When Should a President Be Impeached?

We have already observed that when anyone in the media criticizes anything that #45 does he has a nocturnal melt down, tweeting his anxiety, sometimes many times. This impeachment inquiry, and subsequent hearings, etc. will send him into a frenzy with the net result that we will have a toddler in the Oval Office, completely incapable of doing his job. I can only hope that there are enough adults surrounding him who understand the gravity of his disability and who will take over for him. It continues to be astonishing that his cabinet does not invoke article 25. The man’s incompetence is breathtaking.

First off, let me say that we're all in this mess today because the federal, state and city prosecutors based in NYC failed to sufficiently prosecute this perp for decades of high and low crimes, including money laundering for murderous mobsters, multi-billion-dollar tax fraud, mass employment of undocumented workers, and cheating workers and contractors. Furthermore, many of these crimes are common practice in the high-end real-estate market, especially in NYC. This particular perp is just the worst case, not a unique exception. Any news outlet that depends on high-end NYC real-estate advertising, and any office-holder who depends on that industry for campaign funds must make a special effort to expose such corruption, lest they be tainted by the appearance of crass cash-driven bias.

Let's be clear here. Impeachment is not about undoing an election. It is about holding the elected accountable when they violate the trust bestowed upon them when they swore to protect and defend the Constitution. Language like that only serves to give credence to the belief that this is nothing more than a partisan attack. Let's not be careless with our words, lest they be used against us.

The answer to your (NYT) question is NOW. Now is the time to impeach this President. He has violated the law, the Constitution, ethics, accepted practices, and more during his time in office and he is becoming more and more dictator-like and he is destroying the Presidency, the climate, international relations, and the list goes on and on. If ever there was a time to impeach someone, now is the time.

I take the view that for an act to be impeachable there has to be an abuse of power relating to some underlying crime. Impeachment might also lie for dereliction of duty, where a president fails to faithfully "exercise the law of the United States." In this latest incident Trump may have attempted to bribe a foreign power for personal, political gain and he may have failed to carry out the expenses that Congress had authorized as aid the Ukraine. It should also be recognized that impeachment in the House is like an indictment and a preliminary hearing. The standard there is simply is did these events take place and is it likely they violated some laws? Collusion was clearly not a crime, but conspiracy is. The Mueller report was unable to establish either. But obstruction of justice is a crime and there already seems to be enough evidence "to indict." This Ukraine affair seems to have tipped the scales. Trump will argue that presidents always engage in arm twisting to get what they want. In this case it's a guarantee that US funds won't be corrupted. On the Biden investigation he will argue that this is no different than the Clinton campaign seeking dirt on him in the Steele memo. The big difference is that at that time neither he or Clinton were in the presidency. And that's where he may have tripped up. It's beginning to look like impeachment based on several of these standards is appropriate. Ultimately the senate will have to decide.

The Republicans said that Congress should work on legislations instead of impeachment. Do they have a point? May be. But let us look at their legislation achievement from 2017 t0 2019 when they were in charge of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The only major legislation they may show is the unpopular tax cuts for the rich, the 1% and corporations. Since 2019, the Democratic House of Representative vote some major legislation. The Republican Senate bottle up every one of those legislation, busying themselves nominating conservative pro-Big Business and pro-theocratic judges. Here re the facts.

Three more things to consider: 1) This is political 12 dimensional chess. Impeachers need to be systematically coordinated. Impeachers need strategy, execution, risk management, a great team, a skilled project manager and a management team speaking loudly with one voice. An example is that it's ok to have five different approaches for dealing with stonewalling when you don't know which approach is going to work, but once you've found something that works leverage it across the team. 2) Impeachers also need to monitor the defense strategy and counter appropriately. Letting Lewandowski assert bogus privileges without citing him for contempt was a mistake. 3) Don't just acknowledge the unknown aspects of impeachment, actively explore the unknown for strategic options. For example, the House could pursue 2 impeachments: a fast track and a slow track. The fast track would be for the charges that are now "indictment ready" (e.g. campaign finance violations and Mueller's obstruction of justice counts). If Republicans "exonerating" Trump on those dead to rights charges, the House can hold hearings on the rest of the charges right up to the election as one giant campaign ad against Trump. That's a risky ploy, but it's one that ought to be evaluated and ranked.

