Gee, I wonder why the Democrats have been so enthusiastic about investigationg Trump (with nothing to show for it), but are so upset about Trump suggesting that widespread rumors about Biden misbehavior (including photographic evidence of his lying about contact with principals in the alleged corruption) should be investigated.
One could argue that Trump just wants to get the facts (if it were a Democrat urging investigation of a Republican, that's what Friedman would be claiming). Being of a suspicious nature, I suspect Trump knows there is enough truth in the widespread rumors to disqualify Biden, leaving only crazy redistributionist, pro-illegal, "free-stuff" candidates running on the Democrat side -- just want Trump wants for a 2016 repeat.
16
@james -
Many other world leaders and organizations were lobbying to have the prosecutor in Ukraine removed because of his corruption. He was not just shaking down by threatening to investigate the oligarch and the energy company, but many other people and institutions in Ukraine. With his removal also being the official position of the President of the United States, I fail to see why Vice President Biden was doing something underhanded, especially when he was appointed point man on the issue by President Obama.
One can argue a lot of things, but the preponderance of evidence we currently have suggests that targeting former V.P. Biden was simply a political ploy by Trump to discredit Biden. Unfortunately for Trump, it was also against campaign financing laws. Trump either knew that or he is truly incapable of learning anything that does not fit what he wants.
71
@james. How can you totally neglect the claims in the whistleblower complaint? The Biden story has already been debunked. What Trump did was bribery pure and simple. It’s an impeachable offense. Will you not even consider that?
45
@james. Repeating a bogus lie does not make it true. I know that is hard for Trumpists to comprehend, but there it is.
60
Mr. Friedman, I would suggest that you email this article to Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Schiff and all of the 2020 Democratic candidates. Make sure they all listen to your message. This article presents the best strategy yet to bring Trump down.
110
I used to be against Impeachment because I thought we could not complete the process with Conviction in the Senate and Removal from office. I felt that if we did not go all the way it would benefit Trump in the election. That is still a concern for me. Lately however I have come to see that Trump will push as far as he can unless he is stopped. That failure to file Impeachment charges will be taken by him as Carte Blanche.
This could get very ugly, as Trump get cornered by his own actions he may make explicit his semi-call for Civil War. He could very well ask his followers to march on Washington to protect him. We will have to be prepared for him to do the outrageous. Failure to act and to act forcefully to defend our nation will embolden those who wish anarchy. We have started on this path and must see it through to the end.
47
Did our IC monitor Trump’s personal and Russian phones? Those channels may be even more damning regarding possible treason.
12
The problem, Tom, is that the average American knows all too well that politics is dirty business ("filth in a silk stocking" as they used to say), and that the Left's pretended outrage is little more than a wrinkle on a mountain of PC hypocrisy. Instance, the quickest path from rags to riches in both houses is politics. The Republic is always for sale, regardless of party--note Messrs Obama, Gore, Axelrod, etc--not to mention Hillary. So why would Republicans exchange Republican rot for Democratic rot. Add to that the potency of the Culture War which is now total war. The Left has crested, and the historic pendulum gives every indication of a rightward descent. Removing Modi, Bibi, Putin, Bolsonaro would solve nothing. They have the masses behind them. If Trump's crimes are so plain, then why does it take non-stop MSM devising
9
Your Ginsburg comments just prove republicans are class acts and respectful of institutions and competitors. Unlike ...
7
And on top of that we just learned that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lied when he said over the weekend that he was not familiar with what was said on the president's Ukraine phone call. We also learned that Pompeo lacks the courage former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed when she testified for 11 hours about Benghazi before the House committee on which Pompeo pompously sat.
29
The exact Trump quote provided by the White House in the Ukraine transcript is “I would like you to do us a favor though.” The word 'though' is key. It indicates Trump was implicitly suggesting a quid pro quo...
*Though
adverb: however (indicating that a factor qualifies or imposes restrictions on what was said previously).
eg. "I was hunting for work. Jobs were scarce though"
14
Mr Friedman, thank you for steadfastly holding on to reason and sanity in unreasonable and insane times. I too was at the Kennedy Center on Saturday and got choked up at the response to Justice Ginsburg. People so desperately want our country to get back on track and return to civility and our shared core values. In the 84 years since it was written, Langston Hughes' masterpiece poem could never be truer:
"Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!"
26
Democrats are terrified that they will end up with the choice of another criminally tainted nominee or an unlectable Socialist and will do anything to get Trump out of the way.
They know that the economy is doing great, that unemployment is low, at historical lows for black Americans, that wages are rising, and all but some rich in blue states are paying less taxes. How does one run against prosperity?
Biden is on video admitting he interfered with the investigation into his son's company and explicitly threatened to withhold aid if the investigator were not fired. Anyone can look this up and confirm it is true. This does not even touch the millions of dollars Biden's son was given for business in China for apparently doing nothing.
In 1998, the Clinton Administration signed a treaty with Ukraine, "Ukraine (12978) – Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters", which was ratified by the senate and took force in February 2001. Anyone can look up this treaty on the State Department's website.
It is good and proper that the president of the United States ask for and offer to share information over criminal matters with Ukraine, and refer that information to the Attorney General. No one should be above the law, not even Joe Biden. The president is responsible for enforcing the law, which is exactly the subject of the information sharing request.
8
The issue is not what the democrats should or will do or how this will play out, but what lengths will voters go to to defeat this man-child. Forget the whistleblower and the other civil servants who will testify, are you willing to do more than cast your vote? If the answer is no, there’s a very good chance that our 12 year old President will be reelected and will continue his scorched earth policies for another 4 years.
4
Why haven't Republicans realized that they have a better shot at keeping in the presidency in 2020 with someone else other than Mr. Trump at this point is beyond me.
5
Friedman sounds so reasonable. But we are in a state of insanity right now, pure nightmare grown-up AlicethroughtheLookingGlass off with their heads stuff. Or as Yeats says, "The best lack all conviction" while "the worst are full of passionate intensity." Trump's fight against impeachment will be ugly, and, like the Red Queen's followers, his legions will grow murderous, at least as far as reputations are concerned--or worse. They seem to care little for democratic values or for ethics or morality, pure and simple. Democracy has been shattered. The obvious nepotism, and maybe even corruption of the Biden clan, doesn't make for the best cause celebre. There are so many other reasons to impeach this madman but the Dems have chosen to spotlight their own corruption while fighting corruption. I can hear the sound of the backfire already.
3
Hang on, RBG. Just hang on.
Impeachment or not, highlighting Ginsburg really underscores how we can't let an ideological agenda put 2020 at risk. Warren has painted herself into a box: all in for M4A; she can't pivot in the general without completely cratering her credibility to all sides. And M4A is a general election loser. So: not Biden (compromised by age & other issues), not Warren, not Sanders - if we want to win. But those are the only possible nominees. Conclusion: Dems lose, conservatives win the next 40 years. Unless we elevate someone like Booker or Klobuchar or even Buttigieg right quick.
4
Mr. Friedman has well-known talents for formulating out-of-the-box thinking and provocative proposals. This piece demonstrates a different skill: sober, straightforward advice for how to handle a challenging, hard-to-predict and significant task. Thanks.
11
The Dems should proceed carefully, and let the lawyers, not the Congresspeople, do the questioning. There has been a clear violation of the Constitution and abuse of power that was brought out by people who saw what was happening, and knew it was wrong.
But, the investigation should dig deeper. Many of Trump’s outrageous and illegal acts relate to oil and Russia. That seems to be the basis of many of his actions and cover-ups. Mueller did not say there was no collusion, only that, for some unexplained reason, he didn’t pursue the question through the obstacles put up by the administration. The investigation should include Trump’s calls with Putin, Trump’s bank records and his taxes. That may expose how corrupt this man really has been. Impeachment will be the only option, and even Fox News will admit it.
2
We should all reflect on who will be chosen to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg if it is Trump who makes the choice.
4
Some light for a dark time. I heartily agree with the sentiments expressed and the strategy Mr. Friedman proposes. In an interview a day ago, Michael Moore pointed to very recent polling data to support a claim he has been making for some time - the "strategy" of "doing the right thing" is the most effective way for Democrats to move swing voters.
6
A masterpiece column, Tom.
2
Amen.
Listening, Democrats?
2
Wow. A pro-impeachment article on the NYTs. Never saw this before.
Forget it, Tom. Trump just raised over $100MM cash from small donors mostly. That’s an astounding number. He raised this much money because his supporters are passed off at the likes of you.
Trump wins so bigly next year, like it’s ‘84 all over again.
9
Want to beat Trump in 2020 then the Dems need to get their message down to a few simple sound-bites like:
*Trump's Mob-like Shakedown in Ukraine
*Trump's Con Man Antics
*Trump's A Bully
*Trump's Lying Tweets
Relentlessly pound home constistent sound bites, don't deviate and don't stop until Nov. 2020.
This is what Republicans do and that's why they win.
2
Tom, What would RBG do with a complaint based entirely on hearsay that was crafted by a partisan CIA hack after the law was changed to allow for said complaint? Toss it out. Democrats once again look like fools.
8
"They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet."
Note to:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley.
This means you!
Also your supporters!
This is far too important a civic issue for the kind of divisive, bomb-throwing, grandstanding you four have indulged in since you were elected. Can you understand that a large majority of Americans are just not in sympathy with leftist rhetoric?
The moderate middle has to see the impeachment inquiry as a legitimate process meant to preserve our form of government of, for, and by the people; rather than as an attempt to cram a politically-correct, neo-Marxist agenda down the throats of unwilling fellow citizens. What is at risk in Trump are our freedoms, yours included, not least to speak and write our minds in a free country in the long run.
In the short run, you of the "squad" need to be pragmatic. Your ideas freak most of us out, so put a lid on them for now. Step out of the spotlight! The United States of America are center-right politically, but those moderates who make up the swing vote mostly do believe in what is fair and just. The Democratic party needs to keep those moderates on board, and convince the "persuadables" among the "deploreables" that the hearings are not some sort of fifth column to power.
Let's get past this, and in the freedom that I shall hope will survive DJT, you can go back to offending me to your heart's content.
6
UHHH, do we know if Biden and his son was profiting from pedaling his influence in the Ukraine? Hmmm.
5
Great advice and you can add one more constituency which should stick to what it’s supposed to do and stay away from banging the drums nonstop for impeachment and that is this newspaper! Report on the news, stop being a platform for 24/7 Dem party positions in opinion piece after opinion piece. Guess what? The candidates are just as likely to do that as this newspaper is, which is exactly zero. For the same reason you laid out that the impeachment process should be handled professionally so should the reporting of it so that there is a semblance of fairness in the process. Good luck with that one Mr. Friedman.
4
It's not surprising that Friedman, an ardent supporter of the aggressive, hostile, expansionist, neo-con controlled and Brzezinski inspired Washington foreign policy, would favor impeachment of Trump not because of his reactionary policies, but only because his removal would more efficaciously implement the imperialist agenda.
He conveniently omits that in 2014 Obama, Biden, Victoria Nuland, Samantha Powers, et.al, instigated the overthrow of Ukraine's democratically elected government by deploying neonazis mercenaries. How legitimate is to overthrow a democratically elected government, however corrupt it is? Isn't that a much more impeachable offense?
And why are we sending $400 million in aid to Ukraine in the first place? There is no Russian "aggression".
Eisenhower warned that if the military grew too strong it would undermine democracy. It's happening. The elite grow rich on war.
The CIA, FBI, Corporate America, Wall Street, elite politicians, media pundits have become corrupt to the core.
The crimes committed by Obama were far worse than the crimes used to impeach Trump, emphasizing the control the security state has on domestic politics. The minute after Anwar al-Awlaki was murdered without due process by Obama an impeachment inquiry should have begun.
The fact that Friedman confuses a CIA asset with a whistleblower and recommends Schiff, who personifies the link between foreign policy hawks and defense contractors, makes clear this op-ed is nothing but propaganda.
10
Okay, DNC. I hope to heck you are paying attention, because Friedman is bang-on correct here.
They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet. Yes and yes.
But can the freshman congresswomen join the team and row with the rest of the House? Can they stand to NOT be the center of attention. Can they put country before party - before themselves and their own vaingloriousness? Same with Warren (ugh), Biden (UGH), Harris (sheesh), and Mayor Pete (who...?)
We will see.
1
I wonder how awful the GOP who defend the indefensible from this thuggish President look on national TV for the ages of time.
If they could look at themselves dispassionately, with the grace God provided to mankind to recognize true shame, they would recoil from the dark forces they speak like a snake speaking in tongues.
They have lost their minds and collective sense in support of a personality cult not seen since the 1930s Germany. They died and were reborn but a year apart.
1
Oh my goodness ... NYTimes, your recent opinion pieces concerning the Impeachment are tragically beautiful.
Now please, can someone in the gop stand up and do the right thing ???
Why on earth anybody is reluctant to impeach Trump because it's close to the next election is beyond me. I'd say it should make everybody to hurry it up. Any thought about Trump having a second term is crazier than him having a first term.
3
But will the patriotic career civil servants get to testify fully without the interference of Mike Pompeo's State Department? Remember the agency restrictions on Mueller's testimony? Trump picked his henchmen well, and no one better than Pompeo who sat in on the call and publicly claims it was within the framework of American foreign policy, and is currently causing delays in the impeachment proceedings in order to prep the brave civil servants under his thumb, on whom this whole case depends. This, while allowing more than 100 career civil servants to be harassed by having their emails to former Secretary Clinton re-classified as classified. It looks to me like Pompeo can run significant interference on the impeachment inquiry, and is already doing that.
2
I agree in principle, but we are not "on the eve of the next presidential election" except by our grotesque two-year, multi-billion dollar extravaganza we call an election.
The vote is 13 months off. Plenty of time to do a thoroughgoing job of cataloging Donald's many crimes and misdemeanors.
Surely some Republicans who are afraid to stand up straight will be tempted with the prospect of getting Trump out of office. Surely.
2
I’d like a clean election. Last time the most popular candidate had a margin of 3,million votes and lost. If it weren’t for the electoral college, gerrymandering, and republican voter suppression, and Moscow Mitch, we wouldn’t be in this problem.
5
Excellent. But there may be a fifth point. The moderate Republicans will consider those matters you suggest; they will then look to the mass support of Trump by the Republicans in Congress, shrug, and say who am I to disagree. Getting more Congressional Republicans to turn (or at least twist) may be the key.
1
Excellent advice, but most Democrat candidates believe that the best way to win the nomination is a total and unlimited war against Trump and all of his transgressions. Unfortunately, they may be right. For the total war advocates, winning the 2020 election and persuading enough Republican Senators vote for impeachment would accomplish their major objectives. Nevertheless, almost all of them have decided to continue with a strategy of total war. The one candidate who stated she wanted be a President for all the people and that she could bring people together has not done well at the polls,
=
Mr Friedman's customary shrewdness has deserted him.
Take his touching faith in the idea that the Ukraine whistle-blower will turn out to be a nonpolitical civil servant inside the government acting on conscience against a law-breaking president (the narrative).
Friedman doesn't ask himself why the non-political civil servant would take it on himself to blow the whistle when all of his informants, who had direct knowledge of the call, shrank from doing so. As Talleyrand said, "Above all, not too much zeal.'
Friedman also seems oblivious to the fact that the whistle-blower story plays right into the scenario that Trump has invoked from the outset -- that there is a deep government entrenched in our supposedly non-political civil service that has never accepted the result of the 2016 election.
So what? Well, the what is that even if the whistle-blower is the paragon that Friedman fantasizes, no one is going to believe it.
Nor should Friedman be so quick to canonize Adam Schiff. Schiff has made it his life's work to tear down Trump and reverse the result of the 2016 election. Who is going to believe him when he cries wolf over Ukraine?
Friedman says that we know that many Republicans know that Trump committed an impeachable offense. Oh come on. The House can impeach Trump for eating a ham sandwich if it wants.
Here's more. Most voters are going to wonder why Trump is being impeached when the most outrageous behavior involves the Bidens.
2
Beautifully composed, Mr Friedman. Nobody doubts the wealth of decency, generosity - despite, Vietnam, Iraq, Yemen, Cuba, etc. - that animates America. And we will not forget the abiding conscience of America that will also speak out against injustice, inhumanity, and the insanity of a single man and his inscrutable enablers.
1
Mr. Friedman makes excellent points about the multiple talking points to hammer home. All of them are important, yet, in the age of twitter, and the need to “Keep It Simple, Stupid”, one sentence hits home for me.
He attempted to pressure the leader of a foreign country in order to acquire dirt on a political rival.
That’s understandable and digestible by 100% of Americans. Let the Lindsey Graham types and Trump talking heads argue that.
1
Friedman and The Times, the DNC, the elected democrats, others in the MSM, have been creating one anti-Trump narrative after the other for 3 years. Russia. Taxes. Cohen. Stormy. She said he said the word nixxxx, and never produced the tape. Obstruction. Security clearances. Now this. The boy cried wolf. I don't want to hear it. 60 million people don't want to hear it. If Adam Schiff is your savior, then guess what, you are doomed. Schiff showed how serious and even-handed he was at one second into the charade. Pretending to be reading from the document when he was really just making it up as he went. There is no shame. And there have been comparisons to Clinton and Nixon. Do you know what the difference is? Clinton did it. Nixon did it. Trump? He was accused by a bunch of partisan hacks and guys like Friedman. It will go no where. 20. 20 is the number. I know most kids in Democrat-controlled schools can't count to 20 but I can. You tell me where the 20 Republican Senators are that will vote to convict. A joke. I believe a landslide is coming. And it may take Democrats 30 years to recover.
4
"Sometimes you have to go out on a limb. that's where the fruit is."
-Will Rogers
1
He probably will survive his impeachment.
The final nail in his coffin will be driven by a catastrophic collapse of the stock market.
1
America has failed. By staying with it, you accept Trump's tyranny and deserve nothing better.
1
Excellent.
One other suggestion—the media must help prosecute the case, the way Scott Pelley prosecuted Kevin McCarthy on 60 Minutes, not to mention Chris Wallace’s boring in on Steven Miller.
1
Had Trump run a squeaky clean administration up to now, he may have been given a pass
This is the smartest column I have read to date on the subject.
Yep, sure that audience wasn't "mostly Liberal". I'd have sat quite stoically when RBG was introduced. Might've even let a "boo" escape. Giggling happily...
1
Gee, another partisan column in the Times attempting to frame the call with the Ukraine president as impeachable regardless of the facts.
What Tom completely ignores is the likely corruption of Joe Biden. How did his son get that seat on the Ukrainian company? Why did Joe threaten to withhold US aid to Ukraine if they didn't fire the prosecutor investigating the company Hunter Biden worked for. You don't mention those issues.
You also ignore the fact that the Justice department is looking in to the origination of the investigation of Trump-Russia collusion -- and the Ukraine is one of several countries that have information.
You also ignore the context. Zelensky initiated the discussion about corruption in his government and that he was trying to drain the swamp. Trump responds by noting that Zelensky should look into Biden's activities as part of the corruption investigation. Surely it is reasonable for a US president talking to a head of state where numerous Americans have been involved in corruption should ask that Biden be looked in to. Running for president doesn't exempt Biden from investigation.
The left's motives on this are ridiculously transparent. It is likely that Trump can't be beaten by any of the dems running -- Biden is past his prime, the other front runners are too leftist to win. The only hope is to impeach Trump. That won't happen of course because it won't get the number of votes required in the senate. Joke is on you.
4
Very good column. But one big concern: “Democrats have to be so disciplined...”! That’ll be a first!!
Excellent article.
1
There is some poetic justice at play in this whistleblower investigation.Remember that Trump’s first act on his first day in office was to visit the CIA Headquarters in Langley,Virginia where he stood in front of the Memorial Wall and assured the assembled employees that he would be their great friend in spite of earlier calling them “Nazis”.He rambled on about his “record” crowd at the inauguration and aired all of his grievances.This must have been a shock to the Agency but the men and women continued to do their important work.Now a CIA analyst has filed a whistleblower complaint.He or she has found serious problems with Trump”s behavior.We have come full circle-Trump started by trying to impress the CIA and now the CIA is again doing their work to impress him that he cannot ignore the Constitution.No matter how much controversy there is-it is all about the Constitution which is the blueprint of our Democracy.
1
I would underline and in bold print employ professional prosecutors---two or three---real law and order types to do all of the questioning. Democratic congressmen/women need to stay out of the process---just have a Jack Webb type--nothing but the facts individual take over the questioning.
1
I think Mr. Friedman is confusing what ought to be with what is. The odds of all this restraint he recommends actually happening? Pretty slim.
Funny how one person’s “humble patriot” is another person’s bitter partisan.
The Dems should do many things but listening to Mr Friedman is not one of them.
Focus on the election.
1
I’d have the Democrats put their seven House freshfolks, vets all, from swing districts, front and center.
They are what tipped me that the time to nail this fool had come.
So Mr. Friedman you are exactly right in all you say!!
@Liz
Yeah, those terrible ideas like
Social Security
Medicare
Civil Rights Acts
Minimum Wage
Clean Air/Water ( though to be fair the EPA was created under Nixon, yup that Nixon!)
health and safety laws for workers (OSHA- also Nixon! But Dem Congress)
FEMA
ACA
Etc etc
As you say bringing misery to “decent” people!
Please think before you write!
More pontifical advice from the ever-studious Mr. Friedman. Adam Schiff doesn't need to "keep quiet.'' Neither do other Democrats. Hillary Clinton doesn't need to return to her knitting. As Aaron Sorkin would say, these are the facts, and they are undisputed, dire - and illegal - threats of civil war notwithstanding. Or warnings from pundits opining from deep in their armchairs, while reporters at the Times and elsewhere are doing the real work of uncovering ongoing skullduggery.
1
This is truly a delusional article, but I suppose that is to be expected from Friedman. The "whistleblower" is nothing of the kind. This is a person who clearly worked with an attorney to use the recently changed whistleblower process to attempt another coup. It's also clear that Schiff, Pelosi et al knew about the entire plan in August, if not prior. Just like the Russian collusion hoax, this will be exposed. And Friedman will again be crying in his cheerios after the 2020 election.
3
And the NYTimes can do their part by treating the eventual Democratic nominee with the respect they withheld from Sec. Clinton. The Times' decades long crusade against Sec. Clinton led to people thinking there was an equivalence between the truth shading Clinton and the pathological liar Trump. They obsessively hyped the email story and never ever wrote anything about her without mentioning that there was 'a cloud over her'. We will do our part Mr. Friedman, make sure that the NYTimes does theirs.
I agree with all of this, but the success of the impeachment inquiry also depends on factors that the Democrats can't control. Most obvious is how the media treats the process. Assuming there are no new revelations, merely corroborations of what we already know, how will the media treat the issue? Will it become bored as it did with the Mueller report and treat it as just another political squabble between Republicans and Democrats? If so, public interest will evaporate.
A second consideration is how the Republicans will fight back. You can bet it will be vicious and down low unless and until they gain the upper hand in public opinion. i have already seen an ad vilifying Joe Biden and I was truly shocked at how dishonest and misleading it was. I'm afraid Joe Biden will become a casualty of this war waged and raged by the Republications. They know how to conduct a smear campaign. The Democrats don't know how to unsmear.
Social media constitutes a third area of concern. So many Americans get much of their news from these services and the Republicans (and Russia) exploited this medium quite successfully in 2016. You can bet Biden will be Hillaried and Trump will be characterized as an heroic victim of the Deep State.
For these reasons I'm afraid Democrats will not win no matter how well they handle the impeachment process.
I, too, hope and pray that the Democratic leadership will take note and follow the path laid out here. We so desperately need thoughtful, professional leadership in this journey.
Well stated, and a good strategy for going forward with both an impeachment process and an election. Keep them separate; we don’t need to muddy the waters with politicians making contradictory statements and we need intelligent and professional questioning of witnesses.
With McConnell at the helm, the Senate will likely deep six an actual impeachment. But that shouldn’t stop the House from doing its job and protecting the rule of law.
1
Hopefully, the non-political whistle blower and other non-political civil servants Mr. Friedman refers to are squeaky clean. If they are not and are found to have any ties at all to Hillary or any Democrats....then Trump and his minions will make mincemeat out of them and Impeachment will just be used by his campaign to discredit his opponents. Sadly, the Republicans in the Senate will never convict. The Dems are between a rock and a hard place. They really do have to go forward with Impeachment based on the evidence, but if the credibility of any of the witnesses is questionable, it will be a futile endeavor.
3
Liberals lose all credibility when they say "bogus" corruption charges. 2 months after military discharge for cocaine use Hunter gets $3mm gig for corrupt company in the one country where his father has the prosecutor fired. And gets another totally undeserved gig in China. Might not end up being criminal but it's certainly not "bogus". Absolutely undermines the credibility and prestige of the US. How can we find out if it's criminal if we don't do an investigation? Even for Democrats, wouldn't it be better for any dirt to come out now rather than next September?
5
Non-political whistleblower? You mean the CIA agent with "political bias" noted by the IG, whose apparent day job was preparing a dossier of second hand allegations against the President? Anyway, a bunch of Swamp Creatures applauding Ginsburg like she is some kind of resistance hero (all the while ignoring her plaudits for Kavanaugh three weeks ago) just confirms the out of touch nature of D.C. They all had it pretty good under Obama, leadership roles, lobbying gigs. Then their plans all went upside down when Trump won. A whole city angry that their sinecures and lobbying fee dreams went up in smoke because Trump won. How dare the rest of the country have a say in governance! It was a shocker to D.C., the media and Hollywood. And so we get a three year witch hunt and deep state impeachment probe. The CIA, FBI and State Department holdovers have never supported the President and his agenda and have actively worked to undermine it. I guess that is what happens when you get in the way of the Democrat/Bureaucrat money and power agenda.
