As Cohn points out, these quickie polls are at the outer limit of legitimate polling and are extraordinarily vulnerable to sampling bias. Their results are used as part of a propaganda campaign to generate the illusion of a groundswell of support for impeachment. I believe Nancy Pelosi has more reliable polls that tell her impeachment has little support in moderate districts. That is why she is afraid to force a vote on even beginning an impeachment inquiry.
Is it clear that people were responding to whether
Impeachment Hearings should be held, or were they saying:
Trump is Guilty, Impeach him NOW !
The percentages seem very close to the polls before
the 2016 Election with the Independents not yet having decided.
Hard to see how 46 % is going to move the Senate to Convict.
2
Nate Cohn provides a whole paragraph of precautions about the lack of reliability in polls conducted "over only a single day of interviews," and then reports them and the "fact" that "new surveys suggest public opinion might be starting to shift.'
And these polls reflected Nancy Pelosi's drive to open an impeachment inquiry before receiving the 'whistleblower' report and after Adam Schiff's virtuoso performance in using his position as Chairman to supposedly 'quote' the President in the phone call with the Ukrainian President.
These polls and the hair-on-fire reporting, opinion, and 'analysis' coming from the echo chamber of the media seem reminiscent of the beginning of the Mueller investigation.
4
@rcrigazio
I believe the term for your post is called Whistling in the dark. Pelosi had the president's released (and partial) transcript before she announced an impeachment INQUIRY, which was necessary because the WH refuses to release any material by ordinary requests for information. They have to be forced and this inquiry will allow that force. The whistleblower's report was just icing on the cake that revealed the cover-up attempt, but the crime of inviting a foreign government to participate in trying to influence our election was there in plain sight.
By the way, saying the polls might "suggest public opinion might be starting to shift" is hardly going way out on a limb. It was not presented as a statement of fact.
Lastly, Trump is a windbag. That is a given. Schiff gave a summary rather than reading the whole thing aloud. Yes, that is permissible. It is done. all. the. time.
Where's the beef?
2
Looks like a children's climate change rally!
1
only a proper impeachment investigation will reveal the full extent of Trump's corruption, involvement with the Russian (ex-KGB) mafias in the U.S. and Israel.
Otherwise, ignorants Americans can rest assured that they have the best president Russian money can buy.
2
Cover issues, issues--not making everything into a horse race, please.
It seems too soon to get very meaningful results (although it may be useful as a benchmark). Many who have long wanted impeachment, like most Dem members, but didn't think it was worth the political risk, will be slower than Pelosi to accept the new reality.
The new representatives who were previously involved in the intelligence community, but may face re-election challenges, have followed closely behind.
So, (a) many will be slow to get off the fence, and (b) many are really tired of being polled, not informed.
1
The impeachment process will at least slow Trump down from tearing down democracy until election day. If we impeached Clinton over sex in the Oval Office and lying about it, then Trump's behavior should be impeachable as well. No matter the party Or the politician, wrongdoing should be uncovered and denounced for the good of the country. Make America great again by impeaching Trump. If a Democratic president ever does the same in the future they should be impeached as well. The United States belongs to the people not a bunch of politicians.
6
@Virginia
I generally agree, except for the part about Bill Clinton. The Republicans suffered badly in 1998 for impeaching him, and that has often been cited as a bad omen--notwithstanding that Clinton's misconduct was not really about public trust, and he was popular, as compared to Trump.
There is also the fear that impeachment may suck out all the air from the presidential election, hence the imperative to get on with it.
My head says impeach, but my heart says let the voters make the call. A lot of damage with lasting consequences can happen between now and next November, but impeachment will also make the president and his followers martyrs. If the soul of American is what I hope it is, a resounding defeat on election day will restore everyone's faith in our country and in our people.
2
@Julie B.
I used to have the opposite reaction--the heart said T really deserves to be impeached and is an ever-increasing menace, while the head said Dems should be cautious about committing political suicide (and what that would mean for the country and the world). Now that there seems to be a smoking gun (and maybe more than one) and energy has ramped up, I think it will be a political plus and imperative for constitutional reasons as well.
4
@wconstance Maybe all of this is the party making sure Biden goes away.
@Julie B.
Heart or head, this cannot stand. There is such a thing as morality and ethics as well. He has trashed them all. Trump is a product of the Mafia. All he lacks is an Italian last name. He has his Tommy the Torch in Bill Barr.
2
Nate,
Don’t you think that maybe people are more interested on real issues, like economy, security, etc? and maybe only the knee jerk reaction to the news resulted in this poll?
Not one person I spoke to could care less about impeachment, most saw it as a bad mistake, as it raised the sympathy vote for Trump.
I would say survey again in a month, when the mob enthusiasm has dies, and people start realizing Congress is not doing their job as they are too busy being partisan.
It might backlash for them when people notice the reality of impeachment.
4
@AutumnLeaf
The main reason I believe Pelosi has gone almost all-in on impeachment is because these new allegations show us a president endangering our national security, imperiling our foreign relationships, undermining election confidence, engaging in self-dealing (corruption) and then trying to cover it up.
Do those not seem like "real issues" ?
Congress usually seems as though it's not doing it's job when the Senate and House are under the control of different parties. But they have managed to pass spending bills recently (arguably their biggest job) and oversight of the rest of the government is very much a part of their mandate.
3
@AutumnLeaf Or, like me, one who has come to favor impeachment as an imperative, but doesn't want to hear about it as a racehorse item, much like the mostly premature presidential campaign pollings. Issues, Issues, not who's in the lead!
"Of course, there is little reason to assume that public opinion will stand still. Many voters do not pay close attention to the news; they may have no idea why the president suddenly faces impeachment. Others are only beginning to make sense of the allegations against him." - Wow. Don't US highi schools teach civics/US government anymore?
1
@GG One good reason to have an impeachment inquiry is because the facts of trump's actions will be made public. We will be able to see what the investigation shows and make up our mind if the actions are legal or not. Of course, the outcome in the Senate cannot be known but it will not be for lack of information.
1
‘Bullying’ is something that our kids encounter in hallways, cafeterias, playgrounds all too frequently. So, it’s no surprise they understand the reasons for impeachment the president. It’s bullying on an international level. I’m bigger than you, I want something from you, you’d better give it to me or I’ll take your lunch money and keep it. Nobody needs to know about this, so keep it quiet! Donald Trump has asked a foreign government for “dirt” on a political rival to get re-elected. He’s used federal money, taxpayers’ money to pressure that foreign government. He’s shown a consciousness of wrongdoing by trying to conceal these facts. These actions alone are a flagrant abuse of power and a betrayal of the American people. We either have principles that we live by or we don’t. Donald Trump needs to be impeached and removed from the Office of President of the United States.
12
Yes or no to impeach? I changed to "yes" when Pelosi said yes.
6
Trump is now Tweeting that there will be a Civil War if he is impeached. If he is saying things this vulgar now, what will he be Tweeting if impeached? What will come from his Twitter fingers if he loses the 2020 election? Trump creates his own realities. How will we ever get Trump out of the WH? He is becoming more and more unhinged.
