Trump will be re-elected. He has my vote.
325
@Olivia. He may have your vote but he'll lose all of the electoral votes in your state (NY) so it won't matter.
1123
@Olivia
In 2016, 73.5 million people voted against Trump. If the American public is capable of learning, of observing what a total disaster his "presidency" has been, that number will seem puny in 2020.
785
@Independent
So your saying our kids will have to pay taxes? Thats not a deal breaker. The United States creates 25% of the global wealth with 5% of the global population. Deficits don't matter. China has a 300% debt to credit ratio within their country. Debts only matter if there is a time on that debt.
23
These are the reasons the villagers used to sacrifice their children to the ogre. It's time for torches and pitchforks now.
33
Trump did not come out of nowhere. He is the Republican party's Frankenstein. And, yes we are all guilty. We took our government- by the people, for the people, for granted. It could never be threatened or die we thought. We are the USA! For decades we have allowed one party to do outrageous things, undemocratic things, all for the party's survival. Their lies, voter suppression, selling their righteous souls to the 'christian' right, denying a sitting president his choice for the Supreme Court, putting all the things the country needed to the side for them to try to make Obama a one term president ( that didn't work), and we just sat there. The Democrats could not be heard above the noise machines and were inept in trying. But where was the outrage? We are more than two political parties. We do need to get to the street. Democracy is an active game that needs all of us. Thank you Republicans and Donald Trump for showing all of us what we have lost and could lose.
1662
@hw
We aren’t all guilty. We elected Hillary Clinton by a wide margin. The electoral college is guilty.
242
@Peter, thanks for saying that. I find it rather annoying to read that "we" deserve whatever Trump serves up on any day.
"We" didn't all vote for him.
197
@hw You are right about organizing taking to the streets. The passion is there but there is not a unifying voice to pull the Democrats who would Protest out of their chairs. We need that voice. The Tea Party had the super pac guy (forgot his name) to organize them and Fox News to propel them. Who will take this charge?
59
Yes, Frank, it is the only move, as you rightly point out, in terms of fidelity to the Constitution and to basic decency. To wait it out, to hope for something better by doing nothing is tantamount to Neville Chamberlain’s desperately infantile idea that Hitler did not really pose a threat to universally held democratic notions. And the greater unspoken threat is the insidious complicity of self proclaimed GOP patriots who defend this Presidency, its cruelties, its corruption, its clear violation of established rules of law and protocols. Time to take a principled stand and save the United States.
128
I betcha a historian could find an article or speech very similar to this, written or spoken during Hitler's rise in the 30s. If Americans should be terrified by what's happening now, how should they feel about a truly fascist, neonazi, Trump-led USA in five or ten years?
I trusted Nancy Pelosi in her tactics. I think Trump supporters will become even crazier, and some fence-sitters might decide to vote for him. I'm also wondering if everything might not be working exactly according to Trump's plan. Nobody, however, should be terrified of an impeachment procedure. With or without it, the situation is not going to be magically fixed overnight by a new Democrat president.
71
Like Mr. Bruni, I have a lot of ambivalence about an impeachment investigation. It's not that Trump isn't outrageously incompetent and corrupt. He has violated campaign finance law and has obstructed justice. I pray for his defeat in 2020.
If he is impeached in the House, my only hope is that the case will be so clear and compelling that failure to convict will be an embarrassment to the Senate.
1477
@Ralph
I pray for an act of god or devil.
I can't rely on the clarity of thinking from US voters in 2020.
(Or the absence of voter purges, polling stations closures, gerrymandering, early voting restrictions, voter id laws, tampered machinery, or those in power doing the right thing for our democracy instead of their career's future).
Divine or not so divine intervention. That's the only thing left to pray for at this point.
68
@RalphIt is the members of the House's sworn duty to Impeach. This isn't an arbitrary choice like what to eat for breakfast.
But I guess many citizens put more effort in to choosing their breakfast fare than they put into participating in our society.
64
@Ralph It will fail on dead ear. Supreme court justice will rule that you can not impeach one on "I think..." or "I believe..."
This is not Watergate where an actual crime with actual hard evidence was found. Not remotely close. Apples to oranges.
7
All should read, or better yet, listen to Malcom Gladwell's new book, "Talking to Strangers," which goes into detail of how Neville Chamberlain was ignorant, to mentally ill behavior, and dangerous behavior as well, when he met Adolph Hitler. The fact that almost 63 million people voted for DT, when most of them were not well read, otherwise they would of seen a very corrupt, brazen, and if truth be told, a person, who committed lots of criminal behavior that he got away with, just because the banks let him live another day, and those thousands who he stiffed couldn't afford the criminal justice system to recoup their losses as vendors. Then, we haven't even talked about all of those he sexually assaulted over the years. The only danger of impeachment, is that the Republicans can't see the forest for the trees, and it will end up like Bill Clinton, a partisan endeavor of the constitution. However, if we are getting tired of the constitution, then wait for another term of DT, then you will all wish that things had gone down the road of removing DT from office by the Senate.
50
I usually like Mr. Bruni but he sounds downright hysterical in this column at the very time the nation needs calm, reasoned journalists wading through this mess. Calm down Frank. Switch to decaf. This soap opera is just beginning.
338
"You’re going to hear a lot in coming days and weeks about Bill Clinton, but using the example of his impeachment in late 1998 is a bit ridiculous" - Not as absurdly ridiculous as the suggestion that it isn't germane. This is pure hogwash.
40
I HAVE BEEN TERRORIZED SINCE NOV 2018.
165
Impeached and imprisoned. If we turn yet another blind eye to this dishonest narcissistic boob, we are complicit in destroying our democracy, our nation, our environment, and our world.
248
retired federal attorney F/70
How about a voluntary departure for the man in TWH? Use the House investigations to get the facts and the law on record for public airing, the elements that describe specific crimes married to uncontested facts.
Then skip the Senate and Mitch. So long as new President Pence continues Malign Mitch's court-packing the federal judiciary at all levels, Mitch doesn't care about any trial.
The Plan: Psychiatrists and pediatricians, the Secret Service standing back from any act, can escort this seriously mentally ill man to a locked psych ward. Instead of jail. Then President Pence pardons him for all federal crimes so long as he stays in a psych ward until January 22, 2021.
When the man is released from his psych ward, NY State's very capable AG likely will have criminal indictments for at least the Trump orgs and clan. No Presidential pardons for those. But his may be settled on psych grounds too?
Read the new book by three dozen Board-certified U.S. psychiatrists that describe this man's descent into his paranoid malignant narcissism. And self-evident decay.
OR, faster and free, find and read The Guardian journalist's recent story about her horror at participating in, listening and seeing ALL, of this man's incoherent and angry and unhinged words on a lawn walk to a chopper.
This man's behavior/decaying brain cleansed by print and TV media. Always all ways edited to sanity by media from FOX to NBC.
Soon, Spkr Pelosi?
105
The thesis here appears to be that if a President is willing to commit a large number of impeachable offenses, will stonewall any investigation and will shamelessly lie about all of it, we shouldn't impeach because it might turn out badly. All I can say is: Sack up Mr. Bruni. Oh, and maybe the NY Times could avoid a repeat of their 2016 coverage.
196
There's nothing there, can't you read Frank?
27
Not doing anything is much more terrifying. Time to take out the trash.
172
President Clinton's crimes were sexual peccadillos - he couldn't keep his pants zipped even in the Butler's Pantry of the Oval Office!
Sexual mores have changed so much today that the TV reality showman/branding star Donald Trump is more likely to be elected president because he has so many juicy sexual pecadillos and did them with such photographed, open sex objects as his current and former wife, and his publicity eager former prostitutes (e.g. Stormy Daniels).
So Trump assumes he can't be impeached. He forgot that there are a lot of laws relating to national security that every president has to follow to protect and defend the United States (the oath of office of ever single elected or appointed official at any level of government in the US!)
50
Tacit acceptance of "Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets" is what terrifies me. What he does is NOT OK. Trump disgraces us all, and empowers the crooked and the stupid. His antics must be challenged.
113
I’m not a Trump fan but “terrify” seems like another over-the-top headline from NYTimes....
63
This story reminds me of the Lion King, where the traitor lays waste to his own kingdom until he is deposed by the hero.
19
Geez Mr. Bruni, don’t be such a scaredy-cat ! Have some chutzpah ! We don’t need people like you shirking before all the facts have even come out . Courage my boy , COURAGE !!
112
Truer words have rarely been written in this newspaper.
22
Newly elected far left zealots, The Times and the majority of this readership have finally forced Nancy Pelosi to do something that in her gut she knows will severely damage the Democratic Party
and put many House members at risk.
She must be crying herself to sleep at night.
31
We do not need to “find common ground” with traitors, white supremacists and fools. We just need to beat them. And then make sure today’s GOP never gets into power again.
145
Poor soul.
7
Every time I start reading a Frank Bruni column, I always remember that loving hagiography he wrote of George W Bush and stop reading.
51
good v evil?
let's poll it
15
Trump will be impeached. But when New York's prosecutors come to take him to jail I expect he'll take Jeffrey Epstein's coward's way out.
32
"Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do." --Gen. Ulysses S Grant
96
When you act like prey, you become prey. I'm glad the Democrats have stopped their imitation of a Bacon Double M cheeseburger.
56
The Trump playbook calls for a Yuge Distraction, maybe the Yugest yet. So fasten your seat belts and try to answer a question that's as terrifying as any: What would Roy Cohn do?
26
Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t? Hold on folks, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
6
This op-ed is a perfect snapshot of 30+ years of Democrats attempting to appease the rabid rightwing nuts who have grown bolder & bolder and held on to power through strong arming & outright cheating .. ..that has gotten us here. That chapter is being closed. Time to move on !
76
Trump is a prove liar -- he never ever tells the American people the truth about anything -- lies, lies, lies. He should be impeached and that should not terrify us, that should make Americans happy that we have people and a government that cares about removing this liar from an office he has done nothing to deserve.
37
"That’s not to say that it’s the wrong move. . . . .But there’s no way to say what happens now...." I never expected to see such a lame column from Frank Bruni. Read the first dozen "Reader Picks" comments; hopefully it will help you get your nerve back. I clearly remember the whole Watergate saga personally; there was no assurance of a good outcome in 1973, but people of good will persisted nevertheless. We all need to do the same now.
39
Well, Mr. Bruni. Lotta sobering words here. Thank you.
BUT--
--I am thinking of Lincoln right now. Who pointed out--very rightly--with his election and the civil war that followed suit--
--the Republic was in altogether uncharted territory. "A task greater than that which confronted Washington" he is supposed to have said.
No lie!
BUT--
--who denies he did the right thing? Well--actually some do. But not me. And not you.
I truly believe--and maybe you do too: the Almighty's hand was on this man. That hand brought us through.
I am one of those, Mr. Bruni, that crouched whimpering in a corner whenever Mr. Trump's notorious "base" was mentioned. "Oh dear!" we wailed. "His BASE'll be so angry. We gonna rile that BASE of his. They gonna come AFTER us."
Let me quote another U.S. president. From more recent times.
"BRING 'EM ON!"
Let 'em scream--holler--gesticulate--turn read in the face. Chant those inane slogans. Flourish those red caps.
I'm tired, Mr. Bruni--oh so tired!--of kowtowing to these guys. Worrying about what they gonna do or say. I would fling the words of Winston Churchill in those flushed, angry faces:
"You do your WORST--and we will do our BEST."
It was time--and you admitted this yourself--it was high time that Mr. Donald J. Trump was formally challenged. A case made against him. A case taken up by the one legislative body capable of doing it.
So let 'em do it.
It had to be done.
45
Don't miss this thought - America CAN'T STAND HIM. Yes, the media goes on and on about his passionate base - of 38%. Let's get the rest of us to the polls in our majority and we can kick this sucker to the curb and then the trash, where he belongs.
59
Frank what is actually terrifying to me is that I'm living in a country where it doesn't seem to appear that people have the guts to do what is right and remove this idiot from office as soon as possible. What a shameful ignorant group that elected and support him!
78
it would terrify me more if the house did NOT go for an impeachment inquiry; an inquiry that should have started months ago. i am not scared that the republicans in the senate will rally around the trump regime, but to allow this idiot to run unchecked is a constitutional disgrace.
47
why dont you offer some solutions? Your whole column is critical.
13
I for one am glad we are finally going to see some action from Democrats. The ceaseless kvetching about Trump did this, Trump said that, the endless exposure to his helicopter bloviation to pointless questions we already know the false answers to...
ENOUGH! Either shut up and ignore the guy with a news blackout or get him impeached. I don't care if the Republican Senators are a bunch of spineless, partisan sycophants. The Democratic House needs to hew to the law and do their job. You either stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
29
Mr. Bruni and other doubters of the wisdom of impeachment need to read, or re-read, "Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff.
10
The Republicans tried to convict Bill Clinton over a sexual indiscretion committed in the White House.
Will they support the current occupant to allow him to keep up his crime spree in the White House? If course they will. They are spineless.
12
We had no choice.
Treat the cancer or the host will die.
24
Sorry, Frank - my terror meter was broken the night of Nov. 9th, 2016.
33
One reason I fear impeachment: President Pence.
18
Look, Obama made a mistake in not holding the George W. Bush administration to account for its disastrous decision to invade Iraq and then do a completely botched job of it. Pretending that something terrible for the country and its people didn't happen was wrong then and it would be wrong now. What on earth would a defense of inaction look like? This president is corrupt, venal, nasty, and brutish. He thinks he can get away with anything. And he and everyone who works for him sneers at anyone who expects adherence to the Constitution. This cannot stand.
25
Frank, you just lost me there with your references to Democratic hysteria and non-stop hearings about Trump. If only.
16
I agree with Mr Bruni on this one.
7
I’m so tired of reading these wishy-washy, spineless, defeatist op-ed columnists, who tell us all is lost and we should all spend the rest of our lives hiding under our beds.
Maybe some things in this world are worth fighting for - such as the future of our nation and of our planet.
52
Do you know what’s scarier than a Trump impeachment? A Trump presidency.
39
Should Trump be allowed to continue his lawlessness, disrespect of our country, congress and the American people. Can anyone tell me when was America EVER unified country when has she ever cared about all her citizens or even tried to for everyone. Does Mr Bruni think the American people are stupid or will agree with the criminal POTUS behavior . Let Congress go thru the process of hearings, documents and investigations, in the end the criminal POTUS may be given an offer he can't refuse from Congress and resign.
14
Democrats' permanent hysteria, eh? And I believe you think you're being the cautious statesmanlike guide here. On behalf of my party I'll just say, Thanks everso, Mr. Concerned Republican.
19
“If peace means keeping my mouth shut in the midst of injustice and evil, I don’t want it." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
42
The Republicans had no problem trying to impeach Clinton for "lying" about whether or not he had sex with Monica Lewinsky. The House voted for it, the Senate did not. But now, with THIS person in the White House things are different because he'll huff and he'll puff while trying to blow the whole house down? He's a bully at the very least and one needs to stand up to these people.
21
What we have is an official investigation for a 'potential' impeachment. Senator Graham indignantly insisted that he doesn't like a before impeachment investigation...tough. He pouts and demands a floor vote now, well you don't get to make that call Senator, hold your breath while you pout if it makes you feel better.
Even if the full whistle blower complaint is made available, and the House decides there was not enough there to warrant a an actual impeachment, the investigation itself being public is important to let we the people know the details. It may well be damning enough to damage Trump's slim chances of winning in 2020, even if no impeachment trial. Pout on Senator Graham.
It may also damage Joe Biden's chances, or may vindicate him. Let the chips fall where they may, and don't pay too much attention to the tweets of the mad man in the White House, you may have noticed, he is a liar. Point that out to his face Mister and Ms Media when he lies at a news conference.
10
“If the president does something dastardly, the impeachment process is available.” — Brett Kavanaugh
Dastardly Donald’s gonna finally get impeached. His extortion attempt against the government Ukraine will be his undoing. Mark my words.
12
What's unwise is to allow these divisions that terrify you to convince you to put your head in the sand.
This is the time for anyone who cares about American democracy to take a stand to defend it.
If our democracy fails us at this time, then that will only serve to be proof that we, as a people, don't deserve the freedom we have long claimed to cherish.
That we're no better than any of the tinpot dictators we've sat and pointed and laughed at.
That Putin's Russia is the blueprint for a 21st century power, not a government of, by, and for the people.
That desensitization to injustice is the solution to avoiding justice.
That we were wrong to announce our independence from a monarch.
15
This impeachment probe is going to be solid gold for Republicans. The Democrats are going to alienate Republicans and Independents in the few states that are still in play. Also the Democrats are ON RECORD doing exactly what they falsely claim President Trump is doing.
Sens. Menendez D-NJ, Durbin D-Ill and Leahy D-Vermont all threatened to withhold aid if Ukraine did not do more to help the Mueller probe https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/04/politics/robert-mueller-ukraine/index.html
Everyone knows about Creepy Joe Biden and his corrupt son Hunter. https://www.cfr.org/event/foreign-affairs-issue-launch-former-vice-president-joe-biden https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-vice-president-biden-said-ukraine-should-increase-gas-production-then-his-son-got-a-job-with-a-ukrainian-gas-company/2019/07/21/f599f42c-86dd-11e9-98c1-e945ae5db8fb_story.html
Thanks for giving us the 2020 election.
12
Hey Frank? Get with the program about protecting the Republic and the Constitution.
13
Donald Trump said in his latest press conference this afternoon in New York that we ( presumably those who are disgusted by him ) forgot the American people. Watching this press conference this man looks so pathetic, so ridiculous that I find myself wishing and praying the American people would put this president out of his misery by removing him from office by any legal means possible .
Donald Trumps has forgotten the American people. He has forgotten American democracy, the American Constitution and the American rule of law.
Now that’s what I call forgetting( !)
8
Trump, like any bully, has goaded and goaded House Democrats until they are now forced to fight back, using their constitutional powers. Tens of millions of voters and non-voters are very happy that the House is finally pushing back hard against this lawless tyrant.
5
Reading this opinion, if Frank thought Democrats should yield off from impeaching the lawless Trump? That terrifies me.
4
Mr. Bruni. Your cowardice in the face of our lawless president is stunning. Appeasement never stops a bully it only inspires him to greater heights of terror. In this case, the inaction of “wisdom” is sheer folly. There is something worse than being afraid, and that is enslavement.
13
"People on opposing sides hunkering down deeper in their camps and clinging harder to their chosen narratives as the president."—The "Both Sides Do It Diary" (Frank Bruni's entry of the day).
Hey dude, maybe, just maybe, there's only one side that's "clinging harder to its chosen narrative" and the other that's just, uh, based in facts and reality?
13
the more the swamp drains the more noise the creatures of the deep squeal, hail to the chief, drain that swamp soon the mud dwellers will be visible. by god biden confessed on tape turns out the vice has gills get him trump, the guy with the big ears is next. desperation rules the stage. ok this is what corruption being exposed looks like people, sad thing is the media is owned as well so there is no truth only lies.
2
Love ya, Frank, but don't be such a wimp. There's really nothing to lose at this point.
10
"the ghastly carnival of this barker. . ."
Le mot juste. He is barking mad.
5
Frank, there's no way you've forgotten that you've got to crack eggs yo make an omelette.
6
Right now you don't have a democracy. You have a Mafia Boss - Trump Family - a full blown dictatorship. That terrifies me. Sometimes you have to fight. Period. For what and why you fought will always be remembered even if you lose.
My money is on Speaker Pelosi.
19
Frank is right. No choice. If there wasn't this impeachment threat he'd do all he could to steal 2020, the way 2016 was stolen. He's made that clear. He had to be stopped -- was starting to think he was already the dictator he hopes to become. Now he feels the heat of scrutiny on him. He won't try some things under that direct glare. If he got in by theft, again, the dissolution of the republic would be hard to stop. The political calculus of not impeaching to ensure control of the House would mean nothing, because the House would end up having no power. This is a very dangerous period, but he has made this the only course of action. If he believes it will be to his advantage, he's miscalculating the unpredictability. Today's transcript is damning, despite the spin coming from Republicans (Lindsey Graham chief among them.) If it's the best angle on what he's done, it's likely that the whistleblower has more damaging things to reveal. Best outcome: McConnell and friends can't spin him out of this and have to advise him to resign or face conviction as with Nixon.) More likely outcome: he isn't convicted, won't even consider resignation, despite increasingly damning evidence of high crimes -- after which who knows? Americans are not the people some of us hoped we were. Many may choose a mobster / sociopath over a progressive. In which case the American experiment will end, not with a bang but a whimper.
2
At least an attempt has gone forward to rein in the lawlessness of 45's administration and out-of-control ego careening around like those ugly diapered brat balloons he's inspired. We also need to indict the two-party system as the terminally corrupt dinosaur that permitted all these monstrosities to go forward. Neither party should escape criticism and both need to go after this latest debacle.
3
The bottom line is that Trump and his syncofants have continually refused to provide documents and testimony to Congress which is a co-equal branch under the Constitution with oversight responsibilities to which the representative body has sworn! Barr has declared that teh President has no oversight other than what he deems right; and no one in the other brabches has the legal standing to challenge him. investigate him or even discuss it as an issue.This is a dictorship and Rupublians have agreed to bow befor their choosen leader!
4
Read David Leonhardt's "Why I Changed My Mind About Impeachment" — in your own paper.
4
I'm not afraid.
10
So, yes, there will be blood. It will be really ugly. Kind of like Hong Kong. But what choice is there, really? Bruni's sophisticated bloviating is, in this instance, demoralizing. A man (person) shows his character in a foxhole. Stand up and fight, people! This is your land, your world.
11
Impeachment pushes Trump to the forefront and the country to exhaustion, yet knowing he cannot be convicted. Stop.
Investigate him. Publish the reports. Let the voters decide in 13 months in an election and do not give this troll more oxygen.
Instead censure him by House vote. And keep censuring him by formal votes to create a record for history and to draw lines in the sand for the Troll-King.
5
It doesn’t scare me to follow through with what’s just. Your fear mongering is really useless.
12
The New York Times opinion columnists still not get it? They, and in consort with Democrat politicians, have been attacking Trump since day 1, and as everybody knows, Trump always punches back. If Trump is a drunk grizzly bear, the mainstream media and Democrat politicians have tripped over themselves to constantly poke him at every turn. It takes two to tango, and one wonders If Bill Clinton had experienced even 1/100th of the negative, incessant attacks Donald Trump has faced, how would his presidency have turned out? Ditto Obama... what if after he were first elected if a bogus witchhunt of an investigation, accusing him of something he was innocent of, consumed his presidency for two years? And then in his indignation such a partisan witch hunt, that he knew was a witch hunt, He did things to try to move on from it that then have people screaming “obstruction” from the highest mountain? It’s sad but true, the left was dumbfounded that Trump was elected, and they’ve been tripping over themselves trying to get him out of office ever since. “Don’t worry, we have an insurance plan, we’ll stop Trump from being elected.” The fact that the left is not frightened by the nefarious origins of the Mueller probe is proof that they have just wanted Trump out at all costs. There is an outrage every moment… What happened to all the Democrat candidates who were screaming for the impeachment of Kavanagh just two weeks ago? The Dems have rewritten the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Enough.