5
I totally agree with Mr. Friedman, but fear the Democrats will be unable to execute his suggestions. We have to recognize that, unlike Robert Mueller, elected officials and the Presidential hopefuls are usually driven by their own self interests. In many cases, if not most, their insecurities - while they pale compared to Trump's - are not insignificant. Trump has nothing to lose with his degrading, idiotic tweets. Being on the receiving end of his tantrums will require a Robert Mueller like discipline which I doubt most office holders and politicians have.
Hopefully, the Democratic leadership will keep this process as professional as possible, and not acknowledge any predictable retorts by their members, ie Maxine Waters comment that Trump should be jailed (sounds a lot like "Lock her up".
Way too optimistic. What Trump has revealed is that the American identity of a progressive society that bends towards fairness and decency is dead, and the only question now is: How long has it been dead? There will be no return to decency in this generation. The Trump cultists will ultimately remain estranged and the rest of us will only encounter them when they are on the attack and we must defend against the evil that they so badly want to do. The applause for Justice Ginsburg was pure nostalgia. The new reality is division, anger, and - hopefully - estrangement rather than civil war. Americans, real Americans, who grew up believing that the US is a land of opportunity for those with ambition and a melting pot where diversity made us stronger and richer, these real Americans no longer have a country. They are trapped in Trumpland, where -- at best -- they now have a clear-eyed view of their racist, ignorant, willfully blind neighbors, who so readily embraced a race-baiting, white nationalist gameshow host, failed casino owner and admitted sexual predator. And, let's be honest, that's not something you just get over.
1
Bravo, Tom Friedman! Well said. Looming 2020 election or not, our Constitution requires us to hold this criminal, unprincipled, treasonous, and self-serving mob boss to account. Impeach and convict. ASAP.
2
I'm exhausted with this POTUS.
When it's all over, a lot of people in the country are going to believe this Administration was just a waste of time.
2
If Trump is allowed access to the national consciousness via Twitter or what ever, we can look forward to months if not years of his nonsense and lies. Obviously there is a cadre of my fellow Americans who really do feel that if Trump shot someone to death on the street it would be ok. He is shooting ALL of us to death and I have no patience or wish to accommodate of his accomplices. This is a nightmare I long for my beloved nation to awake from. This is a bad man. Remove him. Make the sacrifices of Iwo Jima, Vietnam and Afghanistan count for something. Our fathers and grandfathers did not fight and die to make America a playground for Trump and his ilk. Take back America before the last, best hope for the future of our children is destroyed. Wake up my countrymen!
3
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 was wrong about him right from the git-go.
3
Sadly, I would not put too much reliance on the ability of Masha Yovanovitch to sway Trump voters. The image of Christine Blasey Ford being trashed by Republican senators, while a repulsive Kavanaugh was greatly rewarded, sticks in my mind. The Republican supporters seemingly are largely misogynist, the Democrats will have to find some outraged white men if they want to convince those Republicans that Trump needs to go.
1
Yes but. Republican cowardice, lack of morals and ethics, and willingness to do anything to stay in power.
Second, the great right wing propaganda machine is hard at work and is being successful. The supporters are saying that he was just trying to get the goods on the real crook - Biden - because, they have been told, that is were the crooks are.
I would not be surprised if the SCP now attacks Grassley, and he quietly slips away.
Fascism is in full flower in the GOP.
1
It’s hard to imagine a more straight-shooting, “non-political” professional than Robert Mueller,
but that didn’t stopTrump and a large number of GOP congressmen (mostly men) and Trump surrogates from shamelessly and absurdly painting him as an agent of a Democratic Party “witch-hunt”, a traitor— a bizarre smear most Fox viewers swallowed hook, line and sinker.
Friedman should know by now that in Trumpland, when the chips are down, there are no longer respected nonpartisan professionals; there are only Trump devotees and traitors.
(What’s astounding is that denizens of this Trumpland include not only the grossly and deliberately misinformed, but GOP power-brokers —congressmen and women, big donors, religious leaders, financial elites— who know exactly what’s going on but , in their own self interest, either remain silent —some quietly cheering, some biting their tongues—or actively and vocally propel the demise of reason and democracy.
2
"This will become a banana republic"??? It already IS a banana republic! This president has co-opted a substantial part of the Judicial Branch, has completely denigrated the free press, has incited violence, and all while Senate Republicans continue to support him. This is insanity.
3
'Some Americans still support President Trump, but far, far more are exhausted and disgusted by him."
Here's the thing Thomas, I think most Americans are more "exhausted and disgusted" by the MSM, you know the Fourth Estate", the defender of the electorate, than DT. The NYT is one of the most complicit actors in this disgusting attempt to polarize the citizens.
DT is a horrible man. No doubt about it. Yet, since he won the election, almost three yeas ago, you and your fellow "defenders of democracy" have done nothing except to destroy the very foundations of that said democracy.
Hey Mr. Friedman:
1. What else might the sociopolitical Republican elite at the NSO opening have done? They're all among peers in public, it's Saturday night, they're all dressed up and they, like everyone, are social animals. Of course they get up and jovially mimic.
2. Your spectating reaction to clapping for The Notorious RBG wrongly, naively assumes the sociopolitical Republican elite are genuine. There is no evidence lately to support that conclusion.
I agree thoroughly with Mr. Friedman. Yet, I'm not convinced that the Trump base is narrow enough nor willing to see through the right wing media propaganda's role in creating a deep state socialist narrative. Rep. Jim Jordan (R) is a great example of the sort of Kool-Aid salespersons who keep insisting that the sun rises in the West. Absolutely irrefutable facts have been converted to negotiations at best. 2+2=4? Nope. The deep state is hiding another number to rob us of the 5. Example linked here. I recommend an anti-emetic for members of the reality-based community if they choose to watch. https://www.foxnews.com/media/rep-jordan-rips-adam-schiff-compares-him-to-peter-strzok
@Peninsula Pirate
Funny, because I bet you believed in the "deep state" in the 90s, when the Clintons were ranting about a vast right-wing conspiracy out to get them.
"Democrats in Congress need to make sure they say and do nothing that gets in the middle of this framing of the story, which, for now, appears to be accurate: nonpolitical civil servants inside the government acting on conscience ... "
... oh, you mean the Deep State?
"[I]f this turns out to be what it appears — a nonpolitical C.I.A. analyst and other civil servants motivated by their oath to uphold the Constitution in the face of a president who was violating his oath — then Trump and the Republicans will have a problem."
Except that they will not have a problem among those who would be theoretically ready to start the "civil war" if Trump actually went down. The Orwellian Newspeak that the Republican Party has worked so hard to establish has achieved its goal for their base: everything that we thought Americans had been taught to revere and trust about our political system is now ipso facto alien and suspect in their minds.
This bogeyman, the "Deep State," is a mighty useful construct, right up there with the jack-booted Federal agents who are supposedly about to take their guns and imprison them for saying "Merry Christmas."
Another thing Democrats could do is grow some teeth and claws, and learn from cats: pounce with all your might at the first opportunity. Start with refusals to comply with subpoenas etc.
All the fear over an old man. An old real estate developer. His followers will create havoc he says. And everyone acts as if this is real. He will undoubtedly win people say. He actually lost by number last time.
If his followers were so brave, they would not be in this cult. They are a minority in his country.
Just impeach him and make sure to get all the phone call transcripts including the translator's notes from the Putin meeting. That should do it. This one call alone, even with the cabal Trump formed, is not enough to real finish the job.
Good advice for the democrats - fingers crossed!
How did we get to the possibility that "America will be a Banana Republic."! But, yes, I agree, let the House do its job, without hoopla and interference from the Democratic candidates, (Shut-up, Dudes!) Let impeachment and the 2020
Election take their courses. It is time for our country to reckon
and decide.
Mr. Friedman, thank you for being judge and jury. I am sure that with your accusations the POTUS does not stand a chance!
The elephant in the room that Mr. Friedman ignores is the Obama administration sponsored coup to take down a democratically elected government in Ukraine and replace it with one with more corruption and cronyism, which led Putin to annex Crimea, invade Ukraine and meddle in the 2016 elections. It is all right here in the Feb 2015 Obama interview with Fareed Zakaria...the former President admitting 'Yanukovich fled AFTER we brokered a deal' and how it caught Putin 'off balance'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duu6IwW3sbw
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One of the more reliable traits of Dolt 45 is his tendency to be his own worst enemy. Give him enough time and he will do himself in.
Never mind whether impeachment is convenient right now.
trump must go.
In other news, while you were away at the concert hobnobbing, thirteen children were gunned down in St. Louis this summer. Seems like worlds away doesn’t it?
Thanks for stating the obvious.
I fear a sympathy vote in 2020, assuming Trump survives an earlier impeachment proceeding -- which he almost certainly would, given the political structure of the Senate and the two-thirds requirement for conviction.
Why sympathy, of all things? Sympathy for the most corrupt, inept president in our history? Because he's a showman who knows how to read his audience, and how to play it.
He'll play the "Poor Donald, everybody's out to get me" card to perfection, and votes that now adamantly oppose him will swing his way.
It could happen. Americans need to be cautious of their sympathy for the underdog, especially when he's a fake.
Nice work Tom! Good clarity of thought...
“… nonpolitical civil servants inside the government acting on conscience…”
Acting out of conscience did not save Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden or Julian Lasange. Why should it be different for an Anti-Trump crusade?
1
“If this is how he behaved while constrained by re-election concerns, how will Trump behave if he gets re-elected — despite this wretched behavior — and no longer needs to worry about re-election?”
So Donald, instead of being a lame duck would become an enraged duck. Disney never saw this coming I’ll bet.
Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
1
Good luck expecting politicians not to “showboat” for the cameras.
As an American expat in France I can attest that the United States is the laughing stock of Europe.
Having seen America as an arrogant superior culture many Europeans feel this was a long time coming.
The chickens have finally come home to roost.
Too bad we talk about the 'need' to be apolitical...to nail Trump for his deplorable assault of all that we value...because true politics remains the art of the possible, hence, the need to participate, and contribute, politically. Can't we see that our indifference, our 'looking the other way' subtracts from the support our 'experts' need, so to resolve Trump's case as it must, by ousting this stinkingly corrupt swine from the highest office in the land? You mentiones Ginsburg, for her clear competence and humility, both attributes glaringly absent in Trump. Can't we feel the urgent need to be present, and be heard, listened to?
Trump is a criminal. Like for every criminal, his stakes are much higher than for a normal person, for he faces a much grimier outcome. He isn't joking about 'civil war', and I suggest not to underestimate his brazenness. Should he need 'civil war' to protect himself, I have no doubts he'll be pushing this idea with his US followers, many of whom are the NRA members, and to much satisfaction of his Moscow mentor of course. Why am I so sure about it? Because Trump himself said in 2016, 'I will totally accept' election results 'if i win'.
The next year, particularly with all of the RNC/Trump money, will be one of the ugliest in the history of this country. What Trump has achieved is the legitimization of secret backroom activity assaulting our democracy. With the Russians and North Koreans by his side, I have a terrible feeling that the outcome is not obviously in the hands of voters.
1
The title of this important article send me to the words of the Hebrew prophet Micah: What does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah must be spinning in his grave.
The cards are entirely in Democrats hands on how successful this bid to oust a guy who makes W look like a worthy occupant of this nation's highest office. The 2020 Democrats cannot play it cute and pretend the Impeachment isn't the biggest pinkest Elephant in the room. They need to talk about it and enumerate ad nauseum why it simply has to happen - for the safety and survival of our constitution against an administration and its congressional enablers who seek to obliterate it out of existence. If Democrats soundly win the argument with facts, constantly pounding wild erroneous factless Republican salvos right back in their faces, everybody but the truly lost will see the Republican Party for what they are - a throwback and the single-most discernible threat to the United States of America.
Print it off, laminate it, and distribute it to every member of Congress.
How sad and ironic. Democrats must be calm, rational, and disciplined. Otherwise, the wild, erratic, undisciplined criminal Trump, and his GOP henchmen, will continue to get away with their crimes. It’s as if the world has been turned upside down.
Freidman should stick to his excellent reporting on Trump's savage devastating assault on the world's environment. The Democrats have started an impeachment process with a cacophony of overconfident unfocused nonsense. MSNBC goes on all day with endless talking heads opining way beyond what the evidence shows. Rachel Maddow is the queen of the relentless wildly inaccurate charges, she seems oblivious to reality. Her hysterical hyperventilated inaccurate rants against Putin and Russian are legion. The 2020 election is the real target. If the impeachment strategy is to use whistle blowers to keep Trump off balance and create more Trump gaffes that makes sense in a cynical unethical the ends justify the means kind of way. The Mueller report flopped because it followed the now legendary misreporting by the NYTs and other liberal mainstream corporate news media. Now the effort is to tie Trump's call to Ukraine as if it represents a seamless journey from here to Trump is a Russian spy and the rest of the wrong reporting. Ukraine's slide from Russia into the USs sphere of interest has opened corruption charges against both party's. One thing the US should not do is arm Ukraine. Fomenting ethnic tensions in Ukraine is such a despicable cynical dangerous gambit.
I completely agree with you, Mr. Friedman (as usual!). Just as I dearly hope that the Democrats in Congress and those running for President adhere to this simple, logical road map, I wish to put forth an equally simple, logical suggestion for those in the public at large who support impeachment - or the Twitter contingent, at least: I know it’s a tall order, but how wonderful would it be if we all, simultaneously, stopped giving oxygen to Trump’s Twitter brush fires? Let us show him how confident we are in the simple, logical fact that he committed an impeachable offense, and how equally confident we are in our elected representatives to investigate and prosecute the case by following the simple, logical road map laid out by Mr. Friedman. We are no longer a desperate, flailing mass, so frustrated by the seeming Teflon armor of Trump Mania and our elected representatives inability to penetrate it, that we feel the need to engage with every unique piece of drivel he utters via Tweet storm. If a log is dropped in the Twitter toilet and nobody holds their nose and says “Ewww,” did that log ever even drop? I don’t really smell it - do you?
“National Symphony Orchestra’s opening concert and gala” attendees are a representative sample of the country? Seriously?
Democrats won the House in 2018 by _not_ focusing on impeachment. You think the country changed since then?
Well said, and I agree with everything except one detail. America is already a banana republic, based on the actions of Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Barr and Giuliani, to name a few. And they all need to go ASAP.
“America will become banana republic” .
Will become?
Sorry Tom. That ship has long since sailed. Over the last three years a banana republic is exactly what America has become, and now the bananas are rotting.
I have read Thomas’ columns for a long time. This column is one of the most shallow ever. To suggest that Schiff should be the sole spokesperson shows a complete lack of understanding how this congressman is perceived by people at large.
One more thing you need—excellent non-political brilliant communicators to go on every Fox News show every hour of every day to relate just the facts and combat the lies and conspiracy theories.
One of my most sad and disappointed thoughts is the lack of heroism, courage and citizenship in the U.S. Senate which appears to be hiding behind the likes of Mitch McConnell. As I read T.F.'s report, I was uplifted by his words that speak so clearly with wisdom and steady verse. I remain hopeful. We Americans must speak out, be brave with words clearly spoken, without partisanship but rather with citizenship. Simply, without confusion, may our Congress have the insight and guts to move forward to protect this country we all love. Thank you, Mr. Freidman for your insights.
What’s your take on Biden and his son? You are concentrating on Trump, which I understand, but Biden’s actions while he was VP were also more than a little questionable. Biden too made statements that he pressured the Ukrainian government are on video, so actually this looks like a twofer Trump and Biden both out.
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@Thomas Smith: Indeed. The payments to Hunter Biden benefited Joseph Biden's family while he was Vice President. A clear violation of the emoluments clause. Why wouldn't the NYTs evaluate that?
Thank you for being a much needed voice of reason.
There is certainly hunger for "civic virtue," but it doesn't eclipe other concerns. Issues of enormous consequence will be contested in the upcoming election. Given the choice between the extremist agenda the top tier of Democratic candidates have embraced, including faux moderate Biden, it's not only Trump's core populist supporters that will support him, but also Americans who define themselves as centrist, center-right or philosophically conservative. Most will determine that an ethically compromised huckster is the wiser choice than an agenda that will unmake America. The reason Trump will keep and possibly expand his support is the extreme leftist, post-American agenda the Democrats have embraced. It includes: sacrificing American sovereignty by decriminalizing illegal entry into the country; giving the illegal population free healthcare; supporting a multi-trillion dollar anti-global warming plan which will transfer massive political and fiscal power to the Federal government to remake our lives; large tax increases that will also impact the middle class; a racially divisive plan for "reparations for slavery;" a foreign policy that will return to the feckless Obama's appeasement of Iran and hostility to Israel; support for aborting babies even after birth. Given the choice between one man's individual integrity and these huge issues -- Trump will not be abandoned.
1
Contrary to Friedman, I think Schiff is doing terrific job as the chair of the intelligence committee and as an adroit questioner. His background in the US attorney's office is apparent. My question is what will and can the Dems do overcome the Republican stonewalling? Subpoenas are issued, depositions are requested and the response is Nyet!
I don't recall the details of the Watergate hearings ( I started reading "The Final Days" by Woodward, et al) but wasn't Judge Sirica a key figure in obtaining documents? There should be some way that the enforcement of subpoenas can be fastracked. Otherwise this impeachment process will be frustrated and the public will never learn the extent of Trump's misdeeds.
1
I would like to see the God fearing evangelicals who helped elect this morally bankrupt, law breaker, weigh in on these issues. Will they support the Constitutional responsbility of the House to step forward and be true to their oath of office? Or have they traded their thirty pieces of silver (elimination of the right of a woman to choose) for their country?
2
First off. Tump didn’t “dangle” military assistance. He blocked it. And in blocking it he was undermining the United States governments budgeting and appropriations that he signed of on. Think of how this compares to the line item veto. Now ad foreign election interference. Then and the coverup, and one is still not done with how wrong these behaviors are.
Second, is the solution to sports doping to just tell the non dopers to try harder? Considering the crimes a issue are about election interference seems s a fair analogy.
Lastly, the Met might function as some sort of socio-economic bubble the undermines your analogy. But it’s a good tax right off.
1
I hope Mr. Friedman is right about the "moderate" Republicans seeing the light. But as a recent NY Review of Books article pointed out, the moderate Republicans have been corrupted by racism, xenophobia, and class/corporate greed for decades. Trump's multiple lies don't equal the weapons of mass destruction lie, for instance, and its continuing disastrous effects on the souring of trust in our electorate. The Democrats need a legitimate opposition---too much power and they will corrupt. But the Republicans are not legitimate. To call yourself a Republican is to say you care about nothing but tax cuts and winning---and that, I hope---is finally a losing proposition.
2
"Democrats should pursue impeachment in the House as if there were no election in 2020. And they should pursue the 2020 election as if there were no impeachment."
Best advice I've heard so far.
4
Opinions, opinions, opinions. I look and listen for the truly impeachable offense that pulls the plug on Trump. I look and listen in vain. What I see and hear are interpretations, points of view and opinions. Thus far from people with axes to grind. I would have stood and cheered for RBG the instant she was introduced. I would not vote for any Democrat now running for president.
2
While the Republicans have finally been handed the right tool to extricate themselves from their self imposed cowardice to act responsibly and end their support of greed, corruption and hypocrisy, the Democrats must handle this 'a la Pelosi' style in exercising their power to dispatch this despot with the fairness, the firmness and yes, the dignity, which he may not deserve but our democracy and our citizens most definitely do. Cooler, calmer heads must prevail. Let's try not to blow it. Please.
At the climax of the Watergate hearings, it was Republican Congressmen & Senators who finally stood up to Richard Nixon's lies & made the difference. I was a Republican back then. And I remember how proud I was when my freshman Republican Congressman, William Cohen, voted for Nixon's impeachment in 1974. I was proud because it was the right thing to do.
Where are the Republican patriots who will stand up to all the illegal activities & malignant narcissism of Donald Trump? Where are they?
2
I think we should all forward a copy of this to our representatives and favorite candidates...
Great advice all around. This one, “They need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses,” is most valuable. Politicians/legislators think highly of themselves and think they can outsmart everyone. Corey Lewandowski's committee hearing showed the opposite. Lewandowski turned the hearing into a circus making clowns of the legislators. Contrast that with Barry Berke questioning Lewandowski.
1
trump is not a rational person, and with the political waters around him on a low boil, and the Dems about to turn up the heat, we will have to be on the look out for any irrational behavior detrimental to the future of America. Enough damage has already been done, which will take years from which to recover. In his bunker state of mind the irrevocable is possible. Republicans and democrats stay alert.
1
What Mr. Friedman describes is a country taken over by a rogue faction and he exhorts the rest of the population to walk gently on eggshells so as not to annoy the knaves. What sort of a country is that? And how long will this appeasement of the wicked have to last?
1
While abuse of power, exposed by a non-partisan whistle blower and others in the State Department and Central Intelligence Agency, is and should be number one in the list of impeachable offenses, Obstruction of Justice should not be omitted.
This serial liar who seeks to profit from the Office of the President, is certainly unfit to be President, but that should have been obvious to those who nominated and elected him in 2016, and need not be among the impeachable offenses proposed by the Democrats.
He needs to be removed from office or soundly defeated in 2020. History will take care of the rest.
We don't just need swing voters to defeat Trump and his cronies, we need better voter turnout on the part of Democrats.
1
As a former prosecutor who is a civil rights, criminal defense, and federal appellate attorney, I expected Trump to at least try to conceal what he was doing in his phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. We not only see how brazen Trump is, the fact pattern is so straightforward anyone can follow it.
I've only seen conversations like Trump's before in reading the transcripts of phone call made by leaders of organized crime; it is because Trump acts like a mobster.
However, impeaching Trump is not enough. Trump is the main figure in a conspiracy, meaning he's not acted alone. Most alarming, AG William Barr refuses to recuse himself. It is beyond unethical. Barr is part of not just this alleged criminal conspiracy, but other alleged criminal conspiracies committed in concert with Trump. Barr is therefore overseeing the investigation into his own criminality.
President Ulysses S. Grant formed the DOJ by consolidated many federal agencies. The primary purpose of the Attorney General is to uphold the US Constitution and preserve the civil rights of average Americans, specifically under the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, and to prosecute KKK members.
In William Barr Trump has the opposite of what an AG must be. Barr is a mob attorney, actively violating both the US Constitution and the law while helping Trump cover up his malfeasance. There is no chance of justice prevailing, even in the court of public opinion, unless William Barr is impeached as well.
3
Sorry.
The people at the Kennedy Center have absolutely nothing to do with the American electorate. Some of them are in the 1%. The rest are in the 1/10th and 1/100th of 1%.
Taking America's civic temperature at the Kennedy Center is like gauging the mood of the nation's college students by conducting a poll at Harvard.
However this is not a bad road map for the Democrats, as long as they don't let themselves be forced off the road by a souped-up monster truck with gun racks and a confederate flag.
Dan Kravitz
2
I hope primary Democrats got the memo. The topic will most certainly come up in the next debate. What trailing candidate will give Trump the soundbite he needs to change the narrative?
Best laid plans...
Sound advice, which is unlikely to be followed. The Twitter Squad Democrats working for Trump will their their best to mess it up.
2
The fundamental issue here is that there is no IQ requirement to be a Congressman, Senator, or ahem, President. The lack of intelligence amongst elected officials is scary. Can they follow these four simple steps and rid the world of the menace that is Donald Trump? Hope so. Doubt it!
Great opinion piece! Having watched many witnesses being questioned by congressmen and senators during the past few years, I especially agreed with your call for professional prosecutors to do the questioning! The congressmen and senators I have observed are incompetent and inept, often spending the majority of their allotted time voicing their own opinions and then tacking on a question at the end that has little relevance. Get smart, dems, bring in the professionals!
"Democrats in Congress need to make sure they say and do nothing that gets in the middle of this framing of the story,"
In other words: No more satirical interpretations or chicken buckets, please.
I mostly agree, but think you're only thinking of the elite view of impeachment. Down here on the ground, suburban women do not usually attend the National Symphony Orchestra.
1
Quoting Historian, Prof. Doris Kearns Goodwin on “Meet the Press” this past Sunday, “We’re about to get a great big Civics lesson.” It’s about time, and I hope we’ll pay close attention.
I think this is an important editorial. Thanks, Tom Friedman.
"Third, unlike the Mueller investigation, this case is very easy for people to understand: .."
Apparently, only liberals could understand the report. House Democrats could not dumb it down far enough for us Trump voters to understand.
1
It might be too late for Friedmanesque sanity. Trump threatens civil war. Hong Kong type protest might be the only viable way to get rid of him before there’s blood in streets .
The dems and especially Schiff will overplay there hand like they always do.Very sad and very exhausting. All the grandstanding like a bunch of highschool kids.Time will tell
1
I sure hope it breaks this way, Mr. Friedman. I sense that America is at a real crossroads here.
Two things; 1) You mentioned Hillary Clinton, very soon you will see a tweet by President Trump that Thomas Friedman says Whistle blower is Hillary's fan. 2) Republicans were more abused and ridiculed by Trump than anyone else. This is their chance to stop abuse. Do Republicans really want four more years of abuse?
1
I agree that the democrats should approach impeachment like there is no agenda, no election, and approach the election on issues, not impeachment. However, there are far less people exhausted and disgusted by trump than Tom realizes. Trump has a cult that thinks he’s being railroaded at every turn. Why? Because he tells them that 200 times a day. He says his calls are perfect....200 times a day. He says immigrants are invading the country and people travel 900 miles to shoot people they understand are invaders.
Justice Ginsburg didn’t receive the reception she did at the symphony because people long for anything or have any sense of civic duty. She’s been ill, is out and about, and they were simply applauding her long service to the country. An honor she deserves. Folks, your government is corrupt from the president, to the Secretary of State to the attorney general and far too few of your fellow citizens care at all
1
Claiming that the whistleblower is not partisan is at odds with the facts, including, that the DNI's General Counsel found demonstrable anti-Trump bias to be an element of the complaint.