Trump:"They know the only Impeachable offense that President Trump has committed was beating Hillary Clinton in 2016. That’s the unpardonable sin for which the Democrats will never forgive him…..If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.” Pastor Robert Jeffress, @FoxNews
1
@Carol Ring We are already involved in a civil war. I know people who will not read any news that is not Conservative because they can't trust news outlets already labeled as 'liberal'!
Electing this man as president of the United States was a collective act of irresponsibility. Those who voted for Trump should feel the burden of this profane being systematically defrauding our democracy. What an awful, shameful time it is in America.
5
What difference will impeachment make to our nation? and what is the wrong doing of the president? Answer to both these questions is NOTHING. The silent majority of the USA is not interested in extreme partisanship that has been around for decades no mater which country the president is from . Address some pressing issues like Homelessness, universal health care, no new regime change wars, pollution,sky high national debt.
2
@Girish Kotwal Where does extreme partisanship come from.....is it a disease? Or is it that the elected leaders have no interest in working for the American people and have renegged on their responsibility and are only in government to have power.
@christine maciel now in Penn, I agree with your conclusion and add that most elected leaders make a career out of being elected to pad their own pockets and keep grabbing power. They are like birds of the same feather flocking together in congress and senate. Our district has elected the same congress man for at least 5 times. I see him rarely doing anything for the people.
2
I predict that the polls will show a gradual rise in the percentage of voters who approve of impeachment. This is for two reasons: (1) the act of pressuring another country to investigate a political opponent of the president for his personal gain is one that is clearly immoral and wrong; and
(2) the impeachment investigation is quite likely to uncover more wrongful acts by this president than even the many ones that we are already know about. Each uncovered act will persuade more uncommitted voters to approve impeachment.
The GOP must step up to the plate and do what is right for America, regardless of what is good for the party. No president, regardless of party, can violate his sacred oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."
10
I am a moderate independent voter and I support impeachment. No president should be allowed to commit treason without answering for it.
I do not believe that the Senate will impeach, but hopefully it will be a step toward encouraging voters to remove those Senators that continue to support Trump, regardless of his high crimes and misdemeanors. I will be voting for Hickenlooper over Gardner as my part.
5
Nate, there are only two polls that count with respect to judging President Trump's alleged "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" (Art. II, U.S. Constitution).
The first will take place when -- and if -- Speaker Pelosi feels empowered to summon a roll-call vote of the 435 members of the House, every one of whom is up for reelection 13 months from now (unless they plan to retire).
The vote to impeach will predictably be along party lines but swing-district Democrats, as they cast their "aye" votes to impeach, will need to be nervous about their reelection prospects only a few months down the road.
There is no poll predicting that 67 members of the Senate (a third of them up for reelection next year ) will vote to convict the sitting U.S. president, regardless of how ill-advised his communications may have been.
So what has Speaker Pelosi managed to accomplish in the past week? 1. She's pacified the strident members of her party for the time being. 2. She's gotten the "I-word" writ large in banner heads across front pages of the NYT and WaPo and all the local and regional papers that subscribe to the Times' service 3. She's roiled the waters between the U.S. and nations overseas, who may not fully understand that there's no conceivable way that Donald Trump will be convicted by the Senate.
And 4: She's ensured that Elizabeth Warren will be the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party a little over a year from now, and is destined to be overwhelmed by a reelected Donald Trump.
3
I appreciate the author's comments about the nature of these polls, putting the results into context. We don't see that often enough. I feel like politics is far too poll-driven as it is, although I am conflicted by wanting to know what others are thinking :)
4
Well if a mojority of the American people want to live in a country run by unelected sercuity state opperatives what hope is there for the rest of us? Fools will reap what they sow. All to satisfy their, well cultivated, dislike of a single man.
17
@Daphne I'm sorry, Daphne. "Dislike" is not adequate. Try "Despise."
33
@Daphne We'd like to live in a country governed by laws that apply to all. We'd also like to have faith that the president understands that using his office for personal gain is not what America is about.
Alas, we won't be able to say those things with a straight face as long as Twitler is still stinking up the Oval Office.
95
@Daphne
Not a single man, but every robot Republican in Congress who are complicit in the destruction of our country.
65
The booby prize is President Pence.
7
If Congress were controlled by Republicans, they'd be obliged by Dems to at least discuss censure. Since Dems control it, it's discussing impeachment. I'm a Republican, and I think
an impeachment inquiry is warranted, though politically futile. I'm sick of Trump. Unfortunately, Biden is caught up in this.
3
@mainliner He's not caught up in it; trump is trying to pass the blame around. I don't see any evidence that biden did anything illegal in his contacts with Ukraine.
1
"We don't know yet."
An awfully long column to make this point.
3
Impeach Trump is rarely published by the NYTimes recently. Why is that?
1
Why doesn’t the NYTimes emphasize the shift against our criminal president ? Have they no opinion what so ever, don’t they care. Have they no editor? Why not share it with his readers? The NYTimes secretive is maddening.
3
Courageous leadership has to be taken against proven wrong doing despite popular opinion in polls and it was! That being said it would be good to compare these polls to those in the same period in the Nixon impeachment process. Whether Trump remains in office-- if he does not resign to save face as Nixon did before then--or not depends on Democrats rallying around a suitable candidate and Democratic voters showing up in the same numbers for voting as they did in 2008 and 2012.
6
45% will always be against Impeachment because 45% will vote for the Criminal-in-Chief regardless of what he does.
7
I think this 'shift' in public opinion is a bunch of made up huey…...These surveys were done on what? The east and west Coasts where people think the world revolves around them.
The obvious hatred for DJT is mystifying Do you people bring your kids up to hate and disrespect and be hysterical because they don't get what they want?
My biggest wish is that he gets elected again bc seeing grown people on national TV becoming unglued is rich. Remember that question? Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago? The new question should be: Are you going to let your childish behavior of showing hate escalate for the next 4 years? This hatred is making people stumble all over themselves...and the Dems ideas for making things better? You all need to check with "The Squad" for that...and by the way, how's that working out for you?
6
@Nancy - Don't you hate the burglar and liar in your living room, who has tied you up and gagged you (election fraud on multiple levels), while he continues to ransack your home?
By the way, the "Squad" is great.
7
No it is not garbage. You should read the Constitution!
8
@Nancy I don't hate Trump. I hate what he has done to the office of president- the childish tweeting, the lies, the victimhood, the self-serving and self-enriching behavior, the pandering to dictators while trashing long-time allies. These are dangerous behaviors, and most are unprecedented. He pays porn stars for silence, cheats on his wife, demands loyalty above all else—even when the Constitution demands otherwise from his cabinet and appointees. It is heartbreaking to watch. As for the coasts? We're now 1/3 of the population, while the rural areas hover around 19%.
3
Democrats need a good spanking at the polls. It’s the only thing that’s going to stop their endless childish tantrums.
5
I'm wondering if what might be different "this time" for a large number of people in the context of support for impeachment is we are now talking about possible "next" election "tampering/nefariousness", rather than possible "last" election tampering/nefariousness. Is there a difference? Yes and no, IMO, but more yes than no. Because after all we've been through, "OMG, he really IS that stupid! Still!!" must be going through many more minds than just mine. Also, this time, there appears to be potentially much less spinning/fudging opportunity about what "he may have said/she may have said two years ago" - given the non-word-for-word-but-still-pretty-explicitly-nefarious-appearing documentation - submitted by the White House as apparently fairly representing the actual discussion for all intents and purposes.
