Type in "protests" and today's date. You know what comes up?
"Thousands March to Demand Czech Prime Minister's Resignation"
"Protests of India's Citizenship Law Grow, Along With Clashes "
"France Pension Protests: Why Unions Are Up in Arms Against Macron"
It's time we mustered the passion and energy other nations have no trouble marshalling. It's only our democracy and rule of law at stake.
283
It’s a great day for a protest march. The weather is predicted to be rainy and snowy. It. could not be better. Have fun. I will be in my warm apartment drinking hot chocolate and thinking of you all protesting for nothing.
23
Ms Goldberg, and most readers here - I know you hate Trump with a passion that cannot be quelled, but we still have a constitution and rule of law. Impeaching Trump, or any president, cannot take place based on protests or public sentiment. One is impeached based on evidence, and that evidence does not exist yet. We have opinions, similar to your own, where witnesses believed Trump was guilty, but have no evidence. Should we just decide that if the President is hated, he or she should go?
Even the House knows they don't have the evidence. I've no idea why they pursued impeachment without it, but I do believe it was driven by Trump hatred and not rule of law or the security of the country.
Now is the time to select a Democrat leader that can bring Congress and the people together, with compromise, not extreme policies designed to redistribute money in some bizarre quest for income inequality. US citizens are NOT guaranteed outcomes, only access dependent on their skills and efforts.
26
"High-profile protests have, perhaps naturally, waned as the Trump presidency has dragged on."
Perhaps naturally? Perhaps not. Perhaps a booming economy is putting enough people back to work that protesting in the streets doesn't seem so compelling any more?
24
In response to MG's comment that Trump's skill at intimidation "keeps his supporters in line and demoralizes his opponents": It's important to remember that, while there may be exceptions, we are demoralized by others only when we let ourselves be. It is also important to remember that narcissists are fundamentally weak people. And that all the bluster and hysteria stems from a very deep, core inadequacy for which they try to provide pathetic cover with all the spectacle. If he weren't so dangerous, it would be easy to pity Mr. Trump. And the best thing those who oppose him can do is not let his "skill" at bullying undermine your sense of right and wrong. Anger and action, not demoralization is the appropriate response to the likes of Donald Trump.
19
Going to Ann Arbor tonight for the protest then a nice dinner!
23
Why was this so poorly advertised?
8
All the marches protesting President Trump will never remove him from office. You can protest until the cows come home and he will still remain our president. You cannot remove a duly elected president just because you do not like him. President Trump’s only offense was that he was elected which was never supposed to happen. That was his only crime.
23
@KMW It is the duty of citizens to protest a president who breaks his oath of office by acting in contempt of Congress, the courts, and the Constitution. Even if duly elected, a president must not attempt to act like a king, which Donald Trump does every day.
54
Thank you Michelle. You say it so well. Our Indivisible Traverse City is hosting an event at 5:30 today at the Court House. My sign is ready, "Impeach & Remove" . We will gather, we will march, we will impeach!
20
I saw many links—where is the link to an impeachment march? I’d do it on a minute!
5
The so called main stream media is intimidated by the right wing. They live in fear of being called 'liberal' so they bend over backwards. Trump aside, can you imagine if a Democratic Senate leader took $20+ M from a Chinese company as McConnell did? The press would talk about it constantly. If a Democratic House leader was a convicted child molester like Hastert was, the Republicans would bring it up daily, and the press would echo it.
The Press abused Al Gore by echoing Bush's line that Gore was a liar (he wasn't) and they portrayed a standard issue truth shading politician in Hillary Clinton as the most evil woman of the last 100 years. The author should tell her employer not to do the same to the next Democratic nominee, our world depends upon it.
22
@Chazak Based on their record so far, no lie is too big for the Trump-GOP to support
14
I’ll be there. Its time to impeach (and convict) Putin’s puppy.
17
If the Democrats have not been able to remove President Trump after being in office for close to three years, they never will. They have been talking impeachment since he was elected and have been unsuccessful. Everything they have tried has failed and this will too.
Those who supported President Trump and voted for him will not take too kindly for this action if they were to succeed. The chance of removing our president is one in a million. This is a wild goose chase but they just won’t give up. Very sad.
45
@KMW Sadly, the people who think Trump is their champion don't know his long history of betraying family, business associates, customes, and everyone else he has associated with.
145
You can be sure that anyone who plans to run for office in 2020 will be looking at the turnout numbers. That goes double for incumbents. It goes triple for incumbent senators who are up for reelection in 2020 and who will be obliged to vote for or against impeachment.
I'll be at the foot of the Minnesota Capitol's steps at 5:30 pm. See you there.
9
Reasons not to march for impeachment.
1. It’s cold outside.
2. Christmas is a week away and I haven’t bought ANY presents yet.
3. My feet hurt from standing all the time.
4. It’s a lot of work to make an outrage sign. And then to actually carry it??
5. I’m sort of conflict-averse.
Oh yeah, and the biggest reason of all…impeachment is cynical, partisan charade.
30
@John Impeachment is the only tool available to hold to account a lying, cheating, grifting president who has betrayed his oath of office and spit upon the Constitution.
51
I keep hearing the phrase "We're better than this."
Now is the time to prove that by getting up off the couch and proving that some things are worth demonstrating for. It's time "we, the people" were heard.
Are we better than this? Protest and show the world we are!
16
when the trial is left to a chamber made up equally of representatives of large tracts of unoccupied land and millions of actual people, what chance justice?
13
Great economy. Record low unemployment for blacks, women, and Hispanics. 3.50 percent unemployment overall. Factories keep returning to America. The stock market is at record highs. Production is up. Illegal immigration has dropped, thanks to the wall. Fewer regulations are helping the economy.
NATO country payments are up, thanks to Trump's pressuring. The new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada will help the US economy grow. Stage 1 of the agreement with China is being initialed. . We beat ISIS. We are getting out of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq. Very few American soldiers are dying. The US under Trump kept its promise and moved its embassy to Jerusalem.
We are now the world's largest oil producer.
