“We’re going to do the right thing, that’s just the way it is, and it is going to be based on fact and law and patriotism, not partisanship or anything else,” she said.
The "right thing" is in the eye of the beholder. Every one of us holds specific worldviews - worldviews are our core beliefs (yes it is also called "religious belief") that shape our opinions and decisions. So the "right thing" for Ms. Pelosi and the Democratic party does not mean the same thing for other parties, especially the people who elected our President.
This political hack job is so obvious - it started from the day Democrats realized they lost the presidential election. As soon as they gained a majority in the House, they had a plan to push the boundaries of decency and stopped legislating - anyone could cite key legislation that came out of this Congress yet? (I can't think of one, not even a decent budget).
Elections have consequences and many voters like the results so far even if they don't necessarily like the person in the WH (but they are polite and quiet and will speak again in 2020).
I think it time we also change our country. The present crisis calls for major changes in our constitution with changing times . Americans can absorb all that.But some action is needed now. The presidency and the congress should be dissolved and the Judiciary should take over to recreate methods for a new congress and the leader of our country.A lot is falling on their heads as the public has become helpless as to form a government of the people by the people and for the people. This was great statement in spirit and action.Where is it now?
The nation is doing just fine, in spite of Trump, the Democratic and Republican politicians. Now if we can get rid of all of them with independents, we would do even better.
Congress has the legal authority to sue and detain Barr. They should use these and any other powers available. Blue Knight to Red Castle...
For me - it is scary to watch Facebook ( which has its own specific problems ) be the poster child for all that is wrong. Pick a liar - there are so many - who are working to control the narrative based on "tell the lie enough times and it becomes truth". How many "trusted" journalists engaged in the Trump treason narrative ? All now endorse an agenda driven "truth" - to steal from Al Gore - the inconvenient truth - Trump, the NY Times, MSNBC, Pelosi, Nadler, Schiff, Brennan, Clapper - all have so bent the truth as to be legitimately called liars. I have read that not a single Democratic leader has gone to the Justice Department to read a less redacted Mueller report -- If you don't know what the truth is then it is easier to spread untruths. If true - why isn't that being discussed ?
Oh for Pete's sake!
Of course it's a Constitutional crisis! No need for any Molotov Cocktails as some talking heads have suggested!
Let's think about where we are. We supposedly have three co-equal branches forming our Government under the articles of our sacred document.
At this moment, one of the branches (The Executive) is refusing to play nice and is holding a bat and swinging wildly never making contact. None the less they try their best but the people (that would be The Congress) are much too fast as well as smart. BUT, one half of that same congress (The Senate) continues to cheat while playing dodge-a-ball! They throw the balls much too hard causing them to bounce away and unfortunately no-one scores! The final branch (The Judicial) are high up in the schoolhouse peering downward and waiting desperately for the playground bell to ring before children are hurt! Finally we have our hall monitors on each floor (The Federal Courts) checking for hall passes (various bureaucrats) along the way which just slow the children trying to return to their classes. They hope to receive a proper education thus avoiding a repeat (Watergate, Clinton, Holder, Barr) their parents just couldn't seem to avoid. Perhaps it was their well intentioned use of Home Schooling, registered as a Charter School!
Yes...we have a Constitutional crisis! Superintendent Pelosi had better start earning her money before someone sets fire to the whole caboodle!
So, whaddya gonna do about it Nancy? Come on over to the dark side and grant your Liberal base's greatest wish: Impeach Trump and forfeit the 2020 election. You can't make this stuff up.
4
True, nice proclamation but you're powerless. Absolutely powerless.
Nancy Pelosi is so busy trying to serve her donors and maintain her position by ignoring Climate Change, throwing progressives under the bus, and dancing to whoever is pulling her strings hardest; she is letting the Democrats appear inept, powerless, and unable to legislate.
She, the DNC, and other PAC's are setting the stage and preparing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory one more time.
2
Yes we have a constitutional crisis - we have a half branch out of three government branches acting like tyrants with one goal - destroy the President. Asking AG to break the law. Asking for personal information protected by law and not required for any other purposes than destroying the person. Using complicit media. Ask for impossible and then term it a crisis. Nadler, Pelosi, Cummings - we did not elect them to speak for the American people.
The abuse of power by Congress is right in front of us. Congress acting like judiciary and judiciary legislating from the bench- yes we have a crisis. Vote Democrats out completely in 2020 to save the country.
4
Ah, the sweet refrain of the Nero-Pelosi violin concerto.
Trump's "Transparency":
Executive Privilege
WHAT'S HE HIDING?
Stonewalling Subpoenas
WHAT'S HE HIDING?
Implying pardons
WHAT'S HE HIDING?
6
Republicans really believe the Trump impeachment conversation is the same as the Clinton conversation? Clinton’s impeachment was over lying about having sex in the Oval Office, (seems rather quaint by today’s standards), and Trump’s is over a laundry list of unlawful actions from the emoluments clause, to Russian money laundering, to the investigations Mueller handed off to the So. District of N.Y. office of the Justice Dept.
Republicans really are in a bubble if they think the country won’t vote against them for standing idly by, while the White House and the Trump family use the office of President as a money making machine.
9
The alleged Constitutional crisis is not a crisis at present. I think the Democrats should push forward on all fronts and get the TROOPS out on every Media Outlet hammering home the reason for pursuing matters against the Imposter. Things could come to a head in Trump refuses a Court Order; so what, have he removed and this would only strengthen the Impeachment Case and the Case for No one is above the Law. I wouldn't worry about the Country being split. It's already split. Show the Democratic Party as the party of Law, Equality, Fairness, and Truth. Run on that Platform and fill in with the Policy Changes to help our Country move forward as a Nation. It's quite simple really. Have the guts to do what you may not want to do. I think you lose votes if you wimp out when backed into a corner.
1
There is also the important question of the efficacy of 2020 when what has so far been tossed to the citizenry is that its OK for a political party to synchronize with a hostile competitor nation that's running a social media mis-information campaign..
SCOTUS already allowed corporations to have inordinate influence.. Why not Russia..?
They need the whole report before they can use it for impeachment because otherwise the defense could be that there's something in the redacted parts that contradicts the grounds of impeachment.
This meta-form of governing must stop, and stop quickly. Democrats must realize that they lost the presidential election because they abandoned their base - union members and the middle class. Mrs. Clinton's embrace of Wall Street alienated so many people, including military members and veterans, that she had no chance of winning. And the woman from Florida who fixed the nomination against Mr. Sanders and for Mrs. Clinton contributed heavily to the electoral defeat.
Democrats "must" [I say that often here] must concentrate on the 2020 election, and fielding candidates up and down the ticket who will represent the interests of the huge majority of citizens who make this country what it is.
They cannot convict Mr. Trump after impeachment, and failure to realize this will relegate the Democratic Party to obscurity.
1
Unfortunately, Nancy looks increasingly tired and emaciated in the last few weeks.
I wish this dedicated public servant good and continued health, as she continues to battle this shameless administration in Congress & the courts on our behalf.
3
Well I hold all of congress in contempt for the mess that they have consistently left for us over the past 40 years. They are so busy pointing fingers at others to cover their own ineptness.
3
House leaders, of course, need to check with Senate Republicans to see if a "tipping point" is being reached regarding the removal of Trump.
If Senate Republicans become convinced that Trump has no chance of prevailing in 2020, they might want to give the House the go-ahead and move him out, thereby claiming they addressed his overreach and also opening up their primary field.
1
The Democrats have fallen into a pit of self centred moral self congratulation and self generated operational chaos. When the dust settles and Trump is elected again they may finally come to realize that the mess they are in has been a result of their own lack of competency and no clear vision for America's future. The only "crisis" here is in the Democratic Party itself.
109
@Tony Francis
When one branch of a government, that was constituted with three co-equal branches, uses obstruction of the law in order to defy the powers of another that are enumerated in the Constitution of that government, that nation is, by definition, in a constitutional crisis. You may be right that to impeach the obstructor of the law may not be politically expedient, but the crisis resides within the party that has chosen the path of power over the rule of law. It will be the party of obstruction that will, even if they retain power in the short term, suffer the existential crisis you have declared exists within the other. The rule of law is an idea that transcends party and politics. It is an idea that when threatened openly and consistently, will eventually become the inexorable seed of destruction to the usurpers that seek to crush it. The American people will not abide a dictator.
218
you're quite the comedian. the Republican party is the party of self righteousness and hypocrisy. your faux moral outrage is transparent and weak. give me a break, the party of holding Eric holder is contempt, the party of "there's bad people on both sides", the party of holding hostage a supreme Court nominee. oh, and let's not forget, the party of "family values" who literally believes Trump walks on water. morally superior indeed, my friend.
90
@Tony Francis I merely ask what kind of moral vacuum must one be in to accept and not question daily lies, indecent and unkind behavior, and incompetence and chaos from our president? This is something I wish I could possibly understand.
86
In the interest of preventing a civil war, Democrats should acknowledge that the Mueller report cleared Trump of conspiracy with a foreign power and try to work with Republicans on issues of mutual interest. I fear if Congress moved toward impeachment, it's going to ignite a bloodbath across the country. We are a tinderbox waiting to explode.
1
Our Country is (and has been) in a political crisis for over 25 years. Our political system is not (and has not been) working for the good of our citizens for decades. When a country has a large split 70/30 or even 60/40 Democracy will work. However, when the split gets to 48/52 - which is where we are now - I'm convinced that a pure Democracy will no longer work. We will need a significant emotional event to fix it. I think the last time we were so evenly spilt it required a civil war to brake the stalemate. We cannot continue this way. Something will have to give - especially when the Dems want to keep "GIVING - our hard earned money way" to illegal invaders. This country needs a workers revolution. We need to say enough is enough & mean it.
2
@Ron Kelley
What we need right away is for all the pundits and pontificators to acknowledge the rise of the Independents, now the largest voting block in the country. And for the Independents to find their voice(s).
So many voters do not really identify strongly with either major political party, with the Red / Blue theme, the sports-game-like win/lose atmosphere, the tribal alignments. It's just all so tiring and, well, tribal.
1
This fight will be strung along just long enough to get us to the release of the Inspector General's report. In the meantime, the base will revel in DJT giving congress the finger along the way.
Step 1: IG report
Step 2: Declassify everything about Russia and especially everything about surveillance of US persons
Step 3: Get out of the way and watch the stampede of politicians and dismissed bureaucrats trying to get outside the blast radius.
The most delicious part of it will be if it turns out that the Steele "Dossier" was actually a piece of the Russia disinformation campaign - swallowed hook line and sinker by our Intelligence "Experts" and those blinded by their hatred of Trump and the fact that HRC lost.
3
Pelosi’s food fight is not amusing the Independent voters.
3
I wrote a summary of all of the evidence proving that Nadler and the dishonest Demorats are lying, However, the length restriction on this comment site prevented me from putting on about 90% of that evidence, which is not contested.
But, it boils to so something very simple. The Demorats, are only concerned about regaining their power and perks, and this includes preventing the Trump admin from publishing all of the evidence which proves the crimes of the Demorat leadership, over the last 20 years.
And, to summarize the evidence, Demorats always lie, Republicans frequently lie, and Trump rarely lies, even though his manner is often very confrontational, because he detests the lies which are the basis of all Democrat "leadership" now.
If you can not see the truth in this summary, they you have your head where "the sun does not shine." and I am not referring to high in the clouds, but high up somewhere else.
Yours
Aspen
How do you know Trump is lying? His lips are moving
5
While I am not all that enthused about impeachment, Congress has oversight responsibilities and the administration is duty-bound to answer investigators questions. It is not optional, especially for constitutional officers.
After the results are aired publicly, the public can decide if impeachment is necessary, but at least then we will have the facts. This much should be obvious.
1
The way the GOP led Senate, the Administration and the Justice Department is owning the Democrats, they are bound to win the election in 2020. If Ms. Pelosi thinks there is a constitutional crises, then as the House Sepaker and Senior member of the Democratic party, she ought to do something about it. I am sick and tired to see the Democrats in the Congress being kicked around like this.
3
Does anyone remember AG Eric Holder under President Obama? Same thing with the Democratic AG protecting a Democratic President and then a Republican Congress holding Holder in contempt. Nadler decried this as "shameful" and "politically-motivated" at the time when it was against his party, but now there is a constitutional crisis when it's against the Republicans. I don't buy it. I believe this is clearly as much of a partisan and politically-motivated issue as the Holder case was and I would be shocked if anyone didn't vote along party lines about it.
4
Why are some of us splitting hairs here? Have we become so uneducated and obtuse that we do not understand the reasons this country's Constitution was rationed in the way it was? Apparently so! This sewage show should be deeply troubling to all United State citizens, but it is not. We need to start looking at who we are. Democrats: step up and articulate what you believe. Republicans: I do not know who you are anymore other than greedy opportunists who ride the waves of politics like a surf boarder or skate boarder dude looking for that short sound bite of adulation on youtube and the accompanying sponsorship it provides (btw. dems do it too and you should stop it and govern). Let's Make America Great Again???? Let's make us all great, the poor of the world, the hungry of the world, the 1% and the 99%, those who seek justice, and those who seek peace and security. What is going on in this country is pure class warfare in a real sense and ideological sense. WAKE UP!
1
I think it should be pointed out that Barr attempted to negotiate a time for this hearing to take place, but the dems walked away and tried to railroad him.
Also, he offered to allow several democrats to come and view the unredacted Mueller Report at his office (not release it) and they also refused that! Why? Because this isn't about Justice, it's about them staying on the offensive and trying to keep their friends out of jail!
We all know the FISA warrants were the real crime here and the only people obstructing that justice are those in the democrat controlled house!
Meanwhile, Dems Scream Obstruction over a crime that Trump never committed and they all know he never did, but they can't stay on that band wagon, so they jumped to the only thing they could think of (seeing the race card was all played out).
4
As far as I know, there is no solid statistical data that indicates a solid Democratic victory in 2020. What if Trump/GOP mentality wins again--only 18 months from now? The contempt of Congress/impeacment path is the only choice at this point, to begin refurbishing our government according to the vision of the founding fathers.
And it doesn't help the Democratic party to have a Kentucky Derby field of 20 politicians scrambling all over track. Some kind of cohesion needs to occur soon if a a clear alternative message is to be before the electorate.
4
@Athawwind
"As far as I know, there is no solid statistical data that indicates a solid Democratic victory in 2020."
As compared to the solid statistical data that indicated a solid Democratic victory in 2016.
Pelosi and Nadler look like they're having more of a constipational crisis.
4
Trump is a master of media manipulation. That is how he conned a large portion of Americans into believing that he was actually the person portrayed in “The Apprentice,” not the fraud that he is.
The Democrats need to hire the same Madison Avenue media machines that helped elect the biggest con man in American history get elected president.
That means knowing how to use five minute sound bites in Congressional hearings and amping up their media presence by 1000%.
Subpoena them all and walk them on camera to jail if necessary.
2
The idea that she is being measured in waiting for impeachment is ridiculous. She is just deflecting until she gives the greenlight, so that it doesn't look so much like a railroading. Sshe wants to, her party can't help but do it, and they will. If you look back on this time as her moment of thoughtfulness, you need to check your gullibility meter.
1
Can a lawyers license be revoked by the Bar Assn for contempt of Congress charges?
There's something very wrong neurologically with Pelosi. Besides her claims that impeaching anyone, whatever their crimes, is 'off the table', she can hardly speak at times. She has odd facial mannerisms that look a lot like Parkinson's.
Seriously, this woman is not fit for the critical times we're in, or her important role in it. Time for her to stand down.
1
@signalfire
She's always been a terrible public speaker (irony!), But don't let that confuse you. She is all there in the smarts department
1
Contempt is the right word to describe what is happening. . Contempt is what Trump and the Republican leadership have for the American people and our democracy.
2
Elected self-government is difficult under the best of circumstances. Cooperation between different parties and factions is vital if chaos and deadlocks are to be avoided. Most people want our government to succeed, work on important problems, and reach amicable resolutions to promote progress and betterment across our society.
The president doesn’t see it this way. From the get-go he has taken an adversarial approach to governing. He blames others for his own mistakes and failure to develop policies that most of us can accept. He has no coherent foreign policy and his declared domestic policies have been locked up in his obsession with undocumented immigrants and his “wall”. He plays a winner-take-all game at the expense of millions of American workers and businesses. We are now paying for his ill-fated trade wars with China and our European allies while he continues to praise Putin.
He governs as he has run his businesses for many years: using other people and their money to buy his way out of his own failures. Now, he appears to be beholden to foreign lenders that have worked through Deutsche Bank to bail him out while also exerting influence on him as president. Why else all the friendly words to Vladimir Putin who doesn’t owe us a thing and is driving a policy aimed at undermining our democracy?
1
Pelosi is right. We are in a Constitutional crisis. That crisis has a name, the DNC. The Democrats seem to be deaf to all but the extremist of their party. Their sole agenda/platform seems to be the gaining of complete political power by any means available, even if it injures America in the process. Pelosi is not a voice of freedom but an instrument in what amounts to subversion.
3
After reading some of the comments, I don't think they know our Constitution at all, it's a problem when the current administration tells his staff and even civilians not to answer to a co-equal branch of the country. If only one branch decides what they will and won't do then that's a dictatorship not a democracy. To the people deciding that this isn't a crisis then you are saying that trump is a king and answers to no one and that is not right.
2
"Pelosi Declares Nation Is in a ‘Constitutional Crisis’". Well, duh!
Anyone watching this unfold from day 1 knows we are in a Constitutional crisis. I think the only reason Mueller didn't indict Trump was in hopes Congress would do their job as an "equal branch" of government. It's long past time for Congress to act on the lawlessness that has invaded the executive branch. This has been our faces for 2 years, daring Congress to act. DO YOUR JOB CONGRESS.
1
Speaker Pelosi has now decided that we are in a constitutional crisis, but let's talk about this and that, that and this, self impeachment, Barr is a naughty, naughty boy, we will site everyone for contempt and take it all the way to the SC if we have to, which already has four justices that buy into the concept of expanded presidential powers (otherwise known as the Unitary Executive Theory), but never mind about that.
Yes, let's talk about health care, but do nothing about outside interference that is already happening.
Let's legitimize elections that were partially determined by that outside interference.
Even better, more than 700 former federal prosecutors have already told Ms. Pelosi and company that just based on Mueller's redacted report, our fearless leader can be charged for obstruction with the evidence that has already been presented.
Bi-partisan, no less!
But nooooo...that is not enough for Ms. Pelosi and Democratic Leadership.
Perhaps worst of all, all this posturing, dithering and verbal acrobatics is allowing Trump to turn himself into a self professed victim and Ms. Pelosi, people are beginning to listen.
They are tuning you out!
I am tuning you out!
At this point, I'd rather be listening to the ceramic chicken, which I am pretty certain would opt for an impeachment inquiry, unlike the foolishness that is passing for leadership in the Democratic Party.
Weaker by the day!
I'm well informed, but don't understand what's going on:
Contempt of Congress citations will become instruments for the Trump administration to weaponize the courts for stonewalling, all the way into the 2020 election. So, the only purpose of the citations can be for impeachment, which the Trumpists welcome, for the sake of victimizing themselves against Democrats in the 2020 races.
I hate to suspect, but do, that the Constitution is serving autocracy very well, and Democrats are ultimately helpless without control of the Senate.
Have at it. Trump likes a challenge and he has his congressional lackeys to back him up. Get a subpoena on record. Start the process. Trump is not above the law. Don't lose sight of that!
1
There is no "constitutional crisis" presently. That is because we have in our Constitution a remedy for this current Legislative--Executive clash, called the Judicial Branch; it is in large part why the federal courts are there. What we do have is a breakdown of governance, where nothing gets done and everything is stalemated.
If and when the Supreme Court issues a final order telling Trump to do something, such as hand over his tax returns, and he refuses, then we would have such a crisis, because the remedies for resolving the conflict would be exhausted. Let us hope this does not come to pass.
1
The title of this is very ironic to me honestly. Someone in government announcing that we're in constitutional crisis, when government is the number one reason for this. This is really not all that new if you think about it. All of the people screaming for guns to be taken away from gun owners (constitutional right), censorship of people's personal opinions on certain matters, which last I checked was freedom of speech (constitutional right), and the one I loved the most...government forcing us to buy a product (ObamaCare) or they fine us...which is against the constitution as well. So, as much as I stay away from the news and politics...because of all the irony in most of it, I had to at least say that much.
5
tony francis- america has a constitution with 3 EQUAL branches. when one branch decides to ignore or invalidate another, it is a crisis. dems are doing the right thing to maintain the fabric of the united states and our democracy. it's country before party
hope this never happens for you in canada
4
Yes, a Constitutional Crisis. When the House of Representatives of the United States goes on strike and declares war on the President instead of representing those who elected them.
Nothing in the Constitution on a way to impeach a whole Congress because they solely represent a political party. On the other hand there is no mention in the Constitution of "political parties" either.
4
The constitution charges Congress with the duty to provide checks and balances on a president running amok, trampling over the constitution. The president is the crisis!
1
By complying with Senate requests to testify and refusing to testify in the house, the administration in collusion with Republican senate, they are trying to make it a Democratic partisan issue than any legitimacy in their requests to testify. This administration flourishes and excels in muddying the waters. Hope, the house will move resolutely in their pursuit of truth. They should avoid verbal exchange of charges.
2
The special counsel law, by its terms, lets Barr decide what, if anything, to do with the report. It'd an odd law, but that's what it is, and Congress hasn't changed it. So I'd leave the language of "constitutional crisis" for things that are more clearly that.
Politically, Democrats should emphasize that obstructing investigation into crimes one wasn't involved in is still a crime. Nixon wasn't involved in the Watergate burglary, and the burglary didn't affect the election; yet his obstruction of investigation into the burglary was a removal-worthy offense.
1
Many people are blaming the democrats.
Do these people believe that the US president is above the law? Do they disagree with our constitution? Do they believe that we should shift how our our country is govern? Do they believe a president can say and do any thing he wants as long as his party is the majority in the senate? Do they believe that the Barr should represent the president and not the people?
If this is true, we have made a fundamental shift.
It unfortunate that people are so in love with trump and what he represents that they are willing to throw away what many have died to protect.
5
First - If its in a "crisis", its because there are no adults left in DC and the media is calling for one to sell airtime, papers and personalities. We need everyone to take a breath and wisely negotiate a path to peace and prosperity.
Second, it should be noted that most people between the coasts have a different agenda that has nothing to do with the hate emanating from DC and the talking heads.
2
This is absolutely a Constitutional Crisis as the Democrats are attempting to overturn a President in a coup. The more fabrications they come up with....the harder they try. The closer we get to having real issues. Ones that will have farther reaching consequences I fear.
No crime has been identified that this President participated in. That said spying on President Trumps campaign is Nixon X 10. Arrest warrants need to be issued by the Justice Dept for those FBI assets that attempted this coup.
6
The Democratic party are the ones who should be on trial for Treasonous acts against America. Through the Hate that they have shown to this LEGALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT they have forever changed the way any future President will be respected. It is all a ruse to keep people from uniting and demanding Term Limits. Anything to divert attention from the real problems facing America today.
5
Dems should step back and look at themselves and how they’ve been acting. They all hate President Trump. They all react hysterically when he tries to govern the country. They look desperately for allies but no republicans will help them. They brought this on themselves by their refusal to accept the results of the 2016 election. If they keep this up, all decent Americans will vote republican and then the Dems will be up the creek without a paddle and it will be four more years of President Trump.
4
There is no “constitutional crisis”. There is only the refusal of the Democrats to accept the results of the 2016 presidential election.
7
There is no “constitutional crisis”. There is only the refusal of the Democrats to accept the results of the 2016 presidential election.
4
When Chief Justice John Marshall proclaimed in Marbury v. Madison that the Supreme Court of the United States had final say on the meaning of the Constitution one method for resolving a' Constitutional crisis' was established.
Letting the least democratic branch of our divided limited different power constitutional republic of the united states resolve Constitutional issues is a deeply flawed danger to the survival of American republic.
1
Constitutional meltdown is more like it.
10
Democrats should exercise oversight. Playing politics caused Pelosi to say, "Impeachment is off the table!" Democrats had supermajorities in 2006. Republicans were starting wars in Iraq, torturing, using electronic surveillance, gerrymandering, and "deregulating" the economy with the subprime fraud that crashed out the economy in 2008. No bankers went to prison.
Appeasement of fascists doesn't work. That was the lesson of the 30s and 40s. Trump teamed up with fascist Russian oligarchs to win the Electoral College. He obstructed the Mueller investigation in countless ways. He told 10,000 lies compared to the 950 or so told by Bush43. People want justice. People want truth.
11
The Constitutional crises began in 2000 when the first of the two worst Administrations of the last century came to power after losing the popular vote. Donald Trump is merely a continuation of the trend, whereby, the willful ignorance of the minority supersedes the wisdom of the majority.
Trump should have never been allowed to enter the White House in the first place. And if the Democrats had done their job when they were in power, we would have never gotten to this latest "crisis" in the first place.
A system of government where the minority consistently wins and rules is not a democracy. And ours is currently on the brink of becoming a kleptocracy.
What if Nixon had prevailed? And what will happen to our country if Donald Trump is allowed to prevail? If our country becomes a symbol of lies, racism, ego-mania, and unadulterated moral degeneracy?
11
We have been in a constitutional crisis ever since the Republican Senate stonewalled President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court——instead of advise and consider as constitutionally mandated.
13
The crisis is that the House is paralyzed, Perhaps Nancy should try governing.
3
The House can enact whatever they wish. McConnell and Trump will ignore it. Your comment reeks of false equivalency and an attempt to blame Democrats for not accomplishing the impossible.
2
On June 12, 2012 NYT did not use "stonewalling" in reference to Eric Holder's refusal to release documents that implicated his own wrongdoing. Instead, NYT championed the refusal. NYT's "reporting" was nothing more than a platform for the Democrat position as (in NYT's words) Democrats "struck back" against the Republicans' "maneuver" that was based in "partisan spite."
"Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday struck back at the committee majority’s threat to find Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena, saying that Republicans on the panel were acting out of partisan spite and that their maneuver was legally deficient.
“Holding the attorney general in contempt of Congress for protecting these documents is an extreme and blatant abuse of the Congressional contempt power that undermines the credibility of the committee,” a staff memo released by the committee’s Democrats said.
In the 13-page memo, the Democrats said it would be a violation of federal law for Mr. Holder to provide the documents, because many of them are from grand jury testimony and are part of [DOJ's] continuing prosecutions.
The memo said that [the] threat to move ahead with a contempt citation exposed “the committee’s action as a politically motivated, election year witch hunt rather than a legitimate exercise of Congressional oversight designed to develop reform measures to combat the flow of illegal guns.”
7
If the report's lack of criminal conspiracy charges was directly a result of the president's and others' obstruction of the investigation into conspiracy itself, then the Congress ultimately has no choice but to begin impeachment hearings. Especially since the current Constitutional crisis is the result of further obstruction: ignoring and defying subpoenas.
6
As usual, the Democrats are getting hung up making arguments about the process at hand rather than the substance. It dilutes the message they need to get across to the public. The people the Democrats need to bring back into the fold don’t care about the process, whatever that process might be. On this and other issues, the Democrats need to ask simple questions, over and over over, until the general public gets it. What is Donald Trump hiding? Why did the Russians work so hard to elect him? Do the Russians have something on him? Is Trump deeply in debt to the Russians? If they would only keep up a constant drumbeat with these questions, Trump would probably start losing some of his support, regardless of whether he complies with their requests.
4
I love Speaker Pelosi, but you can't say something is a "crisis," then not take action to address it.
If a natural disaster strikes, you don't say, "Let's have some hearings."
You say, "Let's get some boots on the ground with some supplies and assistance."
A "crisis" compels action, not inaction. Either don't call it a "crisis," or start acting like there is one.
9
We are not going to win by spending our time looking at the GOP and Trump and bad mouthing them. Who do we democrats think is listening... swing voters? nah...
I am a democrat and I feel democrats are shooting themselves in the feet. Instead of worrying about getting the best candidate to run against Trump we have 30 candidates all attacking each other to be that candidate and I feel none is good enough to win.
I do not believe Biden is the best we have. He has lost 4 times. I wanted Bloomberg to run and he would have if we democrats had our act in order.
Why do we spend so much time looking at the competition (Trump) and so little time looking to make sure we have the very best candidate?? Thats a big error.
Who is the next great democrat leader? why have we not found that person ? is old Biden all we got?
2
@Paul Schejtman Agree 100% with " Instead of worrying about getting the best candidate to run against Trump we have 30 candidates all attacking each other to be that candidate and I feel none is good enough to win."
There are so many great Democrat talents -- they don't want to run because the same viciousness aimed at Trump and crew will be yelled at them and their families. Forget the "Hate Trump" -- concentrate on "We are better at the job".
1
Nancy Pelosi: "It's not about pressure. It's about patriotism."
No, it's about politics. The Democrats aren't looking for facts or information. Robert Mueller looked for those for two years, and laid out everything he found in his report. The redactions hide nothing that the House needs to decide whether to impeach.
The House simply wants to find something else to harass the Trump administration about so they manufacture a "constitutional crisis". And the New York Times and other Democratic media report it as though it were real. That's politics.
9
@John Smithson - how do you know what the redacted portions of the report hide?
3
It should be a Constitutional Crisis that someone ( Pelosi ) can spend their entire lives in Public Service and become a Multi-Multi-Millionaire. She is worth north of $100 million and has never built even a hut in her life. But something Trump is doing is the 'emergency' huh? Not the Dinosaurs ruling the Democratic party and leading it to its doom?