4
I support an impeachment inquiry, authorized by a vote in the House. I do not support sending formal Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
At this point in time, successful impeachment results in President Pence, equally corrupt (although not as obvious about it) and eligible to run for two more terms. There are scores of "never Trump"-ers who would happily vote for Pence.
Use the damning evidence obtained to show the voting public how Trump has used his office for personal gain at the expense of national security. Perhaps more importantly, use the evidence to show how Senate Republicans supported Trump knowing full well what he was doing.
7
Who are you polling???? Not me. I voted for Trump and will again in 2020. Your headlines are truly misleading.
5
@Chris Anderson
I have a question, Chris. A majority of Trump voters (52%) tell pollsters that they think black people are lazy and/or stupid. As a Trump supporter, what do you think of that? Do you know anybody like that? Would perhaps you be like that? Do you think maybe Trump is like that? Because if you vote for him, that’s what you’re voting for. God Bless America and how unfortunate that so many people don’t want it blessed.
8
@Chris Anderson I wasn't polled either, and want Trump and his band of corrupt, power hungry minions outta there as fast as possible. I didn't vote for Trump, and don't understand the motivation of the majority of those that do. I suspect if those people who never get polled (young voters and non-white Americans), the % would likely be much higher.
7
@Chris Anderson
Because the pollsters didn't talk to YOU, the headlines are misleading?
Trump will now simply revert to his tried and true racist fear-mongering and rant ceaselessly and endlessly about yet another “witch hunt” by the deep state and his Fox re-inforced white supremacist supporters will dance any tune he calls, however devoid of facts, reality or reason. But the worm is turning. The times have indeed asked a question. The articles of impeachment must charge high treason in conspiring with, and now being beholden to Puppet Master Putie — not to mention the murdering dictator prince of our old oil platform — and multiple violations of the Emoluments Clause, and obstructing justice by lying to or cowardly refusing to testify before the Special Counsel and by refusing to respond to Congressional questions/requests for testimony/documents in fulfilling it’s oversight role under Article 1 and exercising it’s power of impeachment. Guliani needs jail time, Barr needs to resign and be disbarred, and old trump gotta go. Now.
8
"Many voters do not pay close attention to the news; they may have no idea why the president suddenly faces impeachment."
Part of the reason we are where we are. Let's throw the bums out and start fresh. And, in the meantime, let's make sure the news gets out.
4
Aw, maaan! Talk about bait and switch: "more folks favor impeachment! Because faulty data collection!"
I was always under the impression that screaming headlines were within the purview of the nightly news telecasts. And Fox "News".
Trump is so oblivious to what constitutes illegal behavior that has actually been disclosing the information that was required to convince Nancy Pelosi to initiate this inquiry. If he isn’t impeached due to illegal activities and abuse of power, he should be impeached for being not all that smart.
5
Sorry folks. There are many Americans like myself who abhor the democrats and most of the cable media “talking heads.” Trump has been front and center of their hatred as soon as he announced his candidacy. The democrats have engaged in filthy, rotten, gutter politics from day one. FISA, deep state traitors, CIA, FBI, kavanaugh, the mueller report, kavanaugh....all failed attempts to bring down the president. I am not in favor of impeachment, nor is anybody I know. We are all educated, world travelers and living comfortably in retirement. We often bristle at some of his comments and behavior. But he has done a good job in leading our country, even though he has been berated, tormented and abused 24/7 by the MSM.
3
Increased support for impeachment is being driven by the truth, by our laws, and by love of country.
14
I happened to catch about one minute of a Flush Limbaugh re-broadcast from earlier this amazing week. In it, he is GOP-splaining the trump disaster. Specifically, he was deriding the impeachment investigation, claiming that “...the Democrats are investigating before they know anything...”
Of course, Flush. That is the purpose of an investigation. To find things out, to discover, to reveal, to gain information and knowledge. Duh.
I love listening to trump’s media clown car cavalcade, full of screeching voices, honking horns, garish balloons, and lots of smoke, driving madly around in circles, all trying desperately to convince their base that “there is no there there” and make the “nothing burger” go away. Which it won’t. The stench of trump’s latest example (but by no means his only, or his last) of his egregious, ego-maniacal behavior is not going to dissipate until long after that cretin is gone.
6
The author should know you can’t poll Trump. However, the rise in any desire for impeachment, if real, is probably Trump supporters eager to see Democrat self immolation running up to 2020. And that is precisely what it will be, especially since Democrat front runners are wanting to put the US on the North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela track. My god, the rending of cloth and gnashing of teeth on the Left that will be election night 2020....
2
links to polls?
1
Feb, '74 - 38% of Americans supported impeaching Nixon.
Aug, '74 - Nixon resigned.
11
you are also the person who predicted that Hillary clinton will win with 80% probability. Why should we believe anything you say?
3
@Pompom
"Probability" is about what happens in the long run, over many trials. When we say a coin toss has 50-50 probability of heads or tails, it means that if we toss a coin many times we will "probably" get about half heads and about half tails. But if we toss the coin only once then the concept of probability does not apply.
Consider rolling one die one time. The odds of getting any number are one-in-six, or about 16%. When you roll the die you get a number. That number had only 16% chance of happening, but no one is surprised that a number results.
In the case of the Trump-Clinton election, pollsters predicted Trump had about 16% chance of winning. We rolled the die once, and the number 3 came up. That doesn't mean the polls were wrong, or that the Times was spreading false information. It simply means the less likely option is what happened.
1
Never ever run or elect a businessman again.
They love $$$ and power NOT country.
7
The Reds are vicious impeachers without just cause. Why should we refrain when our cause is supremely just? Fight fire with fire. "Lock them up!" Redistribute all the Trump family wealth to poor and needy people.
2
My birthday is in November. That would be a very nice birthday gift.
2
It is early days, folks. And half the country is tuned into the Faux Fox news cycle with pro Trump pundits. I hope the trend continues to inch up, indicating support for impeachment. But it’s early days.
And Americans are exhausted.
1
I am relieved to see Democrats finally gaining control of a narrative that should have been theirs from the beginning of this rancid administration. Perhaps it's because this would-be quid pro quo situation is easy enough for even those who are not paying attention to understand. Whatever the reason, it is incumbent upon Democrats to keep up not only the heat but the momentum and the messaging. It is also vital to let "those just tuning in" know that this Democratic-controlled House has been passing all kinds of legislation only to see it wither and die on Moscow Mitch's desk. If the newly aware are not also made aware of that reality, then Trump's latest witchhunt lies will stick. I urge Democrats to continue to be assertive but also to be complete.