President Trump pulled back the curtain showing how leaders like Biden, Clinton, and Kerry will sell out the country so their families can be enriched by China, The Ukraine, etc.
President Trump is doing a fantastic job. He has my vote and the vote of every real American.
22
And the planet’s climate continues to warm, endangering the human race. Trump literally is throwing gas on the fire. And poisoning the water and air by rolling back regulations and soiling the White House with his ignorant, sick character.
The economy has been strong for ten years. The president has zero to do with it. Any president for that matter has very little to do with economic cycles. The Fed and cheap money much more of a factor.
29
I did not attend a Woman’s March in 2017 and I will not be attending the Trump protest march this evening. It is a waste of time and energy. Besides, I support our president and he will not be removed because of some disgruntled people.
Not only will he remain in office but he will be re-elected. His performance has been outstanding and our country has never been more prosperous. Our economy is booming and the stock market is outperforming. What is there not to like about President Trump?
20
@KMW
You're statement is why many will be protesting. That you can voice this without an ounce of irony is a sign of how far we've strayed from this country's democratic principles.
39
To clear my head of the disinformation emanating from the Times and the rest of the establishment media I have been listening to Katie Halper's and Matt Taibbi's blog. I suggest anyone else who senses that something is missing and that many so called "liberals" have lost their way in the frenzy to rid themselves of Trump and been bamboozled and co-opted by the very architects of the evil they have criticized for so long, do the same. Goldberg and the Times have an agenda and it is not one you should want to share.
Media with Jimmy Dore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU-238gJq-o
Starting at Taibbi discussing his piece on the "whistle blower".
https://youtu.be/GjMiUJuEPPE?t=1417
Interviews with primary candidates Yang and Gabbard who deserve way more attention and coverage but will not be getting it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKuZppYwnq4
https://youtu.be/sO1LwhCOtTA?t=1495
12
Look no further than your own colleague David Brooks for evidence that people buy into the myth that "average Americans" are right-wing Trumpists because they feel aggrieved by a mythical "elite" than looks down on them. It's a tedious canard aimed at rationalizing what is in truth the smug arrogance of those who choose to believe Trump over fact, science and data because such things are ... what ... snooty? (Mike Pence, btw, is a young earth creationist. Yes, the vice president believes the earth is about 5,500 years old.)
In fact, polling shows that average Americans disdain Trump and his lies, and that the "fringe group" is in fact the know-nothing GOP political classes and their adherents. Understanding this is a crucial awakening all progressives need to experience.
22
anti-trumpers are the only hope to remove the president and this is the opportunity during the impeachment. if they cannot convince enough GOP senators now how do they think they can beat him in the 2020 election? absurd thought other then photo-opt.
3
It's ironic that Ms. Goldberg should write about "elitist fringes" of the center and left of American politics.
In the not too distant past, the rhetoric and behavior of President Trump and his congressional enablers would have been dismissed as strictly coming straight from the wingnut zone of conspiracist fringes.
The media have helped normalize such aberrance, however. Today, citizens just recently considered rational and "normal," are judged as Marxist and unamerican. The fringe becomes mainstream and the mainstream is cast into the political ditches.
10
Democrats need to learn how to better project strength and confidence, and to stop backing down in the face of Republican bluffs and bluster. The party has adopted a culture of learned helplessness, even though the majority of Americans share their goals.
Just because someone sneezes on Fox News doesn't mean that the entire Democratic Party has ebola.
6
My goodness, please calm down, the hysterics about Mr. Trump have no end or equal. So many problems in the world, and the only breath you have is the never ending condemnation of Mr. Trump . . . . as if he was the ultimate evil in the world. Focus on voting in 2020, the adult thing to do!
14
If someone could share a link, I can't find anything in Atlanta GA scheduled. We turned out 60,000+ for the Women's March, certainly there must be one planned for tonight.
Try impeach.org for protest sites
2
The Washington Post’s Marc Thiessen calls the Democrats' drive to impeach Trump possibly "the biggest political blunder in modern times.” Huh?
Where does Thiessen live? In Russia?
To call a push for (A) the Truth (B) about an Openly Corrupt president "a blunder" is repugnant (and yet, not surprising in a nation that has been getting as corrupt as the fiend Trump who introduced it Big Time in 2015, during his candidacy).
Yes, fellow Americans:
MARCH FOR IMPEACHMENT -- in the MILLIONS.
Here in the U.S., the time is Riper Than Ripe to not just dethrone Trump, but to also effect a return of civility and sanity.
12
I will be at a protest in Columbia Maryland. I've participated in more anti-Trump protests than I can count. What is always so disappointing is the lack of media coverage. As time has passed the media have paid less and less attention to those who patrioticaly demonstrate against the worst president in US history. It's as though the media are also exhausted, worn down by President Corrupt Trump.
8
The 'mocking of liberal tears' strategy is now the go-to offensive measure used by the right. "Oooh", they say with much faux-concern, "don't express outrage, don't insult Trump voters, don't try to impeach... lest you meet with crushing defeat because of backlash". Just lie down, they advise, and let all of this just roll over you. Their motivation is to drain all resistance out of their enemies, thereby eliminating any threat to their unfettered power. They abandoned logic and morality, so this tactic is all they have left: trying to sustain an illusion of inevitability. They are absolutely unassailable and infinitely-powerful. Until they're not.
5
I'm sticking my neck out in Dixon, Illinois this afternoon. I expect to have things thrown at me, since this is President Reagan's "boyhood home." I could be wrong - I don't know. But I'm going to put my face where my mouth is, and hope many of you will do the same.
I dragged a bunch of millennials to the Women's March in Washington the day fater Trump was inaugurated. What an elegant bookend will be his impeachment - even if not removal. We need to make oursleves heard.
9
Congratulations. Let's hope that the mainstream media around the world will continue to support the impeachment and removal of Lying Trump. not only as the first illegitimate president but also an inhumane beast, who may be dragged before the world court for crimes against humanity.