2
As long as Democrats do their usual thing of being too nice and too tolerant, Trump will continue to commit impeachable offenses, right out in the open. He no longer cares, nor do Republicans. Enough with "wait and see." We've seen more than enough already. Win, lose, or draw, Democrats need to start impeachment proceedings immediately. Every day they wait is another day Trump, McConnell, and Barr get to promote their false narrative that this is just evil Democrats trying to get even for Hillary.
5
Can the Mueller report and/or some vital documents that it is based upon disappear? "Oops, it was eaten by snakes"?
Is there a copy somewhere that Trump, or Barr, cannot touch?
I don't think such a scenario is beyond them.
2
Somewhere down the page in small print it says:
The Speaker of the House, Third in line to the Presidency of the United States, Says "THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS"
I have little faith anymore in this country's form of government or in the people of this country to rise from their submersion in willful ignorance.
2
Here we go again! Speaker Nancy Pelosi is falling into the trap that the President has set up for the democrats! He wants them to impeach him. Let be clear. If the democrats decide to impeach then They will lose the Presidential Election,They will lose the House back. For sure they will lose completely control of the Supreme Court !
Face the facts that Donald Trump will be there for the next 6 years
Wake up and stop chasing the rabbit down the rabbit hole .
Its a dead end
5
What is it about the Democrats that the Republican base hates so much? Are the Democrats often feckless and bad at messaging? Yes. Does a hyper-PC wing of the party have an outsize, if not ultimately politically impactful, voice in our society? Yes.
But... the hatred toward Democrats seems disproportionate toward these shortcomings. I'm often frustrated with Democrats, but it's clear that, very generally speaking, they're at least TRYING to do good things for everyday Americans - and hold people who abuse power accountable. What is it that this authoritarian-enabling base sees that makes them seethe with rage when a Democrat comes into view?
I'm flummoxed...
20
@Alex Speaking as someone who leans right, I don't hate Democrats at all. And I never seethe with rage at them. Quite the opposite. I realize they believe in their views just like I believe in mine.
Some people have this idea that Donald Trump and his followers are perpetually angry. Maybe some are, but I can't think of any who are that way. As for Donald Trump himself, he may get angry in private but I've never seen him angry in public. Biting humor, yes. Anger, no.
4
@Alex
Please tell us what they are doing for everyday Americans. The border? No. Tax reform? No. Healthcare? No. They are missing in action. They only thing that Dems do well is block!
4
@Chuck
How about protecting reproductive rights of women, to start?
Bottom Line.
Democrats don't know what to do with themselves.
5
@True Observer As a Democrat, I wish that weren't true.
1
Most readers still assume that we live in a democracy where the rule of law is the governing principle, and where 3 branches of govt are co-equal & provide a system of checks & balances.
But, we are living in the age of Trump, where the rule of law has been superseded by a band of rogues, who simply disregard the constitutional power of Congress to limit Presidential overreach. And, I am sorry to say that we are beyond any constitutional crisis. A constitutional crisis assumes that there still is a Constitution. But Trump and the Republicans have effectively renderded the US Constitution null & void.
With the shocking & unprecedented obstruction of Obama's constitutional right to nominate Garland by McConnell, SCOTUS is now stacked in Trump's favor with the ascension of Gorsuch & Kavanaugh (true believers in unlimited presidential power) to the Bench. This is the culmination of a decades-long, carefully orchestrated Republican strategy to undermine Democracy as we know it. This includes the successful raiding of the US Treasury (cynically titled the "Tax Cut & Jobs Act").
Any act by Trump, even his unwillingness to accept his potential loss in the 2020 elections, will eventually be ruled in his favor. I foresee a suspension of democratic elections, and Trump declaring himself President-for-Life. Who can really stop Trump, Barr, McGahn, McConnell from usurping power ? Unfortunately, Pelosi and the Dems have been out-maneuvered, and are way too late.
13
Was the US in a constitutional crisis when the House held AG Eric Holder in contempt and nothing become of it? Please, this is craven politics at its worst. And also suicide for the Democrats as it steals oxygen from the candidates on real issues on which they might actual be able to win in 2020. Instead them will be stuck running on this and Trump will run on the economy. Start blowing up the balloons for Trump's reelection celebration.
11
Oh, cheese! The sky is falling! Again!
If it's not climate change, it's President Trump. Do any of these people have real jobs?
4
The entire situation is dreadful, as situations go. It's politics, so in a sense it's normal, but it's dire.
Howard Stern has made some good points in another article; DT never wanted to be president. It's important to remove him from his role because he doesn't belong there. If you hire a cook to do the job of a chambermaid, no matter how much you like him or her, it's not going to work well, and the sooner you correct the mistake, the better. In this case it's worse- it's like hiring a crook instead of a chambermaid. If he goads the Congress to impeach him, it's because he likes the limelight, no matter how he looks under it. And meanwhile, everything and everyone around him goes to pieces
5
Trump is a slippery individual so be careful what you ask for. It would not surprise me if there is no tangible evidence, concrete evidence, no recording, no document, directly linking Trump to collusion/obstruction or crimes that he himself committed or ordered in any of the Mueller documents Congress is requesting. The perverse art of Trump is to set up his adversaries, time and again, to walk right into his trap. In this case he behaves as if he is hiding something so big it's got to be the nail in his coffin only to further prove he's, "Totally exonerated," because his fingerprints aren't on anything. As much as I want this aberration of a President gone- he remains untouchable. Democrats focus on 2020 or we are all doomed.
7
@Dominique The obstruction is out in the open for all to see. 700+ former US attorneys signed a letter indicating as much.
4
Yes, Madam speaker, we are in a constitutional crisis. What are you going to do about it?
10
Yes Nancy, we are in a constitutional crisis. When we have the Congress compelling an individual to break the law, we have indeed hit crisis level and it is under your control, ergo it is your fault!
4
This country has been in a Constitutional crisis since at least the Scalia/Garland debacle. The SCOTUS has lost all legitimacy since then with the invalid Kavanaugh appointment and the Executive branch has not had even an iota since January 20, 2017. I cannot believe how far and how fast we are falling.
11
It may be a crisis, but do Trump followers and other parts of the public actually care? It is Panem et Circenses - Bread and Entertainment - for the masses. Most people realize that life goes on no matter what Congress and the President are doing. They don’t seem relevant. And many people don’t care about government to begin with. And if they would, wouldn’t it be time to end this farce around Trump and his circle by removing them envoking the Amendment to the Constitution that is being worshipped in this country? Not the one about impeachment...
3
We need a modern-day Daniel Ellsberg steely enough to take the risk and release the full unredacted Mueller report to the press.
8
Or, they could focus on a legislative agenda. If they had one
That is actually the legislative branch primary function.
That is the crisis
4
@Joe Yoh
Remind me who it is that's blocking climate change legislation, health care legislation, clean government legislation, immigration legislation, infrastructure legislation.....
The evidence amply demonstrates obstruction of justice by the president. Such a flagrant violation of the law obviously cannot be left unanswered.
But there’s nothing in the Constitution that REQUIRES Congress to impeach. Congress is free to leave the judgment to the voters if it feels that is a less divisive and more certain means of redress.
Those who argue that Congress has a "Constitutional responsibility" to impeach are wrong. There is no such thing. Whether to impeach is a political decision, and it has always been regarded as such.
4
We have been in a constitutional crisis for some time, since key portions of the Constitution were no longer working nor workable.
One of those smashed provisions is the Impeachment Clause, which Ms. Pelosi mystifyingly refuses to use. There is little difference between her reticence and Mitch McConnell's refusal to make his constitutionally-required response to Obama's constitutionally-required nomination of Merrick Garland. Broken is broken is broken.
The Dred Scott Decision was the fundamental breakdown that culminated in the Civil War. But it took a few years before the breakage started showing up as armed conflict in the streets. A national campaign of complete blindness to the meaning of the breakdown ruled both North and South until 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was finally wrested out of Lincoln's pen by the necessities of war and foreign diplomacy.
3
I don’t understand the argument that Trump is trying to create this constitutional crisis in order to rally his base. The base is rallied! Not that I am remotely part of the Republican base, but I have had beyond enough.
Trump needs to win in 2020 and, frankly, somehow keep himself in office indefinitely in order to avoid being exposed as a conman or hopefully going to prison. I would criticize his strategy of goading the Democrats towards impeachment, but the simple answer is that he has no strategy. He is simply too vengeful and erratic to do anything even in his own best interest. I would feel sorry for him, except for how much damage he has wreaked on the entire world. I’m not exaggerating there.
Thank God Pelosi is catching on.
8
I don’t understand the argument that Trump is trying to create this constitutional crisis in order to rally his base. The base is rallied! Not that I am remotely part of the Republican base, but I have had beyond enough.
Trump needs to win in 2020 and, frankly, somehow keep himself in office indefinitely in order to avoid being exposed as a conman or hopefully going to prison. I would criticize his strategy of goading the Democrats towards impeachment, but the simple answer is that he has no strategy. He is simply too vengeful and erratic to do anything even in his own best interest. I would feel sorry for him, except for how much damage he has wreaked on the entire world. I’m not exaggerating there.
Thank God Pelosi is catching on.
Trump 's authoritarian preferences shown by his admiration for supreme leaders, Putin, Xi and Kim are in full daylight for all to see. Republicans are willingly enabling the erosion of our democracy by allowing Trump to continue to implement his creeping dictatorial agenda. The last hope is for the citizenry to rise and cast their ultimate judgement in the most consequential and clearly defined Federal presidential section in 150 years.
2
Nancy Pelosi has problems.
She has to restrain the faction that would like to start impeachment proceedings yesterday, the faction that want to gather the evidence and hold hearings so that the American people can see and hear first-hand, and combat the republican party at the federal level who have chosen to lie and act like ignorati while not alienating the non-federal republican rank-and-file. She has to do all this while "preserving, protecting, and defending" the U.S, Constitution and not appear to be harsh, un-ladylike, but always well-groomed.
If you think a man could do what she has to do, comment, please.
3
@John
Yes. Backward& in high heels. Heaven help us.
1
Constitutional crisis? US Attorney General? Ms. Pelosi has a short memory.
In June, 2012, Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress for not releasing documents regarding the "Fast and Furious" illegal gun tracking debacle. Holder was the first US AG ever held in both criminal and civil contempt.
The Obama Administration also refused to release relevant documents because of "executive privilege" even though Obama had previously never seen them.
“What is happening here is shameful," said Pelosi, regarding what she considered a politically motivated attack on the US Attorney General.
4
"While Mr. Mueller found insufficient evidence": no, this is not what you had reported on. He DID find sufficient evidence (more than 700 prosecutors, at last count, say so), he just DECLINED to bring charges, and deferred the decision to the Atty Gal. Please be careful how you phrase things like this, they get taken out of context by unscrupulous outlets.
4
Trump is not a king, although he acts like one. Don Jr. is not a prince despite displaying a reckless disregard for citizens. Both need sharp reminders because nothing else gets through their entitled attitudes. Pelosi is herding cats and taking the measured, long view, setting a strong example for “normal” people everywhere.
5
Collusion this...
Obstruction that...
Contempt here...
Impeachment there...
Meanwhile, once again, there is complete legislation deadlock in DC and America continues to crumble as a result (infrastructure, immigration, healthcare, etc).
But no worries... our elected leaders will continue to collect FAT paychecks with FAT pensions and FAT (lifelong) benefits package.
4
I always wonder, where is Chuck Schumer? Why is he so conspicuously absent. Is it possible he is either afraid of Trump or is supporting subconsciously his New York buddy
2
Gerald Nadler said exactly the same words. So why pin this tail on Nancy Pelosi? Am I overthinking this?
3
And just what is a Constitutional Crisis" -
1
The crisis is political, not Constitutional. It won’t be a Constitutional crisis until the White House defies a Supreme Court decision and order. We aren’t even close to that now.
Pelosi needs to dunk her head in a bucket of ice water, take a few deep breaths, calm down, and get over her TDS. The MSM and Democrats in general need to start thinking clearly.
I know... tall order.
2
Nancy Pelosi: "It's not about pressure, it's about patriotism." What a great line. Mitch McConnell is a traitor to his oath, his country and the Constitution.
7
If you mean a manufactured constitutional crisis, you are correct. The Dems have had to manufacture this in order to make last ditch efforts to get "the bad orange man". This is a farce and we all see it for what it really is.
2
This is getting silly. First it's mental illness that needs to oust Donald Trump. Then it's criminal links to Russia. Then it's this. Then it's that.
We don't have a "constitutional crisis". We just have politicians attacking their political enemies and desperately trying to find some basis for their attacks. The name for that is a "witch hunt".
1
I read the Mueller report and buried on page two of Volume 1 "collusion" was not a concept used by the investigators; "conspiracy" was. So anytime you hear a talking head say "No Collusion" regarding the Mueller report, please think three thoughts: They are lying.They didn't read the Mueller report or didn't understand what they read. Whatever your final thought is, you would be foolish to believe a liar, an illiterate, or an ignoramus.
6
All this brinkmanship is dangerous. These politicians should stop acting like children, and start acting like responsible adults.
2
What does it take for misguided and conscienceless people to see the truth? We now have a "president" who is obstructing justice in the investigation of charges of obstructing justice!!! And still his "base" supports him. How many more instances of connect the crime dots will it take for everyone to see Don the Con for what he truly is ........a total fraud and criminal. Ask anyone with influence in NYC over the past 50 years and you will hear the unvarnished truth about the Trumps, as that family's criminal behavior has made many powerful enemies. There could be no question of what Trump is if the facts about his business crimes could be exposed. Bribes, mafia, all of it.
3
The documents demanded are confidential. Legally confidential. The constitutional crisis being declared by the California Crazy is based upon the AG’s (correct) reluctance to fully release restricted grand jury Testimony to Congress.
Your resist campaign, Dems, is onerous. Move on. We have real problems in this country, and Congress is tied up with this nonsense. That you ran Hillary in 2016 is unfortunate for you. But please. Move on.
2
So this crisis is because Pelosi wanted the tiny information in the Muller Report that's redacted?
3
I wish the Democrats would urge more people to read the Mueller Report from beginning to end. It's practically a civic duty. Those who refuse to read and instead seem to have many opinions about it are fooling themselves.
The president's declaring "executive privilege" of the redactions and evidence going to oversight committees in Congress, and the contemptuous behavior of officials refusing to comply with lawful subpoenas is outrageous. Not one official has raised the legality of these subpoenas with any court, they've just taken it upon themselves--perhaps because of intimidation by the president--to not comply. An the Republican leadership is, well, just pathetic. They stand in thrall to a conniving, relentlessly scheming, dishonest president--shame.
What's happening is a disgrace. We are a country of laws and no one is above them. Articles of impeachment should be drawn up and served on this lawless renegade with the moral of a stone.
5
Let me get this straight. The democrats were unhappy that they lost the 2016 election, so they fabricated this story of collusion between Trump and Russia. After two years of investigation, Mueller determined that the accusation of treasonous collusion by Trump was nonsense. But, like courageous liberal heroes from the fifties, Trump resisted ("obtructed") the McCarthyite witch hunt. Think Dalton Trumbo, Paul Robeson, and many others who were properly acclaimed by genuine, courageou s prorgressives from that era.
But Pelosi (who used to be sane) and her cohorts now think we have a "Constitutional crisis"!
This will lead to a civil war in the not too distant future. I can't foresee any other way of resolving the genuine loathing we have between the two sides. Why? Because we have serious demands for unlimited illegal immigration by illiterates; reparations; taxpayer payment of hundreds of billions of millenial debt; disruptive "free" healthcare for all; fluid genders; major surgery on the Constitution (Electoral College); voting for felons and 16 year olds; legalized marijuana; cold (hot?) war against Russia; "free" trade, but no free speech; what else have I left out?
Civil War may indeed be preferable.
2
There's an even chance that there's absolutely nothing "there" of substance to see. And when, finally, Trump allows its selected release, Democrats will look even more like utter fools. That will not keep them from pushing the battlefield elsewhere.
Trump does know how to troll them.
1
I agree that Ms. Pelosi should not give anything away to Donald Trump and the Republicans. She should silently file contempt charges and let them land like a hammer blow. Giving Trump more fodder is undeserving. He thrives on bombast and blustery.
2
The specific circumstances and motivations don't matter. If a Congressional committee subpoenas you, you respond and you show up. I don't care who you are -- an auto-mechanic, CEO of a vile tech company, or the Attorney General. That's the agreement of the society which we live in. History will not look upon these clowns kindly.
5
We've been in a Constitutional Crisis since the Supreme Court voted in favour of corporations in the Citizens United case.
We've been in a Constitutional Crisis since allowing a man who despises, denigrates, betrays, violates, and advocates for Americans to violates it to be in charge of it as President.
We've been in a Constitutional Crisis since Trump has been attacking and damaging our Democratic institutions and the societal prerequisites for running a constitutional democracy, including respect for truth, national unity, and keeping religion and governance separate.
6
those who view this independently of any ideology will penalize the democratic party for their reckless nonsense that is interfering with governance. the feedback will come in the 2020 elections, one resulting in republican speaker
4
Please define a "Constitutional Crisis", Ms. Pelosi. Was it a Constitutional Crisis when President Obama used Executive Privilege to protect Eric Holder from testifying about "Fast and Furious" or when a President uses the FBI and Intelligence apparatus to spy on the campaign of a Presidential nominee?
9
The stock market is dropping, entitlement programs are not being dealt with, opiate addiction is killing more Americans than ever before, immigration system needs some changes, infrastructure (like Amtrak) is laughable and major airline hubs like LaGuardia airport is still 3rd World (aka Biden's description), Mueller has completed his analysis......and what do the "geniuses" in DC do? Declare a constitutional crisis.
The Circus is back in town.
5
@Steve
Sometimes, Steve, things arise that are of paramount importance. The very operation of our government, the trust we have in our government, how it is operating in light of Constitutional standards...tre all essential elements that eclipse even the issues you point to.
This is not a circus. as you say, but an effort to assure that our Democracy operates in the way it was designed.
8
The only crisis is the continued assault on a legitimately elected executive - like him or not. The Mueller report concluded that there was no collusion and the supposed 'obstruction' was a president-elect refusing to participate in a malicious campaign aimed at crippling his agenda. This is ONLY BAD for everyone - future Democrat presidents included.
11
@Will Sir you're mistaken. The Mueller Report does not say there was "no collusion". Your mere mention of the "no collusion" mantra you're parroting from the president demonstrates you haven't bothered to look at Mueller Report. The report attempt to educate people like you by stating the following; "collusion is not a specific offense or theory of liability found in the United States Code, nor is it a term of art in federal criminal law. For those reasons, the Office's focus in analyzing questions of joint criminal liability was on conspiracy as defined in federal law (pg. 2 paragraph 3). You've heard the phrase no collusion of often it has become a real thing to you. The phrase is nothing more than a red herring. The Mueller Report found "the social media campaign and the GRU hacking operations coincided with a series of contacts between Trump Campaign officials and individuals with ties to the Russian government" (pg. 5 paragraph 2). So please stop touting the phony "no collusion" argument.
5
@Will
The Mueller report absolutely did *not* conclude that there was no collusion. It concluded there was not enough evidence to convince a jury to convict the President of a criminal conspiracy. It laid out numerous examples of campaign officials coordinating with Russian activities, pointed to several individuals with access to Trump who are almost certainly assets for Russian intelligence, and it pointed out that its conclusion may have been different if it weren't for the administration's refusal to cooperate in good faith, its destruction of documents, and its encrypted communications. There is ample evidence of collusion, just not enough for Mueller to believe he could get a conviction.
Secondly, I wasn't aware that you're allowed to obstruct justice if you think you've been wrongfully accused. The lengths you people go to in order to defend the most reprehensible human being in American politics astonish me. It's almost impressive.
5
@Will The Mueller Report concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy with a foreign government. It then went on to highlight acts by Trump that may be considered obstruction of justice. Under Article I the House has the power to impeach. Mueller laid out sufficient evidence to support that Trump may be guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors." It is incumbent upon Congress to investigate these allegations and impeach where appropriate. This has nothing to do with his agenda, nor the legitimacy of his election. The man is a crook, plain and simple. If he has nothing to hide, then he complies with the Constitution and provides that which Congress has a right to review. My guess he has plenty to hide.
3
Oh well, if Nancy Pelosi says it's a "Constitutional crisis" it just HAS to be, right?
Its amazing the Dems have any hair left on their heads from running from "manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis"..
All of this is to deflect from the fact the Dems don't want to focus on any other issue other than Trump..so forget about immigration, infrastructure, healthcare.
All that matters is that Trump beat the Dems in 2016 and he needs to be "punished" for that
So sad. But great for our President because this is a great lift for his re-election chances in 2020.
9
The internet never forgets.
@RepJerryNadler
Just joined the #walkout of the House chamber to protest the shameful, politically-motivated GOP vote holding AG Holder in contempt
5:06 PM · Jun 28, 2012
27
@Charles, what's your point?
2
@Charles
and the inspector general of the justice department found nothing wrong. so?
2
@Charles
I'm sure you THINK you're calling out hypocrisy, but the two situations aren't at all comparable.
4
If this is what a constitutional crisis looks like, then call me an fan of constitutional crisis.
This is so much fun.
6
Well, well.
Ms. Pelosi did not see a constitutional crises when the House (The House, not just a committee ) voted to hold then Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for refusing to turning over data.
Nor did Ms. Pelosi see a constitutional crises when then President Obama refused to turn over the document for four years.
11
Well, well, well.
Whataboutism, ignorance, and a recitation of Hannity. No attempt whatever to cope with the reality that Trump’s behaving radically differently than Obama did, and he’s doing it to cover for himself, his family, and his rickety business “empire.”
Imagine my surprise.
4
@Johann I'm a democrat. If this were President Clinton's administration I'd be pushing for her resignation and for the party to get behind another nominee in 2020. There is no rational way to defend this president.
One cannot be a patriot and a Trump supporter.
3
A constitutional crisis of her own making. The theater will continue until the Supremes decide in favor of the administration. But this is about politics, not law or the constitution.
96
@LeeG If you are correct you should be shaking in your boots. The white house and the Senate will return top democratic hands one day and precedent is precedent.
44
@LeeG Oversight is Congress’s constitutional responsibility, as in “checks and balances. Mueller left it to Congress, not Barr or Trump, to deal with the evidence in his report. Trump is obstructing this effort so how is Congress responsible for the Congress by doing its job?
68
@LeeG - Co equal branches of government. Congress should have access to the full un-redacted report. If the president was a Dem and was behaving like this the Republicans would be lighting themselves on fire in protest. The SCOTUS will rule in favor of Congress as noted by Constitutional scholars across many articles yesterday.
63
The crisis is purely of the Democrat's making, in their blind obsessive pursuit of Trump. Mr. Barr cannot provide a fully unredacted report as a matter of law absent a court order. The Democrats know that but they are posturing and creating a "crisis" along with their media allies.
Indeed, Mr. Nadler hasn't even bothered to read the minimally redacted report available in a Capitol secure room.
104
@ras The Democrats' pursuit of Trump may be obsessive, but it is certainly not blind. The evidence of Trump's malign behavior and his abdication of his official responsibilities is right there every day for all of us to see. And Nadler didn't read the report in the Capital secure room because that was the deal he turned down from Barr. Barr restricted who could read it and where it could be read, and Nadler said no thanks- give us the full thing, to all of us.
111
@ras, I'm shocked that so many Republicans prioritize protecting Trump over protecting our entire political and legal system, not to mention our global reputation as a nation of law; don't any of you see the larger damage that Trump is doing? And why are you so hell-bent on protecting the worst President in our history, and the worst Republican ever, living or dead? Don't you have worthier people to represent you, and more elevated goals to advance? The Republican Party is truly sick. May it rest without peace.
184
@ras
Here we go. Typical deplorable deflecting.
As Colonel Jessop said in A Few Good Men - "You can't handle the truth!"
56
According to Dems and most of the media a constitutional crisis occurred when Trump was elected. The hyperbole, mendacity, viciousness, false outrageous righteousness, raw pursuit of power and utterly despicable behavior and comments by the entire liberal Democratic establishment has shown itself to have no bounds or controls. It is Democrats who are creating constitutional crises, one after the other--and all based on a false premise, a fairytale of Russian collusion, cooperation, conspiracy or whatever they are calling it today or tomorrow. A complete delusion from which they now pursue obstruction and a new, unspoken claim of corruption they hope to find in tax returns, business documents or perhaps the garbage disposed at Trump Tower. it is sickening this all-out, unrelenting, obsessive, all-consuming attempt to destroy Trump. It is not only trampling on his rights but setting up the ability of Congress to go on a witch hunt--and it certainly has been one--against any political opponent or private citizen. It is despicable, irresponsible, immoral, unprecedented and dangerous. Trump will run circles around these clowns and make them appear impotent, but pity those who don't have his fortitude, strength and resources. Everything being done by Dems and supported by the media, especially the NYT, are the exact same actions we see from dictators and aspiring dictatorial regimes. If Dems believe they have grounds for impeachment then get on with it.
80
@Allen
Exactly.
Dems will ultimately pay at the ballot box.
And several prominent Dems may end up in court.
9
@EGD. For what?
13
@Allen Impeachment is just the start. What Trump deserves is much worse, since he's a fraud and a traitor working for Putin.
30
Lots of comments here that impeachment will tip the election one way or the other.
It won't.
Trumps numbers - both for and against - have scarcely moved since the election and impeachment won't change that significantly. What it will do is energize both bases and possibly move a small number of undecideds.
The best political strategy is keep the administration's misdeeds in the news until November, 2020. If the House moves too fast, that won't happen. This needs to play out over time - trust the Speaker, stop ranting, and follow her lead.
6
Interesting that on CNN last night, Times columnist Frank Bruni said that an impeachment inquiry would aid in Trump's re-election. GOP voters would see him as a martyr to Dem destruction and support him even more.
But the 2 other CNN commentators disagreed, saying impeachment wouldn't help Trump politically.
Nader's been saying that further inquiries will bring out the facts and thus may increase public support for impeachment.
Meanwhile every day Trump keeps escalating his paranoia, resentment and egotism.
4
It’ll easily pass in the House but how on earth can it get the 67 votes overall in the Senate. A few GOP senators will flip but probably not enough. Mueller and McGahn both would need to reveal a lot.
1
Quite clearly, the conservative go-to talking points for today are all variants on “fake crisis.” One can say “fake crisis” as often as “fake news,” but attempts at a weaving a patchwork, Trumpist-Orwellian interpretation of genuine reality— wherein events actually occur objectively, and measurably so— is NEVER going to subvert truth and lawfulness. Try as they might, Trump and the complicit Republican Party cannot spin away what has in fact transpired.
Whatever happened to the GOP that, for decades, gave lip-service to faith, family values, morality, law & order, fiscal responsibility and maintaining a strong stance against enemies foreign and domestic? FACT: Russia, a hostile foreign power and serial human-rights abuser, admittedly meddled in an American general election, possibly affecting its outcome. And the Republican-approved response to this act of war? “Let’s be friends, such good friends that we’ll meet and talk in private about how we can personally enrich ourselves.”
No one is above the law. And if the law now means nothing, then there is no longer a Constitution, and therefore, no longer a United States, but a branch office of the Kremlin. It’s time to stop the folly— commence impeachment proceedings immediately.
6
Or, they could focus on a legislative agenda. If they had one
That is actually the legislative branch primary function.
Using subpoena as a political weapon
That is the crisis
3
I think the next time I get pulled over for speeding when the State trooper clocks me on radar going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone my plan will first be to accuse the police officer of "spying" and second, I will cite that I cannot be ticketed due to "driver privilege".
I'll let you all know how that turns out after I make bail.
3
The nation is in a constitutional crisis of the Democrats making. If they would only accept what the outcome of the Mueller report stated that there was no collusion and no obstruction the country could get back to normal. They will just not let this go to the detriment of our country. The voters have had enough of this investigation and are satisfied with the results. Why aren't the Democrats. They are only hurting their party. They will lose in a big way in 2020.
8
@KMW
So wrong, KMW. Many issues are cited in the Mueller report that point to obstruction, and it also points to the fact that Justice Department policies oppose issuing an indictment to a sitting president. So before you start jumping up and down and think all should be set aside and we return to normal, you should understand Mueller's report did not exonerate Trump at all.
And the crisis is not the result of the Democratic Party's actions but instead that of the Administration. Better if you curtail Fox News and "talk" radio and learn the facts.
1
The problem with Meuller's conclusion on conspiracy is that Trump's obstruction efforts may have succeeded in blocking Meuller's ability to uncover sufficient evidence of Trump's conspiracy to bring a successful indictment. Obtaining testimony under oath by key witnesses will likely uncover more evidence of Trump's conspiracy, or at least collusion with Russia, to ride to the level of an indictment. This is why Trump's fighting the subpoenas so hard. He's rightfully afraid the truth will come out.
1
@KMW
Please educate yourself. Attempt to understand the actual message of the Mueller report. There are many well-written resources out there (as well as many educated comments in this article) to explain it, if you are willing to listen.
There is no question that the Democrats need to move forward on impeachment.
Trump has obstructed any investigation into himself since he took office. That is already a crime.
He has a bizarre relationship with Putin, to whom he bows and scrapes as one might do to an onerous landlord. Why does Trump, a bully to everyone, lie on his back to Putin? Putin clearly has something on him that we have yet to learn.