2
For several years we have been told that Trump should be impeached because he colluded with Russia. Several years! Adam Schiff went so far as to say he had proof that Trump colluded with Russia but could not share it publicly because it was classified. During this time the nation's business was ignored. Then Mueller, after 500 interviews, conducted by 50FBI agents under the guidance of 15 lawyers said he found no collusion. No collusion after almost two years of political paralysis! So then the talk was of obstruction but Mueller reached no conclusion on that so Nadler took up where Mueller left off. Now all that business (Nadler, Russia, obstruction) is off and now it's impeachment about a phone call that was called for before a whistle blower's complaint was even made public and without a vote. The common thread in all this is there is a blood lust to get even with Trump for having the audacity to win an election he was supposed to lose. Like a fighter who doesn't take a dive in a fixed fight must be taken care of. Well a lot of us moderate Democrats (yeah, I voted for Bill twice and Al Gore, I'm a Democrat) are furious about using impeachment as I was when Bill Clinton was impeached will vote for Trump instead of Biden as I intended. Warren? Forget about it.
1
@alan brown
I love when somebody says “I’m a Democrat but I’ll vote for Trump.” Baloney. A Democrat doesn’t vote for an autocrat.
8
I have waivered on impeachment: believing that Trump had indeed committed impeachable offenses but concerned that Congress would get bogged down and preferring to see the House produce legislation that would show the American electorate the difference in the Democratic vision for our country and the Republican. However Trump is destroying the presidency, the constitutional construct of a balance of powers and our foreign policy. If we fail to impeach we will be destroying all norms by which this country has been governed since the ratification of the Constitution. I just hope they add to the articles of impeachment the harm he has done to the fabric of this country by fomenting hate to further his own political interests. For me, the race and class hatred he has engendered is his worst crime.
7
These polls are kind of a joke. Trump's administration is a house of cards. The Ukrainian story will unfold like a strong wind, and it will probably collapse. Whether the Senate votes Trump out or not, he'll lose an election by a landslide. Republicans will look at the Democratic field, especially Warren, and what will they think? A solid stalwart will trounce her, while Trump could lose. Trump may have a rabid base, but most Republicans I know are bluffing.
What Democrats need to be thinking about is how to manage this administration's collapse. They sorely wish it, but be careful. The various Democrat candidates piled into a race because they knew Trump was a weak candidate. What happens if he's not the candidate? Biden's raison d'etre disappears, and progressives face the reality that they're too small a fraction to compete against a mainstream Republican.
1
If a majority of We, The People have no idea what the impeachment ruckus is all about, and don't care to learn, then they should not be allowed to vote. Look what happened the last time a poorly educated minority elected a president...
My real concern is that the House will vote to impeach, and the Senate will find the president not guilty along party lines. The poorly educated will see this as a Democratic conspiracy to unseat the president based on politics rather than upon facts and reality, and vote accordingly in 2020. A travesty of democracy...
2
“We knew what we were getting when we voted for him”. We sure did, that’s why 3,000,000 more of us didn’t vote for him.
8
This is surely the hope of Nancy Pelosi--that declaring the serious step of a coordinated impeachment inquiry will wake up Americans to the threat to our laws and institutions of "The Great Divider" Trump. Naysayers, like the TImes' David Brooks, have all too many great-sounding reasons for decrying this impeachment spurt.
But a quick, properly targeted House effort to zero-in on the worst Trump offenses can indeed turn public opinion to the seriousness of his dishonesty, dissembling, and fraudulence and his threat to our values and institutions. It can divide Republicans (witness the Fox Newsroom brawl over the whistle-blower's complaint!) and enlist Independents toward breaking the wall of silence that keeps Trump's poll numbers up.
Americans need to be reminded that it's not just our national disgrace of a president who needs to be publicly shamed and discredited for the good of the republic, it's all his enablers. For good citizens to focus on merely evicting Trump from office, either by impeachment or by ballot defeat, misses the problem of the morally and intellectually corrupt party that regurgitated him from its ranks.
3
@Tom
"dissembling" -- We should just call that what it is -- lying.
My dear old grandfather, rest his soul, used to say that "a deliberate half-truth is exactly the same as a deliberate lie." Kind of hard to argue with that.
On Friday night's PBS News Hour David Brooks' commentary with Mark Shields used some painful logic about why impeachment will be a failure. Mark Shields's response was to ignore Trumps trashing of ethics and constitutional law is party to the responses of the Republicans, or paraphrasing "do we ignore this and do nothing"? This is not a "nothing burger".
This is salmonella tainted meat that has polarized this country back to the 1930's of hate filled rhetoric and racism. We understand that the Republican majority will vote to support Trump. If a few Republican-defending politicians can raise their consciousness, the world according to the Trump/ Putin/Saudi murderers will recover by 2021 and The U.S. can again set the standard for constitutional democracy. I'm still hoping for the better angels to influence the vote.
3
The Democratic Party needs frontmen. It needs politicians who can go out every day and clearly and forcefully talk about the evidence, engage “the audience” — because these days that’s what voters have become — and then change the subject to Democratic policies. The party once had somebody who could do that. They had a great frontman. His name was Franken. But thanks to one opportunistic senator and one jealous and angry senator, he’s now gone. They had better find somebody else PDQ, But where? There’s nobody on the horizon who can do the job. That spells trouble.
4
The current scandal presents issues that are crisper and cleaner—and that haven’t already been the subject of two years presidential mudslinging:
—The president clearly and plainly asked the president of the Ukraine to conduct an investigation of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate he sees his number one rival.
—He made that request after having previously suspended payment of military aid Congress had appropriated for Ukraine’s defense and in direct response to the Ukrainian president’s plea for help.
—The record memorializing this conversation was kept in a file reserved for top secret intelligence matters—which this clearly was not—thus giving the appearance of a coverup.
And the president’s defenses haven’t gotten much traction. “No quid pro quo” doesn’t really resonate when the whole idea of asking a foreign leader to get dirt on a rival just feels so wrong. Neither does “no pressure”—especially not to women who have experienced sexual harassment (i.e., most of us) and who thus understand the contextual use of power. And some of the other defenses—such as Barr’s pronouncement that investigation of a rival was “not a thing of value”—don’t even pass the straight face test.
If the Democrats can keep this inquiry focused, with crisp, effective questioning like Adam Schiff’s of Mueller, and if they can keep the grandstanders out of what should be a straightforward search for truth, public support for impeachment will likely keep rising.
5
Curious how the multiple polls frame the question. Did they include any comedic quips from Goodfellas to bias the objectivity?
Sample questions, Do you agree or disagree that Elected Officials who commit treason should be help accountable?
Is covering up criminal malfeasance and enlisting others to sweep it under the rug meet the good housekeeping seal of approval?
How the Pollsters frame the questions can skew the results.
4
Learn from history. Here is how to proceed imo. Only impeach if you have a majority of Americans on your side, including purple states.
There is no question Trump committed many impeachable offenses but it doesn't do the country any good if you impeach and the public is not behind it and you help re elect him.
Many great leaders taught us this including Lincoln. He put up with the evil of slavery until he got the public behind him with the 13th amendment.
If the public is still not behind the democrats, better to oust this alleged criminal Trump thru the ballot box in 2020 and go after him criminally when he is out of office.
2
More people are just getting sick of him. It's less about the specifics of this latest incident than the accumulation of behaviors from this president that make us feel bad about ourselves as Americans.
A conjecture.
4
After what has come out since Friday night alone I would imaging that % is higher now.