7
Utter folly. Trump is virtually certain to be acquitted, quite possibly by a majority of the Senate. A recent Economist issue has a graphic showing that 29 states have an anti-impeachment majority. That means 58 senators have excellent political reason to vote to acquit.
Defeat is demoralizing. The energy would be better used elsewhere. Climate change, just to take one example, is far more important than removing Trump from office even if that were a real possibility.
5
It's our democracy that is at stake. Better to march now than to be forced to stronger measures in a lawless Trump-Republican future.
Is anyone organizing to walk in the halls of Congress? That's where the votes are, that's where the fact-free Republican sycophants are hanging out. Don't we have a constitutional right to petition our representatives? I'd like to do so inside, where they can't just ignore us.
6
The time for a mass demonstration is right at the doors of Congress when the Senate begins its mock trial in the Senate
Its voice, its signs, its crying out to save our democracy, should put every Republican on trial for their loss of moral integrity, their fealty to racism, lies and the absolute corruption of the rule of law. It is this party that keeps the despot in power. They need their puppet autocrat in power to fuel their corruption. But they are not blind, not deaf to the cries that still ring out from that fateful revolution in France when the people stormed the citadel. I pray for a similar revolution on the very day that these Republicans propose to destroy our republic. Only the people can stop them now. And old as I am, I will be there.
6
Better idea than a march to get the point across.....
Trump is acting like a feudal lord, or even more, like a king. So, let the mob acknowledge his role, and lay siege at the White House.
3
So... cold, wet, or snowy December. Right before mChristmas. How many people will actually show up?
I am all for demonstrating (been doing it since Vietnam), but there has to be a better time....
1
Demonstrate every day, right up to the moment Trump is found innocent of the fake charges. Then when it is time to vote, stay home and cry into your pillow.
5
Ms. Goldberg, is it painful for you to write thoughtful, heartfelt columns for a paper whose management still clings doggedly and dishonestly to "both-siderism?"
4
There is always The Guardian and Jacobin. Who needs the Times? (Converging fast to its British namesake).
3
Another call to arms by one of the most combative fighters on the pages of NYT against the rule and order, against democracy, and against neighbors who voted Trump?
March all you want, it's a shame but it is your right, as soon as you start kicking and behaving disorderly, which you always do in a way, I hope the police deal with you.
8
Sounds like you don’t agree with Freedom of the Press nor the Rule of Law.
7
I'll be out there today. WE are the majority and need to show the world, not just the US, that we value democracy and won't let it go the way of the passenger pigeon, extinct because we kept on killing it until there was only one, and then none. Our democracy will not die like that.
3
To quote from Out of Africa,
"There are some things worth having,
but they come at a price".
Democracy is hanging by a thread.
211
@Pia :
Now is democracy hanging by a thread?
Trump won, largely because Hillary took "her win" for granted.
Russia didn't help elect Trump, and now the claims have shifted to "but Ukraine". No, Trump shouldn't have asked the Ukrainian president to investigate Hunter Biden. However Hunter Biden is clearly corrupt.
Now, I assume you supported removing W from office. After all he didn't win in either 2000 or 2004. And then he illegally invaded Iraq.
3
@Pia "Democracy" will be just fine - even AFTER Trump leaves office in early 2025.
7
Media. Listen up!
"I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values. I suspect that’s because the media tends to unconsciously accept Republican ideas about who constitutes an “average American,” so that the majority of Americans who oppose Trump are treated like an elitist fringe."
5
When George Bush the Elder was President, there was talk of impeaching him because of his role in the Iran Contra crime. At the time, it was pointed out that if the nation rid itself of this co-conspirator, it would be left with President Dan Quayle.
President Mike Pence of the Handmaiden States of America. Talk about a great alternative.
5
I was one the those marching in January, 2017 here in Canada. I did so then based on my own sense of morality, and my overwhelming feeling your country would be lost under Trump. His agenda was clear then and there is certainly no doubt now that he is a real danger to your democracy.
I will say that although I was and still am against Trump's policies, never did I think this is where America’s would be a
few short years later. He is unrelenting in his belief he can bend America to his will and sadly half of America seems willing.
I hope your booming economy is what will soothe half your nation
once your democracy is gone.
4
I will March as I have for the Women’s March, the Tax March, March for Our Lives, and the spontaneous protest when Sessions was fired. All of these marches involved thousands of people, but the coverage in the press has been remarkably light (with the exception of the first Women’s March). I hope these mass demonstrations today will be covered robustly.
3
Thanks Michelle for pointing out who really are the majority . I am personally sick and tired of the media buying into the Republicans assertion that they speak for the American people. Poll after poll shows increasing support for the impeachment of this President. Democrats are correct in pursuing impeaching a President who operates outside the law. A position that the Real Majority of Americans support them on. So irrespective of what happens in the Senate the Democrats will be well rewarded by the electorate in 2020 .
All the majority of Americans want is a return to normalcy and to wake up in the morning not wondering what today’s insanity from the White House will be.
6
Thanks for pointing out that people can't "sustain a sense of emergency for month after month".
It's off-topic, but it highlights the mistake of talking about a "climate emergency" when that would require sustaining a "sense of emergency" for many DECADES that it will take to stop it getting worse, and begin to repair the damage.
1
The best part is that while the politicians debate that what the president did was wrong, but not super-wrong, roughly half the country wants Trump removed entirely. Maybe it's time to consider the public is way ahead of the politicians.
4
I'll be there! I live in a smallish city of 90,000 and hope to see several thousands gathering at the court house later today. Concerned citizens absolutely have to turn out to make their views known!
1
If it was mandatory for every eligible voter to vote in every election and the elections were held over the weekends, there will never be a Republican majority in the Congress, or the senate.
8
Is the measure of guilt or innocence now to determined by how large a mob demands conviction? In this case it is irrelevant how many protest one way or the other. At least it should be.
4
@Daphne
And, a jury should be of one's peers, selected from the public at large, subject to voir dire.
At least it should be.
1
@Jerseytime
The jury sits inside the court and listens to the trial not outside setting fires.