8
I'm so tired of this kind of nanby pamby "But but things could go wrong!" line. We're well past "safe" courses of action. Put that in your pipe.
Also it's not like Lewandowski exactly came across as some brilliant tactical master of debate who ran circles around the Democrats asking questions. He looked like a stonewalling dope. He looked like a stooge who was taking one for the team. He looked like he was trying to hide something. I don't care about what the swirly-eyed republicans in the Senate think. I care about their voters think - let's have 20 more Lewandowskis, make it crystal clear to everyone with an ounce of common sense that there's something rotten in the state of Denmark.
And don't tell me all Americans want to hear about is jobs, not impeachment. Under these circumstances.... please. That's like, the building's on fire and you're telling me people are more worried about the copy machine being broken.
Or we could not impeach and hope everything turns out fine. Democrats may as well replace the Donkey with an Ostrich while they're at it. What should we hope that all the "Blue Wave" voters who showed up on election night and voted for accountability don't notice? Hope Trump sees the light and stops doing the rule of law like he did Stormy? That's the safe approach, right?
The truth is we're at a point where there is no "safe" approach. We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Everything has risks. In this situation, go with what's right!!!!
13
“Why a Trump Impeachment Should Terrify You”
Are you folks in the media going to step up? Totally pathetic.
This should be instead, “Whistleblower thrown under bus by tyrant Trump! Act of tyranny demands impeachment!”
15
So, Mr. Bruni, what’s your recommended course of action?
4
Simply put. Frank Bruni, This is so cerebrally brilliant and frames the horror show that could develop leaving us with the man with the cotton candy coif and head stuff with fluff for our future. That is stone cold terrifying.
1
Shouldn’t the following terrify everyone?: 5:00PM EST Trump’s U.N. press conference deflating all questions about his call to Ukrainian President. Everything’s is fake news, corrupt news, his polls are stratospheric. “Little Adam Schiff, lies and lies” “(VP) Biden is corrupt”, why isn’t the fake press looking into this, he asks. Trump didn’t answer a single question bout his corruption. The press is complicit and always lets him get away with his crimes and misdemeanors. Perhaps, this is the reason that Trump’s impeachment should terrify the public? Nothing will happen? The country’s political institutions are being decimated by this man and his supporters. Isn’t this enough?
9
This whole thing feels rigged to me. Already, Trump is cosying up the the Ukranian president, who is denying he was pressured. I believe there won't be enough to hang an impeachment on, and Democrats will end up looking foolish. "Ukraine" will end up sounding just like the Republican bleat, "Benghazi."
4
Democrats going forward into the abyss with no road map, evidence, or charges - just like the last 3 years - and the media fans the flames of hatred against Trump and his supporters with derogatory hate speech.
Enjoy the next 5 years Democrats while your party crumbles under the toxic stupidity of Socialists and Trump Deranged Zealots.
7
Widening the fault lines? Pah! Already done. Impeach this horror show, root and branch.
10
Frank, the sky fell a long time ago.
7
tired of the left. would rather have even a lying Trump in office than a lying lifetime professional politician. Tired of the ridiculous often staged (blasey, jussie) unceasing attacks on him. Come up with something better.
11
I think Bruni's piece was written before the "transcripts"were made public. Now there's no trying to hide.
3
I lived during the 90's in Queens and worked in Manhattan for five years before moving out to live and work in Oyster Bay for another five years. Trump was then as now in the news constantly an annoyance. Taking up reading space, displacing more newsworthy reading! I was aghast and could not believe it first a varsity show jock "You are Fired!" wiggled his way into the White House! This abhorrent show rolls on with the prospects it is ramping up to become worse! The vanguard of democracy, a developed justice system and US world leadership is on the slide! The MAGA cuckoo in the White House has already planted his chronies in the DOJ. He will continue to take over all government agencies slowly one by one! Goodby democracy, DOJ and wherever Trump chronies are dropped off.
5
First of all, the things you name that won't get done during the impeachment, most have already been passed by the house but have been siting in McConnells office for almost a year. So they aren't being done anyway. Next there are candidates who can fix this mess and hopefully heal this country, so that's another false assertian. Your whole article is a doomsday scenario. Why is that. I believe you are a Republican, I could be wrong, but you certainly using their talking points.
7
Yes, there are people who worship Trump as a god descended to Earth, with human fits of anger just like Jesus. Except everything in reverse: the red carpet is rolled out for the money-changers in the temple. Righteous anger being impossible, it's impetuous, unthinking anger. He is more of the Greek god Pan, his divine traits of debaucheries, excess energies directed into sexual perversions and deviancy, degradation of women, all sorts of mischief.
Yes, millions of people worship this god Trump because they can truly feel good about gluttony, excessive indulgences, life in the fast lane. every kind of lechery.
Their reality will crash, in 2020 or sooner, the impeachment is only the beginning. Because the official corruption can not continue on even in the short term.
4
I lived during the 90's in Queens and worked in Manhattan for five years before moving out to live and work in Oyster Bay for another five years. Trump was then as now in the news constantly an annoyance. Taking up reading space, displacing more newsworthy reading! I was aghast and could not believe it first a varsity show jock "You are Fired!" wiggled his way into the White House! This abhorrent show rolls on with the prospects it is ramping up to become worse! The vanguard of democracy, a developed justice system and US world leadership is on the slide! The MAGA cuckoo in the White House has already planted his chronies in the DOJ. He will continue to take over all government agencies slowly one by one! Goodby democracy, DOJ and wherever Trump chronies are dropped off.
1
Whatever Trump has done, it pales in comparison to other US presidents who sacrificed at the altar of their re-election the lives of thousands of Americans. Here are two examples from history:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21768668.
This impeachment as well as the Russia accusations were based on "evidence" provided by the "intelligence community". Isn't this the same intelligence community which lied to the entire world about Iraq's WMD to justify W's war which got him re-elected and which also killed thousands of my fellow American service-men and women?
Normal people were questioning the "evidence" provided by the intelligence community then. The same people are now uncritically accepting the "evidence" for the far more innocent (in terms of consequences) alleged "crimes" by Trump. Go figure!
In their self-righteous anger, Democrats forget that it was Obama's policies which divided America and brought about Trump: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/opinion/obama-2008-financial-crisis.html
In addition, it was Obama who instigated new military conflicts the consequences of which hit our European friends hard (Syria, Libya, Ukraine, etc.). In contrast, Trump is perhaps the only US president since WWII who has not started a new war (yet!). Obama dropped more bombs than even W.: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/09/barack-obama-legacy-presidency
Therefore, Democrats better focus on cleaning up their own act instead of wasting time with Trump.
9
There's no high crime or misdemeanor for the house to investigate. And there is nothing wrong with the executive power of the United States asking the executive power of another state to look into possible corruption by a previous vice president of the United States.
Joe Biden is not the candidate of the machine Democrats. They have been using him as a stalking horse. to seem like he's a front runner in the race. I can tell he's mentally impaired. He is sick or he's medicated. it is sad to see because he used to be sharp as a whip. I'm not surprised to see that this so called whistle blower complaint is being brought forth at this time. The California primary is in March. It's a win-win for the machine.
5
This needs to be done. Our nation’s immune system is fighting the virus of Trumpism. Please, Democrats (and any patriotic Republicans that might still exist), do not be deterred by weak pundits like Bruni. Do your duty.
3
There’s time not to reckoning!
The terror lies in not impeaching him.
I've read this column 3x, and all I've learned is that you're scared to poke the bear.
I hope you're in the minority.
9
He needs prosecuted for every crime he has committed.
5
Nope. Not terrified. Mr. Bruni, maybe you're terrified because you now have nothing to support Republican wise.
2
To quote the protesters during the Vietnam War, "The whole world is watching!" Something for Mr. Bruni to consider as he cowers behind his chair.
8
I can’t believe people are scared over this.....this is the United States of America and Trump has broken the law period. Long live the Republic Oorah
8
Mr. Bruni steered us away from some one difficult issue regarding getting Trump (and Pence) out of office. It was put this way by Iowa Congressman Steve King: "“Folks keep talking about another civil war...One side has about 8 trillion bullets, while the other side doesn’t know which bathroom to use.”
King and the position he is advocating here is repugnant. But then, beneath that, he is pointing to something we all need to come to grips with. From Charlottesville's white supremacist thuggery to the massacre in El Paso, the "extreme right" will not go away because we want them to. Let us "not talk falsely, the hour has gotten late," the "extreme right" are fascists. That is why Trump can act the way he does - this is what that "base" wants.
Anyone who wants a just society needs to realize that it's something we're going to have to make sacrifices to achieve. It won't happen by asking permission.
5
The sad part about his is that the media created this monster better known as Trump! Now, many of them are having buyers remorse.
8
Now is the time to be brave. We must standup for our country. and for what is right. If Trump's followers wish to die for him, then we must be ready to die for the United States of America. I am.
5
This will raise the temperature. Trump likes it hot and steamy. He will love an impeachment drama!
2
Oh please! Poppycock is all I have to say about this piece. Where the electorate is today is not where it will be a month from now or six months from now. Let the atrocities come out. There's as good a chance that it will heal the divisiveness as your dystopian view that it will only inflame it further.
3
Trump seems to have spent his entire adult life being a bully. He uses his strengths to make weaker people submit. Now that he's facing an opponent who understands this* and isn't intimidated by him, we'll see if he lives up to the classic bully behavior and falls back on cowardice.
Whatever he does, it well what's best for Trump--not country, party or family. They've nener mattered and they never will.
*How long did it take for Hillary Clinton and her people to realize that they weren't running against Mitt Romney?
2
You can deflect a tennis ball, but you can't deflect a medicine ball.
No one should bring down Trump but Trump himself.
He must make himself a mockery even amongst his backer. His crowd should wallow in the misery of his ineptitude. No honorable final stand, but a trashing demise in the same spotlight he had been basking in.
The message must be pure, Trump has to fail on his own account.
2
We must be brave.
3
"...continued, relentless, overwhelming focus on Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets. "
We don't need impeachment for that. It comes in daily in the NY Times. How is that news?
9
Like lancing a horrible boil, impeachment will be ugly and painful, but must be done to protect our democracy. We have seen two years of Trump's administration essentially giving Congress the one finger salute with regard to witnesses called to testify, and supeoned documents. We have the crimonal suppressing and obstructing investigation into his malfeasance through the power of his office. We tan AG who is nothing more than a lackey for the President, trying to delay release of evidence or put a false spin on it. The whistle blower report should have, by law, gone straight to the House Intel Committee. The AG had no right to way in, and deny its release. r to falsely claim the subject did not fall under the purview of the whistle blower law. All this obstruction, on top of the obstruction outlined in the Mueller Report - I'm sick of it! Time to cut off the head of the snake. Also, put the gutless Republican Senators on the record, in the face of overwhelming evidence, as supporting our criminal President. There must be accountability for this SOCIOPATH. God save the United States. Enough already.
3
This is working quite perfectly.
The depth of the Trump Family corruption , Jared with his bad building and MBS to help bail him out, Ivanka' s private email server , Paul Manafort, Micheal Fynn, Michael Cohen all in jail or going to jail is finally enough to make the pathetically weak Democrats to finally take a stand.. Bravo Ms. Pelosi...
The Republicans will slowly begin to turn on Trump once they see blood in the water and as the public sees the truth of all wicked corruption this day in day out
Treason will be the ultimate charge that is rightly deserved.
Comrade Trump now backed into a corner , will go to his Twitter base for the last help he can get , violent defense against " the witch hunting deep state of the democrats."
The "true believers' will hear the call to arms and it is game on , the 2nd Civil War. He will totally delivered on his campaign promise to Make America Great Again.
Trump and his family will forever be in the history books as the people who destroyed the United States of America. Of course , they had a "little help " in the 2016 election , but THIS is beyond our wildest dreams!.
The internets, who knew they could be so useful!! ( and the peoples so stupid?)
As I said at the beginning , from our view here in Moscow , this is working beautifully .
Comrade Xi says hello and will be sending troops with humanitarian aid once the fighting begins .
Have a nice day. God Bless America , our thoughts and prayers are with you.
1
Perhaps, Mr. Bruni, you should keep up with the news. I wouldn't be so certain that the Senate won't convict. Romney, Toomey, vulnerable Republicans like Collins and Gardner, and perhaps Burr all might be swayed. And if those 5 are swayed, Trump is gone. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-republicans-split-over-trump-urging-ukrainian-leader-to-investigate-biden/2019/09/25/48ec0e64-dfa6-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html
1
MAGA 2020!!! Trump will be re-elected because he is trying to do what he was elected for in 2016. For some crazy reason socialist democrats think they are what the country wants.
8
With the whistlblower incident, doing nothing (and continued stonewalling) is unacceptable. Let the inquiry begin.
1
The Trump Impeachment doesn't terrify me, I was terrified when Trump assumed the Presidency everything after that was as day follows night and night follows day. The Harry Chapin song 30,000 lbs of bananas, Louis Prima's yes we have no bananas, the banana boat song and the Chiquita banana song play in my brain.
Reagan celebrated with with Iran/Contra to begin his presidency. I still believe Reagan began America's decline and was the worst president ever. I fear the Trump presidency will end with Iran/ Federales in the street and Sandinistas from Maine to San Diego.
2
The democrats have proven over and over that they don’t have the skill to deal with the venality of this group. Through the whimperings of Kavanaugh to the spit-in-your eye of Lewandowski, they have not risen to the fight. So, unless they have a smoking gun sitting in Nancy Pelosi’s cloak closet, I fear they will fail miserably.
5
You write like all Americans agree with you. That is disingenuos at minimum. Democrats do not have the torch of the truth. Your party is as crooked as all of them in D.C. Your ex vice president is going to fall before Trump does, for he commited worse crime than Trump.
So save your accusations, sanctimonius self-praising of Trump haters for 2020. And take this down: Not all Americans agree with you.
6
It’s war they want, and war they shall get
1
Time for Trump to go. Will it be messy yes, but I can’t live with another four years of the worst President of the United States.
9
"Impeachment should terrify you because it would mean a continued, relentless, overwhelming focus on Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets."
Am I living in some kind of alternative universe than Mr. Bruni? We will never escape Trumps lawlessness unless we confront it in the only possible way, impeachment. The press really underestimates the degree to which voters like me are boiling mad over Trump's actions. The depth of our contempt and disgust will be starkly apparent in November 2020.
13
In short: Trump might do horrible things, so we shouldn’t hold him accountable for anything.
A brave defense of cowardice, Bruni, but it’s cowardice nonetheless.
10
So, I should be terrified at the prospect of reining in a terrifying president? That shore is some strange logic you got going on there, pardner.
If you was to step back a bit, you might see a pattern here. Nixon was impeached, but skated via pardon any punishment for obstruction of justice. Reagan went around a congressional law, and the Dems decided not to impeach at all; Reagan served two full terms. Bush Jr. lied us into a war, trampled on any expectation of privacy in his war on terror, and, like Trump, worked to politicize the Justice Dept.; he served two full terms, and like Reagan wasn't impeached. Now Trump.
See the pattern? One Republican president after another violates the Constitution and norms of republican governance. Each time the violations get worse.
I am heartily sick of this narrative that we're all to blame, and that we must all suffer the consequences alike. We are not all equally to blame for this mess. It's just abysmally stupid to rage on partisanship absent evaluating the content of any particular "partisan" position. Pardner, looks to me like one party in particular has been hard at work, for decades, undermining democracy, and it ain't the Democrats.
9
By your own words:
"Trump’s true colors were conspicuous from the start. You either saw a perverse rainbow or you stared into darkness."
So we should all hail the lying king and cast our fate to those who stared into darkness by giving him 5 more years?
"He’s capable of anything. Maybe it’s not just a culture war that he’d whip up. Maybe it’s the real thing."
EXACTLY!! Everything he does is a high crime and misdemeanor and it demands at least an immediate Impeachment. Neglecting their obligations, Congress runs the risk of destroying the entire republic, either physically or socially.
4
So long as you have something worthwhile to fight for ... you know you are alive.
Likewise, the values of our country are only as alive as our readiness to defend them.
The minute we shrink from the defense of our country's values, our country is gone.
We can't abandon our country to an impostor to spare it the trouble of dislodging him.
5
Frank, on election night 2016, I thought, “ this ends in bloodshed.” I still think that.
5
Yes, yes, ..... but there comes a time when ALL Americans need to just STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT instead of relying on pusillanimous calculations of "what in it is best for *ME" ?
The *worst thing that can come out of this action, if timid Democrats even have the courage carry it *out, is that future Presidents will know that acting *above the law *HAS consequences.
This is no longer even primarily *about Trump, it is *about standing up for a System based upon the RULE OF LAW.
If the Corporations and/or Russians overrule *all of that in favor of Trump, at least we FINALLY know exactly what we are dealing with, and we know from having *tried IT , not from clammy hand-wringing armchair generalship, that the Rule of Law IS now moot in the U.S., and then we can stop going thru the impotent steps *based upon the rule of law.
Having now "bared their teeth", it is imperative that Congress comes on like a downhill freight train with no brakes. Trump has "wiggled out" of everything imaginable for too close to three years now. As in combat and policing, the "rule" is that one *never pulls a weapon without *immediately USING IT !
If you are not going to use it, leave it holstered.
It is too late for Pelosi to put this one back in the can.
While the Dems are exhibiting some minimum backbone,
Impeachment of Barr, McConnell, and getting rid of almost *all Trump appointees should follow immediately close upon.
Come what may. We cannot afford *ONE more year of Trump.
4
Sooo, do nothing? That is Bruni's implied alternative.
To do nothing is to be complicit. To do nothing is to endorse. To do nothing invites the Russians and god knows who else further into our electoral process.
If the President were a Democrat, Republicans would have been screaming "Impeach!"a year ago.
9
Stop wringing your hands and start sharpening your pen. The mainstream media will need all hands on deck to counter the torrents of lies and vitriol that will be pouring out of the mouths of Fox News and Republican hacks until this long national nightmare is over, however it ends.
6
Trump Country doesn't watch or care. They will vote Trump. They are lost. I was once too
8
We can't avoid this fight or this discomfort. The only way through it is through it. I'm not "terrified" and you shouldn't be either. Just buckle your seatbelt and stay honest and kind.
5
"At a juncture when we so desperately need to rediscover common ground, we’d be widening the fault lines. ..."
I have to believe this piece is sincere, but that's where my charity ends. The Donald said it:" even if I lose the election, it will probably be rigged, so no guarantee I'll accept the verdict." Any Trumpian who perks up at 'common ground' is yesterday's news, Frank. He's got a veritable Clergy telling us he's been Chosen By God (to re-pollute downtown Los Angeles and pour mine tailings into drinking water on the Plains).
2
Here’s what I don’t quite understand. Richard Nixon had some hired guns break into an office to pilfer some documents hoping to get some dirt on a political opponent - one who was merely a commentator and activist critical of his policies, not a leading candidate for the office of President.
Donald Trump brazenly mustered the powers of the Presidency, the Department of Justice, the Treasury and his ‘personal lawyer’ Rudolph Giuiliani in an effort to put a foreign power to work digging up dirt on a political opponent — one who is the leading candidate to run against him for President in 2020. He once again is attempting to steal an election.
Nixon was not only impeached, but he fled Washington knowing the foregone conclusion was humiliation at best, and being tossed out of the White House on his ear at worst.
So tell me again, why on Earth isn’t it a foregone conclusion that Trump, whose abuse of power is right out in the open, will be impeached and ejected from the White House?
Oh yes, I remember now. It’s because the Republican Party is morally and intellectually bankrupt and could care less about America’s democracy. And because Trump chose a vice-president who is as frightening a prospect as President as Trump himself - the same erratic, right-wing crazy wrapped up in smarmy, hypocritical “Christian” clothing.
The problem isn’t that impeachment is inappropriate here — it’s that America has become so corrupt and degraded that we are no longer capable of moral outrage.
8
It seems like a set up by Trump and a no win situation for the Democrats.
4
Trump literally can't lose because he knows full well the base that sent him to Washington and the Republicans in the Senate who have his back will never, ever abandon him. I have a theory about both those groups. They know he's corrupt. They know he's a fraud. But he's THEIR corrupt fraud and as such their is no amount of dirty laundry and no amount of impeachment proceeding that will turn their support. In short, they are acting in bad faith. They are not trying to "get it right'" and support a competent candidate. I've yet to see a predictive political model for the republic that takes into account this fact. My own personal thought is the downward spiral only worsens
2
There was a time when I had a considerable amount of admiration for Lindsey Graham, but something has gone wrong in his head since the passing of John McCain, that makes me think I’ve been wrong about him all along.
7
Why not wait for the 2020 elections and let the American People decide to get rid of Trump? Besides the fact that the Democrats can't provide a 2020 candidate that is not in some way damaged, RBG has pancreatic cancer and the Democrats are in full panic mode that the Supreme Court will look like Nedimeyer's Fraternity in the movie Animal House by 2024. Currently it looks like Trump will win in 2020 if the Democrats can't figure out a way to impeach him, with a conviction, before the election. The Democrats need to focus more on the more realistic goal of winning the Senate majority, and that will be much more difficult if they proceed with an impeachment of Trump because Joe Biden got his son a 50K a month job in Ukraine, then got involved with the Ukrainian justice system to free that son from prosecution, and bragged about it.
6
"A republic if you can keep it" - BF
If Trump is reelected in 2020 then you couldn't keep it, and I'll go a step further, you didn't deserve to keep it.
Because at this time in your history, you've not earned it.
5
We have nothing to fear but fear itself..
5
“Maybe it’s not just a culture war that he’d whip up. Maybe it’s the real thing.”
Are you seriously arguing that we should not impeach a president because he might start a civil war if we do? Isn’t that exactly why we should impeach him?
12
So just let Trump and his minions continue to break the laws with impunity?
6
*IF* the choice is divided nation or Fascist Dictatorship propped up by massive corruption, I'll take the divided nation thanks...
5
“Impeachment is the right thing to do but it’s going to be horrible and won’t fix anything!” Thanks, Frank, real useful.
3
NOTHING terrifies me more than the thought of another four years of Donald Trump.
6
To save her own skin, Nancy Pelosi - our Parliament Pushover Paramount – had to acquiesce for impeachment. It is said that Democrats, as progressive as they claim to be, are so spineless.