How does Trump get so many people, Barr for example, to do his bidding with no clear upside for Barr? How does Trump make money and get loans when it is clear that he loses huge amounts of money?
These questions and circumstances are beyond politics. The Congress has a duty to investigate. But Trump obstructs that at every turn. They can bring in witnesses on their own. But allowing Trump to act like a dictator without consequence is dangerous for everyone.
7
Politics. It's ALL about politics, and power.
Trump and McConnell are daring Pelosi to introduce articles of impeachment. Trump and McConnell want her to, because they believe that this would benefit them politically. Trump, with his poisonous combination of malignant narcissism and a victim complex, believes that his "base" would rally behind him stronger than ever over impeachment. Furthermore, Trump and McConnell are secure in the knowledge that even if the House votes to impeach, the Senate will not.
The Democrats are paralyzed with fear over the potential political fallout from a half-baked impeachment process. Meanwhile, Trump cares not a whit about being perceived as "obstructing justice" by defying Congressional attempts at oversight. He feels more like King Donald every day, and he's loving it. One thing he is definitely not afraid of is confrontation and a fight. He will do anything and everything to drag this out as long as possible and not give a hoot how it looks.
Impeachment is a dead end. You want rid of Trump? You'll have to wait until November of 2020, and even then, you better make sure you beat him by 10-15% or more. Better make sure you hold the House and capture the Senate as well. Otherwise, he'll challenge the results and refuse to abdicate, uh, I mean, peacefully transfer power. Right now, I'm afraid he has the upper hand. This isn't what liberals want to hear but it's the truth.
3
Remember all the outrage when the Obama Administration’s attorney general, Eric Holder, refused the Congressional request for documents and was found in contempt?
Oh wait, I have that backwards.
Liberals were outraged that Congress would demand such documents from the executive branch.
Some things change. Some things never do.
Constitutional crisis? Meh.
9
Remember all the outrage when the Obama Administration’s attorney general, Eric Holder, refused the Congressional request for documents and was found in contempt?
Oh wait, I have that backwards.
Liberals were outraged that Congress would demand such documents from the executive branch.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Constitutional crisis? Meh.
3
Yes, it is a constitutional crisis, since Trump was elected!
Trump, pushes Congress's buttons, constantly, to dominate.
I once met a man by the name of Tim Onoff, in Rochester, NY.
What Trump does is he turns people ON and OFF, all the time.
In this way, he controls the minds of millions of people.
I hope critics and Democrats focus on Trump's controlling game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are not a United States of Trump, a Planet Trump!
Save the nation. Impeach and remove the president. What are the republicans waiting for? They are gauging the political costs in action or inaction. The republican party has put the interests of their party ahead of the interests of our nation. The American people will give them our response next November.
86
@john The Republican party has painted themselves into an impossible corner; they've created the crazy, bloodthirsty base of voters through lies, and now they can't get out without that same, rabid base turning on them.
3
@john: Agree. Trump can't help himself. He's a sociopathic narcissist. But the GOP are gleefully complicit in gutting our government and constitution. It is appalling and loathsome.
6
@john But why impeach? What would be the benefit? More chaos?
2
The nation is in a constitutional crisis of the Democrats making. If they would only accept what the outcome of the Mueller report stated that there was no collusion and no obstruction the country could get back to normal. They will just not let this go to the detriment of our country. The voters have had enough of this investigation and are satisfied with the results. Why aren't the Democrats. They are only hurting their party. They will lose in a big way in 2020.
4
She's right, though she could have also named McConnell and others in Congress who abdicated their oaths and have not been true to the Constitution or legitimately acted in the best interests of the Congress or our nation.
2
I disagree with the notion that Trump wants impeachment proceedings—he clearly does not and he’s certainly not trying to “bait” the democrats into impeachment hearings.
I also disagree with Pelosi and her hollow statements regarding voters’ priorities. I think most people want to preserve our democracy and to do so the House must press forward swiftly and decisively with holding this administration accountable. The number one priority is our democracy and using every tool that the constitution provides to protect it.
1
With or without impeachment, can funding be denied or even rescinded from departments based on the fact that they are led by those held in contempt? Understanding that the senate plays a funding role as well, such a move could act to call out those senators acting as enablers for the administration's unlawful behavior. It seems that the House is underplaying its role as appropriator for federal funding, at least as a threat tactic, a mechanism Trump should understand well.
2
As a lifetime Democrat and a significant donor to the party's candidates, I am totally disgusted by Ms. Pelosi's cowardice and failure to do her constitutional duty to start impeachment proceedings. If the Democrats choose expediency over integrity, I am done with the party forever. Defense of the Constitution is more important than winning the 2020 election, AND failure to impeach will guarantee Trump's reelection.
Trump is being allowed to control the entire narrative of the political debate, and is gaining voters every day. Look at his approval ratings!! Act before it's too late! If I were an undecided voter, and if the House fails to begin impeachment proceedings, I would have to assume that Trump is correct. In other words, that he was exonerated by the Mueller investigation, he is innocent of any crime, and the Democrats can't make a case against him.
Fight back NOW, or lose an enormous number of votes, and shoulder the responsibility for Trump's reelection and the ignominious and shameful death of our democracy. No guts, no glory!
59
@JackFlanders, Oh please. You're a Democrat like I'm Sophia Loren. Pelosi is anything but a coward, and we all know that she can bring impeachment proceedings against Trump only to have the Republican controlled Senate refuse to convict. What is the point of that?
Nah. She'd rather get the cuffs on him when he's voted out of office.
15
@JackFlanders
Couldn’t agree more, Mr. Flanders.
3
@JackFlanders The Constitution does not provide for hearings in the House with respect to impeachment, only for a trial in the Senate.
But in reality, every oversight hearing the House is now conducting is part of the impeachment process. They are all gathering evidence in furtherance of that process and they are presenting that evidence to the American people.
It may come to pass that all of these committee hearings will lead to a plenary hearing we choose to call 'impeachment hearings' but we have to take it one step at a time.
Unless all of this evidence is made public, Republican traitors (a redundant term, I know) in the Senate will simply vote against conviction. Making the evidence public will make it harder for them to do so.
Pelosi and and committee chairs are conducting the process as well as their powers enable under the circumstances. It's not much, but it's our best hope.
9
The United States has been in a Constitutional crisis ever since Trump ascended the Presidency - nay, ever since he ascended the "throne." His promoter and helper has been Senator Mitch McConnell who started obstructing the Constitution long before Trump became President.
The founding fathers took great pains to avoid and finally discard monarchic rule. Mr. Trump has difficulty understanding the concept of a Republic guided by a Constitution. Congress must be firm and vigorously do everything possible to deter this autocratic President from monarchical behavior.
7
I agree with the Speaker that Trump is goading the House to impeach him since he thinks that will help his re-election.
He may be wrong when additional information about fraud and obstruction are revealed during the impeachment.
All of this is happening because the electoral college can be manipulated!
2
Trump is revealing what a sham America's much-vaunted separation-of-powers is.
He's proving that a relentless authoritarian backed by a sufficient number of sycophantic members of Congress is all that it takes to shake the two columns of government that claim to be his co-equal until they crumble and leave him the sole wielder of political power.
Simply by steadfastly ignoring Congress and so-called political norms, Trump will force the issues at hand to end up mired forever in a court system as subservient to him as his Congressional minions, issues initially rendered irrelevant as time passes and finally declared as settled in his favour.
It's doubtful Trump has read Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House, but he understands how to turn the Jarndyce-Jarndyce dynamics of any court system to his favour.
Trump will succeed in castrating the Constitution and becoming a dictatorial authoritarian on par and probably exceeding those throughout the world he so much admires.
He has already spoke of extending his second term, which his base and its fringes, Russian campaign interference and the disarray among the Democrats guarantee he will win, despite the cries of indignation and the mass clutching of pearls by the mainstream media and so many members of the public.
The American system of government has revealed itself to be no more capable of thwarting the rise of a ruthless dictator than any other political system has.
4
Yes, there's not only a crisis in terms of constitutional norms, there is also one of human leadership. Speaker Pelosi has the right balance in temperament and judgment. She is right not to parade toward an Impeachment that stands no chance of success in the GOP controlled Senate.
The rank and file members of the House Democratic caucus have to give her the support she has earned and deserves in this moment. That resoluteness alone could sway some Republicans to respect her position and support efforts to make Oversight work.
Now, let's get on with that process. First, assemble all the subpoenas pending and vote on them one by one for contempt of Congress citations. Second, take those contempt citations to the Federal District Court in DC and have them enforced through a suit calling for injunctive relief against the persons and agencies named.
While those cases are going forward in the courts, the House should do something more. Compose a Declaration of Rebuke and Censure against Donald J. Trump by the House of Representatives based on three articles. One, his neglect to recognize and defend against electronic/cyber invasion of our elections by foreign powers. (Here cite details from the Mueller Report, volume one.)
Article two would cover specific instances noted of attempts to obstruct the investigation. Plus, the most recent WH stonewalling.
Article 3: Debasing the office by vilifying and slandering critics while also undermining freedom of the press.
3
This is an exercise that must happen. It will test the strength of the framework of the Republic.
1
All this posturing, declarations and implied threats make Democrats look weak and incompetent. If Trump has created a constitutional crisis, take bold and decisive action by impeaching him. More than half of the electorate has had enough of Trump's arrogance, hate and brazen disregard for the rule of law, presidential protocol and basic civility and dignity. Do the right thing, Democrats, not the politically expedient thing.
5
We're headed for a military coup if things don't work out. It will only take some deliberate acts of defiance either on the part of Trump's people or Congress's people, and either the interpretation of, or contempt towards the wording of the constitution by non elected individuals (e.g. military, or others in power) and we'll have a full scale insurrection.
Potentially very dangerous times.
Putin must be running his hands with glee at the prospect.
3
Pelosi needs to stop fearing impeachment. If Democrats in the House won't defend the Constitution, who can?
There is no choice but to open impeachment hearings and not just on the President. Barr and Mnuchin have also crossed the line.
4
Somewhere Richard M. Nixon must be smiling, telling those around him, "See, what I said was true. Compared to Donald Trump, I am not a crook!"
3
Trump cares about reputation. Russian involvement in the 2016 election combined with losing the popular vote places two asterisks next to his name presidency in history. Impeachment, whether or not convicted by the Senate, will add a third.
2
Is there a constitutional crisis or a crisis of judgment on both sides, which will be resolved in the Supremely Conservative Court, but ultimately resolved in the next election that Dems will haplessly lose again?
The greater crisis is that Pelosi and Old school dems lose credibility by refusing to speak out against or defund our continuing and insanely expensive eighteen-year wars without purpose in Afghanistan and Iraq (we’re still there).
Consequently, millions of Americans have garbage health care instead of single-payer care such as reasonable nations have. That becomes the lightning rod for constant Republican critiques of Obamacare. Worse, millions of American kids—but not legislative, executive, or judicial branch kids and grandkids—lack decent schools.
These conditions undermine government credibility, but somehow, the Dems manage ineptly to end up taking most of the blame. Recent events clarify why. With Harris grilling Barr harshly and ineffectively, California “progressive” governments banning straws but allowing needle giveway so that needles litter the streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc., and Pelosi continuously touting Obamacare—(yes, it’s better than nothing, but so is one broken arm better than two)—the Dems lose all credibility.
Powerless Pelosi’s complaints of constitutional crisis sound like she’s crying wolf yet again. Hers is once again the wrong voice at the wrong time.
1
trump blocks the Mueller report that completely exonerates him. Let that sink in, republican base!
3
Trump will resign, close to the 2020 election, SO THAT Pence can pardon him. Let us hope that some of his actions violate New York laws, so he can be prosecuted there.
1
We have been in a constitutional crisis since day one when a corporate investor in 16 foreign nations was allowed in as president. He answers to no one but his multinational business partners and the cult of fundamentalist evangelicals who bless him as their end-time idol. We are so much like Germany under a Reich, and have not come to terms with the fact that we are dealing with an autocrat/demagogue. He represents the lawless corporate power to do as it pleases while enjoying the largest tax breaks in history. Crass materialism and the cry "economy!" supplant all morals, wisdom, ethics and reason - and any cocnern for climate, planet and life. Rapture insanity religion does not care for life here. It fits perfectly with unbridled corporate power and greed. Until we awaken to this, we will imagine that actions within our system of government still have efficacy. They were trashed on day one when this entity came into power. It is for those of us who do not support this movement - and who are now the enemy - a realization that we are indeed in a situation described by Tod Bolsinger in his book "Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory." Lewis and Clark discover no rivers to the Pacific, but the Rocky Mountains. The way forward is not where we have ever been. Mechanisms of the past no longer propel us forward. This is a time for true leadership to emerge from Congress -and from the people.
The only crisis is for the Democratic Party I’m afraid. What are they thinking? Doubling down on useless, failed investigations and neglecting critical legislation. Meanwhile the economy is the best it’s been in 50 years and polls increasingly show voters rejecting the Democrats’ approach:
- Democrats losing Independent voters.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/442256-democrats-losing-independents-on-trump-impeachment
- President Trump at highest approval rating ever.
https://www.salon.com/2019/05/06/president-donald-trumps-approval-rating-hits-all-time-high-in-latest-gallup-poll/
- Republicans have erased a double-digit Democratic advantage in enthusiasm for the 2020 presidential election.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1002276
With only weak 2020 Presidential candidates (Joe Biden possible exception but his age and 2 prior failed candidacies are far from encouraging) the Democrats are in deep trouble.
2
@Bill Trump’s highest approval rating is still lower than almost anyone else’s.
From Jerry Nadler's tweet in the past--too funny.
"Just joined the #walkout of the House chamber to protest the shameful, politically-motivated GOP vote holding AG Holder in contempt"
5
I am bothered by the lofty rhetoric of using a phrase like "constitutional crisis." However true it is, it elevates DJT's accidental but rapacious bumbling arrogance to a degree it does not deserve.
Simply investigate and prosecute the baldfaced criminality and force the perpetrators to face real consequences.
5
As much as I hate to say it, I think the Congressional investigators should do their due diligence, issue the subpoenas, cite Barr, Mnuchin, and Trump himself for contempt of Congress and leave it for the voters decide in an election. We're now only a little more than a year away from the election and we know that actual impeachment will fail. In any event, it should be a bi-partisan decision, and the Republicans have made it abundantly clear that they will not support it, even though we have a proven fraud, liar, and criminal in the White House. They've shown that they stand on the wrong side of the law, the constitution, and they are totally without honor. But we really have no choice except to draw attention to the issues and the broken promises in an election so we can vote them out and indict Trump after he's been removed from office. Only then will justice be served.
8
@Brannon Perkison
Completely agree. Very well said. It can be hard to keep our spirits up for another 18 months, but what's the alternative? I often counsel in the comments section to not despair or fall prey to anger and hate, but to act with resolve. The November 2018 elections showed us the way, and those folks haven't forgotten. We can and must do it again.
1
Trump probably doesn't care if he becomes the third President to be impeached. But while he may be shameless, many of his most senior people are not (no matter how they posture). So impeachment could be effective against cabinet members, starting with Barr. Impeachment would permanently mar their reputations. Almost nobody remembers much about Andrew Johnson, except that he was first impeached President. Let that that be the historic legacy of Trump's cabinet: The only impeached Attorney General William Barr; the only impeached Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin; only the second impeached Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch; etc.
5
Stop it, Nancy, stop it Nadler, Schiff, journalists and editorialists. There IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. Congress is not all powerful, the executive branch is not all powerful and when there are disagreements the issues will get settled in the courts. That is exactly how checks and balances work.
And I don't recall hearing about a Constitutional Crisis from Nancy when Holder was held in contempt for failing to turn over document. And then Obama claiming executive privilege. A case that worked its way through the courts afterwards and is just being settled this month.
In fact, we heard just the opposite. She did not vote for it. She called in an political overreach stunt by Congress for election purposes. Ad naseum.
5
@Marvin it might have been because Obama and Holder weren’t being actively obstructive and lying daily about the circumstances surrounding the case.
1
This is not hyperbole. Our Constitution, our rule of law, is being betrayed daily, hourly, by the Executive Branch of these very un-United States. There is a reason why the Mueller Report is among the Times' non-fiction best sellers, indeed, number one. The Silent Majority, those whom do not rant, who are not vociferous in their hate, are more than concerned. They/we are fearful. Speaker Pelosi knows the law, understands the principles of democracy. It is past time for Mitch McConnell and his GOP colleagues to grow a spine. Thinking Americans are watching this Senate Majority leader closely. The question is: Will he continue to abet the corruption and almost treasonous behavior of his president (not mine)? Speaker Pelosi, so many of us have your back. God be with you. I do believe if there is one, S/he is on your side.
5
What simply stuns me is that so much of the country thinks the Democrats are simply harrassing Trump as a liberal political stunt. Or worse, as an attempted coup or unconstitutional power grab.
Which says that there is no case Pelosi can build, no narrative the Democrats can shape, and no facts even our FBI or intelligence services can provide that will convince these people of Trump's criminal and treasonous behavior.
They have made up their minds, and they blame the Democrats. Hate- and anger-laced yoga-pretzel logic, denial, and rationalization have become the new normal for them. I don't see how to pop the bubble on this alternate reality and return to some semblance of functional government.
And no, the 2020 elections aren't going to fix it -- you think we're in a constitutional crisis now, just wait.
7
Thank you. At the top of your list of “pretzel logic and “rationalization” must be Barr’s inane defense of Trump’s obstructions as being justified because the president was “angry.” I thought he was supposed to have at least some intelligence to be where he is, but this is pathetic.
It's a Constitution crisis indeed, or possibly the rumblings of a Civil War! The Democrats need to focus on "preserving and protecting" the Constitution, rather than partisanship. They need to educate the electorate about the genius of this framework, this brilliant document, even to the extent of a media blitz. Print copies, excerpts; flash the amendments on billboards. A majority of the country is either too ignorant to understand what's in it, or too distracted by entertainment media or long hours at work and minimum wages-to realize how precious the Constitution is. Educate!
1
The real issue here is access to the millions of pages of investigative files, witness statements, interviews, etc. of the Mueller team and FBI. Interviews with hundreds of witnesses who were never charged and did nothing wrong. The angry dems, left, and their media allies want to destroy these people. The Democrats know they are not entitled to it and they know they will lose in court. If the American people do not see this for what it is, then we will have a constitutional crisis. The American people need to speak loud and clear in 2020 and remove these incompetent Democrats from Congress and return the majority to the Republicans.
3
@johnny
"Angry Dems" is the bald tire, still good for another 60,000 miles.
No President in our history has "deserved" to be impeached and dragged out of the White House more than Trump.
He has trashed our entire intelligence community in favor of trusting "Putin's Word" on the FACT of Russia interfering with our 2016 election - and this interference continues unfettered !
Trump has committed many acts of Obstruction of Justice, many of which in plain sight.
He has corrupted the Co-Equal Judicial Branch by means of William Barr acting as Trump's personal Consigliere.
Mueller dropped all the necessary "Bread Crumbs" for Congress to follow in pursuit of the Obstruction issues.
It also appears that Trump is "baiting" Congress to impeach him . . . Trump lives for these types of fights, especially when he can paint himself as "the victim" to his base.
Speaker Pelosi is carefully navigating this mine-field and working towards having the "we the people" behind her.
Trump would just love to "run the clock out" leading to the 2020 Elections by means of an long and arduous impeachment "attempt" that of today, would never gain the necessary Senate Votes.
While Trump is pushing the 'must impeach" line closer and closer with his every Tweet, we are all lucky to have Speaker Pelosi keep her head.
5
Nancy is 100% right, our democracy is being threatened by a man whose only skill is Grifter. As evidenced by his catastrophic real estate losses and frequent bankruptcies, Trump is not the financial genius he alleged.
He is aware that if leaves office he is likely to go to jail so Trump has nothing to lose by trashing our democracy and declaring himself Oligarch like his buddy Putin.
Republican senators will eventually abandon Trump when they see their reelection chances diminished so my job, and your job, is to discuss this crisis with every republican voter who will listen.
My husband & two sons were Marines and all are onboard, recognizing their duty to expel Trump before his National Security Advisor, John Bolton, starts WWIII with N. Korea, Iran, and/or China. We have no time to waste.
3
Nancy Pelosi is third in line for the Presidency. How is she able to not show her tax returns. How did she and her "investor" husband acquire over $100 million.
3
Democrats have a pretty clear choice: keep our democracy or keep the illegal immigrants. Up to now their priority has been the illegal immigrants- and we got Trump. I don't like Trump but I don't like turning this nation into a third world country, over crowded and full of crime and poverty, more. There are tens of millions of citizens like me.
1
The most important (and apparently most difficult) thing for Pelosi et al to do is to stop sounding like Democrats. Even when they say this "constitutional crisis" is a non-partisan issue, they sound partisan. But surely they are smart enough to find ways to explain "constitutional crisis" to Trump's largely civics-ignorant and history-ignorant supporters, and spell it out in terms that get their attention and shake at least some of them out of their stupors; only then can she start getting any support from R members in the House (or Senate).
The nation has been through worse. Give it time, this too shall pass. In the mean time Donald J. Trump is making America great again! I support the President. I support Trump. America first, never last. MAGA! Thank you.
3
I never realized until these darkest of days just how much I love my country. When this administration & its enablers in Congress are finally removed from our sights, and I hope that day is coming really soon, I will never sit on the sidelines again. I've always voted but never really participated. Better late than never.
2
So, if Barr compiles he breaks laws that Congress passed, so he will be held in contempt if he refuses to break Congress' laws. Obviously, he should break laws Congress passed in order to show he is not in contempt of Congress. Got it.
2
The democrats need to fulfill their constitutional duties. Impeaching the president for his overt corruption, criminality, dishonesty, cruelty, and lack of ethics is first among those duties. They were elected by the people of the US to hold to account this administration and to stand for the principle of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We are a nation of laws or we are a nation no more.
My money is on Speaker Pelosi to lead the House in thwarting DJT's self-made constitutional crisis to keep his many secrets from being revealed. It will be interesting to see how far he takes this keeping his secrets safe strategy as the Constitution and laws are not on his side. In he meantime, he is doing a bang-up job destroying the GOP as they silently follow him off the cliff.
3
We’ve actually been in a constitutional crisis since 2016.
1
For too long, Democrats have been held hostage by the anger, rage, violence, racist threats and bullying tactics of Trump's base, worrying that anything Democrat leadership says or does might result in a Trump win in 2020. This almost neurotic approach to governance has got them exactly nowhere, with no promise of any future gain.
So I'm glad to hear Pelosi say it's time to take the gloves off and fight the good fight, abiding by the constitution and the protocols already set out for just these situations. If, as a result, we lose in 2020 at least we know we will have done the right thing. If we continue to cowardly fret about how things might look to voters a year from now, we will most certainly lose.
1
Funny thing is, this is exactly why we voted the Democrats into the House majority last November. It's called Constitutionally protected congressional oversight of a very suspect Executive Branch - one of the beauties of our political system - so go do your job Nancy . . . and god bless!
The GOP Senate is the stumbling block in corralling this despot who occupies the presidency.
We know many in the Senate GOP Caucus are privately distressed at the actions of this goof-ball and have been for some time. One suspects their issue with calling his bluff is he has his bluff in on them. Everyone knows he can shovel a lot of misery; there is a lot misery available to the man occupying the most powerful office in the world.
IMO, the answer is for the congress to define a streamlined impeachment process based on the notion that this president has lost the confidence of the people by his violation of the oath of office - a high-crime.
We all know impeachment is called by a simple majority vote by the house. Bundle that in a no-confidence vote as a prelude to the joint session called for the State of the Union. That brings all the players to the floor of the house at one time.
Presumably, if the Chief Justice is presiding at the moment the Senate votes by a 2/3 or greater vote to concur in the no-confidence resolution on that day, the constitutional requirements for removing him from office would be met.
One gets the impression that if that happened, Donald Trump, stripped of the benefits of office, would be cuffed in public lobby and perp-walked out of the Capitol.
The question is whether the Senate has the guts to pull that trigger, removing Trump before he can retaliate using the power of the presidency. They would rest easier if they did.
1
The Democrats have two choices. Either to go all out and take on the bully and fight or to acquiesce. There is no middle ground. The decision will have a very consequential impact on both the foundational pillars of this country as well as the Democratic Party.
And oh by the way, don't look in the direction of the GOP. McConnell deposited their soul to the devil a long time ago.
@Konyagi
That's one choice, not two.
This is what happens when they play identity politics rather than take care of the people.
3
Boy, have Trump and his acolytes redefined the word "Christian" or what?
If Bill Clinton was their bane, it looks like they have more than repented in their endorsement of Trump.
Jesus was finally denied by all of his disciples before being crucified, looks like power and money have kept things pretty much the same with his followers of today.
History will record that Donald Trump accepted the help of a hostile foreign power to win his election, that he serially obstructed justice, that he profited from his office, that he aspired to fascist autocracy and that he imperiously rejected the constitutional authority of the Congress. All true.
The House must block Donald from exercising his lawless presidency in violation of his oath of office.
What the Senate does with the impeachment is up to them. There is no assurance McConnell will even convene the Senate for trial. But every Senator will be on record either supporting the president or rejecting him.
The Republicans will carry this burden for a generation.
2
@Occupy Government. Thank you for saying this so eloquently. The once meaningful and necessary Republican Party is no more. They died worshipping Donald Trump and his ilk.
Trump acts and talks like a boss and has everything under his control, until he is under oath. Then he can't recall, has no independent recollections, and ultimately, loses the lawsuit. He settles and the media (which he insults) moves on without bringing up his past.
Trump is being true to form and, hopefully, over time, his Trumpites will see him by his own actions and words, for who he truly is.
2
Remember all that stuff leading up to World War I?
This reminds me of that.
Misunderstanding--poor communications--simple incomprehension of what was going on--pigheaded obstinacy--insensate arrogance--
--until the Archduke was assassinated--
--and the rest (as they say) is history.
Pity.
I don't honestly know what the Dem's could or should do apart from what they're doing.
When Ms. Pelosi talks of "patriotism, not partisanship"--well, okay. She's a Democrat. Addressing Democrats. None of whom love that scowling bigwig in the White House.
Neither do I. Bet you could tell.
But it goes so much deeper than that. Mr. Donald J. Trump seems really and truly to believe: "Ordinary laws, ordinary standards don't APPLY to me."
He has (as far as anyone can tell) lived his life that way. He has conducted his presidency that way. His own party--a bewildering mishmash of complacency and inertia--they ain't gonna do NOTHIN' 'bout this guy, New York Times.
And he's gotta be checked, held to account SOMETIME or other. By SOMEONE or other. And If Ms. Pelosi--or Mr. Nadler--or someone else don't do it--
--who is?
A Constitutional crisis?
Yes. I begin to think so.
Others do too.
May God protect and sustain the right.
1
Get moving, Dems! How much more are we expected to endure?
2
As the son of a Marine Colonel, physician, and supporter of President Regan and Bush, it has been rather unsettling to witness the last two years of the Trump Administration, and the worse of the republicans floating to the top of the Oval Office toilet.
The Trump Administration's acts of treason, deceit, and fraud have been overwhelming.
2
This whole thing is so sad. Trump is a grownup. McConnell is a grownup. Pelosi, Schummer, Nadler, et. al. They need to start acting like ones. Trump said he has nothing to hide and was fine with the full report being released, Mueller testifying etc. He should just stick with that and his supporters should hold his feet to the fire and stop acting like they are following the leader of a cult. If he wants to be reelected he must start to be completely honest and transparent. The same goes for the democrats. At this point when a bunch of parents in various places in the country are dealing with either their kids student loans, consoling them because they've been witness to shootings or even worse burying them. When little children are locked in cages and separated from parents down in South Texas it is high time each and everyone of us alike on both sides comes together and demand our President and Congress start acting like they are the adults in the room.
The election is just around the corner. Everyone needs to take a knee and drink some water. Let the voters have the last word.
2
Like we didn't see this coming...the constitutional crisis started on a tacky gold escalator in New York City in June 2015!
3
What hypocrisy is being displayed by this President, his administration, the Republican Party and all those who are their supporters! They preach law and order at the border and hold up their moral high ground on the sanctity of human life in their militant pro-life stance against abortion under any circumstance. Do as I say, not as I do. In forcing our nation into a constitutional crisis they show themselves to be amoral. They are a law unto themselves. It is clear why they adore and support Trump. He is their role model and permission giver to destroy our democracy. I am very afraid for this country.
3
The President is a tax cheat, a wife cheat, an election cheat, an oath of office cheat, & reportedly even a golf cheat...incredibly his "base" is still unaware that he has cheated them too with his fake populism, as he pivoted so rapidly to the service of the billionaire class immediately after they elected him...
3
Great stuff! Keeps the focus of readers away from DACA, Immigration, children in cages, economy, russians/chinese, killings in chicago, and ALL the other "emergency crisis" you have stuffed us with each month since Nov 2016.
You fed me how Schiff has "definate proof". Where is it?
Fed me how Trump was going to be indicted - what happened?
And for now, every headline is about releasing a document that is 98.5% available yet no one chose to read it? Why not?
Headlines about the president's taxes from decades ago? Without explaining how investment real estate depreciation works? Seriously?
You are stirring people's emotions and that is wrong.
3
What are the "impeachable events" that the Dems alleged to have occurred? what is the "Constitutional Crisis" spoken of? How is he "obstructing justice?" The Dems know Barr will find indictable events involving the Clinton's, former FBI agents, and others in the Obama administration and are trying to discredit him.