“‘Perhaps the single greatest risk of any impeachment, no matter how justified, is that a minority will view it as a gussied-up coup d’état. … Those citizens might simply walk away from our shared democratic project, concluding that their votes and voices don’t matter. Or they might drift ever more deeply into revolutionary politics, concluding that our democracy is rotten to the core. In the worst of all worst cases, they might even take up arms — especially if the ousted president refuses to depart gracefully and instead terrorizes the polity that rejected him.’” How many have already walked away from our shared democratic project? 100 million didn’t vote in 2016. Already drifted into revolutionary politics, concluding our government is rotten to the core? See: Trump supporters, Sanders supporters, Warren supporters, AOC supporters. And if we let fear of terrorism stop us, aren’t we already terrorized? We should weigh the risks of inaction alongside those of action.

It's far past time for Trump to be impeached. He was elected simply do to the fallacy of a cynical electorate that had enough of Hillary's baggage...period. This country is being pushed to the brink and will be past tense like Rome and Greece, gone - if Trump gets another term. A millennia from now future historians would ask, "what happened?" But unlike Rome and Greece, there will be plenty of data to read the tea leaves on our destruction, and it won't be Trump. The downfall to our government will be Republicanism run amok. Republicanism stoked by sexism, racism, homophobia and fear-mongering, all used to scare votes to elect people who will do their best to push the country back to the past, the good ole days, which weren't all that good for most calling the U.S. the only home they ever had.

A fundamental error - a “high crime”, at the time the Constitution was written, meant “felony”, an act for which one can face more than a year’s imprisonment upon conviction. As for Article II of the Nixon impeachment resolution, it could have been better-drafted. It accused him of using the powers of his office to run an ongoing criminal enterprise to cover up potentially (as innocent “unless,” proven guilty) - Mueller’s finding against Trump. But he wrote he couldn’t say Trump was criminally involved with Russia, because of Trump’s ongoing obstruction of justice. He said he could not indict, due to nonsense rule of the Office of the President, used by both parties - that a sitting president is immune from trial by a jury which can’t remove if convicted, because he can be removed, but not held criminally liable by impeachment. Mueller laid out a “map” for impeachment. Trump’s behavior became more bizarre and brazen. He declared an absolute privilege to conceal criminal acts from Congress because he’s president, ordering some aides to ignore House subpoenas and others not to answer questions though the Supreme Court ruled against Nixon that they had to. Then an Administration whistle-blower’s complaint he tried to force Ukraine’s president to “investigate” potential opponent Joe Biden for doing as he would do - a matter in the hands of his “opposition researchers” and attorneys general for years, before Ukraine might get military aid. And bragged about it.

Gerald Ford had it right--the House decides what is a "High Crimes or Misdemeanors" in the context of the times we live in. At the time he resigned, Nixon was likely heading for impeachment for obstruction of justice in covering up the Watergate affair. One could certainly argue that Trump has done far worse than that. At a minimum, facts indicate three main areas where the standard has been met: 1. He attempted to obstruct, and did obstruct, the Mueller investigation in numerous ways. 2. Evidence is strong that he directed others to commit campaign finance violations on his behalf by paying off women he slept with to keep quiet. 3. He has repeatedly violated the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by having domestic and foreign dignitaries stay at his properties, as well as the recent disclosures about repeated military use of his money-losing resort in Scotland, all of which brought millions of dollars to his business, which he refused to place in a blind trust when elected. He may have otherwise abused power, damaged the reputation of the United States and been an embarrassingly incompetent president. But the House doesn't even need to go there to find High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

People will come up with subtle reasons why Trump should be impeached. I am not American, but I think, and having in mind that elections are just around the corner, and also having in mind how the presidency has been clinical in obstruction of justice, the electrolate should be given the chance to either vote him back or out, resources are usually wasted in the process of impeachment and a possible by-election. I find this a repeat progressive era where there were numerous stumbling blocks to democracy (https://smartcustomessays.com/what-was-the-biggest-stumbling-block-to-progressivism-during-the-progressive-era/) Thanks to the constitution that despite misuse of power, the people always decide who they want their leader to be. My honest opinion, therefore, is let the electorate decide next year.

When should a president be impeached? Let's see. When the president don't care about the country and the people that hired him to do the job. When a president only care of what he can gain for himself. When a president cahoots with foreign power and tries to go behind the laws to get what he wants. When a president doesn't understand that we have a constitution and in his eyes it doesn't exist. When a president acts like hater of the poor, is prejudice against the poor and people that don't match his color skin. When the president and his cronies put a man on the bench of the highest bench on the land that has fail his moral issues to make laws to rule us. There is more, so much more but me being a decent human being will not add to it. It has been in the news already. Sexual harassment among many other things. We will survive an impeachment as long as that other guy, you know the other guy with deep issues (vice president) Don't take over. That man is one creepy guy. Well it had to be said. Mr. Trump has zero respect for the office he occupies. He is running a reality show with him as the star. He loves the drama. It doesn't matter who he hurts as long as rates are up and he is the center of attention. I really don't care for him to Bankrupt our country. Enough already!