4
Frank Bruni, don't toss around strong media catchwords to get reader clicks when a real threat is at stake. Trump needs to be stopped before he does more damage. Get him out as soon as possible! People should be terrified if he stays.
1
This screed is exactly the kind of hand-wringing we DON'T need. To save the republic, we do need decisive action ... and leaders who will provide it ... and op-ed writers who will provide insight. The "woe is me" attitude offers neither. Just stop it!
3
Trump's worst sins are the ones he won't be impeached for: Packing Cabinet positions with industry lobbyists, making millions off his hotels (staying in them is a way for lobbyists and diplomats to show they want to be on Trump's good side); behaving with inhuman cruelty and generally denying the humanity of poor people and immigrants; validating racist/sexist attitudes; and in general being a person in a position of great power with no particular allegiance to truth. If talking to the President of Ukraine in the manner he uses when talking to one of his contractors trips him up, I guess that will do. What is the English expression? "Hung for a lamb"?
1
I just know in my heart this is bad for the Dems. I'm going to keep a close watch on Trump's approval but I bet it starts going up. Why oh why did Nancy Pelosi do this?
5
Thank you for handing him 2020!
3
I suppose doing the right thing is always a little scary when there is another side willing to fight back hard. But if you don't stand up to a bully, you lose your lunch money. If nobody stands up to bullies, you get a lot more of them...
2
Except: This unstable, often enraged, paranoid, impulsive and ignorant man controls the nuclear codes. Every day that he does so represents a renewed threat that none of our children will see tomorrow.
2
It was clear to me, listening to Trump's rambling, incoherent press conference today (9/25) that Donald Trump is finished as our President. He will not have a second term, not because he couldn't be reelected by his blind loyalists, but because he will either end up in a mental hospital or otherwise demonstrate sheer incoherence. I keep my fingers crossed.
5
Either the house will fail to impeach (those Dems who won in Trump country will not be slam dunkers) which will be yet another failure or they will impeach and hand the opportunity to completely exhonerate Trump to a well run Republican Senate which will declare him yet again innocent on all counts, making him a martyr at the perfect moment of their own choosing before the 2020 election. This is a lose-lose strategy. Nancy Pelosi is smart, this is dumb, Trump was right today, she has been co-opted.
3
Here’s the reality. Trump is a cancer inflicted on our country worse than anyone in my lifetime. I was against impeachment until this last episode, because I thought it would be a hollow gesture that might very well strengthen him.
But his most recent crimes are so beyond the pale that they cannot go unchallenged.
I have said that our United States is on the same path as the Roman Empire, and that its destruction is just as inevitable. If the Republican Senate won’t convict, then we must hope that the electorate will punish them for their obedience to this crooked despot. If they don’t, it will simply be further proof of my hypothesis and that we are goners.
I am very afraid of impeachment, but there is no choice.
1
What could be more terrifying? Watching this incompetent trample the constitution on which this democracy was built....this is the travesty of his leadership. It’s terrifying
He's already destroying the country. We have nothing to lose.
1
Sorry Frank, but if your ignore the rule of Law then you have no law. Trump has bought us to this point not Congress by his villainy, and if we were to ignore it, who needs the Constitution as Power not Law rules in America?
5
Mr. Bruni has written perhaps the most sagacious article of the hundreds published today across the American media landscape.
As a Canadian-American who moved to Canada in 1997, I have witnessed with increasing concern the growing dysfunction of the American Republic. The transmogrification of the republican party into anti-intellectual, authoritarian cult, the cleaving of the media landscape where half of the population is lies and actively encouraged to disbelieve their eyes, the utter failure of your Congress to address any major long-term problem. Trump has merely "heightened the contradictions".
Impeachment, if it comes, will be right and necessary. But, it will also convulse your country. Sadly, Mr. Bruni is right that Trump, moral monster that he is, will foment outrage among his base and perhaps instigate a war. But, Mr. Bruni has left unstated what war he means. His implication is clear that civil war, or at least, widespread civil violence, is possible. Good, decent people, humiliated by 30 years of wage stagnation and seeing their communities hollowed out by global macroeconomic forces they do not understand, truly believe in Trump. They have invested in him their hopes and dreams. Every cognitive bias within them militates in favour of accepting what will be Trump's "stabbed in the back" narrative.
I just wonder if you will take to the streets before it's too late.
America is at a crossroads. I just wonder whether all the comfortable
1
I also fear the damage to our country from impeachment but from a different direction. There has, through out our history, been a peaceful transition of power. I seriously doubt that Donald Trump will go peacefully nor will his heavily armed supporters. Violence is almost sure to follow. If he is impeached he will call it illegal and unethical; although I am not sure he would know what ethical looks like; and will call for the military, the NRA and all other followers to rise up and seize the government.
If he is defeated in an election he will declare it invalid and allege that millions of illegals voted him out and will not peacefully relinquish power. So impeach away but prepare for blood at the end of the trail. I wish it were not so but even a cursory study of history should scare you as it does me.
1
One great narcissist, one man in the middle, creating all this and looking to include everything around himself and everyone to increase his power. This self appointed parental president - the archetype of separateness.
His lifelong absorption in a world of scheming for the sake of social and political power is a perversion and destructive to the matrix of our great historical tradition. A tradition that is NOT based on political materialism and the ideals of separation. A tradition that values peaceful cooperation, compassion, inclusion, investigation and truth.
To be uncivil in a superficial and divided way (rigid, mediocre, deluded, relatively loveless, self-possessed, and isolated) is to further risk this fragile human civil world. Furthermore, the evidence suggests, if we do not modify our current conditions, their will be a great deal more suffering.
Trump and his entranced followers mechanics of separation adds nothing to the social improvement. Political materialism is an an offense to those outside the bubble. Real power and untouchable gracefulness has an inclusive quality.
Here's a problem the Democrats face...
We are well aware that, as things stand now, Donald Trump is NOT going to be convicted if impeached by the House...
Now, assume that the 2020 election returns Donald Trump to the White House, the House of Representatives stays in the Democrats hands with the same majority, and the Senate flips eight seats, the latter being pretty much of a fantasy.
Does the House re-impeach Trump? On what grounds?
And even if they did impeach him a second time, does anyone seriously think that, even in the above scenario, the Senate is going to muster 67 votes to remove him from office?
They aren't going to be able legitimately to fall back on the first set of charges...And they will look like political hack trying to do that which they couldn't achieve at the ballot box...
The Democrats seriously risk being accused, with cause, of undermining the Constitution and the duly elected government of the United States of America.
5
This comment will most likely elicit a fusillade of flak. Since Frank has brought up miracle workers, there is one candidate who might have the equanimity to heal this fractious nation — Marianne Williamson. I rest my case!
The Trump TV Show, now to be the Trump Impeachment TV Show does not completely explain what's going on in the US. It's the support he's getting that is truly dangerous, people who still believe he's cleaning up Washington and corruption while giving away "America First" badges and courageously pushing back the socialists. Trump will not accept a loss in 2020 (even if he loses the election) and this is where things go South. He'll whine and muster his army of lawyers, and eventually, his supporters. If these supporters refuse to recognize a new government in 2020, how far are you from Civil War? Again. Somewhere around 1/3 of Americans could follow him down this abyss.
Trump was elected because he was NEWS. All day, all night, all the time. Will he be re-elected because he is NEWS? Might be the PLAN.
1
And will it become routine for every president to be challenged with impeachment if the other party controls congress? They did it to our guy, we will do it to theirs.
4
Frank, what’s the point of democracy? Laws? Balance of powers? Co-equal branches of government? Jeez, the GOP has beaten you down that much? Stand up and fight. Maybe people will actually turn out to vote for that. This is long over due!
3
I AM terrified. Was the day Trump was elected for one could see this coming. Actually I saw this coming when he came down the escalator to announce his run. Then, like for the past 40 years, watched in HORROR as America slides deeper into the car accident. You, sir, frequently rooted for that accident. I praise you for seeing it now, but take a bit of the responsibility for this crash.
1
There are many reasons for impeachment by the House, even if the Senate does not vote to impeach under McConnell's Thanos. Chief among them is the necessity to take a moral stance. Trump is so lost in his obsessive and compulsive behavior that he can no longer process the world around him. We can no longer sit back passively as he continues to stamp his feet and use executive orders to get what he wants.
2
I still don't understand all this. First of all, I don't believe that all that many Americans can afford the price of the real estate out on the moral high ground. And all the arguments about how it's our moral responsibility to the Constitution to impeach seem out of touch when you consider the many lives that will be negatively affected by Trump's re-election.
I cannot grasp why the momentum here isn't for removing him from office in the election, where his polls numbers are sure to stink, unless we collude with Trump in generating sympathy for him. Defeat at the polls also removes Pence which Impeachment not only does not remove but it hands that man the keys.
Trump may be a clown but he's a clever one. Intentional of not he's distracted the nation, the media and the 51% of Americans so intensely they have not, as Bruni states, much of an inkling of what else is going on in our government. And we want to put the Great Distractor on steroids by impeaching him? Sorry I'm not buying. Too many good people are at risk for us to do anything that could remotely increase his chances of reelection.
BTW: Does any one think for a minute that the 24/7 media isn't drooling to gin up the Trump circus? They'll put all their focus on impeachment and Trump's antics at the expense of the Democrats campaign. As Les Moonves might say, The money is where the eyeballs are and Trump is the master at grabbing eyeballs.
2
Not clear on why anything that is currently be happening now be anymore terrifying than previously, and by previously, I mean going way back. Korea and Viet Nam should have been terrifying, not to mention more recent "wars" in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places. What have the political parties really achieved for Americans in the last several decades that they were unified behind. Perhaps there is some desire to just go back to plain and corrupt and inefficient government spending it in all the wrong places than over the top. This just feels like the difference between knowing your child smokes pot and you actually seeing him do it, but is it really all that different? Sure, let's argue that we can get back to terrible government as usual, but perhaps what this country needs is the "dark night of the soul" and clearly another 4 of Trump will provide that.
1
Well-written and well-considered. Nonetheless, Trump's corrupt actions demand an impeachment inquiry.
1
Frank, consider your fears validated.
But you need to tell us to be terrified NOW?
This has beens as predictable from 2016 as pain is from kidney stones. Trump operates at a predictably compulsive emotional deficit which requires him to consider morals as nuisances and enemies. Anyone with experience with malignant narcissists in power knows that the effects compound.
This moment was practically prescribed, and it's disappointing that you haven't been girded for it all along.
1
Aw gee, Frank, are you really that afraid of the truth and of justice, which is so badly, desperately needed right now? Sure, the next year will likely be filled with nasty wrangling between Trump supporters and detractors, but that would be true in any case. Consider the alternative, of letting Trump and Guiliani and Barr continue to run roughshod over everything so many have fought and, in some cases, died for. Are you still afraid when you think of those who have sacrified so much for our country? Let's do the right thing, for once.
1
The United States of America, if it is to continue as a democratic republic under the rule of law can no longer abide Trump. The transcript provides clear and convincing evidence that Trump was representing himself and his corrupt agenda when he should have been representing the interests of the United States of America and the cause of democracy and freedom in the world for which many thousands of our soldiers have sacrificed and died. The transcript is saturated with a total disregard for and a deep contempt for their sacrifices, the Constitution and the rule of law. This is not a matter of interpretation or speculation. What is most revealing is that Trump actually believes that the transcript is exculpatory. If he thinks this is exculpatory, then what might we learn from his other words and actions that are being stone walled from our elected representatives? Are we to believe that this transcript is exculpatory because it contains no explicit "If you investigate Biden then I will release the funds". At long last, has he no decency? There is no amount of credulity in the mind of any reasonable person sufficient for accepting such an absurd argument. The Trump agenda boils down to this: Ruin and Then Rule. We have no choice. We the people must impeach and remove Trump from office. We must remove Trump or be ruined.
2
Trump will go down one way or the other
The brief flirtation with nationalist populism has peaked, It has shown inability to solve problems and promote the common good. This country needs big and bold change, Trump has shown be can’t deliver it and many of those who voted for him can now see that he is full of useless bluster, bigotry and denigration; while he will have devoted followers, he won’t have nearly enough of them to get re-elected whether he is impeached or not.
Democrats need to find a candidate that is up to the challenge of ever accelerating social and technical change and can help the country thru enormous complexity to a state of greater justice, compassion, and effectiveness. That won’t happen under Biden or Sanders; it might happen under Warren or a surprise candidate younger and more vigorous who has a vision and the skills to lead us into the future.
3
Here's what I keep coming back to. Why did I teach my children to tell the truth and to obey the law when those at the highest level of our government and society don't have to? There should be a "culture war" about that. Let no one who defends this president ever again stand before a audience where children are present and utter one word about any virtues, and that includes school teachers, preachers and judges. Tell them the truth. If you are powerful enough and rich enough, you can do whatever you want to do. You can lie and when caught in lie, lie some more and call your accusers liars. When you break the law, your powerful friends will make sure you aren't or if caught, never punished. You can break every rule and any law and still be hero, or at least a martyr. Every Republican and every citizen who will vote for Donald Trump again needs to at least tell the truth to America's children.
"Clinging harder to their chosen narratives" is a curious way to describe people solidly grounded in reality. We've had more than enough of this corrosive both-sideism, and Mr. Bruni needs to stop wringing his hands and start being helpful.
3
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”
Mr. Bruni, not sure of your point, but I’d like to share my feelings, too.
I know crooks fight back. And what, you think I should be “terrified”? I am not afraid.
I am confident that the majority of Americans will fight for their democracy, because we have a long history of doing so.
No, it is not fun. But freedom is not free. Nut jobs are already out there armed with AK47’s, and we deal with it every day, never giving up hope.
I, a little old retired lady, do a little something every day to restore this democracy for my grandchildren.
So I say, bring it. I still have plenty of neighbors to register to vote, and my eye on a few good candidates for my humble. donations. Don’t have much time for being terrified.
3
It won’t be enough to convict Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors, Democrats are going to have to show why it’s important to uphold the law. This is clearly something where many Republicans have issues.
So we should not impeach Trump because of the ensuing carnival, polarization and the infrastructure program he has been ignoring for three years anyway?.. Frank Bruni, ladies and gentlemen!
This is the same trite and deaf political analyses that has kept Dems and pundits in a bubble for decades. Trump's base is already polarized, he is already going off the rails and this is already a circus. If you think it's dangerous to impeach Trump, imagine the danger of letting him get away with this. THAT should give you chills.
Bruni captures the problem perfectly. Trump has no scruples, no shred of shame, and absolutely nothing resembling a moral compass. His complete lack of regard for facts, truth, the law, or a sense of basic decency means that he will say and do anything to spin the story- no matter how outlandish and divorced from reality. It's very difficult to fight an opponent who cannot be moved by facts and cannot at least pretend to care about doing the right thing.
The sad part is that tens of millions of people either don't care, or are sufficiently brainwashed that they don't recognize what's going on.
Hopefully, any halfway reasonable Republican leaders and office holders who are left, will stand up and speak out (here's looking at you Mitt Romney). Perhaps if they do so forcefully and eloquently enough, it will stun enough voters of out of the cult like trance they are in.
2
"What’s just and what’s wise aren’t always the same." I'll side with what's just, thank you.
2
Sometimes and regardless of consequences you must do what is right.
2
This is inevitable because the Republican party has made it that way. Yes, it will be a disaster for the country, but that is something that Republicans can live with, f not embrace. If voters can't see what te truth is, if lies and more lies are all we can debate, ten this country is done anyway.
What Republicans don't seem to comprehend is that at soe point the divide they are creating will destroy all the systems we share, including the monetary system and all commerce.
This is,of course, just the prelude to the apocalypse that will follow as we ineffectually witness the climate spiral deeply into chaos, dragging nature into the next extinction event of hundreds of thousands of years.
Trump and the Republicans will only be the proximate cause, of course. It is the tangled and fractious nature of humans, coupled with barely disguised greed and opportunism and unlikely technical skills, which lead us on.
1
I'm sitting in Norway following the show from afar, and already I am sick and tired of it. I probably would care less if it didn't affect my own country and the rest of the world so much. In a short while we have gone from seeing the US go from being our closest ally, as it has been in all my fifty years, to something closer to an enemy. As China is getting closer to passing the US as the economic power house of the world, we are all trembling for the future.
6
What's just today will be just 100 years from now. What's "wise" (read politically expedient) today could pivot 180 degrees before dawn tomorrow.
3
Wrong, wrong, wrong, Mr. Bruni. The impeachment won’t remind us of President Trump’s evildoings and sayings, we are face to face with them EVERY DAY!
2
It was probably rash to declare independence from Great Britain too.
2
I agree, but don't know where else to go. I want to just beat him in Nov., by a huge landslide and elect someone to get us back to our values. I guess this won't happen, the impeachment will happen. I was so saddened today when I over heard the Phar. Tech at the grocery store, maybe 19, maybe making 10 an hour part-time, say these Democrats are so awful. Like he was saying these Russians are so awful. I know its everywhere, I'm still upset by it when its a young person, a religious person, my doctor, my neighbor and a relative says it.
5
If they don’t impeach now, how can they go on stating the obvious - that he has committed treason by pressuring a foreign leader to do his bidding, in a manner contrary to US interests?
What will they say when the devious right wing pundits say, “if he’s so bad why didn’t you impeach?” I think he’s made it impossible not to.
However, Democrats need to make more noise about education, health, infrastructure, inequality and everything else that Republicans have failed to deliver.
3
It's about the identity of America. Who are we? Making excuses to do nothing about Trumps flagrant criminality simply because it's difficult to take down a corrupt president makes reasonable people wonder if there is a "we" in America worth fighting for in this endless self destructive culture war between "us and them".
All this hand-wringing about "should we hold this criminal accountable or let him go because we're afraid" is entertaining. Riddle me this: With every new thing he gets away scot-free on he gets bolder and commits greater transgressions. Give him a pass on this and he'll go absolutely rogue.
Consider this: If the House impeaches him, what makes you think there aren't enough GOP members of the Senate who might see this as a chance to rid themselves of this cancer they wanted no part of in the first place and who's grown so powerful they can't control anything about him? No more fear!
2
I had mentioned in a response to another opinion the other day that the Dems had better be careful about what they do with this "gift". That such election-changing information reminds me a bit of the nefariously spoon-fed Dan Rather information that was later discredited.
I want to reiterate that the timing of this "revelation" is suspect, as well as Trump's cooperation in providing the ammunition for what could be the Democrat's circular firing squad. Mr. Bruni is right on the money about all of the probable worrisome fall-out from a House impeachment. I share his every fear on this.
Yes, Trump is a law-skirting, lying narcissistic jerk. However, the Dems must view the longer game here. There is strong chance that the impeachment process will aid in Trump's reelection without achieving the desired goal of being rid of him. And being rid of him is the best thing for the country and the world.
The Democrats should also consider how the important Senator Al Franken lost his job because a few zealous people wanted to do what they felt was the right thing, to send the right message, regardless of losing a strong Senator whose infractions were relatively minor. IMHO, it was doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. Surely it is what turned many voters off on Gillibrand, as she was the biggest voice in ousting Franken.
This is likely a huge Trump manipulation. Despite Trump deserving impeachment, I hope the Dems reconsider after somehow shaming him to the nth degree.
2
"Impeachment should terrify you because it would mean a continued, relentless, overwhelming focus on Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets"
How would this be any different than every hour of every day since Trump was elected?
5
"What's the big deal. So a guy wants to build a hotel in Moscow. What's wrong with that?"
"So a guy wants help getting re-elected by digging up dirt on his opponent. Isn't that what all politicians do?"
I don't think the Democrats have a chance to win the election until they grasp the power of general ignorance of law and the Constitution that underlies the conviction that Trump is merely being harassed by his political enemies. The media aren't helping.
4
Terrify? Global climatic catastrophe, criminal inequality, immoral concentration of wealth, the common good, the more perfect union, the common people with no real help. That's terrifying.
1
So what do you propose? That we let Trump commit crimes, violate the Constitution and trample on our democracy — and that we all succumb to him as dictator?
Just because the Republicans are already there doesn’t mean we ignore our obligation to try to save our democracy.
Frank, I enjoy your columns, but I am sure that years from now, you will realize you were wrong on this one.
2
The media chooses to cover Trump. They could be covering the dozens of popular bills that the Democratic House has passed and sent to the US Senate where McConnell acts as the gatekeeper and refuses them a hearing much less a vote.
Trump is incompetent and lawlessly corrupt. If there is risk of exhaustion at another 14 months of The Trump Show, it is probably not to his benefit for Election Day. To have a chance at repeating the narrow electoral college victory despite the near-certainty that he will once again suffer a popular vote loss, he will need the focus to be on the flaws of his challenger.
Democrats should remind the country every day, every hour, that Republicans impeached Pres. Clinton are 7.5 years of an actual witch hunt, beginning with a ten year old land deal, and ending up with a fib about a private, consensual affair between adults, a fib in a civil suit that was funded by his enemies, and which was thrown out by the judge for having no merit. Republicans should be made to compare their actions then to their shameful tolerance and even defense of far, far worse committed by Trump, and over far more serious matters than a consensual affair. Part of this impeachment process in fact has to be putting the hypocrisy of Republicans front and center in order to put them in the untenable position of either going along with impeachment or being seen as putting their party first, abusing impeachment when it suits them, and allowing a truly dangerous president to stay in office. The fealty of Republicans is as much a part of this impeachment as is Trump's total unfitness for office and his constant betrayals of this country for his own self interest. Oh, and William Barr needs to be impeached as well, as does Mnuchin. This entire administration is corrupt and lawless.
3
The Constitution offers no other means for addressing a lawless president. There’s no choice in this matter other than the coward’s choice to surrender in advance.
As for the political implications: 1998 was a long time ago, but there are lessons to be learned from the recent past. The Benghazi hearings concluded shortly before the 2016 election, with no evidence of any wrongdoing. Same with the FBI investigation into Clinton’s emails. But compare the general election voters who were all the more motivated to support Clinton because she was “exonerated” vs. those who wouldn’t vote for her because of “Benghazi” and “the emails.” In a post-truth environment, the investigation is more damaging than the findings. As Goldberg put it in a column the other day: it’s hard to see how highlighting evidence of Trump’s unfitness for office helps him.
Finally: if you want a Democratic candidate who is more interested in running on the issues than running against Trump, it’s about time you switch from Biden to Warren.
3
Maybe a dose of Greta Thunberg will help those who are terrified to get some courage. The world is burning and there is one chance to keep the planet livable. Trump is standing in the way of that chance, a total roadblock, serving Russia and shredding our democracy. That is terrifying; impeachment is a solution step.
3
Excerpts from a future House news conference...
Will the house work on any of these before the election, common sense gun control, immigration reform, trade reform, climate change control, prescription drug reform,
health insurance reform?
Nope. None of those.
(The Democrats have hired a former NASA spokesman to explain this.)