Moreover, if the author had an honest bone left in his body, he would have also noted that the complaint's claim of an "urgent concern" fails the basic regulatory test set out in the law and should never have been moved forward by the ICIG:
"A serious or flagrant problem, abuse, violation of the law or Executive order, or deficiency relating to the funding, administration, or operation of an intelligence activity within the responsibility and authority of the Director of National Intelligence involving classified information, but does not include differences of opinions concerning public policy matters.” 50 USC 3033(k)(5)(G)(i)
There is no way that a monitored phone conversation between two presidents can be construed as an "intelligence activity within the responsibility and authority of the Director of National Intelligence involving classified information".
Period.
The whole thing is a fraud.
2
The democrats need to win three (3) seats in the senate. Let the House vote on one (1) article of impeachment and send it to the Senate, then let all the Republican Senators who are up for re-election defend Trump. Good luck with that!!
Before the President was ever elected legally, Justice Ginsberg stepped out of her Justice demeanor and lobbied loudly for her buddy HRC to be President. No justice had done that before and I lost respect for her. I believe that the Clinton's, while, in small ways different than President Trump, have the same gluttuneous nature and backroom secrecies.
2
The House will impeach Trump. The Senate will convict/dump Trump in order to get a Trump 102 elected - Mike Pence. In a close Senate conviction, Pence might even be able to ascend to the Presidency on one vote - his tie-breaker. The Founding Fathers would roll over amazed at that scenario. Pence will win re-election on the Trump tarring of Biden with Ukraine Swamp Talk, painting Elizabeth Warren as too "radical" because she would advocate for economic fairness an Medicare for All (something every other civilized country has some form of, and supported by their conservative business people as well). Trump will go to TweeterLand, if not sent to jail for some crime that he committed, and forever misgovern as he does now by blah, blah, blah and name calling women, horserace, dogface, Pocahontas, and summing people's worth by their looks only. Pence will try to convert gays to straights, non-religious to self-righteous "religious", and continue to advance the needs or the rich, more riches. We will live in interesting times.
@Time - Space
Sadly, not an implausible scenario.
Mueller, was a total disgrace and allowed the DOJ to dictate the story. Mueller even lacked the ability to take his story back to Congress, America needed the real story about corruption at the highest level of Government. Possibly a strong reminder that trump the most inept and self-enriching man was protected by the rules of a sitting President.
None of this happened, what has happened is CORRUPTION as well as high crimes and misdemeanors. Sadly, our America is no longer a nation of Laws but total power by any means possible. Mitch, please take a bow along with your Senate, because you are a party man with not one ounce of a moral compass.
1
Well Put. You've got it exactly right.
And I hope that this is the message Pelosi is sending to her party.
Mr. Friedman, like most liberal intellectuals, has faith in the infallibility of reason and the inherent reasonableness of most people who if only given the unbiased truth will choose the right path. If the last hundred years has taught us anything, it is that people are anything but rational and reasonable, and will follow their guts (that is, fears and prejudices) in times of crisis. This is all the more true in a post-literate, information-silo, Twittersphere world. I would very much like him to be right, but history and human nature speak otherwise.
1
Mr. Friedman writes: "I believe that more than a few [moderates] will be thinking about a question that will hang over all the impeachment testimony about Trump’s actions in Ukraine: If this is how he behaved while constrained by re-election concerns, how will Trump behave if he gets re-elected — despite this wretched behavior — and no longer needs to worry about re-election? America will become a banana republic." The answer is very likely yes, they will think about that, and that will enable the Democratic candidate to win the popular vote. But will moderate voters in key swing states (MI, WI, PA) also be thinking about the Democratic nominee's plans and will those plans resonate with them? Or will those plans be enough of a turn-off that Trump gets another electoral victory? That is a key question, as well as what the state of the economy will be in during the run-up to the general election.
I agree 100% with Tom's advice to the Democratic Party. And I believe there is a 0% chance the Democratic Party will follow that advice.
Mr. Friedman advises a very reasonable, fair and measured response requiring the kind of emotional intelligence that will rule the day.
True leaders will emerge by practicing such restraint. Still, prepare for the worst from those lacking in such intelligence, or finding no need for it.
1
Whether the whistleblower is a Republican, Democrat, Independent, voted for Clinton or even campaigned for Clinton is immaterial: All of the above are legal. What is illegal is the President soliciting a thing of value from a foreign government. And that is the only pertinent fact in this case regardless of who uncovered it and what their political persuasion may by.
3
“They [the Democrats] need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses; they need to keep the focus on the nonpolitical witnesses; and they need to have their presidential candidates stay out of this impeachment story and concentrate on their ideas for reviving and reuniting America.”
Great advice - keep out the circus. Force 2020 to be about issues, not rhetoric.
3
Great advice but most Democrat candidates have decided that the best way to win the nomination is a total war against Trump.
Winning the 2020 election is a major objective of that war.
Winning enough support from Senate Republicans to win or an impeachment trial is also a major objective that war. But these are not their only objectives. They want a total war ag
Trump is not leaving. he will have to be forced out. If he loses the election, he will claim fraud and not leave!
I do so look forward to a debate - it really is possible - where the current President is not mentioned by name by any of the Democratic candidates; candidates who instead discuss only how their own policy proposals would alter and improve the cruel myopic aberrations of the current President.
3
It’s in the moments of great peril that the American Democracy has become stronger including a Civil War, two World Wars, a “war” for civil and voting rights for all of our citizens. We are at another pivotal moment for our Constitution and our Democracy. Shall a President abuse and stretch his powers to create an authoritarian state or shall our Constitution and Democracy endure. This is the central question for the impending impeachment of our President. Indeed Mr. Friedman has set out the proper roadmap for this impeachment and it is now in the hands of our Congress to make it happen.
8
Opening this piece with the event that occurred at the Kennedy Center says everything that this impeachment hysteria is all about. The DC elite -- that circle of persons that attend these exclusive high-brow events -- could never stomach that 'carnival barker' becoming President, messing up their cozy world of PC talk, fancy dinners and privileges. Meanwhile the rest of the country that does the actual grunt work that makes this country so great are cheering the President forward. It's this dynamic that these elites are playing with. Mr. Friedman's advice as to how to proceed is not going to prevent a large swath of the public from feeling cheated and betrayed.
3
@johnlo I am one of the deplorables out here in fly-over country and I have done my share of grunt work in my life while pursuing an education. You nailed it in your comment.
I burst out laughing at Friedman's characterization of the "humble" public servants who are going to straighten things out. I happen to have a background in investigations and have known ATF and FBI personnel. Humble is not a word I would ever associate with these folks.
1
And most importantly we need to change our laws to prevent a situation like this from happening again beginning with making it mandatory that someone running for office submit his or her tax returns before declaring candidacy.
437
@Saignonaise
What does having his (or anyone's) tax returns being made public have to do with it? And why would you consider it mandatory to reveal your income in order to run for any public office.
10
@JJ
I suppose honesty and integrity, not to mention the public being made aware of potential conflicts of interest or shady dealings, are unimportant to those who support a president who has uttered over 12,000 documented lies since taking office. For the rest of us, though, seeing the tax returns of the person who will represent our interests to the world, and one who promises to make our lives better, and helping insure that extremely powerful employee of ours is not corrupt is actually a pretty big deal.
80
@Saignonaise. To that I would add a required length of elected public office service at the state level or above.
34
I think this is exactly right, Tom. Thank you. Let the nonpolitical career civil servants lead on this along with professional prosecutors doing the questioning. No grandstanding, no playing to the cameras.
Had I been at the Kennedy Center, I'd have surely been on my feet applauding loud and hard for RGB. The large majority of the country is hungry for integrity and honesty. And I think they will vote.
412
@Paul I was at he Kennedy Center on Saturday night. The standing ovation, the clapping, the loud acclaims for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were electrifying. She is the heroine of our times.
70
@CC Forbes I never met RBG, but we came from the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, although I'm older than she is. What a delight to have such a person achieve such a high position in our country and "feel" the respect so many in the country have for her. Shana tovah RBG. :-)
17
@CC Forbes RGB certainly is a hero - it's unbelievable how she has brought the godless progressives to prayer.
2
Sounds like good advice although it certainly will not guarantee that Trump will not be re-elected assuming if he is still in office after all this is over. There are so many factors that could tip a general election to Trump such as how successful the Republicans are in suppressing the black vote in cities like Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. And will more young people actually come out to vote this time in large numbers, which would probably be a first. About one-third of Americans don't vote in presidential elections and it is believed the majority of these people would vote for the Democrat if they voted. That and the electoral college both work in Trump's favor. Nobody can do anything about the electoral college at this moment but more effort could be made to allow minorities to cast their votes and encourage younger people to vote.
2
Once again, Tom succinctly states the smart course of action. This time with stakes as high as they ever get! Will the Dems be wise enough to listen. I certainly hope so.
284
Yes, this is so excellent, every person interested in preserving our democracy should read it. The NYT is reporting that other countries are confused that there is not a strong single leader at the forefront of this effort. Let Schiff be the that leader, have professional prosecutors do the questioning (no more embarrassing flailing from inexperienced congress members), and keep it out of the campaigns--this is about the Constitution, not the election. This is about preserving the U.S. system of government.
493
@Heidi
Donald J Trump is unfit to lead,
And this is our Prez - he can’t even read!
The Constitution is ‘over his head,’
He can’t comprehend what Madison said.
I’m ashamed for my country and can’t take much more,
Impeach and convict - it is time!
I implore!
19
Mr. Friedman, there's a lot of good advice and insight here for the Democrats' communication and prosecution strategies. It will be a real balancing act, though, and a long, tough slog. Between the shameful defiance of Trump and his key people, and the strength of pro-Trump media, it could be like surviving a tsunami. There are 2 more things I'm counting on, though - first, a likely increasing number of administration media leakers, many of whom will want to get out ahead of legal trouble, and next, the aggressive investigative journalism we still enjoy in the country. So, many thanks to NYT for the dogged coverage, and thanks too for the encouraging story about RBG at the symphony.
661
Thank you Mr Friedman for describing what you witnessed at the NSO’s opening. I can’t imagine that. Not because of RBG at all but because I have no hope left that America will ever be rid of the trumps, their cronies and all their corruption. Only greed and/or hate matter to those in office (including some D’s). I no longer believe America will ever be a country that pulls together for all it’s citizens and peoples - including those who wish to legally immigrate here. Not that we ever did a great job at that but I thought things were on the upswing. The past 3 years have set me clear on that delusion.
I live in a red town in a red state. There is no hope to be found here.
Recently someone installed a 30’ flagpole on which to fly their giant trump flag - far above the American flag hanging on their front porch. Several blocks away another trump flag flies. Local police officers live in this house. I wonder how the townspeople of color feel about this. All safe and secure in the thought of calling the police if they need them? I doubt it. All around town trump flags are going up. They represent hate, greed, corruption, destruction. It’s depressing to realize that so many people think these things are not only okay but things to be proud about.
I mourn the country I thought I lived in.
9
The coming election is a test of the democratic values of each citizen. Granted that Trump has put conservative judges in the Supreme Court. And granted that he is limiting the number of illegal immigrants. And granted that he is removing regulations.
And if these are measures that you like, I can see you supporting him. But what you must consider at what price these changes that you like are being bought. The politicization of the Justice Department, the undermining of the intelligence Community, the loss of support of our allies, the distrust of our neighbors, the disregard of the climate disaster to come, the constant demeaning of political opponents, the degrading of the presidency, the undoing of the Republican party, the self-dealing of political appointees. So, weigh your political goals against the damage to our country and institution and see if they are worth pursuing.
799
@Frank Casa
Ok, but I tripped over "...conservative judges...". To those who love them - what exactly are they conserving?
Certainly not this planet that we call Home.
46
Did you just say that it is a bad thing that Trump reduces illegal immigration? I consider myself liberal, but if Democrats are going to start saying we should have more illegal immigrants, then I don’t know what to do. That’s called open borders, and aside from being a bad idea. It plays right into the hands of Republicans and looks like a the Left Fox News makes us out to be.
24
@Frank Casa-Also weigh that there's a political party, the GOP, willing to move heaven and earth to keep voters from voting and to suppress the vote--even going to length of asking for foreign countries to interfere.
46
In terms of the "do justice" part, be sure to keep an eye on your state constitutions and power grabs coming from the corporate owned GOP. The powers that be already know they are dealing with their own failed deep state in DC with Trump and those GOP reps that he will take down with him. So they are up to working over our state constitutions to resist any federal reforms under a new presidency. They are trying to "democracy proof" our states. We must not let this happen in our states at the local level. This - from Wisconsin, where the Scott Walker model of corporate controlled states reigned for eight years. Don't let DC distract you from what the powers that be are now up into in your state.
5
Let cool heads prevail. Friedman's prescription sounds mighty rational to me, an unaffiliated voter who yearns for the relative stability of yore.
Once the ship is righted, we can debate solutions to our national challenges.
3
I wish I could have been present to witness the honor shown to RBG! May she live forever....
As to Trump, may he...never mind.
As to your article, Mr Friedman, I find it heartening, but highly optimistic. Good advice, yet virtually impossible for Democrats -- I'm one -- to follow. Candidates are going to want to use Trump's impeachment as a promotional point. The media will press anyone with a point of view for comment.
I don't believe, unfortunately, that a preponderance of Americans are going to care much about Trump's Ukrainian phone call -- it's far away, it's "just Trump being Trump." And it's just not a big deal to that vast number of people more concerned about rent, groceries, jobs, child care, health costs.
We do need authentic leaders, statespersons, and heroes -- right now, Greta Thunberg is my only nominee, and she's not even old enough to vote.
Let’s see how much Democratic presidential nominees can stay away from impeachment talk when that will be all the press will ask them about. People think the House can’t legislate and do impeachment. Pelosi counters that the House has passed lots of legislation that will help constituents lives but that McConnell won’t bring to the Senate floor. It’s nice to say this but unless she repeatedly tells us what the legislation is how will we know? Put pressure on McConnell to act by keeping this in front of the public’s eyes and maybe the candidates can focus on it too.
4
Thank you for writing this Mr Friedman. You are thoughtful & cogent, and your analysis is compelling. We live in a confusing time, but your "roadmap" shows paths upon which justice and the truth can prevail. Great work.
5
Asking a member of Congress not to grandstand in front of a national audience will prove to be impossible. Friedman is right that questioning of witnesses should be undertaken by a professional prosecutor but I fear the temptation will be too great for the likes of Schiff, Nadler, Waters, etc. to remain silent.
2
There are many types of Republicans. For those who are convinced that "liberal" means the same as "every thing that will flush the country into the toilet" (a mindset that the GOP spent billions of dollars developing, see "The Political Brain," by Dr. Drew Westin), then the Republican party should run a General (Kelly, Mcmaster, etc) to run against Trump. Or, Democrats need to do their psychological homework and run a candidate that does not strike fear in the hearts of conservatives with a conscience (i.e., not a female, or a far left or an ethnic candidate). This is the reality. People are primarily emotional, then they rationalize (see, "The Righteous Mind" (Jonathan Haidt)
1
Our political morning has arrived, the Sun has come up on our old politics whose structure is now being transformed, a polite way of saying their time is up.
The 2016 election to a great many people was political justice, and just how probable is a Trump impeachment, if he's not the one on trial here.
We are in a time of political transformation which bring political starts for America and the world, changes that will even arrive a year before our next election. Political changes that once again are able to attract more suitable leadership into public office.
2
Excellent points that should be used as the guiding principles & practices for investigating this hideous debacle.
3
It should make any difference if it was a Democratic supporter who was the whistleblower. It’s about law not politics, right?
Unlike the Clinton impeachment, which it seems was more about morality.
1
Maybe, but even if they follow this recipe dems will accused of using impeachment to win. Facts dont matter to trump and the gop.
Democrats must defeat trump in 2020. Period.
2
Imploring the Democrats to discipline is a lost cause.
No matter. The "transcript" of Trump's call with the Ukrainian leader requires an impeachment inquiry, even if the political benefit redounds to Trump (and it may very well).
2
It's almost certain that the unsolicited invitation of a board seat for Hunter Biden was the idea of Putin, or one of his ex-KGB buddies turned kleptocrat. While not exactly 'kompromat', what it did accomplish was plant a kernel of truth upon which to hang a few outright lies about Joe Biden.
Either Trump, Giuliani, Pompeo and Barr are unwittingly buying into the utterly false conspiracy theory about Joe Biden, or they are purposefully using it with the full knowledge that it's a lie, and possibly even with the knowledge of whose idea the board seat was and why.
On top of that, they are arm twisting two other national leaders (that we know of) to gin up evidence to support the lie. And one of those leaders is desperately trying to defend his nation against a stronger military aggressor that is the probable source of the lie to begin with.
To call Trump's tactics and language 'gangster-ish' is actually an insult to gangsters.
4
Indeed this process must be absolutely disciplined. If individual Democrat interrogators decide they only want to promote themselves personally over and above the seeking of the truth; to “prove” to the outside audience just how clever and righteous they are, this will indeed devolve into an unmitigated disaster.
For all of us.
For the sake of our nation’s future I truly hope
they realize that. And subsequently drop their individual egos to serve the greater good.
3
“Again, how eager will Republicans be to defend Giuliani and Trump by trashing a U.S. ambassador — with a stellar record — who was trying to prevent foreign interference in our elections?”
Extremely eager, if their past behavior is any indication.
6
I want to believe that "far, far more are exhausted and disgusted by him." I see this kind of comment everywhere, and if it were true, it would give me hope. But how do you reconcile this with the fact that more than 40% of Americans still approve of him? After everything he has done! The 60 per cent disapproval rate does not seem "far, far more" than the 40 per cent approval rate. It's absolutely incredible that 4 out of 10 Americans still support this guy. It's also incredible to me that Americans persist in thinking and stating that the USA is the best country in the world. Based on WHAT? They don't seem to realize how offensive and ignorant this sounds to other countries, especially when they've put someone like Trump in the White House.
7
I am one of those Independents Friedman thinks is persuadable based on exposing Trump's alleged wrongdoing. Friedman and others keep saying that Trump broke the law but they never say exactly which law...why? It also doesn't help that Friedman gets his facts wrong about what the "favor" referred to -- it was to get help with the Russiagate probe Durham is conducting... the Biden request came later in the call. I also don't like how Dems have gone nose-blind to the smell of corruption surrounding Biden. I won't vote for Trump, but based on how far left the Dem candidates have strayed (abolish ICE? fund unauthorized immigrant healthcare? abolish private health insurance?) and based on what looks like their intent to pursue an extremely partisan and country-stressing impeachment, I don't believe I could vote for a Dem in 2020 either. Friedman is fantacizing if he thinks the Dems are in a good position with the 6m+ voters who are Independents and who voted for neither Trump nor Clinton. I suspect most of us will sit this one out again in disgust.
3
@Chris-zzz Please don’t sit out an election. When we are old enough to vote, throwing a temper tantrum is not acceptable. Many Dems agree that we need many of the proposals of Sanders and Warren. But like me we want GRADUAL change that includes GOP participation and brings all of the voters along in agreement. We aren’t Sweden or Norway with populations between 3-4 million people. We are a huge “ship of state” that does not turn on a dime. But we need to do better. Forgive the young legislators for their impatience. Don’t give up and just tread water; show some hope and backbone and dive into the fight for our country. Please.
@Chris-zzz You have very accurately described the mindset of independents. I also believe the lurch leftward of the woke leftist democrats will keep many voters home on election day. The NYTimes readers are famous for preaching to the choir and blind to mindsets outside of their liberal bubble.
1
@Margaret Davenport
Thanks for self-servingly interpreting my reluctance to vote for your political party as "a temper tantrum" or as a failure of "hope and backbone." Great show of empathy... and of course always an excellent persuasion strategy.
I am an Independent, not your fellow traveler. A Dem will only get my vote if s/he deserves it. Independents like me can vote for Dems, but only if the party moderates its extreme progressive positions and stops trying to upend the country with a partisan-driven, destructive (and ultimately fruitless) impeachment fiasco. Trust in democracy and the 2020 election.
2
"America will become a banana republic".
America became a banana republic four years ago when this country elected him as the president.
I too have no doubt that Trump’s base will stick by him. Trump's base is much bigger than it appears on surveys. According to an official with the Republican National Committee:
“Trump's base goes beyond the conventional Republican base that consultants see. It includes a whole new group of black entrepreneurs, Jewish voters under the age of 60 and first-generation Americans who came here legally and see great economic opportunity with this President"
More than two-thirds of chief financial officers surveyed by CNBC think Donald Trump will be re-elected President of the United States in 2020.
It is not going to be easy getting rid of Donald Trump. Don't bet on impeachment either. Republican senators do not have the guts to stand up to this man. We are really stuck with this guy whether we like it or not.
this is the kind of politically correct Centrist triangulation Democratic thinking that always gets them in trouble. Even though I am a liberal Progressive I think the Democrats always shoot themselves in their own foot and this advice is awful. Democrats need to go after Donald Trump for all the incredible ways he has broken the Constitution and there are so many. Putting all your eggs in one basket on Ukraine gate like they did I'm Russia gate is a losing strategy
3
I would not confuse an audience at the Kennedy Center with non-DC America. And I would not assume rabid Trump voters will conclude, oh if Ambassador Yovanovitch says Trump's behavior regarding Volodomyr Zelensky was improper, and that Hunter Biden making $50,000 a month for a few hours work for a Ukrainian oligarch while his father was the single most influential foreign political figure in Kiev was completely above-board, well then I guess Trump deserves to be impeached. I loathe Trump, but impeachment is likely to be a dead-end.
@Mark Nuckols
The problem with Yavanovitch is that Lutsenko (the lead prosecutor who succeeded the corrupt Shonkin) says he gave her a no-prosecution agreement from the Obama administration and withheld allotted funds from his office.
There is also the matter that the Shonkin was only 15 months on the job (which is pretty average for Ukraine) and sued the government. In that lawsuit, whose documents are public, a lot of dirty laundry is aired and unflattering to Biden.
Even if the Ukraine thing blows over, Biden's corruption goes deeper, and further. There were billion-dollar home-building contracts awarded to his firm to build homes in Iraq, knowing full well that he did not have the capacity/expertise to complete such a project. Whether most of those homes were even built is also an open question.
Point is, this is a game of whack-a-mole with Biden. Impeaching Trump on grounds of corruption and self-dealing when the guy you want to replace him with is also corrupt and self-dealing? Good luck selling that bill of goods.
Republican Senators could offer to censure the President. In exchange, Democrats could drop the impeachment process. But that won't happen: it's all or nothing with Trump.
1
It's a foregone conclusion that if impeached Trump will be exonerated by a Republican controlled Senate that is scared to death of him. So, we are faced with the 2020 election. Trump has his base locked in no matter what else is revealed about his corrupt behavior. Democrats naturally will vote against Trump. We are left with moderate Republicans to decide the election. The only question to ask them is Are you comfortable with voting for a man who will commit crimes in order to get elected?
3
... and the last attempt at a coup to overturn an election commences.
Let’s hope the first and second amendments are also not sacrificed in the quest to overthrow the duly elected president.
It's a foregone conclusion that if impeached Trump will be exonerated by a Republican controlled Senate that is scared to death of him. So, we are faced with the 2020 election. Trump has his base locked in no matter what else is revealed about his corrupt behavior. Democrats naturally will vote against Trump. We are left with moderate Republicans to decide the election. The only question to ask them is Are you comfortable with voting for a man who will commit crimes in order to get elected?
I appreciate the optimism expressed in this column. I know there are Trump voters who would, as he claimed, stick by him even if he were to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, but there are others, people of conscience and good will, who now see who he really is and will turn away from his lawlessness, incompetence, and malevolence in the court of public opinion and at the ballot box, if it comes to that. I am keeping the faith.
1
This: "Democrats should pursue impeachment in the House as if there were no election in 2020. And they should pursue the 2020 election as if there were no impeachment."
1
Yes! Yes! Yes! On all counts, yes! The only question is, how to get grandstanding (however well-meaning) politicians to keep their mouths, their personal ambitions, their undisciplined brains quiet. The temptation to show us all how brilliant, how well-informed, how articulate they are on "Face The Nation," "Meet The Press," even standing in the rain on a street corner, is going to be almost (but, God willing, only almost) irresistible. Thank you, Thomas Friedman
It is very nice to read about the elites hobnobbing at the Kennedy Center while most Americans are looking for safe bridges and roads to drive on, looking for healthcare solutions, looking to pay for their kids college without $100,000 bribes, etc, etc.
Thanks Tom for a glimpse into how Washington is not working.
3
@MB, this disparity will always exist everywhere. The rich the elites and the not so. While the wealthy entertain themselves at opera concerts galas, the poor make do with make belief.
1
Superb advice!
Professional prosecutors--YES!
And please, will those newbies in the far left please not say inflammatory stuff. (Yes, we can't stand the guy either!)
Hear hear! I happen to think the whistle blower is already known to the White House because there aren't many CIA officers assigned to the NSC but he or she is a person of such integrity that Trump and his minions don't want to identify him/her but rather bray about an unidentified "enemy." Why? Because Trump needs enemies, and because some of his minions were among those who informed the whistle blower of the Ukraine scandal. The IGIC has already talked to those informants, just as the Inspector General of the State Department is now blowing the whistle on Pompeo. And the Inspector General of the Justice Department will soon be blowing the whistle on Barr. Watch closely how McConnell and Grassley react.
1
Please read Thomas Edsall's column today. His data show that the visceral response to Trump is a type of fear of losing cultural supremacy. However, there was also those that hated Trump but hated Liberalism even more. That is the dangerous part. Those that are Lilliputians willing to fight over which side of the egg to open, rather than to have serious discussion about how to manage our future.
- According to one scholar, the judges he appointed (? to maintain white supremacy, business hegemony, or "conservative" religious beliefs?) and removing "stupid obstructive regulations" maintaining borders and reducing low-skilled workers (like all our great great grandfathers), would be worth preventing a Sanders or Warren from ruining the country.