A year and a half ago, that’s when!

Thank you, Mr. Bokat-Lindell. That was most illuminating-- --the more so because Mr. Donald J. Trump is a person who generates more heat than light. Look at me. I feel my heart beginning to race--the blood rushing to my face-- --the moment I see that face or hear that voice. (Which is worse. Much worse.) But you, sir, have shed huge quantities of light sine gratia aut odio--"without fear or favor." Without leaning to this side or that side. You have kept your head (like the man in Kipling's famous poem). Thank you. One quick thought. You touch upon the anger an impeachment would arouse in many American citizens. They would feel (it was alleged) our President was being toppled by some angry, unscrupulous politicos intent on seizing power. Well, sir-- --those (I gather) are the very people who would trample any number of corpses--good shot, Mr. President!--in their mad rush to the voting booth-- --or the people who endlessly threaten civil war should this or that dogma be flouted by designing Democrats. And that being the case, Mr. Bokat-Lindell-- --to be very frank-- --I'm not sure I CARE what they think. I'm not sure I SHOULD care. What do you think?

To this day there are many citizens, I think including Bill Barr, who believe Nixon’s impeachment proceedings were unjust. Fortunately the process involves both the House and the Senate to ensure there is a consensus around the impeachable offenses. So the argument that some fraction of the electorate may not agree is not sufficient to avoid the proceeding. Does anyone think that Nancy Pelosi has not consulted Republicans in the House and Senate before going forward with the proceedings? I would guess Burr and McConnell have at least assured her that they will investigate. The unanimous Senate vote is no coincidence. Maybe they believe this will backfire on the Dems. It certainly did not occur with Watergate or with Clinton’s impeachment. Trump should be worried indeed.

Pelosi's terrifying Catch 22: She has no choice now but to enforce the Constitution. But if a strong minority of this country disagree, having elected him knowing exactly who he is, impeachment will drive them to the polls. Trump is gambling this outrage is his best route to re-election.

A President should be impeached when he/she actively advocates for the destruction of their country or undermines its laws and institutions through their actions or inactions. I understand Pelosi's reasoning for not being quick to impeach, but it really shouldn't be a political football, either crimes against the country were committed or no. If crimes were committed it is incumbent on the House to commence proceedings to formally recognize the breach and render judgment. If Trump is allowed to complete his term without being impeached for his actions, it would convey one awful precedent for a future loathsome individual on which to build his/her presidency. Trump and his ilk don't rightfully qualify for security clearances, it's far past time to render judgment and start the healing.

As I understand oour system of government, elections are the proper way to remove unacceptable office holders from office. Impeachment is the process whereby the people’s representatives, in the absence of an election, can charge and try an official whose conduct is found to warrant censure or removal from office. Censure, presumably, would affect a subsequent election, and removal would supersede it. The offense most deserving of impeachment, abuse of power or the use of ones office to maintain or enhance one’s power without regard for or at the expense of the public from which ones power of office is derived, can take many forms, any of which might warrant impeachment. In Trump’s case, there is evidence suggesting he’s abused his power, and impeachment is warranted. If the House makes the case and impeachment fails because the president’s partisans ignore the evidence, voters will decide whether to return the president and his enablers to office.

The problem here is that impeachment and conviction is both a high bar to leap and the only way to remove a President from office. But sometimes the country really needs to have a President removed for reasons unrelated to "high crimes." Looking at history, there were failed administrations that cost the country dearly (Buchanan, Hoover, Andrew Johnson to cite a few) that ran on far too long. Perhaps we should have had more Presidents impeached and removed so the process would be more routine.

I'm not interested in the fine points of what kind of crime is "impeachable." What I hope will happen is that if enough private citizens decide they strongly believe a president should be ousted ... then he or she is automatically ousted. This shouldn't be too easy, of course. But there MUST be a way to prevent anything like this from ever happening again. In fact, there must be a way to prevent it from happening right now.