Cannot wait for IG's report. Hope he hurries this up.
3
The Ds fails to explain why Congress needs the information and testimony it seeks. They fail to specify what information Congress seeks and why it was not public. They fail to explain the
information belongs to the public and why it is being withheld by
the President and DOJ. Without explanation it appears the Ds are just after Trump and politics as usual. They are speaking to their choir only and fail to make the case to the general public.
This matter is too important to allow Congress to blow it.
1
Darn right we are in a constitutional crisis. Effectively by not cooperating, the Executive Branch has declared that they cannot be investigated or even questioned for anything, or for any reason, period. So, this is how our Republic dies, not with a war lost to a foreign invader, or a civil war, or a military coup, but a psychotic fraud President and his Republicans enablers who have declared that the Executive Branch is all powerful and above all others including the very government itself.
The Executive Branch is no longer part of the government (the people), and has taken the place of a foreign occupier. We, the People, are no longer governed by the Executive, as the Executive has removed itself from the People by refusing to be accountable to the People. We are now a headless State.
4
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the United States was in a “constitutional crisis”"
Really? I hadn't noticed.
However, there is a crisis at the Southern border. A real crisis. Why doesn't congress work on that?
4
While I think Trump is a disgrace to his name, let alone the Presidency, I agreed with Pelosi that we should wait and see. However, he has played right into the hands of those that wish to see him impeached yesterday already. Pelosi and Congress now have no choice. Just do it.
64
@It’s News Here :"I agree with Pelosi" - all you need to know.
@It’s News Here
They have no grounds to impeach. If they did, they would be all over it. The fact is, every impeachable offense they have come up with was shown to be an underhanded ploy by the DNC.
@It’s News Here
Do you not wonder if he is goading the Democrats to impeach him, thinking that it will work against them? All,of this chaos has seemed to serve it him so far and he obviousy isn’t interested in governing.
1
I never thought I'd hold up a racist like Jeff Sessions as an exemplary American, but the last time a Republican elected official stood up to Trump in public and did the right thing was when Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation. He knew it was not in his job description to be Trump's personal attorney. So of course, he had to go.
Pelosi is absolutely right. The disrespect for the Constitution shown by Trump and the Justice Department under Barr is a classic demonstration of how democracies can become compromised and die. Given the current Supreme Court, we may be too late to restore the separation of powers, but we have to try.
2
Let's break it down. I'm not a lawyer, so from a "guy on the street" perspective:
The Mueller report found no collusion. That means that the Trump campaign didn't work with or orchestrate Russia's assistance. However, the campaign certainly benefitted from it. Trump has refused to acknowledge American expert's opinion that Russia interfered with the intention of helping him get elected. More egregious than this refusal is the fact he has yet to confront Russia on this agression and still looks to work on things that would benefit Russia. I think one could interpret Trump's refusal to take such as conspiracy, as he lets Russia break the law without acting against them. At a minimum, aiding and abetting.
Mueller, working within the DOJ. followed internal guidelines that he was not empowered to indict a sitting President. However, working from within the same DOJ, William Barr determined that he had the authority to NOT indict a sitting President. Shouldn't it be that within the DOJ no decision on indicting a sitting President can be made: yes or no?
If Barr was aware he could make this material decision regarding the potential prosecution of the individual who hired him, shouldn't he have recussed himself? Conflict of interest?
Barr lied about Mueller's view of his summary of the special counsel's report. This lie provided cover for Trumo's "fully exonerated" screed.
It's obvious that Trump has things to hide. The Constitution doesn't permit that. Constitutional Crisis.
2
@Rich c To be precise, the Mueller team determined that it could not prove conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
It expressly declined to opine on 'collusion' which, under the relevant statutes, is not a crime (although I believe that there is mention of collusion in certain campaign finance laws).
Despite what the president and his co-conspirators say, the report did not find "no collusion."
2
@Justin - Yes, I stand corrected.
I believe she was waiting until she felt the push to impeach became a loud cry. She was right to wait and now she is right to mention it the way she has. Smart and on our side of the constitution, the country, the people, our safety, the truth.
3
The democrats have the authority to do what they are doing, so just give them what they want and just maybe they will go away. And given the circumstances, what else could the speaker do? Nothing? No thing comes from nothing.
In the book Upheaval, there is a disturbing chapter about Chile, which demonstrates how quickly a democracy that citizens were proud of can collapse.
Couldn’t happen here?
1
My trust in Speaker Pelosi is on hold. She must cross her Rubicon and Impeach. No matter what the consequences. You cannot negotiate against yourself by forecasting 2020. We either Impeach Trump, or we have knifed American democracy with a severe wound.
2
I adore the right-wing logic that says Trump has a perfect right to ignore Congress and lie like crazy in order to shield his rickety finances, bizarre businesses, and cheezy family from any oversight at all. It’s almost as morbidly funny as the endless drumbeat of talking points from Hannity about how Obama also was entangled with foreign banks and Russian dictators and made money off selling books, so there.
Or was it Hillary’s e-mail server (you know, like Javanka’s), or Hillary’s not having been investigated enough but Hizzoner can’t be investigated, or the perfidy of the deepstateradicalcommieleftistprogressive (best said breathlessly and red-faced), or pay no attention to North Korean missile tests or Iran shruggingly starting to enrich again, or the disinterest of the Senate in ratifying Trump’s Big NAFTA revamp or our collapsing farms, or whatever spoils the party. I can’t keep the excuses straight anymore.
Oh, and as for the Languid Left that screams at Pelosi et al for not taking their orders and doing exactly what Trump wants?
Not so fond of them, not at this point.
None of the combatants in the “constitutional crisis” can find the courthouse. Who will be the first to look to the courts for outcomes? Anyone know where the courthouse is? The House Judiciary committee wants all the barriers to distributing the Mueller evidence removed but the Justice Department seems intent on retaining the materials in their present form until someone has a court order to the contrary.
Mr. Barr is facing contempt proceedings because he lacks a qualified lawyer to apply to a federal court for relief from statutes limiting the distribution of grand jury testimony. Maybe Mr. Barr can set up a web page and offer job opportunities for outside counsel.
1
This is quite the dilemma. Impeachment, especially with the plethora of evidence and the Democratic control of the House, is a foregone conclusion. However, removal from office will never happen because of Republican control of the Senate, never mind the strength of the case against the president. Not only is it politics above principle, it is the destruction of any semblance of civil behavior. This is what the current occupant of the White House has given us.
Two things:
1) Since the behavior of this man, i.e., The Donald, is so far beyond the pale, I don't think impeachment is the proper course. The GOP will simply claim that this is an attempted coup, which is doomed to failure in any case. Let the people decide this in the November 3, 2020 elections. An election got him there, even if only because of the Electoral College, so let an election remove him.
2) The November 2018 elections should be the template. It cost Republicans the House, and given a favorable (to Democrats) slate of Senators facing re-election in 2020, control of the Senate should be in play, not just the Presidency.
In my opinion, nothing less than the future of our government and way of life depend upon the outcome of the 2020 elections. I implore you to vote with that in mind. We can survive one term of this menace, but not two.
2
With regard to withholding the Mueller report without redaction: Since we as the folks whose tax dollars were "wasted" in its production, isn't it then ours to do with as we see fit?
59
@Chris
No, it is not ours to do as we see fit.
By Constitutional law, grand jury testimony, as well as other legal informations, may not be released by the DOJ.
So, in essence, what these committees are trying to do, is get the Attorney General to break the law.
Congress does not have the authority to demand this info, as I am sure they know very well.
What these committees seem to want to do, is re-sift, rework, and rehash what Inspector Mueller has done, in hopes they can somehow "see what he missed". Sen Harris asking AG Barr if he looked at "every little piece" of the investigation was rather humorous, since she had been in a similar position (at a lower level), and I'm quite sure she did not sift through "every little thing" in cases she oversaw.
Basically what Schiff and Nadler are saying is that Mueller didn't do his job right, as he came to the wrong conclusions........
It's all a dog and pony show, trying to get as much "face time" as they can, before 2020.
2
@David no. Just no. I suggest you read all the comments here - some are from constitutional lawyers and cite precedent from the Watergate era. Facts are not "things I want to believe".
5
What Nadler is asking for for is for Barr to expose innocent people interviewed by Mueller in his investigation. If these people are now made to under go a hostile grilling in a politicised environment it will have chilling effect in future law enforcement interviews. That's why there are laws in place to prevent exposing these interviewees who cooperate. Nadler is demanding Barr break the law.
2
Pelosi's repeated references to the oath of office are not rhetorical. She's building a legal argument for impeachment under Nixon's Article III. A point which I'm sure no lawyer in the White House failed to miss. Dropping the O-bomb, obstruction, is another significant one.
Pelosi still doesn't seem like she's driving though. I don't know what's happening behind the scenes. Publicly though, Pelosi looks like someone getting pulled along by their dog. The dog isn't just outraged Democrats either. The facts are all pulling her in a direction she doesn't want to go.
There's some legitimacy to her hesitation. On the one hand, there's simply timing. Democrats would prefer Mueller to testify "Yes, you should impeach." On the other hand, McConnell has effectively stated he won't willingly allow the Republican Senate to convict under any circumstances.
We therefore need to ask the question: How should Democrats approach impeaching the President while assuming he won't be removed? Bit of a pickle, isn't it? Not an insurmountable one though.
Democrats appear to be spinning the hamster wheels in their heads about this one. The light bulb hasn't gone off yet but they're getting closer. If I had to offer some advice, I'd say make impeachment about the office rather than the man. A point Newt Gingrich famously failed to appreciate.
Even if Trump rides out this term, I think the point we're trying to make is his conduct is unbefitting the office. Let's not repeat the mistake.
@Andy
"She's building a legal argument for impeachment under Nixon's Article III."
Smart strategists don't "build legal arguments" in the media. They build them in lawyer's offices, and then file suit. The fact that Nancy has done nothing shows that this is all for show, bread & circuses. The Dems have no case.
2
@GMooG
Trump isn't tried in a court. By definition, impeachment is public. That's why Trump is trying to suppress every bit of evidence he can.
The evidence clearly demonstrates obstruction of justice by the president. Such a flagrant violation of the law obviously cannot be left unanswered.
But there’s nothing in the Constitution that REQUIRES Congress to impeach. Congress is free to leave the judgment to the voters if it feels that is a less divisive and more certain means of redress.
Those who argue that Congress has a "Constitutional responsibility" to impeach are wrong. There is no such thing. Whether to impeach is a political decision, and it has always been regarded as such.
What’s more, Trump appeals to a sense of victimization among his base—by the educated classes and by the so-called global conspirators. Impeaching him will only play into his hands, giving him yet another "injustice" to exploit. When the Senate inevitably votes NOT to impeach, possibly after a long and messy trial, Trump will once again be able to claim, "VINDICATED!"
How will all that play among voters who want Congress to address their urgent concerns, such as health care, jobs, immigration, and climate change? It will be viewed as so much political theater. The predictable response will be, "a plague on both your houses." It will kill Democrats’ chances in 2020, which are already slim.
Beating Trump in 2020, and doing do convincingly, is a categorical imperative. Nothing else will rid of this autocrat! By all means, Democrats, investigate, and hold uncooperative officials in contempt, but don’t let Donald goad you to impeach!
2
The question is what will the Republican-controlled Supreme Court do when these questions come before them?
While Congress may not have the votes to remove Trump from office, impeachment investigations would give them a chance to bring the evidence to the American people in a form and degree they don't currently have. Americans of conscience need to see and hear the voices of those who have witnessed the degradation of all they value first hand, not to hear it indirectly through already-biased commentators. They need to begin to see the magnitude of the corruption that has taken over this land.
Article II section 4 of the Constitution was written for a time like this. If not now, with a president who is opening begging the Kremlin for help to stay in power, and openly demanding the rights of a king, and a party in complete support and abnegation of their oaths of office -- then when?
"Mr. Mueller found insufficient evidence to bring charges against President Trump for conspiring or colluding with Russia to influence the 2016 elections"
This is, at best, a half truth.
Yes, Mueller said that he was unable to "establish” that there was enough evidence to substantiate a charge of criminal conspiracy. But DoJ regulations would've prevented him from bringing charges no matter what evidence he found.
Likewise, essential context for Mueller's findings includes the fact that the investigation “[could not] rule out the possibility” of a criminal conspiracy precisely because of dishonest/incomplete testimony, obstruction of justice, and witnesses pleading the 5th.
Further, since collusion isn't the name of a crime: no matter what Mueller found, it wouldn't have been "sufficient" to "bring charges against President Trump for [...] colluding with Russia[...]"
However, the report did find massive collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians, including Trump's personal endorsement of that collusion via his attempts to set up a direct line of communication with Putin. What's more, there is clear subtext when the report states, in regards to the Trump campaign and Russia, that "taking actions that were informed by or responsive to the other’s actions or interests" wouldn't rise to the burden of proof of a criminal conspiracy.
That shows that they were indeed "taking actions that were informed by or responsive to the other’s actions or interests".
The thought experiment is a proven technique for testing the validity of assertions and claims. In this case, supporters of the President assert that this crisis is manufactured by Democrats who refuse to let go of dismissed accusations. So, it is useful to resort once more to a thought experiment that is almost cliche: "What would the GOP say if this had been the Obama administration instead?" History suggests the outrage would be blood-curdling. As a result, Democrats accuse their rivals of hypocrisy, while independents point to toxic partisanship on both sides. These miss the point. What we should look at, rather, is power, and how a statistically minority party has given itself license to do and justify anything to have it ... and to have it for its own sake alone. Doublers need only consider how little the GOP actually accomplished in 2017-18, other than a tax cut for its donors, further politicization of the judiciary, and signaling by its silence a new tolerance of racialism for and among its base. The President obviously feels impeachment will be a winning issue for him and his party. He thought the same about immigration and government shutdowns before the midterms. His truculence was wrong then. Will he be wrong again? I only know that the law of unintended consequences seldom works so well as it does in politics, making an avoidable impeachment an increasingly inevitable leap into the unknown. That can only please those who wish us ill.
@Steven
Whenever I see "thought experiment," followed by a mega-paragraph filled with run-on sentences and thoughts, I think "under-employed grad student." Am I right?
1
This is a trial moment for Congressional Republicans. They can continue to support the Administration’s illegal intransigence or stand for rule of law, due process and Congress’ Constitutional oversight role. Party loyalty or foundational principle. That’s the choice. The denialism of “no collusion” and “total exoneration” looks more and more like toadying weakness in service of a president who respects neither our laws, principles or institutions.
My theory: Trump is a flailing real estate mogul who has done well with shady schemes, but some of them are backfiring, especially the money laundering deals with Russian gangsters and he may need to repay debts - for a change. However, if he can be elected President, through any means and shift the balance of powers (both in terms of economics and defense) with our historic and proven partners by destroying those ties, then other international players as Iran and Russia can take the field. If China can be weakened too, even better.
Trump is creating an atmosphere of violence, racism and economic turmoil when we need to concentrate on environmental concerns and unrest caused by economic upheavals and income disparities. If Trump can create a lawless country, where the Executive branch alone determines what is legal, safety, health and consumer regulations are destroyed, huge deficits indiscriminately run up with nothing to show for those expenditures and the very wealthy are bribed into complicity with huge tax breaks, he can own the country, find the money to repay his debts and recoup all his lost wealth. Constitutionalists from both parties are correctly questioning the election results and Trump’s wealth.
Whether we ignore the law and allow someone like Trump to stay in power has far-reaching consequences, not just for our Constitution and way of Government, but for our global trade partners and in the economic and environmental health of the world, ultimately.
@Barbara Snider
Which part of the Mueller Report talks about Trump laundering Russian money? I must have missed that.
He did not find 'insufficient evidence'.
He cited justice department rule that effectively puts the president above the law... We already had the millionaire above the law loop hole.
nixon resigned because he knew what would happen if he stayed.
trump will never resign because he knows what will happen as soon as he does.
Why is it that many of we Canadians can see that Trump and the Republicans have broken their oath of office ?
Why is it that people worldwide see that Americans who support this man are trampling underfoot the very Constitution that they claim they revere and hold sacred?
@Hochelaga
Why is it that people who don't live in this country, and have no legal training or expertise in government, think they are qualified to opine on complex legal matters like this?
@GMooG
Neither you nor I have any idea whether the other has legal training.
However, legal training or no, people who don't live in your country often have a good grasp on what your famous Constitution contains and can see that Trump is making a mockery of it.
What your president does affects the world.
There's no question about evidence of obstruction, but remember: there's evidence of conspiracy, too. Mueller merely said that the evidence did not establish conspiracy (beyond a reasonable doubt). As Mueller said, "That the investigation did not establish particular facts does not mean there was no evidence of those facts.”
Here is the evidence Mueller found of conspiracy:
1) campaign chairman Manafort’s “periodically” sharing polling data and other campaign updates with the Russians;
2) the campaign’s promotion of “dozens of tweets, posts, and other political content created by” the Russian hacking operation;
3) Trump publicly urging Russia to search for Hillary Clinton’s “missing” emails;
4) the campaign’s successful effort to tone down the anti-Russian language in the Republican Party platform at the nominating convention;
5) the president’s bizarre support for Putin, resistance to sanctions, and corresponding antagonism toward our NATO allies;
6) the multiple meetings between top campaign officials and Russians with Kremlin ties, including their famous meeting at the New York Trump hotel for the express, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, purpose of getting dirt on Hillary Clinton; and
7) the lies they were caught in when they tried to deny either the meetings themselves or their content."
We have not only a constitutional crisis because of obstruction of justice and stonewalling Congress; we must follow up on this pile of evidence of conspiracy with Russia
We've been in a Constitutional Crisis since, at least, the Senate not moving forward the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
@Van Owen
Riddle me this: If denying Garland a hearing was so clearly un-Constitutional, how come the Dems never did anything about it (other than talk)?
1
Pelosi acts like it’s a foregone conclusion Trump loses in 2020. It’s not like we have all the time in the world. Stop leaving it to chance. If Trump wins in 2020 again with Russia’s help, I look forward to spineless Democrats saying we then need to wait until 2024 before anything substantive can be done at all. She gives me no hope. People need to stop listening to her as though she has seen the future itself and knows just what to do. She’s taking chances with the future of the world.
The Republicans -- thanks to that great patriot , Mitch McConnell -- have taken over the Supreme Court. This does not bode well for our country.
1
In what will be his first and last elected post, Trump doesn't care about his legacy in traditional terms - he will always view everything as political opinion - and he will always have the support of his base - even if he were to "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody..."
Frankly, I'm surprised that he allows any press briefings anymore, as infrequent as they have become. At this point he will do almost anything to cling to power - he just doesn't care about how history will judge him - it will all just be liberal bias in his mind. Sure, all politicians disdain the "loyal opposition" - but this is different. This is dangerous.
No, we would have a real Constitutional crisis if Trump admin refused to comply with a congressional subpoena and then further refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to comply with a congressional subpoena.
....that would never happen, right?
1
One of the more heinous aspects of Donald Trump's presidency, is the way he has managed to turn Americans against each other.
By calling Democrats by turn "the enemy", liberals or socialists, he has managed to obfuscate his real intention, which is to create a state of chaos by which he can divide and conquer.
And given the fact that most Americans have no idea about what is actually written in the U.S. Constitution, nor have any apparent inclination to, he has achieved his goal of splitting public opinion as he continues to deconstruct the very laws that have held this country together since its foundation.
He's not "winning".
And neither are we.
110
@N. Smith Mic drop.
1
@N. Smith
They know about the 2nd Amendent. That is all.
4
@N. Smith
And factor in that by being considered "the enemy" by Trumpicans, I now consider them "enemy" in self defense. I will not do otherwise unless they apologize, which their pride/hubris will never allow them to do.
We have big problems in our society and I do not see how to fix them.
2
Pelosi correctly labels this as a Constitutional crisis. But, at heart, it is part of an ongoing war between the parties. Congress and the Presidency may be at odds. But the conflict is really about politics. And a political re-alignment is far more likely than a war for dominance between the executive and the legislature.
When the parties in a two party system cannot work together, the more powerful party generally takes over and the weaker party dissolves, giving way to a successor party. This is not all that uncommon in two party systems around the world.
I believe that the Republican Party has a short life expectancy and that our politics will soon be focusing on the fundamental issues we face—most notably, economic inequality, climate change, and health care. As for border walls and stacking the courts, nobody benefits from that and anyone with any sense knows it.
Our Constitutional system is the battlefield for our partisan crisis. Solve the partisan crisis and the separation of powers crisis will go away. You may feel a need to be pessimistic. But the darkest hour is always before the dawn.
1
If Jeb Bush or John Kasich were Prez, you would probably be correct.
This is not ordinary politics. This is a foolish and corrupt greedhead ignoring the Constitution and trashing our government to enrich and orotect himself.
1
The Democratic Party seems to be putting all of its eggs in one basket -- impeachment -- and ignoring the 2020 Presidential election.
We always expected many candidates for the Democratic nomination, but the number has become more than a little absurd. Nobody can prevent someone from running for President, of course, and there were 17 Republicans vying for the 2016 nomination, but it may be time for the Democratic Party to winnow the field a bit. There are only so many donor dollars out there, after all, and every dollar donated to a candidate who has no prayer of winning is a dollar that can't be donated to a candidate who does.
I understand most Democratic candidates are simply thinking about 2024. That may be good for them, but it doesn't do much for the Democratic Party in 2020. Is the Democratic Party simply conceding defeat in 2020?
2
@MyFourCents
2024? Stick to 2 cents.
As an Independent voter I have problems with both major parties. But the Republican party has done the most to bring about our current polarization.
Newt Gingrich: "Political scientists have widely credited Gingrich with playing a key role in undermining democratic norms in the United States, and hastening political polarization and partisan prejudice." (Wikipedia)
Tom Delay: "DeLay was indicted on criminal charges of conspiracy to violate election law ... He was convicted in January 2011 and sentenced to three years in prison ... " (Wikipedia)
Mitch McConnell: "During the Obama presidency, McConnell worked to withhold Republican support for major presidential initiatives; made frequent use of the filibuster; and blocked an unprecedented number of Obama's judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland ... " (Wikipedia) (the last with nearly a year left in the presidential term)
Ted Cruz: "Sen. Ted Cruz indicated that Republicans could seek to block a Democratic president from filling the vacant Supreme Court seat indefinitely." (Politico)
Party above country for decades and now getting worse.
6
@Steve Kennedy
As an unabashed Democrat, I applaud your pointing out some of the major causes of polarization that have been the work of Republicans. While Democrats are by no means saints, like Bill Clinton's sacrificing the legacy of his presidency for a- well, you know- and the anointing of Hillary rather than letting a democratic process fairly play out for the 2016 election, Republicans are going beyond the pale to keep their tenuous hold on the reins of power.
We have one chance left to restore the norms of behavior that made our country great. If we fail again in 2020, we are doomed.
2
This is a turning point in the history of this country. Democrats are being pushed into a corner with very little power to compel the President or others to comply with the law. I have wondered if this is all playing into the hands of the President and the Republicans. The President becomes the underdog (which plays to his audience and perhaps others), and the Republicans will continue to obstruct efforts by Democrats to uphold the Constitution, which frankly the Republicans and their supporters appear to care very little about anymore.
We are witnessing the biggest power grab by the Executive Branch and the AG perhaps in the history of this country. If it is not halted, with the aid of some Republicans who still have a shred of patriotism or a moral compass left, the fate of our Republic is left hanging in the balance.
IMHO, Mueller's (along a fully un-redacted copy of his report) and McGahn's sworn testimony before Congress is critical before going forward with any declaration to impeach Trump in order to help thwart repeated attempts by Trump and Barr to continue to undermine the Constitution which they have sworn to uphold. If Mueller and McGahn clearly demonstrate that Trump has in fact, or attempted to obstruct justice, the ball will be in the Republican's court as well.
Good lord, what political theater.
There is no constitutional crisis, this type of behavior has been seen before and is exactly what the founding fathers expected.
It’s why we have three branches of government, all designed to check the power of the presidency when needed.
But it’s not a crisis. The only crisis I see is among the current Democratic Party that is going to get this guy elected again.
Just like they and the media did in 2016.
1
It is really a "Constitutional Crisis" or more just a confrontation? I seem to remember that AG Holder during the Obama administration was held in contempt and Pelosi at the time decried the politics and accused Republicans of grandstanding at the time.
This duplicitous moral superiority and posturing will backfire on the Democrats. People, even in my liberal San Francisco and in Pelosi's district, have grown tired of this and would like her to actually help address some of our more pressing issues such as housing, healthcare, education etc...
@PK, Housing, healthcare, education must take second place to protecting and defending the US Constitution.
Read the US Constitution--there's nothing in that document granting anyone to put political party over country. Nothing about "Homeland" either.
If you're tired, go to sleep. There's important business to be done.
1
Constitutional crisis can also be defined as when a co-equal branch of government abdicates its oversight duties.
3
Not to be too sanguine about it, but let's tot up the Republican votes in the Senate to convict Trump on impeachment charges.
Mitt Romney: a definite maybe.
Ben Sasse: unlikely.
Lisa Murkowski: somewhere between Sasse and Romney.
Ditto Susan Collins.
That, from an optimistic viewpoint, is pretty much it, leaving us 15 votes shy of removing Trump and replacing him with Mike Pence. This is like the quandary faced when the bad news is: you're going to be poked in the eye with a sharp stick if you win or lose. The good news being: If you win, you get to choose which eye.
@Glen, Thanks for the comment. It made me think. It's not the Democrat eye that's at risk; it's the rule of law and The U.S. Constitution.
Congress should have power to seize control of law enforcement. Look at what's happening. Congress demands the DOJ to jail someone, but the DOJ does not obey the request. What power does congress have?
1
Outside the "tax reform" that benefited most everyone except 95% of individuals, many who had voted for Trump, Trump has "led" the country through executive orders, personal decisions and now executive privilege.
That sounds just like what most dictators have done for centuries.
2
Wow. In a few weeks, maybe, we're going to charge somebody with contempt. I haven't been able to discern any sort of consequences for being held in contempt. If we don't start perp-walking these guys on their way to jail, it will have no effect. Meanwhile, the weeks and months go by, eaten up in legal challenges. I'm starting to understand: the Democrats are afraid to impeach, but want to look like they're doing something. Their real strategy is the same as Trump's; that is, run out the clock till the election. With that strategy, the Democrats better have a more unified front and a lot better candidate than I see anywhere now, and they should also be asking what happens when Republicans, with help from the Supreme Court, call into question the validity of the election that Trump lost.
Pelosi is playing her cards right. She will command the center if she emerges as the hand of law and order against a rogue president.
Trump has proven that he will double down on obstruction when justice comes his way. Pelosi doesn’t need to go for the jugular with impeachment. It may be easier and more effective to to allow Trump to hoist with his own petard.
3
@Anon, agreed.
I’m still not convinced it’s time for impeachment proceedings. Trump is God-like in the media and political arenas and impeachment is almost certain to increase his power. Imagine impeachment failing in the Senate and Trump gets to honk on Twitter for a year about what the Democrats tried to do to him.
The last best hope is the intervention of the judiciary.
Hysteria on the part of Congress will inadvertently provide the wiggle room for the Justice Dept to make a compelling case in the courts that Congress is abusing its power.
To Pelosi, Schumer, et al: time is on your side. Be persistent, be dispassionate, be strong. Trump is going to run down the clock until 2020 - use this time to wear him down. Legislate and put Trump in the position of having to veto policies you know will be popular. Trust in our institutions and Constitution. It isn’t by luck or mistake that our republic has made it this long.
Democrats in Congress are working for their wages and more. If they hold steady, remain rational, and work together to protect our democracy, their efforts will prevail. It is a question of time and how much damage will be done.
It is infuriating to hear their opponents stand up and criticize Democrats while their leader, our president, spews insults and half truths if not outright lies. After decades of politically motivated hearings and investigations against Democratic administrations, they have the gall to accuse Democrats of doing the same. The difference is that Democrats respect the system, cooperating in these procedures, doing so in the interest of unity.
What is troubling about this administration and its supporters is that they have total disregard for over half of Americans who are ready to make economic compromises in the interest of a hopeful future. This administration wants to "win," fill their pockets, mock, and play mind games. This is an unrecognizable America.
3
The facts are still not being reported as they should be, even in the Great Grey Lady. The Mueller report clearly shows that the Trump campaign colluded with a foreign adversary while that adversary attacked our election--to elect Mr. Trump. The President then obstructed the investigation into that attack and refuses to protect us from further attack. The administration is now engaged in the greatest cover up in our history--to keep the American public from engaging with those facts. Does it really get more impeachable than that?
1
The more I watch this tragic comedy unfold, the more I think of the complaint our Founders made against King George III of England. Fortunately, we now have a Constitution which serves as a check against Tyranny. It is a shame that the Republicans appear to no longer have much use for it.
Full steam ahead, Madame Speaker.
2
"It's high time for a leak of the unredacted Mueller report."
I think the unredacted Mueller report will soon be leaked, though I doubt it will matter.
Lindsey Graham claimed last week that he's already seen the entirely unredacted Mueller report. No other Senator on his committee disputed what Graham said, nor said he or she had also seen it. Presumably any committee member could read it, though, just as Graham says he did.
I doubt Barr could care less. He's already offered to give Congress the Mueller report with 3 of his 4 "redaction categories" eliminated, leaving only the "grand jury" redactions (18% of the total, according to the NYT). Barr claims the "grand jury" redactions are required by a federal law. Frankly, I suspect Barr would eliminate even those redactions if a court tells him he can do so without violating some federal law.