We have a political split and the split is more likely the visceral part not the rationality of the Lilliputians, never the less, we should all consider the constitution as our touchstone, it is after all what holds us together. We don't want that to break and split and weaken us while adversaries circle us.
Are today's commenters living in the same corrupt plutocracy that I'm living in? Trump is not going to be removed from office. He'll most likely win in 2020 via the Electoral College even though he'll get smoked in the popular vote. Since Reagan we've had the S&L Scandal, Iran Contra, BCCI, the Iraq war, and a complete economic meltdown linked to fraudulent behavior in the financial sector. Republicans simply don't suffer consequences for their unethical actions. They're the party of morals, values, ethics, and principals. Their baloney has worked since 1980 and it will continue to work for them. I just try to do the best I can in spite of these charlatans.
I watch the parade of Republican contortionists morphing like the T-1000 in 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day in their attempts to explain our president's actions to undercut a potential political rival not with bemusement but with sadness. For them, up is down, light is dark and truth is fiction. Anyone be he or she a civil servant, journalist or simple citizen who espouses the apostasy of error from our damaged president must perforce be a member of the "deep state". However inconvenient, some things will always be true. Apples fall from a tree; they never rise from the ground to attach to a branch. Time never goes backwards. No matter how often repeated, a lie remains a lie.
With as many lobbying firms as exist, a politician can always get another job but he or she cannot get another soul.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" - Mark 8:36, KJV
I thank the heavens every day for those who quietly serve their country and the truth at the same time just like the Notorious RBG or the unnamed whistle-blower of this past week.
"Integrity is doing the right thing even if no one is watching."
-- C.S. Lewis
1
Thank you Mr. Friedman for your optimistic column in a time we need all the hope we can get
2
Just one “minor” item that Mr. Friedman left out: Let Trump also do the “talking.” Meaning Congress should obtain all the Trump telephone and meeting transcripts that further establish his betrayal of this Country’s national security and best interests — including where he apparently informed the Russians not to worry about their election interference.
3
I am rarely in complete agreement with Friedman. Today is the exception. Please, elected Democrats, follow this suggested strategy. The country needs rid of this evil man as our democracy hangs in the balance.
1
I would also suggest that timing is going to be a major factor.
In the event that the House impeaches Trump and sends charges to the Senate, I would think that GOP Senators would feel a sigh of relief if their proceedings and potential conviction verdict would take place after the GOP 2020 primaries are locked out.
Admittedly, I don't know how that schedule unravels but I presume there are deadlines well ahead of most state's primary election day. But look to that date as an ideal time when the trial in the Senate might (and perhaps should) begin. By then, most GOP Senators who are up for re-election should have ducted the Trump gauntlet.
And I imagine that Speaker Pelosi has already figured that out.
1
Most passionate article from Mr. Friedman that I know of. When he's passionate, he's more easily understood, I think, or he expresses his thoughts more clearly.
Agree. We need professional prosecutors asking clear, direct questions designed to ascertain the facts. We do NOT need grandstanding political speechifying.
4
Mr. Friedman says that we
should let the whistle blower and the other civil servants take the lead.
“ These humble patriots started this...”. Yes, finally.
For three years I have watched in vain for our “leaders” to lead, to speak out for our country. One after another has quietly walked away, or simply remained silent as Mr. Trump and his sycophants became louder and louder.
From Congressional Republicans, to Cabinet officials, and even our esteemed Mr. Mueller.
We now know who our true leaders are...the humble patriots, the whistle-blower, the civil servants.
These are the people with moral courage. These are the people who deserve America’s deepest gratitude.
10
Dear Mr. Friedman, Please invite all the democratic candidates to agree together to respond with that one theme when asked about impeachment—We all agree we will leave the subject of impeachment up to Congress. Let’s talk about the things our fellow Americans need us to do.—
And please talk with House representatives about your recommendations about conducting impeachment processes as you recommend, or invite those you know who have influence to influence this. Thank you for this opinion piece, and for so many of your editorials.
20
Excellent commentary and great winning strategy for Democrats. I hope party leaders and candidates read this article and heed your advice. The American people are counting on a cohesive winning strategy and excellent teamwork to insure Donald Trump is not a two term president!
22
@Jeff Yes, a really fine statement. Statements like this remove the pollution from the air, letting us see a decent future, for at least a short time.
8
Well written with valid points. The Democratic party should take heed and do the impeachment and the election as separate actions. Mixing them would be a mistake and cause a failure in both.
The republicans will try to push it as a political impeachment, as they have already started to do. The democrats must keep the two separate and by doing so will keep our constitution as the law of the land and our republic in a position to heal and recover.
11
As usual, Mr. Friedman provides a moment of respite from the chaos. I will revel in the image of Justice Ginsburg's standing ovation for a moment longer and let it fuel my morning.
37
@Wendy Musk Yes, that was awesome. Restores faith in our system. We need heroes.
6
@Wendy Musk i agree . lets hope we can finally get a little more sanity. it was only time that dt would shoot himself. it appears he has done it numerous times with those call. finally left a paper trail and a smoking gun.
Could anything be more clear at this point than the democrats should be using professional prosecutors. At this urgent time, its imperative that all politicians, including democrats, put country in front of party, and certainly behind their own impulse and instinctive desire for face time and grandstanding. To do otherwise puts them in a league with the silent republicans, separated simply by a matter of degree and not principle.
16
I read this morning that polling shows that a majority of Republicans don't even believe trump talked about the Bidens to Zelensky. What do we do with that?
12
@CB Sadly too many in the US still are without reliable internet, and get their only "news" from FOX and Sinclair outlets. As the blue-collar comedy tour comedian said some years ago "you can't fix stupid." Trump touted his base of "under educated voters" and this shows why. The IQ bell curve is just that - sadly, most to the left of the curve are in the so-called base. But they still have to find the ballot box.
@CB
You must be talking about those who watch Fox Faux News and Propaganda station. Those who do not read and seek the facts. They are out numbered, maybe we can help educate and enlighten them. They should understand that Trump will throw all of them under the bus to save his own skin.
This situation becomes even more dangerous considering that the president is facing accountability, perhaps for the first time in a life surrounded by paid underlings whose only function was to repeat, “Yes Mr. Trump, you’re right again”. It continues to be difficult for him to understand that the wheels of government he thinks should provide protection for him, were designed instead to protect all Americans. This realization, coupled with his shrinking approval rating and wavering support from the GOP, only serve to make his behavior even more erratic and consequently, extremely risky for the country.
12
It’s for all these reasons that Democrats have to be so disciplined in how they prosecute this case. They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet. They need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses; they need to keep the focus on the nonpolitical witnesses; and they need to have their presidential candidates stay out of this impeachment story and concentrate on their ideas for reviving and reuniting America." Excellent!!
Problem is that there are many egos flying around this situation and you are not in the Kennedy Center -dealing with Justice Ginsburg.-your are in the USA Congress with members who are salivating with this situation to satisfy their hunger for attention. That's a problem. .
10
@Efraín Ramírez -Torres "Unlike Robert Mueller, who never spoke until it was too late and had his work “interpreted” by Trump’s attorney general,..."
Mr. Mueller said he would not testify, the report would speak for itself. When compelled to testify, he did not seem to be familiar with the contents. He came off as Mr. Maggo.
Adam Schiff repeated, like a parrot, he had the evidence. Well? Where is it? It turns out, he had nothing. The point is, when will Democrats learn every charge against Trump, no matter how ludicrous, is not true. The MSM and Democrat leadership present hope to those voters and pull it away.
And so Adam Schiff begins this solemn process by making up a far more egregious conversation in his opening statement on national television and then explaining it was a parody? Not exactly the way to assure moderates this is on the up and up.
6
@Buster Dee
Yes, agreed. I think Schiff is why we need a professional prosecutor to ask the questions and conduct the hearings. I believe that is the point Friedman is expressing in his column. I hope Nancy understands what is at stake and makes the same conclusion.
@Buster Dee If you have a quote from the President, why would present it as a stand up comic routine?
Maybe, Schiff doesn't have the quote.
When asked what is the greatest threat to our nation, our top security officials said, interference in our elections by foreign actors.
Giuliani, Barr and Trump were fed a conspiracy theory from the internet, which they embraced
Who could possibly benefit from their very predictable actions?
Our country going through an impeachment process, impeding other progress
The leading, most electable democratic candidate being questioned
The American people even more fractured
Ukraine’s new leader questioned and a hold of military support for his country
The same chaos is going on in the U.K.
Got to hand it to Russia, they are playing a whole different game
11
Given the threat to Trump posed by the call's transcript, the quiet on the Republican side in general is deafening. If on mass they still truly supported Trump, one would expect them by now to be loudly speaking out on Trump's behalf; yet with only a few exceptions, they're largely silent. No doubt there any many Republicans who are quietly sick of their present leader and in their hearts they would definitely welcome a change. As Mr. Friedman argues, if this impeachment is handled correctly, we may be finally rid of Trump with the blessing of traditional Republicans. Fingers crossed!!
18
A constitutional anachronism, the electoral college, foisted a moral pauper into the White House over the will of the majority of Americans. Now, we depend on that Constitution to provide a remedy to this folly, hoping that our elected officials will adhere faithfully to their oaths of office. Yet evidence of that hope among Republicans in the House and Senate is hard to come by.
Graham, Nunes, Mccarthy, and their obsequious cohorts run to the nearest microphones to tug their forelocks and curtsy to a charlatan braggart. Pompeo and Barr besmirch their offices with subterfuge and innuendo, if not outright lies.
I was a Republican my whole adult life (I’m 68) until Trump became the party’s nominee. Now I see the GOP circling the wagons around the pit they have dug for themselves.
They are about to be consumed by the pit. Godspeed!
40
@Expat Willy
Hopefully enough of the former Republicans, such as myself ,will vote to remove him from office.
It is time to vote our conscious not are pocketbooks
1
This article represents the voice of reason in unreasonable times. A star prosecutor is not required, a bombastic spokesperson would not help, a charismatic leader is not needed, all these things may distract from the story that needs to be told.
11
Good advice from Tom. It appears to me that Pelosi has come to the same conclusions though: Except for having a professional question the witnesses. I have not seen any indication of this.
In the meantime, we citizens are wrapped in a national psychosis ladled with fear that we are losing our democracy.
12
"unlike the Mueller investigation, this case is very easy for people to understand"
It was written by an plain partisan to do exactly what Mueller refused to do, sound a trumpet call for impeachment. It could not be written as more completely one sided advocacy.
"Sure, it could turn out that he was a Hillary Clinton fan, which Trump would use to rile up his base, claiming that Democrats were trying to steal his election mandate. But if this turns out to be what it appears — a nonpolitical C.I.A. analyst and other civil servants motivated by their oath to uphold the Constitution in the face of a president who was violating his oath"
That is backward. The guy now hiding appears to be exactly what Friedman doesn't see, and not at all what Friedman thinks "it appears."
Republicans are silent, waiting for that shoe to drop, waiting for the reveal of another Steele Dossier one-sided partisan screed meant to do exactly what is now being done with it.
Sure, it might be he's more fair. It might be others come forward. But until that is shown, it looks like a partisan putting in a knife in the back while hiding behind the curtain.
2
@Mark Thomason
The whistle-blower got the info from within the White House. Besides which, Trump is not denying what he said, so all the House needs to do is go by his own words.
1
@Mark Thomason - Are you saying it was a Democrate partisan who released the transcript of the call which substantiated the whistle blower's charges?
What if the whistle blower is not the paragon of virtue as Friedman suggests. If she is a tax cheat or a he owes alimony and child support payments; do these invalidate the substance of the complaint?
The world does not have enough paladins to spare.
The author erects obstacles to the impeachment inquiry by requiring that it be able to survive review by the most partisan observers.
Good luck with that.
1
@Jaquin Unfortunately that is the fruit of Schiff screaming he had hard proof of Russian collusion for two years.
Adam Schiff put his foot in it with his melodramatic paraphrasing of Trump's conversation with Zelensky during DNI Maguire's testimony before Congress. If he's going to be the spokesperson for Democrats in the impeachment proceedings, he needs to be more careful not to be unnecessarily provocative. Let the facts, which are bad enough, speak for themselves without embellishment.
8
Thanks to Trump, the GOP, and Fox News, we live in a post-Truth world where all the facts you list don't matter.
The whistleblower complaint and the redacted transcript of Trump's call show Trump pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into investigating former vice president Joe Biden for personal purposes so as to rig the upcoming election.
Those are the facts. However, Trump and Fox News use "Alternative Facts". They've fabricated a massive lie they feed Twenty-four seven to approx. half of America, insanely asserting based on nothing that Joe Biden, with the CIA and FBI, somehow used Ukraine to frame not just Trump for the call we know he made, but also framed Russia and Putin for meddling in our 2016 elections.
Trump's own former homeland security adviser, Tom Bossertbut, stated it's a debunked pack of lies, yet Fox, Trump, and William Barr, still sell it to the public, and their pack of lies is working.
A Fivethirthyeight article, "On Fox, Trump Is Not At The Center Of The Ukraine Story", shows Fox/Trump disinformation pervading every news cycle. It concludes: "How the public thinks about Trump or Biden may depend largely on who can wrest control of the media narrative." Trump and Fox are betting that there's "more than one media narrative to win."
Trump and Fox create a massive body of "Alternative Facts". Anyone watching Fox or listening to Trump lives in a post-Truth world of lies where Joe Biden and the Democrats are to blame for Trump's crimes.
11
@Robert B what better way to show the truth than to have Schiff lie to start off the process?
....and CNN, MSNBC and the mainstream media is the voice of reason and truth..
This matter would be clean cut but unfortunately Democrats and the press, our author included, have identified a fresh complaint every week since November 2016. It’s such a shame that hyper-partisan behavior has tainted the process. It’s also too bad the author and Democrats don’t feel as comfortable with an opposition candidate as they do complaining about Trump.
@Rowdy Burns
As if Repubs would hold Trump accountable now if only the Dems hadn't "identified a fresh complaint every week."
LOL.
Trumpians will never see their messiah, their King Cyrus, for what he is. Never.
The most we'll see post-Trump is many of them denying they were rapid Trumpians and then changing the conversation.
Mr. Friedman transitioned from reporter to op-ed writer and began pontificating way out of his league. He is neither a sophisticated thinker nor a psychologist who understands the nuances of human behavior. He occasionally slips and reveals some insights, but doesn't know how to follow-up.
The key example here is his phrase "uninformed legislators."
He realizes there is a great gap in our current system of government. Our legislators are uninformed about much -- which may be unavoidable given how many complex things there are for them to be informed about. What magnifies their problems are their unwillingness to seek and use advice before they speak, they spend too much time seeking funding for their campaigns and too little studying the issues or preparing their questions for a hearing.
So currently we have an uninformed president (with uninformed glib advisors) and an uninformed Congress. Oh yes, you have McConnell who is very informed on Senatorial dirty tricks. And we have a Supreme Court that has lost its way -- all are well-informed but some are morally and politically shallow.
We have a largely uninformed, often misinformed, electorate and a media flooded with deception and vitriol.
So Friedman provides us with flabby wishful thinking, simplistic reasoning presented with unreflective naivety. He misses the point - Our democracy is in deep trouble.
Calculations of what to do, when, and how require great skill. We need great statesmen not simplistic answers.
@Just Thinking’
There is nothing simplistic at all in Mr. Friedman’s prescriptions for how to move through this current crisis and rid ourselves of the blight occupying the White House. All you have done is criticize in great detail all that he says without offering anything as alternative.
Voting to impeach is irrelevant.
It's the investigations that reveal what has been going on that are important. Shine light on all the corruptions and voters will do the right thing. Then the unelected Trump will pardon all the criminals and the country will move on.
Let's not forget that Trump's deal of trading weapons for political dirt on the Bidens had a direct beneficiary: Russia. As long as the delivery delay was in place, Russia stood to gain by holding that land that Russia seized, by allowing Russia to advance and take more, and by young people dying in military conflict in the Ukraine. And, if Trump secured the dirt by coercion, and the weapons eventually were provided (and are they now?), it would be a small price to pay, and one that Russia would accept, in order to get the dirt that would take down the opposition candidate. Trump and his circle must have thought they had a no-lose situation, which is one reason his gangster persona was so evident.
3
Great advice, but I see two problems.
First, it is rightly suggested that Democrats do nothing that gets in the middle of this framing of the story and that they exert discipline over the process. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for many of the Democrats to follow that advice and avoid tripping over themselves.
The second suggestion is that the Democrats pursue the election as if there was no impeachment. Also great advice. But with a Warren or Sanders type platform, how realistic is that the independents, moderate Republicans and suburban women will vote for the Democratic candidate.
@Dr. Strangelove
Your second suggestion is sadly true. My fear is that many faced with such a choice on Election Day will choose to stay home.
If you think Trump was looking to hurt Biden as a political candidate you might rethink that.
Joe Biden would be the ideal candidate for Trump to run against. He's clearly past his prime. Trump would destroy him in debate and Biden, like HRC, would have difficulty rallying his base. Many independents would be leary of voting for someone who isn't mentally fit to be president. Biden would be a piece of cake.
Of course, Liz Warren isn't anyone's idea of an ideal candidate. She's too far left for most of America and we have her history as a Native American. Her dem opponents haven't hit her with that but should she win the nomination Trump will repeatedly ask her about that. She won't be able to make a response that will convince many that she didn't do it for professional advantage.
Actually, none of the dem front runners have much of a chance, so the best hope for dems is to create chaos through impeachment.
1
Very interesting facts. We feel, we believe and live in a real democracy.
1
Well said! I dearly hope that the DC Democrats read and take to heart these cogent observations and recommendations!! I've long thought that had the Democrats stuck to well supported facts on various issues and hammered away on them (seems like too many didn't take Science 101 regarding climate change) they could have done a lot better than they have.
7
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. It gives us hope.
10
A road map for the House to use to move forward in their impeachment inquiries. Thank you! Democrats listen up! Be fearless! Have the courage to act with integrity.
I heartily agree with Ouzts (see below)
"The inquiry must be conducted with the right balance of cool reason and hot passion to pierce this veil of personal and political bias so that the healing can begin."
6
Agree with this, and most importantly the committees must allow professional staff to do all the questioning and stop the political grandstanding by ALL members to show the seriousness of this matter.
20
I like your thesis but I doubt it will happen in the way you describe. The Democrats are undisciplined in how they approach such matters. You suggest Schiff as the single voice spokesperson? Is there no one else? Personally, I think the President is not finished with his own undoing. There is, waiting in his wings, the fatal flaw that will bring him down. The Democrats should "keep their powder dry" and give Mr. Trump a little more time.
7
I agree. But, millions of Americans will only see the impeachment proceedings through the lens of Fox News. I know because I live in Trump country where many otherwise reasonable and intelligent people hold reputable news sources such as the Times, the Post, CNN and others in contempt, part of what they consider to be the liberal elite. No matter how professional, precise, and prudent the prosecutors may be, they will be vilified on Fox News and by Republican political leaders and by many in their communities. Somehow, the inquiry must be conducted with the right balance of cool reason and hot passion to pierce this veil of personal and political bias so that the healing can begin.
33
I just wish that the Democrats would nominate a moderate. If Warren is the nominee, there will literally be no acceptable candidates running.
11
@DRS: Warren is getting a lot of traction from her "Everything for everybody and break up tech!" approach. She even whipped up GM strikers at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant ("Poletown Plant"):
“Their only loyalty is to their own bottom line. And if they can save a nickel by moving a job to Mexico or to Asia or to anywhere else on this planet, they will do it.”
(NYT, Sept. 22, 2019)
It'll be interesting to see what she can offer in the way of preventing such moves but it sounds familiar. Realistically, she was pandering to the mob.
Thank you for this. I hope and pray that the Democrats in Congress and those running for President pay attention.
16
And what if the Whistleblower turns out to be a Democratic partisan? How will that change the equation?
4
@Mark What difference does it make who the whistleblower is? Trump, himself, issued a summary of his conversation with the Ukranian president that shows BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT that what the whistleblower reported is true.
2
@Thomas N. Wies
It makes a great deal of difference because it would cast the same doubt on it as the Mueller report had when their prosecutors were revealed to be partisan.
If you have it out for somebody, you will succeed eventually, especially if that's what you were trained to do.
If you read the complaint, you know that not all claims are true. The most damaging one of quid-pro-quo is not in fact true.
If you are suggesting that an intelligence office that is member of ANY party wouldn’t be a PATRIOT first, then you have given up on our democracy.
"He needs more than his base".....Who are these people outside the base? And what will they do? I imagine they are not zealots who would vote for Trump no matter what? It does not take a rocket scientist to deduce these people see where this is headed. Oh, not impeachment wise, but in the sense that if Trump eeks by on both fronts, what will come next. Another 4 years of this. And a guy who feels he can (and will) do exactly as he pleases. No constraints. No adults in the room in the Republican party. So what will they do? I doubt they will vote for Warren or Biden or Sanders. Buttigieg, maybe. Much more likely they will have had enough and just stay home. And that will be all that is needed.
4
@Walking Man
Don't be so sure.
If we're talking about Republicans they have the option of Weld.
If we're talking about Democrats then I think they'll vote for whoever the nominee ends up being. But some problably will stay home.
I want a Democrat to win but I wouldn't be unhappy with Weld if it came to it.
Anybody but Trump.
He's finally gone to far exposing his corruption. At this point there's no reason to even dream he'd stop. He thinks he's unstoppable and so far he has been.
Enough is enough.
2
While I want to buy Mr. Friedman's hopeful analysis, there are very few audiences in the Kennedy Center that night who are in Trump's base.
7
Mr Friedman,
I so want to agree with you this morning, but I have much less faith in the American political system than you appear to have.
We citizens don't take our responsibilities all that seriously. I could recount a long list of reasons why I make this comment, but I will just submit one, voting for president. 30-40% of us don't even vote.
The political system is awash in money and propaganda. These twin energies push and pull and distort each and every day. So even those that do vote have to wade through the onslaught.
To me we are closing in on a complete failure of governance in DC. There will no smooth transition to whatever comes next.
10
Re "... to steal his election mandate."
What "mandate"? One of the big problems this nation has wandered into over the years is the odious notion of "winner take all" elections, in which 50% plus one vote is deemed by the victors a permit to ram all their pet policies down the throats of the entire nation, including the 50% minus one vote.
How about elected officials begin recognizing that they have an obligation to hear and represent all constituents, regardless of whether they voted for them or not? How about a spirit of compromise in Washington and statehouses across the nation? How about governing with an eye toward representing all, for the good of all?
36
@CB Evans
Nice speech.
Address that to Republicans. They're the ones who operate in lockstep to get their agenda passed.
Remember Garland?
3
@Butterfly
I agree with you, re the second paragraph.
Mr. Friedman mentions the moderate republicans, independents and suburban women who may turn away from Trump in the next election. I certainly hope so. But who will this deciding group of voters turn to? Someone who pledges to force then to give up private health insurance? Or who promise super expensive new programs? Why not nominate someone like Amy Klobuchar or Steve Bullock. The candidates who are most unlike Trump: they are moderate and stable, pragmatic and smart.
12
I completely agree with this. This is the strategy Democratic candidates and current House and Senate members need to adopt. Legislators: laser focus on the facts that support impeachment. Candidates: laser focus on how Democrats are going to address the many serious issues our country faces.
14
I'm tired of hearing how the Mueller investigation went nowhere because it was hard to understand. The Mueller report had key findings that were easy to understand. The President told McGahn to lie and falsify records. Done.
The Mueller report went nowhere because the president stonewalled & obstructed Congress's investigation - SUCCESSFULLY. As a result the facts never really got out there. In my heart of hearts I believe that had the presidents flunkies testified and cooperated fully, even Fox news wouldn't have been able to spin it.
Which brings us to today. Same story with some different players. Mike Pompeo tells news media and congress that he won't play. This story could have the same outcome as the Mueller report, if Congress allows the stonewalling to continue. Its up to Congress to make sure the players testify and actually answer questions.
Its time for Congress to use their Inherent right of contempt. FIne - Mike Pompeo won't testify - hand him the supeona and let the fines begin.
39
The key words in the article are "integrity" and "humility," describing Justice Ginsburg. Those are two words that are not in the Trump vocabulary. A well reasoned and well considered analysis, but maybe wishful thinking. The reason I say that is his passionate supporters are just that -- passionate. The Republican party stalwarts turned out in much greater percentages in the past elections. Yes, the House was won by Democrats, but the Senate was lost, and that is too often downplayed. Add to that the fact that voter turnout was just 49%. The key question is -- are there really any moderate Republicans left who will vote for country over party, or are there too many Trump Republicans, not True Republicans, like sycophant Lindsey Graham.
7
First off, let me announce that I am an Independent voter who mainly leans Republican. I didn't vote for either candidate in 2016.
Tom's three points are spot on, he stressed Democrats in Congress should keep quiet. This is going to be impossible for them, especially the Progressive end of this party. Shortly after the 2018 elections, I felt that faction is going to re-elect Donnie. I guess we'll all find out soon!
4
@Karl
In our electoral system one of two people will win the office of president - either a republican or a democrat. I have a number of friends who made the same choice you did in not voting for either candidate. That effectively leaves the choice in the hands of others. I would encourage you, as I have my friends, to make a choice and vote for one of the two even though you prefer neither. Have faith in your judgement and pick the one who can lead America to the future you want for your children and grandchildren.
4
The point about what Trump might be like should he win a second term and no longer be “restrained” is spot on and terrifying. 2020 election must be viewed as both an election to restore decency and integrity to the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our government as well as a restraining order on the most corrupt, cruel and lawless Administration in modern history.
13
How does Tom know that the whistleblower is not partisan? You don't know who the whistleblower is or what motivated him/her. We do know that the intel community doesn't like Trump. I think you shouldn't jump to conclusions.