To answer the question first: When a President abuses his office, and refuses to abide by the laws and the Constitution, raising himself above all and becoming a de facto dictator, even if specific crimes cannot be levied. But I firmly believe that Trump has committed such crimes, and has only escaped being charged by virtue of a highly questionable OPINION written years ago by the DOJ, and the ability of Trump to so far prevent the needed witnesses and evidence from being exposed to public view. This represents yet another reason that an impeachment inquiry should be launched: to obtain evidence and facts that cannot be obtained by other means. What impeachment should NOT be weighed against is political expediency. It is a grave undertaking, and while it may be classified as a "political solution" it transcends politics because it involves holding a President accountable in the most democratic way: by a collection of the People's representatives. It's the only remedy given by the Constitution to correct an urgent problem: a President acting beyond the scope of his allowed powers and the law. This impeachment is perhaps the most right and just impeachment yet undertaken. I can only hope that as it unfolds, and the evidence piles up, all doubt will be removed that Donald Trump is unfit for the office, and perhaps even a traitor. Let the process begin!

In spite of your doomsday equivocations about impeachment, the nation survived the impeachment of Richard Nixon intact. In fact, most people felt a sense of relief and renewed confidence in the Constitution and our system of governance. In fact, impeachment might mitigate all the damage Trump has done to the presidency through his lies and lawless behavior. If Republicans do vote against impeachment after Democrats make a convincing case that Trump's offenses are egregious, it will spotlight the low level of thuggishness to which their party has descended.

Democrats have to understand the rules of this game: Trump is not their primary target in this impeachment. The republicans in the Senate are. There is no doubt that Senate republicans will either acquit or refuse to hear the case at all, so the goal is simply to lay out the strongest case possible against Trump and then shine the brightest spotlight as possible on the Senate. If they don't convict, make them pay the price for it. Speaker Pelosi has to make sure that every Democrat focuses on this and nothing but this. Get the entire party to stay on message. If somebody wants to talk about something else, pressure them to wait and join this fight instead. Have a team which composes a daily message; distribute that to everyone in the party, and make 100% sure that every single Democrat tries to get on a media platform to pound out the exact same message all at the same time. This is a media war, possibly even more than it is a political or legal battle. The republicans are seasoned veterans at manipulating the media, so it's time for Democrats to go into overdrive on this. Get the drumbeat going now, and choose your targets wisely.

As Walter Lippmann postulated that a democracy is dependent upon an omnicompetent citizen to be successful and we are nowhere near that standard, we must pause to reflect how impeachment proceedings will affect Trump’s base who seemingly support him regardless of his willful disregard of our Constitution and Presidential norms. This base appears to view their country as just that, their country and are unwilling to hear the voices of others who are on a different sheet of music. America Love it or Leave it, Make America Great Again, Take Back America are not sentiments reflecting our collective immigrant heritage nor represent a viable path for our children’s right to pursue happiness. POTUS’ pandering to this base for seemingly self-aggrandizement, has been a divisive, destructive and pernicious force which has unmasked a very deep divide in our country which must be addressed. The removal of a single snake oil salesman will not heal our long standing national ills. We must cultivate and elect leaders who will of course carry out the will of the majority but also consider the will of the minority, who are willing to put country above self.

"The paradox of impeachment is that it relies on a legislative body that represents the public to solve a crisis that the public helped set in motion " The public was unaware that Trump would pay off a pornstar whom he had an affair with, and then lie to the American people about it. The public did not know on Election Day that Trump would denigrate his own FBI and CIA and believe Putin's lie that the Russians did not interfere with the election. The public did not know that he would ask FBI director to drop the investigation into Russia's interference in the election. He obstructed justice. The public did not know that he probably withheld military aid money from Ukraine in order, most probably, to extort Ukraine to investigate "dirt" on his political opponent. Etc, Etc, Etc.

In 21st century America, the rule on impeachment apparently is that a President should be impeached when voter polls show that voters would support impeachment.

Need an impeachable offense be based upon an underlying crime? The President takes an oath to uphold and support the Constitution, and defend America from all enemies foreign and domestic. When the President calls white supremacists "very fine people" he is failing to protect us from domestic enemies. When he stands at a podium and takes the word of a dictator and adversary of the United States, over his own intelligence services, he is failing to protect us from foreign enemies. When he calls the Press the "enemy of the people" he is failing to support and uphold the Constitution. When he calls for jailing of his political opponents without any supporting evidence, he is failing to support and uphold the Constitution. I could go on, but you get the idea... None of these are crimes. But if these are not "high... Misdemeanors", it would be hard to think of what might qualify. It is way past time for him to go.