The House committee and Barr should jointly ask a court to do that.
Unless and until that happens, Barr is between a rock and a hard spot: He either gives the unredacted Mueller report to Nadler's committee, thereby breaking the law he cites, or he continues to refuse to do so, thus avoiding breaking that law but leaving Nadler dissatisfied.
I certainly can understand why Nadler would want to leave Barr in this untenable position indefinitely, but we Americans have some say in this too. We'd like to see the dispute get resolved by some disinterested party (a court, for example).
Democrats have to ask this question over and over, "What is the President trying to hide? This question has to sink into the psyche of his supporters, then maybe they will start wondering too.
2
Here's an idea for bringing Trump to heel - take away his twitter access. The House should pass a law making it illegal for any government actions or news to be communicated via twitter, including posts by the president or any congresspeople. Sanctionable by jail. This is not impinging on the freedom of speech, it is calculated to prohibit unsanctioned and improper use of government powers. This is one of the most effective ways to rein in the terror and disruption he spreads by Trump's ill considered and bullying posts and to restore some civility into government actions. Then sue Fox news for lying to the American public. Dreaming I know, but you have to get to Trump where he is most sensitive, ala Nancy Pelosi's temporary denial of his forum for a state of the union address.
We're in a crisis because the Justice Department won't indict. There is no legal reason why they can't. That puts the President above the law.
1
Ultimately, none of this would happen if the people/voters would wake up and hold the Republican Party accountable for its undemocratic, unconstitutional, and treasonous behavior. By all logical accounts, the Democratic nominee should get 100% of the vote next November. Democrats should have a 435-0 hold on the House and win every available senate seat. That would be the appropriate reaction by the public and send the message to both parties that the behavior we see now shall never be tolerated.
The Democrats are going over the edge and the voters are seeing it. While it is entertaining to watch it will not bode well for the Democrats. Vote for America--Vote Republican.
We will only live in a Democracy if we hold our democratic institutions accountable for their actions. This includes the executive branch.
Pelosi can take a slow and deliberate approach, but if they threw Barr in jail today I would ask why they didn't the day before. It's clear he represents Donald Trump and not US law.
1
"The liberties of a people were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." Patrick Henry. The opaqueness of this presidency, the willful disregard of the constitution and the sheer incompetency are beyond measure. If not a constitutional crisis, then a national nightmare. I recently had a conversation with a dear and respected friend, a devout republican, who finds the current president despicable, but tolerates his behavior because of the exceptional economy. When I confronted him about accepting a leader's moral lapse in order to personally benefit, he shrugged and blew it off. It is the casual indifference that threatens our democracy. I know there are republicans that are true to the principles that our constitution outlines;however, they have been, with a few exceptions, been silent too long.
@BTO She is right but not that, its because the Democrats in office no longer work for the people but their own interest and their pocket. That can't get over Trump is our president is doing a great job but we have homeless issues and immigration the Democrats ignore and will not work with the president or the people to come to a solution. There is not Russia issue they think they see, its a China, Russia, and other parts of the world issue and nothing to do with the elections. Get over it already.
Just think the reason Trump claims he needs to claim Executive Privilege over the Mueller Report is to protect himself from the parts that show his intend to obstruct Justice.
If they are there and should be convincing as for Impeachment he is saying I get to say you can't Impeachment me. You can't show my attempts to Obstruct Justice.
I have the right to violate the law if you find it you can't follow through as the Constitution Provides.
It is my Executive Privilege to Place myself beyond the reach of the law and the Constitution.
That is his argument. Yes making the Republican Leadership Prouder than yesterday.
The Muller report didn't give the Dems the win they were looking for so now they're doubling down and taking the drain the ocean option. There's got to be something, or somebody harboring the takedown of Trump. What the Democrats fail to realize in their blind rage is that people are tired of this whole mess. It's time to call it and move on to doing the business of the American people. How about giving us an infrastructure bill that will put people to work and strengthen our nation?
1
One score and eight years ago our fathers prevailed in a great cold war testing whether a nation conceived in liberty can survive against the forces of tyranny. Now, we are again engaged in a great civil struggle testing whether our form of government can survive in a world of sophisticated propaganda and self righteous populism.It is for us, the informed citizenry to do all that we can so that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Thank you, Speaker Pelosi. Thank you Chairmen Nadler, Cummings, and Schiff, for your vigor in getting to the bottom of this threat to our republic and having the calm focus to handle it in a methodical manner.
This is a fight we cannot afford to lose. If we are to be worthy of the nation we inherited, that we in truth borrow from our children, let us pledge 'our lives, fortunes and sacred honor' to preserving, and to bettering, the republic in these dark times.
The bill of particulars against this president reads like the bill against King George in our Declaration of Independence. He has broken the law and enlisted officers of our government to aid him in breaking the law. He has used his office to hide his misdeeds. He has neglected the care he owes to those whose security is threatened by nature. He has committed atrocities against asylum seekers. He has alienated our friends and emboldened our enemies. He has used his office to profit personally.
Now he seeks to hide all of that with spurious assertions of executive privilege.
He is the gravest threat we now face to our national security. He is a grave threat to our republican form of government. He must be impeached and convicted.
4
Look over here! We're not doing our jobs of legislating, the don't control the Senate or the White House... so we're going to make as much noise as possible to distract you from the real issues facing us: Russian interference in the elections, enormous trade deficits, a crumbling national infrastructure, an opioid epidemic, a Medicare and social security system going bankrupt because everyone has their hand in the pot.
Never mind real issues that effect American families. Look over here!
Our representatives in Congress should be able to impeach the President if that's what's necessary and legislate for our well-being. It's not one or the other, do your job, all of it.
1
From the moment Barr gave his "summary" of the entire report, which he was able to do after only a few hours of weekend work he'd set the Administration's course of providing misinformation and stonewalling.
The Congress has for over two centuries looked at and studied secret documents, grand jury transcripts, etc. Suddenly in this age of Trump they're untrustworthy?
For an administration that hands out top security clearances to the likes of Jared Kushner they are the last ones to speak of a lack of trust.
And who thinks it's time to move on? Why the very members of Congress who are relying solely on the attorney general's weekend whitewash job.
2
So what are you going to do about it? Other than empty words. Politicians treating this menace like politics as usual will live to regret that. Your legacies will show it.
I believe the theory that "Trump is goading and begging for impeachment" because he thinks it will benefit him is incorrect. Its a double fake intended to make Pelosi have second thoughts about impeachment. Meaning Trump doesn't get impeached. It appears to be working. The reality is that Trump is terrified of impeachment. Because the public process of impeachment will reveal everything he is so desperately and criminally trying to hide. From the halls of Congress to the studios of Fox News, its high time the people of the United States hear the non-fiction version of Trump's story. Impeach him. No doubt about it.
2
Putin sure is the winner here. Putin's Internet Research Agency didn't have to hack our election machines. He didn't even have to "collude" with Trump in the 2016 election.
But his various efforts to amplify and sow discord, bile and dissent sure did pay off in spades. Our nation is now consumed by a constitutional crisis. Think of all the other opportunities - at home and abroad - that wither while America's political and legal systems grind to a halt to deal with this mess. Ugh.
1
Democrats waited for the Mueller report. From it we know Trump committed indictable obstruction of justice felonies. 700+ federal prosecutors agree. The probable crook, our President, keeps up his obstructions, now applied to all Congressional requests. Congress must fight this historic stonewalling using powers of Inherent contempt and Impeachment hearings. Congress cannot allow the Executive branch to block all investigations, period. This status quo implies the President has powers that exist in autocracies, not in the US.
2
Mueller did not "find insufficient evidence" to bring charges. He found gobs of evidence but relied on the OLC opinion to not bring charges that supposedly the President could not answer.
Mueller played by the rules in a world where the GOP has taken the rule book to the woodshed, burned it, vomited on it, burned it again, and then buried it.
Also, it's not Dems against Trump. It's Trump against truth, and Trump against the Mueller report, and Trump against America.
3
This is, yet again, a brilliant strategy by the Speaker. Don't rush to a House floor vote on a single contempt citation, but bundle them, and then proceed to take the next available step. Let the compelling, accumulated force of multiple instances of Administration actors' brazen and unconstitutional conduct speak for itself. Keep upping the ante Democrats.
2
Since when does the public servant decide "They're not fair; I'm not testifying"? Since last week, when the Executive Privilege A.G. knew that his rendition of a Trumpian victim opera was going to lambasted as the obfuscation ploy that it is.
BillBarr put the Mueller Report in a summary box. How was BillBarr going agree with his master's "Total and complete EXONERATION"?
He couldn't or would look ridiculous trying. So, BillBarr was a "No Show" for the smashing of his summary box.
Instead, BillBarr is enshrining it in a secrecy box and playing Trumpian victim opera coast-to-coast. Speaker Pelosi knows that careful planning and deliberate action is key to retaining a governance by democracy. "Successful enough" is the Constitution is defended. Then, voters will have the bigger job in its long-term defense.
Ethical, thoughtful governance is threatened by this Administration. The Times should establish a new section of reporting distinct from “Politics.” Call it U.S. Government or Governance or something similar. For example, this report and one on Sen. Klobuchar’s town hall are completely different animals. The Times has an opportunity to remind citizens that governing is not the same as politics. Words matter.
1
The Trump administration is willfully giving them no other choice but impeachment. I was not in favor of it, but the only other choice now seems to be to do nothing at all.
I think at impeachment hearings Democrats need to make loud and clear that this is something they were given no other choice but to do, that this administration has refused to follow any rule of law. It is a disgrace to our nation, and to the oath of office that clearly means so little to Donald J Trump.
5
Meanwhile, Trump has revoked press passes for dozens of journalists in violation of the First Amendment's freedom of the press.
5
Give her time, they will begin impeachment hearings. Takes time. Read about Watergate, it’s fascinating.
3
Once again, is anyone surprised that it has come to this?
1
Utter nonsense. The nation would have been in constitutional crisis if Mueller found Trump guilty of collusion or obstruction and Trump fired Mueller or refused to resign. But sorry Dems as much as you were counting on that outcome it didn’t happen.
If you have a problem take it to court and we’ll see you in 2024 (which is the 6-yr contempt against AG Eric Holder timeline).
2
We are! The crisis appears to be that Democrats still can't believe that Donald Trump is the President of the United States!
1
Trump and his loyal lackey's consistent serial obfuscation about the 2016 election and subsequent events is very similar to Nixon's serial Watergate cover-up.
The only difference is that there are no incriminating tapes (so far) and there is a very robust Grand Old Propaganda industrial-TV-radio-internet complex that fans the flames of denial and Down-Is-Up-ism that didn't exist during Watergate.
Trump is a walking Obstruction-of-Justice, and who knows what he's hiding behind his obstruction.
Trump is not a man who ever had any regard for the rule of law in his entire life.
He seems guilty, he acts guilty....now let the United States Congress prove that he is guilty.
Impeach this very unAmerican Presidential impostor.
12
Aren't there a few Constitutional Remedies for this Constitutional Crisis?
Use them, Dems.
2
When you go to war the natural constraints of civilian life tend to hold true. Until several of your friends are butchered in front of you. Then the killer takes hold. We are watching the components of our government, our constitution, and our traditions slaughtered before our eyes. It is time for the killer to emerge and deal with this corrupt executive.
1
Pelosi is drowning in indecision. Trump is making a fool of her and her colleagues because he knows that cannot make a decision. Impeach him. Simple. It does not matter whether trump will be removed from office. Presidential policy creates precedence so impeachment will at least delegitimize Trump's policy decisions.
1
‘Constitutional Crisis’. The only thing in crisis is the Democrat Party. Pelosi, Nadler, Schumer, Warren, AOC, all of them have to calm the heck down. You lost the elation. Get on with governing the country and then try, if you can, to beat Trump in a few months. One thing is guaranteed: you continue along with this "strategy" and you're going to lose ground in 2020 not gain it.
1
@Billy H. "You lost the elation." Well, that's the moniker for the GOP if I've ever seen one.
Mari, the Republicans HAVE abdicated their constitutional duty! What I fail to understand is WHY?? I will never vote Republican again!
3
Time now is 12:31 Wednesday, May, 9th watching trump on a breaking news press hearing, listening to a rambling, incoherent, narcissist and trying to make sense of the mental state of this man. How can anyone stand behind this man and not break out in a scream of frustration to this mans reasoning.
2
This country is slowly being torn apart.
2
It's much worse than you think. Why is the GOP so complicit in Trump's flagrant abuse of power and visibly corrupt actions? Because we're quietly creating oligarchs. If we could see the dark money moving between accounts in Panama and other offshore hubs, we'd clearly see the extent of the takeover, and how powerless we are to halt it. McConnell, Barr, Mnuchin, and many others, have little to fear as they're accused of carrying water for a corrupt dictator. They're billionaire oligarchs in the making. Putin is doing this, with the Trump family as his puppets.
4
The problem.
President appoints a political hack to protect him therefore destroying the justice departments ability to be the peoples policeman
The Barr guy ignores 400 pages of evidence and the protests of the mueller committee to coverup,
The WH and Justice then ignores the requests of the congress whose job it is to oversee these possible controversies.
The American public becomes more divided and less trustworthy of our government system.
Politicians no longer interested in anything but their own survival and career advancement.
Trump continues to try and get the judicial system under his control and to stop any press criticism. Classic for autocratic control.
Congress and Senate becomes a worthless dysfunctional show piece for pretend democracy
2
I guess it wasn't a constitutional crisis when Pelosi said, "You need to pass the bill to see what's in the bill."
That's as un-American as you can get. Crickets chirped as her fellow Democrats said nothing about that shameful abuse of power.
2
Impeachment is just the start. The punishment for treason that Trump deserves is much worse.
2
Laws are for eveyone, it is not subjective. If you break the law you go to jail. Stop being so nice , kind and politically correct. Put Mr. Barr behind bars , plain and simple. Then round up Mr. McGhan if he refuses and so on and so on.
2
Pelosi--"It's about patriotism."
She's joking, of course. Like saying all the nasty busy Comey's FBI was up to was "patriotism" when it was, in fact, about spying and subverting an election.
This deep swamp sideshow just gets richer.
2
If we are in a Constitutional crisis, can California, Oregon and Washington take the opportunity to secede from the United States and form their own country?
I think the name West America has a nice ring to it.
A majority of the citizens out here are more than ready for a change of government!
2
@Samsara
Theres the solution. West America.
Then East America, Southeast America, Northeast America, Heartland, Texamerica, Great Lake Country, etc...and what would the continent of North America become? Europe ll. Which seems to be where socialist dems want us to go anyway. And have you figured out what comes after Europe ll? South America. Followed by Central America. And if we're not taken over by either China, Japan or Russia we become the new Africa--lawlessness, Somalia pirates, the works. The solution is to work together, not break us apart. Dems dont seem to think we're stronger together anymore.
So-called conservative Republicans have abandoned conservative and Republican values. They resemble revolutionary anarchists, eager to trade our Constitution to enhance their own power.
2
@Paul--the Republicans resemble anarchists?
Ms. Pelosi, you know exactly what you need to do: Lock Him Up! Quit stalling and get on with it.
The only question is whether to pop Trump in The Box or deport him back to Russia. "If" and "when" ceased to be the questions long ago.
1
The Muller report is finished as the democrats wanted, IT'S OVER! Now it's time they get BACK TO WORK!
Well, I mean if Nancy Pelosi declares that we are now in a constitutional crisis -- then I guess we are. And, I mean, right here the New York Times reported it, too!
1
Trump might start a war with a country (take your pick) just to get out of this pickle and the Republicans will go along with it.
@Ellen F. Dobson
I hate the guy, but let's be honest: Trump is not in a pickle. The Dems are.
If I were Nancy Pelosi, I'd be kicking myself for letting Trump deliver the state of the union in the House.
Here is my concern. We keep hearing the argument - if Trump had nothing to hide, he would comply. But when we do uncover went on, its not great, but it also isn't the smoking gun we thought it might be either. He is so delicate and insecure that he lies for no good reason. He defies basic authority for no good reason. The problem is that the democrats keep pushing and making a huge issue out of these problems and find less than they hoped. In the mean time Trump is wrecking the country and we are all wasting our time with investigations that will probably never end his presidency. To be clear, I do think he has done a LOT of very shady stuff. But I think basically he is too stupid and too disorganized and too lazy to have masterminded some grand crime. So we shouldn't keep pushing for that crime when President Doofus was never up to it in the first place.
For the longest, my wife has been saying that Putin must have dirt on all of these Republicans: how else to explain the craven obsequiousness?
Even at this point, not a squeak out of them: a closet full of crickets.
16
@unreceivedogma
Now imagine the reality if Hillary had won the presidency when Putin had proof she'd been paid differing sums totalling over half a billion for favors done to the Russians while she part-timed as our Secretary of State.
1
The President is crisis oriented. He basks in crisis like a weed basks in sunlight. He plays with the press and the Democrats like a child with a yoyo on a string and every day is a new trap.
It's like trying to fight with a tornado. You can try to blow back but you won't win that way.
4
She is the exact kind of leader we need: motivated by the good of the country first and foremost.
Something happened this morning that felt like a punch to the gut. So bad, so painful, so debilitating, that I am embarrassed to say it derailed my day. I was already a little on edge after TWO high school shootings in one week. I have high schoolers, am on the school board. I spend a tremendous amount of time talking about security and I put my money where my mouth is: I send two kids to a public high school every day.
Anyway, I saw a news report about Trump joking about the need for guns in the border and his laughter and derision when someone suggested we shoot migrants.
Shoot. Migrants. Like literally have the Statue of Liberty pull out an Uzi and blow away the huddled masses.
….and it was too much. I can't have this sort of society. This cannot be the country I love. The indifference by our lawmakers and by Republican voters, where is their humanity. Have we always been that cruel? That heartless? That selfish?
So impeach. Yeah. Go for it. Politics? I don't care any more. This guy is a lying, thieving, con man grifter morally bankrupt devil. As long as I live, neither me or mine will ever forget or forgive the Republican party for enabling this nightmare.
This headline is the highlight of my day. #BringIt
30
@Gwe
I hear you. I have felt trapped in a nightmare since November 2016, the day those without soul, without conscience, with the blessing of America's foremost enemy took the highest office of the land.
When I hear Wm. Barr and think back to the Iran/Contra affair, and the needless middle east wars and war crimes of Dick Cheney and others, I realize this country has long been host to a vile parasitic of personality which seeks only wealth and power. It's hard to imagine anything good coming from the Trump administration, but if any good is possible it just may be the unmasking of this evil.
4
It looks like Speaker Pelosi is losing patience with this President and his cohort of merry men. Impeaching this lawless man could further the divide in the country and waste government time and money on a person who absolutely is not worth it. Nancy Pelosi said two things recently that compels us to think that while she is determined to keep Congress away from impeachment, the Tangerine Toad has to be held accountable and subpoenas need to be served to those from whom We, the People need to hear from:" ..everyday the president proves to us he is unfit to be president" and " ...everyday he self impeaches". We need more women like Nancy Pelosi to show courage and respect for the rule of law that this administration and their sycophant Republicans do not have. We are indeed in a Constitutional Crisis. When is the GOP going to realize that this country is suffocating from the malfeasance of this president and his administration and that We, the People need oxygen to resurface.
5
Our democracy is in a death match with a bear-- a Russo-Republican-trumpian bear, one which won't respond to the command "sit, stay!"
Half-measures serve only to anger him and increase his efforts to finish you off. You do whatever you have to do to get the bear off us for good, Democrats, no holds barred.
3
At least one half of the nation is behind Pelosi, for the House represents the people and the Senate represents the states. The House has the moral authority to represent us more than the president and the senate does, and we therefore need to stand with Pelosi or we not only fail, constitutionally, but we also fail to be a democracy. It's not that Republicans are right or wrong. It's that certain behaviors are constitutionally unacceptable and in such cases we have democracy or we have the Second Amendment, of which I am no fan.
2
The White House and Mitch McConnell are running from the Mueller Report with all the grace and decorum of an arsonist fleeing the blaze. Somehow they didn't think they were that obvious. The subject of the investigation and those that are profiting from it's embargo cannot be allowed to determine when the case is closed. Otherwise, any notion of checks and balances is over, and the nation my ancestors fought to establish is over.
5
The first duty of the House is to appropriate funds for a budget. How is it doing on that front?
1
@OldEngineer
Well, since not approving a budget would result in another government shut down, an event covered quite substantially when it happens no matter which party or branch causes it, and no one is warning of an immanent shut down, my guess is that Congress can chew gum and walk at the same time.
I love these efforts by Trump supporters. Your's is a little more specific and slightly original from the usual attempts to imply that Congress is doing nothing but practicing its duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch which is extremely important given the fact that a criminal infests the White House.
1
Barr, the President and the GOP are saying there was no Presidential team involvement with the underlying Russian crime, but obstruction hides information needed to resolve whether conspiracy actually was committed. The Mueller report does not exonerate the President from obstruction and therefore cannot clear away suspicion that he may have hidden evidence of the underlying crime. The two are inextricably intertwined.
Exploration of this matter must go forward at the same time as all the other oversight and law-making work. What is this administration trying to achieve domestically and internationally? Are these plans being implemented in a way consistent with the laws passed by Congress? Are plans being executed in an effective manner? Also, are goals being shaped to provide financial gain to the Preident and his family or are they being shaped to meet the needs of the American people?
Holding the executive branch accountable is not "Presidential harassment"; It is a well defined duty of Congress.
2
There is a flaw in the logic being pursued by those seeking to defend the country from sliding into authoritarian rule that is not being addressed. The logic states that it makes no sense to pursue impeachment if there is not a path for conviction in the senate. The latter cannot happen unless significant public pressure is brought to bear. But for that to happen, congress must have the opportunity to educate the public to the facts through hearings. The Trump administration is blocking this effort to educate the public through its stonewalling on congressional oversight. Most people have not (nor will not) read the Mueller report for themselves. It was the drama of the Watergate hearings that captured Americans attention and turned the tide (even for Republicans) in the 1970s. Trump is doing all he can to block that drama from unfolding in our era. This stalemate that we now face can only be resolved by taking whatever steps are required to capture the country's attention (the facts speak for themselves), and I see no other way to do this short of initiating impeachment hearings in the House.
3
I agree with Speaker Pelosi that this is a Constitutional crisis, but President Trump's question to her and her fellow Democrats will be: "You and what army?" In other words, Trump will not comply, and there is no physical force that can Constitutionally compel him to do so.
By "Constitutional crisis", it is not the Constitution that is having a crisis. This is a time where we follow the steps allowed under our Constitution to lawfully come to a conclusion to a "balance of powers" crisis. Trump is not king. We as citizens need to know that his decisions are designed to primarily benefit his business empire (as is what happens in most dictatorships). We as citizens need to know that Trump is neither under the influence of Russia (via strong financial ties) or in collusion with Russia (election meddling).
2
We have been in a constitutional crisis since Mitch McConnell ignored with impunity the President's right under Article II, Section 2 to appoint Supreme Court Justices by denying Merrick Garland a hearing. McConnell demonstrated quite clearly that the Republican Party does not deem itself bound by the Constitution when it is not in the party's best interest.
12
@CAM
The President does not have the right to appoint SCOTUS judges. All he has is the right to nominate, which is subject to the Senate's confirmation authority. Nothing about Garland was illegal, unconstitutional, or improper.
If it were otherwise, then why didn't the Dems do anything about it, like sue the administration, which they have done on dozens of other occasions? Turn off MSNBC and start paying attention to reality for a change.
@GMooG
President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. The provision reads, paragraph 2 of the above referenced section, second sentence , ... and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate , shall appoint ... Judges to the supreme Court. The President performed his duty and nominated a person to the Supreme Court and the Senate refused to do its constitutional duty to advise. It was within the Senate's purview to refuse to confirm Judge Garland, but it was a breach of their constitutional duty not to provide the hearing. The Senate not performing tasks charged to it in the constitution is a crisis.
BTW, why the ad hominem attack? I never watch MSNBS and am not particularly partisan.
@CAM
Sorry for getting personal, my bad.
But with respect to your argument about how nominations work, your position makes no sense. Nothing in the Constitution even requires that a hearing be held on any nomination. You complain that The Senate didn't do its job in providing advice, but I would say that telling the Democrats that there was never going to be a hearing or a vote on Garland is about the most clear advice that you can get. And what would be the point in having a hearing when it was beyond doubt that Garland never had the votes to clear the Senate?
1
Nancy Pelosi declaring a constitutional crisis reminds me of how Time Magazine used to think it was "making news" when it finally talked about phenomena happening in the country a year or two after it first appeared. Maybe a couple of weeks from now she'll discover gold in the Klondike. The dems spend every waking moment talking about why they are doing nothing. I'm ashamed to be in the party.
A commenter wisely asks what happens if the House declares that current or former WH officials are in contempt of Congress.
Answer: Nothing. The House will continue to declare that it gets to define the scope of its own authority. The WH will deny this. Sooner or later, a neutral party (aka a "court") will decide which side is correct.
If I were Nadler, I'd try as long as possible to prevent a court from playing referee. That seems to be what Nadler is doing. If he DOES ask for a referee (i.e. a court), and the referee rules against Barr and Barr ignores the court, I and most Americans will strongly oppose Barr.
But we are far from that point at the moment. So far, Nadler has simply declared that Congress may demand whatever it feels like demanding, and the demandee must comply. If and when he asks an impartial referee to decide (maybe a federal district court judge appointed by a Democratic President), I'll take him more seriously. Until then, though ...
1
Heed these words:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Please get the facts straight. It is not true that "Mr. Mueller...cited at least 10 specific instances in which Mr. Trump may have obstructed his investigation." Mueller didn't find that Trump may have obstructed the investigation, he found Trump had obstructed it. Mueller specifically stated that he did not charge Trump because under DOJ guidelines he couldn't. He then stated Congress was required to hold Trump accountable for obstruction of justice.
The inability to get the facts straight in an enormous problem as it confuses and misrepresents what the facts are, as well as the issues, all to Trump's benefit. Congressional Democrats are merely doing exactly what the Mueller Report said should be done. Trump and the GOP have created this "Constitutional Crisis" by refusing to respect and comply with Congress's subpoena power, or respect and comply with our constitution and our laws. If the Times tries to hedge on the facts, and in the process misrepresents them, it becomes easier for Trump and the GOP to pretend that this is just a partisan dispute.
It isn’t.
Trump and the GOP are destroying our republic and our democracy and transforming our entire system of government into an autocracy. This is no time for the Times to try to insulate itself from the wrath of an authoritarian Trump and GOP by failing to state what the facts are, and that the Democrats are right, and Trump and the GOP are dead wrong. Nothing less than our republic and American democracy are at stake.
2
I have not been a fan of the neoliberal Pelosi and feared that she was going to be weak when she became speaker. I am encouraged by these latest developments; at least she's not being weak.
The real crisis is that the nation does not truly grasp that it has collapsed into a deeply dysfunctional unitary state, of which the current crisis is but one symptom.
The fact that every non democrat in congress is completely unwilling to stop playing footsie with the tweeter in chief and insist that constitutional authority be respected is due, in
the end, to the fact that their constituents insist upon this. They are sure that no political price will be paid for deciding that constitutional authorities can be dispensed with, no matter what the pretext.
It is their constituents who believe this, and who are insisting
that they behave as they have done since Jan. 2017.
It suffices to read some comments along these lines to see this.
It is the existence of this large base in the population, living in a far different mental universe, that is the basic source of the crisis.
There is widespread illusion that this is temporary, but it is not. The media operation of disinformation that got
going with barr's 4 page summary gave trump all the advance media time and space he needed to fix and reinforce the dominant narrative for his base (and therefore
their legislators) to follow. They have not wavered one
bit from it. McConnell's "case closed" is just another
refrain of it.
The fact that Mueller and McGahn will very likely not testify will perhaps wake up some sleeping minds to the nature of the crisis. But I doubt many delusions will dissolve.
1
I see this as a great opportunity to reach out to the American voting public and gather support for the rule of law and defense of the Constitution. I know all of this is what the Republicans traditionally do to cover up something odious by claiming they are following the intentions of the Founders. Here, it is up to the Democrats to actually defend the Constitution and the way to do it is to say it and keep saying it. This is about getting the voters, particularly in God fearing Red and Purple States, to see what is happening, with an Executive brazenly committing high crimes and misdemeanors, and get angry about it. The key issues are not parliamentary procedures on the House floor but seizing the upper hand in the real world.
Has the Democratic Party actually tried this? I haven't noticed.
"As with Watergate, Speaker Pelosi should ask for relief in the courts first. But, if the Trump legal team continues to throw legal roadblocks in the way ... "
I'm not aware that Trump has disobeyed any court order. Can you enlighten me on that? Is Barr really being unreasonable to claim he'd violate some federal law if he discloses "grand jury" information? Why not simply ask a court to declare that he won't, and then see whether he still refuses? (I suspect he wouldn't, since I doubt he could care less about redactions, but he does care about not violating federal law.)
1
Somebody, somewhere has an unredacted copy of the Mueller report, with all of the supporting documentation. It's time for this person to step forward, in the full light of day, and release it all to the media. They will likely be prosecuted, and I've got a hundred bucks to give for the cost to defend them. I suspect that there are millions of other voters that are willing to do the same.
The person who subverts the perverse process we're experiencing now, and makes the report public will go down in history as one of America's greatest patriots.