1
Thanks for the link to marches in our areas and I planned on attending. However, when I clicked on that link, the marches are being called "Impeach and Remove." The process to remove a President requires a trial by the Senate and a determination of guilt and then removal. Saying "Impeach and Remove' is like saying "Try and Hang," before the trial has even begun. I'm not interested in participating in any activities on the Left that are just as disrespectful and bullying of the Constitution as the current actions of the Right.
3
Yes. But who will follow your suggestion? That is the problem in this country. No civic spirit left.
Bernie 2020 and AOC in 2024 and 2028. No other way.
3
@Blunt -- March. I plan to.
2
@Blunt
AOC has the same future as Michelle Bachman. Only difference is Bachman wasn't a Pied Piper of Doom for the Republicans in the way that AOC is for the Democrats. Follow her with Gusto. She will lead you right over a cliff.
3
"But Trump’s skill at intimidating the political class into believing that he is anything but historically reviled still matters."
When push comes to shove -- i.e., at the ballot box -- it's not clear that the Republicans who matter most at this point, senators, will pay a price for defending him. "Historically reviled" he is but are there enough of those repulsed by him in the red states, and will they show up at the polls? CAN they, for that matter, given Republicans' success in recent years at removing registered voters from the voter rolls?
Being visible at marches isn't enough. We have to be counted at the polls. That is the singular duty of every patriotic American at this crucial time.
3
I don't agree at all with those who think this won't matter. I am so relieved, beyond measure, to read that protests are planned. I hope they grow to become massive expressions of our voices against this evil regime--the GOP. This will matter to our elected so-called representatives, just as it did during Vietnam.
10
To all those that feel that demonstrations will not affect GOP Senators: I vehemently disagree. Trumps rallies dishearten those on the left. Overwhelming public support for impeachment will weaken the cults resolve.
6
@Sydney Carton Let's see it. News at Eleven.
What is interesting, that since last week's hearings, the people against impeachment now outnumber those in favour. Rather than pretending that the Democrats conducted a fair and impartial hearing, the media, including the NYT, should be calling them out. Anyone who is at all objective, had to be stunned at the blatant disregard for ordinary due process and natural justice engaged by the Dems. There is no chance of a successful trial in the Senate - and it seemed that the House Hearings was simply a way to get it over by Christmas. It was truly stunning in terms of its bias and lack of ordinary due process. The Dems are now in for a HUGE problem when real witnesses are called - with first hand knowledge. And when the likes of Hunter Biden - a life long cocaine addict - is called to the stand to explain his monthly fee to the Senate. It is amazing that Nadler could be so foolish to have gone down this track. By the end of January - the real pressure will be on the Dems - not the GOP.
7
@Randy Looks like Mr. McConnell is not going to allow key witnesses, John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and Mike Pompeo to testify, administrative officials who have direct knowledge of Trump's plan to extort the Ukrainians in order to gain a political advantage in the 2020 election. I am sure you have heard about this. It would be fine to hear from Hunter Biden but let's also hear from the aforementioned figures. I'm not sure what a person's drug problem that many have has to do with this other than to disparage Mr. Biden and his family.
3
The way NPR is covering this impeachment is disappointing but typical of the media meekness in confronting political criminals whose supporters have a lot of money.
On "All Things Considered," it's impossible to ignore the fact that every story has a Republican spin. The angle yesterday was "how Democrats are facing angry resistance to impeachment." On the day the House panel voted for impeachment, their first interview was with a Republican denouncing Democrats.
I believe that Vladimir Putin counted on this type of response when he chose Trump to lead our nation and told his puppet to disrupt every aspect of American life. It was embarrassingly easy.
11
@Big Text
You're NPR is not mine. That is for sure. They make the Times and the WP look like Breitbart.
1
All the Inflated claims and protests of the snowflake few aren't going to make a hill of beans difference. Trump WILL win in 2020. It's the economy, stupid!
9
"For some reason, though, I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values. I suspect that’s because the media tends to unconsciously accept Republican ideas about who constitutes an 'average American,' so that the majority of Americans who oppose Trump are treated like an elitist fringe."
This is why Michelle Goldberg is an undervalued treasure.
6
To the Editor:
I wonder if after the House votes on impeachment, the results and Senate trial could be introduced following the presidential election in 2020. The Senate can then hold their trial and vote in January since there is an expectation that the Senate will exonerate him, anyway.
What would the United States look like? If Trump is not re-elected, he will be out of office and gone to meet his accusers of his other indictable crimes. If he is elected, then the trial can begin with the expectation, of course, that there may be some changes in the composition of the Senate.
I believe this bit of cooling off could allow some of Mr. Trump’s more egregious behavior come to the fore.
Thanx, Esquare
2
Just now congress is discussing a motion to dismiss. I believe for the good of our nation that would be the best resolve. A party line impeachment is going to cause a divide that may never be healed.
2
@RS -- Given the Trump presidency as it is, the ONLY good for the nation is to impeach.
It's like cancer, ol' boy. You've got to REMOVE it before it spreads.
3
@RS
Not impeaching Trump may cause the demise of the Republic. Something that may never be healed.
2
It is not an exaggeration or hype, but a completely rational conclusion based on irrefutable evidence that:
--Our Justice Department is working for Russia.
--Our President is working for Russia.
--Our Senate and House Republicans work for Russia.
--The Republican Party works for Russia.
--Fox News works for Russia.
--The FBI, if not working for Russia, is controlled by Russia.
--The CIA, previously headed by Trump operative Mike Pompeo, works for Russia.
--The State Department, headed by Mike Pompeo, works for Russia.
--Only the House, headed by Democrats, works for America.
--The Supreme Court, headed by Republicans, must be assumed to work for Russia.
8
@Big Text Gosh Darn. I'm retired. Tell me where
I sign up to work for Russia. Sounds like they're paying good. And Christmas is coming (oops) and I could use some front teeth.
Great day for a march. While the normies are doing their dumb Christmas stuff, get all of the cat ladies, crazy young socialists, and other misfits into the streets to show the normies just how fringe and frankly unhinged our most visible progressives are.