2
The president has committed crimes as evident from the whistle-bower report. The Muller report listed at least 10 cases of obstruction of justice; they are also crime. Our constitution and laws say that anyone who commits such crimes must be held accountable, period. Political, economic consequences and public opinion polls are completely irrelevant to the application of the rule of law. If this president is allowed to violate our constitution and laws with impunity, it sets a precedent for future presidents and all of us to do the same. Then, we become a rogue state. Is that what we want?
3
Trump soliciting help from a foreign government to improve his chances of winning a second term against a political rival while in office is exactly the reason Hamilton suggested a president face impeachment in the Federalist Papers. It is abuse of power pure and simple. There is no other way to sugar coat this. If we are a not a nation of laws we exist solely as a Monarchy and not a Repulblic. The case for impeachment is deliciously plain to see for the majority of this country and interestingly enough is such a clear case of high crimes that it puts the GOP in a difficult position because they need to somehow spoon feed this their staunchest Trump supporters while they vote to remove him from office as soon as possible so they may field another GOP contender for 2020.
4
Every document that the Trump administration Characterized as classified and moved to the classified information servers Sole the sole purpose of hiding them from scrutiny needs to be daylighted for all to see.
Trump and his unethical enablers In Congress complained about Hillary Clinton’s Use of her private server for the storage of classified materials. Here we have Donald Trump hiding what are allegedly political materials on highly restricted classified servers to keep them out of public view.
I want to know what Trump and Putin discussed other than Trump probably promising Putin a luxury condo if Putin kept quiet about the 2016 election interference.
3
I think back to 2018 when House Democrats were considering ousting Pelosi as Speaker. Thank God they didn't. She waited and waited. Now she has Trump dead to rights and public opinion is starting to swing.
Nixon's approval rating plummeted to 24% before he resigned. Trump's base remains true to him in the low 40's. I'm interested to see if the scandal du jour will crack that 40% floor. If it does, then were talking Pence 2020.
If it doesn't, in the words of recently deceased Robert Hunter, it's gonna be a long strange trip til election night 2020.
3
Most Americans know there's something wrong with this President, and that's certainly hard to dispute after recent revelations of his "nothing phone call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to get "dirt" on his political opponent, much like he did in 2016, when he asked if Russia was listening...they were.
And if there's any truth to Trump having made this call to Mr. Zelensky, and it certainly looks that way -- then it's an impeachable offense.
PERIOD.
This is more than a political ploy or as Trump calls it, a "witch hunt", and it's more than just some partisan bickering.
This is a serious offense that not only compromises national security, but the sanctity of our free and democratic election process.
And it also isn't the first time Mr. Trump has thumbed his nose at the U.S. Constitution and Presidential Oath of Office.
That's why an impeachment INQUIRY is not only just, but long overdue.
No one is above the law.
3
Today I responded to a question from my congress person, 'Do you favor impeachment?' I responded in the affirmative. Because this is a GOP leaning district, I do not expect there to be a groundswell to support impeachment. Yet the fact that I was asked the question is an indication that the Congress person is not brushing this off, and will use the poll's results to guide their actions. I do not expect much from a congress person who claimed to be Trump's biggest supporter (really), but it shows that there is active interest in learning what the constituents think.
3
"Many voters do not pay close attention to the news"....
But could it be that the simple word "impeachment" has finally pierced the otherwise self absorbed consciousness of average Americans?
Could it be that there are lines that even Trump can't cross? Could patriotism be re-emerging in the minds of some Republicans and Independents?
Don't look for villainy in your fellow Americans just because they are of a different political party - unless they collude with foreign entities to undermine the free society that we are privileged to live in.
As a citizen, I want to hear Trumps discussions with Putin and MSB. Ukraine may be the tip of the iceberg.
Earth to Trump: this is not your country to run like a Godfather or a Gordon Gecko. It is ours.
3
This top-secret server is Trump's Watergate Tapes. Now we know it exists, and that among other things, it contains transcripts of Trump's conversations with Putin. Putin himself has said he hopes those are not revealed. There is more to come, and it may not be pretty. This Ukraine thing may turn out to be a minor side-show compared to much greater treason yet to be revealed. But if it works, run with it - Al Capone was brought down by tax law.
4
@Voter If there is incontrovertible evidence of treason, then there will be a deal so that senators won't have to vote to convict because there might not even be an impeachment. Instead, Trump will be allowed to resign for physical health reasons which will allow him to say that he's doing it for the good of the country and then the incoming president will pardon Trump, his family and any other bad actors associated with him for past, present & future crimes. Just like Ford & Nixon.
There appears to be an unavoidable economic crisis headed our way, maybe as early as next month. It has nothing to do with impeachment but Trump will no doubt insist that impeachment is the whole cause. In reality Trump's tariffs are part of the problem. Germany is in a recession and their economy is closely tied to China's economy. China's economy is dead in the water thanks to Trump's trade war. The Fed is making huge cash infusions into the economy just this past week that may be intended to help prop up the largest lender in Germany which also has a large presence in this country. Trump is not the cure to the coming crisis, he is a big part of the problem, but it could well be a repeat of the political upheaval of 1933.
6
@kirk: Donald is Trumpolini, not Schickelgruber...
1
Although many would like this to be a purely legal process based on law and facts, what constitutes a violation of public trust lies in the eyes of the beholder, and so public opinion will be critical for the outcome. Lindsey Graham argues Democrats are moving toward impeachment only on "hear-say" evidence of a whistle-blower. But this evidence, found credible by the ICIG, is only the reason a serious inquiry has opened, subpoenas issued, and documents demanded. To move sufficiently the needle of public opinion, especially in a fragmented news environment, is first-hand, undeniable evidence of seeking using public office for private political gain. This inquiry must be handled carefully, as objectively as possible, and, hopefully with some Republican participation. Like Nixon, Trump may try to "stonewall," but this can add another charge to the articles of impeachment. It is all very tricky, especially with so little time left before an election.
7
Let's not drive the discourse based on polls and political calculations. Do we have principles left? Do we believe in the Rule of Law any longer?
20
After flip-flopping on the wisdom of impeachment, I've come to think Trump absolutely must be impeached, assuming the evidence is as discussed publicly. Mr. Schiff said it well: keep it simple and focus on this issue of abuse of power for personal gain.
Let the American people who continue to support Trump see what he's been doing. We've been telling them that he is enriching himself in this office, but many don't believe it or dismiss that. Using the office to get "dirt" on an opponent through withholding vital military support is a clearcut violation of his oath of office and most can understand that.
Meanwhile, let's get the whole bunch out if possible: Pompeo, Barr, Pence and McConnell in particular were likely complicit in this activity. It may be pie-in-the-sky, but it'd be great to see Ms. Pelosi finish up this term of office. She's in line after the VP.
25
@Barbara you need to impeach and convict them.
And since the senate will not convict you statement are pointless.
1
@Barbara
I doubt Rep. Pelosi has any interest in mucking the Augean Stables out.
1
Even if Trump is impeached, he won’t be removed from office. All impeachment will do is strengthen his bid for re-election. And if Trump is reelected after having been impeached, it will inoculate him against being impeached again during his second term.