Context is also important. Trump has a history of using foreign countries to win American elections. The Mueller report detailed the careful work of Kremlin operatives that hacked DNC servers and handed over thousands of DNC emails to Wikileaks to harm Hillary Clinton's 2016 candidacy as Trump cheerily said "Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.” Trump worked full-time to obstruct the progress and effectiveness of that Mueller inquiry Trump and Russia. And Trump, true to his colors, has predictably returned to his treasonous Trump campaign ways for 2020 by trying to recruit Ukraine for campaign assistance. Trump has a rich history of cheating for a living going back decades, lying about his assets and his income and evading the law and signed contracts for personal enrichment. It was only a matter of time before this unindicted recidivist criminal got caught with his selfish hands in the cookie jar. Donald Trump is Making Impeachment Great Again. And boy does he deserve it.

When he represent a "clear and present danger" to the nation. And if there ever was a President who did - it's Donald Trump.

No matter what happens with Trump, there will still be only two real presidents who have ever been put on trial for impeachment. Trump is a joke of a president, not a real one. Successfully impeaching him would be as much a "success" as Nolan Ryan striking out a little leaguer.

“I do not say that there is a frequent use of tyranny in America at the present day,...but I maintain that there is no sure barrier against it, and that the causes which mitigate the government there are to be found in the circumstances and the manners of the country more than in its laws.” Tocqueville's statement may be accurate, but nevertheless we do have law and in effect law is all we have against tyranny, be it the tyranny of a majority, or, as is arguably the current case, tyranny of a minority. Mr. Bokat-Lindell may recall another quote regarding the confrontation of tyranny and law in Robert Bolt's play, "A Man for All Seasons." In a pivotal confronation Thomas More is told by his son-in-law: Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law! More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that! More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake! Let the House and Senate do their jobs. Law's outcome is preferable to Trump's tyranny of lies that we're currently mired in.

when he has lied, cheated and acted above the law.

“When Should a President Be Impeached?” Before it’s too late.

Trump tried to extort Ukraine, and extortion is illegal. He engaged in this extortionate behavior specifically for his own political benefit, which removes it from the realm of a private-capacity wrong. Why would extortion, conducted to advance the goal of his re-election, not be considered serious enough to be an impeachable offense? Not only is it illegal, in this instance it reeks of criminal disloyalty. It's traitorous.

It is not undoing an election for conviction of actions that were either unknown before hand, or more importantly, for actions as President. I doubt if Trump had murdered someone, that this would be a canard thrown out. Being elected was never meant to put anyone above the law. That isn’t what the outcomes of elections are about. Impeachment is about crimes, not elections. The moral quandary of the author is to make a god of the President. Infallible like a Pope. That isn’t a reasonable position in this day and age. Elections aren’t divine right for the entire term. Naively stupid is this “analysis”. Maybe the NYT can find a sixteen year old who could do better. Because that is what reality is showing.

Is Pelosi bringing a subpoena to a knife fight? I'm one of those annoying people who has been hemming and hawing about impeachment. Not because it isn't justified. Not because it might hurt the Democrats in 2020. I think it will further embolden Trump to increase his attacks on our democracy. We don't really have time to see this through before the election. I'm just sick of this vile man and his enablers. I want him and all that he represents to go away. But I'm afraid that our system of checks and balances isn't up to this task. Will confronting Trump work? My gut tells me that it won't. Can we beat him and his band of thugs at the ballot box? My gut tells me that we can.

Obstruction of Justice--Many times over Treason-threatening aid unless dirt on opponent Breaking the law- Constitutional Violations Conflict of Interest just for starters

Elections should have been declared null and void after November 8th, 2016 as soon as the news came out that Hillary had lost the elections. How the DOJ, FBI and others depts in the Obama Administration allowed this to happen is surprising ! We could have saved a needless and expensive $35 million 'investigation' with the 'Russia election meddling' strategy.

If Clinton had said "Yes I had sex with that woman what about it. He would not have been impeached.

Of course impeachment should be for very serious offenses. Clinton lied about an affair in court. That was illegal but had no bearing on politics, or anything to do with the US government or anyone besides him. It did not threaten anything. That is why the Repubs were properly seen as grossly over reaching simply to try to bring him down. They were idiots, obviously. Trump on the other hand has been proven to obstruct and conspired to obstruct investigations, has told over 12,000 proven lies to the American People, has attacked normal citizens for nothing, has tried to get foreign powers to help him in his quest to get elected and now get re-elected, has violated the emoluments clause, is now using the power of his office to simply try to punish political opponents, even entire states (ie, California with his idiotic pollution decisions). The list can go on and on and on and on and on. Every day a new bit of corruption comes out. It is time for him to be fully investigated by the House and hopefully impeached and put on trial in the Senate. He probably will not be convicted because the Senate Republicans have proven themselves to be sycophants and just as corrupt as he is. But the American People will have all the evidence put in front of them once and for all and can make up their minds about his corruption. For me, the simple fact that he lies 5 to 10 times DAILY to the American People is all I would need to vote to impeach him.