Impeach Trump? Yup. We are on it.
How long will it take? As long as it takes.
How much will it cost? As much as it costs.
When will he be removed from office? No later than January 20th, 2025.
But, with impeachment, how soon will he be removed?
No later than January 20th, 2025.
But, with impeachment...
No later than January 20th, 2025. And, if he doesn't leave, we'll get tough. Really tough. Tough like you have not seen before. Tough. Really tough.
1
I predict Trump will leave with his tail between his legs to avoid being removed; Pence will become president interim but will not be nominated in 2020, thus elevating Bill Weld chances. The biggest challenge is winning both houses.
1
Impeachment should terrify me? This is like suggesting that OJ should not have gone to trial because he was going to get off anyway. The law guarantees a "chance to obtain justice," not "justice" itself. Trump will be let off by the republican confederates, but everyone in the country is on the jury and each person will decide for himself if trump is guilty before voting in the coming election.
There are some things in life that you must fight for- and adherence to the law and democracy are at the top of the list.
Without the law we an uncontrolled society.
Without democracy, we are slaves to a system that ignores the majority in favor of the minority.
Not acceptable.
Impeach Trump.
3
Mr Bruni, in his second last paragraph, has articulated what has always been my biggest fear, and I quote from the article:
"He’s untethered by scruple. He’s capable of anything. Maybe it’s not just a culture war that he’d whip up. Maybe it’s the real thing."
I'm afraid the psychopath is capable of starting a conflagration in the Middle East to get people to gather around the flag (and thus him). At least we know he won't attack Russia.
1
It's "the only move." But let's flay her alive for it anyway. With friends like this, Speaker Pelosi won't need the enemies already lined up to attack.
This article may make for attention-grabbing journalism, but it doesn’t make for Honorable thinking and living. As Kant stipulated, the Categorical Imperative for humanity is a perfect moral duty.
2
This country has reached a point where a significant number of people support the President, no matter what his unethical or illegal behaviors. This is only a reflection on who we have become as a country - and in my opinion - are no longer deserving of the legacy our Constitutional founders created. We are no longer America. We are no better than Russia. We are no better than any dictatorship.
Trump's base lives in a bubble. They have their right wing news and their right wing pundits who will continue to make a mockery of free press.
The Russians will continue to back Trump. He is the anarchy gift that just keeps on giving. And whether you believe the Russians were successful in 2016 or not, you would be hard pressed to deny that they will be participants in 2020.
And there is the smear power of the right. They can and will demonize every democrat and every democratic proposal. And honestly, democrats are their own worst enemy about selling their plans.
Impeachment or not, 2020 is going to be an ugly year for America.
1
Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "True peace is not the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice." I think this sums it all up, and all the politicking and clutching of pearls and writing of columns do not matter. Proceed.
1
The thrust of this column is overdone, rather hysterical, actually, making us sound like inevitable victims. We should be terrified, Bruni states, because so much Trump coverage will now descend on us, all the oxygen needed for attention to other issues will be consumed, nothing left except Trump, Trump, Trump. I like Roger Cohen's response better. He said, "I don't care." If you are addicted to the daily press, you'll be inundated with useless coverage of Trump. What good does it do you? Take control. Find an alternative to click on or go read a book.
6
Instead of citing the obvious risks, maybe you could talk about what a successful strategy would look like. Clearly one should expect dirty fighting and lawless warfare. This needs to be matched with unsentimental cunning. For too long the Democrats have tried playing by the so-called rules, which only they follow. Time to play for TV and keep talking about corruption, which is how Trump was able to beat Hillary.
3
These arguments are so obviously correct, one has to wonder what kind of people are running the Democratic party, that don't seem to appreciate them. The Senate will never convict, so this is actually worse than a waste of time--it's a publicity gift to Trump. So we can add the impeachment to his quiver for 2020, along with the decent economy, the incumbency, and the divided, foolhardy Democrats.
10
What’s the alternative? To just stand there and watch Trump shred the Constitution?
To watch him laugh at the rule of law, knowing that no one is willing to hold him responsible for his crimes, venality, and abuses of power?
The founders expected Congress to impeach a corrupt president. Our duty to the Constitution mandates that Congress take this action.
8
One for the too little, too late, bin:
Our mental health community abrogated their responsibility to the public by not changing the Goldwater Rule, and by not informing the public of Trump's easily diagnosable overlying dangerous disorder, in advance of his nomination. By not doing so, a machine was allowed to replace reality with a mirror image, describing every amoral and immoral compulsion of Trump's as the opposite.
Regardless how this resolves, a wide, crude pathway through checks and balances has be created for any future, smarter sociopathic president to trod.
The cult of Trump, which resembles the early days of the Good Germans, will come away having learned nothing.
To Frank Bruni: why are you terrified now? This has beens as predictable from 2016 as pain is from kidney stones. Trump operates at a predictably cumpulsive emotional deficit which requires him to consider morals as nuisances and enemies. Anyone with experience with malignant narcissists in power knows that the effects compound.
You're flat-out wrong about one thing: Andrew Yang offers a solution which is amenable to voters across the spectrum. I won't stump here, but I suggest that his world view is being broadly misunderstood and ignored by the left.
2
"Impeachment should terrify you because it would mean a continued, relentless, overwhelming focus on Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets. He would win in the short term — and all Americans would lose — because as long as most of the oxygen in Washington is consumed by the ghastly carnival of this barker, there’s too little left for the nation’s very real problems and for scrutiny of his substantive inadequacy in addressing them."
Love your columns, Frank, but can't hang with you on this one. If Trump skates on this latest escapade, all the other stuff -- the past illegalities, destruction of government function, gross misconduct, severe problems the country faces -- won't matter. Our system really will have failed to hold the most flagrantly, obviously corrupt and incompetent president accountable for perhaps the biggest, most obvious, most flagrant high crime and misdemeanor imaginable. If that's the case, our system will continue to be unwilling or unable to deal with all that other stuff anyway.
Drive at the rotten core, excise it and the rotted material around it, then get on with the healing. As long as the rot remains at the core, no healing will be possible.
2
Simple: No guts, no glory.
3
A very smart man, Noam Chomsky, has stated that the Republican Party is the most dangerous organization in the world.
No more needs to be said.
8
I like much of what Bruni writes but disagree on this column.
And suggesting the Dems try and focus on getting needed legislation thru is a joke, McConnell blocks everything that would help the average citizen.
And as evidenced by his actions as president, but also over his entire life, tump's a tyrant who believes no laws, norms or principles apply to him.
His massive ego and greed are all that count. And his core voters will never change, we all get that, though no one with any sense can comprehend it.
Regardless of the costs of trying to remove him, it's time and it's necessary to try with all our might.
He's destroying our constitution and nation. We have to try and take him down. Vote sanely too, of course. Both are the right thing to do given the circumstances.
3
We are merely entering the fact-finding stage; the vote to impeach will depend - for the Democrats, at least - on what the truth turns out to be. The impeachment proceedings that Pelosi just put into motion will put judicial muscle behind the subpoenas issued by the House, and painful fines and jail time await those in comtempt.
Trump's cretinous minons aren't where they are because of their personal courage, and compelling their testimony will help uncover the full extent of Trump's crimes. Pardons will not be available. Even Mr. Mnuchin's vast arrogance will fade when he's forced to contemplate the very real possibility of sitting in a cell.
What a nonsensical, inflammatory headline! I, for one, have been "terrified" since Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 election. I am thrilled that the impeachment process the Founders wisely incorporated in the Constitution is finally being used.
5
Just give it up. How do we find common ground with white supremacists? With someone who commits treason enlisting foreign governments to help in his election/re-election by dangling taxpayer dollars? With someone hell-bent on destroying the environment. Every time liberals have pulled "common-ground" out of their bags, they are the ones who have moved right, to the point where Obama made Nixon look like a raging left-winger. When has the reactionary right ever moved toward the center? "Common-ground" just enables them to take more intransigent positions knowing you won't fight them. It is really about time someone took them on. Way late in fact.
5
“Impeachment should terrify you because it would mean a continued, relentless, overwhelming focus on Trump’s lawlessness, antics, fictions and inane tweets.” Oh yes, that alternate timeline that isn’t describing the past four years. We can remove him from office and this cowardly op-ed writer wants to clam up upon fear about Trump being a headline. Straight-up garbage.
3
And in the shake up, we might get Pence, a born again bigot.
How did this happen?
1
When you act like prey, you become prey. I'm glad the Democrats have stopped their imitation of a Bacon Double McCheeseburger.
3
Frank,
Thanks for spelling out the problem.
Do you have any suggestions of possible solutions?
Since when did Frank Bruni become a garden-variety fear monger. Have some guts, Mr. Buni.
5
Frank, I'm surprised you didn't mention the fact that if impeached, we will be left with Pence--arguably, a fate worse than Trump in many ways. Further, Pence will most likely pardon Trump "for the good of the country" (Gag). I often wonder whether Republicans--who no longer care about the character of the guy in the Oval Office as long as it's "their guy"--support Trump blindly because they know that Pence is the worst that could happen to America. Just wondering...
2
So much pearl-clutching, Frank.
9
Doesn't terrify me or the rest of the country. Only timid east coast journalists who have enabled this disgusting man for the last three years with their timidity and cowardice.
The NYT. Why don't you just admit how good he's been for business, your business and profits? Quite a dilemma, isn't it? Pondering how much money you'll lose if he does.
6
With the democratic party in such a disarry - this looks like a desperate attack on a formidable political opponent. Making him an underdog - and we all love an underdog and hate a cry baby --
It is true, Trump has no filter - does what he thinks needs to be done, apparently is slow to go to war, has a scary political mind, and has a good economy, and a viciously faithful electorate.. more of a statesman than a politician.
He will have my vote, unless the Democrats impeach him or come up with some realistic challenge for the office..
They don't have a challenger - this is their only option..
6
The sanitised call transcript released by the White House is damning evidence.
The real one would undoubtedly have been worse.
4
The move to impeach should have happened some time ago. Terrified of removing a lawless foolish president and restoring the rule of law in the land? Terrified of having a tool of foreign powers thrown out? Terror about having a messiah of rightwing nuts dethroned along with his efforts to ruin the functions and structures of government build to serve the public? No, I'm terrified of having idiots sit on their thumbs while a childish chief idiot goes on ruining all that makes America the good land it is.
6
Come on Frank. Your argument is full of holes. It smacks of the appease Hitler argument. This jack will never stop. He will never consent to shutting up or promoting himself at the expense of what is left of American values. I'm sick and tired of folks saying "Don't impeach him. It will only be worse. He will win re-election and then we are stuck for four more years." OK. That is a possibility. What this really boils down to is a test of our republic and the rule of law. If the democrats roll over and play dead, then they are just as culpable. There is enough evidence here. Do it fast. Over by Thanksgiving. Make republicans make a stand. If they support the let the chips fall where they may. I'm tired of Adolph running rough shod over our republic. Make a stand. Don't be a wimp.
8
So Democrats should all be partisan cowards like you and throw out the constitiution. Real brave.
7
Trump is a loser and will be declared one as soon he is out. If Now York corrals him and sends him to spend a little time behind bars, all the more so will be thought as a loser... by everyone.
6
So he gets to hold us hostage? What a pathetic line of reasoning. Perhaps we should have let Hitler keep Poland. He could be dangerous.
10
...So the alternative is that he gets away with all of it, and America is condemned to another 4 years of this utter criminal madness? Nice bit of positioning, America. What do you do next, declare war on yourself and lose?
When Trump is eventually out of office, he's got a lawsuit per day for the next decade. His ability to polarize anything is only going to work while the money is being paid to the troll factories.
There's a longstanding pattern here - Every time America goes against the basic principles of the Constitution, it lands on its butt in the most unambiguous ways. Trump is by definition anti-Constitution. Everything from the "election" onwards has been fake, and anti-democracy on just about all levels. He's the antithesis of the Constitution.
Frankly, if it comes to a comparison of intelligence and stronger concepts between someone like Ben Franklin and the self-proclaimed "great minds" of today, I think Franklin would win with ease. The Constitution is far more important and far more valuable to America than a passing windbag like Trump. If it says he should be impeached, impeach him.
5
Dog pees on rug. Multiple times.
Each time, Human says to Dog: “This is outrageous, and a violation of our norms.” Does nothing further.
Without meaningful correction, that rug is doomed. And we all know it.
13
either we live in a country with the rule of law or we don't.
when opening an impeachment investigation results in a spew of commentary about politics rather than the law, i'd say we're already halfway down the latter unholy path to hell.
10
I read a fascinating book about the life of Saddam Hussein. In 1979 he finally became dictator-for-life by purging Iraqi parliament and the Baath party of all perceived or likely opponents. There is even a blurry video showing Saddam brutalizing and terrorizing his own parliament into submission (68 members were arrested and many executed). What is striking about this old video is the atmosphere of total submission and abject terror by parliament against this single man. I have always wondered if Iraqi history would have been different if parliament had stood up earlier and had used its powers to strip Saddam of his role when he was clearly angling to become a brutal dictator.
I'm not saying that the USA is like Iraq in the 1970s, but any further inaction by congress would have enabled the current occupant of the White House to further consolidate his power, make evidence of his crimes disappear and eventually embolden him to take ever more dramatic steps to erode and destroy the fabric of Democracy.
So damn the consequences - this had to be done. For democracy's sake.
8
I am not terrified. There is no chance of reconciliation with the Trumpers. The country already has been damaged beyond repair.
Congress needs to do the right thing and the heck with the rest.
The crotch grabbing, lying, insulter and persecutor in chief deserves nothing less than a complete rebuke and eventual removal from office.
Thanks for the mess Donald.
10
So it's "damned if you do; and damned if you don't," eh? Neither two more nor four more years of a Trump presidency will gain us the improved infrastructure, health insurance, or education that were promised. Now, at the end of our rope, we will be damned if we don't take the desperate measures that these desperate times require. And, if impeachment fails, there is the next desperate measure: the ballot box. Then the courts. Then whatever means it takes to overcome the attuned of relentless failure. We can't give up.
2
I'm tired of the Democrats running scared. I'm tired of them taking the "safe" position instead of the strong and righteous position. When Beto O'Rourke said "hell yes, we're taking away weapons of war" instead of doing the usual walking on egg-shells Democrats have been cowed into doing, the cheers from the audience were deafening. FINALLY! Someone who said something sensible and indisputable instead of equivocating. When Elizabeth Warren talks about getting to the root of systemic corruption and the revolving door between government and lobbyists for big industries, she is saying exactly what everyone else is thinking and without apology. For heaven's sake, let's stop threading the needle and actually say what we mean and mean what we say!
Nancy Pelosi has finally come to her senses in pushing for impeachment. We cannot allow Trump and his Administration's lawlessness and unethical practices to go unchallenged. His unstable and possibly treasonous behavior is exactly why the Democrats must do what is necessary to keep him in check.
And perhaps the biggest reason of all to pursue impeachment regardless of what the Senate does? To bring out the voter base in droves in November 2020. If the Congress doesn't care Trump is breaking the law, why should voters care to vote? We vote politicians into office to represent US, not to play political games that ultimately will destroy our democracy.
8
I agree with Mr. Bruni, in that America is truly caught between the proverbial Rock and a Hard place. The unfortunate situation, however, is that not acting may be worse and waiting for the 2020 elections may not be enough. Unfortunately, at this point it is damned if you damned if you don't. The miracle that this country needs is that Trump under the pressure of impeachment proceedings resign. Unfortunately that is not going to happen because he thrives on the chaos and knows that the Senate will acquit him and so give him more power at election. We(collectively as a nation) elected him and now we, once again collectively, are unwilling to face the consequences and push all our representatives to do the right thing and get rid of him. Maybe we, as a nation need this chaos in the same manner that we relentlessly pursue our narcissistic needs with selfies and complacency instead of unity and work to achieve what we are capable of doing.
2
Personally I hope it passes the House and the Senate fights like crazy and make complete asses of themselves. I don't want to see President Pence. Just weaken this loathsome man enough that he loses in 2020 and takes as many republicons down with him as possible (including those up in 2022).
10
Mr. Bruni has taken us to the implications of choice.
Is it one of only one option? If so then is Hobson's Choice appropriate?
Is it one of two equally unpleasant alternatives? If so the is the dilemma described by Morton's Fork appropriate?
Is it one of the inability to make one rational choice over another? If so then is it the paradox described in Burdian's Ass, which satarizes Jean Burdian's philosophy of moral determinism? (The animal will die for lack of ability to make a rational choice, it's either water or hay but not both.)
Paradigms from sports may help, Jean Paul Satre was a futbol goalie but I don't recall any help from on this.
However, in Minnesota, in response to speculation the outcome of an upcoming game, the curt repsonse is, "That is why they drop the puck."
2
It is better to just let your kids have dessert first, shave the cat, and drink out of the toilet, because if you don’t, they’ll probably make a fuss. It may not be just, or wise, but it’s easy, and eventually they’ll grow up and move out anyways.
6
Thank you, Frank, for the warning, but that Trump will do and say ANYTHING to keep himself in power is exactly why we must fight him with a careful impeachment detailing the facts. If the Republicans still want him, then that is the best reason to also vote them out of office as it will show them to be the party of liars and cheats no matter what is the right thing to do; which is what is good for the country. And Trump clearly never was and never will be. As that little (wonderful) girl from Sweden would say, "How Dare You!"
8
You are right. It's an intentional trap.
5
I don't find it terrifying. Not impeaching him is much worse. And how do you envision "worse"? If Congress and voters can't follow their duties as citizens and legislators, rather than prioritizing staying in office and affirming their tribe, then Congress is a sham and elections are futile.
6
Maybe a Trump impeachment should terrify me, but that's not what it does.
Instead it infuriates me. Why couldn't the Republican Party, recognise the patently obvious fact that Mr. Trump was: unfit for office, a bad-faith actor, and a liar? Why did they still choose him as their nominee in 2016? Why did the Republican Party have to be such a party of bad-faith actors? Why did the Conservative movement, and America's Right, be of such bad faith and so hungry for power?
It saddens and disappoints me. I honestly expected more (better?) of the American people. I honestly expected better of the Democratic candidate in 2016. This impeachment is not something anyone wanted.
I lament: Why, oh, why, couldn't Mr. Trump be a man of good character?
Why couldn't Mr. Trump have taken the office he now holds seriously?
Why must he surround himself with such an array of duds, nitwits, incompetents, and wrongdoers?
Why must America suffer because, one man, in particular, has such an overwhelming and overpowering contempt for his predecessor?
Why must that man be abetted and empowered by an array of elected officials that are so cowardly, and beholden to corporations?
Terrified is definitely _not_ what I am right now. What I am right now, is worried about the future existence of democracy in the United States of America.
8
Bruni somehow manages to miss the point that every time Tubby Trump receives the thrill of "getting away with it", as sociopaths I have known in my professional life put it, he is emboldened to try another attack on the law, the Constitution, and basic decency.
Trump cannot stop himself. He needs outside forces to restrain his behavior. It is past time to apply the brakes to the run away train that is his administration.
There. Is. No. Alternative. Action.
8
I'm much more terrified of not impeaching Trump, than impeaching him. I'm so much more terrified of continuing to normalize his corrupt and treasonous behavior. We simply can't allow our country to continue down this road.
We have a lot of clean up to do after Trump is gone. Trump was a symptom, not a cause, but he's a symptom worth treating while we work on the underlying disease that infests our political culture.
7
Trump's base will vote for him no matter what, so taking them into consideration is useless. There are many investigations going on now and I believe when more information about his misdeeds (to put it mildly) come to light, more and more people will see what a disgusting and dangerous person he is. Maybe even some Republicans.
9
How many Republican senators have abandoned their respect for the law in deference to a president who demands their respect for his ego? Do enough Republicans privately loath him to revive their respect for the law if their kids' bedroom doors stay shut?
3
Trump terrifies me. An investigation does not.
It's not so much his criminal actions as his cluelessness.
He is unclear on what he has done. He cannot understand his job, his mistakes, his improper, unreasonable behavior. And he is unable to do what needs to be done on any level.
Send him back to Mar-A-Lago. Send him back to the golf course where he can lie and cheat and win to his heart's content.
4
So, we should do nothing as he attempts to improperly influence the next election, which would ensure a Trump second term anyway? And we shouldn't care about corruption? Embrace the void, I suppose. At what point will my fellow Democrats grow a spine and understand that they need to actually fight--not fight dirty, just fight at all. Isn't it better to have Pelosi on TV every night instead of AOC? (Newsflash, Franky: Trump is already on TV all the time and would be with or without this.)
If they didn't impeach him for this, I would have voted for Trump because without an actual OPPOSITION party, there's nothing left to vote for except dictatorship. I know you hedged a lot in there, Frank, but your lack of resolve is painful given all your articles about how terrible Trump is. When confronted with an obvious crime, your answer is to whimper in the corner and worry. And your advice to America is: kiss oblivion on its puckered, tanning-bed-fried lips. No thanks!
4
Yet nothing in this article about what he is doing and will do to the environment.
2
I've been terrified since November, 2016.
3
This will sink Susan Collins, since she loses either way she tries to duck. So that’s a great outcome.
5
What is never addressed in any of these analyses is the sickness that permeates approximately 40% of our population. A sickness that excuses, justifies, follows, supports and cheers on this truly loathsome and despicable creature. But for that, he would have been impeached a long time ago, and likely never even been nominated. That is what is truly terrifying.
Shame on us, and what we have become as a country and as a people.
4
Frank, Democrats should stop being "terrified" and just do the right thing -- impeach a corrupt president.
5
Americans just went through 2 years of every Democrat in America telling us why Trump should be impeached and that once Mueller's report dropped it would offer the final proof needed to move forward.
The report dropped, people were prosecuted, but there wasn't compelling evidence to impeach and the 2 years of yelling resulting in a exasperated base of liberals. The conservatives had a rallying cry of "we told you so" and "stop wasting everyone's time".
Much like Princess Di jokes surfacing two months after her car accident - all of this just seems like "too soon".
By pushing hard with this and failing to remove the president (which is the inevitable end result) they will have spent 4 years yelling and screaming about trying to remove a president.
Republicans were annoying about Obama, the birther movement was ridiculous. But by this time in his first term there we're continuing calls from the House and Senate for his removal. Yes there were still right wing nutballs yelling he was from Kenya, but they weren't congresspeople.
The government is split and one side is trying to remove the president from office and so you'll have a partisan vote and a partisan result and the end result is that the Democrats will forever be known the party who wants to remove the president (people have already forgotten what they stand for). Healthcare for all...what's that?
The party that lost its identity because of one man.
5
Wrong. Trump got himself elected on the basis of tapping into raw emotions. The only way to get rid of him is to mobilize an even greater reservoir of raw emotions.