4
@Ralphie
What he knows is that the whistleblowing was not a partisan act. The whistleblower surely has political opinions: I do; so do you. But the fact that any of us has opinions does not, in the USA, under the first amendment, negate honest work. That the whistleblower's work was honest is guaranteed by the fact that it has repeatedly been confirmed by material released by the White House.
By the way, how do you "know" that the Intel community (and what exactly is that?) "doesn't like Trump"? I certainly don't know that. Nor have you even claimed that "not liking" Trump is sufficient reason for doubting that they are doing their jobs, much less that they are fabricating evidence—especially (again!) since the whistleblower's claims have been supported by the WH "defense."
Finally, most polls indicate the about 1/3 of the folks who support the president "don't like" him.
16
@Tom Farrell Sure, I don't like Trump personally. But I like many of his policies and certainly prefer him to HRC or any of the 2020 dem front runners.
You don't know that the whistleblower isn't partisan or that his/her motivation was beyond reproach. Of course having a political view doesn't present you from blowing the whistle, but a legit question to ask is why the whistleblower came forward. And why someone who was using second/third hand info came forward to begin with. How did they know the info they got was legit?
And the whistleblower's complaints aren't verified by the transcript. Nothing in transcript suggests a quid pro quo or that Trump was using his office for political gain. Further, Trump didn't follow up with Zelensky and he didn't set a deadline, things that would be important if he was looking for political help.
@Ralphie. So, this whistleblower from the intel community doesn’t “like” the president, and we don’t know if he’s partisan, so maybe he made up a charge that the president called a foreign leader, unilaterally withheld critical aid money already approved by congress, all for a “favor” request to get her dirt on a political rival? Except, that’s not what happened and not why it happened. The president has already admitted all of those things happened and more.
1
As always, Tom is the voice of reason. All points true, but....
Democrats, regardless of the impeachment process, will not win 2020 unless they:
1) moderate their positions on healthcare, and immigration, which are too left for suburban women and independent voters, and,
2) focus on strategies to to win the electoral college. That means earning the hearts and minds of voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa...those more centrist voters.
Democrats have to understand strategy and counterstrategy. Most voters are center left or center right. Voters are not going to vote for policies of little economic benefit to them - regardless of whether the message is about being morally right to do or not. This may be a hard truth but it's a truth.
Being real about what will win in 2020 means acknowledging hard truths and heeding lessons learned from 2016. If that doesn't happen, a change in 2020 is unlikely to happen, despite all that's going on right now.
10
"First, this charge against Trump began with an independent whistle-blower — an intelligence officer, aided by other insiders."
Maybe, to get the real story, in context, we could hear from the people that were actually on the call.
5
As always, extremely insightful opinions. Just a few observations. 1) While some Americans desperately long for leadership with integrity, that is not an objective oft the Trump core. Experience has irrefutably shown they are motivated by other concerns. 2) The political background of the whistle blower is irrelevant. Only the facts matter. He may be a Trump hater or a Trump supporter. His sentiment doesn't change Trump's undeniable conduct. 3) Great suggestion regarding a professional slant to the prosecution. Keep the politicians out of the process to whatever extent that may be possible. Hire Prosecutors who have prior Republican connections and/or experience. Middle of the road voters will respond.
I know you are busy in many areas, but please write more columns.
18
Trump asked a foreign country to interfere in a U.S. election in 2016, which he did.
And
Trump asked a foreign country to interfere in a U.S. election, in 2019 which he did. Again!
That is what the House needs to convey. Simple.
15
@Jey Es Are you referring to his sarcastic call for the Russians to release HRC's emails if they had them. He was referring to the 30k emails she erased when they were under subpoena from congress. Everyone thought the RUssians and or other countries had probably hacked the server she used as SofS.
This was a statement made at a campaign rally and was made shortly after Comey let her off the hook re her unauthorized use of a personal server for official government correspondence. IT WAS SARCASTIC.
If it would help motivate Republican senators to remove Trump from office, they could think of it as putting party above country -- because if they stick with Trump, their party will go down hard in the 2020 election.
8
Although somewhat symbolic at this stage, a serious impeachment discussion minus the glitz and noise is exactly what is necessary to remind Republicans of the long term damage that they are allowing for shorter term personal gains. One of the most important elements that should be discussed is term limits for all politicians.
8
I agree with Mr. Friedman that it would be wise to treat the election and impeachment as separate (my brain has trouble analyzing complex situations). But I have a question: how is someone physically removed from office if that someone refuses to go quietly ? Nixon made it easy by resigning, and Gore made it easy by ceding the election to Bush, but it looks like Trump will not be so accommodating. I assume Congress has a police force that they can employ to physically remove Trump from the White House grounds, but doesn't the Executive also have a police force that reports to the president. Is is too bizarre to conjure a shoot out between these two police forces ? Moreover, guess who is commander-and-chief of our $750 billion armed forces ? No police force has the muscle to oppose the army, and I have no doubts that Trump would so employ the military to save his skin, just like many dictators before him. Could someone explain the physical part of the possible impeachment process ?
6
YES to professional prosecutors. No more political grandstanding by either party. I cannot bear more Congresspeople exposing their inability to discipline their "optics" needs. This is SERIOUS.
22
Adam Schiff is exactly the right person to manage the impeachment proceedings. Throughout the Mueller investigation he has been the embodiment of integrity, understatement, precision of language, and courage. He has earned my deep admiration; I think he will rise to history’s calling at this critical period of the American experiment. The very idea of democracy is flailing. Representative Schiff may be one person who can ultimately reach with his fine character the Republicans drowning in a corrupt sea of cynicism. Surely they must care what their children will think of how they responded to this crisis?
68
@Gail Hewson Hull Schiff -- the same guy that kept claiming he'd seen evidence of collusion but has never produced it? Right.
"Democrats should pursue impeachment in the House as if there were no election in 2020. And they should pursue the 2020 election as if there were no impeachment."
That's a great sentiment, but hard to do in a 24/7 news cycle where people are gripped by Trump's drama as a form of "entertainment." I can't stop thinking about the comment one poster here made a few days ago, "This is better than Netflix."
Some might see it like that but I prefer my drama served up by screenwriters, not live accounts of an unhinged leader hurling seditious screams on his Twitter feed.
There's a breathless anxiety keeping many America's adrenallin up at fever pitch. I'm glad the calm and focused Schiff is leading this and learning from some initial misseps (paraodying the call transcript) to keep this all as orderly as possible.
Let's hope the country's better angels preval in this battle for truth, which in essence this impeachment inquiry is.
33
It is doubtful that the audience at a Kennedy Center opening night concert represents America, and not just K street lawyers able to comp tickets for themselves and their clients.
That said, you're right about what the Democrats must do. They must keep it simple. They must focus on the impeachable offense and not drag in their parochial concerns. They must question the witnesses respectfully and not make speeches. They must make this an issue about Trump's utter disregard for the national interest. Trump is betting that they cannot.
Can the Democrats do it?
5
Generally good advice to the polticians, but the press also needs to devote less space on the front page to this issue day after day after day. Independent voters, who are about one-third of the electorate and the most important demographic group in deciding who will be the next president, are generally turned off by partisanship by both parties and its very clear to them which sources of the news support which candidates. Impartial sources of the news are hard to find....buried deep in the internet. One side has already coronated Elizabeth Warren four months before the first caucus in Iowa and the other side is equally loyal to Trump. Polls are cherry-picked by both sides. If the liberal establishment media overplays this issue, then Trump will become increasingly perceived as the underdog and pull off another victory. Trump thrives on reality TV and the liberal media did more to help Trump in 2016 than anyone else. Please don't do this to our country again. And I for one would like to hear about other news stories around the world without the impeachment extravganza crowding out everything else. I suppose the impeachment story will be good for advertising revenue, but the preservation of the republic also matters.
20
@Robert Scull
One reason we have Trump at all is that Fox News has been willing to reinforce his lies and deceit, and no, both sides don't do it. PBS is easy to find and presents facts without drama. PBS, the NYT, and WP are truth and science based organizations doing professional reporting, Fox is nothing more than right wing opinion, designed solely to discredit the news outlets that actually do the reporting. Simply because Fox viewers believe the "MSM" is left leaning doesn't make it so.
One more thing: Don't make it about the $391 million in military aid being withheld explicitly for the purpose of pressuring Zelensky. There will likely be no smoking gun on that, and it isn't necessary for making an impeachment case. The threat to withhold U.S. support was implied by Trump's "reciprocity" remarks. If Trump tried to cause Zelensky to link continued U.S. military support to action on his two pet peeves (2016 meddling and the Bidens), the offense is complete; it doesn't have to be the reason for the freeze. An explicit tie to the freeze would make it worse, but Congress should not set that up as a goal post because if they fail to prove it it will look to some like Trump is exonerated.
6
We owe Donald Trump gratitude. If not for him we would not know how low Republicans in Congress are prepared to go (his impeachment is about to set new lows for them). Without Trump we would not have known that 40 percent of the voters would prefer monarchy over a democratic republic. Without Trump we would not have known just how vulnerable our institutions are to appointments of subversive creatures (would you have thought that Bill Barr could turn the Department of Justice into a partisan law firm dedicated to representing Trump?).
As long as we don't let Trump remain in office an hour longer than absolutely necessary, we will have profited by his presidency. We should take stock of what he has taught us - take our citizen responsibility to vote (for only honorable candidates) seriously, or Trump and the Republican Party will take our democracy from us.
46
Another thing Democrats should do: They should assume that Republicans in the Senate are principled even if they are not; and that they will consequently convict Trump if the case against him is strong enough. It should be crystal clear that the Senate's decisions are the Senate's concern, not the House's.
11
Mr Friedman
Thank you for another excellent analysis. You too deserve a standing ovation. Please run for President
14
Sure run for President.....is that before or after hanging out with the elites?
There isn’t going to be a “civil war” if Trump is removed from office because 2/3 of the Senate will only votes for conviction if a large majority of the public supports impeachment and removal.
By definition, the people would be united in their disapproval and so there wouldn’t be civil conflict.
4
An excellent article, which was a clear piece of advice to the democrats, and I for one hope that Trump is impeached, and that the Republicans find him guilty. A vain hope, however, as long as the impeachments stains his name which is richly deserved, and harms his chances of re-election then it would have served its purpose.
16
I completely agree. Fortunately, from what I see, this is exactly the approach Democrats are currently taking. And it's clearly driving Trump and the GOP crazy.
55
I’ve given up on Evangelicals ever seeing the light. Moderate Republicans are the key. They need to know that once Trump eliminates all oversight, that he will come after their interests next. Wall Street will be looted because that’s where all the money is.
12
@EW All 36 moderate Republicans live in states that vote blue anyway. This election is going to be about turnout.
2
"They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet. They need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses..."
I agree wholeheartedly. If the Democrats pursuing impeachment are to have any hope of success, it behooves people like Rep. Maxine Waters to stop saying things like the president ought to be "imprisoned & placed in solitary confinement" because "impeachment is not good enough for Trump." Nothing beats this kind of over-the-top diatribe as a way to motivate him to dismiss the impeachment inquiry as "another witch hunt," and not without reason.
What is the point of scaring off moderates and Republicans who might otherwise be willing to judge the case based on the evidence, rather than prejudging Trump as a person based on pure animosity?
https://news.yahoo.com/rep-maxine-waters-trump-needs-194337232.html;_ylt=AwrWnHqhZZRdLicAXwkPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--
49
@Steve I completely agree. My heart sank when I read her comments. They can only debase and harm this impeachment inquiry. If her anger is so great that she must ease her mind with wild public statements, then imho she should learn self-control. If she’s just trying to rile up her own base & garner publicity for herself I wish she’d consider the greater public good and just stop.
8
@flora1880 Thanks for the encouragement! Let's try to keep this conversation civil, for the good of the country and of our own souls.
Unfortunately despite Trump's criminal behavior, Trump still has substantial support.
He is outraising his Democratic presidential hopefuls.
Trump's support has two distinct elements.
The rich want to preserve at all costs their tax cut.
Greed over rides morality.
They also want to slash social programs and gut environmental and financial regulations.
The working class component of Trump's base wants their good jobs restored.
Trump has convinced them that building a wall and deporting illegal immigrants will do this.
Trump's program will not work but the Dems have not proposed any program to help displaced workers get new jobs that pay a wage EQUAL to that of the lost job..
To build support for impeachment and to win in 2020 the Dems must propose such programs.
They exist and do not require reviving coal or destroying the environment.
Telling laid off miners to become call center operators at a fraction of their previous wage [as HRC did] is not such a program.
Expanded use of the EITC and FDR type public works programs PWA / WPA / CCC should be considered.
Both elements of Trump's base simply do not care about Trump's behavior.
They APPLAUD it because they believe Trump will give them what they want.
The rich are a lost cause but the Dems can and must demonstrate to the working class element that the Dems will propose programs that will help them more than Trump's snake oil false promises.
23
This analysis assumes too many GOP politicians are not political hacks, bought and paid for. Standing up and applauding is easy. Raising funds for re-election requires appeasing donors. Standing up for the rule of law when it annoys donors is unlikely. The only thing that will remove Trump is voters voting in elections from the local level to the national level even when their first choice is not on the ballot. That’s what Republicans did and that’s why they are in power.
Applauding RBG is easy. But don’t let Trump appoint her replacement or McConnell block a nominee ever again. That might mean making tough choices for voters and staying focused, which seems to challenge Democrats.
13
Your suggestions are well taken; it will become distracting if different Democratic Representatives try to garner the spotlight with confused combinations of meandering questions that miss the target. One of the hardest things, in making anything understood, is in picking the right examples and editing out those which may just confuse the listener.
I think that there is sufficient clarity in the Ukraine exchange to convince many who may have been on the fence about Trump. Plus his deteriorating public behavior is getting harder and harder to excuse as joking, rather than the desperately extreme verbal bullying.
But the Republican's willingness to allow anything as long as they get their prizes - especially the damaging tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest, and the dismantling of environmental protections - and standing by as he treats migrant families and children as animals - suggests that the GOP will only modify their behavior if they are certain he will lose the next election.
Remember, it's a lot easier to advise than to organize and run the impeachment process - all while prepping for the next elections. And the struggle isn;t about converting typical NYT readers, but the broad public -- including the majority of white voters who brought him to power.
16
Most Republicans in Congress are unlikely to abandon Trump while he still commands a significant base of forever-Trump loyalists who will exact a high political price on Republican politicians who display disloyalty. Apart from a few (e.g. Romney), most GOP politicians simply cannot win their primary or the general election without Trump's support. Nevertheless, Mr. Friedman advice to the House Democrats is sound because a sober, intelligent impeachment investigation may lead Republicans with a conscience to vote Democratic, vote for some other alternative to Trump, or stay home in the next presidential election. For Democrats, winning the election, not conviction in the Senate, is the realistic goal. To this end, Democratic candidates for nomination should focus on Trump's corruption and ineptitude and leave impeachment to Congress.
Moderate conservative Republicans should realize that they may have to endure an electoral drubbing like that which followed Watergate so that they can retake their party and return it to a sane, right-of-center party. America will be diminished if Trumpism remains the main animating force within the GOP even after Trump is dethroned.
14
@Utahn After March 3rd primaries, what do Republican Senators have to fear? Their base won't vote for a Democrat, so they are safe. They can vote to remove Trump from office.
They can say Trump is so toxic nothing will get done and there is a better chance of enacting their policies with President Pence.
9
The standing ovation for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Kennedy Center concert is inspiring, and we should all hope that the incident is indicative of the pre-impeachment mood of the country at large, rather than merely a sweet, anecdotal story.
The advice from Thomas Friedman to House Democrats to present the impeachment of Donald Trump as a morality play about a self-aggrandizing bully against some dedicated, non-political civil servants is good advice.
It would be a waste of opportunity, however, if the Democrats do not add to the Bill of Impeachment one or two more examples of impeachable conduct by Donald Trump, unrelated to the bid for Ukraine election help.
Not only would the nation expect something about the financial adventures and other misdeeds of Mr. Trump, going only with a single count or episode in the impeachment runs the risk of the public sensing an implicit condonation of the rest of the Trump performance.
27
I think much of the applause for Ruth Ginsburg was not just because she personifies public service, whether or not one agrees with her, but because the Kennedy Center audience knew that she has overcome so many excruciating health challenges for the past two decades. It is impossible not to empathize with her situation and admire her resilience and dedication. And yes, I agree the American public is thirsting for honest answers about the Ukraine from the professional people in the trenches, and not doctors of spin.
21
“That so many G.O.P. senators have kept quiet up to now — save for uber-sycophants like Lindsey Graham — suggests that they fear that this framing is accurate and it stinks to them.”
Aside from this one reference to the Senate and I agree that Lindsey Graham is an uber-sycophant to use Friedman’s words, we need to remember Graham and others are political animals.
It wasn’t long ago in a moment of rare candor, Graham said after he was crushed in the primaries by Trump, “ I just want to be relevant.”
Since the Senate ultimately determines if an impeached president will be tossed from office, there could be an opportunity for Democrats to do such a thorough investigation in the House hearings that GOP senators realize that they will become completely irrelevant if they continue to support this president.
23
@JT Florida. I agree, but with one exception. The Senate has already willingly made themselves irrelevant by allowing Mitch McConnell to shield them from having to address politically charged legislation. They have lost their relevance and must regain it. I addressed this very issue with my Senators many months ago. I was answered with a form letter from one and ignored by the other. I'm not sure they care as long as they believe they can stay in power.
1
Yes, there still are decent Americans deserving the respect of those who are watching America from afar.
No better example could be found than Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
There is another one, Elizabeth Warren. Imagine the slow process of restoring international respect for my country of birth when we learn in November that she is our choice for president to be inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
I will be safe here in Sweden during that period from November to January. I leave it to you, dear reader, to figure out why I wrote that sentence.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Citizen US SE
8
Dr. Krugman.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful moment where Justice Ginsberg received an extended ovation.
A long serving Justice of the Supreme Court deserves respect, whether or not her legal bent is to your taste.
A long suffering, yet fierce cancer fighter deserves support without qualification.
But I cannot help thinking that as the ovation grew, what was being applauded was not only the great person, but also the signature controversy associated with her: abortion.
And that made me sad.
A great lady.
A great life.
A horrible practice ending life.
3
Mr. Friedman,
It is not Summer-time so it is doubtful that the audience
was a cross section of America, but rather of the D.C. Area.
I doubt that the Whistle Plower was/is fully non-partisan.
There are judgments made in the document that are beyond
his/her pay scale. And why did the higher ups in the CIA come to him instead of making their own complaint ?
If Trump can turn America into a "Banana Republic"
then "Yes, we have no Statesmen".
4
Some people do not understand that a quid pro quo agreement is not necessary to prove Trump broke federal law. What was required was that Trump asked a foreign country to interfere in a U.S. election, which he did. That is all.
The information provided in the whistleblower's complaint does align with the White House version of the content of the phone call. The White House, Trump surrogates, with Trump's approval, confirmed the whistleblower's accusation.
Republicans have already begun their attempts to smear whoever they can, the whistleblower, White House employees who provided information about the phone call to the whistleblower, and anyone else they can conjure up in their conspiracy-addled minds to blame for the president getting caught breaking the law.
But, the president has not refuted anything that is in the whistleblower's complaint. Trump has said the phone call was "perfect," whatever that means. He accuses the whistleblower and those who provided him/her with facts about the phone call of being "almost spies," and Trump implied all of them deserve punishment—death—for their activities and accusations.
Donald Trump cares nearly exclusively about himself and his re-election. The reason he cares about re-election is that he believes winning a second term prevents him from being brought to justice in federal and state courts.
39
Nice piece Mr. Friedman, except you forgot one tiny additional factor. Democrats have the inconvenient necessity of nominating someone who can plausibly and reasonably be regarded as better suited - in policy priorities, in character and, yes, in likability - to lead the country than Mr. Trump.
If it's not Biden, whose ship, I'm afraid, just hit its iceberg, then the alternatives - to the independents, moderates and leaners who decide every national election - could easily be seen as the fire alternative to Mr. Trump's frying pan.
7
Attention Democratic Presidential candidates, House members, and voters: "Democrats should pursue impeachment in the House as if there were no election in 2020. And they should pursue the 2020 election as if there were no impeachment."
Let's not muddy the waters. Trump has committed many high crimes and misdemeanors. Congress needs to focus on the impeachment process. Presidential candidates need to focus on communicating their vision for restoring our country, the environment, and voters' trust in our democracy.
18
I hope that the recent Op-Ed Contributor Chris Buskirk reads this. Perhaps it will wake up his moral compass, and that of the groveling republican party. Thank you Mr. Friedman for and eloquent and concise discussion of a blueprint for the restoration of democracy in America. Make America Great Again: Impeach Trump!
7
The hearsay argument is irrelevant. The tape of the conversation exists. And there is nothing innocuous about it. And in so much as an impeachment hearing is not a trial I imagine the rules of evidence as regards hearsay do not apply.
8
@Sam
Who has the tape and why hasn't Trump
learned from Nixon, and burned it or them ?
1
Among the obvious defenses against the charge that Friedman finds so convincing is the fact that the conversation between Trump and the Ukrainian president was just that -- talk -- and that what has so often been called a "quid pro quo" did not materialize. That is, the Ukraine got its military hardware and Trump did not get his information on Biden. If Friedman, Goldberg and the other NYT critics of Trump think that nonetheless there is a solid case here, I'd say they're dreaming. And when is someone going to explain to us all why the rules on hearsay in "whistleblowing" were changed right before this revelation?
6
@Bob Roberts An American government official, Donald Trump, asked the head of a foreign country to involve themselves in a U.S. election. That is against the law. "Just talking" is enough to have what the American president did to be breaking the law. It doesn't matter whether or not Trump got any information on Biden or that the Ukrainian president agreed. A quid pro quo agreement is not necessary, only asking a foreign country to involve itself in an American election.
In 2018, in May, I believe, the whistleblower law was amended. More than a year before the Trump-Zelensky phone conversation in July of this year.
31
@Bruce Stern Joe Biden is not even the Democrat nominee at this point - so isn’t any supposed help theoretical? Would concluding a trade deal with China which boosted the US economy also help Trump’s chances? How about reaching an agreement with North Korea on arms - wouldn’t that help Trump’s chances? Does that mean they shouldn’t happen? You stretched what was in the public transcript into “interfere with our election” - to include asking Ukraine to look into its own role in the 2016 election, and corruption in general.
4
@Bob Roberts Right...it was "just that--talk".Talk that involved an American president asking a foreign leader to get dirt on a future political rival.That "talk" happens to be against the law.When multiple individuals all claim to have heard the same thing as the whistleblower and the IG has verified this with them,we are no longer talking about "hearsay".When Trump,himself,gives us a transcript showing some of what he said to Zelensky....that is not "hearsay."
2
Mr. Friedman is correct that the credibility of the so-called whistleblower and his or her cohort will have an impact on the impeachment effort. So far, it doesn't look promising, as the complaint didn't line up with the record of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky, which seemed relatively innocuous in comparison with the complaint and its attempted sale to the public. Moreover, it appears that the complaint was immediately leaked to Schiff outside of appropriate channels, if it was not concocted by a cabal of never Trumpers and lawyers in the first place rather than by a sterling patriot. Friedman exhibits some appropriate caution here, moreso than many others on the left.
6
@Dave Oedel What was presented to the public was a summary of the telephone conversation. Trump asked the Ukrainian to help getting information about the Bidens once. Actually, he asked him eight times and this was over half of the conversation and involved pressure. Silly Trump people thought the public would be satisfied with their summary. Problem is that there were twelve other people listening to the conversation and all of them took notes. And some of them talked about it.
22
@Susan Kuhlman
Sounds like you may know more than me about the facts. I did wonder about the reference to eight mentions of Biden in the call, because it didn't line up with the report. Assuming that Trump did refer to Biden or the Bidens eight times during the call, I agree that it doesn't look good (though the Bidens appear to have come up later in the call, which seems significant). Still, it's not a crime for a president to examine super-high-level official corruption by somebody who wants to get back in. It might take a new president to out the prior vice president. Obviously the intelligence community was not up to it. They probably knew what the Bidens were doing, but couldn't or at leaast didn't effectively complain.
3
Correction: The substance and flow of the whistleblower’s description of Trump speaking to the Ukrainian President, and the version released by the White House are almost identical. They are far too similar to be a coincidence. This conclusion has been supported by virtually all major US news outlets, newspapers, and cable news hosts.
Your statement that they don’t match is in error.
The writing is on the wall. Adam Schiff is a highly intelligent, energetic, still young, Harvard educated attorney. He'll handle things. I think Schiff will expedite a comprehensive impeachment exposing tons of evidence faster than we think possible
It won't be a slam dunk - but close. The rats will jump ship and turn on Trump. McConnell and others will look post-Trump. There very well could be a Goldwater moment at the White House where Trump is sternly asked to resign. And a deal brokered for pardons. (Something I certainly don't want to see.)
Hence, I see a higher probability of a Trump resignation than a civil war, but the possibility of the latter still looms.
Trump is gonna go one way or the other. Republican Senators would be wise to remove Trump posthaste, or be given obloquy by history. Or an unprecedented trouncing in 2020. When they get bad reports from the polls, they'll ditch Trump with alacrity.
Then we'll see some stuff the movies could not make up. Trump out of office. Trump being charged criminally with elements of the Mueller report. Trump being charged criminally by the state of New York. Former President Trump fleeing the United States to a country from which he cannot be extradited, like Russia.
Trump has too much bad karma not to endure a horrendous fate. Little Hispanic kids in cages soiling themselves wrapped in Mylar blankets - that kind of bad karma.
There's also the possibility of a wildcard like Romney.
32
@Wordsworth from Wadsworth If Trump is not reelected, the statute of limitations will not have run out on many possible prosecutions.
1
@Wordsworth from Wadsworth
Someone needs to be sure Trump can't leave the country as soon as he is no longer the President.