For me, the murder of the English language is a ground for impeachment. I will also settle for treason. Like coercing a foreign power to help him in the coming election by withholding aid.

When the President is Donald Trump.

Interesting comments from guest on Nicole Wallace's show. He names Constitution framers and what their individual concerns were that led them to have an ability to impeach for abuse of power beyond criminal activity. He shows how each framer's concerns have been realized by Donal Trump. https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/watch/jolly-this-is-the-presidency-that-architects-of-the-impeachment-language-were-worried-about-69777477925

To me the test is simple: If a President defies Congress' oversight powers at every turn, Congress has no choice but to undertake impeachment. While some may see this as too "low a bar,' consider what it takes to have Congress pursue impeachment - a majority of the house and 2/3 of Senate have to agree to remove the President. There are enough differing opinions in both houses that in order for Congress as a body to arrive at a conclusion the President (or cabinet member) must have done something, or somethings, egregious enough to move the required majorities to come to a common conclusion necessitating impeachment. Given the process starts in the House and ends with a trial in the Senate, if the President's actions do not warrant impeachment, then it will not move forward. However, this President refuses to allow his administration to be forthcoming on anything in front of Congress. This leave Congress with no alternative to exercise its responsibility for oversight other than impeachment. Trump has dismissed Congress' oversight at every turn on every issue any one of which could have led to the impeachment of any other President before him. It seems to me that the only way to reestablish the checks and balances of the three branches of government, Trump must be impeached.

The Senate would conduct any trial. Since it’s GOP-controlled, there will not be a trial. Trump will either be impeached, essentially a glorified sanction, or not.

I am glad this is finally happening. If the Democratic Party makes SURE everyone understands what is going on, people will see and really understand the whats and wherefores and why this is not a vindictive move but a move to protect our country.

I agree with the decision to go down the impeachment road. But I just wonder why in the world did Pelosi and her weak friends not believe an impeachment inquiry was not merited for the other misdeeds Of Trump including the emoluments violations, the obstruction of justice acts, the payments to silence victims, and the thousands of other high crimes and misdemeanors of Trump. By waiting so long, Pelosi has branded Democrats as weak which may already have lead those 100 million who didn’t vote in 2016 to not vote next year. Also, why did Pelosi establish a Committee to start an Impeachment inquiry when the only task needed right now is to draft an Articles of Impeachment and have the matter concluded by Thanksgiving or before the end of the year. My hunch is she is purposely going slow. If she continues her negligence, I believe Pelosi needs to be Impeached.

A senior member of the Republican Party must now step up and compel Trump to resign the way Barry Goldwater compelled Nixon to do so. Resignation might be unfathomable to Trump, but impeachment will be unfathomable to the Republican Party... Is the man larger than the party?

Democrats did not force Trump to do the things that led to impeachment proceedings. It’s all on him.

Even before impeachment arguably the most powerful man in the government is one whose position is not even defined in the Constitution of the United States of America who acts with utter impunity for it. Yes, Mitch McConnell. And now even more so.

The issue of corruption by a foreign power namely Putin can only be investigated in an impeachment proceeding. What was said by Trump and Putin May explain Trumps failure to deal with Russia as an adversary and further investigation may reveal Russia’s connection with Trump to help win the election. Furthermore, there is ample evidence both of Trumps’s violation of the Emolument clause of the constitution, failure to respond to congressional supervision and obstrution of Justice.

Curious that if a President is convicted after an impeachment trial he must be permanently removed from office, and no lesser punishment is available no matter what the circumstances.

These recent allegations with a foreign government were simply put, the straw that broke the camels back. The President has been defying (stonewalling) Congress for nearly two years for refusing to provide material upon legitimate request from the Congress. The Mueller Report had significant findings of obstruction, yet Trump and his lawyers refused to furnish to cooperate, so congress had to file lawsuits. Trump brought this all on himself, no one else. The House has every right to take this to the next step, Impeachment inquiry, and if the facts warrant, Impeachment. Politics will be at play throughout, but the Constitution governs, not the political party you belong too. Hopefully "all" our politicians will put country first.