I would go for impeachment hearings and produce a comprehensive set of Articles of Impeachment. And I wouldn't worry about political calculations. Send the Articles of Impeachment to the full House of Representatives for a vote. Then force the Senate to consider and vote to convict or not convict. This is the only path that Trump will not be able to block via court and other legal maneuvers. A little political history here: In 1998-1999 when the Republicans in the House impeached Bill Clinton on flimsy grounds and the Senate did not convict, the Republicans still won the White House in the 2000 despite their shameful behavior. In other words, the forthcoming 2020 presidential votes will be influenced by a lot of factors and the Democrats will not lose, if they do, based on voters being upset with a Trump impeachment. PPS: Remember also, to actually convict Trump, that only one Article of Impeachment needs to be approved by the required minimum of 67 senators. Maybe (of course highly unlikely) that could happen. Then Trump would truly be in the history books.
I personally believe identity politics has brought this all upon us — both parties need to be told to quit taking care of themselves and start taking care of the people, starting with the poor. And all should be in support of a progressive agenda. Vote Elizabeth or Bernie and for every progressive you can find.
1
Yep focus on health care and the high cost of prescription drugs and pound on it till the cows come home. As far as contempt proceedings go Pelosi won't bring them to the floor until she is sure she has the votes. If she doesn't, then she doesn't have the votes. That would make the Dems appear very weak indeed. So concentrate where you can do the most good, health care, preexisting conditions and drug prices. Republicans are wanting on solutions to those.
So, let me mirror the impeachment naysayers who are writing here. The President and the Attorney General are allowed to ignore subpoenas just because they don’t like them? The President can obstruct justice because he thinks the investigations into his actions are unfounded? I thought we had rule of law. I guess I forgot about Trump’s new normal.
Going forward, I suppose we don’t have three equal branches of government anymore. We have a monarchy. It can’t be a Constitutional crisis because nobody pays attention to that antiquated old Constitution. Now I get it.
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@Kathryn Only where their antiquated obsession with guns is concerned.
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@Kathryn...What is your position on the Electoral College, Kathryn? Is it "rule of law"? Is it "constitutional"? Don't forget the Second Amendment. Is it "rule of law". Do you agree with Wyoming and Delaware having TWO Senators? Does "Checks and Balances" only apply to Article I checking Article II. Which "Constitutional Rules of Law" do you support and which do you oppose?
@Kathryn The U.S. does not have a monarchy. All the monarchs have dignity. Trump does not.
7
Why is the report saying the Democrats want to move onto the voters' priorities? It implies that they have not already done so. The fact is since Pelosi returned to the Speakership, the House has passed legislation regarding gun control, voting rights and campaign finance reform, each of which sits idle in the Republican-controlled Senate. From a messaging standpoint, and that of responsible journalism, these accomplishments/obstruction should and could be emphasized, without excluding the efforts to protect our system of checks and balances. Shocking though it may seem, I have an expectation that members of Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time.
1
Any crisis is caused by the two party system which is NOT mentioned at all in the Constitution. One possible solution is term limits which MIGHT result in citizen legislators not career politicians.
1
We paid for the report through our tax dollars why is it being hidden from the American people???
Can the GOP please tell me why they are hiding the report from its citizens???
1
Not clear that this commenter has thought it through:
"Once the details are out, Trump's days would be numbered."
How, exactly, will that happen?
What appears likely to most observers now is that the Democratic-controlled House will vote to impeach Trump but the Republican-controlled Senate will not vote to convict him (which would require 67 votes).
There IS another way: The Democratic Party could try to win the 2020 election. That may be old-fashioned, but it may be worth a try.
1
@MyFourCents In other words, no matter what the president might have done, no matter that he might be beholden to a foreign adversary, no matter that he might have violated the rights of our citizens, no matter that he might shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, the Republicans in the Senate will not vote to convict.
Is that what you're saying?
You might be right, but one has to wonder how we ever got such disloyal Americans into the halls of government.
Is Barr legally allowed to turn over grand jury testimony?
The Justice department has been corrupted, press passes are
being curtailed, the legislature (our third branch of government is half neutered (the Senate), all that remains ifs some fake 'emergency' for martial law to be declared.....and this one time great country whose ideals I've treasured for 95 years...can become a dictatorship in the hands of a known psychopathic dictator.
1
Trump gets away with it because his constituency never bothered to read the Constitution. If you attempt to tell them about the balance of powers now, they just label it 'fake news.' How exactly do you counter that kind of willful ignorance?
2
Just who did Nancy think she was dealing with? She grabbed a scorpion by the tail. This was never going to be easy.
1
What are the Congressional Dems waiting for? Impeach, stop dithering and impeach.
1
I stand behind Speaker Pelosi, and agree that the US is indeed in a constitutional crisis, as the Trump Administration never has, and is not currently acting in accordance with Trump's sworn oath to uphold the US Constitution. Neither are the Republicans in the Senate and the House acting in accordance with their sworn oaths to uphold the US Constitution. The only people even attempting to do their jobs and earn their paychecks are the Democrats. One party alone who is trying to hold this country together in accordance with the US Constitution is indeed a clear indication that the US is in a dangerous constitutional crises, never before witnessed in the history of this country. All the rest, might as well be wearing scarlet "T's" on their garments. If the great American experiment fails, will those tainted dollars, that dirty money born of corruption that you have been quietly amassing have been worth it to you? You know who you are, all of you!
Ras-le-bol
1
I wonder if there is a way to discover who took short positions in the market just before the Donald announced new sanctions. “It’s just ‘Sport’.” ...
1
Let's have a great sorting. The Trump fans can move to very Red States, preferably in the southeast, and say, Oklahoma and Kansas. Those States can Secede, and fully support themselves. The NEW Confederacy, with Trump as their King.
Seriously.
4
It’s about time. Trump has flagrantly thumbed his nose at the House and the Constitution. He is in contempt of the American people.
2
This morning, we watched Donald Trump, in a 20 minute news conference, tell more than 30 lies, ranging from lies about James Comey to lies about Robert Mueller to lies about Donald Trump Jr to lies about John Kerry. Ceaseless lies.
Trump is a pathological, compulsive, impulsive liar, who has no regard for reality or in acting based on facts.
This, by definition, is a "Constitutional Crisis".
2
Speaker Pelosi must be under the quaint notion that the Vichy GOP still cares about the "Constitution".
They have shown, since long before their cowardly defense of the Reality Show Con Artist they only care about POWER.
Fortunately there is a way to fight back.
Go in the voting and vote for EVERY Democrat in EVERY election EVERY year.
Local, State, Federal, even Dog catcher.
The Vichy GOP are the problem and they must be stopped by voting them all out of office.
1
Here's what is so troubling about all of this: Putin didn't fire not a single shot, launch a single missile nor had soldiers cross our shores, yet, he has done so much damage to our country where it MATTERS! #THECONSTITUTIONMATTERS
the republican senate will block anything that looks meaningful legislation coming from the house, so it's not like anything constructive is going to happen during the next two years until and unless it can be demonstrated to the least educated and most aggressively ignorant voters in this country that there is a cancer on the presidency and it must be cured
1
I can't decide if this is a real crisis, or political posturing and grandstanding in preparation for the next presidential elections. Or perhaps it is simply deflection from Congressional stagnation of getting anything meaningful done on issues that effect the average voters on a daily basis? A good deal of the new House democrats seem more interested is self promotion than doing the hard work of government, such as dealing with gun control and shootings in schools and houses of worship, Social Security (ok, I'm old), healthcare (ok, I'm old). I question if the issue of "checks and balance" a bit too esoteric for many Americans to relate to, if not understand all the particulars- especially it seems to many Americans it goes beyond simply Congress, the president and the Supreme Court, but also gets muddled a bit involving state lawmakers or federal judges getting into the act- making decisions that are always challenged one way or another. How many dogs are in this fight? I have lost count of how many suits California has filed against the Trump administration. Maybe the center cannot hold and chaos is released on the world. Sure seems like it today.
3
Ms. Pelosi has demonstrated time and again her reluctance to move based on political calculous. It's encouraging to see her forced to do what is probably the lowest threshold in history of proving. I've said from the moment Trump won the presidency, that if he goes down, does he take down the whole system? I think the maneuverings are self evident. Let's attempt some clarity in the meantime, Speaker Pelosi is no hero.
One of Trump's favorite campaign rants was about immigration, "without borders we don't have a country".
But do we have a country if our President has absolute power and is above the law?
The Trump supporters I know fervently believe that Trump is above the law, and there should be no limits to his powers. And it appears the GOP led Senate agrees.
2
The real "Constitutional Crisis" has been precipitated by the Democrats from the moment DT won the election.
Since then, they have done everything possible to remove him, save impeachment (at least as of now) and an outright overturn of the election results by any means possible.
They blame DT for divisiveness, but they are the ones leading the charge.
1
Although we all (understandably) want to say that Trump is the crisis - Speaker Pelosi wisely leads the way by defending and upholding our Constitution, the separation of powers, and the foundation of our democratic republic against specific, egregious violations by the Trump administration.
4
The Democrats' constitutional crisis started the night they nominated Hillary Clinton to be their presidential candidate, and continued when Trump was elected President. The Democrats have nothing to offer except to relitigate the 2016 election. And Democrats were worried that Trump might not accept the lawful results of the 2016 election? The only constitutional crisis we have now is the Democrats' refusal to accept the lawful results of the 2016 election.
3
The overarching issues emerging from the Trump administration’s conduct are more important than anything in the Mueller report: the rule of law, the separation of powers and checks and balances that have been bedrock principles of our Republic since its foundation.
Regardless of whether you think Congress should have access to Trump’s tax returns, the law on this point is clear. Upon request of specifically enumerated persons, the tax returns of any individual “shall” be provided. No ifs, ands or buts. That is the law. The president is responsible for enforcing the law. Yet this president believes he is above the law and has directed his Treasury Secretary to violate that law.
Regardless of whether you think Congress is right or wrong in its efforts to provide oversight of the president through the issuance of subpoenas for testimony and documents, that expressly is Congress’ responsibility under the Constitution as part of the system of checks and balances carefully laid out by the Founding Fathers. Yet this president has announced a blanket refusal to comply with duly issued subpoenas from Congress. Moreover, this president has directed a private citizen not to comply with a Congressional subpoena.
If this conduct is allowed, we have ceased to be the nation defined by our Constitution. We will be an autocracy - the very type of government our Constitution was designed to prevent.
5
The authoritarian tide needs to be turned, and this very well may be the only way to do it. In this, clear differences emerge: Republicans see impeachment as a mechanism to sow popular discord and re-elect the President, as well as a way to showcase, affirm and consolidate Republican authoritarian power; for Democrats, impeachment is a last resort to preserve our system of government, our democracy and freedom, as it was intended.
2
Yes, we do have aa constitutional crisis but what are we going to do about it? If impeachment won't work - and it probably won't - what will?
3
Voting for an alternative next year. We will move beyond this madness.
But, let me share my opinion as a democrat and even more importantly, a patriotic American. We cannot ignore our fellow Americans who feel left out, ignored, disenfranchised, less educated maybe, and so busy trying to support their family through toughtimes that they cannot sort through complex policies or political messages designed to mislead and confuse them. They don’t have the time or the understanding to see through Donald Trump. They see him as a savior. They are seeking help and will respond to anyone who appears likely to help them even if that person or party is disengenuous. The democrats have learned a lesson by ignoring their pleas for help and our democracy will pay the severe price. It’s not too late to turn it around. I pray.
An exhausted Nadler said it was more practical to do all the contempt charges at once. Then, what? Let's think outside the box: Barr isn't going to arrest himself --- the Sergent of Arms should be empowered by the House to arrest Barr using the DC police.
The DC prosecutors report to Congress. However, a Trump appointee, Jessie K. Liu, is in charge. It may take some doing but she can be removed for prosecutorial misconduct if she shows an unwillingness to hear a case against Barr and associates. If a warrant is issued for Barr, the DC courts can require or force his appearance.
2
For now, the president has the upper hand. He will work with Fox News to craft and sustain a story of his persecution despite complete vindication (translation: He got away with it, move on.)
But there is peril for both sides. Once impeachment starts rolling, it's likely some of the president's crimes will be exposed in the process. Add in the possibility of state tax fraud, more lawsuits from women, Junior's problems (with Republicans, no less) and the president may yet be held to account.
2
I think Trump realized he made a lot of major mistakes by giving Mueller so much access -- to McGhan for example and so now he's fearful, backpedaling and wanting to shut it all down before they get to the root of his strong financial ties to Russia and probably money laundering etc. And I think Bill Barr is telling him how to stonewall the Democrats. I don't think he's goading them to impeach. But I do think he's very afraid of losing to Biden so he is going to handle a loss to him in some problematic way -- letting himself get impeached, claiming interference in the elections etc.
1
What would be nice - is if somebody could create a website where we could all vote to see how many of us want what so that when actual voting time comes, we won't have to completely rely on strategy instead of what we believe in. How you would craft such a site, I'm not sure.
1
I happen to think the dems are right in what they're doing, but what they're doing is going to galvanize a Trumpian base that doesn't care about constitutional niceties. And if seen overreaching, the dems will pay a price in 2020. While the dems are right, the country is exhausted by the Trumpian outrages, and only wants to see Congress do things. This, while right, is not what the new dem moderates who took repub seats campaigned on.
I think the dems need to be very clearly not overreaching in what they're asking for, to force the pres to actively avoid something that's obviously a legit request. And remember that Congress's primary tool is the power of the purse. Put that to use and see what happens.
20
@Jim R. Please understand something - we do not want our country run in a fashion that is based on an irrational fear of what Trump's base feels about anything. You said the Dems will pay a price in 2020? Our country is paying a price RIGHT NOW because of the lawlessness of Trump and the AG, and the fecklessness of the sycophants in the Republican Party (especially Mitch McConnell!) Trump, Barr, and others are criminals and they need to be held accountable NOW for their actions by Congress - not by voters in the 2020 election.
8
@Larry
You seem to believe there is some difference between The Voters who elected Trump in 2016 and his Base. The Voters who elected Trump in 2016 will be voting for him again in 2020. The OP is just pointing that out to you. You relegate them to 'his base'. I am not part of anyone's 'base'. I am a voter who chose a Candidate and intend to continue to vote for that Candidate as long as he continues to keep his promises.
@Larry
So, you want AG to break the law by revealing grand jury information that Congress has no legal right to know?
Which side gets to follow the law?
The fact that Donald Trump has committed and is committing impeachable offenses will ultimately push The House of Representatives to do their duty, as prescribed by The Constitution of The United States, to impeach Trump.
If America is currently unsure of whether or not Trump should be impeached, then a systematic, public investigation and airing of his offenses with real evidence will sway those with an open mind to support impeachment.
If the Senate Republicans arrive at a conclusion that Trump will doom their party in 2020, they will vote to convict and remove him from office.
They can be swayed. If not, they will be obliterated as a political party.
106
@S Butler
What impeachable offenses?
Just because you don't like Trump's successful policies is not grounds for impeachment.
TDS is real.
3
@George Orwell
Trump dead-enders are afraid that they cannot win a real debate about removing Trump from office.
Impeachment is the mechanism our founding fathers wrote into our Constitution to prosecute before the Senate whether or not to remove a President from office.
It's the House of Representatives' opportunity to present to the Senate, the country, and the world their case, with evidence, the reasons why a President should be convicted and removed from office.
Democrats will have done everything they can do by impeaching Trump. Any catastrophe caused by Trump & Company after that is on the Republicans.
6
@George Orwell it is real and you’re suffering terribly from it. The irony of you calling yourself George Orwell is almost charming. No one is talking about Trump’s policies and I seem to remember a lot of baying for impeachment over a dislike of Obama’s policies. We have a report that the president said exonerated him and when it didn’t suddenly became a lie. Get on back to the Ministry of Truth, Winston, you’ve got work to do.
7
It took her long enough.
OK, folks, the history of totalitarians is not pleasant. They are rarely removed without violence. I am hopeful America can find a better way.
If the Democrats actually stand up, which I still doubt they will do, the democracy might be reconstituted (over time).
If not, and almost certainly, even if they stand up, this will take decades to resolve.
The GOP has quashed the democracy. It is time for someone in power to say it.
6
Bravo. This is a moment of truth for American democracy. The Trump administration have betrayed their oath to protect the Constitution, among other things by totally obstructing Congress's oversight role and authority, as well as by obstructing the Mueller investigation (regardless of Barr's pandering opinion that a President axiomatically cannot obstruct justice since he is the President). The Republicans in Congress, or at least most of them, are either conspiring, aiding and abetting, or passively complicit with the Trump administration's betrayal of the Constitution. Because of this, even if there may not be enough votes in the Senate to convict Trump of any articles of impeachment, the House should still impeach him, Barr and Minuchin, as well as exercise the House's contempt powers against Barr and Minuchin. Also, the House should take any and all reasonably required legal actions, even if ultimately the Trump-packed Supreme Court may rule in Trump's favor.
If the House acts decisively, democracy may prevail. If the House does not prevail, then game over for American democracy. Let's say, a 50-50 chance for American democracy.
On the other hand, if the House fails to act -- or if the Republican-controlled Senate continues to show extreme partisan loyalty to Trump instead of upholding the Constitution -- or if the Supreme Court continues to decide matters on a partisan basis, then the very basis of American democracy stands no chance at all. Game over.
6
Pelosi is correct. We are facing a Constitutions crisis. Trump has much to hide and will stonewall each request for documents and testimony the House will legitimately request. Trump's perpetual claim of "executive privilege" is absurd based on any legal precedent, justifiable intention, or qualification.
The documents and testimony requested by Congress are needed to follow up on the Mueller Report just as Mueller intended. This is most certainly true with respect to the suspicion of Trump's obstruction of justice. Trump wants to demonstrate to his devoted fans that he is indeed above the law.
Democrats must pull out all the stops and take this matter all the way to the Supreme Court if needed. Trump cannot by any means prove as often required that he is withholding information as a matter of national security. In fact, just the opposite, Trump's own behavior is the subject of investigation because it may well pose a risk to US national security.
Republicans have already openly defiled the Constitution when McConnell denied Obama his right to nominate a Supreme Court Justice. We know they will back the illegal actions of Trump to the bitter end. Furthermore the right wing Roberts Court may assist both Trump and the Republicans in destroying our democracy. If that is the case then a massive voter backlash in 2020 handing the White House and the Congress to the Democrats will be the last best hope for the future this nation.
5
The Times gets the headline wrong. "Pelosi Recognizes Trump's Presidency is a Constitutional Crisis". She didn't 'declare' anything.
6
Recognizing and declaring something mean two separate things. RIF!
Pleases stop calling it a "redacted" report. "Redacted" is a fancy lawyer word.
Call it the "portions of the Mueller report that Barr chose to share." That is what we have seen. That is all we have seen.
NYT, I'm talking to you, too. Thanks.
8
Was it a Constitutional crisis when Holder was found in contempt by Congress and the Obama Justice Department ignored it?
10
@William Simple answer(s). 1.) Yes. 2.) It was resolved when Congress received the information they requested.
It would be reasonable to suppose that the same should happen here.
18
No, of course not. Obama simply ignored it, as did the lapdog press who still declare that there were "no scandals" when Obama was in President.
It's only called a "crises" when Democrats lose an election or otherwise don't get their own way.
@JMH
"It would be reasonable to suppose that the same should happen here."
Evidently, not likely. This group is incorrigible. They all need to go. They are not democrats. [small d intentional]
I said it over a year now civil war is inevitable with Trump in control: too many nut cases associated with him as mor evidence comes out.
7
At what point in this "slow motion fascist coup" (Bill Maher) do millions of citizens march on Washington and demand restoration of the rule of law? We will not be saved by focus grouping the Constitution. We're either going to hold onto our democracy or relinquish it to the craven third of the country that has succumbed to the Trump cult. This is going to require a mass movement, demonstrations and civil disobedience. Elizabeth Warren has demonstrated the courage Democrats need to summon. Stiffen your spines, Democrats, or it will all go down the toilet.
9
I blame Democrats who are still seething with rage that Hillary lost
7
@NYC Dweller: Sorry, but you are wrong. Get over it and face the fact that Trump is a huge threat to our country.
Maybe blame the GOP, which keeps obfuscating, declining their duties, and making up excuses for the world’s foremost billion-dollar-losing crook/cheat/liar/sexist/bigoted know-nothing.
@NYC Dweller
This is not about Hilary losing. That is reality and Democrats have accepted it. This is far more serious than being sore losers.
Over on the Bloomberg channel this morning they had a headline that Roger Stone is going to get redacted portions of the Mueller Report in full.
How is it that Ole Rog gets the report and the House does not?
4
It seems this Democrat foolishness that started over a false accusation of Russian Collusion will never end. While the country has moved on, and so has the Trump Administration, Democrats just can't let it go.
It's as if they just can't understand....
--There was no collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia.
--If nothing Trump ever said or did ended up hindering the Mueller Investigation, there was no obstruction of justice. For weak-minded progressives, let me put it this way: if Trump did not manage to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice did not occur.
--Without an underlying crime, it's difficult to accuse someone of obstructing an investigation into that crime--because the intent to obfuscate is absent. In other words, it's impossible to prove intent to obstruct the investigation into a crime the alleged perpetrator never committed.
--By law, it is illegal to release grand jury testimony. In demanding the release of a fully unredacted report, Democrats are trying to compel Attorney General Barr to break a law he is sworn to uphold. Since Barr is the Attorney General, he knows what the law is. It's continued silliness to keep requesting he break that law.
--Democrats can't win the economic argument in the next election. Our economic boom simply cannot be Lib 'splained away. So what are Democrats to do in their desperate quest to gain power??...they're trying to dirty up Trump any way they can--with the welfare of the nation be damned.
7
@Jesse The Conservative You're mistaken on all of your points.
-- a person can endeavor to obstruct justice and not be successful. Sections 1503 and 1505 "prohibit 'endeavors' to obstruct justice as well as actual obstructions of justice".
--One does not need an underlying crime to obstruct justice. Obstruction is considered to be a crime against justice. Example, the IRS wants records from you to perform an audit, although you're not guilty of anything, to protest the audit, you decide to destroy the records being requested. That's Obstruction of Justice.
--Like in the Watergate, like Whitewater, like in all other special counsel and special prosecutors reports, Barr can request the Judge release grand jury testimony. There is nothing magical or sacred about this. The only difference is those before him had the integrity to request the release of GJ testimony without being asked.
So why did the Senate just subpoena Trump Jr? That’s led by Republicans.
@Jesse The Conservative
here lies the problem at the core of this dysfunctional government, the vilification of those opposed to your argument. although you present a cohesive argument with some rational measures, you pepper it with ad hominem diatribe much like the president. and yes, democrats engage in such behavior as well, but the lack of civility and respect has been objectively and overwhelmingly perpetuated by the Fox pundits and talk radio hosts to such a degree that republicans can stomach the moral failing of our leaders.
There is no constitutional crisis.
The problem lies in the degradation of elite consensus.
The masses are unable to move on until the club rules are redefined.
5
The masses are unable to move on until the Electoral College is dismantled and each vote counts EQUALLY.
A Constitutional Crisis exists only in the delusional minds of Democrats, liberals and progressives.. They cannot accept the findings of the 2 year Mueller report and the $30 million trying to pin Russian collusion on the president. Rmemeber in the 90's when Democrats shouted "Get over it" after the Clinton lies about Monica Lewinsky? At least there was something there, there. There is no there, there concerning Russian collusion. Democrats, liberals and progressives, take your won advice.
18
I suggest you read the redacted version of the Mueller report. It lays out multiple instances of obstruction by the president and specifically declined to exonerate him for these.
2
Interestingly, the “delusion” has produced some very real results: Mueller indicted or got guilty pleas from 34 people and 3 companies.
Of these, 6 were former Trump advisers, 26 are Russian nationals, 3 are Russian companies, 1 is an individual in California, and 1 is an attorney based in London.
7 of these people (including 5 of the 6 former Trump advisers) have pleaded guilty.
1
@paul, please see this line: Mr. Mueller found “at least 10 specific instances in which Mr. Trump may have obstructed his investigation.” You will recall that obstruction is illegal, given that Bill Clinton was accused of obstruction himself.
Barr cannot by law turn over the underacted report. The Democrats know this. Then, in full knowledge of this, they declare a constitutional crisis because Barr won't break the law. Mind you these are the same Democrats who said 'executive privilege' when Holder refused to testify with Fast and Furious.
The people creating a constitutional crisis are the Democrats. The people harming the foundation of the Republic are the Democrats.
14
False. They can’t turn the unredacted report over to the public, perhaps, but they certainly can turn it over to Congress.
2
@Bill
Barr actually could get a court order to allow him to turn over grand jury information in the report. Further, there are Congressional representative that have high level security clearances that allow them to deal with sensitive intelligence matters. Finally, Barr did not have to mis-characterize the Barr report's findings to the American public. If you have read the Mueller report, you know that Mr. Mueller cites multiple behaviors of Trump and those around him that strongly implicate Trump in obstruction of justice. Also, the Mueller report, says of the Russian influence portion of the investigation, that while Russia actively intruded in the election to help Trump and while the campaign welcomed Russian interference, Mr. Mueller could not establish evidence of a criminal conspiracy between
the Trump campaign and Russia. He also commented that some obstruction efforts affected this outcome. These findings represent a level of ethical misbehavior and actual lawlessness that require Congressional oversight. Trumps attempts to subvert the constitutional duty of Congress is most definitely a constitutional crisis!
Use your power Nancy!
16
Reality Check pelosi is closer to the truth then she knows. American people should take notice because alot of evil people in world who love to see usa fall apart so they can expand axis of evil thru out world. Maybe thats real agenda here
5
I’d say calling what’s happening in Washington a “Constitutional Crisis” is a polite euphemism. Trump, Barr and McConnell with the acquiescence of the entire GOP are getting dangerously close to “coup d’etat“ territory. Maybe we should call this “Seven Days in May” - the sequel.
27
"While Mr. Mueller found insufficient evidence to bring charges against President Trump for conspiring or colluding with Russia to influence the 2016 elections . . ."
Why is the New York Times repeating this lie? It rolls off their tongue as if everyone believed it.
14
@Barbyr they meant to say “no evidence”
Subpoenas and contempt of Congress citations are not the solution to a "Constitutional crisis." The Constitution is, and it spells out two paths that can be taken separately or together. The first is to appeal to the third branch of government, here the Judiciary, and seek immediate redress in the Supreme Court as was done when Nixon refused to release the tapes that led to impeachment and resignation. Here it's the Mueller report and its supporting documentation and the verdict should be similar. The second Constitutional remedy is impeachment that would automatically require the release of all documents and testimony by witnesses. As with Watergate, Speaker Pelosi should ask for relief in the courts first. But, if the Trump legal team continues to throw legal roadblocks in the way, they may be forced to draft articles of impeachment. Our Constitution--the foundation of our "rule of law" is under attack by the authoritarian "rule of Trump." Will or can the Republic stand or will our democracy fall into autocracy? That's the crisis the nation confronts.
16
@Paul Wortman I'm more sure today that the speaker will do just as you've written. I don't think she was prepared to do that until Trump issued his blanket "Executive Privilege" statement, but she's there now.
1
Whatever the outcome of the current crisis, Congress should pass a law that provides a means for a few committees to jail people it deems in contempt. The law could go into effect in, say, two years (or after Trump leaves office) if that helps get bipartisan support. I realize there are complications since congress doesn't have a police force or jails,. but I'm sure they can be overcome in the legislation.
We have to do everything we can to prevent this national tragedy from ever happening again.
6
Please, please, let us just reach the tipping point when all of the President's men begin to fall. Once the first couple of grifters go down, the rest will collapse in short order.
Who's up first? Don Jr., I think I hear your name.
25
The New York Times needs to come out in support of impeachment. It's been overdue since January of 2017, but it is simply unconscionable to equivocate at this point. If the Times supported impeachment, calls for impeachment would grow.
This man is preparing to start a war with Iran to save his skin, referring to nebulous "threats" which they conveniently can't elaborate on. Given the administration's history, you can be 90%+ sure that they are lying (even though the NYTimes takes the administration at its word for some incomprehensible reason).
New York Times editorial staff, if you have any sense of decency, justice, prudence, morality, ethics, democracy, or responsibility, then your hands are righteously tied: the president must be impeached.
Trumpism dalenda est.
25
Yeah, really like to take a page from Imperial Rome’s levelling of Carthage as a model for our politics.
Thanks.
U.S. Congress must move quickly and determinedly to hold Republican president , Russian agent Donald J. Trump and his official, White House Staff, goons , gang etc. be accountable and liable to the top laws of the country: The U.S. constitution. This is the beginning of the lawlessness , chaos of Nazi Fascist president Hitler in Germany in 1929-1945 when Germany's president Nazi leader Adolf Hitler BROKE lose all the German laws and became a dictator, mass murderer, racist, fascist, killer until the day ( May 1945) that Hitler took his own life as the most notorious criminal in the world, the path Republican Donald J. Trump is taking right now.
5
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
True.
Just as, "You can lead a Republican to knowledge but you can't make him think."
Since the second year of Obama's first term, the Republicans have shirked duty, ignored the requirements of the Constitution, laughed in the face of cameras, sneered and proudly proclaimed that they were, and are, the Party of NO! (Jindal said, The Party of Stupid!)
Anyone who has ever read the tale of a bunch of 5th graders stuck on an island with no adults around, has known all along that Mitch McConnell is truly "The Lord of The Flies".