1
All good advice, except that it relies on the Republicans not smearing the non-partisan civil servant and the respected diplomat to portray their complaints as a witch hunt. But seeing as they will lie with impunity, lots of luck with that, right?
12
Exactly. “Again, how eager will Republicans be to defend Giuliani and Trump by trashing a U.S. ambassador — with a stellar record?” Very. They are eager for one thing: judicial appointments, which paired with gerrymandering will complete their creation of a system wherein its impossible for the will of Friedman’s majority to actually matter.
Hopefully, though, if Friedman’s steps are taken, enough voters will abandon the GOP that even the gamed electoral system won’t win them the next election.
7
I am so grateful to hear that Justice Ginsburg received a standing ovation. She is a true American hero and patriot, who serves this country with great heart, superior intelligence, and a commanding knowledge of America's laws and Constitution. She is the spirit of what's kept us from going over the Trump has threatened the whistleblower's life, threatened elected members of Congress, threatened members of the United States 17 intel agencies, threatened and sullied private citizens--and on it goes. As of May 2019--he was the object of 30 state, federal and Congressional investigations. Trump refuses and stonewalls and responds with contempt. He attacked the Mueller investigation over 1,100 times and the person of Robert Mueller. He has no credibility or standing for demanding to meet the whistleblower..
21
Herding cats is a lot easier than getting Democrats to follow a script, even if it means the difference between winning and turning the US into another Poland. They lack any of the discipline the Republicans use to such devastating effect.
8
Ultimately it is we Americans who are on trial. Will we as a people so cherish our democracy and its tenet that no one is above the law that we support the long and stressful process of impeachment to call our president to accountability? Will our elected representatives and appointed judges honor our history and become part of it by doing what is right, respecting the procedure that our forebears created for such a national crisis?
46
This is the best advice I have heard.
23
I am afraid that what Mr. Friedman calls a nonpolitical high integrity civil servant is what Donald Trump maligns as a member of the "deep state". His henchpeople in the Senate and on Fox will eagerly parrot his claims. Our politics are not tidy enough and rational enough for Mr. Friedman's scenario to play out.
For the whisteblower report to persuade, it has to be reinforced by reminders of Trump's other self-serving abuses of government (emoluments, use of Trump properties); Trump's earlier involvement with foreign influence in our elections ("Russia, if you're listening..."); and the numerous instances of secrecy, stonewalling. cover-up and obstruction of justice.
No single member of Congress, even Adam Schiff, can carry this burden. We need daily reminders of the crisis, much like "America Held Hostage" during Pres. Carter's final months in office.
Just as RBG's ovation began with a few, and gradually swelled among an audience who had varied reasons for respecting and honoring her, Trump's downfall will come as more and more people, for a whole range of reasons, get to the point where they simply can't tolerate him any more.
When that happens, removing Trump from office will not be enough to cure the poison he has injected into our national life. The impeachment process must be broad enough to spotlight his abettors in the executive branch and Congress. They share his culpability and must be voted out or fired from the offices they have dishonored.
33
What DT's behavior proves, is that a bully should of been stopped back, even before he was nominated. That could of been done by not covering him, and putting anything in print. He wasn't called out, and not allowed to get the print, or television media that he craved. Every time he belittled or bullied someone, it was covered day, and night. If just one or two networks, or news organizations told their viewers publicly that they refused to write anything about him, they could read it on other newspapers, or see it on other networks, including his rallies. No one did, and it was like a cancer that metastasized. If it was anyone else, in the broader celebrity world that was acting that way, they wouldn't of gotten the time of day. I, personally, have been over that guy for over 28 years. The fact that too many in the state of New York, and city, banks, and other institutions allowed him to run roughshod over them for decades, etc., the east coast deserves a lot of the blame for where we are today.
19
@MaryKayKlassen No,, not the East coast, but the media, as you accurately say. THEY are the ones who could have stopped him from advancing in the primaries, and didn't do that - for advertising money.
2
I agree with Mr. Friedman. This is a pivotal moment in our nation's life, just as it was in the early 1970s during Watergate.
To Mr. Friedman's list of do's and don'ts I would add the following:
1) The Democrats should caucus and pressure its members to stop appearing as a talking head on MSNBC and CNN. All the interviews are drearily following the same script and even as a lifelong Democrat I am finding them tedious and very annoying. Spare us the outrage please. We are nervous enough about all that is going on.
If I never see Eric Stalwell on camera again expressing his indignation it will be too soon.
2) Stop attacking the Democratic frontrunners during the primary process. Let your platforms speak for you. I lost a lot of respect for Kamila Harris when during the debate she went after Vice President Biden. This is political war with too much at stake for cheap political sniping. Same note for Mr. Castro.
3) If a person is called to testify in front of any committee and they display blatant contempt for that process, then the Democratic Chairs should immediately stop the hearing and hold that person in contempt.
What Corey Lewandowski was able to get away with was painful to watch. I doubt seriously that a Republican Chair would put up with that kind of nonsense. In this case, take a page from the Republicans and disregard the advice Michelle Obama gave us.
When the Republicans go low, get down on that level and smack them politically where it hurts.
42
@Len. Thanks for the additional advice, especially 1). Speaker Pelosi should be as militant as she can getting the word out to "Shut up and run the government". This country, including the moderate Republicans, is sick and tired of the "outrage" caucas. Get with the program and get the job done. Even if the GOP Senate holds true to form and summarily dismisses impeachment, the discipline and decorum, the forward looking messages of the Democratic Party will go far in recruiting voters who are ready for mature, disciplined, moral governance.
@Len Like how the Democrats went after Kavanaugh.
1
What a day of contrasts!
China held its 70th anniversary of "Communist Civilization" while Hongkong police shot and wounded a young protestor.
China flaunted its military might and new military hardware and warned that democracy would plunge the nation into chaos!
Meanwhile in the heart of democracy on the other side of the world, America wrestled with the thorny issues of impeaching a President, come what may for the Democrats. That process started with an ostensibly neutral civilian whistleblower's report.
For totalitarian governments, the individual is unimportant, a mere cog in the machine.
Both powerful nations are in the midst of many challenges while the world watches and wonders which system of governance will ultimately prove better.
The willingness to allow free expression is one arbiter of a better society. By that measure, the US wins hands down! What distinguishes free societies is the pursuit of truth, however uncomfortable that may be. It seems to be obvious which system will, in the end, win universal acceptance.
8
Totally agree. This is a tipping point. More insiders are going to choose revelation if they want to get in front of the story, or sink with the ship. It will be in the self interest of Republican senators to vote on the evidence. If it appears that they are only following the party line, the whole party will be forever soiled. They could do Trump a "favor" and convince him to resign, and get a Pence pardon. Maybe Mitch can retire 2021 as the Vice President of the United States.
3
@William S. Willis Mitch McConnell is not in the line of succession to the presidency. Pence is number 1, Speaker of the House Pelosi is number 2, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Sen. Grassley is number 3.
3
@RiverLily9 See the 25th Amendment. If Pence becomes president, he must nominate a replacement who has to passed by a majority of both houses.
1
@William S. Willis
They could nominate me.
I am neither a Republican or a Democrat
and did not vote for either Trump or Hillary.
2
If the poet Robert Browning were alive today he might rephrase the famous line in his poem to
" God may be in his heaven but all's not right with the world." Given that the president's supporters will stick with him, impeachment or not, nor will they swerve in their support of him simply to satisfy "Justice." When was there ever a period in his life, before his run up to the presidency and during the three years he has been president, that he deferred to rules and laws.
The impeachment hearing must be thorough, disciplined and in simple terms accurate without grandstanding from any democrat, especially any presidential democratic candidate. If handled in an honorable way the world will know that we have regained our equilibrium and justice will prevail. Sure it will require unusual discipline to make certain that justice does prevail and not as some TV show seeking higher ratings. But the third leg of the writer's listing of objectives "winning the election" must be the paramount goal.
If this is achieved, it will mark a watershed moment in this country's history, namely, that the country in its most difficult and perilous hour will have revisited the principles the founder's had in mind. It could set a standard for and the beginning of the greatest period in the history of our country. People the world over will know that our institutions, our constitution and our rule of law has once again prevailed and they can look to us once again as the beacon of freedom.
11
Long live Ruth Bader Ginsburg. God bless her. Thank you for letting us know about her reception at the Symphony last night.
I wish we had more inspiring leaders in political life these days.
Trump and his sycophants can potentially bring our country down too far to come up again. He shouldn't be allowed to run for President in 2020 given what's been going on in the White House. I'm sure there's more yet to come that is even further damaging. Run for cover.
16
Excellent, excellent article, Mr. Friedman. I so hope that Speaker Pelosi and Representative Schiff read your article very carefully. I also hope that our main Democratic primary contenders do the same and that they all follow your strategy.
16
The "smoking gun" is a constant brought up in these affairs. Well we have that now with the transcript and whistleblower complaint.
Some search for an even better "smoking gun" evidence just plays into Trump's hands.
As new evidence or another smoking gun is discovered gives Trump what he wants, ignoring the first "smoking gun."
4
I don’t think so. The guys who work with me don’t know who RBG is, but they know who they voted for. And I suspect they are more representative of the American people than any crowd at the Kennedy Center. Do this at your risk. Don’t expect the next guy to be as nice as Trump if you succeed in your coup.
6
A legal procedure to change the leadership, as mandated in the Constitution, is not a “coup.”
Those who use the term seem to think that Trump and the GOP have a heaven-given right to control the government.
@Erin Proud that your friends are uninformed? Trump in his own words "I love the uneducated". It doesn't take much to know who RGB is, every middle schooler knows that one. Sorry, don't let me interrupt the football game.
The standing ovation for RBG makes me think ahead to the Senate trial. Will Chief Justice Roberts guide the proceedings with the heavy hand that will be needed to keep fools like Graham and Jordan in line? Will he be thinking about his legacy, his duty to protect the Constitution and the gravity of the issues at hand? Will he think about his need to be neutral? These are not petty charges, but go to the heart of presidential duties and obligations. The trial cannot be allowed to devolve into a Kavanaugh hearing circus.
Perhaps that was what the Kennedy center crowd was cheering for, hoping for — that the Third Branch will do a better job with this Constitutional crisis than it did with the last one: Bush or Gore in 2000.
8
"Democrats should pursue impeachment in the House as if there were no election in 2020. And they should pursue the 2020 election as if there were no impeachment."
Brilliant and wise, Professor Krugman.
15
@Robert Henry Eller
I enjoy reading Prof Krugman's trenchant analyses too.
But this excellent and incisive piece was written by Thomas Friedman.
11
@Dilbert123
Whoops! My bias is showing. Friedman is someone I agree with about half the time, but I don't find Friedman's critical reasoning consistently impressive.
Also, I'm developing cataracts.
Also, it just "sounded" to me like Krugman.
Anyway, apologies to Thom Friedman for not giving him credit where due.
Very important thoughts, Tom, thank you.
Especially your point about having professional prosecutors do the questioning instead of the committee members. Who do we contact as citizens to urge this way to conduct the hearings?
15
Totally agree however the weight of the evidence already on record is not emphasized.
Attorneys commonly say there isn't such thing as "too much evidence." Makes sense of course and considering attorneys charge by the hour it's more work for them.
But I would suggest that enough evidence is already on the public record. The WH released the phone call transcript for heaven's sake. The whistleblower and other witnesses on this specific event only delay and give Trump ammo to take things side ways.
The whistleblower has done his duty, it has been corroborated by the WH in the transcript. Besides our interest and news media ratings basically he would be left alone.
Take a vote based on what we have now and avoid a circus that gives the perps a chance to cloud and confuse.
8
You may have enough to take a quick vote, but you are not the whole audience of US citizens.
@Dr. I understand your point, thank you. However voting for impeachment is not to consider conviction but whether to have a Senate trial where the Chief Justice presides over a "trial" and the evidence will be brought forward and reviewed appropriately.
The impeachment complaint is all laid out in the transcripts submitted by the perp., the WH, Trump.
The optimism really made my day.
Watching what has been happening to country has been scary.
9
@Valerie Lee Sometimes optimism is misguided. Freidman wrote: "Again, how eager will Republicans be to defend Giuliani and Trump by trashing a U.S. ambassador — with a stellar record..."
If Lincoln himself were alive today opposing Trump in any way, they would tear him apart on twitter and Fox and Republicans would remain silent.
There is no bottom. They will sink to unthinkable depths and just when you think they can go no lower, there's a trap door.
We cannot, at this crossroads, kid ourselves they will wake up tomorrow and find their humanity, experience an ethical epiphany and
remember they took an oath to uphold the Constitution.
15
Agreed. It’s a political process, but there is still the moral imperative. Do what’s right. It’s often the more difficult path.
25
In the words of Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Plenty of good people serving in Congress and our Government Agencies. What they need is courage to do the right thing knowing that the majority of the American People will have their backs. It doesn't take any effort to keep quite, but takes everything you can muster to stand up for what is right.
41
We have to do what is right and moral thing regardless of electoral consequences Period. End Of Sentence
24
After the recurrence of a deadly cancer, Justice Ginsburg should comfortably retired rather than forced to continue on the bench. Her tenacity is commendable but are we so desperate, and is our democracy so frail, that one 86-year old woman is all that stands between us and calamity?
12
@CJ
Exactly.
Thats why I find Pete Buttigieg's proposed structural reformation of the SC a wonderful idea!
Elizabeth Warren and Pete - that would be the dream team for me.
15
@CJ-
She isn’t all that stands between us and calamity, but she’s definitely a big piece.
9
@CJ Unfortunately, yes. If she leaves, Trump will immediately replace her with a very young version of Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia or Gorsuch or Alito. Or worse.
Once again, even a sophisticated political observer like Friedman muddies the notions of "swing voters" and "independents." 37% voters identify as Independents. 33% identify as Democrats. 26% identify as Republicans. Independents are the largest group. But most are not "swing voters." As much political science research shows (see Keith et al., The Myth of the Independent Voter, 1992) 2/3 of these "Independents" are reliably partisan – every bit as much as party identifiers. Only about 10% of voters are "true independents" who really are not party loyal. And – guess what – they are some of the least politically knowledgeable and politically engaged citizens out there. It's surprising that they even vote. And what's really going on in current events is often lost on these voters. They are more likely to be influenced by short-term, sensationalistic stimuli in the media (see Zaller's research). What Democrats need to focus on is turning out intermittent non-voters who are more likely to vote blue – and getting other progressives to stop wasting their votes by casting ballots for Jill Stein or writing in Bernie. These people cost Hillary the election. That's not even debatable. Look at the 2016 numbers in PA, MI, and WI.
17
63 million people voted for trump. That’s the problem. Why single out a few thousands? The millions are a irreducible fact. That’s what’s scary.
1
Wow! Very well said, Thomas Friedman! Will you please forward this to every Democrat in the House, Senate, and on the campaign trail?
I think it is essential to get Trump out before the election, which we cannot trust will be fair (even before the latest revelation).
The House should do the hearing correctly, as you say, then put it on the Republican-controlled Senate, and if they exonerate him then that becomes a campaign issue.
Impeachment, conviction, removal of office is the last hope to save this country.
12
Basically, this column was inspired by Tom Friedman witnessing a moving, almost country-affirming incident at the Kennedy Center. I'd like to agree with him that a long, proud, bi-partisan ovation for RBG means things will be alright with our world. There is such grace about Justice Ginzberg, with her tolerance and even handedness that everyone respects. It is sad knowing she is the only one in public life now who inspires this.
29
@sues
She isn't the only one. There are many. Carter is one. Pelosi seems pretty even handed. John McCain was one. I even count Friedman one.
1
I'm going to venture a guess and say that the whistleblower is the elected leader of a group of whistleblowers. He or she will be probably the most experienced and knowledgable of the group. This person probably has a stellar reputation, proven dedication to our country, and is beyond reproach.
After reading the complaint, I find it hard to believe that this person acted alone in gathering evidence and for some time has had to sit by with his or her cohorts and watch the steady drip of malfeasance and corruption. That is, until the biggest straw yet broke the camel's back.
So they picked the one person among them who could best present the case, who has thickest skin, and the stamina to withstand what lies before him or her. (Maybe I'm just dreaming up the best movie script but I hope not.)
So I say, godspeed to you and know that you have our respect and gratitude, and our support for speaking up, following the law, and making us believe that some folks in our government still have a conscience.
253
@Sherrie,
Great comment, thank you. I think you're right, someday this will all be in a movie script. And I hope, the kind that has a classic Hollywood ending - justice done, hero vindicated, and the people celebrating in the streets.
7
@Sherrie
Very well said @Sherrie. Thank you.
I somewhat agree. Pelosi needs to bring nonpartisans to proclaim Trump's corruption in terms the rural public will understand. When red America understands, the Republicans will be more likely to support removal. But, more importantly, the voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Florida need to understand Trump's corruption.
7
@Anthony I suggest that the Democrats cancel one of their debates and buy media time to have someone like former Pres. Jimmy Carter explain in some detail how Trump has committed impeachable offense citing pertinent portions of the Constitution.
35
@Anthony
Good luck selling the idea that corruption is bad when the corruption of the leading Democratic candidate is deemed technically legal and therefore okay.
You can't win people over on technicalities, or moral high ground. As it stands, many of the policies that old guard Democrats trumpet repeatedly are very different from what voters say they consider important.
Until you fix that priority problem, and deal with the corporatist wing in the party, nothing you say will have much credibility. And rightfully so.
4
We do not need cynicism and divisive comments. We have problems to fix. Stay the course. Put aside differences. Impeach. Take back our government.
Welcome back, Tom. The world was never flat, but it does have lots of corners. You seeing around them again is good for all of us.
30
We really have no choice but to pursue Impeachment. King Trump has led us down this path. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I do know we can not ignore insults to our constitution like the republicans are now doing. Ignoring this will end this great experiment in democracy.
Friedman offers some good and practical advice. Hopefully, the Dems will listen to him, and stay away from grandstanding. Let the republicans continue to make fools of themselves.
31
Let's at least not be bizarrely as naive as to imagine if we play out the 2020 "election" that it will be legitimate. It will not be. All red flags are waving. All sirens are blaring. "trump" will "elected" and the horror show will be fully rolled out.
Are you prepared for that? Because you can ask any Russian about elections.
8
I am beginning to fear talk of impeachment or eventually voting DT out of office is just wishful thinking. Maybe I’m having a bad day. But, on a bad day, I think this country now has too short an attention span and has become too jaded to really care much if the President is a louse (which he most certainly is.) There may simply be too many reality tv, WWF, my vote doesn’t matter, low-info, politics doesn’t affect me, Fox News watching dreamers who think America can return to the 1950s to overcome - no matter how much evidence is provided them. I fear they’ll choose to ignore it because it doesn’t suit their taste. In the thirties many Europeans came to America as the tide of murderous insanity slowly escalated in and around Germany. Obviously, we are no longer a safe haven or a shining city on a hill - if we ever were. I find myself wondering though, where I might go if America can’t or won’t turn its back on our own would-be despot. I’m not sure, but staying put doesn’t seem prudent if America gives Trump a license to descend ever further into his autocratic fantasies. I’m uneasy.
11
"If this is how he behaved while constrained by re-election concerns, how will Trump behave if he gets re-elected — despite this wretched behavior — and no longer needs to worry about re-election? America will become a banana republic."
I believe that's wishful thinking on your part Mr. Friedman. You and I think that way, but I don't think the average voter ever gets that far prior to pulling the lever for the next President.
I continue to believe Trump will bring himself down because he simply can't help himself. At some point, information will surface that will be so damning that even the Lindsay Grahams of this world will reluctantly acknowledge that Trump must be removed from office.
The bigger they are the harder they fall. And Trump has himself pumped up so big that he can barely maintain his balance. If we're lucky, his fall will also snare some of those Senate and House enablers who kept him propped up this long.
32
Friedman has a short memory.
Mueller started out simple and easy to understand also: The Lester Holt interview; the firing of Comey; the Trump Tower meeting; "Russia, if you're listening."
It didn't matter if Mueller never spoke; TRump did.
Then, a SINGLE email between illicit lovers in the FBI was all TRump needed, aided by the MSM, to launch his "investigate the investigators" plan and we now have the AG globe trotting trying to make it all work, probably because the US attorney in CT has failed to come up with evidence of anything the investigators did wrong.
Today, the IGIC has stated the whistle blower has a partisan bent. Also, TRump has the entire Biden thing to use to deflect.
Schiff is not the right person to chair this inquiry because he is too steeped in process (as we saw when the DNI testified) and THAT is all Trump needs to cloud the issue and take attention away from the facts.
In Watergate, we had the cover up, the crime (break-in) was pretty mild.
Here, we have the crime in Trump's own words. Remember, this is Trump. Like a smart terrorist he knows how to hide in plain sight. So there is no cover up.
Democrats chasing after every new revelation as the onion is peeled back run the risk of Mueller 2.0.
11
Agree completely but especially on two points. The impeachment activity should proceed as if there was not an election in 2020 and the Democratic candidates should act as if there was not an impeachment inquiry going on. Don't let either get muddled. Remember that Donald Trump is an expert muddler.
The second point is to let accomplished lawyers do the questioning. They don't grandstand. They get to the point. Barry Berke reduced Corey Lewandoski to a mere whisper of his previous obnoxious self on the stand. It was gratifying to see. We need more of that kind of inquiring throughout the proceedings.
153
Right on. Dems need to listen.
9
I have yet to see one pundit articulate this potential scenario: If the Democratic candidate wins in 2020, what’s to stop the house from voting to impeach AFTER the election? For instance so close to the inauguration that the senate never had a chance to hold a trial? That would be the trifecta...lose the election, get impeached, no vindication. Now tell me the Republicans wouldn’t do it given the chance. After Merrick Garland, all bets should be off and the gloves should be off...forever.
13
Yes, totally agree, especially the part about having professional prosecutors question witnesses. After witnessing the Lewandowski hearing, which was a total debacle until Barry Berke took over the questioning, it should be clear that this is the time for methodical, professional, and strategic questioning to make sure that cooperative witnesses have the chance to tell their story in the most effective way, and hostile witnesses are pinned down and exposed as Lewandowki finally was. Bring on the pros!
56
@Michele
While I am not advocating Kamala Harris for President, She would sure make a great prosecutor for this inquiry. Can they hire her??
2
Tom, I can understand how moved you were by the standing ovation received by Justice Ginsburg at the Kennedy Center last Saturday night. I was moved by just reading your account but I believe the tribute of the audience was in recognition of her remarkable resilience in overcoming her health issues and her dedication to law that has evolved with the United States.
President Trump has been worried about his legitimacy since his election because of the efforts of the Russia on his behalf. I have never figured out what motivated Russia to get involved and it is highly possible that dealmakers, with no connection to Trump, in exchange for a fee persuaded some wealthy Russians that Trump was the best hope for lifting sanctions on their money accounts. I am reasonably certain that the story of the Russian meddling in the 2016 election will come out.
Trump's interjection of his request for Ukraine's assistance in finding negative material on the Bidens in the planned phone call probably came as a surprise to all who had planned the call and were listening in. People who know the law knew that it was a serious violation of the law by and really left Speaker Pelosi with no choice but to carry-out her Constitutional requirements.
So, it looks like Mr. Trump will make history. However, I think it is important that the Congress use this impeachment inquiry to educate Americans, as you suggested, why the President's statement is a violation of the law and harms U.S. security.
19
I've been dead-set against impeachment since the end result will be failure in the Senate and Trump and his allies claiming victory and "total vindication".
A stinging defeat for Democrats does nothing to help their chances in 2020.
Trump's being rejected by the voters is far more important than removing him from office via impeachment.
That being said, this latest episode can't be ignored. The evidence is plain to see and unlike the Mueller Report, it requires little dot-connecting on the part of the ADD American public. The impeachment process needs to proceed.
Friedman is correct in that poor discipline on the part of the presidential candidates and Democrats in congress could foul up what is an open-and-shut case.
Let's hope they don't.
49
If the senate does not convict, It’s a stinging defeat for the USA. Think beyond political labels please.
Friedman sounds about right, except for one thing. If an uncomplicated presentation is the key to impeaching Trump and getting him out, then it follows that complicating the process might be an effective counter. Unless restrained in some way by the impeachment process itself, Trump's minions will be spewing complications and delays full-time.
If they want a comprehensible impeachment process, Democrats will probably have to find some way to politically incapacitate the likes of Giuliani and Barr. Otherwise, Democrats will probably have to plan on a long, complicated process instead.
8
@S.P.
Uncomplicated is the best D strategy. Trump will fill the void and dig his own political 6 feet.
I voted Democratic because I think Trump is unfit to be the president of the "model republic" on earth. He is the Kim-Jong-Un of North America, whereas Kim is the Trump of the North Korea.
This "model republic" is being tested to see if it still has the check-and-balance that its fathers had designed for it to be.
Perhaps, the fathers of this country did not envision a character like Kim-Jong TRUMP be elected to lead this "model republic," or they would have made it more specific on how to impeach him.
8
Mr. Friedman, I’ve followed your transition during Trump’s reign, from wishful thinking at the inception that Trump could be circumscribed into quasi-normalcy, to the realization that that was impossible and he is simply a vile and disgusting human being, to the latest Ukrainian disaster that shows he must be removed if we are to save our democracy. Many of us have traveled down the same path. Let’s get on with it.
95
When we look back at this time twenty years from now, I hope we will be able to say that we survived an aberration, a time when all of our dearest values were in jeopardy. I hope we can say that the constitutional structure held firm against a vicious assault by Trump and his enablers. I see them joining the ranks of Aaron Burr, Father Coughlin, Joe McCarthy, and other infamous figures, who briefly stole the limelight, and then faded into ignominy.
177
@Public Servant There's a difference today and that's that there's a fair segment of the country who wouldn't care about being associated with Farther Coughlin and Joe McCarthy (even if they knew who they were).