5
We are in uncharted territory, so you can’t say for a fact what is going to happen. While it’s possible that impeachment without conviction will strengthen his chances of re-election, it’s also very possible that the reverse will happen—because, as the process unfolds and the “inquiry” continues, more information about his wrongdoing and the wrongdoing of his cronies will reach the public. In very short order after disclosure of the so-called “transcript,” we’ve learned that the White House tried to cover up the conversation in violation of yet another law. We’ve also learned that they’re hiding other conversations—including one or more with Putin—that Giuliani and perhaps others, with and without government authority, were roaming Ukraine seeking “dirt” on the BIdens, and that Trump wants whistle-blowers executed. Now that the rug is being lifted, who knows how much more obstruction of justice and abuse of power will we find under it? If Fox viewers watch as much Shep Smith and Chris Wallace as they do Hannity and Ingraham, some of them night actually start to live in the real world. And that will be the end of Trump.
3
@Guapoboy
That seems to be the current wisdom but I think it is completely wrong. Impeachment will hurt Trump a great deal even if it doesn't lead to conviction. For one thing the public will pay more attention to impeachment proceedings, and more will become aware of Trump's misdeeds and crimes. Even Fox news will have to cover it. Then there is the effect it will have on senators if and when it becomes time to vote yea or nay for conviction. To vote nay they will have to go on record as believing enlisting the help of a foreign government in his election is appropriate behavior for a president. Trump's base is very loyal, but it isn't all that big, and I am sure there are some who will put the good of the country above that of Trump once they have been educated as to the totality of unethical and criminal behavior.
6
@Guapoboy It will only "strengthen his bid" amongst his lost supporters. The opposition does not need a single Trump supporter to switch. The opposition only needs to inspire some of the apathetic voters in the abstension pool to rouse themselves off the couch and go save our Nation. If we can't do it, then we all are lost.
4
The mainstream press has been eagerly priming the impeachment pump almost since the beginning of the Trump administration, and has redoubled its efforts towards that goal in the last week, so we really shouldn't be surprised to see polls finally bear the fruits of their activity. So, to a large extent, these results could just be a self-fulfilling prophecy not based on the events of last week.
3
@David Godinez - the Trump administration has been worthy of impeachment almost since its beginning. And your efforts toward whistling past the graveyard of this past week are noted, David.
3
@David Godinez
Agreed. And if, "These polls were conducted in a rapidly developing news environment, sometimes over only a single day of interviews ... Many pollsters refuse to conduct one-day surveys altogether. And these particular pollsters have tended to show more support for impeachment than others over the Trump presidency ...": Why publish this piece, NYT, at all? (And why add, "...they may continue to do so today"? Data please, not speculation. (Darn, I miss fact-based journalism.)
@David Godinez Oh that's right, its the press - not the actions of the president. Please.
3
If We-the-People use the information revealed during the House investigation in November 2020 to get out a record number of Americans to vote the end of Trump's presidential career will be a reality. I trust 100,000,000 Citizens more than the 100 Millionaires who sit in the Senate.
The reality of Trump's presidency is that he not only failed to deliver his signature issue (The Wall) his beneficial efforts have only assisted the top 0.1% of he population. To be sure unemployment is low for two reasons: Boomers are leaving the workforce, the consumer is still spending their cash on things other than necessities and the jobs will continue as long as the consumers are spending.
It is time for the DNC to focus on listening to the Americans in-between the hyper partisans on either side of the political spectrum. Listen to their stories and issues - be Oprah to Trump's "Apprentice" and Trump will become another former president.
Finally, after he is ousted, don't gloat, keep listening and working for all those Americans who aren't part of the top tier of income and investment.
52
@George N. Wells
You left out a third reason: Obama’s economic recovery plan that rescued the economy and stimulated it into a slow, but steady recovery.
Anyone listening to the Democratic candidates knows they are already meeting with, listening to, and proposing plans to help the rest of us and to address the outrageous inequalities and cruelty going on.
3
Trump did this to himself. No way out, not hoax no witch hunt. Trump being Trump saying things on tape best left unspoken. Spinning the telephone conversation impossible. With the IG investigating the complaint finding it credible and urgent spinning my prove counterproductive. Polls will catch up the news eventually as life on earth worsens for Trump.
56
And the shift in public opinion may just be the start of a trend toward wanting impeachment. My bet is that the trend is not in the President's favor. Every new tidbit of evidence makes him look worse. I do not see anything that will help him. Tweet away.
65
We will never know if this apparent "shift" in public opinion toward impeachment was the result of recent revelations re: the Ukraine. Or whether it was just confirmation of what the public already knew but was hesitant to say in the absence of real Democratic leadership.
Make up your minds, Dems. Lead, follow, or get out of the way!
6
It's long past time to remove this treasonous, lawless POTUS from office. The same goes for AG Barr, Giuliani, and all of the other criminals that supported him.
Investigate
Indict
Impeach
Incarcerate
Any Functioning Adult 2020
110
@CMC
Your sequence is wrong and you left out
Convict
Remove from Office
3
@CMC End with 'Trump, your fired!'
2
That "IMPEACH" photo is my new screensaver!!
Thanks.
31
These polls are close to meaningless in an environment where nearly half the population is getting "alternative facts" spun endlessly and shamelessly by Fox.
Fox is at least as guilty of "hacking" public opinion -- in the US and UK -- as any foreign adversary. And the Murdochs are as bad as the Sacklers: the number of people that will die from climate change will dwarf those killed by opioids. The Fox disinformation machine is at least partly to blame.
155
@Rich Apparently there is a lot of dissension inside Fox these days. Shepard Smith and Tucker Carlson have been at each other's throats, Chris Wallace has not been mincing words about how bad this is for Trump and Lachlan Murdoch has been sorting through post-Trump contingency plans.
This fish rots from the head and if Trump goes down, you can bet the Murdochs won't let him take Fox down with him. They'll find some other disinformation campaign to flog, just wait.
5
@Rich, Fox is the leader of the parade of right-wing misinformation including NewsMax, Breitbart, Sinclair, Epoch Times, Salem (the latter hiding behind a religious front) and too many others. At least a few on Fox are starting to criticize the ultraconservatives on the air, but let's see how long that lasts. If it does go on, it might be indicative of a real shift; otherwise, I fear that this moment of good news may be just a bubble easily popped by the right wing steamroller.
3
@Rich
Latest reports I read indicate that only a couple of million people get their “news” from Fox.
Most are too busy with their lives to watch or read the news, let alone Fox!
Funny.
How is it people oppose impeachment after 10,000 lies, the Mueller report, and complete disregard for anything other than feeding the donor class. But now the president leans on the comedian elected to run Ukraine and they say enough?
Perhaps the connection between invitations to Russia to meddle in the first Trump election and motivations to Ukraine to meddle in the second is obvious, even to true believers that Trump is what America needs. No collusion = no pressure. No pressure. No pressure.
3
@larkspur because lying is not an impeachable offence.
I've wanted him out of there since the day he was elected, but opposed impeachment because it would not have result in removal. Now, with such a clear and public case, I think there's a chance of removal, especially remembering how sentiment changed rapidly with Watergate. Yes, we're more divided and partisan now (never though that would be possible in 1974) but Republican senators will need to face the truth, and fast.
31
@diane: I don't think he'll be removed until the 2020 election, but the fact of the House's voting for impeachment will alter the remainder of DJT's presidency in ways that will be better -- or at least less awful -- for the US population.