Running lunatic ads (like the one with the woman in the full burqa) and putting the freaks forward worked so well for Corbyn and Labour, didn’t it? Does the left ever learn?
Nov 2020 is going to be glorious. One of those rare cases where the sequel is actually better than the original.
5
@Ben
Whatever you want to call us, we outnumber you.
You win because of the Electoral College. Not because of your numbers.
5
I live in rural upstate NY. How do I find a protest near me???
2
Go to the Indivisible website. All you do is put in your zip code and they will give you closet local protests.
1
@Dyan Janson
check indivisible website and that will guide you where to find a protest group near you.
@Dyan Janson there is a link in this article. Enter your zip code and it will show you the locations near you.
Click the "you should go" highlighted in blue in the article to find out where a march is near you.
What are you doing #impeachmenteve? March, or virtually march at 5:30 pm tonight. https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/ Top virtual march locations are https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/ https://www.instagram.com/realdonaldtrump/
1
I just contacted Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to complain about his blocking these four key witnesses at the impeachment Senate trial.
These are the very "first-hand" witnesses who Mitch and his GOP cohorts complained were "missing so they couldn't possibly consider impeachment".
They were missing because Trump forbade them from testifying.
These four individuals are now sitting right at McConnell's feet, waiting to provide the American people the whole truth (possibly even exonerating Trump) yet Mitch McConnell says an emphatic "No".
It does not matter whether their testimony exonerates or condemns Trump, the American people demand to hear the truth from these four
first-hand witnesses.
But there will be no truth-telling on McConnell's watch.
So ONE single man in this country, Mitch McConnell, has complete control over allowing the simple truth to be told about the Impeachment of an United States President.
Something is terribly terribly wrong with our country.
10
@JM
And please share the Majority Leader's reply.
I, too, have lamented the wall of impeachment coverage that eclipses public demonstrations around the world. Public opinion can work, especially when the country is still governed by laws.
The March for Impeachment will be just another opportunity for Trump to tweet about crowd size. But if it's expansive enough to threaten Republicans in Congress, it may work.
Imagine. One of the best things that can happen is for Amy McGrath to unseat Mitch McConnell in the Senate.
When the march is over, our votes still count.
6
I've been asking myself why millions of us aren't demonstrating in the streets in every city? I've come to the conclusion, even as tonight's demonstrations are pending, that most of us are either too scared, complacent, or uncaring.
Most of us already know the outcome of this impeachment and are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to admit that our country is a shadow of its former self.
The moneyed people and corporations are controlling our country. The people are mere workhorses for contributing to their coffers and doing what we're told, or lead to believe.
Russia is winning, and we're quibbling about Robert's Rules of Order with messianic zeal.
3
The Democratic side, which has made an airtight case, is set. The GOP side, which has made the malign calculation that criminality buys them another term in office, is set. The only place where there is still maneuvering room is with "we, the people." The GOP has voiced repeatedly believing that we don't care. It's time to show them how very wrong they are.
Turn up. Show up. Shout out. We will not stand for this and it's time the GOP was made to know that if they choose to side with a criminal, they are aiding and abetting criminal wrongdoing; they are collaborators.
Millions of us grasp that; now it's time to make that clear to everyone. The sycophants have their rabid rallies and we sit supine and watch and worry. It's time we showed up in epic numbers, numbers that dwarf theirs. It's time Yeats' "best" stopped "lacking all conviction."
The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
...
but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
It's time the beast was cornered in his lair so that things stop falling apart.
7
The King can do no wrong. Let this patriot work on our behalf until election time. If and then you still suffer from TDS vote him out of office. Otherwise Democrats are looking more like the petulant child they often call Trump.
3
@RS
Your first sentence summed up what's wrong with your position.
The 'King" is not infallible.
4
I've been saying it for a while now: time to take to the streets to protest both this corrupt, wayward administration and corruptly enabling Republican Party.
Trump is like 9/11 happening to our representative democracy: things will never be the same afterward.
5
Yes, march & show your support for impeaching Trump. It’s not about whether you like him or you hate him. Or about the economy, low unemployment or your IRA. It’s about the Constitutional mandate for Congressional oversight of the President — any President who abuses his power, lies, ignores subpoenas and withholds evidence from Congress. That cannot be tolerated in a democracy or the whole system fails & results in a dictatorship. Democracy is fragile. We must fight to keep it.
3
There are many correct things have been said as to why Trump deserves an impeachment. But they do not go, I believe, to the real heart of the matter. Until, that is, Nancy Pelosi put it as almost an aside - an "Impostor". That's it! All his 73 year-long life, he has lived within a different set of rules and regulations which he has enjoyed bending and stepping over of. He must be removed because he is essentially a foreign body within our Constitutional system of checks-and-balances that has been working, with all its wards, for centuries. And which this self-proclaimed "genius" simply doesn't understand and threatens to profoundly damage by ignorance. While abetted by totally mendacious GOP.
2
They should be protesting the homeless camps in CA ,the sanctuary state ,which is the true legacy of Pelosi and schiff.They should protest the out of control resurgence of violent crime in NY city ,a sanctuary city ,which is the legacy of the Democrats liberal policing policies..and the corrupt impeachment process which has insured the re election of President Trump.
7
Here in Oregon, we'll be out. You won't know it if you watch the wrong TV stations, but we'll be there.
2
It is about time that the Republicans start worrying. The Republicans in Congress are busy stacking the deck for their Impeachment trial buy McConnell and others meeting with the White House and co-ordinating the outcome of of the Impeachment Trial. They are assuring Trump that they will run the trial according to his wishes.
Where is the outrage about that?
Every Republicans who has taken the Oath of Office should be ashamed of themselves for throwing our Democracy down the drain.
What kind of a Jury rigs the trial in favor of the Defendant? What kind of Jury Cooperates with the Defendant, guaranteeing Acquittal? This is not a proper Jury or a proper Trial.
If I were Supreme Justice Roberts I would declare a mistrial as soon as the Court is brought to order. That is what a truly unbiased judge would do.
