and when impeachment were to happen (second term if we are extremely unlucky). On that note, it will help bury him when he is removed from office as well.
Second, it will deflate his base and not be a humiliation to the democrats when he is not removed from office if impeachment goes ahead at the present.
Third, it will provide a steady (true) narrative going into 2020 about the most corrupt administration in modern American history.
And finally, fourth, it staves off any rash acts by the man (self pardon) until after the elections when he will no longer have power, assuming of course that the results of these investigations get released after the inauguration.
Just my two cents.
8
Why is this a question for the Democrats? The Republicans would have already impeached Obama if he did what Trump is doing.
4
Democrats should not even consider impeachment unless they are 100% sure it will result with Trump leaving office in disgrace. Democrats should be seeking the advice of the shrewdest legal minds in the country.
3
How do we know that they have not already consulted with these shrewd minds and that in all their brilliance, they have advised against impeachment.
Either something happened or it didn’t. Did Trump fire Mueller? No. Did Trump fire Rosenstein? No. Did Whitaker take over the Mueller investigation once Sessions got fired? No. Did Trump fire Comey? Yes, an act that this publication and millions of people raged for when he made his “impactful” announcement a handful of weeks prior to the 2016 election.
"“It is time to move on,” said Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader in the House. “Americans deserve better than this partisan quest to vilify a political opponent,"
That says it all---the man who said Benghazi Benghazi email email was intended to, and had the effect of, lowering Clinton's poll numbers, is pure projection here.
For all who criticize Democrats for holding back on impeachment, McCarthy provides the evidence that even if Trump did, in fact, shoot and kill someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue, the Republicans would vote against impeachment of the man who is giving them massive tax gifts for their donors and a money-is-speech Supreme Court.
3
If Trump were a Democrat, Congressional Republicans would have impeached him two years ago. That this monumental difference has been so completely ignored speaks volumes about the decline of America.
4
Pelosi is right -- given that Republicans in the Senate will not budge in their support for His Heinous, the fact that Barr has his back and that the the conservatives on the Supreme Court do as well, there is little to be done but keep reminding the public of the dangers of re-electing him. Meanwhile Trump and his enablers will continue to do a lot of damage. It's all very depressing.
4
Hold public hearings. Get the witnesses in to testify. Make the American people, the GOP and the White House look the facts in the face. If nothing is done to make Trump and his administration accountable, then he possibly gets a second term and more opportunities to collude, obstruct and further break the norms and possibly laws of our government and country. If the Dems do nothing, they give Trump a free pass.
4
Democrats would be wise to move on and focus on 2020 elections. Criminal charges against Trump can come later, after he's removed from the Oval Office.
4
You don't start a bar brawl where you have fewer guys, fewer weapons, little cohesion, and a lack of will to do whatever it takes.
Unless you want to found face down in the gutter.
And do a Clinton redeux and hand the election to Trump.
When you call a strike vote in a union and win with a bare majority you don't walk out, because you will lose and weaken what union you have. And at worst, bust the union.
Do something positive with healthcare or immigration and be the party of answers.
5
This is rich. Democrats have been making all kinds of accusations for two years. Now that they must back up their allegations with action -- ex., impeachment -- they are suddenly backtracking.
Democrats need to put up or shut up. No one wants to hear their claims of "evidence" after reading the actual report. The only evidence that mattered failed to indict the president.
And while they are trying to make the claim that Mueller would have indicted on obstruction if he could have, even that claim is unsubstantiated. It was inconclusive. That doesn't imply guilt in our system.
4
Since I left America to get away from the Bush Iraq war and politicians like Trump, I spend little time with these miserable issues.
But since I have to pay all my income tax to the United States I cannot help resent that my pension is being used to pay for dishonest politicians.
The Trump administration is the lowest level of integrity of any president in my lifetime. The fact that he got elected illegally and could be re-elected is more than depressing.
Trump is not an isolated incident. On the contrary, Trump is a representative sample of the deterioration of the American culture. He is a direct reflection of his base of voters that are dragging the country down.
I have no idea how we can resurrect the American mindset so we will once again be able to hold our heads up with pride!
5
Can the Trump Election Campaign Organization be prosecuted under the RICO act? It seems to me that there are implicit unspoken agreements and a mutually beneficial goal that both the campaign and Putin’s Russia sought.
Yes, no formal written agreements, but plenty of mutually beneficial crimes, that both sides of the conspiracy were aware of. Surely people in Trump’s campaign KNEW that collaboration with foreigners, the Russians, was illegal. Didn’t they tell ignorant Donald that? Trump and Putin had collaborators.