Those who want to "play it safe" are: 1) either fooling themselves, and/or 2) afraid that the tiger of truly popular sentiment once unleashed will go way beyond changing the occupancy of the White House. It's not accidental that Trump now regularly inveighs against the specter of socialism.
We live in a world that is becoming just as partisan as the world in the lead up to the American Civil War and to pretend otherwise is precisely what made that war (with Union Generals and even a president that initially lacked resolve) so catastrophically bloody. Let's not make the same mistake a second time around.
4
Is Mr. Bruni suggesting that it's unwise to impeach Mr. Trump because he only gets more powerful the more he's challenged? It's his political support that grows the more he's challenged. Normally mild-mannered Middle America is the real 'Incredible Hulk' in this story; look out left!
1
Impeachment is the lesser of two evils. The greater and more terrifying is permitting the trajectory of this administration to continue.
4
Do the right thing and I think it will work out. Trump is guilty of a multitude of impeachable offenses. If his supporters cannot see the obvious it is not up to the rest of us to turn a blind eye to those offenses. We MUST proceed. To paraphrase a famous quote "It is better to fight and lose than to never fight at all". The soul of this country is on the line. I am an atheist. Still I say "GOD BLESS AMERICA".
4
You know, I don’t find this kind of talk helpful, “Bringing the country together afterward would call for more than a talented politician; it would demand a miracle worker. None of the Democratic presidential candidates qualify.” Every single Democratic candidate is a breath of fresh air next to Trump. I think once he’s gone, no matter how long it takes, things will vastly improve. He is toxic.
7
Democrats have been talking about impeachment since before Trump was even inaugurated. Because of this, most Americans outside blue bubbles are simply yawning about the latest "smoking gun."
6
Impeachment is absolutely the right thing to do. Of course i don't expect the republicans to suddenly grow backbones and stand up for what is right. However, Moscow Mitch has been working hard to prevent any worthwhile bills from the house being brought up for debate so perhaps this might prevent more judges from being appointed. Personally, i am hoping all the impeachment talk and action drives trump to the point where he becomes so mad even his crazy supporters realize he has lost the plot.
2
I don't mind dancing with the Devil as long as i don't see any mushroom clouds in the distance. So let's dance, all the way to the moon and back.. Look at history. In the long run, the good wins. If it didn't, we'd would not even be looking at our Constitution. There wouldn't be any. So dance, Frank, dance. One more battle. There will always be one more.
2
The impeachment proceedings play into Trump’s hand. Meanwhile the following will not be properly addressed in the campaign:
Climate change
Gun control re: assault weapons
Health care for all
Responsible immigration policy
Income inequity
Feel free to add to the list
3
It's a do-or-die moment and we must rise to the occasion.
I refuse to be terrified.
4
I agree. We need to vote him out and guarantee our constitution.
3
Very well put. I’m worried this will galvanize Trump supporters
3
Nothing has been done regarding infrastructure or healthcare and will NOT be done with Trump in the White House. He will continue to flout the Constitution, justice, the country for his own personal gain, because he thinks he is master at "the deal". There is no point in waiting him out. It's time for impeachment proceedings; it's time for public outrage, and the only way to get it is to bombard the news with proof through hearings. Put those who flout Congress in contempt. Make them testify or throw them in jail.
7
We have over a year of Trump on the loose. Does anyone think he will sit quietly till then? This Ukraine issue will be overshadowed by far worse behavior between now and the election.
Not only that, it's not a one-issue impeachment...there's so much else to cover. If you think the Mueller Report took a long time, you ain't seen nothin' yet! The senate vote probably won't even come up before next November rolls around.
Which leads me to a question. What happens if/when he gets voted out and the impeachment process is still ongoing? Does it just get dropped, handed over to the feds to prosecute, what?
2
"Arguably, it’s the only move, at least in terms of fidelity to the Constitution and to basic decency. "
There you go again. Parroting the radical base. The Dem radical base.
Each Party always believes that it alone has the sole responsibility of "upholding Democracy adn the Constitution" by impeaaching "the enemy."
How'd that work out for the GOP in the 90s?
All that the Dems are doing is solidifying the GOP base and permitting independents to be disgusted more by the lack of Dem substance on the issues, than being shocked by Trump's behavior.
And are you ready for revealing all of a President's phone calls from now on from an endless supply of "whistleblowers"?
And the "whistelblower" statute has little to do with impeachment anyway.
What a waste of time. Thanks, Speaker Pelosi.
You can now join Newt in the dustbin of history.
4
"Bringing the country together afterward would call for more than a talented politician; it would demand a miracle worker. None of the Democratic presidential candidates qualify."
So, you're pulling a Maureen Dowd? Her venomous vitriol did a great deal to help defeat Hillary Clinton and now you're doing the same thing by declaring all Democrats unfit for the job!
Thanks a lot!
5
Mr. Bruni: Not good arguments against impeachment, sir. You-all have nothing to fear except of yourselves backing off from this noble task of trying to excise a virulent cancer from your country. The act of impeachment will define and clarify to the citizenry the many kinds of chicanery trump has been up to during his term destructor-in-chief.
If properly executed, that list will make it easier for all to see him in his perverse, self-declared glory. Perhaps then some of his supporters will begin to realize that have been sold a bill of not good goods. And good will prevail.
5
Everyone is so focused on Trump. As if getting rid of him will, presto, get rid of the problem and put Humpty Dumpty back together again. This country is divided. Getting rid of Trump isn't going to remedy that. This problem is not going away.
23
The concern that I have is that, because of Trump districts won by Dems, it is possible that the House won’t vote for impeachment which would be a flop. Perhaps censure is a better first step and pushing subpoenas for the tax returns should be pushed to SCOTUS so a no vote would demonstrate how deeply damaged the Court is. Nevertheless Speaker Pelosi made a direct succinct and orderly case and has generally been disciplined unlike Gingrich in 1998.
1
The argument about politicians not getting anything done if we go into an impeachment process is poor. Our politicians don't do anything ... nothing about the violence (not just the mass shootings either when thousands more die from gunshot wounds every year); nothing about the cost of health care (Obamacare was just trying to find another way to pay for it); nothing about the fact that it costs millions of dollars to run for political office, ensuring that politicians are beholden to the wealthy; nothing (as Bruni says) about the infrastructure; nothing about the economic imbalance between rich and poor; nothing about our unending wars in the Middle East; NOTHING. Let the Democrats have their fun - it's pay back time for the Republicans impeaching Clinton. I don't see any of our politicians ever affecting any kind of real change. National politics is all about the wealthy helping the wealthy.
10
@Jamal: if most business people ran their operations the way The Trump Organization is run, we'd have no businesses. He has no board to keep him in check in the private sector. In the public sector the Dems are finally stepping up to the job.
10
Mr. Bruni suggests that undertaking the onerous process of impeachment will be unavoidably disastrous, and that the normal processes and products of government will be disrupted. It hardly needs saying we have seen too little of those processes and products for 2½ years.
Everything to do with Trump is risky. But upholding and fortifying the Constitution by governing according to its precepts has always been regarded by Americans as worth any risk. Mr. Bruni’s statement, that limiting Trump’s time in the presidency, via loss of an election (not a certainty) is more important than “any small cluster of sentences written centuries ago”, is shocking. It prescribes we nullify, through disuse, the Constitution’s power to correct the very menace Trump presents to the nation.
8
These days everything out of Washington terrifies me.
I have not seen wisdom there for a long time.
5
There is a scenario where the voters across the spectrum of Trump support simply say enough. His accomplishments are meager and the uncertainties too great. He clears the Senate vote for impeachment next year, but loses the 2020 election against a blue wave that takes control of all 3 legislative branches.
That is as likely as Trump strikes back and the Republicans double down their support for trade war in China, real war in Iran, more missiles from North Korea, and more love with the former Soviet Union lead by former KGB who now work with Trump more closely than ever.
Average out the 2 scenarios and you get more bluster, bashing, strident pleas with no real change, no real legislation, and the Supreme Court picking the next president out of a tie election. Kavanaugh's revenge on the Democratic hit job brings on 4 more years of our beloved leader.
1
At this point, I'm not afraid of what hypothetical American citizens are going to think about this new development, or live in fear that Trump will be reelected through Democratic action. Ever since we stepped through the looking glass in 2016, we have been subjected to all manner of toxic practices. Accountability to all of America (not just a base), its laws and norms should still hold some meaning. This president needs to be held accountable for his actions, his feet held to the fire whenever possible, and if the American people still think that Trump is the best candidate in 2020 despite everything we know, so be it, as tragic as that will be for our country and all that it once stood for.
14
I believe that in trying times it always is best to take the moral high ground, the people may not like you they may not vote for you but they will know in their hearts you were right. They will respect you in the end, and then you will live another day.
Do the right thing for your country and leave the results in a hands of loving god. Politics of always 'angling for the results' are okay sometimes; this is Monty that time; this a time to stand for decency in the local office.
Go Nancy Pelosi for making a tough call!
10
Yep, in the end it's what history remembers, proven again and again to be more important than how you are perceived right now.
You've got to be kidding even considering going along with the status quo to get along.
Many of us believe that we must do what is right.
I know that sounds quaint to the rest.
12
In case anyone wasn't paying attention, this exactly how Trump runs the Trump Organization. Just ask any vendor or subcontractor who's ever done business with him. Or all those Trump University students who the President paid off before the election. The difference is that the Trump Organization is a privately held entity and the United States very much is not.
I would like to think that this will put to rest the notion that we need business people to run the country.
12
I have been against impeachment until now for the reasons Mr. Bruni cites — that it would result in Mr. Trump’s re-election. Now, whether by his intention or not, however, Mr. Trump seems to have crossed a line that requires Congress to act. And since he has refused to cooperate with congressional investigations, the House is left virtually no choice other than to proceed with impeachment hearings.
I reflect back on Watergate. At this stage, virtually no Republican nor the electorate was supportive of impeachment. But by the time the Senate and House committees completed their work, public opinion had swung, and Barry Goldwater was telling Richard Nixon that he had lost the support of his party.
Let us pray we find leaders like Sam Ervin, Howard Baker, Peter Rodino, and Barbara Jordan. I remember the pain on the faces of those Republicans on the Judiciary Committee as they voted to place the law above their own party’s leader. It made me proud to be an American to watch the Congress’ courage.
15
Different time my friend; different time and country. Keep dreaming.
4
It is unfortunate that President Trump will not learn statesmanship from this. he will not learn if not convicted. the impeachment means little to him other than victim hood or exoneration. it will also mean nothing to his ardent base who would, like Jim Jones's followers, go wherever he is leading.
The concerning thing to me is the cadre of Republican Congressional loyalists who are willing to sell the soul of the country to a cult of personality. who presumably had some Congressional education in Robert's rules of order and the Constitution (given that they swore to uphold it).
Bill Clinton's 'it depends on what your definition of is is' was shameful. His conduct devalued the office. He did not, however, offer to sell the country to a foreign state to remain in office. his behaviour pales to Trump's current and past.
It is hard to imagine what checks and balances would be used for the most ardent Republican loyalists should there be no disapprobation to Trump's behaviour. We will stop being a country of laws and instead be a free wheeling, anything goes that you can get away with and find staff to support.
our fragile experiment in rule will truly have gone astray.
2
Not sure I agree with this logic... the Trump media circus would have continued through 2020, even if there was no impeachment... and I don't see impeachment swaying voters to Trump's side because people either love him or hate him and that's not going to change... I feel the Dems have actually liberated themselves from politics because they are focused on simply doing the right thing, whether it affects the next election or not. I think our Constitution demanded that they exercise this kind of check on runaway power in another branch of government. I think history will judge it as the right thing.
14
And now we will suffer endless casuistries and indignities, quibbles and dribbles while a contemptible man gets away with being incompetent and contemptible, writ large on the world stage. Everyone in our government will be on an frenzied Easter egg hunt for the one magic key word that will make him require or prevent his legal conviction for a crime or misdemeanor. Let us stop climate change, our broken healthcare system, disparities of income and access to education, asylum seekers, divided families, political divisiveness. All that will wait; we are after all the United States. Surely the world will wait while we straighten out our housekeeping. This is important!
4
Unfortunately there is no alternatives to impeachment. If you don't hold trump accountable for his crimes he will just keep committing more of them -
Family business defrauded millions from people
Trump university defrauded students
Trump charity used to bribe politicians and slush fund for the family
He will not stop until someone stops him.
10
@Citizen You forgot "Forced US military and foreign world leaders to patronize his failing hotels and golf resorts"
Besides the fact that impeachment is the right thing to do when a president is breaking the law, this is also a fight worth fighting so that voters in states with Republican senators can see exactly where those senators stand on upholding the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law.
15
I agree with you Bruni. We should give him 4 more years after which many of the 60% will be convinced he is bad for our country.
We haven't realized that yet even those 60% of his non-supporters.
1
Frank, I read you religiously and agree with you at least 98 percent of the time, but this is not one of those times. Can you imagine the acts Trump would believe he has the license to take, the crimes he would be emboldened to commit, if he were allowed to get away with this? The cost of inaction, to principle and the Constitution, would far outweigh whatever the consequences are of Congress fulfilling its constitutional duty. Yes, it’s frightening to imagine the retaliatory actions Trump is capable of. But there is only one right path here.
18
The only way to demonstrate to ourselves and the world that we reject Trump and Trumpism is to soundly vote him out of office in 2020. Impeachment will allow a significant portion of our fellow citizens to conclude that Trump was removed unfairly and for partisan reasons. Our congressional representatives are supposed to do what is right. But what is “right” does not automatically come from faithfully following the law or Constitution. Doing what is right involves reasoned, thoughtful consideration of the consequences of one’s actions. I, too, am fearful of the attempt tp impeach Trump.
2
Wow, that was brilliant. So insightful. And so disheartening. Great work.
6
In light of the House pursuit of justice under our Constitution, we must remind ourselves of a famous quotation from Winston Churchill: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".
8
Jefiz
The quote was not Churchill’s. It was FDR during the Depression of the 1930s
@Jefflz Didn't Franklin Roosevelt say that?
Well this is indeed terrifying, I believe we are fighting for the preservation of the republic.
And you can’t just wait for a sure thing to come along in order to start fighting for the republic, we have to fight for it even though things are very uncertain.
25
At this point the democrats have no choice but to conduct an impeachment inquiry if the want to be faithful to the Constitution. Even if there were no inquiry, McConnell and Trump will make sure that nothing is done by this Congress
10
Mr Bruno, usually a big fan of your work-craft, but this was not your best work.
Yelling fire in a theatre is not legally protected speech and this piece, as I read it, is heading in that direction.
9
This all may be true. Impeachment will absolutely be divisive. But what’s the other alternative? Turn the other way and don’t even attempt to restrain Trump? Doing that is the same as saying it’s ok. It’s not ok.
24
Right on target! I could not agree more. I cannot bear another episode of this unending circus. All the focus that Trump craves, to the detriment of elections.
Focus on removing him through the vote. Trump is removed through impeachment and the whole apparatus still lays intact. Electoral politics are more important than anything now. And if he cannot be removed through the vote, there will undoubtedly be more occasions for impeachment after 2020. He's to compulsive to change his ways.
3
Yes, i'm terrified by impeachment as the outcome is very likely to be in Trump's favor, facts not withstanding. But I'm more terrified by non-impeachment as that could potentially mean the end of our Democracy. If Trump ends up winning a second term, then maybe Trump really does represent some majority of America, and we are collectively getting what we deserve.
7
Trump is well versed in the firehose method of obfuscation, as in a court trial where some small piece of evidence is requested, and the opposing side replies with 10 pallets of boxed papers.
He and his henchmen have been polluting the zeitgeist with so many crazy tweets and announcements since before the election, told so many thousands of lies about virtually any factual matter that comes up, and continue to trash the rule of law in plain sight, ignoring subpoenas and established guidelines for processes to enable oversight, that the public is now punchdrunk and weary from the struggle to make sense of it all.
That does not mean the public will not welcome a resolution, to have our elected officials demonstrate that they DO know what constitutes unacceptable behavior from our leaders. Give the public a little credit, allow professional investigators to lay out the facts,
give prosecutors some room to work during questioning, and take the personal grandstanding out of the show.
This impeachment hearing should be serious, focused entirely on the actions of this one man and his treatment of our Constitution and the Office of the President, two things we can all agree are larger than our Reality Show President and more important than his feelings.
5
A "wisdom" which looks the other way in the face of bald injustice is completely at odds with my understanding of the word. Self preservation, or perhaps craftiness, can surely argue against insisting on justice. Wisdom cannot, though the wise are surely aware that doing the right thing seldom comes without costs.
11
This editorial assumes that the Russians and Congressional Republicans do not conclude that Trump has outlived his usefulness and decide to put someone else in his place. They might offer Trump a hefty cash buy out to return to private life, and pressured by investigations into the source of its money, the Trump Organization might be on shaky enough ground financially to accept it.
3
I read this op-ed today, and I wonder where Mr. Bruni is going with this. I have a question.
How, excluding Mr. Trump's portraying himself as the persecuted martyr, is the set of outcomes you describe here materially different from what they would have been were Mr. Trump _not_ impeached?
Mr. Bruni offers the thesis that the just thing is not necessarily the wise thing in this case, but then says it is 'not the wrong move'. How could the two statements be simultaneously true?
Again, Mr. Bruni argues that this process, to which Mr. Trump is about to be subject, will be a "melodrama ... that would overshadow everything else." Also, "[M]any Americans' estrangement from Washington — their cynicism about its ability to improve their lives even a whit — would intensify."
But how much more intensified would that cynicism and estrangement be, compared to the effects of more than 30 years of being told that "Government is the problem, not the solution"?
Regarding your sentence, "Let the healing begin!" are you recommending that this cup should pass by in the interest of peace? Peace is more than just the absence of war: peace is the absence of the conditions that precipitate war, and the presence of the conditions that promote peace. So how is doing nothing now, going to provide for the conditions for peace?
10
Don’t be so afraid of an impeachment process- we will survive it and emerge stronger for itit is a necessary corrective. For the life of me, I cannot think of one reason - except fear of the Republican Senate led by Moscow Mitch- why anyone would not consider impeachment and, I hope, removal of this dangerous man from office. His administration is a nightmare.Trumpery has not benefited our country at all - both Nixon and Clinton enjoyed popular support and He has exacerbated our intractable difficulties and created a host of new problems. The truth will set us free.
12
Trump has already started sewing the seeds of civil war and the illegitimacy of the election if he loses. Impeachment just rallies the troops.
One other possibility: There is the reality that almost no one raises their child to be like Trump. Children get punished for that kind of behavior. Maybe a miracle will happen and that reality will dawn on the angry mob.
3
the shortest distance to virtue and redemption is not a straight line but direct action.
the republicans got where they are today by playing hardball. impeach a president for canoodling an intern? blocking a president's right to appoint a supreme court justice? gerrymandering their way into a structural majority?
democrats lose because they lie down in the middle of the road and whimper. tlme to stand up and get moving.
24
Trump does not have the self-discipline and courage to undergo an impeachment process without a major meltdown that reveals to everyone his underlying instability and unfitness.
The House should conduct a slow and methodical investigation of the vast array of reasons why Trump merits removal from office. That investigation can be expected uncover the complicity of Senate Republicans, some of whom (e.g. #MoscowMitch) could even be asked to recuse themselves in an impeachment trial.
This process will highlight, even to an apathetic public, the full scope of Trump's malfeasance and illegitimacy in a way that is not otherwise possible. It may also preoccupy and distract the White House from doing further damage to our country. If in the end the Senate fails to convict, the drama will not be an exoneration of Trump, but a self-revelation by Senate Republicans that they, too, deserve to be removed from office.
8
@Elliot Trumps instability and unfitness has been blatantly, painfully obvious for years. 65 million Americans thought he was their savior in the face of those clear facts. Truth is no kind of weapon against that sort of armor.
While I don't know what the out come of impeachment will be, I suspect it is time that it's a necessity. Even without impeachment we already have all Trump all the time to the degree it drowns everything else out in the press and news and prevents happening under Moscow Mitch in congress. While Trump supporters would see impeachment as more of the same, if he isn't impeached it'll be more of the same now with Trump crying witch hunt and nothing real getting done beyond Trump requesting foreign powers to help get him re-elected anyway.
10
Frank, you wrote: "[Clinton] was a very different president accused of very different offenses at a very different time."
Duuuhuu. . .
Democrats seemed to learn the wrong lesson from that impeachment--that the impeaching party will be punished.
In Clinton's case, though, his punishment--potential removal from office--wasn't proportional to the crime--lying about a consensual affair. His lie also wasn't really an abuse of his presidential power. Yet Republicans were outraged (disproportionally) and determined (disproportionally) with impeaching him anyway.
It's the same problem many people have with Al Franken being asked to resign by his fellow Senator, then other Senators piling on before an investigation could be completed. His punishment--no longer Senator--wasn't proportional to the crime of what now? Some physical movements disproportionately misinterpreted by a few females, physical movements that were most likely inadvertent on Franken's part. In reporting the incidents the females exposed themselves as disproportionately easy to offend.
If the Democrats had never decided to start an impeachment inquiry, they would have essentially destroyed the future capacity of Congress to ever impeach anyone ever again. They have a mountain of reasons against Trump. Clinton was pebble. Nixon was hill. Proportionality says we have to impeach Trump to save Congress' future.
And if Senate Republicans refuse to see the mountain, then hopefully they will get decimated in 2020.
16
Frank, I am so disappointed in some of the characterizations here including "through the permanent hysteria of House Democrats under Trump"--don't you mean the well-based concern for Trump's numerous violations of the Constitution and his attempt to secure foreign help in elections? As for the legislative agenda you propose, the Dems in the past 9 months have based substantive legislation--almost all of which is sitting on Moscow Mitch's desk.
Yes, the Congress needs to start using its contempt powers and immediately hold recalcitrant witnesses in contempt and jail and fine them.
14
Congress also has the power to arrest and jail recalcitrants but is so cowed I fear it is all lost already
$5's UN speech also gave that chamber a chill.
The expressive glance on China's rep face was telling.
China will fight back.
$5 has many battles...
5
Frank
After reading the transcript. there is one and only conclusion All America can reach:
This President made a concerted effort to 'rig' the next election
This President subverted the democratic process in his proven attempts to 'rig' the 2020 election.
Donald Trump acts as a foreign power within our country. He is unfit for the office of president of the United States.
Donald Trump is far more dangerous than the Russian government. He is operating from within the highest office in the land.
The House will move to impeach. If the Senate fails to indict, decent people who value a democratic government will act.
We will as a people do the right thing. This president will be voted out of office.
15
@miriam summ
If only Joe Biden had resisted another egotistical 3rd - or is it 4th - run for the presidency.