6
@Jean Based on your comments its apparent you weren't paying attention to how the Democrats conducted the House hearings over the last few weeks.
Mark my words this paper thin impeachment will not bode well for the country. It will precipitate a host of government gridlock where nothing for the people is accomplished. And down the line when a Democrat is in the office the vitriol will only be ramped up and the GOP will stop at nothing to pursue and impeachment against that individual as the Dems have done since 2016. The cycle will perpetuate itself until we can find a cross partisan unifier. This could simply be solved by having a strong Democrat leader who could win the votes and reach across party divide. It is clear that this impeachment is desperation about the Dems obvious oncoming loss at the ballot box in 2020.
5
If we had the popular vote instead of the electoral vote we would not need to be in the streets. But we don't and we do. Thank you, Ms. Goldberg, for pushing us out there.
6
One of the problems is people easily say, 'Oh, I don't pay much attention to politics,' as though politics do not affect their daily lives. The ability to separate oneself from politics is highly damaging, as is the notion that 'My vote doesn't matter/count.'
The other problem is social media, which has repeatedly been weaponized by political groups to influence voters even if they DO follow politics.
Put together, these two facts create the world in which we live, one where the rich influence everything to the increasing detriment to the rest of the people and the planet.
2
In the coming years, Democrats need to win seats and make it their focus to end the electoral college. Even with people screaming from the streets, the hegemony of money in politics, red state domination, and the business friendly SCOTUS majority is just too much.
8
Perhaps we Americans who think of ourselves as the great leaders of the world, can learn something from Hong Kong protesters who have taken to the streets for over six months now, fighting for their homes against police violence and the threat of the would-be Chinese dictator next door. The protesters were the force recently propelling both voter turnout and the reformists. They see their way of life under dire threat and are fighting for what is rightfully theirs. Will we/can we follow their example?
4
Thanks for this info, Michelle. I am confused that, here in Portland, for some reason I have not yet heard about this national event night. After reading your column I looked and, yes, there was a little bit of info in the alternative newspaper and on a TV station website. There are three events near us and we will certainly be there. I am confused, though, as to why this is the first I am hearing of this - and I spend a lot of time each day reading all about what is going on re the current political situation. Interesting and strange and unsettling.
9
Sign up to be on one of the resistance email lists and you will be better informed about activities like this: Change.org, Indivisible.org, MoveOn.org
1
Visited Greenville, SC this past weekend and attended a pop up farmers and craft market. The day was beautiful and full of diverse shops and diverse people having a great time on a beautiful Saturday.
At the end of the closed street there were 5 or 6 old white liberals screeching and yelling at people about impeachment and waving signs with the usual Democratic falsehoods and slop about President Trump. He is by no means a good person in my opinion but the biases he has faced since election is the most in my memory of any President.
The actions of the flailing and screeching "protestors" scared most of the younger children and is a prime example of why the profane and in your face tactics of the DNC will not work on a civilized society.
As a life long Independent I will never endorse or vote for any politician (R or D) that condones or represents a constituency that promotes such behavior. It is classless and harassing. Free speech yes, but as appealing as the dumpster trash and construction site they were protesting next to.
6
@Nature
Who said any politician promoted such behavior (assuming it actually occurred as you describe)?
Perhaps you should look to the neo-Nuremberg rallies that Trump puts on. In those circumstances, we are completely sure he endorses such.
7
@Nature
"Visited Greenville, SC this past weekend and attended a pop up farmers and craft market. The day was beautiful and full of diverse shops and diverse people having a great time on a beautiful Saturday."
With respect, were you conscious during the unprecedented obstructionism, racism, and bigotry hurled at president Obama?
9
Well then, you don’t have to vote at all, do you? Because I guess you conveniently forgot the noisy obnoxious behavior of the Tea Party? I guess you failed to note the disgusting insults Trump hurled at his own fellow Republicans when he was running in the primaries? I guess you clean forgot his imitation at a rally of a physically handicapped person? Methinks you don’t remember Trump’s rant all during President Obama’s administration about his place of birth or his birth certificate. Do you remember Mr. Trump’s insults about war heroes (specifically McCain) that were imprisoned by the enemy? Or his own, ouch, bone spurs? Do you recall recently Trump called people who disagree with him “slime?” I could go on and on...but you hear and see what you want which seems to be the level of understanding.
ESquare
6
The Women's March was a flash in the pan. A lot of women but negligible effect. Most have forgotten it completely.
Will protests tomorrow be any different, especially when many prefer the Christmas spirit to its opposite?
14
@Locals4Me
Email your Representative. It has more weight. The Texas Reps are on record as, "Undecided." The more emails they receive, the more power it will have.
12
@Locals4Me
The Christmas spirit is about coming together with people who share your beliefs in a celebration of love and hope and faith in something bigger than what is seen. Faith in unity. Faith in being a part of something greater than corrupt political temporalities. That was true in the Nativity story, which took place as Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to participate in a census of the occupying forces under the Roman puppet King Herod, and it is true today.
Whatever our religious affiliations, we believe in Constitutional government of, by and for the people and in our rights and responsibilities as an informed citizenry to hold corrupt leaders accountable.
As the article noted, the people at these demonstrations are one another's neighbors, and many go with friends and family.
17
@J T Your words capture one of Dr. Fiona Hill's key messages. Russian electoral interference seeks to divide people, so it is vital that Americans demonstrate their unity.
America has long prided itself in being a nation of laws. This is an excellent time to defend that notion, loud and clear.
15
You can’t imagine how disappointed I am because I can’t walk—Multiple Sclerosis has taken care of that.
But I can and will give money to Stacey Abrams’ ( I say our next VP) Fair Fight!
6
If you want to remove this president from office, go to your local voting office and register as a Republican. Then go and vote for anyone that primaries against him. This sudden influx of new republicans will send a false message to the current administration.Then on Election Day vote for ANYONE BUT TRUMP.
4
@Patrick Do you even know NY voting laws? Registration has always meant diddly. I was a life long Democrat, but I voted Socialist Worker when offered no no alternative. I probably voted for Al Sharpton more times than than you have.