And, assuming that every spineless-to-date GOP senator votes against conviction, at least their votes will be part of the public record -- which means they won't fare well when they're up for re-election.
36
@diane
What changed for you?!
It was clear early on that Trump had committed impeachable offenses. And, that by not impeaching, Trump was going to keep breaking the law and undermining the Constitution and our electoral process. Which he has.
Besides, many of us long ago pointed out that the Nixon impeachment hearings, especially Dean’s testimony and the revelations of the tapes, changed opinions dramatically, shifting in favor of impeaching and convicting Nixon!
Which is why we rejected the Pelosi mantra that the people have to support impeachment before she was going to push it. She had it backwards and was abdicating her constitutional responsibility.
Those who held back in the past year lacked courage and made misguided political calculations about something that was a constitutional matter—stopping Trump’s corruption and abuse of power AND preserving our democracy.
What’s happening now is that far too many undecideds or weak-as-water folks are going along with the crowd or with a decision that’s been made — not figuring things out for themselves.
Note: Any of Trump’s other misdeeds and scandals thus far could have been given the same clarity, purpose, and backing.
We must give credit to the seven former military, defense, and intelligence moderate congressional reps who wrote the op-ed. They should have sone it sooner, but at least they did it.
Let’s be thankful for the whistleblower and gratified at how glaringly obvious Trump’s corruption is.
2
Impeachment will be very satisfying but what I really want to see is indictment. That is what will close the circle.
121
@arusso: Amen, an orange jumpsuit for Agent Orange.
5
@arusso funny, I want to see his incarceration, or better yet his interment.
5
@ arusso What I want to see is conviction, removal and eventual incarceration. Anything less will be a letdown.
2
"Over all, 46 percent supported impeachment and 42 percent opposed it in an average of the four polls, from YouGov/Huffington Post, HarrisX/Rasmussen, Marist/NPR and Morning Consult/Politico."
That is a change from 40% to support vs 46% opposed after approximately a week.
Wait until the pile of dirt that the Trump administration has been hiding starts to leak out from under the rug.
The same thing happened with Nixon and Watergate, even after Nixon won a huge landslide victory in 1972, 520 Electroral College votes to 17 for George McGovern, with nearly 20 million more popular votes than McGovern. Once the tapes were released under a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court, Nixon was burnt toast.
Trump will end up as a flaming, inedible marshmallow.
40
NYT has not "approved" 6 of my comments in other articles, so I doubt they will approve this comment, but here goes...
Mainstream Media has blackballed any coverage on Joe Biden's withholding $1 Billion of aid to Ukraine - unless Ukraine fired the prosecutor (Shokin) investigating Hunter Biden's $50,000/month salary from Burisma, a large Ukraine natural gas company.
Hunter Biden had zero experience in the energy industry, and zero experience in the Ukraine. Yet he and his firm were paid $160,000/month by Burisma. Hmmm...
Shokin just released an affidavit outlining Biden's role in his firing.
Mainstream America knows that mainstream media is biased and has lost its integrity because it presents only select information instead of the whole picture.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/463307-solomon-these-once-secret-memos-cast-doubt-on-joe-bidens-ukraine-story
https://www.scribd.com/document/427618359/Shokin-Statement#download
7
@billy,
that's because it's been investigated and your story has been debunked. catch up...
108
@billy
Half the world was pressuring Ukraine to fire Shokin because he *wasn't* investigating corruption. The pressure Biden put on Ukraine was to do *more* prosecuting of corruption, not less and Shokin had dropped any prosecution of the natural gas company years before. The allegations of corruption were from before Hunter was asked to join the board. If anything, the pressure Joe Biden put on Ukraine would have been more likely to increase the scrutiny on the company, dragging it out from the cold case files.
7
@Billy
Nothing illegal with the Bidens, although it is questionable ethically.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rferl.org/amp/30181445.html
I love seeing those big, orange letters.
But unless a percentage of the Republicans get on board and support this notion, those huge orange letters will continue to fall on eyes covered up by the cover up.
13
Trump has managed to divide this country more than any other person in recent history. As Americans, we should be spirited and passionate about our disagreements with one another, but we should also always remain civil. Can't we disagree without seeking foreign intervention to knee cap the other side? Trump has betrayed America, this is treason.
42
@Mike B: While I agree that remaining civil would be great -- it should be part of every pol's job requirements -- the bigger problem is that the GOP stopped playing by the rules at least 20+ years ago, with the ascent of thugs like Gingrich.
Gingrich was both inflammatory and a rule-breaker. But if I had to choose between a polite lawbreaker and a rude law-upholder, I'd far rather have the stress of the rudeness -- at least the rule of law wouldn't be under assault.
1
Bear in mind that Nixon supporters were reluctant to acknowledge that he was a crook. That was the case for a long time.
54
@A I know several that still believe Nixon should never have quit and refuse to believe he had any guilt whatsoever
1
@A: A good point, but it's also true that Nixon's lawlessness was investigated in a pre-Internet, pre-cable-TV world.
I believe that DJT's downfall is coming, but be prepared for a crazy and unsettling degree of vitriol, discord, and lie-spewing -- not only because of the Internet / cable TV but because the current GOPs are defiant bullies and thugs to a degree not seen in the 1970s.
3
I was cautious of impeachment until this. This administration and president is the result of years of looking the other way and assuming our democracy could never be touched. The good thing that will come out of this is that we will create laws to fill in the loopholes exploited, and we will never take our democracy for granted again.
The reason we need to impeach is that the Framers gave us this remedy to keep our democracy in tact and to preserve the Constitution. It is separate from the 2020 election. Let's pray in this social media time the Democrats hire professionals and precede with good ideas and caution. Do not forget the silence from the Republicans; they created this Frankenstein.
74
@hw Well said; trump is a monster that the Republicans created and continue to support as he destroys our democracy. Their support of his behavior has revealed their true nature. They "serve" only themselves and their rich benefactors, not the nation.
3
@hw
“Do not forget the silence from the Republicans.”
The cacophony emanating from the face holes of Senators Lindsey, McCarthy, and others, is anything but the sound of silence. It’s the persistent, unequivocal, unabashed, committed, very vocal support of admirers, and gleeful abettors.
1
Based on the last three years of Mr. Trump et al, I wish they would take a straw poll of this voter. The vote to move forward with an impeachment inquiry (and subsequent impeachment if the facts truly support it) would have a 100% impeach vote.
9
I once opposed but not now. Impeach this guy. He is an insult to our country.
155
@Sarah99 - Trump is much worse than "an insult." He is the most dangerous threat to our democracy and world stability since the Civil War.
113
@A Goldstein
In medical terms, an insult is the cause of some kind of physical or mental injury. For example, a burn on the skin (the injury) may be the result of a thermal, chemical, radioactive, or electrical event (the insult).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insult_(medical)
In that sense, Trump is an INSULT, to the US and to the world.
24
@Sarah99 - and take his toady Pence down with him. He is quieter but similarly culpable.