People are puzzled over how Trump still has such support in spite of everything he's said and done. But he has that support because his supporters love his sexism, racism, anti-semitism, nationalism and immigrant hatred. And they're willing to excuse everything else he does, including violating the Constitution and the law, because of that.
Trump still has a 43% approval rating among registered or likely voters. How is that even possible? Because his supporters don't care what he does as long as he still supports their racism, sexism, etc.
Hillary was right all along. This country is filled with deplorables, including many in Congress.
6
@Public Servant
Why do you impugn Aaron Burr? Have you been influenced by the historically inaccurate Hamilton play?
Aaron Burr was an abolitionist long before it was common. He tried to get slavery abolished in the 1780s and succeeded in having it abolished in New York. He was also a pro-feminist admirer of Mary Wollstonecraft.
It's true he was accused of treason later in his life, but he was acquitted.
1
@Public Servant
Please don't forget Roy Cohn!
4
I hope it goes this way - even if it takes until after the election. I worry that the Republicans & Trump are too much in cahoots with the Russians (maybe that’s why Republicans are so quiet and support Trump unfailingly) that no matter how many more votes the Dems get, Trump will win re-election.
Trump won last time without the popular vote. And, nothing’s been done to deter the Russians from helping Trump and the forced into silence Republicans from winning again.
6
Thomas, this is the most level-headed assessment I have read regarding the coming impeachment of Trump and I hope it plays out exactly as you laid it out.
74
With all that is known now being a Trump supporters is nothing short of perverse. After cheering loudly this poor specimen of humanity I can understand the unwillingness to face the fact that they have been cheering a man who is not making America great but rather is making it the laughing stock of the world. It is humiliating. Very few have a strong enough character to eat humble pie and admit they have been duped. One may forgive those that were naive but not someone like Lindsay Graham who from the beginning was quite aware what Trump was and yet is willing to shred his reputation in his defense.
11
“There is still a civic pulse in this country. “ Of course. To be sure. Americans aren’t children. We know each other and respect each other and what America represents. The notion that a ridiculous dotard and an assembly of mesmerized vandals represents the citizenry of this Country is a chimera born of the web, social media, Fox, and funded by a few bonkers billionaires.
32
@John ✅Brews I wish you were correct, but Trump still has a 43% approval rating among likely or registered voters. Trump represents exactly what those people want. And with these latest revelations, his approval rating has hardly budged. His supporters really don't care.
3
Somehow this Ukraine thing doesn't resonate with most people as a crime against democracy and political decorum for which a president should be removed from office; I get out and about quite a bit and I haven't heard anybody even mention it. It's more like a lapse of judgement, something he shouldn't have done, but that's about it. It's depicted as the End of the Universe by Democrats because they want so much to get rid of Mr. Trump and haven't yet found any way to do it--they're frantic, they'll try anything, so if this latest Trumpian faux pas can be blown up into a 'high crime or misdemeanor' they're sure willing to give it the old college try, but most people outside 'liberal media-world' or the Washington Beltway aren't that shocked or scandalized by it. And, BTW, could the applause for RBG have been for her undoubtedly deserved status as a loved cult figure for whom the audience knew they might not get a chance to demonstrate their affection again? Did Mr. Friedman have to recruit this spontaneous demonstration of respect for her into the all consuming leftist battle against Mr. Trump?
5
@Ronald B. Duke: a plain reading of the rough call transcript, and Pompeo's decision to overrule the White House and send the $400M to Ukraine two days after the IG sent his letter to Congress, tell us everything necessary. Yes ordinary people have lives to live and may not talk about this every second, but that does not change the fact that Trump betrayed his oath.
17
So did Nixon simply suffer a lapse in judgment by authorizing a cover-up, and thus escape impeachment and removal? You don’t think that seeking help from a foreign head of state to dig up dirt on an American citizen and a political opponent, and allegedly withholding aid for that country as a form of blackmail is more than a lapse in judgment?
1
Impeachment is akin to making sausage. It ain't pretty, but it has to be done.
9
Trump will be removed. I’m confident this is it.
6
From your mouth to God’s ear, Mr. Friedman. Although methinks God has already passed judgment on Donald Trump.
6
Tom,
Without going so far as to endorse his vice-president, should Obama step up and calmly, clearly explain Biden’s Ukraine mission?
4
@Joe Holley
No, because that would undercut Biden. He can speak well enough for himself.
100% correct--great column.
7
Friedman’s right. Forget next year.
Do the right thing. Impeach now.
If you don’t, you’re stiff with fear
and make Trump a sacred cow.
5
Brilliant. I hope every Democrat in Congress and every Democratic presidential candidate reads this column and takes it to heart.
22
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Friedman. You've constructed a clear and fitting template. Particularly the idea of pursuing impeachment as though there is no election - and more important - pursuing the election as though there is no impeachment. We need our candidates to inspire and uplift with genuine vision for what we can accomplish.
The sobriety and discipline you prescribe is fundamentally about restoring dignity to our government, our democracy and our culture.
May it be so!
19
What would the founding fathers think of Donald Trump? That he is a criminal who needs to be impeached. We need to thank them for thinking ahead and providing a pathway for saving our democracy when all seems lost at the hands of such a man. Thanks to Trump's presidency, we now know how precarious our government can be. But it is not lost. Not yet. If Congress (regardless of political party) will do its job and uphold the constitution and the values we hold dear.
33
An excellent essay. Very sensible and very practical. Only reservation is expecting Democrats to be disciplined. Seems out of their usual character. Friedman's calm, systematic approach to what lies ahead should be must-reading for Democrats in Congress.
10
@blgreenie
Yes, D's not disciplined, but Friedman says experience prosecutors should be used to question witnesses.
2
@blgreenie
Yes, D's not disciplined, but Friedman says experienced prosecutors should be used to question witnesses.
1
"They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet."
Politicians? You have to be kidding Mr. Friedman. How do you expect politicians to be quiet when the talking and writing heads have been at this non-stop. Nobody will defer. There will be a cacophony of opinions expressed by all and all the time.
Moreover, I fail to see what appreciation for Justice Ginsburg has for any of this.
7
One line stands out in this column - let professional prosecutors question the non-political witnesses. That was obvious during Bad News Barr's hearings when former prosecutor Kamela Harris flustered him with two questions:
"Did you ever look at the underlying evidence to the Mueller Report?" and "Has the president ever ordered you to investigate someone?" His pomposity melted. He stuttered.
He had to confer with his lawyers. She nailed him. Professional prosecutors will not be out to nail these government servants, but they will know what questions to ask to make Trump's belligerence rise to a level of insanity.
342
@Historical Facts Absolutely one of the most, if not THE most, important features is to have professional prosecutors asking the questions. The entire paragraph that contains this recommendation is key. Also, Mr. Friedman's penultimate paragraph succinctly states the best approach to the 2020 election & impeachment proceedings. Simply brilliant strategy.
62
@Historical Facts
Agree completely. No grandstanding and political speeches, just hard to-the-point questions.
14
@Historical Facts
I was so impressed with the professionalism of Barry Berke when he cross examined Lewandosky. Though a nervous Lewandosky was hitting his water bottle every one minute during Berke's questioning, Lewandosky resorted to personally attacking Berke and being generally obnoxious. Berke never lost his cool, he was amazing. He completely ignored Lewandosky's smirky responses as though he hadn't even heard them and continued asking the important and pertinent questions.
I so hope the Democrats can get him to participate in these proceedings.
15
Will a top secret computer system be treated differently than the Nixon tapes? Yesterday's Supreme Court rule 8 - 0 against Nixon and his phony Executive Privilege claim, but what will today's Supreme Court do?
We are in for rough sledding, no matter how clear the message from Democrats. The witnesses are in for even tougher times.
Trump's team is not honorable.
31
Thanks, Thomas. I too am standing to clap and praying that integrity, reasoned thinking, and responsible behavior are reestablished as how this country operates.
38
Democrats "need to have their presidential candidates stay out of this impeachment story and concentrate on their ideas for reviving and reuniting America."
That, I think, is the absolute key to winning next year. Let the House with professional prosecutors take on the many crimes of Trump while presidential candidates, including the eventual nominee, emphasize the future.
68
@MPG
Quite impossible. The first question at the upcoming Democratic debates will be about impeachment, and don't be surprised if the moderators will try to put Biden on the defensive.
3
It’s terrifying to think that the fate of our country resides in the hands of 20-30 Republican senators, which to this point, have shown absolutely no courage to stand up to President Trump.
118
@spughie Nor will they. Their worry is primaried by someone even crazier than they are.
Have you lurked on Brietbart or the Federalist lately? Trump's base thinks this is a Deep State coup, and those are the voters Republican senators answer to.
9
The fate of our country rests with the voters. I’m hoping for the largest turnout ever & volunteering to register first time voters.
3
It is difficult to imagine that Trump's base will stay solid; some of his base includes farmers close to bankruptcy. Of course, some of his base that likes Trump's spontaneous (or irresponsible) way of governing, will likely stick with him.
The Ukraine situation is very straight forward, and many people who are used to Trump's sometimes illegal reach, will likely not see asking Ukraine to help win an election as that serious, even though it is. Trump's recent abusive and seemingly crazy rhetoric about the Ukraine situation, is likely to deter some of his base from continuing to support him.
5
I agree with all that Mr, Friedman says here. My main concern has always been that if re-elected, this most troubling of men might be capable of almost anything.
If there were no impeachment inquiry, this would no longer be a functioning democracy, but rather the plaything of a dictator.
11
I would add one thing to the list, Mr. Friedman. While they are pursuing the sensible path you've outlined, Democrats in the House also need to keep promoting measures and introducing bills aimed at improving the lives of Americans. America needs to see that the impeachment of Trump is not their sole focus (as it is and will remain Trump's), and that they are committed to doing the people's business even as they work to save the republic. In short, they need to show America that they can walk and chew gum at the same time.
404
Excellent point!
3
@David DeSmith
Okay, let’s get working on immigration.
Or do we need to strike that word as irrelevant in a time with no borders?
3
Concise, sensible, and refreshing thinking for those of us in the middle. Just let the facts do the talking.
Thank You, Mr. Friedman
207
Yes. Keep it simple, keep it focused, and move fast.
Stay disciplined too. As Trump's mental state continues to deteriorate don't get pulled into public spats as he ratchets up his attacks on the institutions of our government.
But. There is a but, a really big but:
We just can't have members of the Federal Government implying that the jailing or execution of witnesses is warranted for "treason" or "spying" or having "supported a Democratic". I doubt yet another count of obstruction of justice (has he broke triple digits yet) will slow down a delusional President with anger management issues. But he is not the only one playing a very dangerous (and illegal) game.
Perhaps a strong behind the scenes reminder to Trump's "Uber Sycophants" that the statute of limitations on threatening witnesses and related obstruction crimes will outlast Trump's presidency and Barr's co-opting of the DOJ.
Remind them that betting that Trump will return your loyalty with a pardon before he leaves office is a pretty risky bet. Just ask Paul Manafort
14
@LTI
I disagree. Move slowly, methodically, let the facts unfold in excruciatingly clear detail. Let every American have time to embrace the horrible depth of the offenses as the House articulates them over and over again in increasingly vivid, unavoidable truth. Be steady, be confident and poised. Impeachment is a dreadful business, not a carnival sideshow. Let the gravitas of the facts carry each decisive day.
6
@DD
That would be my personal preference too, but then I thought the methodical detail in the Mueller report was more than enough to warrant impeachment, but by the time it came it out, Trump, along with Fox News and post-democracy Republicans, had seemingly normalized much of his, and his party's, criminal behavior.
Moving fast does not mean be sloppy. It just acknowledges that much of the country has a limited attention span (even for the purposeful undermining of our democracy) and Trump and his crew would use the time to obstruct and obscure.
1
Seems like many are missing the most important result of the 2018 mid terms.
According to Pew Research, Democratic leaning Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z doubled their voting numbers while GOP leaning Boomers and older continued to decline. In raw numbers, younger people outvoted older for the first time in mid terms.
Younger voters are generally appalled by Trump and the GOP, especially on climate change, Social Security and other socially divisive issues.
I don't see younger voters flocking to the defense of Trump during the impeachment process, regardless of what the Senate does or doesn't do.
145
@Look Ahead
Interesting stat but all my “aging baby boomer friends” and I are crazed by trump. The Nixon of our golden years. Don’t be fooled. We are out there on the front lines against this scourge
4
Bravo, Mr Friedman.
This is a very sensible column, thank you.
As for Sammy 'Citizens United' Alito, well, too bad he was there.
32
All good suggestions, Tom. But Democrats are not capable of being disciplined and smart about any of this. Too bad the Committees don't have strict rules about who gets to speak publicly about proceedings, including taking away "questioning" rights and losing their memberships.
5
I fear that the author’s equating an audience for a classical symphonic concert at The Kennedy Center does not a representative American audience make. That Alito received any applause doesn’t surprise. No one likes him, and I don’t even think that conservatives would feel much inclination to offer him applause, his reactionary views notwithstanding. Justice Ginsburg surely deserves applause, and that was the type of crowd to offer it. Having said this, connecting that observation to a conclusion that Americans are still “civic minded” is beyond wishful thinking. The days when Beaver and Wally Cleaver talked about their book report on the president to Ward and June was always a fantasy. We now see that fantasy entirely and unequivocally debunked. The presidency has been permanently defiled. That Trump has been able to win election as president and held the post even for a day has destroyed the fantasy of American democracy. Democracy by definition is a government that represents the values of it’s citizens. Our experiment in democratic government has failed. Something will replace it as it works through our current national disaster but while I appreciate the author’s attempt to find goodness still alive in this country, unless he moves into The Kennedy Center full time, he’s not gonna find it alive and well in vast swaths of this country.
16
"If this is how he behaved while constrained by re-election concerns, how will Trump behave if he gets re-elected — despite this wretched behavior — and no longer needs to worry about re-election? America will become a banana republic."
A more dangerous question is how much more bounds and national institutions will he trash, should he win a second term, to insure he will sleep in the White House after the second term is done?
4
We somehow seem to not realize that Trump has changed everything, with his total ignorance of history, economics, science, diplomacy, manners, etc, It’s not going to go back as it was before, Trump broke it. His complete disregard for facts and truth have moved us to a place we’ve never been and couldn’t have anticipated.
39
@Brendan Varley It is often said that Trump has changed things in many areas of politics and civil society. The reason people are saying this, in the estimation of some, is because Mr. Trump set the parameters for judging him when he announced he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and not be prosecuted. That thought-line now may be over-riding comments about his actions, viz. the assumption that he will get a pass. The teflon effect, if you will, that has characterized other leaders, both public and private. Perhaps impeachment will prove to be the small voice crying out that the king is naked.
But to see the way that teflon effect has played out is fascinating and speaks as much to Mr. Trump's audience as it does to the man. Therein lies the wisdom of Mr. Friedman's commentary, if I understood him correctly. Is he not asking for that voice to ring out with the cry, "That man is naked."? And that voice is ours.
10
I don't often agree with everything Mr. Friedman usually says in one of his columns, but I certainly agree with everything he states in this one.
I think we are fortunate to have Nancy Pelosi in charge and I believe she will handle the Impeachment Inquiry in a manner consistent with Mr Friedman's recommendations.
55
Excellent. That applause must have been thrilling to experience. Mr. Friedman, about whom I've had some occasion to feel dismay, has hit every important point. I keep commenting that the most important one--especially to maintain hope for us and our country--is that the majority of citizens never wanted Trump and his Republican ilk to begin with and still don't--as evidenced most recently by those election results from last year. We keep getting distracted by polls assuming respondents are all actual voters and not among the majority of non-voters. So, we need to keep supporting the laudatory clarifying efforts from people like Mr. Friedman, Mr. Bruni, Ms. Goldberg, and also today--Ms. Rice in the NYT, as well as go out and vote OUT Republicans accordingly. I'm assuming no need to vote out Trump, as he--if there is any justice--will be gone by November, 2020.
5
I appreciate the thought process, Mr. Freidman. Time will tell what happens -- at this point, Trump has successfully bullied, lied, and been enabled (by the feckless GOP and the likes of Barr, etc), to do anything he wants and be untouched.
So, let's wait and see how this unfolds -- the US version of democracy is proving to be largely a cooperative system. This means if those with power, in this case, the ultimate power in the US, the presidency, decide they don't want to play by the rules and norms, and show, at least some kind of notion they care about the country, it turns out there really isn't much anyone can do about it.
Couple that with a complicit, spineless GOP Senate, some compliant SCOTUS Justices, and a media juggernaut (FOX) pushing the party line, and you've got yourself a solid untouchable empire going.
And, AND, based on consistent polls over time, 80-90% of the Republican party APPROVE of the job Trump is doing.
So, again, I appreciate Mr. Freidman's thought process, and I'm sure the moment at the Kennedy Center was moving, but I'm not seeing anything but a very rough ride regardless of how things play out. Be it Trump is impeached and stays, voted out, re-elected, whatever -- we are in a cold civil war now, and it's only going to get worse.
The questions is: When do we want the recovery process to begin?
7
Thank you for this simple and clear explanation.
Will someone please send it to the Democratic leadership and all the presidential candidates? I am a life long Democrat. I love being a Democrat, but I often wish my Representatives in Government had the discipline of Repubs.
I realize it's not in our nature to follow instructions in a rigid pattern, but the cause is great and in the case of restoring the Office of the Presidency to what if was meant to be is crucial. Failure cannot be an option.
16
As to Justice Ginsburg, she got a standing ovation August of last year at the Santa Fe Opera, and her presence was not even announced. It was all spontaneous.
As to impeachment of Trump, it should proceed to uncover the untethered narcissism that views every aspect of the world as though it was all about him. There is not interest in his eyes beyond his own.
However, the ballot box is the best way to address that behavior: An overwhelming rejection of the mistake made in 2016 is what this country needs to move forward to a civil society. Impeachment with a conviction gets him out, but there would always be political second guessing, and the Republican Party would have to face the wrath of voters that it has brought upon itself.
Perhaps, the other good thing that could come out of impeachment is to show Mitch McConnell for what he is — power-driven in his own way, which should be repugnant even to those in Kentucky. Having a voter rejection of him would be icing on the cake, but is probably beyond reach.
The focus should remain on the crass disregard of constitutional norms, accepted ethical standards and common decency of the current President. Get him out by the ballot box, and give a mandate to bring the country back on course.
4
I'm pretty confidant we have the votes to win, I'm less confidant about winning an election that may already be compromised. How many other heads of state is he using as his private investigators? Who else is implicated and how many of them could use evidence of bribery as blackmail against the sitting president. Thank you for the road map on how this should go down Tom but if we can achieve impeachment, alone, we will have a better chance at justice and winning elections.
3
While I disagree with Mr. Friedman on just about everything, that's precisely the reason I value his advice on this matter. Who other than a conservative would know how to convince other conservatives to stand up for their country? The next months will show us all who the true Patriots are.
4
This advice couldn't possibly be more "right On"! And, parenthetically, however importantly, though, THE FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS ARE AMONG THE MOST WONDERFUL I HAVE READ IN A LONG . . . LONG TIME!
7
In loads of other countries elections begin and end within a month or two. I understand America is a BIG population base so a longer campaign makes some sense....but it is not as necessary in the age of TV.
All I am saying is......there is plenty of time to impeach DT and win an election.
7
The Dems still embrace ideas created by academics dreaming in caves of paper in ivory towers. The latest thing is not arresting people for committing petty crimes.
Their ideas create misery for the decent middle/working/lower classes.
1
Actually, Congress has actually hauled people in to testify and incarcerated them for not cooperating. It’s been done, and the courts have ruled that a legislative body has that power.
In fact, the English Parliament actually arrested a King, held him and cut his head off. So, the power of a legislative body is beyond dispute in Anglo-American law.
1
@Andy Makar Sure, they can impeach/arrest Trump. He's a big fish. The Dems want the smaller fish to think its ok to shoplift, commit break ins and minor assaults. Don't bother us with small stuff, say the cops in Dem areas. My point is they are making life miserable for the voters in their areas and people are walking away from that.
Dream on Aerosmith. Friedman has bought into the Trump impeachment meme hook, line and sinker. Trump enjoys a 90% approval rating in the Republican Party. Independents are heterodox on impeachment and will be watching closely as this Stalinist show trial drags on. He should stick to listening to symphonies or whatever elitist entertainment he is into.
2
@Art Hudson
Dude - Stalinist show trials were conducted by an autocratic megalomaniac leader against his political rivals. The Stalinist in the room is President Trump.
1
"They need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses." This is likely the most imperative in the article. How to stop the politicians from grandstanding in a futile effort to appear to be leaders in the impeachment inquiry to hopefully increase their fundraising and reelection. This wasteful exercise consumes important time that could be better used to factually support the inquiry. Speaker Pelosi and other House leaders need to rein this in as much as possible. Probably can't control the republicans, but can their own members.
13
The Democrats need to continue their inquiry. Seek legal support for information requests. Go to the Supreme Court, etc.
Since the present administration will never comply the Democrats need to say to the American public:
We have compiled as much of the record as possible. We can go no further. You have heard what the Republicans have to say.There is an election in November. Based on the results of our inquiry, if you want him to continue as your POTUS vote for him. If not vote for someone else.
The most democratic way to proceed is to let the American public decide.
I guess we now know which candidate Trump fears the most, and despite what you think of him he seems to have a pretty good feel of which way the wind is blowing. I, personally, like Warren but if it takes Biden to get this most unsuitable man out of the White House then Joe it is. Sorry Elizabeth, there are more important things at stake.
3
Tom, you left off one important piece of advice for Democrats:
Whatever you do, don't nominate Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.
Put aside for a moment the utter folly of nominating the one person in American politics that comes across as more senile than Donald Trump.
Focus instead on what a Trump/Biden contest would look like: it would be Trump incessantly hammering Biden on bogus corruption charges. Literally non-stop. Think of Hillary's emails, and multiply it times ten.
Add to that the fact that the media - which has evidently learned nothing from 2016 - will gin up this bogus Ukraine story to shore up their "both sides" bonafides, just like they did with Clinton's emails.
It's going to be an exhausting election regardless, but such a contest would be just crushingly so. And Joe Biden has neither the stamina nor the mental vitality to keep up.
10
My gut tells me that Friedman's guidance is right, but DT is a thug, a psychopath, a sadist, an expert at revenge and inflicting pain. I worry that he will summon his base to revolt and riot as he becomes more desperate. It will take an iron will for the Dems to stay focused and on message.
How far does DT have to go to warrant being dragged out of the White House in handcuffs or a straight jacket?
12
@Andrea: trump has reached WAY BEYOND the point where he has done enough that is rotten, foul, corrupt, and crazy to warrant being dragged out of The White House in handcuffs and a strait jacket, but somehow, no one in a position of authority is doing any dragging. I GUESS, maybe...MAYBE if he got an assault weapon, and started running through The White House halls shooting everyone in sight, someone MIGHT do SOMETHING...MAYBE. Then again, maybe NOT. From where I sit, he can get away with murder. Easily; just as he gets away with everything else. And his complicit cohorts and his idiotic fans will cheer him on. Maybe even nominate him for the Nobel Prize. Do they have a Nobel Prize for murder? trump will wonder why they don't.
Originally we thought the political issue would be that moderate Democrats would suffer if there were impeachment hearings.
It feels like the opposite now. Forget the issue of quid pro quo, it is going to be difficult for any Republican that Trump asked the head of The Ukraine to dig up date on his most feared political rival.
I'm sure many in Congress never read Mueller's report. However, there is a limited amount of time that they can deny they have read a nine page report. It was so embarrassing for McCarthy for him to deny that Chris Wallace was accurately reading from an official transcript.
My hope is not just that Trump will go. I don't think the Senate will convict him, but if public opinion shifts they may change their minds. My real hope is that Trump gets trounced in the next election, and all the diehards who stick with him get voted out of office. too.
6
Thank you, Thomas, for an excellent review of what needs to happen. I hope it does.
15
Cogent, clear, and concise.
Thank you, Mr. Friedman.
111
RBG should have stepped down long ago so much younger talent could step up.
5
Well-spoken and well-written. My only comment is that we are not quite "on the eve" of the 2020 election. It is still 13+ months away. Plenty of time to "take care of business".
6
Who knew the fate of our democracy could come down to K.I.S.S., keep it simple stupid. But these are the times we live in.
3
I doubt that the Democrats will follow Friedman's good advice on how to proceed. Meanwhile Fox's prime time trio will continue to spend 99% of their time (100% for Hannity) praising Trump. Rupert Murdoch is arguably the most dangerous man ever admitted to the USA. And he was a legal immigrant.
13
The only evidence cited for "There is still a civic pulse in this country" is an extended round of applause for a supreme court justice at a NSO gala event in Washington DC...
I mean, I would love to see 45 unceremoniously dumped from office as much as anyone, but this entire article is so wildly out of touch it'd be great satire if it wasn't written with such obvious misplaced confidence.
2
There is only one thing that will end Trump's presidency, and it's not impeachment, it's damage to his ego - his most highly valued asset and the thing he's fighting to keep intact.
• He doesn't want his college grades released;
• He doesn't want his taxes released;
• He doesn't want his past racist rental discrimination exposed;
• He doesn't want his past failed businesses revealed;
• He doesn't want his cheating at golf exposed.
The only thing he absolutely cannot tolerate is undeniable proof that he is a lying phony: he will lie, insult, threaten, fight and connive to protect that ego as if his life depends on it.
200
@Gene Grossman
Plus, he's terrified of losing his allegedly $10 billion net worth status, having his loans called in by his foreign lenders, and watching the revenues from his properties (licensing, leases and ownership) go down the tubes when nobody needs to try to gain favor from him and people have no desire to contribute one penny to his bank account.
33
@Gene Grossman
Yes, I know someone who is a registered Republican not in politics who has played golf w Donald, and confirms that he cheats.