He won't be the nominee, but this impeachment inquiry might just be the shove many GOP deplorables need to show up on Nov. 3, 2020 to vote again for the criminal-in-chief Putin stooge Donald Trump.
1
FDR said it: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Trump thrives on fear. He breeds it, he breathes it, he needs it. Let's not give in to fear. Let's trump fear, and trump trump.
13
Yeah, except nothing constructive (like infrastructure) was ever going to happen under Trump anyway. He's a wrecking ball, pure and simple. His presidency represents GOP obstructionism on acid - nothing positive is going to happen for America while he remains in office, abusing the powers of the presidency. Never was going, never will. His entire goal is to destroy the mechanisms and traditions of American government, and he has no real legislative agenda. So let's not wring our hands about lost opportunities.
Also, we have no idea how insidious and criminal his re-election strategy will ultimately become. It might be an even bigger mistake to assume that the 2020 sections will look anything like a clean, honest, level playing field. At least by holding hearings, and hopefully putting an impeachment vote on record, the Democrats will have used the 2018 results for some concrete good, in defense of the republic.
As you say: there is no alternative. The Democrats have stood up for the Constitution, and Republicans have an opportunity to join them.
12
@Joe S.
Aside from media appearances, nothing has been done to put impeachment on the record.
Nadler's committee wouldn't even say on the record to a judge that their hearings are impeachment related. It was all couched in "investigation" to determine if an impeachment inquiry is necessary.
Impeachment inquiries need a House vote to start for real, like they did with Clinton. You can't just hold a press conference and be on your way. A vote on the matter isn't even scheduled.
This is nothing but a media circus, with nothing on the record. They want to impeach and not impeach at the same time, because they know taking a clear stand will cost them votes. It's Brexit-style cowardice.
My dear, fairly-to-well privileged fellow early Gen-Xer (or, worse, late-"Boomer"), Mr. Bruni:
Impeachment is about accountability, above all else. Whether this president-for-profit is held accountable by conviction in the Senate, or whether the senators who refused to convict are held accountable at re-election time, we must stop being fearful and hold our leaders accountable to the law.
What was it that FDR said about "fear?"
If this is not the prime exemplar in our nation's history for presidential impeachment proceedings, what is the point of having this remedy? If not now, when? Is there any point whatsoever to impeachment?
I welcome impeachment; I'm already "terrified" and disheartened, disillusioned, so bring it on. "Status-Quo" Joe's nomination concerns me more than impeachment without conviction. As indeed, there will be four more extraordinarily dreadful, depressing, dangerous years if that is the case; may I be humbly chastened otherwise.
More importantly, which candidate will motivate voters in record numbers? Numbers the Right justly fears, and for which it has worked for decades to suppress and win typically marginal elections, the kind they have engineered and that the Democratic establishment has spinelessly, corruptly enabled by shirking their responsibilities. Might that be the candidate who has not wavered in his message for decades, from whom the other candidates espousing some form of progressive rhetoric are taking their talking points?
3
As inconvenient as it might be portrayed, there is no moral alternative...this has to be done. And, it comes a long time after it should have been done. The “smoking gun” is laying in the armory among all the others. It might cost democrats votes. It shouldn’t, but, given where we are and what we’re dealing with, it might. The right thing is in opposition to the most expedient thing. And it shouldn’t be. We must remember!
3
I can't stand Donald Trump..I wish we could get rid of him. BUT..many people like what he does....too many. My very well to do son, who once was so liberal, says Trump is doing the "right things". I just do not understand his appeal...
9
Frank, who I love, worries that impeachment will be divisive and keep us from infrastructure improvements and all the rest. Uh, well, what do we have now? Can we really be that much more divided?
I live for the day that we can repeat President Ford’s words after Nixon resigned due to Watergate and, while flying back to California, said, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”
14
As I have been saying, Impeachment is the greatest gift Trump could ever ask for.
His "martyrdom" will be the rallying cry of the re-election campaign, and focus his campaign in a way that could never have been imagined before.
Elections are about turning out the Base. It is that simple.
An Impeached Trump will fire up his Base with the seemingly inexhaustible nuclear fuel of Impeachment Drama.
5
I am exhausted too, and I agree with many of Frank Bruni's points. But we have to enforce rule of law and conventional means of railing in corrupt Presidents. If we do not, we will dissolve the efficacy of these means in the future.
Not like we will ever have one as bad as this one. One hopes.
9
I just ran into an Upper West Sider and we chatted a bit about the Grateful Dead and the value of exercise. As we were parting he informed me that Trump would be gone in 30 days and then spend the rest of his life in prison. I said "would you like to hear my opinion" and he said "no" and took off.
7
So, what is your opinion?
Impeachment is the only move, as Bruni said, but how it's accomplished and managed will be what determines the impact on the country. It's really up to the Republicans. If they see the evidence as clearly deadly for Trump, they are the ones who can step up and announce they support his removal for important reasons. Failing that, the problems Bruni mentioned will be exacerbated.
2
@John Pace You ignore the fact that if the Republicans refuse to step up, they will do so very publicly. If they are not pushed to take a position, they'll slide out of it in their usual greasy ways come election campaign time. The only way to force them to commit one way or the other is to start the proceedings and out their positions.
1
Well aware that it's a broken record sound at this point, but please remember that Hillary won in 2016 by 3 million votes. At this point, anyone who isn't Trump is going to win.
He will continue to do terrible things until he is gone, and this isn't going to be anything but awful to experience, but I'm pretty sure that most of his support comes from decent people who know he shouldn't be there, and are privately alarmed at much of what he's done. They just didn't want Hillary.
6
@Jackson Fairley - If that’s the case, then they’re not “decent people”. If they voted for this creature and everything he represented - because it wasn’t as if this was not all readily apparent prior to November 2016 - simply because they didn’t want Hillary, then they are, at best, petty and, at worst, monstrous.
@Jackson Fairley Decent people don't discount a candidate because she's female. Decent people do not support Trump. There was never any secret about what he is.
A vote on impeachment has not, to my knowledge, been scheduled. An inquiry has been authorized. As the author acknowledges, anything can happen. Maybe today, impeachment is not wise. Maybe tomorrow or next week, the facts on the ground could change and revelations will cause the tide to shift inside the GOP. The only thing that is certain is that Abuse of Power is an impeachable offense
7
The only certainty these days is uncertainty. We don't know what will come of impeachment? True. We don't know what would come of not doing it, either. I don't want to live in a constant state of paralyzing fear, so I'm glad the just thing is being done.
9
Bruni has it exactly backwards. Pretending that Democrats should set aside impeachment because “there’s too little left for the nation’s very real problems” is absurd. The ultimate problem, the most important problem, the only problem, is Trump. If the Democrats were to postpone impeachment and work on an infrastructure bill, or a gun bill, they would be enabling Trump. Making him look good, playing his game, acting as if he was a legitimate president. Nothing is more important than removing him from office. Democrats should spend all their efforts on ridding us of the Trump scourge.
18
The titling of this article is inappropriate and suggests a negativity toward impeachment that the article doesn't support. Ambivolence and concern whether this will politically help Trump, quite understandable, but the clear innuendo in the title - "Terrify" - seems like another instance of the press misrepresenting the content and providing cover to those whose predilections should be uncovered.
3
@David Generally another person provides the headline, and as you note, quite often misses the point.
I don't know if the headline is cleared by the author or the headline writer has time or expertise to read it first, but they are often WAY off-base.
Hire me, I would do much much better!
I’ve been reluctant to support impeachment for the reasons which you state. Let’s settle it with an election. But, who’s to say that the election will be free and fair? Democrats must pair impeachment with election security in their messaging. All states using real paper ballots, for one. Too much is at stake.
9
I'm not sure if it will increase his chances for re-election. The votes he would pick up are those who would not normally vote for him, or vote at all, but cast a sympathy vote because they think he's being ill-used. I just don't think there are that many of those.
3
@Stevenz
Hope so.
Love your city.
Frank, do you think Moscow Mitch will let the Senate vote on bills addressing climate change, infrastructure, health care, education, etc if the House shelves impeachment?
14
I'd think that an authoritarian regime is more terrifying that the fight to save democracy, and I have a feeling some of those wig-wearers from the 18th century would agree.
12
Extremely well put.
It certainly feels good (right now). It's definitely the "right" thing to do, by purely (blind) moral standards. But it can easily result in a second term, when preventing that should be all decent people's top priority.
But, like Bruni, I can't completely condemn the move. We'll only know in hindsight whether this decision was the right one.
However, I will say that it seemed a bit premature, right or not, and whatever the result. It probably could have waited till the actual transcript (or audio, if it exists) came out and/or the whistleblower had testified. I did read The Times' article about why the timing seemed right for the Dems, but I'm less than convinced by the arguments made.
2
“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” Aristotle
10
Everything about Trump either terrifies me or appalls me, but nothing more than the fact that 60 million Americans voted for him and continue to back him. That really is a crisis.
14
Being terrified of impeaching Trump is not a reason not to impeach him. It is the reason. A country can't abide with being governed by someone they are terrified off.
We can't say that we should be passing legislation instead of using the time for impeachment because if the Senate does not block the legislation he will.
It seems that the premises of this article are inverted.
10
It seems probable that Bruni has his own reasons for wanting to avoid impeachment, but nothing he presents really makes that case. In fact, most of the reasoning is weak and speculative, and assumes that things will not get worse as Trump continues leading the Republicans down a very dark road. It is important to stop Trump cold, now. It won't be easy, but neither is the continued perception by Trump and his Republican minions that we are all willing to be complacent.
1
God bless you Frank. I wish our political leaders (and their constituents) employed the same clarity, truth and even-handedness that you do in this op-ed. I'm desperate for a moderate voice in politics. Someone who can hold together the center, our true silent majority. Bruni 2020?
Frank , Buckle Up Buttercup, its going to be a rough ride. hopefully mercifully short , but it will be dirty .
I doubt that there are too many unidentified Trump supporters out there and the Impeachment hearings are unlikely to create more . Trumps approval has never risen above 50%'Never' the only President on record to attain that honor. Having three competent people running against him in primaries, and to face charges of impeachment do not bode well for him.
This country is divided as never before, these hearings are going to divide people into two camps, those who support the pious Trump, and those who look with disdain on the poison Trump.
Never the twain shall meet.
5
The real impediment to impeachment and conviction is not Nancy Pelosi or the Republican Senate, but "news" sites like Fox News. Visit the Fox News website now. Read the commentary, "news" articles, and opinion pieces there. You will be aghast at the amount of misinformation, innuendo, and deliberate withholding of vital facts that occurs in nearly ever piece. Individuals who use Fox as their only source for news never, ever get get accurate information. They never, ever get all the facts. All they get is propaganda and spin. And they will never, ever see Trump for what he is, because Fox News will never tell them.
6
Most of the people I know who watch Fox News also monitor other outlets. They are readers of RealClear Politics, viewers of PBS, even readers of the NYT and local news sources. I know of one who also regularly reads Le Monde, in French (partly to keep up her French).
I have more liberal friends who would never watch Fox News, never read National Review, The Federalist, City Journal or other conservative outlets. In fact, I'd say my (few) conservative friends get a broader range of opinion than my (many) liberal friends, partly because it is unavoidable.
1
45 will continue to present himself as a martyr no matter what happens. That's his MO for his followers. His accumulating misbehavior however must be addressed. No leader, even as president can be allowed to act so lawlessly. Punishment is a deterrent for future misbehavior.
Infrastructure, climate change, healthcare, etc. will not find any constructive responses from this president regardless.
3
There are some issues that call for decisions made on ethics and morality, not politics. If this president does not deserve an impeachment process, no president ever will. This was the correct decision for the long-term health of our country. We can only hope that all Americans who care realize that.
10
I don't feel terrified. I feel relieved. Even if the Senate fails to convict after formal articles of impeachment are approved in the House, at least the house will have fulfilled its constitutionally mandated function of oversight and acting a a check on the utter and brazen corruption of this president. Today, my faith in democracy and in our system of government is at least a little bit restored.
13
What I find so strange about this argument is that Bruni is assuming that public opinion is fixed.
People weren't that worried about immigration until Trump started talking about it. Look at how fear of immigrants steadily increased between 2015 and 2017, because Trump was beating on that drum.
No, Americans may not all be excited to impeach now. But watch what happens when the Democrats start beating the drum in earnest, and creepy detail after creepy detail comes out about Trump's behavior. The public will be sick of it. They will say, "Impeach the guy already, let's get this over with." And if the Senate doesn't play ball, a blue wave could be coming.
Politicians set the agenda. Trump has been. Why doesn't Pelosi start doing the same thing?
8
I would have agree with Frank until the transcript of the Ukraine call came out. Pelosi seems sentient based her call for a formal investigation yesterday.
One suspects that the speaker is going to take her time on the "investigation", letting things leak out to do maximum damage and put pressure on the Senate.
At some point in time there will be a House vote and then the Republican congress members will be forced to go on record in an environment with an extremely unpopular president who even many of his supporters personally despise. The will have to run on that vote in suburban districts that are abandoning the Republican party in droves. It will be a difficult choice - vote for and get a Trumpist run against them from the right or lose no matter which way they vote.
The game is afoot!
4
The country seems split between those who care most about the present and the future, and those who care most about the present and the past. Much as we would like, we cannot live in the future or the past, and we refuse to live together peaceably in the present because our priorities are so divergent.
Regardless, a Trump impeachment does not terrify me. As a geezer Army veteran from the 70s, my faith in the Constitution and this country has been challenged time and again, but America is better today than when I was young, and it will continue to improve for all Americans.
This sad period is a historical hiccup and it will pass. Americans will continue to bicker and squabble as they have always done. My only hope is we can be more civil towards each other when we do. Let's try reducing the number of adjectives and adverbs; it really makes a difference.
4
Good advice about adjectives and adverbs!
At a time when we must be bold, united, resolute, confident and brave, Mr. Bruni counsels fear, trepidation, caution and worry.
Mr. Bruni, lead, follow or get out of the way. We have work to do.
24
Well said.
1
Yes, it could be very bad, but the Civil War was much worse than this will be, and we survived. Obviously, the Senate will acquit Trump, but it is much more important to dissuade future POTUS despots. Plus you never know: the voters might punish the enablers by flipping the Senate.
10
One of the great failings of human beings is we think we can predict the future. Oh, we don't own up to actually thinking we can, but we think we can, anyhow. Our method is usually to take what is happening today and projecting it into the future, only more-so.
But what really happens is we get blindsided with complete surprises—from Pearl Harbor to Gorbachev, to 9-11, to computers and smartphones, to Trump's election, and zillions of smaller happenings in between.
Since we are utterly abysmal at imaging the future, our only reasonable response to any matter is to do what we perceive to be the right thing at the time and let the chips fall where they may. Impeachment is the right thing at this time. I am breaking my aversion to predictions by predicting the chips will fall in a good place for ourselves and the country.
3
What is most terrifying is the danger Trump has placed this nation. Listening to Trump’s press conference it must be evident to any foreign power that Trump will do anything to get re-elected.
11
The thought that issues such as healthcare, education and national infrastructure reform would be pushed to further to the margins is laughable at best. The fact is that Trump and the GOP appear to have zero interest in doing anything to fix those issues. They just aren’t interested. If those issues are to be fixed, Trump must go—It is the only chance for a GOP reset and a return to bipartisan legislation in our our government.
5
Where’s the infrastructure plan? Where are the fixes to a health care system whose problems go far beyond the tens of millions of Americans still uninsured? What about education?
Are you serious? Are you really oblivious to the fact that along with gun violence, wealth inequality, climate change, and much more, none of these problems can be solved because of the intransigence of the Republican't senate dating back to 2010?
I will tell you where all the legislation is. It is sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk or stuck behind the concrete wall he has built that is even stronger then Trump's border wall.
13
Believe it or not, the only presidential candidate who can bring Americans together again is Andrew Yang, who can turn the mutual vindictiveness and recriminations on both sides into something we all share -- the fear of A.I. and the inevitable domination of high technology -- and channel our energies into solving this issue and climate change.
1
I take your point, Mr. Bruni. However, when you say “Trump’s supporters would wind up furious...”. I cannot help but thinking that they seem furious all the time and, hard as I try, I cannot make myself care enough. I cannot be disquieted by the impeachment just because these people are bound to be unhappy about it.
Trump’s impeachment has only one party responsible: Trump (his enablers in the Republican Party notwithstanding). Democrats have avoided it to the point of getting to the brink of joining those enablers.
Of course, the argument can also be made that impeachment would have been less painful had it been done earlier.
It is a tragedy for the country, no doubt, but it needs to be done. The consequences of not doing it, the message of allowing this outrageous behavior to go unchallenged any longer could have even more painful consequences in the near future. Let the chips fall where they may, but it is the right thing to do.
10
I miss Nixon. At least he knew when his goose was cooked, and didn't work to bring the whole system down to protect himself.
Trump was this nation's 2nd biggest mistake. There are so many lessons to be learned. I just hope we can learn them.
4
He'd take the country down before he'd go even if convicted in the Senate--as would many of his followers. That's the problem, though it's hardly less true in the 2020 election. He deserves to be impeached, for sure, but he's equally undeserving of re-election. It would be terrible if one process were to lead to the other.
2
Totally agree with Frank Bruni. This impeachment sure looks like a partisan exercise, when it has virtually no Republican support in the House or Senate.
5
@Unconventional Liberal yep, Democrats must be bored not passing any useful legislation.
Every confrontation between two entities, be they political parties or sports teams or countries, brings the possibility of losing. If fear of losing becomes the reason for not engaging in the encounter, then one has handed the victory to the other side without a contest. The only thing left for the fear-ridden is to watch the other side swagger off the field to the cheers of their adoring fans, while the losers stand with their bats still resting on their shoulders.
If our ancestors had done that in the 1700s, we'd all still be British citizens. (And, BTW, how are they doing right now?)
3
I agree with your assessment, but there is nothing left to do other than impeach at this time. It is can be scary, but to do otherwise would destroy our country anyway by sanctioning high crimes and misdemeanors in the United States. Perhaps we are as divided now as we were before the Civil War but I doubt it. We can come together and realize this basic threat in the White House and Senate to the very foundation of our democracy. Lincoln would rather us fight for the Union of us all, rather than succumb to these traitors in the Republican Party. Yes, I know Lincoln was Republican, but not this kind of Republican.
8
The country is already "dangerously polarized and often viciously partisan". In fact, the only thing I'd change is the use of the word "often". It's constantly vicious, and has been for over 25 years. Maybe the Democrats need to wake up to this reality.
3
@Duncan
I remember hearing Rush Limbaugh talk about feminazis and libtards when I was a child in the early 80s, and I will never forget (or forgive) Sarah Palin talking about a "real America" that excluded all the blue states and liberal people. I don't need to "wake up" to a reality that I've lived with my entire life.
Lot's of people like to speculate about how this will turn out, as though the outcome is more important than the process. The system needs to stand up for the rule of law and stop judging what's Constitutional by what you can get away with in Mitch McConnell's Senate. After a career as a lawyer I've come to realize that it's a fool's errand to try to anticipate the twists and turns in a legal matter. I'm also old enough to have lived through the Nixon impeachment process, and few people predicted his early departure from office when the impeachment inquiry started. In any case, like OJ, acquittal by the Senate will just reflect on them and Trump will be viewed as guilty by the rest of us.
6
@David please tell me where in the constitution it forbids gathering dirt on an opponent? Seems to me this is a time honored tradition for electoral candidates.
Loyalty, the absence of something better, means if a viable Republican challenger to Trump comes forward, 14 GOP senators might see impeachment as a means to say 4 more years of Trump isn't worth it.
2
What about health care, infrastructure, etc.?
Like those were going to happen regardless. The House has passed over 100 bills McConnell is sitting on and refusing to allow to be presented on the Senate floor. An impeachment investigation isn't going to have any effect on what he's already been doing -- holding bills hostage and blocking Democrats from doing anything.
15
The Dems and Repubs passed a border bill that greatly reduced human suffering. The First Step Act was also a milestone in criminal justice reform. These people are capable of doing their jobs. The non-stop attacks on the President and now the impeachment inquiry make more progress impossible. The Dems will simply not accept the outcome of the election.
Sometimes voters cut through all the media stuff. The 2020 election is a test of commonsense. In 2016, the Clinton's had a lot of baggage, starting from Whitewater. The appearance of corruption and bad judgment followed them. Many Obama to Trump voters just did not like Clinton, and the Trump vote had an anti-Hillary component. Americans have seen many people railroaded in movies and books (think Hitchcock and John Grisham). They don't like it, and the Republican tribe is small - they don't have the numbers if voters decide to show up. Commonsense. Voters have that.
1
I expect the politicians we elect to do their Constitutional duty and to obey the rule of law, without regard for whether it's politically expedient.
That's why Pelosi has long-since lost my support, while the many in Congress who've been asking for impeachment for months have my support and my sympathy.
And I'm a life-long conservative.
4
It may ignite his base. But the rest of us are being ignited by it too.
Nancy Pelosi and Co, by doing this, are striking the blows we have been waiting for. The failure of the Mueller probe to do anything constructive left me cynical, angry, and unable to do more than skim the headlines here and at the Washington Post.
For the first time in a long time, MSNBC is back on in my house at night.
I'm scared all right, but there, at the bottom of Pandora's box full of evil, I've found hope again.
7
There is no choice if one believes that our Constitution matters and that our presidents must obey the law, too.
The Democrats must do it right, though. Full hearings - televised - and inquiry into all possible grounds for impeachment, not just the Ukraine Extortion scandal.
History and the American public deserve the complete, unredacted, detailed chronology of Trump's malfeasance.
8
One more reason to fear impeachment is that if it actually happens, it will be Pence who will inherit the Presidency. That is in some ways more scary than Trump.
4
@Ryszard
Impeachment does not mean removal.
I think we need to take seriously the possibility that the experiment has failed, that we have tested the proposition that we can achieve unity from many, and that the result is negative. I see no road back, only a ceaseless hostility and a near constant state of fury and outrage. People stare at each other uncomprehendingly and without empathy. Maybe it's always surprising, even shocking when empires collapse. But they do, slowly, then very quickly.
4
@JD what is your plan to effect that? It’s not really possible without a civil war and nobody wants that
You know that the examples you cite here involved unspeakable human suffering, right?
@JD Agreed and the only viable long-term solution is for the two "countries" to break apart. The system is too broken to be fixed. Partition has kind of worked with other countries before, viz., Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, India, etc. so why not here?
5
You write that we "so desparately need to rediscover common ground." Our common ground is that we are a nation of laws, and that those laws, and the Constitution, matter. No one is above the law, not even the president. Especially not the president! If that's the common ground that we as a nation want to stand on, then we cannot allow ourselves to be held hostage by elections, pundits and political parties. It's time to let our laws, and not our emotions, dictate our actions.