3
With a country that is split by a 2 party system, does it make sense that we start having one party impeach the president of the opposite party? Look at all the things that have been attempted to malign the current president. So far nothing has been fruitful. Its now 2019 and they are still trying to disrupt the presidency. So the president was talking to Ukraine and asked them to investigate corruption involving the former Vice President of the US. There was enough information certainly to warrant such an investigation. Rather than looking at this as a good thing, they want to accuse Trump of wrong doing. He should say, we will give you all the millions of dollars of tax money and we want you to get rid of corruption, but not those with ties to democrats or vice presidents.. Come on. Ukraine is extremely corrupt and starting with the highest American official ties sounds like a good place to start.
5
@Mark
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth" - Albert Einstein
I can understand that Trump's supporters feel they have been vilified and that liberals have not supported the President from the outset, that the liberal media is against Trump. The President should act according to the United States interests, not his own. I have no lost love for Hilary or Bill Clinton or any liberal for that matter.
The person behind the complaint alleges that the President directed his staff to withhold funds to the Ukraine in order to further his political aims. At the very least, can't you see that these allegations are troubling and that they warrant further investigation? If Ukraine is corrupt, which I do not disagree with you that they are, then why do you trust them to investigate Joe Biden, that their conclusions would be sound and just?
Why do you trust that any foreign government will act in our best interests and not their own? Remember, the investigations into Donald Trump thus far have resulted in the convictions of Michael Flynn, Rick Gates, Paul Manafort, and Michael Cohen, among others. These were not fruitless investigations, these people committed crimes, for which they have been punished. Are you able to step outside of your own loyalties and ask yourself, could I be wrong?
66
@Mark
No.
The president's actions insult the integrity of our nation and of our election process. He tried to pressure a foreign leader into investigating his own political opponent. That is venal use of federal office for personal gain.
This is not Democrats out to get tRump. This is complete lack of respect for his own oath of office and for the rule of law. The dirt comes from tRump. If you like him, own the dirt too.
70
@Mark You really think this is not a serious offense?? He asked for a personal favor, he told another head of state to talk with his personal lawyer. Let's say that Hunter Biden is guilty - why bring it up now? Is this the most important use of your time? And, why delay promised arms assistance to Ukraine? It reeks of trying to get foreign governments to influence our elections. If there is so much information, then he certainly didn't need to ask another country for any information. I am assuming you are a supporter of Trump. Really think about this, is this ok with you? Would this type of thing be ok with you if it was a Democrat president? Because once you've allowed it with one side, the other will be able to do it too. Be careful with what you ask for.
42
Rasmussen doesn’t qualify as poll, it’s propaganda.
11
@Imperato
Yet they called 2016 correctly....
6
If Americans are ambivalent about what is now unfolding with Trump's attempt to get Ukraine to interfere with the 2020 elections, then they certainly won't mind watching our democracy transition into a corrupt dictatorship. But they probably will not realize what's happened.
At least we see first term House members with military and intelligence backgrounds now demanding impeachment.
80
Put your helmets on. The avalanche of disgust has begun.
As the facts are disseminated, it will pick up speed.
Even trump supporters are disgusted by this behavior.
I think finding the coverup was more damaging than the original crime of extortion and trying to influence the election. They are all bad but the coverup shows that wrong-doing has been acknowledged.
How many trump staffers didn’t blow or even pick up the whistle?
128
When the bulk of the article essentially qualifies the headline, and warns why we shouldn't read too much into it, one is left to ask, "why write that headline at all, now?"
11
As the Gutless Obtuse Pariahs desperately continue to GOP-splain their self-proclaimed “nothing burger” with all their smoke and mirrors meant to distract and soothe their base, the rest of the nation (i.e., the majority) will become very aware of the systemic corruption that has pervaded the White House for nearly three years.
It was abundantly clear on January 20, 2017, as trump took the oath of office, that he had never read the Constitution, had no interest in trying to understand it or the intricacies of our government, and would do everything and anything to “preserve, protect, and defend” his own self-interest. In this, he has not disappointed. he sees the entire country as merely a means to enrich himself and constantly inflate his weak and infantile ego.
The GOP and the trump media mouthpiece will continue to wave their hands and scream “There’s no there there,” as they try to keep their base in line. It may work with their base - they are easily distracted by noise and shiny objects. But the rest of us will see more and more clearly just how rotten and putrid this careening clown car of an administration is and has been from day one.
87
I place responsibility for the formal inquiry at the feet of "the squad". Nancy Pelosi acquiesced to keep them quiet. Well, they are now quiet.
So is all of the reporting from the campaign trail. The 18 or however many, are still in the race, are running stealth campaigns. There are rumors that Warren has slipped ahead of Biden. Booker was about to drop out. Tulsi Gabbard had committed some sort of heresy. Harris and Klobachar are MIA.
The front page of the NYT is bereft of campaign information. And, will continue to keep the wraps on the candidates, util ...
1. there is a mass shooting
2. Iran launches an attack in the Persian Gulf
3. Justice Ginsburg falls ill, again
4. the stock market collapses, for one reason or another
5. the candidates return to D.C. with secret information from the heartland, (fix healthcare, common sense gun control, control climate change)
This public service announcement has been brought to you by "the squad".
1
@Mike:
Ok: great. BUT what does it have to do with Trump holding aid to Ukraine hostage over seeing Biden's sons accused of various "corruption" crimes?
14
@Mike FYI, Breitbart is still covering the Democrats. And, Bernie says the impeachment must be over quickly.
2
@Mike RGB falling ill and retiring will be great. The now disgraced Biden, creator of the "Biden Rule" will no longer be applicable and Trump will nominate the next USSC Justice.
2
Any student of philosophy will tell you that the only thing you can be 100% sure about is your own existence. At best, anything else approaches 99.9999...%. Did Apollo 11 actually land on the Moon? 95%. Does Bigfoot trod the hinterlands of the American northwest? 35%. Are UFO's piloted by extraterrestrial visitors? 25%.
Ultimately, the question of any poll regarding political probabilities suffers from one main issue: There are too many "players" attempting to influence the perceptions of pollees. Polls hint at how successful players are at manipulating the American psyche. Polls themselves are tools in their hands...
Will the American electorate punish the Democrats for an impeachment inquiry into a President that plays "fast and loose" with the rule of law? 40%.
Whoops! Did i just become a player???
4
Polling, even if we dismiss the problem of getting reliably random samples these days, are meaningless when we seek instant opinion even as the light from the ‘BREAKING NEWS pixels are still fading. It’s not enough time to decide to scratch or ignore an itch, let alone think through the tangle of impeachment po;itics.
5
Early polls suggest there is now an incremental shift among Republicans who favor impeachment. Months ago, AG Barr's highly partisan "nothing to see here" summary gave people the false idea that Trump had been exonerated despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, yet Nancy Pelosi balked at an impeachment inquiry. One wonders how public opinion might have shifted had the Speaker had the courage to begin an inquiry as soon as the Mueller report became public.
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@Greg Truempy, I think Pelosi was keeping her powder dry. It's early days in the impeachment battle to come, but I believe she, and Democracy itself will triumph in the end.
1
It seems plausible that support for impeachment will shift modestly as many of the 20-30% of Democrats who opposed it come on board. It will be interesting to see whether the shift starts to go beyond that.
It will also be interesting to analyze any emerging differences between "support for an impeachment inquiry" and "support for a House vote to impeach," distinctions that may be slightly muddied in the early data.
19