That’s the crime that the Mueller report seems to identify. A conspiracy to defraud the American people of a “native” (Americans-only) campaign.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act
3
We’re digesting the disgusting results of the Mueller Report right now. We can think about impeachment a little later, thank you.
For those of us who have grown up fearing Russia for so many years, and with right to that fear, we are absolutely appalled by the demeanor, behavior, the toying with our democracy that Donald Trump has thrown at us.
This will be a difficult decision for our legislators. They must keep in mind - no matter what, Republican legislators have stuck to Donald Trump like glue. They smirked when he has tried to throw healthcare of millions of fellow Americans under the bus. They also stash hundreds of children into cages, by taking Trump’s side. They have lied for him when they know the truth differs. They have supported allowing Trump’s family member to counsel Trump and sit at international tables even when he did not have proper security clearance. They have taken money from poor people’s taxes and fed the money on a golden spoon to the rich. They have easily tossed our natural resources and education to the wind by appointing untoward cabinet members. They allowed a private two hour meeting in secrecy in Russia with Putin, the ring leader to decimate our democracy.
Would they seriously agree to impeach Donald Trump - even though obviously corrupt?
There needs to be deep consideration in the choice here regarding impeachment and election 2020.
3
Go for it, and run on that in 2020. You'll be looking at GOP majorities as far as the eye can see.
3
What conclusions are taken from this redacted report seems to depend on one’s political leanings. It shouldn’t be that way.
That said, There are now more questions than answers, as I listen to the opinions of those more qualified to interpret Mueller’s findings. Without further investigation to get at the truth of what happened, this country will never be the same. Remember the Clinton impeachment and the way it ended.
One thing that bothers me is Hoyer saying impeachment would not be worthwhile. What an odd statement. I wonder if he meant from a political standpoint it would not be helpful to Democrats or that there is not enough there to warrant it. Isn’t impeachment designed to acquire information that determines removal or not of a sitting official?
3
Until senate republicans support impeachment, its useless to go that way. It could even help Trump. So lets the american people juge of this next year at the presidential election. In the mean time, the House can build a strong case to plea to the electors.
9
I have not been one to jump on the impeachment wagon.
But at this point, now that we know what is going on behind the curtain at the White House, it's clear that if the House does not initiate serious investigations that can lead to impeachment, they are failing to do their Constitutional duty.
Those elected to Congress swear to uphold the Constitution just as the President does. If they refuse to do their duty for political reasons, they are as derelict in their duties just as the President has been.
38
It is a simple question for the Democrats:
Do you try to impeach or do you try to win the next election?
The cost of trying to impeach, with a pre-ordained result, will be 4 more years of Trump.
For now the Democrats seem content to coast and bask in the result of the mid term elections.
3
"The question of whether to impeach"
Oh I know that one: YES
Congress needs to fulfill it's constitutional responsibilities. As long as it's done with transparency, fairness and care, the only people that should complain are not voting against Trump anyway.
If this were a Democratic administration, you could rip a page out of the Mueller report at random, and it would have enough for a Republican Congress to impeach. If HRC's email server was enough pretext for a protracted Congressional investigation, the Mueller report's substantial evidence for obstruction of justice is clearly enough to warrant impeachment proceedings.
31
Very very simple. Don't impeach if you can't convict. The "public" doesn't need to know what Trump is all about; they already know and 40% of them don't care. Do you want to raise that to 48%? Don't impeach if you can't convict. Period.
5
God, the Pelosi wing of the Democratic Party is so weak. I am so sick of hearing that Democrats need to judge the popularity of the issue carefully because impeachment is a "political" act. No, it is NOT a political act; It is a Constitutional responsibility when the conditions warrant it. If it is clear that Donald Trump has committed obstruction of justice (which it is) or that he regularly violates the Emoluments Clause (which he does) then it is the OBLIGATION of the House to impeach, regardless of whether they think the Senate will convict. By shirking their responsibilities, Democrats are prioritizing political power over preservation of the constitutional republic.
25
If this doesn't justify impeachment, then there is no point having impeachment for anything.
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No rational, objective adult would tolerate this in any public office, let alone the highest public office in the land.
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But Republicans in the Senate let it go on - to the huge damage of their country, and of all the ideals and institutions of Democracy upon which America was founded.
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The Democrats should force the Republicans pay a heavy price for damaging America.
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The Democrats should make Mitch McConnell own this.
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