13
Honestly, I’m not sure what Bruno’s intention is here. Push us to despair? Push us to a no-exit or no-win position? Prepare us fo a living nightmare? Wave a white flag even before we have begun to fight back, to fight for decency and fair play, to fight for the future of our democracy? We don’t need this handwringing right now. We need confident warriors against the forces of darkness that threaten us and that threaten a fair election in 2020. Let the Democratic leaders for this time and this battle emerge, instead of declaring before the fact that none are at hand. Cheer us on, give us courage, bolster our confidence.
12
Mr. Bruni, what is the point of being terrified by something that must be done? Do you really think the blow back now will be any worse than it would be after the 2020 election if President Trump loses and declares the election invalid because 93 million illegal immigrants voted? Everything about this President will be worse by 2020, including his growing and dangerous emotional instability. We simply don't have a choice any longer, and perhaps it's better for it to happen now rather than later. I personally can think of very few times when the right thing is not the wise thing in the long run.
12
Great essay and probably spot on. One thing though: to all of us who worry about increased polarization and politically-based hatreds, that horse left the barn over the course of the 2016 election. With Trump’s constant outrages since then, that horse runs the track continuously. Trump has revealed and stoked our stark differences. Impeaching or not impeaching him won’t increase or lessen that polarization. Furthermore, I suspect the 2020 election will be a high turn out one for both Republicans and Democrats — a lot of passion, hatred, and unwillingness to compromise. Impeachment won’t change that.
5
I'm terrified, all right, but I've BEEN terrified since he was elected. And then it got more terrifying the longer this has gone on. The only way out is through.
No one who enters a war should be anything less than terrified, and if Trumps's supporters are refusing to acknowledge even the most basic of his flaws, what hope is there for them? Why shouldn't we do battle with them? I'm not even talking about policy, here - I can disagree with policy. I can understand your pro-life, anti-immigration, pro-death penalty, anti-universal healthcare policy choices (I sure don't agree with them, but people have actual reasons for them). But to be unable to acknowledge how Trump is sullying the office, sullying our nation, and corruptly benefitting from his office? To be unable to acknowledge his cruelness and pettiness, or to think that they are positive traits in a leader? To see him envy dictators and murderous autocrats in other nations and not shudder?
I don't get it. I'm ready to lay it on the line and fight.
10
Frank., we don;t need a fearful monologue or cynical analytics. Listen to Fred from Nevada. As a country, we are at a moral and ethical crossroads. Do you want our leaders who have the power to do something to just stand there?
5
The only fear at this time, (for me, at least) should be about what he could use as a distraction from all of this, and that may well be a war --which he could bring upon us at any given moment. We better be ready and willing to stop him (and his minions) on his tracks, if that scenario develops in the days to come. Nothing, absolutely nothing , coming out from this man and his administration surprises me at this point.
And his followers better wake up soon!
2
Frank - you can’t back down now that Trump may have gone too far. Do you want to be seen on the side of someone like Prof. Yoo at Berkeley who thinks the US process at the beginning of our Republic should be the same now? We should all be afraid of change and globalization? Torture and lawlessness will be reserved for our enemies?
Too bad you missed the Vietnam war and Watergate. Educate yourself. There’s still time to take to the streets and not lose your job.
2
Those in Trump's camp, for the most part, will remain there. Those not in his camp won't join.
3
The only thing that terrifies me more than impeaching Trump is NOT impeaching Trump.
9
Mr Bruni, perhaps you should have called in sick instead of publishing this. What benefit is there to your list of things to be frightened of? Yes all of these terrible outcomes are possible. And no, our nation's issues are not being struggled with and solved by our elected representatives- nor were they prior to this moment. Right now we need courage and fortitude. We need to stand by each other and believe in the greatness of our nation in this terrible tragic time. We do not need bright, eloquent writers like you telling us that we have everything to fear including fear itself.
4
Can you please list climate change on your list of important business? It's actually a real crisis not a manufactured one. Can you please start paying attention? The next generation is watching and we deserve their wrath.
7
This op-ed piece is the most hysterical bit of opinion I have come across in the sixty-five years that I have been reading the Times.
5
The paralysis you fret over is a manufactured product. Where are the solutions to the problems of the day (healthcare, infrastructure, etc.)? Sitting on the desk of Mitch McConnell, who refuses to even consider legislation that would let his majority members be seen acting on their self-preserving, anti-American impulses. If the country must burn, I would rather it do so under the supervision of people who want to rebuild it properly versus the members of you-know-who’s base, who only want to dance in the flames as they wreak havoc and force anarchy upon us all.
6
I am terrified too. This exercise will not end in a conviction thanks to the Republican controlled Senate, and the partisan divide will likely grow much stronger, even violent. But we have to draw a line in the sand to this abuse of power and the destruction of our country's constitution and values. If we fail to stop this unhinged man in the Presidency, our economy, our U.S. dollar, our laws and our freedom are going to fall. They though Hitler was a buffoon in the early days, and we all know how that turned out.
5
@Robert kennedy...
It won't end in conviction as things currently stand...
You know that; I know that; Nancy Pelosi knows that; Chuck Schumer knows that!
Donald Trump knows that, too, and he is delighted to rub that in Nancy's face, Chuck's face, and the face of every Democrat in Congress.
This is not a wise move.
1
@Robert kennedy And, if he is unhinged and you can't stop him, what does that say about your super powers?
trump terrifies me!
1
After independence, America never started any of the wars it won. But America did not shrink from war when war was thrust upon it. The GOP has been waging war for a generation. The Democrats for all that time have been trying to convince themselves it is not a war. Perhaps now, finally, the reality is unavoidable and Democrats will fight back. Let’s hope so. The costs will be high, but the cost of not fighting back is even higher. At stake is the very idea of America itself.
I’m terribly sorry to puncture your bubble here since I agree with the remainder of your comment. But do you remember the Mexican war? How about the Spanish-American war? Do you think the Mexicans and the Spanish started those? Let’s not get all teary eyed and think that the good old USA is so perfect. Go back and look at the debates that occurred about the Mexican war. A certain A. Lincoln very much objected to our aggression.
Bruni, you have never been more myopic and wrong.
5
@Rob E Gee. I don't think that Bruni is wrong. In fact, he writes:
"That’s not to say that it’s the wrong move. Arguably, it’s the only move, at least in terms of fidelity to the Constitution and to basic decency."
But, it is fair to warn us that there's no such thing as a free lunch. This move is necessary, but it isn't cowardice to point out that it comes with risks. As the House moves ahead, they need to be aware of those risks and take steps to minimize them as much as possible.
3
The only thing that scares me is your lack of courage.
5
I fully share Mr. Bruni's terror. But his fears that putting all our eggs into the 2020 basket might have been better makes the overconfident assumption of a free, fair, legitimate election in 2020. The Ukraine outrage is a clear warning. If Trump gets away with this, much worse will follow. There truly is no bottom here.
Re freedom and fairness: Trump will do whatever he thinks will bring reelection. He will use his Presidential powers against his opponent in unprecedented ways, completely unrestrained by any norms, laws, or institutions. That zealous high priest of the "unitary executive," the unscrupulous William Barr, will assist him with the DOJ's awesome powers of investigation and prosecution.
As to producing a legitimate result: it is certain that the Russian government will go much further than it did in its 2016 attack on us. Trump has clearly stated that he is open to the election assistance of any foreign government. The Russians may well attempt to alter voter registration rolls or even actual ballots. Why wouldn't they? They've paid no deterrent-level price for 2016. Or they might attempt to sow such chaos and confusion in the voting process itself that the election yields no clear result, or no clearly legitimate one.
"Let's put all our chips on 2020" might then be political folly, not political "wisdom." Give Trump another rogue-elephant year, and all bets are off. Better to take two shots at this deranged demagogue and aspiring autocrat than one.
4
Why not start with the low hanging fruit? Impeach Barr.
5
Political consequences be damned. At some point somebody has to do the right thing.
13
Yes, convincing the GOP and die hard Trump supporters that their self declared god is nothing more than a fraud, will be difficult.
Like, Nixon, he wanted more power, and a guarantee he would be elected to another term. And, like Nixon, was willing to lie, cheat, steal, cover up and violate the Constitution to do it.
At the day,regardless of what happens next, the "rule of law" and Constitution, is still above just one man or woman. People violate it must answer for it. Those who try to undermine it deserve the full force of the law.
The only thing that should terrify people is when our politicians show no desire to defend the document they swore an oath to.
This is not a "witch hunt" or the acts of deranged Democrats, its is an act of protecting a republic from tyranny and autocracy.
People will take sides, like they did with Nixon. But, when all the fact come out, the rule of law will ultimately prevail.
Trump brought this on himself. After he was more or less cleared of wrong doing with the 2016 election. Thinking he could get away with it again, he tried to do the same thing for 2020.
Like Nixon, Trump wore more Teflon than Dow could produce in one year. But, like Nixon, when he was caught, it was the end of the line. Nixon resigned in August, 1974, because he knew he would be impeached, and his party abandoned him. Today's GOP, conservative commentators, conservative news, and Trump supporters, will eventually do the same.
3
The Democrats can fight for better health care, a clean environment, a strong defense, and equal opportunity and defend the Constitution at the same time. The time to remain tepid has passed. If the party unites and speaks out against this threat to our national security and elections with clarity and conviction. they will demonstrate the strength that the electorate is eager to witness, expose Trump as the weak man he is, and show why they deserve the presidency and all of Congress in 2020.
3
“Any scenario is possible, including one in which impeachment redounds to Trump’s benefit and increases the chances of his re-election, because he paints himself a martyr, eludes conviction in the Senate, frames that as exoneration and watches his fans mobilize and turn out as never before. “
Aye, there’s the rub. And McConnell will do his best to make the Senate serve this scenario. The Kavanaugh hearing all over again.
2
Mr. Bruni, I think you should lighten up. Justice is being served, it may be tumultuous, but it's righteous, so to a very "Huge" swath of the public, it's worth our while. And since politics has infiltrated nearly everything, to the point of being nearly a spectator sport, it will quite likely be viscous, but also quite possibly fun. Let the spectacle begin.
3
"What’s just and what’s wise aren’t always the same."
That in itself is terrifying.
3
"the permanent hysteria of House Democrats under Trump..." I've seen no 'hysteria" in evidence from what I've observed, let alone "permanent hysteria." Mr. Bruni, is this an attempt at both-sideism? Not helpful. I agree that prospects for impeachment are terrifying because of what a truly desperate Trump might do, but I think we can be grateful, in a perverse way, that the Democratic primary season is upon us, so we will be regularly reminded—through some pretty eloquent presentations, if past debates are an indication—of the very serious work our republic has yet to accomplish. Warren and Biden and Co. will help keep the target in front of us.
I understand the caution but if we don't impeach Trump, we are basically saying that when it comes to presidents, anything goes, that they are completely above the Law, that we are but his helpless vassals to do with as he wishes, and that the America we know and love is a failed experiment.
Besides, we don't just fight the battles that we know that we can win. We fight the battles that need fighting. Yes, because of the Trumpist Senate and Moscow Mitch, this may very well be an uphill battle, but it needs fighting. We have fought difficult battles before, and even when the odds are against us, progress has been made toward a more perfect nation.
8
Sometimes you just have to do the right thing and damn the possible political/social consequences. Trump is a traitor who needs to be exposed as such.
10
Hey, if you have been paying any attention the last three or four years you should already be terrified. The Trump presidency is testing the safeguards of democracy built into our government as never before, at least in my not short lifetime. And it is not at all certain what the outcome will be.
5
I am not terrified by impeachment. On the contrary, I am glad. Let some real form of truth, spoken under oath and backed up by perjury laws, be told somewhere soon for the sake of sanity and an end to this constant stress of lies on top of more lies that assaults us every news day. Too many people on both sides are on edge with no sense of peace and are in need of catharsis.
What does occasionally terrify me are all the people who watch and accept Fox News braying heads while reading insulting Fox News Chyrons; who listen to only right-wing radio pundits who shout down "liberals" no matter what logic and good they (try to) say; who echo Trump and his surrogates with quick, smug answers without remorse and with no solutions for a greater good beyond winning a vote or an election.
Impeachment will definitely anger those who accept the current president despite his cheating way of life, his freewheeling lack of morality and his unrestrained contempt for the Constitution. But somebody, somewhere has to quit being so damned afraid of Donald J. Trump, Fox News, and this strange WWE "base" of voters who just want to body slam us all into submission.
If, after the Senate refuses to take action, Trump makes it to the next big election, let there be no one who can say they are "undecided" about how they are going to vote for president, because any who do will then just be liars or spies.
7
You've endorsed turning a blind eye to unquestioned evil for the sake of expedience and I am relieved that Democrats have finally ignored this foolish counsel.
If NOTHING else comes of this, it serves as a warning to the next, smarter, more-in-control, despot-in-waiting that they cannot assume that their excesses will go unchecked and unexamined.
As for polarization, let a lesson of Watergate be our guide: now that we've started, we need to finish the damn job.
I accept that President Ford had the best of intentions when he pardoned Nixon, but it allowed two generations of Republicans to feel aggrieved in a way that a full airing of the facts we now know would not have supported.
And, finally: "permanent hysteria of House Democrats under Trump". Seriously, dude?
6
@John Drake Yeah, that last line is almost the distilled essence of the Time's bothsides-ism.
I imagine we're only days away from a spate of Times' pieces about the "cloud" over Joe Biden's campaign.
The really scary part, and there better be a plan for this, is that Trump lives for revenge. He will see this as a screw job and will set out "to screw the Dems 10 times worse". How much of our taxpayer money has already been spent undoing his perceived enemies? Perhaps a P&L statement concerning this would bring this home to voters. Take a look at an interview he did with Charlie Rose in 2017. Look up his business speeches before he was a candidate. This is not a leader of the free world, this is a Corleone.
5
@Lapis Ex Trump has no "magic powers" to turn this around. He's not to be feared. He's not some criminal mastermind.
He's a two bit con man who got lucky and has now overstayed his welcome, so the scam has been revealed. Take him on with some backbone, and he'll fold up his three card monty table and look for a new grift somewhere else.
How about the one outcome we *know* will occur:
Tens of millions of Americans who live in anguish at what this man and his party have done to America will finally be given a clear indicator that the Democratic Party has their backs, and will return the favor on election day 2020.
We spend so much time talking about how Trump motivates his base. Ever wonder what a motivated base of young people, women, people of color and progressive white males could accomplish?
Just wait. You'll see.
5
The argument is specious at best. Would anyone on Earth be afraid to investigate any other criminal activity because they’re afraid of how the suspect would react? Seriously? He is president, not king. A man not God. All this piece does is to further elevate him to a status that doesn’t actually exist...unless we let it.
4
It's not 2020 and no one can foresee what impeachment proceedings will cause to happen. The United States is supposedly a nation of laws. If you don't enforce those laws when the time and circumstance demand it, you don't have a nation any more.
2
Somehow I can't imagine our forefathers saying anything like "Our cause is just but it's not wise to fight England, let's forget about it and just pay the taxes."
I can think of nothing more un-American in spirit.
8
"as long as most of the oxygen in Washington is consumed by the ghastly carnival of this barker, there’s too little left for the nation’s very real problems"
There IS no greater problem than Donald Trump and his Administration - PERIOD.
I'm not sure what Mr. Bruni is thinking, but he couldn't be more off the mark.
6
It is neither wise nor just to characterize House Democrats as in a "state of permanent hysteria." The Republicans going after Michael Cohen, et al, were in a "state of permanent hysteria."
2
Here's why we absolutely must have impeachment: the future of our republic of constitutional checks and balances.
Without an impeachment inquiry, which lays out the evidence, Donald Trump will have single-handedly created a roadmap for the abuse of presidential power. For the remainder of his first term. For his possible second term. For the term of any future president who is equally willful and corrupt, but smarter and more ruthless than Trump.
That roadmap is:
Lie about everything, and get people used to it so that there is no such thing as an uncontested "fact"; admit nothing or say what you do is always legal.
Hire cabinet officers and advisors who will do your bidding. (A willing Attorney General who won't appoint Special Prosecutors is absolutely essential.) Make sure your in-house lawyers reaffirm that a President can't be indicted while in office.
If your appointees don't do what you want, fire them. If filling the new position requires Senate approval, appoint "acting" officers.
Stonewall requests for information and ignore Congressional subpoenas. Ignore court rulings until they get to your hand-picked Supreme Court. And maybe even afterward...
If Congress refuses to grant money for something you want to do, take it from somewhere else.
Finally, promise to pardon any of your underlings who get caught.
This country is already bitterly divided. Impeachment isn't going to affect that. It's the future of the Republic that is at stake.
6
What terrified me was Trump's election. What gives me hope is Trump's impeachment.
3
Perhaps the question you and others in the mainstream media should be more focused on is how to cover this impending investigation.
Can the news media discipline itself to stay focused on what is truly at stake here?
Trump and his assorted domestic and international henchmen will use every salacious trick at their disposal.
How will you prepare for this, and stay focused on the news this country needs?
3
I think Trump should do a favor for his family, his country and himself by promptly resigning from his presidency.
1
Let's be realistic. Impeaching Trump is not about removing him from office since we all know the senate will not vote to do so. The Democrats are counting on the assumption that no action would cost more votes than action. I cannot imagine a single Trump supporter being swayed by any of this. Their support is based on irrational ideas and behaviors that they embrace. The gamble is that action may bring out more of those who oppose him and see him as a despicable man clearly unfit for office.
4
I don't see a Trump impeachment hearing as making him more electable as a martyr to anyone to give him another term. It wasn't the Republicans who put Trump in office but the Democrats who didn't vote/stayed home or voted Third Party. They won't vote for Trump because he has been martyred. Sadly though they still won't vote for a Democrat to put Trump out of office unless they like him/her enough for a mocha latte together or unless he/she meets their purity standards.
We've moved too fast, we've broken too many things, and we can't put it back together.
1
Seriously pal, you think too much. Follow the law. Impeach him. Trump has never had a strategy. He creates and feeds chaos. That frightens people dependent on structure. That is the only choice. Chaos or structure. Terrified? Only if you have no faith in rule by law. Political parties. Personalities. Polls. Predictions. Nothing matters more than a faith in the written word that people use to guide their behavior. It is that, or Trump's diseased ego as a basis for governance.
2
Bruni may very well be right , but he may be wrong. I think all this talk and worry about impeachment stirring up the Trump base is just misplaced. Trump's base is permanently stirred up. They need no extra push. They will crawl out of a sick bed to vote for him. As he said, he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a single supporter. So Trump has 40% of the vote. They will turn out. That is a given.
The question is : what will stir up the anti-Trump and Democratic base? How do we get Obama like turnout? Even when he was leading in the Democratic race, Biden really inspired no one, even his supporters. Bernie did in 2016, but he is losing his luster. Warren is now, but can she sustain it for over a year? How will an impeachment acquittal by the Republican Senate affect the anti-Trump turnout? Will voters be so appalled that they turn out the craven Republican Senators as well as Trump, or will they be so disgusted with the whole thing that they just stay home?
We are in totally uncharted territory here. House impeachment could cut either way. The best choice seems now to be _ "When in doubt, just do the "right " thing and hope for the best." The right thing now is clearly to continue with the impeachment process.
2
@Jack Robinson
We're not in un-chartered territory. We have seen this play before with Bill Clinton's presidency. Impeachment fails when the public senses hypocrisy on the part of the accusers.
And just like Clinton fought back by revealing all the extra marital affairs of the Republicans, Trump will fight back by revealing all the unethical business deals of the Democrats.
1
So well stated. But i read the comments and chances of defeating Trump shrink daily. All these good people who (1) don't think winning elections is that important, (2) aren't willing to take seriously what swing voters in swing states think. I'm terrified because if we don't win elections, climate change just keeps getting worse and democratic institutions continue to get co-opted.
2
My feelings about Trump (I did NOT vote for him) have shifted from dismay to disgust to cynicism and now—- absolute terror.
What happened to America?
Blatant abuse of one's duties in the most powerful job in the world, including breaking laws, many very serious, pertaining to national security, mandate a serious public investigation with all that implies. Everything can't be determined by political expediency. This may help 45 and republicans get their vote out but it cannot be helped. The long good is ultimately more important than the immediate winning. Our constitution and system of checks and balances has never looked more powerless to protect our democracy. Only the main stream press (not corrosive propaganda of fox/brietbart/sinclair) has offered any protection for our nation. The press has been our last and only line of defense from this dangerous human in the WH and his reckless behavior.
3
If Trump were to be impeached successfully, we'd get Mike Pence as President; a man for whom the reactionary conservative wing of the Catholic Church was insufficiently reactionary and conservative. Think about that for a moment.
Whatever armageddon-like scenarios we're facing with Trump in charge, I'm pretty sure Pence will manage to get us there quicker. I'm sure there are folks out there who like him for exactly that reason, but I am in the opposite camp.
4
I completely disagree with this dystopian view of America's polarization.
3
Sometimes what is right simply has to take precedence over what is "wise." This is really not about Democrats and Republicans, but about the soul of our country. Who do we want to be? I think that for most of us, we cannot tolerate Trump tarnishing our integrity any longer. Regardless of the outcome, we MUST do this.
8
45th will end up like 37th, Richard Nixon as soon as Senate Republicans abandons Donald Trump. It will happen soon as soon as all the facts comes out, GOP Senators cannot stay with Trump's lies. Truth always wins. Just watch. It will happen sooner than initially thought.
1
I think that this represents something of a projection of fears about what happens outside of Festung NY. When you look at the percentage of voters who strongly supported Trump before this broke, it's pretty small, and when you look at the number who strongly opposed him, it's at least twice as big. If you were listening to his incoherent presser just now, I don't see him moving the needle. A certain segment of the population will vote for him no matter what, but, though I may regret it, I'm far more scared of what he would do left unimpeded than what the effects of impeachment will be.
4
The core message was wonderfully summarized: “That’s not a reason to blink, but it’s a reality to brace for.”
Freedom is not without risk, cheap or clean.
6
I don't agree with Mr. Bruni's assessment of the situation. Although Trump has certainly rallied a lot of bigots and other mean-spirited voters in his camp, I believe there's a better spirit in America that will surface with this impeachment and the roots of it.
I believe Americans are exhausted by Trump and his outrageous behavior. Even parents of a bratty child eventually send the child to its room. I see a sense of relief in the impeachment, a knowledge that America might finally get back on a footing where we can disagree but not be exposed to the often debilitating whims of a tyrant that affect our lives and livelihoods day in and day out.
The impeachment is the right thing for America and I am not afraid at all.
8
A sobering piece. If Trump is impeached, the Democrats will preen in their self-righteousness but Trump won’t be removed from office. Given the current Democratic candidates, including an unimpressive Joe Biden, Trump will win a second term. We’re in a bad place.