(I could have made that Trump, but he already has an appropriate nick-name: "The Biggest Loser".)
All Pelosi has to do for the next 540 days is simply to state the laws that Republicans and Trumps are breaking... and then re-state them again.... and again...... andandand....
That's it.
She - we - can't change anyone if they don't want to change.
It's true. I find Trump a sad, sick man - but it's not my duty to grow him up. That was Fred's job and he did a lousy job of it. When Fred failed it was then Donald's job to grow himself up. If The Biggest Loser doesn't want to grow up, then it is a sad fact: No one else is going to make him.
Just keep saying it over and over, Nancy.
That's all I need from you.
Just. State. The . LAWS.
22
Yay. The Democrats have a spine AND are using it.
11
Shows how they never were for integrity or family values, just empty words! Hypocrisy!
8
With his flagrant disregard for our laws, our constitution and our democracy, Trump is not just the worst American President in our history, he is the worst American, period.
29
Nancy Pelosi is a real master in threatening to take action against Trump but in reality she doesn't do anything. A useless leader.
8
hey democrats -
you're getting djt's tax returns from NY.
set up a team to comb through them the minute they arrive in DC.
7
@bob lesch DC comics
@bob lesch
No, they're not.
If NYS Tax department turns over our President's returns (who was a private citizen during the time they wish to receive his returns), the administration (rightfully) will sue and then this will all get bogged down in court.
And then Congress will not be able to use the NYS tax returns because they will need to wait for the outcome of the court's decision.
Or our President can claim "Executive Privilege" as is his right (and every President's right) and then it will all end up in court.
Truly amazing how damaging the NYS Assembly truly is...we hate the President so much, we are going to try to pass a bill focused solely on him.nevermind the effect on private citizens other than the President - they don't matter.
All that matter is we GET TRUMP!!! Nothing else - not healthcare, immigration, infrastructure etc.
Just get him! GET HIM!! So sad that the Dems are nothing but a snarling, angry, hateful beast of a political party.
And you know it.
@DB - watch and see.
"Pelosie threatens to hold more officials in contempt" !! she hasn't held anyone in contempt yet!! I am really tired of the dems bringing wet paper towels to the republicans scorched earth...We need some dems who can think and speak at the same time, and it is not Pelosi or Schumer..
8
@grace thorsen
They don't exist. Stop looking for them
1
Our democracy is long dead. Our supreme court is nothing more than a rubber stamp, our senate is a mobocracy, and our president is a criminal. Worst of all, 50% of population actively support this horror of a situation.
22
Trump won and Democrats are spoiled children. What a crises? The kids’ tantrums here in my special ed class here at school in East LA when their iPads wear out and LAUSD is too cheap to replace them have more validity.
14
I just wonder what we’re doing about the crisis in adult literacy, a crisis that does a great deal to explain how anybody can possibly get suckered by the shabby likes of Donald John Trump.
"First, the House could rely on its oldest enforcement mechanism: using its inherent contempt authority
and its own law enforcement officials to imprison an uncooperative witness. Specifically, the House
could “direct the sergeant-at-arms to arrest the witness, try her(/him) in the House, and upon conviction, place
her(/him) in detention in a House facility until she(/he) either complied with the subpoena or the term of the
Congress expired, whichever came first.” https://www.theusconstitution.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Congressional-Oversight-Issue-Brief.pdf
6
what a circus and farce.
he cant release the grand jury part of the report. any court will explain that to her. worse- she KNOWS this.
he released as much as he can, and congressmen can see even more in a special room. almost none have bothered. but they demand more. uh huh.
pathetic. i hope trump and GOP can explain this clearly to the people and get rid of these clowns
13
@Ari Weitzner
Awesome!! Totally awesome!!
Impeachment is not a proper course of action since it won’t happen as long as the Republicans control the Senate. While the Mueller report is somewhat damning, it does not clearly define impeachable offenses. The House should censure folks but do nothing to make Trump appear to be a martyr. Pelosi and other House Democrats have to realize the only way to get rid of Trump is vote him out next November. We also need a Presidential candidate who can bring all Democrats together along with moderate Republicans and independents.
4
Oh, look! A Constitutional crisis!
Indeed. A crisis bought and paid for by your Democrat Media Complex and the Democrat Party.
They didn’t get the Trump-Russian collusion rap from Mueller they so desperately wanted (or is it needed?).
Now, there’s a — wait for it! — ‘cover up’ because AG Barr won’t publicly release the Mueller Report without redacted sections. (You know, because that’s against the law but when have Democrats let the law get in the way of their politics).
Dems also need to destroy Barr because he represents an existential threat to the dishonest narrative the Dems/Media have been peddling.
Barr will get to the bottom of the cancerous rot the Democrat Party has infected the Justice Department, the FBI, and others with. Political interference with elections will not be tolerated. Clapper, Comey, and Brennan, for example, better lawyer up.
I stipulate that Donald Trump is appalling but you Democrats need to know how you look to the rest of the nation outside the coastal / urban fever swamp: a bunch of vengeful, dissatisfied political hacks who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near political power.
15
*standing ovation*
so what happens if the House votes to find WH officials in contempt of Congress?
The article doesn't mention it. Perhaps a Times reporter or editor can clarify? One would think it's vital and relevant information to include the article, no?
4
Block these clowns from continuing to waste taxpayer money on these witch hunts, they are the true obstructionists. TDS has got the left rabid, its embarrassing to watch.
11
So impeach. We have a process for a lawless President. Hold Republican Congresspeople to accountability.
5
Yesterday, we learned the White House revoked press passes en masse.
Yesterday, trump supporters at his Florida rally yelled Shoot Them, referring to migrants at the border and he turned it into a joke.
Yesterday trump invoked executive privilege over the entire Mueller report.
Yesterday, the House Judiciary committee voted to hold the Attorney General of the United States in contempt of Congress for his obstruction.
Yes Nancy it is time to Impeach!
24
In looking carefully at Mr. Trump's history, it is clear that Mr. Trump has consistently screwed up nearly everything he's touched his entire adult life and very likely in his adolescence as well.
Taking our country into constitutional crises is consistent with his behavior.
Vladimir Putin knows that he engineered the perfect candidate into the Oval Office. The toasts and vodka are flowing in Moscow with news of The Constitutional Crises Mr. Trump has created in our country.
Will the GOP rally to The American Flag and defend our Constitution, or, will they turn their backs on our country and our Constitution and rally around a demagogue? We will all know very soon.
7
Democrats creating a political crisis so they don't have to deal with a real illegal immigration crisis southern border and the liberal medial is on their side
6
Nancy the Drama Queen. We are not in a Constitutional crisis. Even if we were, it would be of the Democrats own creation.
Democrats need to get reoriented to why they are in Congress to begin with. Throwing hissy fits over a investigated-to-death media and politically generated false narrative about Everything Trump ain't what they are sent there to accomplish.
Work on infrastructure. Work on immigration (a real crisis)...Work on healthcare by fixing that POS Obamacare.
10
Here we go again. What did the Republicans accomplish on infrastructure, healthcare, or immigration in the two years where they controlled the Presidency and both houses of Congress (and might as well throw in the Supreme Court too)?
1
As loathsome and as risky as it is to begin impeachment hearings, Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats have no choice. Not because Donald has pushed them to it, BUT because IT IS their Constitutional duty to prosecute Donald J Trump!
Many of our nation’s best legal minds, 800 at last count, have signed a letter stating that the Mueller Report clearly states twelve or more incidents of obstruction of justice! Much more than Nixon! Robert Mueller III, didn’t indict because that is not the role of the Special Counsel. The Special Counsel simply gathers .....evidence....and presents it to the AG and Congress. It is the House who presents the evidence to America, subpoenas witnesses, writes up the articles of impeachment and votes. The trial then is done in the Senate.
I remind everyone, that during Watergate Nixon enjoyed a high approval rating! Higher than any number Donald has ever seen! And not just among Republicans. Still, we are a nation of laws, the president of the United States is not above the law! He will e held accountable for his crimes.
What I will never understand is why the Republicans have abdicated their Constitutional duty?! Why Attorney General Barr has perjured himself, for Donald? His career and legacy are now in tatters? Why? Money?! I believe Putin has dirt on all the Republicans in Congress and maybe also on, Barr. That’s the only reasonable explanation for the Republicans to spit on the rule of law and our Constitution!
508
@Mari
Some nice thoughts unfortunately within false/incomplete context.
The dems and media are simply going into full "tilt"mode in advance of the details re: IG investigation, BArr investigations, Trump releasing classified materials all re: collusion between DNC and Steele, Cmpey, Clapper, Strzok, Brennan, Lynch, Ohr, McCabe, etc. Some damning facts (actual evidence and actual facts) are about to drop. The above mentioned, the media, false leakers like Schiff and Smalwell all stand to lose much face (and worse) in the next couple months.
Trump is actually just fanning the flames right now. Letting the fish run before really setting the hook. And somehow people never see this.
I am honestly starting to feel sorry for the emotional rubes on the left as they see all of the fantasy crumble.
6
@Mari
Some nice thoughts unfortunately within false/incomplete context.
The dems and media are simply going into full "tilt"mode in advance of the details re: IG investigation, BArr investigations, Trump releasing classified materials all re: collusion between DNC and Steele, Cmpey, Clapper, Strzok, Brennan, Lynch, Ohr, McCabe, etc. Some damning facts (actual evidence and actual facts) are about to drop. The above mentioned, the media, false leakers like Schiff and Smalwell all stand to lose much face (and worse) in the next couple months.
Trump is actually just fanning the flames right now. Letting the fish run before really setting the hook. And somehow people never see this.
I am honestly starting to feel sorry for the emotional rubes on the left as they see all of the fantasy crumble.
Oh, don;t believe this is a constitutional crisis until it involves the Judicial branch. Sorry, guess you can;t take MSNBC's headline at face value.
3
@Mari
Blackmail is not the only reasonable explanation for GOP behavior. Also consider a relentlessly hierarchical worldview that exalts male dominance in personal and public life. This would explain not only GOP facilitation of unchecked Presidential power, but also the support from backward-looking religious figures. All over the world pandering to macho fantasy pays off with a sizable portion of populations. Commitment to Constitutional democracy will be tested again and again. That line must be drawn hard and bright and defended with all we can bring to bear.
20
Yes Trump is begging for the publicity of an impeachment. He could care less what happens to this country as long as he is the center of attention. That the Democrats don't recognize that Trump lives for confrontation is unbelievable. Hence the escalation of his obstruction of justice. The news outlets share the blame for our ills as they are in bed with Trump covering every bodily noise he makes 24/7. Cable news has killed intelligent thought in this country as it broadcasts junk 24/7.
149
@Phil M
The Democrats do realize Trump is begging them to impeach. They know he wants another Kavanaugh-style spectacle because he and the Republicans are expert slanderers and liars. But, really, it's mostly Fox News and fake Social Media news that's propping him up, not the other networks. If the Dems can actually turn up something demonstrably criminal, like Bank Fraud, the GOP will run from him like rats from a sinking ship. And if Fox's ratings go down, then they'll turn too. It all turns on a criminal charge. Unfortunately, we don't have that yet though we know that Trump is definitely a criminal.
6
@Phil M Reality Check the media sold out long ago to foreign governments . Turn on fm radio shows truth
1
I agree, especially outlets like CNBC and CNN, these are just extension of the DNC..... Don't take it from anyone other then their respective ratings, they cater to a Radical marginal few and pretend they speak on behalf of all..... It's clear why "fake news" term keeps coming up, but they do huge damage with perpetually misrepresented stories. Actually, if you watch any of these channels, you don't even think there is any other news other then just Trump Centric news. "Trump derangement syndrome" is real, but really more with the media then with public at large.
3
I presume this commenter is referring to impeachment:
"The House is being baited into an inevitable and possibly disastrous confrontation."
I agree, but I don't see that the House has any choice BUT to impeach Trump. If the House doesn't, Trump will tweet that the House has declined to act because he's done nothing wrong.
Ideally, the DP could offer voters a real alternative in the 2020 elections. Short of that, the House should just impeach Trump and then castigate the Senate for not convicting him (which would require 67 votes, and thus will never happen).
3
The problem is that pretty much everything is to be paid for in the same way:
"It can be paid for with a surtax on capital gains taxes when the capital gains exceed $10 million."
As many pundits have pointed out, capital is portable. Many countries have NO tax on capital gains. The US taxing system tries very hard to "link" foreign investment entities to US taxpayers. But that effort either fails -- in which case the US collects no tax -- or it succeeds -- in which case US investors end up at a serious disadvantage to foreign investors (who, of course, pay no US tax on their investment gains).
If the Trump administration refuses to treat the U.S. Congress as a co-equal branch of the government, then impeachment is the best option. Trump has been given numerous opportunities to cooperate with congress, but has obstructed justice and stonewalled. The redacted sections of Mueller's report all pertain to interactions with Russian agents and must come to light. For someone who claims to be innocent, Trump and his henchmen have tried mightily to prevent the truth coming to light. At this point it is pretty clear Trump conspired with the Russians and obstructed justice.
5
Some are saying it won't be a constitutional crisis until Trump defies the Supreme Court when they rule against him. The problem with that is, the Trump Republicans have rigged the Supreme Court. That was their intention when they refused to hold hearings on Merrick Garland while Obama still had almost a year left in his term and confirmed Brett Kavanaugh instead.
Kavanaugh is another Republican toady like Barr and I won't be surprised if the SCOTUS rules in Trump's favor regardless of the legalities. After that it could be too late to stop him. The only saving grace may be, Trump is such a sorry excuse for a dictator I can't believe he'll get away with it. But he's trying, make no mistake about that.
4
@JimmySerious
So checks and balances exist only when the Dems control each branch of government? That's not how it works.
1
I support Nancy Pelosi's surefooted handling of the current situation. I think that liberals need to stop and take a deep breath and count to ten. The Mueller Report's 10 instances of obstruction are only *possible* instances. The one that rises closest to the level of crime is the firing of Comey, but at the end of the day Trump can fire whomever he wants. Pelosi was right to suggest that Trump is goading them to impeach (even if he isn't doing it consciously). If the democrats move forward with impeachment it would be a mistake. Instead, in 2020 they should create hard-hitting campaign ads that lay out the case of guilty behavior and let the voters be the judge. In the meantime, be the party who is focused on kitchen table issues!
3
Under the present situation prevailing in the country all leaders in white house and congress should resign and the SC should takeover and conduct an interim election to have a positive and dynamic government.While we have our so many problems why worry about Venezuela.Any one even with little scar on credibility be denied leadership role for our beloved country.People are sick of all the fighting between white house and congress and failure to protect people in religious places,schools and universities.
1
The citizens of the United States, our Constitution, the United Kingdom and its citizens, the European Union, Venezuela and its citizens, Iraq and its tattered country, Afghanistan and its exhausted citizenry are all pieces in the 3-D chess board of Vladimir Putin. He has dossiers on everyone he needs to have dirt on, he's probably the most powerful leader on this planet. I wonder if anybody who runs for President of the US is actually free of his influence. He is one of the most brutal dictators in Russia's long history of dictators and he's Trump bff. I think Vladimir has everything just the way he wants it right now. I'm very scared of what his check mate is, does anyone else feel the same way?
1
If the Mueller report exonerates Trump why won't he let it be released?
If he is such a great businessman why doesn't he release his tax returns?
If Republicans are so concerned with election fraud why won't they address the proven foriegn interference in an effort to prevent future interference?
If Trump is so smart why won't he release his school/college transcripts?
Could it be the answers given to these questions are straight up lies?!
16
There is a disastrous flaw in our Constitution if the only way to hold a president or other constitutional officer of our government accountable for any violation of law, however grievous, is impeachment and conviction by Congress. We are told repeatedly that impeachment is not a legal remedy; but a "political process." That means that the instant the word "impeachment" is uttered, defenders of a president can cast the opposing party as "politically motivated" and sway public opinion to defend him, ignoring the conduct that gave rise to impeachment consideration in the first place. That is what is already happening. Trump himself laid the groundwork for it by repeatedly attacking the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" by partisan Democrats and "deep state" Democrats in the Justice Department. Either laws or the Constitution needs to be changed but that can only happen in the present climate if Democrats win the Senate and the presidency. Otherwise, presidents will be able to shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue with impunity.
4
So, at what point do the contempt citations result in an order to produce what was being subpoenaed or an arrest warrant is issued.
The FBI or Federal Marshalls need to put handcuffs on somebody for there to be any real teeth to these contempt citations. Somebody like Trump Jr need to spend an day or so in a jail cell waiting for a bail hearing in order for this to be considered effective.
If the House or Senate allows people to thumb their noses at subpoenas then your democracy is truly in jeopardy.
3
My God, what have we become?
Trump and his enablers in Congress terrify me more than Al Qaeda attaining WMDs ever did in the run up to the Iraq War. I find myself uncertain of my families future. I don't want my child raised in an autocracy. I find myself despondent. I was raised to appreciate American liberties and our countries checks and balances. I find myself resentful. How could people who have been entrusted to govern our country fight so hard to rubberstamp Trump's abuse of power in covering up what is obviously obstruction (and likely collusion as well). I find myself heartbroken. How could conservative evangelicals and the party of family values devote themselves to a cruel man who ran around on his wife with porn stars and jokes about shooting refugees? I am truly scared, and find myself praying every night for our country.
12
We are in a constitutional crisis, but you haven't seen any thing yet.
It will be a full-on crisis when Trump tries to install himself as the indefinite president...either by declaring a national emergency via a trumped up war with Iran, Korea or subverting the US laws even further because he knows the Southern District of New York will be waiting for him and his family once his term is over.
Get ready America, we are heading for a very bumpy ride. This is what happens when you "elect" a crooked TV personality that dabbles in Russian money laundering to keep his kitsch business brand afloat.
11
Dear Speaker Pelosi,
Baseball's greatest hitter Babe Ruth told us, "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from moving on."
A great president, FDR, said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
We can't let the fear of losing the next election stop us from doing our constitutional duty. Mr. Trump is unhinged and unfit. The threat of foreign wars -- brought about by his incompetence -- is looming in North Korea and Iran.
The current administration is a threat to our democracy, in that they are attempting to throw out all the rules and supplant them with a dictatorship. The Republicans will not fight back because their primary interests lie in continuing to bring about an oligarchy in place of our democracy.
The DOJ memorandum will be remembered in history as a rule that allowed a criminal president to stay in the presidency and cause havoc in our country and in the rest of the world.
When you weigh the idea of losing the 2020 election against all that we have to lose, including our democracy, there is no choice.
Winners never quit and quitters never win. So, I see no escape from impeachment, our last chance at saving our democracy.
5
What is with the tepid approach to Trump? It's been proven time after time he is the worst negotiator, doesn't respect any sort of agreements and his motivations are always obvious because he is so desperate.
Confront this phony immediately and he will fold as usual.
3
It's full-court press time. Don't let up. The Republicans haven't and won't, so don't you, either.
Fight like it's a full-on battle for the life of our democracy ... because it is!
6
Impeachment proceedings will be symbolic because they need the republicans on congress to pass the resolution. What is the point of going there when it is certain that it yields no result?
Yes, the country is in a constitutional crisis. Because the people and the party who always took pride in upholding the constitution now has completely abandoned it. Republican leaders in congress have expressed explicitly that they don't care anymore as long as they can hold on to Power. They have assaulted the fundamental theme of our constitution when it comes to governing by their total surrender to this administration. But Republican and republican leaning voters needs to take responsibility here.
Are you happy with living in a lawless country as long as its initiated by the leaders of your party? If not, its time to speak up. Its time to say enough is enough. No one is above the law, and no one should be. That's the fundamental value of our constitution.
7
Jack Holmes: "The President of the United States committed multiple felonies and hired a pet toad as attorney general to try to shove it under the rug. He is now asserting that Congress is not a co-equal branch of government with oversight powers as laid out in the Constitution, and so has no authority to subpoena documents or witnesses he doesn't like. He and his apparatchiks have decided they can just flout the law—that they are above it. He has relentlessly attacked the free press as an enemy of the state, attempting to undermine any source of information independent from his government. He has called for his political opponents to be investigated and imprisoned. He has repeatedly embraced political violence from the rally podium. He has "joked" about extending his term and, Wednesday night, about serving more than the two he's limited to by the Constitution."
Speaker Pelosi is correct.
5
Too many committees, not enough action!
2
Pelosi is a cautious and circumspect leader that knows Trump is goading the Democrats to overplay thier hand. My belief is that a majority of the country wants to move beyond the Russia investigation so that congress can focus on healthcare, immigration reform, infrastructure and other pressing issues.
44
@Alec More important than healthcare, immigration, infrastructure, and any issue you can name is the survival of our democracy, such as it is. Impeachment may or may not be the way to go, but not because we need to deal with other issues.
40
@Alec Nope. Not ready to move on from the Russia investigation. But nice try, Boris.
36
@Alec
I agree Trump is goading Dems to overplay. They know it, hopefully all across the rank and file.
It's crucial to communicate a two part message:
1. We're set up to get America on firmer, saner footing.
2. If Trump and co have nothing to hide, why not share the report.
6
Speaker Pelosi and other Democrats are not just "casting" Trump's obstruction and refusal to cooperate with Congressional oversight and investigation as an assault on the US Constitution. The word "casting" has an implication of spinning the situation, and that is not right. As indicated in the Mueller Report, there are multiple incidents of Trump's criminal obstruction specifically detailed in the Mueller report. Congressional investigation is warranted in this matter and in the matters of Trump's possible indebtedness to foreign entities (due to the fact that he would be susceptible to policy influence) and into presidential policy matters. Without Congressional oversight, a president is unconstrained by ethics or laws, and that should not sit well with the American public.
1
Trump’s strategy very well might be to “goad” the House into initiating impeachment proceedings. That he’s goading should not mean the House should not act. Let him hoist himself by his own petard. I think Speaker Pelosi is moving in the direction of the road to impeachment. We’ve gotten to the point as a country that, to paraphrase Ben Franklin, we live in a republic governed by a representative democracy- If We Can Keep It. Issue has been joined. We either keep it or lose it.
2
Has anybody explored the issue of members of the Supreme Court recusing themselves (specifically justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh) in cases against Trump and his administration that could come before the Court? How do you think Trump would react to the prospect or reality of facing seven justices who were not of his choosing?
3
@Mark
That's not gonna happen. None of the Conservatives have cause to recuse themselves under any legal standard. On the other hand, Justice Ginsberg, who has personally & publicly criticized Trump, and acknowledged that her comments were improper, should recuse herself due to bias.
1
Subpoenas and contempt charges are the only thing Congress can do. The alternative is what? Letting Trump demolish the Constitution and declare himself king?
15
Yes, that is exactly what an aggressive and in-tune Congress should do.
So we have dead-end, no-win fights with the House of Representatives, several of its committees and subcommittees, China and Iran.
Who's next? Canada? The nation's entire line-up of 401-K plans?
Not to worry, though. Everything's good with Vladimir, but the love affair with Kim is looking a bit shaky again.
1
Highest probability of getting trump out of office is probably to focus on the 2020 campaign and ignore the bait. Best thing for the country is to impeach.
2
IF... Trump succeeds in overriding Congress, the power sharing of the US Govt. will be changed forever. It will relegate Congress to a toothless body, and elevate the President to the Supreme Leader.
9
@dsbarclay
Exactly what happened when Obama's AG, Eric Holder, refused to turn over documents demanded by Congress. Congress held Holder in contempt, but Congress never got the documents.
President Trump's abuse of executive privilege is a high crime. His blanket refusal to cooperate with Congressional investigations, a high crime. His administration's refusal to hand over his tax returns, another high crime. If her persists, and further if the Supreme courts supports his stonewalling, this is all grounds for impeachment. At that point, it doesn't really matter what happened with Russia or didn't, these abusive actions amount to a high crime, impeachment.
9
I beg to differ with Speaker Pelosi when she says “Will the administration violate the Constitution of the United States and not abide by the request of Congress in its legitimate oversight responsibility?” President Trump and his administration have already, and continue to, violate our Constitution and these acts are criminal.
Enough already, the man and his administration are scalawags and need be removed!
8
Democrats should play hardball and withhold funding to the justice department until they get the testimonies and the full report. But they are not as ruthless as the republicans.
4
The Democrats have been setting a ridiculously low bar for “constitutional crisises” since Trump got elected. They thought that was a Constitutional crisis. To them, everything Trump is a Constitutional Crisis.
Nadler backed himself to the edge of a cliff by demanding that Barr release Grand Jury material that a law passed by Congress makes a felony to release.
Nadler, Pelosi, and other Democrats themselves cited this law in the past when the shoe was on the other foot.
Time to walk this back and stop their “self manufactured” Constitutional crisis.
5
Pelosi is 1000% right, when you have a president that believes's the leaders of countries like Russia or North Korea over our national intelligence agencies and there has been clear evidence that Russia did hack and continues to hack our electoral process to undermine our nation, and the president continues to undermine our constitution, I would say that's a crisis.
6
@BTO She is right but not that, its because the Democrats in office no longer work for the people but their own interest and their pocket. That can't get over Trump is our president is doing a great job but we have homeless issues and immigration the Democrats ignore and will not work with the president or the people to come to a solution. There is not Russia issue they think they see, its a China, Russia, and other parts of the world issue and nothing to do with the elications. Get over it alreay.
What do you do when being in contempt means nothing to men like Trump and Barr?
I remember once protesting Dick Cheney's appearance in my state at the height of the war on Iraq. As one protester said, Cheney just laughed at us as fools standing out in the cold as he drove by in SUV comfort.
What did he care what American citizens thought? He had all the power (and he wasn't even the president).
Congress better act with some decision, and act soon. Otherwise they appear to be as powerless as we were in Montana trying to stop a war in the Middle East.
11
@avrds, I feel your pain.
1
This is a charade. Pelosi et al. decided that impeachment is too politically costly, so they are picking a series of fights with the administration over subpoenas to give the illusion they are doing something when the reality is that they are doing nothing at all. They can then turn the mess over to the courts and say they did something. It’s politics as usual.
4
WE ARE IN US CIVIL WAR 2.0 and have been since August of 2017. We've a government (as we did from Dred Scott in 1857) at war with itself. We seem incapable of realizing this is NOT 'politics'... It is TYRANNY.
4
Speaker Pelosi has to somehow corral her party until she has real ammunition from the State of New York.
Expect federal efforts to be tied up in court till past the elections.
Those of you who are residents of NY would do well to thank and encourage your state legislators for their efforts, to wish them godspeed, and to dally not.
6
The rule of law must be enforced or else it is worthless.
Rep. Pelosi: please use your powers to make people comply.
Trump is not above the law and should be jailed forthwith.
1
The rule of law?
In other words Barr has to violate the longstanding law against public release of grand jury testimony in the Mueller report so Pelosi and her gang can then leak that info and smear anyone they choose through more of these fuax spectacle / outrages they have been inciting ever since their faux Russian collusion fantasy was debunked.
That's not the "rule of law" - it's just more politics as usual.
Fortunately, it appears, the US is fortunate to have Nancy Pelosi guiding the House, the DP, and the Nation toward stifling the President and his cronies in the destruction of our Constitution and government. Never have I seen in my 72 years such careless, self serving actions by a President against the Nation. Trump must be stricken from power at our earliest available opportunity.
12
Sorry what the United States is heading for is a "banana republic." If we could channel Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, TR and FDR and ask them- knowing what is happening today -was the trials, heart ache and blood shed all worth it?
7
@Cheshire Cat We still have a decent and moral former president, Jimmy Carter. Why not ask him?
I'm tired of "gathering information". I'd like to see some tough action.
10
@Sandy The expected contempt citation by the full House and court action to enforce it would be tough action. Although many of us believe there is enough evidence already to show obstruction of justice, many of our fellow Americans need to see people like McGann testify before Congress on Trump's unlawful attempt to have him fire Mueller and lie about that demand. Cold words about that conversation in the Mueller report will not be enough. Only then will there be political momentum to remove this cancer from our government.
I am just wondering if republicans will cheer this precedent as much when a Democrat is sworn into office with the help of China and Iran. And it will happen sooner rather than later. This is not sex in the oval office or broken promises of not keeping your favorite doctor. This is 1) accepting help from a hostile country who hacked state election systems and then 2) continuous 'obstruction of justice' afterward.
I can see Iran and China offering help in the next election and trying to outdo Russia's interference like it is some sort of chess game. They can and they will. We will just be pawns to them.
China hates Trump. And they both will have an axe to grind come 2020. Republicans have a choice now to end this treachery or forever be silent.
8
Violating the oath of office is a high crime. Start the impeachment trial now. Compel Trump to testify under oath. It doesn't matter whether or not the Senate acquits him. It matters that he is compelled to admit to his lies and his crimes. However, as his lawyers and GOP protectors know well, his testimony will destroy him. A few GOP Senators may even find it no longer tenable to support either him or their very complicit party.
17
@Ralph I think he will simply refuse to testify unless he is brought to the hearing in chains, and then he will probably just sit there like a sulking 2-year-old.
Like it or not, it appears that Pelosi has few options other than to get behind impeachment. With each new day Trump continues to exhibit a character totally lacking of any moral compass. He is a liar, a cheat, and an individual seemingly lacking any empathy for the less fortunate. He is apparently driven only by a desire for greater riches and a need for constant praise. Unfortunately it seems as if his cabinet and fellow GOP party are either similarly inclined, or too weak willed to challenge this very dangerous man. Is this not the the same path that the German government proceeded down in the 1930's?