The acrimony, sanctimoniousness, secrecy of the House hearings will result in the Senate being a similarly partisan exercise.
If the goal is to remove President Trump, partisanship in Congress must end. Otherwise, it will remain tit-for-tat.
2
@Mark Arizmendi
Hmmmm......
If they were "secret", how come everyone knows about them?
In the meantime, the acrimony (particularly shouting) was all done by Republicans.
3
At least call or email your representative to voice your opinion. I did. Even those that live abroad still have a vote.
Impeachment is almost a sure thing. There need to be protests about the senate and its cowardly lack of duty.
5
"Support for removing Trump from office is generally higher than was support for removing Richard Nixon in July 1974, the month before he resigned."
Yes, just like Trump lost the popular election by 2.8 million votes.
Look.. The Republican Party has circled it rhetorical wagons around itself, as much as around Trump, for (A) having so wholeheartedly embraced such a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot" (Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and (B) having willfully abandoned every principle it might once have had about "values" (disingenuousness there was always suspect, anyway) in return for the power to be gained by dismantling the United States Constitution behind a man willing to do so, who has achieved, by appealing to broad willful ignorance, the backing of an angrily confused voter cohort. The Republican Party is simultaneously in both aggressive offensive and defensive mode, holding the promise of Russian election interference again in 2020 -- the protection thereof being part of what Trump is being impeached for.
In short, no Republican mind will be changed. They are as was Shakespeare's Macbeth: “I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”
1
When Nixon confronted impeachment, the good guys won.
This time, it’s the bad guys turn.
Yes, a million person march, focusing on the hill, won’t change the result, but it’ll send a message to the world.
It may make a lot of people feel good if several tons of bananas are sent to McConnell: a reminder to all that we are becoming a banana republic.
We’re left with the hope that he loses re-election. He will then face numerous criminal indictments.The AG will not be a Roy Cohen. Mr.Trump will spend most of his time in criminal courts, federal and state, and then he may spend the rest of his life incarcerated. Orange will be the new orange.
3
Your thought on what the Media constitutes as an average or typical American is spot on, especially in NYT, WaPo and the big cable networks. If someone isn’t a coal miner, or isn’t eating a meat-n-three plate in a Midwestern diner or isn’t a (white) retiree, they simply cannot represent a typical American in the eyes of the national media. Those reporters, most of whom have probably bee part of DCs pack journalism cadre for years, can’t help but repeating this image. They are their own echo chamber. It does them and their customers a disservice.
4
Were it not for the unceasing and flailing attempts to remove the president from office and delegitize him since about 3 in the morning on Election Night, more people would be taking this much more seriously. Myself included.
7
@Snowball
Trump delegitimized himself.
One reaps what one sows.
3
Michelle, alas, this is not only the time to be seen, it’s the time to be heard and felt. Felt in a tangible way. America is a giant ocean liner, steered by a would be king and his royal followers, cruising towards the rocky shallows of theocracy, monarchy, and fascism. There’s no way to vote that out of office. Justice and fairness, the deep blue waters leading to the land promised in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, can only be achieved by an active disruption of the system that supports the king. It was done in 1776, 1789, and 1917. It can be done here and now in 2020.
1
Michelle, you wrote:
"For some reason, though, I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values."
This is the understatement of the year! Of course Trump is out of step; but it's so much worse.
He is an out an out criminal. A financial fraud. Should some federal or state jurisdiction ever choose to indict him for tax evasion, he will do some time in jail. Should Senate Republicans ever choose to vote based on established facts, he would be thrown out of the White House. Should some *women* have the nerve to accuse him, he would be tried for sexual assault.
Trump is way beyond simply "out of step." He is a complete aberration in American politics.
Should he be re-elected it could portend an actual trend—and God save us all!
5
@Roberto Quemados
"He is an out an out criminal. A financial fraud." If you have proof, come forward. Otherwise, what can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
The citizens of Hong Kong, Bolivia, Chile, Iran, Iraq, Puerto Rico, Brazil and many other countries routinely risk their freedom and lives doing general strikes and blockades to defeat despotic rulers and elites.
Americans haven't done that effectively since the hippies, yippies and parents of draft-age young men did street protests to stop the Vietnam War and blockade Nixon in the White House.
Why is that? I suspect it's because America is a decadent bread and circuses empire with a feckless populace that's politically and spiritually "asleep," as in the movie "They Live."
Only when I see intelligent comments here at NYT and a few progressive news sites do I have any hope that our populace can rouse itself from its sheeplike trance and get rid of the criminal gang that has taken over the executive branch. Voting by itself won't do it.
7
Ms Goldberg, if the NYT does not cover the events tonight, will you at least report on them? Protests are happening all over the country--about impeachment, about climate change, about poverty and discrimination--and I rarely hear about them in the media afterwards. Feeling that no one is doing anything to show resistance to the awfulness in which we now live makes me despair, but perhaps it's not entirely justified. The media could help so much by letting us know beforehand when and where to show up, and afterwards that we are not alone! (The NYT harped needlessly on Hillary's emails for months--now it can darn well atone.)
5
When looking at the percentage of people opposed to impeachment, I wonder what part of that group actually is anti-Trump, but views the House impeachment and subsequent acquittal in the Senate as helping his re-election. Perhaps it's only a small percentage, but one that should be included in the discussion and future polling questions.
1
Don't indulge fox hosts by naming them. It only pleases them and you confer credibility.
2
Why do these calls to march come the DAY of the march?
4
This Republican woman plans to revenge vote against every GOP candidate until the toxic stench created by Trump is ripped from the fabric of America and my party sobers up from its Trump stupor. Twitter may ban me for saying that but I'm going to use my voice, my vote, and my financial resources to purge something that should have never happened.
13
I find it totally amazing that the first I hear of these protests is when they actually occur. How do people find out about these things ahead of time? Shouldn't the newspaper's advertise these things so that people know about them?
7
@Herr Andersson
Newspapers "advertise" such only if the organizations pay for such.