3
Pretty amazing how all kinds of people just know how all this will turn out. They just know.
I suspect/hope/think, in some combination of all three, that this will not be some disaster. Could be wrong.
I do know that usually determining why someone won or lost an election depends on so many factors that even after detailed post-election surveys are poured over, you still have to be somewhat tentative.
So does Bruni. So do you. But we can't not make our projections -- pun entirely intended.
Thing is, the train has (almost) left the station. So if you think this will hurt Trump, fine: keep fighting for your non-Trump candidate -- and then unite behind whoever is the nominee. With votes, sure, especially if you're in a swing state. But that's not enough: all the time and money and effort you can afford. Yes, for your most hated candidate, from Biden to Bernie, should that person win. If you don't do that, you're helping Trump, period, end of story.
And if you think this will help Trump, fine: keep fighting for your non-Trump candidate -- and then unite behind whoever is the nominee. With votes, sure, especially if you're in a swing state. But that's not enough: all the time and money and effort you can afford. Yes, for your most hated candidate, from Biden to Bernie, should that person win. If you don't do that, you're helping Trump, period, end of story.
There's no counterargument, but watch who makes one, and why.
1
Bravery is not a lack of fear (terror). Bravery is doing what is necessary in spite of being terrified. The country must be brave at this time.
12
He, Trump, is destroying the country. And many Republicans want just that. If they can replace it with a society based essentially on peonage, padrons and all that goes with it or a theocracy led by Pastor Pence they would be delighted, but to do that they must first 'drown the baby in the bath water' to use a phrase favored by some of their more extreme leaders. And they've come close to achieving that. We didn't choose the time and place for this battle, and it will be, have no doubt, a battle. But we must fight it . The first skirmishes have been already fought. We must finish it now.
If we loose, so be it. We have no choice.
9
Wow, the truth is brutal isn't it. Thanks for some perspective on this. We simply have to stand up for our democracy. It's the most valuable possession of the American people. It will be rough but if impeachment inquiries are what it takes to protect our institutions and liberties so be it.
8
"To be engaged in politics is to be engaged in battle — and that shouldn't and needn't always be so"
Politics is argument by definition; without, it is totalitarian.
3
I must admit that I have two sets of feelings:
One is relief that finally one branch of government is drawing a line that must be drawn. To not start impeachment proceedings would be the House abdicating it’s responsibilities as a check on the Executive Branch.
The other is fear, which kept me up last night thinking about violence and civil war (and the fact that there are so many guns in this country makes me uneasy in this case). I’m not afraid the Democrats will lose because of this. I think we could lose either way. I’m deeply afraid of Trump using Twitter to bring about violence. As Bruno writes about the risk of Trump bringing (civil)war to this country, that is exactly what I was up thinking about at 2:30 in the morning.
But we must do it. We can’t deny the fact that he broke the law and we can’t live by his perverse logic that would lead us to avoid impeachment because his supporters might feel emboldened by it (because he will act the part of the martyr).
So... here we go. I’m overall glad that the Dems are finally taking this strong stance. They needed to do it. Evidence is overwhelming.
10
Yes, Frank. We're terrified.
But we're going to do it anyway.
There comes a time when one has to stop asking,
"Who is going to clean up the mess?"
and start asking,
"What needs to be done to clean up the mess?"
15
When you hit the Red Alert button, that's not the moment to become terrified. Impeachment is just and becoming terrified is not wise.
10
Trust the process. No, it won't be pretty. But the ugliness we have endured over the last three years cannot continue unchecked. If it does, Congress is complicit in Trump's crimes.
11
Frank -- Now that you've gotten that off your chest, I hope you'll put your brainpower and eloquence in support of impeachment. There is, at this point, no other way to tell truth to power.
1910
@Fred
I agree. We need to stop second-guessing and start believing. Thoughts and words have power. Put them out there for the greater good; anchored in the belief that truth and Justice will inevitably prevail!
63
@Fred I was sort of thinking defeating him in the election might speak loudly and for the people.
17
@Fred
Win elections - there is no other way to speak.
14
to add to the scariness:
President Mike Pence if impeachment was successful.
8
Pence also will be implicated. And then he’ll have to resign which means Nancy Pelosi will be sworn in as our president. Wouldn’t that be great (and perfect in terms of poetic justice)?
3
I think Trump wants to be impeached. He currently only gets about 90% of all news coverage. With impeachment it will be close to 100%. That's what he wants more than anything.
7
This will make it more likely for Trump to be reelected.
3
"If holding on to power meant ruling over rubble, so be it." Reading this sentence reminds what Assad has done in Syria and Trump would most definitely do the same. Be afraid, be very afraid.
2
I share Frank's concern for unintended consequences moving forward with impeachment proceedings, and agree that Trump deserves to be impeached. But, for commenters who claim it's "about time" to impeach because we must uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution, and that it shows courage to impeach Trump now that we know more about his calls with the Ukraine president, what about the indisputable, criminal wrongdoing like bombings, assassinations, murders and war crimes conducted by Trump, as well as prior presidents?
Where were the calls for impeachment based on fidelity to the rule of law for that kind of criminality? There was silence. What we are seeing now is political calculation -- political power -- by both Pelosi and Trump.
The Democrats should be careful what they wish for -- even if Joe Biden and his son are investigated and no wrong-doing is discovered, Joe's campaign will be derailed. Trump most likely won't be convicted in the Senate and he will claim exoneration and use his "innocence" as a battle cry against whoever snares the Dem nomination.
3
Mr. Bruni is correct that the prospect of impeachment is terrifying and that at least some of the results could be horrendous.
However, no result of moving forward with impeachment could be more damaging and dangerous to the republic than the precedent that would be established by failing to move forward in the face of these latest revelations. Every president from now on would be, effectively, above the law and beyond the reach of constitutional remedies.
There's no real choice; impeachment must proceed.
4
If not now, when? In his second term? If Trump is reelected, it will be too late as the rule of law in the US will be finished. It's now or never.
9
Let's look at this another way: What will be the consequence, for our democracy and the 2020 election, if Trump isn't held accountable for his actions? If Congress does not act as a check on the Presidency? You do realize that this call came the day after Mueller's testimony, when it became clear his presidency was not under threat. Do you think if Trump had been held accountable earlier (and remained in power) that he would have dared to make a request to a foreign leader that reeks of 2016?
3
Questions, questions, questions.
If you are so convinced, Frank, that Trump is better at rhetoric than the Democrats then why not even attempt to explain the reasons why? Is he simply more persuasive? Is it that people like him? Do they listen to and believe a whiner/complainer? Are they tired of politics and will blame the Democrats for this? Do they not believe he's done anything wrong? Do they grant him the bully pulpit and then believe him by sheer repetition? Does his base simply vote more in terms of turnout than the other side? Is impeachment only valid if you kill someone, or what are the "valid" circumstances you could imagine for impeachment?
Does he get a pass because of our 401ks?
The questions are far more interesting than any suppositions about how this will impact the election and the country.
Please examine these questions, because they reveal much more than any outcome of political mayhem or electoral results.
1
I will always be more terrified of Trump and his impeachment.
Clinton was impeached and that went nowhere.
Why would I think this could be any different? As long as Mitch is in charge of keeping the Trump minions in order, nothing will happen to Trump or his party.
4
If a law is not enforced, does it exist?
If the Constitution is not defended, does it exist?
Doing the right thing has unforeseen consequences — good ones.
Courage is a good thing. And benefits all in the end.
9
It’s not about Trump anymore.
Until this past week, I have been opposed to impeachment. But, now, it’s no longer just about Trump or politics.It’s about protecting the Constitution, protecting the Presidency, the Rule of Law, and Accountability.
Every person in Congress took an oath to defend the Constitution. If Congress does not protect the Constitution and this country from unlawful acts of this President or ANY President, then we no longer have a Democracy. We will have an Autocracy, without the rule of law.
4
A) Why don't you pundits sometimes do stories exploring all the house legislation, mostly sponsored by Democrats, that attempts to address some of the huge problems we are facing as a nation? And then write about how none of it is going anywhere in the Senate- and why.
B) Why is it always democrats, progressives, centrists, "never trumpers" who call for "unity" and "healing" of our divided country? You don't hear Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh or the NRA calling for "healing our divided country". It's seems currently it's those holding out the Olive Branch who are getting trampled. Uh, Uh. Time to draw a line in the sand, set a limit. Time to play hardball.
C) From much speculation, some of it in this paper, Trump stands a pretty good chance of winning the election anyway. Imagine if he did, via a fluke, or illegal means, or another slim margin in the electoral college? Imagine if the 2 branches of congress went back to Republicans? Or even if congress stayed as it is How would it be for Democrats, or any sane American, if the house, or Democrats had not taken what might perhaps be the last chance to stop him and his minions?
Let's hope, for a change, that sanity trumps insanity.
4
Mr. Bruni, we are already as divided as I have seen since 1968. We braced for a Nixon impeachment and survived. We braced for a Clinton impeachment and survived. We will brace for Trump's impeachment now that it is upon us; and we will survive it.
Every Senator and House Member must now decide what their oath of office means. They must, as our elected officials, determine what the presidency will look like in the future. To not impeach and convict for the current and past behaviors of Trump will set a standard that will haunt us. To impeach and convict Trump will set the standards of the presidency, but simply continue the divisions we currently experience.
Americans are ready for this, no matter the outcomes of this action.
6
I think Trump actually wants impeachment to distract from positive messages that candidates such as Warren are bringing forth. He requires all attention to be on himself. Impeachment is necessary because of this latest scandal, which is suspiciously blatant even for Trump. But the media needs to also be sure to cover the positive messages coming from Democrats running for president. This is our only hope for 2020 (and, honestly, for humanity in general given what’s happening to the climate).
4
Very good points. Agree.
Also, I think there will be more to lose with this inquiry than to gain. Trump will come out of this as a victim and a martyr, while if he lost in a fair election in 2020 (we can only hope!) he won't be able to use the 'deep state' conspiracies and the 'witch hunt' mantras.
3
The president is trying to enlist a foreign country in providing him with dirt about a political opponent. I'd say it's something that needs to be stopped. It does not serve our national interest; on the contrary it harms our national interest to have a president who uses his position to seek damaging information about a citizen and political opponent from another nation, esp. while withholding aid that has been approved for that nation. I don't see how responsible members of Congress can allow this conduct to go on unchallenged and the only way they have to challenge it is to impeach.
2
However "terrifying" the prospect of impeachment may be, the most terrifying prospect of all is of Trump being reelected without having been impeached despite his egregious behavior. If we think he is emboldened now, what would an un-impeached Trump be in his second term?
13
@adinaco, as Trump has already accomplished "insufferable" and "intolerable", I'm out of adjectives to describe him.
My vocabulary is somewhat better than that of Donald Trump. He only seems to know a few adjectives, most of which are superlatives: amazing, best, beautiful, biggest, perfect, special, and ... OK, there might be a few more.
1
Did the Senate really just pass a bill finding that there is no national emergency on the border?
Perhaps motivated in part by porkbarrel projects in their own states, they at least are willing to step in and reinstate new military schools, etc. rather than let DJT keep up his Wall farce.
Maybe they are ready to try ordinary governance?
Because the rest of us are so, so tired of just letting corruption run rampant. How about not terrified, but bone tired?
2
@Lee it was just vetoed again
Frank Bruni - I’m disappointed. I’m already terrified, every day, about the irreparable damage this corrupt president is doing to the country, to families, to the rule of law. NOT doing anything about him is far more terrifying than whatever impeachment may or may not do. And if you think that this will divide our country more - Trump in office another year is only going to make that worse anyway. If we are going to be divided anyway, then at least let it be not for somebody’s reelection campaign, but rather for justice, the constitution and the rule of law.
8
I'd hoped that we could let this administration play itself out until the election, avoiding the impeachment process. But with these recent revelations, it's evident that the election might yet again be influenced by foreign meddling. Recently, Facebook banned right wing memes favorable to President Trump, and whose origins were the Ukraine, as it happened.
My guess is that Mr.Trump will behave the same way for his re-election as he did during the campaign for his first term. There's always a tendency for people to repeat past behavior patterns that worked.
Like all bullies, he will keep doing what he is doing until he's reigned in by a higher authority. If that emboldens his supporters to extreme behavior, so be it; we'll have to deal with that too. A line must be drawn in the sand somewhere.
2
Nothing matters until we get the tax returns.
@Mark you won't ever get them because you don't have probable cause
Frank is absolutely right!
Once the Trump impeachment train begins rolling, absolutely no one knows where it will end. We could end up, as a divided country, in a much worse condition than we are now. Or it could turn out wonderfully. Who knows? Are we ready to gamble 4 more years of criminal government for the satisfaction of doing the "right thing, "right now?"
There's an important aspect to politics involving "timing." And the timing for this impeachment has little to do with politicians choosing the most politically propitious moment for success; this moment was chosen by Trump himself, when he decided to have a chat with the Ukrainian leader.
Most likely Trump's senate spectacle will dominate most of the campaign season and will certainly have some sort of effect--good or bad-- on the election's outcome. How can it not?
Anyway, the impeachment has begun. We can only hope that Trump, after his sure acquittal by the senate, is ousted by the voters 13 months from now. Otherwise, we'll certainly be saddled with an enraged, vindictive demagogue looking to settle scores while he continues to destroy the country. And he'll have four more years to do it.
1
Until now I've been against impeachment for the reasons Frank spells out in another excellent Op Ed piece, but now impeachment is inevitable even thought the Senate will never vote for it. But then the big question in an election year will be the # of Trump followers voting for him in 2020 vs. the # of us Democrats and Independents sick of this circus who will vote against him. I agree that if Trump defeats impeachment, screams "I'm a martyr", and wins reelection, I'm not sure this democracy of ours will survive until 2025. Trump makes Watergate look like child's play and with 4 more years he could make the USA look like South Africa under apartheid or Russia under communism.
1
" A dangerously polarized and often viciously partisan country would grow more so"?
I'm not certain that is remotely possible.
2
What terrifies me is the apparent absolute inability of the House to any of its investigative goals. Mnuchin breaks the law regarding turning over tax returns to a House committee, and nothing is done to penalize him. The DNI breaks the law regarding the whistleblower process and so far nothing has been done. In fact, it is not simply Trump as lawbreaker, it is the people around him.
The Democrats should consider trying to pick off Trump's henchmen, rather than Trump.
There is a part of the Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 number 9 that allows the House to "constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court." Such a tribunal should be used to prosecute Trump's minions for everything from avoiding subpoenas to breaking statutes, and sentence them to prison if found guilty.
I've got news for you Frank , the political rift , turned into a chasm the moment Trump became president . That people blind themselves , believing whatever pap is dished out online , or fired up by the media ; it has happened and a stand must be taken for what is right to pull this country out of this nightmarish administration. It may be he is reelected as a result and if that happens , than we as a country are hopelessly lost but to see something and not say something is not the way either . As an American , I will go with what is right and true and not turn a blind eye to the beastly offenses not only our country but against our morals . We as a people have a lot of work to do whether he is reelected or not , he has damaged us as a people and as a country .
The democrats have to impeach. If they don't, Trump will take that as a license to do even worse things.
2
If Dems always make decisions based on the worst possible outcome, then they will continue to give Trump a pass on his serial violations of his oath and the Constitution. As has been their approach since taking the House in 2018, fear of the worst outcome leads to continued inaction, which enables yet worse behavior from Trump. Here's a different worst outcome to contemplate Frank. The Dems don't impeach Trump, they lose in 2020 by Trump narrowly winning the electoral college, they lose control of the House, and we get another four years of Trump, but now completely unconstrained. Given the state of the Dem candidate field, this remains a possible outcome. The Dems need to use the impeachment process to investigate and check Trump NOW while they control the House. By narrowly targeting impeachment on the Ukraine situation, and perhaps on additional criminal matters that may be brought to light by the whistle blower's complaint, they can force Senate Republicans into the disastrous position of voting to support a President who used taxpayer money to extort a foreign leader to dig up dirt on a political rival. If I were in Dem leadership, I would be excited about running Senate candidates in swing states on that platform. Take a deep breath Frank. This won't be easy, but it's necessary.
3
Why be scared of impeachment not succeeding to remove Trump from office. I don't understand the argument that it will fail in senate and thus will make Trump more popular. According to Trump Supporters the Muller report just fizzled, and crashed and burned .... and failed to implicate Trump. In fact they claim it exonerated him. But Trump is still very unpopular with over 55% unfavorable rating and over 60% still believe he is unfit to be a president. There is no groundswell of sympathy votes for him. There is no indication that it made his re-election more likely. Please stop with this nonsensical argument once and for all and just impeach him already.
A point I have not seen in most discussions about impeachment.
If there is an impeachment - the next people in line to take over are a long line of people just as crazy. Maybe worse. And probably played from the sidelines.
We need to clean the entire tree. Anything less is probably superfluous.
We need a way to repeal every single thing that has been done since inauguration day. Wiped clean. Start over. Annul the marriage.
The path of our Democracy is becoming very very altered. We need to break the stalled government. Dissolve the Senate. Then try again. That small body can not be allowed to trash the country.
1
The democrats need to take over the message, not just continue to react to the outrageous GOP tactics, polemics and fox lies. The law doesn’t apply to
Me, the law is there to be broke. As long as we get our way, the law is what I say it is, all these self justifying distortions need to be put out for good.
1
Mr. Bruni, to take a deep breath and calm down. Still yourself and get a plan to buffer the hardship that going to come to most —whether Trump is stopped or not. This nation has been on this path of self-destruction for centuries.
We have a significant percentage of American's who don't believe fat meat is greasy; all of use are going to find this out the hard way. Like Germany did...
I lived through Nixon. NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW. Not even Donald Trump.
1
I agree with some other comments listed here, that if the Dems impeach Trump, the perfidious Republican Senate will have the head handed to them on a platter and convict Trump out of office, whereby they will have “elected” Pence for President. Pence will state he heard no evil, saw no evil, and spoke no evil while he licked Trump’s boots for 3 1/2 years. He will gloat that he will bring law and order and uprightness to the office and the United States.
I get all this but I am tired of this denigration of American values.
If his supporters want a fight then a fight they'll get.
3
I was never terrified when the Constitution was followed.
4
Time for some courage, Frank. Forget election prospects. The idea that somehow impeachment will help Trump is hogwash. Anyone who really thinks this is some "witch hunt" and that he is being harassed would be voting for him anyway. Fidelity to the Constitution demands it. And just because the country is sorely divided is no excuse for inaction. What, we're supposed to just let the Republicans tear the country apart and light the world on fire AND DO NOTHING? Man up, get a backbone, and let's get this thing going. maybe, just maybe, if the Democrats finally start acting smart and the truth really comes out, some Republicans will wake from their fevered dream and do the right thing, too.
One more concern. What if it succeeds? What if Mitch and the other Rs decide that their own self interests are better served by ditching Trump? Mitch blames it all on a phone call to Ukraine that they weren’t a part of, Trump is the scapegoat, Pence runs as an incumbent w the evangelicals solidly behind him, and the rest of the Rs coast back into office, having dodged Trump’s negative coattails.
I want Trump to stay at the top of their ticket. I want to take every last one of those immoral duty-dodging Rs down with him. I think our escape from all this is through the ballot box, not impeachment. It’s harder, it’s not the easy silver bullet — but that’s the only way.
It's already near the end of 2019. The impeachment process will take time despite the pledge to move right along. The House still has some power to block bad legislation. I say all this because we might survive a partial year of Pence as long as the country gets it that the Republican party is corrupt and all its sins and Trump's are exposed in the impeachment process.
It will take real work to convince people that our votes count and that all these people running the country aren't just more swamp dwellers with their hands out. I wouldn't think of not voting, but younger people just don't know or respect our government's founding documents. Maybe this process might provide a civics lesson, but only if the committee members can act like grownups and not jerks. Their own ignorance is often embarrassing and the grandstanding repulsive.
Still, my fingers are crossed, and I'm glad Pelosi didn't back off b/c of fear of Trump.
Completely agree.
Trump got elected as he kept saying that Washington was broken. Then Washington spent 3 years repeating the same song, proving they are a broken record in deed. He will use that to show that Washington does not work, and he alone is trying to fix the country. And the Democrats will carry on investigations and … well you know the rest.
Meantime on the Blue side, Biden is going to get dragged in to this scandal, because after all, it was all about Biden using his positing as VP to black mail Ukraine to get a prosecutor fired (which did happen soon after), and his son getting a cozy job in the meantime. He will never recover from this, and he was the one who had a chance to take on Trump.
The rest of the Blues are either joining in with their own pitch forks, chanting ‘impeach’, or are so far down on the polls that no one cares what they have to say.
The Blues cannot, under any shade of imagination, unite this country as long as they keep chanting ‘impeach him’.
Trump will survive this. The Senate will laugh at the House, throw out the case, and Trump will ride this to reelection, as Biden spends the next year defending his record and angrily pointing fingers at any one who asks him about this.
That is how the story ends.
1
What becomes most evident is that the Progressives-- eager for any sort of victory-- are playing checkers.
Politics is a game of chess.
Nancy Pelosi was right to avoid impeachment. It is a trap the Democrats are laying for themselves.
What is strange about this whole situation is that the Democrats don't recognize they've already won a victory. Even Trump's own party believes he's done a stupid thing. It is time now for the Democrats to pick up their chips and get up from the table.
1
It does Not terrify me! I have lived through the assignations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, the anti Vietnam War Movement, Civil Rights Movement, the impeachement of President Clinton and President Nixon, The Women's Movement, The Environmental Crisis and many more catastrophic events. Many of these issues are still being fought and are ongoing!! Believe me, this does NOT terrify me! I say bring it on!
2
@sjr
I, too, have lived thru all those horrendous events. My only question is: Why are men so afraid of baby boy bullies and their clingy friends?
Let a woman do it this time, a fearless woman, especially a black woman. The great Stacy Abrams would pulverize him, sending him home crying to Melania. He’s petrified of her, too, with reason. Enough of scared white men, starting with
Mr. Bruni.
The time is always right for doing what is right. - MLK
2
Actually, the more I think about this article, the more I have to say: "We must be Brave, Frank Bruni, and not cower in the shadow of a despot."
1
Defense of our beleaguered democracy is Job One for the Congress, and it's about time, Frank.
1
What's terrifying is that the Republican Party ever let this abomination represent it as a Presidential candidate, and even more terrifying is the fact of his presidency, and essentially everything that has happened since he's taken Office. It will be terrifying if he gets away with it all, and terrifying what happens to the United States as a Democracy. The only one not terrified is Putin, who can't believe his good fortune.
1
If you're going to fail amidst so many unknowns, it's best to fail having done the right thing. Impeach.
1
If Congress doesn’t defend the Constitution from the presidency now, it’s unlikely to get the chance again.
2