12
At this point, its become painfully clear the Democrats have to continue to follow the evidence path.
If the evidence (from Mueller to McGahn, and Lewandowski to Hicks to Jr.) leads to clear obstruction charges for impeachment, it is their job under the Constitution to file Articles of Impeachment. It has to be done.
If its murky (The Donald is totally exonerated, right?) and unclear no need to impeach, but at least the investigation would feel less suffocated. We move on and say loudly through our overwhelming votes "You're Fired!" in the general election.
Either way, The Donald has morally impeached himself. He is a corrupt, indefensible (and still can be prosecuted once no longer hidden behind the walls of the WH), shallow, discredited, fraud and phony.
Sad.
140
@MPM How do exonerate someone from a crime that was a fiction? No crime ever occurred except by the election of DJT
@Charles Segal
Charles, if I follow your language, you can't exonerate something that The Donald has told us over-and-over if it hasn't occurred? Like the phony "witch hunt", "the hoax", "The Russia thing"? You are right.
Let Trump brand burn in historic infamy of what it means to be a complete phony, fraud, and a scam.
Don't get trumped. He's a trump. That is a trumpian claim. Lower case used purposefully.
2
Polosi is doing a fantastic job holding a diverse group together. Once the details are out, Trump's days would be numbered. Time to vote the non productive GOP out.
27
@W Lee
What details have you not seen yet? While we wait for you to decide when the right time to impeach is, how much damage is going to be done to our country in the meantime?
When the house is on fire, you put out the fire. You don't wait till the homeowner can remove his computer because that'll make him happy.
Please, for the sake of your neighbors, for the sake of your family, for the sake of this country, for the sake of the continued survival of the human race itself, get on board with impeachment already. We need your help, but I'm afraid on this, you're either part of the solution or part of the problem.
What happens if the White House continues to resist the subpoenas and requests for documents? Are they playing for time, as some have suggested?
Our democracy is fragile. Trump and his minions are running roughshod over all that we have stood for. I used to think that the Constitution was the people’s protection system, not allowing one branch of the government to take control.
That idea is still in place but it’s reality is dangerously being cast aside.
And, sadly, we’re seeing that we can speak out against the misuse of out laws but that little if anything concrete can be done.
16
@MH
You still have the 1st and 2nd amendments intact. Even with this "administration." When they come for those, you know what comes next in the American playbook.
1
@MH
Get on board the impeachment train. What you can do is come out in favor of impeachment, make the argument to your friends and family, post about it whenever appropriate, and call your representatives. None of us can do much alone, but we have to accept that and do what we can.
1
@MH Yes, they are playing for time. That's it exactly.
Like many of his sidekicks, some of whom are now in prison, Trump simply piles infractions on top of deceptions on top of swindles, lies, traducement, racism, misogyny and you can pretty much name it. One of his major strengths is that he has no shame. Just keep moving fast, deny, stonewall, insult.
Will he wind up in prison at age 98, and what else will he have destroyed by then? Most people would be weighed down by the huge pile of awful things he's done, but Trump seems to be free of the burden of human conscience.
I lived in a fascist dictatorship for five years, the usual clown-like, but deadly old guy running the show, so I saw the danger in Trump the second he decided to run for the presidency, and I knew he might win. I wonder if he'll design a uniform for himself, or is the black suit, white shirt and tie his choice? I can easily see him with a big military hat and a chest full of medals and ribbons.
How can we stop him from destroying our system of government, and why oh why don't most Republicans recognize what he's doing?
1
It's high time for a leak of the unredacted Mueller report. Surely someone on Mueller's team is enough of a patriot to risk it.
26
@Chris the problem here that we're faced with is the simple fact that they're too honest. Even Mueller himself let investigators go if they showed too much bias toward the administration. That said, they also did exactly what they were meant to, to hand in the report and its findings and evidence, all I'm sure held now in a closet in Barr's office next to a barrel of oil with an ignition switch next to it.
No one but him and his crack team has full access to what they found. They have it in their collective memories, pieced together, but I'm sure they were straight edge investigators and wouldn't keep actual copies for themselves after they wrapped up their portions.
Yes, congress needs to see it, but it would make it too easy to demonize the findings should information be leaked instead of legally obtained.
1
Let me get this straight, "we are a nation of laws," right? Republicans cannot stop saying this when referring to poor, would-be immigrants who desperately want to come to this country. Republicans are willing to separate families, lock people in jail indefinitely, insult them, dehumanize them, etc., becuase they have supposedly committed the "crime" of showing up at the United States border without a visa. This infraction--equivalent to a parking ticket in the federal crime spectrum--is so bad as to completely disenfranchise anyone who even thinks abiut committing it (or looks and sounds like someone who might have). Did I get that right?
We are a nation of laws. Last time I checked, the Constitution was the supreme law of the land. Under the Constitution, Congress makes the laws and has extremely broad power to investigate anything and anything it wants. Defying a Congressional subpoena is a crime--a crime much, much more serious than attempting to flee violence and seek a better life in the United States. When the crime is committed by an official of a co-equal branch of government, it threatens the supreme law of the land.
We are a nation of laws. Let's get our priorities straight.
31
@Alan
Don't forget to make the call for impeachment explicit. Pelosi is scared and lacks the courage of her own convictions, and while that's reprehensible, we owe her our encouragement. If she's more scared *not* to impeach than *to* impeach, perhaps justice can survive.
@Andrew Roberts
Okay. Here goes:
Defying a Congressional subpoena is a crime, literally a misdemeanor. It also threatens the Constitution--the highest law of the land. It is, therefore, unequivocally, a "high crime" and "misdemeanor." Impeach.
As your headline says the nation is in "Constitutional Crises" and people are at last beginning to realise it. It has been obvious for a while now that a crises was approaching and if Congress does not take decisive action fairly soon the crises will only get worse. Trump jokes that he thinks he ought to be allowed to stay as president after his elected period but, as we have seen, Trump's so-called "jokes" soon in his mind become possibilities and then he goes all out to make them a reality.
10
What is holding the Democrats back is Trump's approval rating. When Nixon was facing impeachment, he had a 24% approval rating. That means most Republicans, who back then put country before party, had abandoned him and there was no benefit for Republican Senators to support him. A full 80% of Republicans support this criminal. There is no way the Republican Senators will vote to remove him from office. Impeachment is a political process, after all. And when you have people getting their "news" from right-wing propaganda sources, who can say with a straight face that Trump did not do anything, I don't see that approval rating dropping.
6
Ethically, I would love to see Trump and his associates publically held accountable for their criminal actions. Politically, this is a minefield given that it will only embolden those on the right that won't believe anything that is not repeated to them ad nauseam by the talking heads on Fox news.
Part of me is cheering for impeachment, part of me says just to wait for the 2020 election to decide Trump's fate, and part of me fears that Trump will not accept a defeat in 2020 leading to a real Constitutional crisis.
Oh the times we live in.
5
@Berlin Exile
Stop. Thinking. Politics.
This is more important. There comes a time when practical considerations are irrelevant because the damage being done is overwhelming, and that time is now.
Who cares that Republicans will be forced to go on record saying how little it matters that the President is a criminal? In ten years, will you be proud of yourself for worrying about Trumpists' feelings? Or do you want to be proud of yourself for doing what was right even when it didn't seem like it would work?
Abolishing slavery was politically impossible in the 1700s; would you have advocated waiting for public opinion to change? Of course not! You would join the ranks of the righteous and do what must be done. We need you to support impeachment. We desperately need you. People will die. People will lose their livelihoods. People will be wrongfully imprisoned. We cannot afford to think about politics when the situation is so dire.
@Berlin Exile
If he were to not "accept" defeat, he would flame out. Nothing to worry about there. What would he do? Hold up the inauguration?
The Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. probably to protect him and throw shade on this constitutional crisis. I doubt they plan to actually do the right thing for the American Democracy.
5
Senate and Intelligence in the same sentence is an oxymoron.
When the Supreme Court issues a final ruling (who knows when) and the a President refuses to comply, then we will have a constitutional crisis. Until then this is just a case of Democrat blather following their disappointment with the Mueller Report. By the way, as far as I know, not one Democrat member of the Congress has gone down to the Justice Department to review the un-redacted document. Why? Best guess is they might learn something.
7
@Thomas Smith
One can't see the unredacted Mueller Report without signing a non-disclosure agreement. What is the point of looking at something you can't do anything with?
It is a felony to violate a non-disclosure agreement. What the Republicans are offering relative to reviewing the Mueller Report is really a trap.
In 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold Eric Holder in contempt for failing to turn over documents. They claimed legitimate oversight, while the Obama White House decried it as a politically-motivated fishing expedition.
It wasn’t a constitutional crisis then. And it’s not a constitutional crisis now.
It’s all just political theater.
Everyone can relax and stop drinking the tempests in the teacups.
8
@John
It's all a joke until very suddenly it isn't.
What in the world is Pelosi doing? According to the special council law Barr is in compliance. The House wants to keep this Russia stole the election boondoggle in front of the public. As been stated repeatedly, its time to move on and focus on the nations important business. Number one Trump's misrule. His debasing the office.
4
It's not a constitutional crisis, it's a democratic party crisis. They are the only ones hysterical for political reasons. The rest of us just want to move on.
12
I think President Trump's main problem is that he just has a high intolerance to ambiguity.
1
"I ask you again to join me in my commitment to promoting values such as encouragement, kindness, compassion, healthy living, online safety and respect in our children," first lady Melania trump says while speaking at her "Be Best" anniversary celebration.
I dare Melania to deliver this speech at a MAGA rally. Perhaps she can say it right after someone in the crowd suggests that shooting families seeking refuge in our country is ok and her husband makes a joke about it.
How will we ever restore the dignity, decorum and respect for the office of the president?
One thing I am certain of, the founders of our Constitution, who set up our system of government never imagined or considered that we could have someone so unsuited to lead, the antithesis of what they imagined any American president would be, and enabled, of course by the most corrupt and power mad political party in our history. They expected us to Be Best. Not like trump.
8
The last time I witnessed a President that ignored Congress, withheld information from Congress and invoked "executive privilege" resulted in a constitutional crisis at that time.
Fast forward from the dark days of Nixon and see history repeat itself.
However, there are differences between Nixon and Trump. Nixon would listen to advisors and did not overtly attempt to resort to despotism as it appears Trump is.
Does Trump believe his actions toward the House majority will be beneficial to him when it is time to appropriate funding for the government? Will the majority act on any of his initiatives?
Yes, by all means, Donald. Cut your nose off to spite your face. You are quite adept at that.
4
@Dan The difference, I think, is that Nixon had a grasp of how government works. Trump has no idea.
@Dan
Actually, this happened more recently, when the Obama administration refused for several years to comply with a Congressional subpoena re Fast & Furious. I don't remember any of the Dems crying about a "Constitutional Crisis" then.
Because that is not what a Constitutional Crisis is. If the Dems seek to enforce the subpoenas in Court, someone appeals, and then SCOTUS rules against Trump, we will have a Constitutional Crisis only IF the Trump administration then refuses to comply.
1
Right now the republicans have the "psych" on the democrats and the House. I would liken it to how Trump name called Nancy Pelosi until she was on the minds of most people on her way out because she couldn't take it. She did hang on and has come out the other side a very strong person and it shows. The House needs to pull off the imaginary "loser" cloak that the republicans have bullied on them, and do what needs to be done, once the image of strength appears, the people will follow. Don't give up now.
2
Doesn't the House have the power of the purse? Contempt and other legal avenues are cumbersome. In a constitutional crisis, why isn't it reasonable for the House to cut off funding, salaries, travel budgets, security protection, etc. for recalcitrant department heads? If Trump and cronies are blatantly disavowing their oath of office, why fund them? Yes, this is a draconian option, but then this a draconian presidency.
5
@Jonathan Lewis
Good Idea! The House leadership knows this is available to them as a way to get justice. I hope they use it...'money talks', or the withholding of it especially.
Why are the millennials not taking to the streets to fight for our democracy like the Boomers did over the Viet Nam war and so many other issues? It's their turn to step up!
4
@Jacquie Because they aren't being drafted against their will and shipped off to die in a foreign land.
2
With this 'administration', every interaction is a conflict and the only option is to win, no matter the cost. Money and power 'trump' oath of office. This is about power, it's use and abuse. And Trump wants to force impeachment hearings to use as another diversion, another way to divide the country. I hope the Dems are smart enough to figure that out.
2
@Cody McCall
I don't believe the "polls" that say the country will be divided by Impeachment hearings; the country is already divided. Hearings won't make us more divided, that boat has sailed.
The issue now is a whether the House exercises its constitutional duty. If the public has a problem with this, then so be it. I think by now, more and more of the public will get on board the impeachment band wagon given President Trump's absolute contempt he shows for the rule of law.
2
I agree with Pelosi, we are in a Constitutional Crisis. But not one that would convince a Republican Senate. It is likely that people who have been subpoenaed and the documents that have been requested contain information that would prove high crimes and misdemeanors that would warrant impeachment. So the game seems to be, delay, go to court, delay again and call it all politics so that Trump can get past the 2020 election at which time he will declare a possible loss as fraudulent and invalid and declare himself President for life, as elections can no longer be trusted. The fraudulence would be to declare the Democrats had cheated in those states where it was close and Trump lost. A few fake votes, a rigged registration, etc. is all it takes to say it was rigged.
3
Yes, Please. It's time to rise to the crisis at hand, and for House Democrats to use every tool available to reign in this administration's assault on our country before it's too late. There is exactly nothing to be gained by holding back or "waiting to see what happens" anymore, and everything to lose. Assume that at every turn the GOP will do the worst possible thing for our country and act accordingly.
The dangers of being aggressive about impeachment that leadership is so concerned about are all real, but speculative and in the future, but the threat is also real, and unfolding now, in real time. It's time to recognize the late hour.
Come on, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, the president and his ilk will accuse you of every form of evil in the book. Let that fact liberate you to do the right thing, since there's nothing to gain by holding back.
6
Good. We're at a point where the President openly flouts Congress' authority and duty under the Constitution, asking, in so many words, how many divisions it has, as Stalin did of the pope. A Constitutional crisis is now where we find ourselves. Time to call it what it is.
3
Yes, the Constitutional Crisis is here. This administration, with the complicity of the Republican Party, has doubled down as obstructionists and in their subversion of the Constitution as they attempt to consolidate power in the Executive branch. The Democrats will, of course, go big as they fight to maintain the role of Congress and, thereby, the foundation of American democracy. So bring on the Contempt of Congress citations. The Supreme Court will soon face the heat, and its actions will reveal whether it remains an independent branch of government or has become the politically partisan tool that Trump hopes it has. The Court has the power to stop the slide towards authoritarian government that has already begun...or to hasten it.
195
@Pen
The fate of our nation may rest in the hands of John Roberts. He has shown a willingness to remain objective and impartial. Let's hope that a stacked SCOTUS isn't as stacked as McConnell thinks.
7
I think Ms Pelosi well understands how critical the next few months will be for the USA. And how much political energy will be required to win the presidency, the senate and the house. Democrats, along with non republicans, will be required to provide that political energy. Ms.Pelosi will be required to assess how that energy must be applied. How much energy can afford to be directed toward satisfying urge of impeachments and that of winning the next election. From what I see, the Democrats are very fortunate to have Ms. Pelosi at the helm.
It also looks like Trump enjoys legal battles. Probably more so now that he does not have to foot the legal fees.
Finally, in any involvement I have had with US people, I have noted your great respect for the rules. Must make the current goings on quite upsetting. Good luck.
2
Ever more warnings and threats encourage even more defiance by the administration. Only action, and maybe not that at this stage, can force compliance with constitutional norms.
2
Nancy Pelosi “believes that Democrats campaigned on addressing issues like health care and the high cost of prescription drugs and must not lose their focus on issues that are higher priorities for voters.”
This is not the time for political sensitivity. We have a crisis where elected officials and their (largely unqualified) appointees at the highest levels of our government are taking the nation hostage. Act now or their coup will be enacted.
And to Ms. Pelosi: If this isn’t of the highest priority, what is?
6
Constitutional crisis?
I don't think so. But claiming such a crisis exists draws attention, so I'd do that too.
I disagree with Nancy Pelosi (my Congresswoman) that Trump would disrespect a 2020 election loss unless he's beat soundly. More accurately, I couldn't care less what Trump might have to say in that event: He gets to run for President, but other people get to count the votes. If he loses but refuses to leave the White House on 1/20/21, I'd physically haul him out.
More important, I don't see him losing in 2020. Things might change, but unless they do ...
3
@MyFourCents - Trump's puppet is running the Justice Department. Don't count on the other people who count the votes to always be patriotic or impartial if they are in places controlled by the Trump GOP.
I have been against impeachment because I would like to see the voters hand Trump a resounding defeat, but it is time. The foundation of the country is in jeopardy when laws are not followed by leaders in any branch. The laws allow us to be free. By ordering congressional subpoenas to be ignored, Trump must be impeached for obstruction in plain sight.
311
@Richard Lee Not to worry, the Senate will not convict Trump, so the voters will still have to replace him in the next election.
4
@Richard Lee "I would like to see the voters hand Trump a resounding defeat, but it is time."
You saw that most voters aren't drinking your kool aid, and now realize that NONE of the Democrat prospects have even a moderate chance of beating Trump.
This whole charade has always been about politics for you people. You cry for years about how trump is a traitor while the investigations is out, and once it's out and debunking the collusion narrative, you switch to false outrage over non-crimes manufactured by the investigation.
@Richard Lee
I am SO with you re that resounding defeat at the ballot box. Trump needs to be handed a humiliating experience right out in front of God and everybody.
3
Ms. Pelosi, I totally support Congressional efforts to obtain the full Mueller report and to open impeachment proceedings if warranted, but I also want Congress to prove they can take care of other critical policy issues as the same time. We need a resolution to the immigration confrontations at the southern border. Children need to be returned to their parents. Thank you.
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@Janet It is against Federal Law for Barr to release the full un-redacted report, and the Democrats KNOW it.
@Janet
In other words, Pelosi is simply deflection from more immediate and day-to-day issues while the new members of the House are looking for more publicity for themselves instead of doing the difficult work of government they promised to do.
One could improve health care expenses and drug-pricing by expanding the sliding-scale, income-based subsidies that Obamacare now uses for premiums, so that these same kinds of subsidies can also apply to deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket drug expenses.
It can be paid for with a surtax on capital gains taxes when the capital gains exceed $10 million.
12
This man Trump is one of the least "presidential" Presidents in US history. He is ethically void, and only knows how to dictate. He is not capable of leadership or governing in a democracy especially where in addition, the powers of government are purposely divided into three branches. He does have to go, whether by impeachment or not being re-elected. I prefer the later, but worry a lot about the damage both domestic and international he could inflict on us even in the short amount of time remaining in his term.
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@MLH He is also the biggest LOSER on business God has ever created! He is nothing but a con man.
2
@MLH i cant think of dictators who were as bad for their countries - Saddam? Gaddafi? MBS [Saudi]?
@MLH
Trump appears to combine and exceed the worst weaknesses of each or our previous Presidents.
Those who know him well--the citizen's of New York City--voted about 90% against him in the 2016 election, despite his opponent being someone lots of them did not like very much.
He seems to combine the bigotry of Jackson with the corruption of Harrison, but exceeds the lying and criminal activity of Nixon. His intellectual firepower falls short of any of our previous Presidents.
For lying he is in his own level. His business failures are also leading the pack (although a number of our Presidents have failed in various businesses).
Things are about to get interesting.
I've had my issues with The Speaker in the past but right now I'm glad she is at the helm. The House is being baited into an inevitable and possibly disastrous confrontation. The Democrats need to take a slow and steady approach. Ms. Pelosi is unlikely to go rushing into anything half-cocked and hopefully she can keep her caucus in line behind her.
God speed Madame Speaker.
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@BC
I am trying hard, and only halfway succeeding, at holding my tongue regarding the sexist doubts that people held about Pelosi during the speaker elections.
Pretty much everyone is now united in appreciation to Pelosi for her deft leadership.
And somehow Seth Moulton, her most vocal skeptic, has decided to run for president? Yikes.
34
@BC
The confrontation between the House and Trump will test the electorate's understanding and approval of our lately-gridlocked system of government. The best salesman in the world will be seeking to muddy the electorate's understanding into a simple consideration of who won the last election. If he succeeds, we can blame our past reluctance to push education in democracy and make the rule of law a fact rather than a pious ideal frequently violated in fact.
3
@BC I completely agree.
2
If enough voters push for impeachment, that's what Congress will do because that's what their constituents want. On the other hand, if the majority of voters don't want impeachment, Congress won't initiate impeachment proceedings.
Curiously, how can a sitting president cite executive privilege over a report that has been made public? Redactions aside, there's no privilege to assert when the document is available for public consumption.
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@Dawn
"...that's what Congress will do because that's what their constituents want."
um, that's not how Congress works in the United States. At least that's not how it's worked for quite some time.
Congress does what its members donors, the lobbying class, and Wall Street desires. Constituent concerns are little more than cosmetics these days.
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@Dawn
\ since when has congress done what the constituents want?
3
@Dawn I've told my congressman to stop with the theatrics and focus on actual work. I explained about voters controlling term limits - enough of us being fed up with you and you're out - and I'm fed up with this political theatre.
If only Trump would do the right thing and resign as Nixon did. That won't happen though until he loses his political support. Of course he won't until Republicans grow a backbone and, even then, it's going to be hard to get rid of him. For those who believe that the big, mean Democrats are just picking on poor Trump, please enlighten yourselves. Read a book on civics. Get yourself a good book on American history. Just realize that this is very serious.
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@ACA
Trump will resign, close to the 2020 election, SO THAT Pence can pardon him. Let us hope that some of his actions violate New York laws, so he can be prosecuted there.
@ACA
They need to hold open hearings broadcast life as was done during Watergate. That is what convinced the public, live television, that is reality for Americans.
@ACA
Trump will *never* resign. To do so would be to admit he was wrong. His sociopathic ego will not allow that.
1
“Not upholding your oath of office” is a broad description of impeachable offenses. It’s time to go there. Trump is getting more lawless by the hour.
102
This is over due, and should only be the first step. The Democrats need to push back hard. Trump and his enablers are attempting to neuter not just Congress but every American democractic institution capable of pushing back against their corrupt authoritarianism. They will *only* respond to strength, and that is what needs to be shown. Do not just challenge Barr's criminal actions with words: build a jail cell in the basement of the Capitol building, ave the House Sergeant at Arms arrest him, and hold him for for up to the year that the law allows.
56
@Rusty Blackbird. Yes! Let's stamp out "authoritarianism" by ... building a jail in the basement and locking people up in it.
Brilliant.
1
@Geronimo Congress has the legal right to do so, and is being left with no other option to enforce the law of the land. Unless you are ahgainst jail in general?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/house-democrats-could-arrest-william-barr-contempt/588976/
Yes it is in a constitutional crisis, and Pelosi helped to create it. By rigging the 2016 nomination process for Clinton. herself, and leaders of the Democratic Party, put into motion events that led to Trump being elected. The constitutional crisis began in 2016.
And now Pelosi is still tentative on what t o do, so not upset the oligarchs which control her and her party. Her, and the party leadership, want to win the White House, and Senate, even if it means Trump creates more damage in the meantime.
IT is time that the Democrats grow a backbone and save this republic. They need to impeach Trump. They need to do to Trump, what was done to Nixon and Cliinton. And, let's face it Nixon and Clinton are in the minor league compared to what Trump has done, and is doing.
The excuse that impeachment will tear the country pretty much is hollow argument, when you consider the country is torn apart anyway.
Finally, if Ginsberg retires or dies, and Trump is still in office, you will have a far worse constitutional crisis than you do right now. The potential of long term control of conservatives over the US government.
21
What does Chuck Schumer owe his counterpart, Mitch McConnell? Nothing! Why, then, is Schumer not all over the media every day asking, "Where is Mitch?"
Democrats need to remind voters that Trump and the Republican party own each other.
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because every time he opens his dumb mouth, Chuck Schumer does harm to the Democratic cause
Impeachment for Trump is an asterisk that deserves to be on the historical record.
40
It's about time. I'm ready to take to the streets. Who's organizing?
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@Bay Area Native
Marches do no good. What is needed is a general strike. Bring the country to a grinding halt.
1
Trump and his minions are not merely in legal jeopardy for willfully provoking a "Constitutional crisis." They are morally bankrupt and politically shameless, too.
Does anyone - Republican, Independent or Democrat alike - truly believe that Trump is an honest man? A man of integrity whom you can trust to put the best interest of the nation first? Of course not. His only interest is himself and his own enrichment, which has been obvious his whole career.
Sadly, too many Americans have been fooled by his repetitive lying and misleading twitter remarks to see the naked truth. No, Trump is NOT an "innocent victim" of any "witch hunt," nor is he above the law. He is corrupt to the core and should certainly be impeached and, ultimately, imprisoned.
98
Finally she states the obvious.
An entire branch of the US government is openly fighting any checks the others are supposed to provide.
34
Let's roll, Nancy. The time for caution and cooperation have come and gone.
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Pelosi has tried her best. The House has a job to do, and this administration needs oversight like none before it. Now that Trump has made it clear that he has decided that Congress cannot speak to anybody in his administration, and perhaps Mueller himself, and that members of Congress are not entitled to see the bulk of Mueller's work, it's time to reappraise.
Regardless of what has happened before Mueller's report, obstruction of justice has plainly occurred in multiple instances since it was partially issued. If our so called president lets those deadlines on subpoenas pass again, impeachment hearings should begin. Trump's presidency has no value to its citizens. The solvency of our nation and adherence to the Constitution does.
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The judiciary needs to weigh in. If Trump defies a court order to comply with a congressional subpoena, then we are really in trouble.
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we've been in trouble
@Donny Wait, if you or I ignored the court order we would be given an orange suit and a place in jail.
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@Donny. And only then. But I see no examples of the WH refusing to follow any judicial decree under this administration.
1
Their contempt for contempt is contemptuous.
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Shhhhh...come now, Nancy, you’ll disturb our Great Nation’s slumber. Sleep deep, America, content with the Leaders you deserve.
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Pelosi is a superior leader and has the correct approach. Move slowly and deliberately; continue to make the case in terms that the public can understand; and continue to tighten the vise around Trump and his acolytes. If the Republicans can bring impeachment charges against Clinton for lying about his White House dalliances, she can build the case on issues with far greater import to the future of our country.
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@Peter
She keeps on losing to Trump over and over again. I think the analysis of a slow moving coup is correct. The public is already polarized and she is trying to pander to Trump's base.
1
@Peter The nice thing about her approach is she is simultaneously forcing Republicons to declare themselves as being for or against continued Trump obstruction.
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@Chris Yoder
Nope. You are taking the comment out of context.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pelosi-healthcare-pass-the-bill-to-see-what-is-in-it/
13
Another day another impeachable offense
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@true patriot
No, another "manufactured impeachable offense"
Not going to happen and you and the Dems know it
3
Trump is forcing the Democrat's hand. If they don't move to enforce the subpoenas, and don't go for impeachment hearings, they are going to look totally weak and impotent.
And Trump's game is simply to run out the clock. Any proceedings to enforce the subpoenas will be filed, at the earliest, in June. The District Court will probably rule later in the summer; the appeal to the Court of Appeals will probably be resolved in the fall. At that point the cases go to the Supreme Court, and I would not expect any resolution until the end of its term in June 2020.
That would be right in the middle of the campaign season. And if there were hearings at that time the news cycle would be, to say the least, overflowing.
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@John Graybeard Yes. This is what we should be focussing on, not it's effect on the election though it will have an effect. This already has an effect. If Democrats decide to back off, this could be (will be) detrimental to Democrats just as easily and going forward with what has to happen regardless of 2020 given the situation.
1
@Potter If they continue down this path they won't be winning any votes, and will have opened the gates to politicized/weaponized incursions into their own personal business. It won't be pretty.
@Margo I would not bet on that. The opposite may be true. People want justice.
Isn't a contempt of Congress citation somewhat akin to a dog owner telling their pet "Bad dog!" after finding their slippers all chewed up?
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Sheer arrogance by Trump and his men, goading congress to take frustratingly serious action.
14
Serious (though seemingly impotent).
Let me hazard a guess:
We are in a constitutional crisis but impeachment is still off the table, right?
Trump as a one man party, counted on the Republican’s craven greed for power and the Democrat’s cowardice.
It is working.
With the well-staged Kabuki in Washington, there will be no presidential elections this 2020.
9
If Pelosi thinks this is a constitutional crisis, just wait until the IG report is public.
21
Finally.
14
It's a shame that America is subjected to all of this stonewalling. I understand that president Obama stalled on certain issues, but nothing compared to what we're going through with the Trump administration. It's as if we're forced to teach Trump the social studies on the Constitution that he should have had in grade school.
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@Dan O Obama stalled, but the news media covered it as a matter-of-fact story without the hysterics and saturation coverage. I still cannot believe that CBS interrupted its daytime schedule to broadcast AG Barr's testimony to the senate. That level of hysterics never happened in the Obama years.
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@Dan O, Trump never went to grad school or college or university. He doesn't have an academic transcript. I'm lying. He went to Trump University. But wouldn't you like to see his academic record. The $25 million settlement for his university.
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@Edward V
I cannot believe the amount of contempt by this administration for the constitutional powers of Congress. I hope they impeach Trump, but since the Senate won't act it is not going to happen. I think if enough people start protesting in the streets and voting Democratic, the Repubs might grow a backbone.