21
@Gene Grossman Well, yes, though you just made the point that many of those things (and even the ones he arouses suspicion about hiding) are clearly known already. The bizarre element of all this Trump Twilight Zone episode in our history is how long so much has been known but he still get away with enough to stick around. But he thrives on notoriety/ even infamy that would ruin most people if even one thing on your list was known about the person. It sure is a knack for survival, like a mutating retro-virus on the order of HIV or even the common cold. But maybe this time it's just one step too far. Usually it's that over-reach that eventually does in the self-absorbed, self-regarded invincible monsters in history. The tragedy is in the deaths and damage inflicted in the meantime. So, let's keep this one as short as possible and rid ourselves of him a.s.a.p.
14
Listen up here Flat World Tom, if the voters after all they saw in the past couple of years still go with this jerk, there is nothing for sane human beings to do but leave. Leave the union and establish the Blue SA. Honestly I will not miss anything from the red states. Nothing at all. The best steaks come from Argentina in case anyone is a red meat fan (I am not).
5
The Impeachment inquiry should go forward.
The rule of law figures into this.
He can’t be allowed to get away with blatant lawlessness.
If he shoots someone on 5th Avenue, would impeachment be still off the table??
12
@Grove;
"If he shoots someone on 5th Avenue, would impeachment be still off the table?"
In his eyes, and in his henchmen's eyes, and in his base's eyes----YES! off the table! Instead they will wonder why he has not been nominated for a Nobel Prize in Murder, with double $$$$$ being awarded for the murder taking place on Fifth Avenue in NYC.
1
Ask any Trump defender this question: "If Trump is so great, why does he need to extort a foreign country to get reelected?"
655
@Fester And for Trump defenders; extort means to obtain something through force or threats.
9
@Fester
I’m not on Facebook but my wife is. She was telling me a friend of ours, businessperson and virulently antiTrump, was going back and forth with a guy the other night.
She kept asking for 3 good things Trump has done. The guy never could answer that but just kept on ranting against Obama and Hillary.
For Trump supporters it is visceral, emotional response. They have no solutions to problems, simply anti everything they perceive as against them. Hate is what holds his base together.
And they have no idea how government works, or what it would look like if ours imploded, or where they would end up if it imploded (guarantee not where they think they would end up), or how close we are with the like of Trump and Fox News stirring the pot constantly.
15
@Fester. I agree with you. But is it likely that a Trump supporter could comprehend an “If....then” question?
7
I think trump crossed a line calling for the persecution of the whistle blower , the people who provided information and Rep. Schiff, implying treason that has a death penalty attached to it.
He'd like to kill his political opponents.
Think about that.
We are all Jamal Kashoggi, about to be beheaded for daring to oppose our elected leader.
He has become unhinged and his breakdown is there for all to see. Those left defending him had better get trump some help before he harms himself or some one else.
286
He’d already declared his 007 credentials way up front as we all know. I hope none of these honorable people walk down Fifth Avenue until his weapons are taken away from him. I believe there’s a Main Street in Disneyland, not sure if federal prisons have any similar streets or avenues.
5
@Zeke27
"...those left defending him..." are to be shunned.
3
@Zeke27 Thank you for saying this. Spot on.
1
There is not a single Republican Senator with the moral integrity to stand up to Trump, Not a single one. Thru have all been compromised by Russian money laundered through the NRA.
150
@Gene Eplee -very plausible indeed
@Gene Eplee
Well, let's give Mitt Romney some credit.
Thomas, you are the best! May the force be with us. Slainte, sully
8
Perfectly stated Mr. Friedman.
"But you have to do the right thing for the right reasons the right way."
This sentence caught my imagination. I hope something like this can be used next November when (more likely if) Don asks his advisors what went wrong with his presidency. A thoughtful way to say, "just about everything".
7
Thank you, Mr. Friedman, for beginning and ending your piece with Justice Ginsburg. Everything in between is excellent. But a glimpse of the power of Justice Ginsburg's presence, is a beacon for even the most frightened sailor.
40
I agree with these facts and analysis but fear Trump’s inciduous reach. He plays America like a limbo game with the Constitution and our principles the bar that drops lower and lower until we collapse into an America ruled only by money and power.
5
It does not matter if the whistle blower is non-partisan or is a strong Democrat - it does not change the fact that Trump extorted a foreign country to meddle in our USA election.
It might matter to Trump supporters but they are not the constituency that counts.
7
If I were among the audience at the gala, part of the reason I would have stood up for Justice Ginzburg is that she's had a hard time with her health the past few years and coming back is difficult for older folks. She's a survivor and that deserves recognition. But also, to know of her is to love her--such a shining star of an example to all of us of any age or gender! Hang in there Judge! We love you.
9
"Trump needs more than his base to get re-elected" - true, he and the GOP have the money to buy all the ad space on broadcast media, social media, etc. and brain wash his way to re-election. I wish Tom Steyer would use his billions and buy up the ad space first and support the Dems no matter who is running.
28
It is not out of the realm of possibility that McConnell and the GOP fanatics will corral any moderate Republicans. If Trump does not resign, he could well survive an impeachment trial in the Senate.
4
Amen. Focus on the election and not on making Mike Pence, who is just as culpable as Trump, president. What we do not need is Mueller the sequel with another grueling dog and pony show that will complete with any messaging from candidates. Even if they see it through all the way, what’s the point, he’s got 15 months left, so what, you get him kicked out 3 months earlier and manage to fire up his base. Please, someone think strategically-virtually no upside, except perhaps self satisfaction and the ensuing smugness of those that take him down, and a great deal of downside if they fail as the Senate gives him a pass. Lastly, think about what happens if you get rid of him and a sane, intelligent, pragmatic republican steps up on the republican ticket (no way the republicans put Pence on the ticket)- this whole thing could backfire as I think many of us swing votes in the middle would take the new candidate over the overtly liberal candidates on the democratic side. File this under, be careful what you wish for.
3
@Dvab - I worry about this, too. Removing Trump might very well open the door for a Republican candidate who's substantially more electable than any of the Democrats' gang of ten. Imagine Nikki Haley riding to the rescue and charming all the red state voters and centrist voters with "sensible" viewpoints on things like healthcare and taxation -- viewpoints that would paint all the Democrats as far-left socialists even better than Trump could. She's a woman who would probably appeal to many women voters, and yet she doesn't seem to have earned the disdain of misogynists (at least not yet). I'm very afraid of this, and have at times wondered whether the GOP is smart enough to see this path ahead of them. Lose Trump, keep the White House. Win-win for them. Four more years of racing to the right for America.
2
Mr. Friedman, I have been reading your op-ed pieces for almost as long as you have been writing them. I disagree with you probably a little bit more than I agree with you. That said, I must applaud you for this piece. It's the best I've ever seen from you. Thank you.
16
The right moment to reread (or if you missed it read) Ronan Farrow's "War on Peace The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence"
So tired of the bloated 24/7 "commentatoring" but his voice would be helpful commentary at this time.
GO FOR IT SHEP SMITH or PBS NEWS HOUR. Or someplace where TV news still looks like and behaves like news and people being interviewed get to finish a thought.
2
It's impressive how many times over the years Mr Friedman has been wrong. I'd list them all but it would take to much time.Do yourself a favor and read up on the amount of times Mr. Friedman has been deeply mistaken and just plain wrong. He's one of those people that seems to fail upward.
1
@joe, he was against the impeachment process a few days ago -- but now he's for it, provided the Democrats follow his instructions carefully. He also advocated sending US troops to Israel once...nobody listened that time, either.
Congressional Republicans were eager to trash Republican Robert Mueller, who also had a stellar record, when he testified about his report and his investigation. They will have no qualms trashing a U.S. ambassador with a stellar record, or anyone else who threatens Trump's re-election.
15
Bravo!! Well said.
4
Thank you, Mr. Friedman. Your article and the strategy outlined was encouraging and I hope Democratic leaders have taken note. It is truly terrifying to be reminded of what Trump would do without the concern of re-election. My heart shudders. I am praying for Trump’s impeachment, justice and for 2020 to deliver our wounded nation a new president.
8
"...I have no doubt that Trump’s base will stick by him."
Trump's base is not what most people think it is. Our general view has been warped by hundreds, literally hundreds, of news stories by reporters who've gone to the local cafe, farm coop or truck stop and come back and reported, "They are standing behind their man." Who? How many? What percentage? How deep is that support for some compared to others?
Trump's base consists of different cohorts. Some would vote for him to be Pope, king and maybe the first king of Mars, too, if they had the chance. Some ardently support him, some just voted for Trump because they felt they had no better choice. Some are moderates and independents who didn't like Hillary and yielded, like many others, to the 25 yr. campaign against the Clintons. Some just saw her as old news and wanted to try something different.
Here is a mistake that most of us make who live in the Washington/New York/Boston corridor: not every follows the news the way the most dedicated do. Plus, the "sin" of a president trying to pressure a foreign nation for help is not something they've seen nor heard of before nor studied in 11th grade civics or history class.
Impeachment will be the greatest opportunity so far for the Dems to seize the narrative and pushback against Trump's constant domination of major media. If a good strong case is made, if more revelations come along, the worm could turn and impeachment might win clear majority support. Just wait.
7
What are voters to do when they believe they have been given two bad choices for president? Nearly 8 million citizens voted for third party or no party candidates. If they believe they have a good choice next time, the dynamic will change.
Furthermore, people don't focus on the presidential campaign this far out unless they are activists involved deeply in politics. If they say, "Yeah, I still support Trump," it could be because they haven't even really considered it much lately and are just going along with what their neighbors are saying. Campaigns change people's mind. Trump has started 2020 campaign right now and is attempting to tie down votes. That will work with some but others who are more thoughtful will want to wait close to November, next year.
Trump has perhaps 1/3 of the voters as dedicated to him and many Republicans who wouldn't vote for a Democrat if their own brother were running. That's not enough to win next time and the impeachment process is going to reveal things about Trump that millions never knew and never considered previously.
1
Please, also mention the importance of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts in any impeachment proceedings. He needs to apply the law after the facts are established regardless of politics.
5
@Thomas
Good luck with that.
3
A very well written, insightful column, thank you! An excellent example of why I subscribe to the NYT.
5
Please make this Opinion column go viral.
12
Yes, Tom, we hear you, stir the pot, but not too much; be disciplined, when they go low, we go high, etc. etc.
That maybe worked forty years ago, before the Republican Party initiated its drawn-out campaign to destroy democracy (not just Democrats) in the US.
Everything you say about how to proceed now is what Obama did. Be bipartisan, hold the door open for the mangy wolves and hope they come inside to gently lick your hand, instead of repeatedly trying to bite it off, the way the GOP actually did with Barack.
I kinda suspect it was Biden’s counsel, in Obama’s ear.
It’s what Comey did. It’s what Mueller did.
What did it get us?
Nothing!
What did it get the Republicans? Everything. It allowed them to continue to pursue the ongoing, serial coverups of their treasonous acts, their lies, their criminal self-dealing.
They all hang together on this, knowing otherwise, they will hang separately.
So maybe we shouldn’t be so self-disciplined? So cautious? So ready to be called the bullies for daring to question the veracity of these fat, white liars? Oh, horrors! We might offend their delicate sensibilities while they’re busy murdering women, children, the poor, the sick, the elderly, the college debt-enslaved.
We must be honorable, and noble, and treat these monsters of the GOP with kid gloves. They are so misunderstood! They are only trying to do right (by themselves, for themselves).
Have I understood your message correctly, Thomas???
9
Wish I was at the Kennedy Center, to see the standing ovation for RBG vs perfunctory applause for Alito. A feel-good story.
Tom: I agree with you wholeheartedly, especially: Just do the right thing. Democrats must act like there is no election.
Except one thing: the whistleblower. This impeachment should not be about him/her, but about the facts he/she reveals. Otherwise, the whistleblower is open to severe scrutiny, being revealed, retribution, and being attacked as partisan.
Let's carefully listen to the whistleblower whispering, and then follow up. Don't make him or her shout.
7
I cannot understand that some people insist that the charges against Biden are not bogus. Even if the charges are true (they aren't) this is not what the president of the United States of America should do.
This president didn't start looking for dirt on Biden until a few months ago.
Why not in 2017 or 2018? The answer is simple. Joe Biden has become a threat to Trump recently.
A decent and law abiding president doesn't go after his political opponents.
That is what goes on in a banana republic.
Therefore, if Trump wants to look for corruption then he can find it in his own administration. He should start with the man sitting in the Oval Office.
15
Wow, nothing says "inside the beltway" quite like "National Symphony Orchestra Opening Gala in the Kennedy Center".
Try the same exercise with the same personnel at a Kid Rock concert in Shreveport.
That said, "inside the beltway" and "popular majority" are on the same page and have been for some time. (Side fact: "Inside the Beltway" also means "no representation").
The people who in all likelihood *weren't* at the gala were the no college low information folks who go to the MAGA rallies but also seem to understand the imperative to vote better than any other demographic.
I only hope the sentiments for Justice Ginsburg spill over to the legions of who stayed home (or were discouraged away) from the polls in 2016. But for 80,000 of them—or a few dozen Kennedy Centers full—Individual-1 would never have been elected.
3
The whistle blower is irrelevant now that Trump introduced the transcript of the phone conversation that proves the abuse of power. Trump would appear to be on his way to being impeached. Baring a complete catastrophe for him he will not be removed. If following that the Democrats indulge a fanciful frolic and nominate a radical progressive whose agenda has no actual prospects of advancing beyond being slogans, then the Democratic candidate will lose and Trump be re-elected. If the Democrats nominate a constructive progressive, then that Democrat will win the WH. The Democratic party candidates will introduce this candidate in their states and localities, and the Democrats will have a historic victory built from the ground up.
5
Succinct, thorough, and sure to be a winner! Democrats, please keep on message and focus on the end goal: no more Trump after 2020.
6
Or it could just be that the applause was simply a semi-civil response to her recent recovery from cancer??? Talk about making a meal out of a moment. Sheesh.
2
Democrats should throw Trump’s words right back at him: we are indeed a nation of laws.
4
Trump will be on the ballot. Impeached but not convicted by his fellow republicans in the Senate. He'll be there, weakened, a washed-up circus barker selling the same old nostrum to the loving ears of what's left of his supporters. There will no doubt that he'll be the candidate because the GOP couldn't overcome their cowardice and place country above party.
7
Very well said. Facts and data. NO SPIN.
Keep the focus on "you need to do me a favor"
12
It can't happen fast enough. Nikki Haley-Markwayne Mullin '2020. First Indian-American presidential candidate who is admired on both sides of the aisle, and first Native American vice-presidential candidate. Versus Biden, Warren, Sanders, or any other Democratic candidate, the Democrats lose. So let's get the whole darn thing done by Christmas, please.
2
@O'Brien Nikki Haley has no ideas. Plus, she signed on with trump. Nope. She's a loser.
5
Spot on. The best piece the times has published so far in this effort.
6
If only Ruth Ginsburg were 30 years younger. She would have been a wonderful president.
104
Amen Thomas. Well said.
3
Trump said there will be a civil war if he does not get re-elected. I predict there will be one if he does get re-elected. It is projected that he could lose the popular vote by 5 million and still win in the electoral college. Should that happen, the majority of people in the country who think he is unfit will swarm the streets of Washington protesting the outcome. There will not be a peaceful election regardless of what happens.
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This all reads well as far as it goes, Democrats remain disciplined, seperate the Impeachment inquiry from the campaign. Stay on message and let the witnesses to the phone call take the lead in testifying. Except there's a glitch. The Republicans, and specifically, Trump, Barr, and Pompeo. Those three will do all they can to impede the process.
Pompeo has already held up the testimony of Masha Yovanovitch. And other State Department witnesses. And this is the first days I'd the inquiry.
These impeachment proceedings will be like other Democratic endeavors of this Administration. A Nightmare.
5
Mr. Friedman's arguments would make perfect sense in a pre-November 2016 world. But they no longer do. The past three years have taught us as much.
Now, I believe the House should impeach Trump, regardless of the continued sycophancy of the Republican Senate.
But Mr. Friedman's arguments assume that (a) there will be a presidential election in November 2020, (b) the election will not have been tampered with by Trump and his handler Putin, and (c) that if he loses, Trump will voluntarily leave office.
I have serious doubts about (a), believe that (b) is an absolute certainty, and (c) believe under any set of circumstances that Trump will not go quietly.
So what will he do, to ensure that he remains in the Oval Office? This one's easy. Declare a "national emergency" (existing only in his mind, of course) and then declare martial law. Prior case law and the Constitution itself aren't clear on the extent of presidential powers to exercise martial law. And this Supreme Court has shown that it will bend over backward for Trump, giving him his Muslim ban and his Wall funding, without the slightest factual support for either. Their interpretation of "executive power" would put a contortionist to shame.
Understand that this "president" has shown he will undertake any degree of lawlessness, of criminal activity, to remain in office. And Dems need to stop bringing knives to gun fights.
29
Although I fully agree with the necessity for impeachment, I also read some right wing sites. They are now claiming that the whistleblower has actually been put forward by the deep state in order to overturn "our" president (meaning the President of the right wing supporters.) It is apparent that at least some people believe this.
While your column makes sense; the other side will say anything to make Trump supporters believe this is a radical left wing plot. Honest civil servants have been horribly denigrated by this President, another abuse of power, so their testimony will be attacked viciously.
This will not be an easy time for our country, though I have high hopes that the sensible, honest people will recognise the truth when they see or hear it.
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@DrCat Well I think it's possible that Republicans will have a proper conversion experience and slay the dragon themselves.
1
I think Thomas Friedman has a good strategic plan here, to which I would only add that this whole investigation should be slow walked, not rushed; time should be taken to dot every i and cross every t in the investigation, and to let the testimonies play out deliberately and with gravitas.
The idea is to let all of Trump and company's depredations be on display for a long period of time in the run up to the 2020 election, in full view for everyone to see. We all suspect that there will be more odious revelations given a proper investigation and good testimonial questioning; let those continue to add to the weight for impeachment.
I don't worry about this happening during the Democratic primary season; the party should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, and, as Friedman hints, the candidates themselves don't have to emphasize the whole thing too much, and even when asked they can defer to the House process.
Even if an impeachment vote is taken well into 2020, and even if the Senate does not take it up, and EVEN if it does and "acquits" Trump, it's hard to imagine such a long period of having to deal with this administration's obvious illegality and disregard for government and citizens is going to enhance Trump's re-electability. An acquittal might rev up Trump's base, but it won't expand it, and there aren't enough people in it to counteract an energized opposition.
18
This is also a good way to insure Nothing But Trump gets covered in the media up to and past November 5th, 2020.
Have you thought of that? I’m sure Nancy Pelosi has.
2
@Glenn Ribotsky The missing element in this analysis is Fox and the rest of the mainstream media. They already are referring to "unsubstantiated allegations" against Joe Biden.
Trump was not trying to dig up evidence to support credible but "unsubstantiated" allegations. The allegations were baseless. Calling them "unsubstantiated" suggests that the allegations can be substantiated by searching for evidence.
Trump was attempting to compel the president of the Ukraine to produce fabricated evidence in order to obtain release of military aid funds. Trump wanted the evidence to remain under the control of Barr and Giuliani who could refer to it in the press but still withhold it as part of an ongoing investigation. That would prevent the fabricated evidenced from being reviewed, questioned and refuted by Democrats.
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@Glenn Ribotsky I advocated this slow play of hearings in a NYT comment weeks ago . Just like the Watergate hearings brought down Nixon, the nightly TV recap on the news of the days hearings of the six house committee investigations, sequentially rather than en masse, plus live coverage of the impeachment inquiry will reinforce who Trump really is to the American people who don't already see the crook in the White House as a threat to our democracy.
No matter the outcome of all these revelations, EVERYONE must vote in 2020 to ensure that the Republican minority can no longer control our government.
I would favor the House turning over its impeachment mandate to the senate as close to November 2020 as possible.
1
That is not realistic, Mr. Friedman. Judge Ginsburg is 85 years old, and suffers from several ailments, including cancer. Cancer is is a chronic illness. A patient has to be monitored for the rest of her life.
A more realistic candidate would be Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Although she is 78, she appears to be healthy. She is also more politically knowledge than Judge Ginsburg. Furthermore, she is second in line to replace Trump. If he is impeached, the probability that Pence would also be impeached in high. He is privy to a lot of the crimes that Trump has committed.
@Diogenes; Maybe I misread this piece, but I don’t think I read anything suggesting that Judge Ginsberg should be in line for, or become president. Please tell me if I have missed something about your reply.
13
I fully agree with Mr. Friedman.
I also believe that this scandal, because it is so in-your-face, is going to tip a lot more Trump supporters and fence-sitters into the impeach category than many might currently imagine.
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@Livonian
I doubt that. tRump supporters are brainwashed and beyond hope. We need to move forward without them. And remember who continued to support our most criminal President when the mountain of evidence against him became irrefutable.
1
Thank you, Mr. Friedman, your column lifted my spirit, my hopes for America.
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I'm seeing more and more people on the left using this new line: imagine how much worse Trump will behave if he is in the second term and not have to worry about re-election. If you want to impeach him then go ahead and impeach, if you want to beat him then go ahead and beat him in the elections - but on merit, in both cases. This new line is not honest and is disingenuous - if you are all so behind impeaching now, then if in your opinion Trump is even worse in the second term, you can't impeach him then? If you want, take the fight to him without tricks.
". . . Democrats have to be so disciplined in how they prosecute this case. They need to have a single spokesman, Representative Adam Schiff, and everyone else needs to keep quiet. They need to have professional prosecutors, not uninformed legislators, question witnesses; they need to keep the focus on the nonpolitical witnesses; and they need to have their presidential candidates stay out of this impeachment story and concentrate on their ideas for reviving and reuniting America."
All of this is obvious even to the most casual observer. Why does it need to be stated in a column as if it's a revelation?
6
@Bill W.
Bill, I am no casual observer. I spend way too much time reading and thinking about politics and I find Mr. Friedman's analysis right on. It sounds so simple and obvious now that he has outlined it in clear and plain written english, but it needed to be sorted out and stated and, as far as I know, he's the first one to do it.
Bravo and thank you, Mr. Friedman.
8
@Bill W. because some members of Congress have a tendency to get too excited about things like this, particularly in front of a microphone. It bears repeating.
5
The problem is, this isn't what's happening. It's not a carefully made case, but a rush job. And the anti-Trump hysteria makes it very hard to find moderates on either side. BTW, people applaud RBG because she's an admirable person with a lot of courage. It doesn't mean they agree with or even know much of her jurisprudence.
1
@Michael Livingston’s What evidence is there that this is a rush job? That the Democrats have sent out subpoenas? That's exactly what they should be doing. They haven't "made the case" yet, and they don't claim that they have: they're in the stage of gathering evidence, and they need to start somewhere.
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@Michael Livingston’s
That was Mr. Friedman's point - that she is an admirable person with a lot of courage. In the course of this administration, we've seen so few with those qualities that people at the concert were filled with gratitude to have such a person among us still.
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@Michael Livingston’s
If it was a rush job, impeachment hearings would have started six months into Trump's presidency. There certainly was already by that point enough evidence.
10
We have only seen the transcript of the call released almost immediately by the Trump administration. There haste to get it to the public suggests that the real transcript or recording is much worse. Also there are other goodies that were placed on ice on the "secure server." They will provide additional evidence for Trump's impeachment and should not be ignored.
Also, the hush money paid to cover up his affairs before the election, is easy to understand, It goes on and on.
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@Grandpa Bob
We may see "other goodies", but we'll never see the transcripts of the talks with Putin, since Putin insists they can't be released without his permission. !!!
7
Also, let's not forget the most recent part of the cover up: The complaint only made it to Congress at all because the DNI Inspector General had the courage to notify the intelligence committees about the whistleblower complaint after the acting director ignored the law and protocol and took it to Barr (who is mentioned in the complaint!). Barr's Justice Department and the White House, violated federal law by blocking and trying to bury this complaint...nothing says innocence like obstructing.
36
@Q Is the United States bound by Putin's edicts?
3
Anyone innocent of the charges wouldn't be sending out a multitude of tweets attacking the whistleblower and claiming that this is a witch hunt. You really do have to get more creative.
This is not leadership, this is using the power of the Presidency to ask for help to help get reelected. Your days are numbered and there is nothing you can do to change the outcome of what is sure to be your impeachment.
398
I don't understand why the whistle-blower has to be personally "non-political" - as long as he/she is professionally so, which is the case, as demonstrated by the facts brought to light by the complaint, the transcript and the Inspector General's assessment. You are almost encouraging Trump to mobilize his allies to find out who the whistle-blower is and then unleash a wild Fox News harassment campaign.
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@SA
Too late. Already happening and Trump did not need Friedman to encourage him. He's way ahead of you on this.
3
The right thing versus the politically shrewd move—can you imagine today’s Republicans ever struggling with this choice?
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@Richard C.
No, I can't imagine that. That's why they're today's Republicans and not the Republicans of yore, who were honorable and looked first to the welfare of the Nation.
14
Good line about pursuing impeachment as if there were no 2020 election etc. Credit to David Ben-Gurion for that one (fighting the White Paper of 1939 and fighting alongside the British in WWII).
20
Spot on. Keep it simple and in terms all Americans understand.
758
@Katydid
I've given up one hoping that "all" Americans can udnerstand some things.
1/3 of Americans (i.e. The Deplorables) don't care about facts, logical reasoning, and playing by the rules. All they care about is that their side "wins," even if they have to cheat to do so.
And just like profession wrestling (which they love), they get even more excited when the loser gets bloodied.
I've given up hope on them. All we need is to get 55% of Americans to hold on to the remaining shreds of truth, logic, the rule of law, and human civility, so that we can regain control of this country and start the work of rebuilding her.
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@Paul-A
"All we need is to get 55% of Americans to hold on to the remaining shreds of truth, logic"
Ah, I remember the old days when you just needed a simple majority. But if 55% is what it takes, then that's what it will be.
10
Yes. We are rather simple . . thank goodness we have Mr. Friedman to parse it our for us.
2