Nowadays, the internet is more effective. But like you,
I just found out about them, and I'm on the net alot.
I'm going to one in my hometown, but I'm afraid that piece meal protests, on a workday at rush hour, will not get much turnout.
And the Trumpists will crow about it.
1
In my area, the “marchers” don’t want to deal with traffic. Want local event. Yes, patriotism is trumped by lazy people
2
@Rachelle Lane
If you march in traffic, you get arrested. Most adults cannot get in such a situation. And who's lazy? What about the organizers? I just learned about his today.
Why have marches all over the place on a workday at rush hour?
I will go to the one in my hometown, but I need to leave work earlier than usual.
You want millions to turn out? Limit the number of marches. Do it on a weekend. Make sure everyone knows about it at least a week in advance.
1
do it americans!!! make yourself heard in large numbers. defend your terribly ill democracy. no more excuses. it is high time. just writing letters doesn’t help. let the republicans hear and see how much the majority of us citizens despises their way of misleading & destroying the country. be louder than the trumper crowds while being smart and civilised. there are more of you. this president is extremely touchy. nothing hits him harder than large crowds of people booing him. what are you waiting for?
8
Despite the screaming temper tantrums of the Republicans in Congress that we saw on display last week, most Americans can judge for themselves when one side presents a dozen respected non-partisans testifying under oath about Trump's actions and the other side only offers non-stop yelling that "They are all partisans! Trump is above the law and anyway Trump didn't do anything and everyone but Trump is a liar".
It's a relief that Americans are basing their decisions on watching the testimony and not relying on the supposedly "unbiased" reporting at this newspaper, where reporters have simply claimed both sides are equally partisan.
Note to NYT journalists: When one side says it's raining right now and the other side says it is sunny out right now, the role of a journalist is not to report what each side says with endless tut tuts about how partisan the weather has become.
The role of the journalist is to stick your head out the window and report whether or not it is raining.
Facts are not partisan and when reporters are brainwashed by right wing propaganda into believing that they are "biased" for reporting facts, then it is time to go back to journalism school. Or leave the profession.
8
Doesn't ''white working class' imply that African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians somehow don't work. When is the last time you read in the media about the 'black working class'? Are journalists even aware of this implied bias? And is it not possible, same as 'death tax', which implies all of us would be subject to an estate tax when only the exceptional wealthy would be, that 'white working class' is a Republican framing inserted into the public discourse? Are we to be very judicious and sensitive to the 'white working class' (the rest of American not so much) because by 77,000 votes across three states (with what we now see as massive cheating by Republicans) they put Trump in the Oval Office.
5
Barring freezing rain, I will be in Boston. There needed to be more marches highlighting the travesties occurring these past 3 years.Our Democratic Republic is truly in the balance, as our Constitution is being ignored.
1
Unused and costly bike lanes, bums, drug addicts, and construction on every corner, prevent us from taking to the streets here in beautiful Seattle.
Oh, and a lack of police protection, too!
3
Saying wait for election is like saying don't punish your child for playing with matches, wait til he burn the house down.
5
In my small town 268 people have already RSVP'd to march tonight. March.
4
If you look into history, you will see that two President, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached. One was in the way to be impeach when he resigned, Nixon. In the three occasions, the political party which was pushing for impeachment: Republican in 1868 and 1998, Democrat in 1974, won the following presidential election in 1868, 1976 and 2000.
2
You say "recently the idea that impeachment has been bad for the Democrats has been widespread." I think you may have misunderstood the commentary such as that made by Marc Thiessen that you highlight. This is a tactic, not a belief or an idea. This is just spillover of what they say and do on Fox News every day. It is the world as they want it to be, the "truth" they want people to believe. They figure that if they say it often and loudly enough people will believe it, perhaps even some Dems, who will then give up.
6
I’ll be showing up in the small town of Milford, MA tonight. I see there are quite a few other rallies within a radius of about 25 miles of this. That’s promising.
3
Beyond marches and rallies, what is needed is a general strike on the part of federal, state and municipal workers, along with employees in private industry. Trump declared himslef proud to shut down the government. Let's do it ourselves for the sake of the nation until he resigns
4
@Alan J. Shaw
When 40% support Trump, general strikes won't work.
@Jerseytime
How many of those 40% are government employees, for example in Washington, DC or other cities like NY? Airport and other transportation workers? Police, Sanitation, Border Control agents, NASA and hospital employees. Teachers? The list is long and if unions alone in the US call for a strike, it might be quite effective.
@Jerseytime if 60% go out and strike. It does work.
2
I will be out tonight- Tuesday. I feel that getting our country back to a sane, not a sociopathic, outlook is a marathon, not a sprint. I am actively working to engage the traditional non-voter. Our current representative is Republican, relatively young, and is considered a moderate Republican because every once in a while, she will vote for a bill sponsored by Democrats. But she hasn't had a public town hall meeting in years. I try to listen to her phone-in town halls, but between the "selected" questions and her answers, it puts me to sleep. Yes, come out, call or write your congressman, and certainly your Senator.
1
In the grown-up world, just because you ‘participate’ doesn’t guarantee that you’ll go home with the trophy. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
Here’s another startling reality: the relentless efforts by the Democrats’ (and their media allies) to oust arch-nemesis, Donald Trump, by any means necessary have not only failed, but exposed the level of malfeasance they’re willing to sink to achieve their goals (see IG report). And Dems will not endear themselves to the millions of moderate voters by fomenting yet more civil strife with their mendacious impeachment strategy.
Ask yourselves if you’re willing to risk losing the 2020 election over a Trump phone call requesting an investigation into the Bidens’ undeniably shady influence-peddling. And btw, the United States has a Clinton-era treaty with the Ukraine that provides for mutual cooperation in corruption investigations.
By all means, continue on this path. But what will you do when you don’t go home with the ‘trophy’ again in 2020?
9
And while you are looking at the malfeasance in the IG Report, also check out the malfeasance in the Mueller Report and the Impeachment Articles and then vote your conscience.
5
Unfortunately, Trumpists and Trump have managed to become the new normal - the so called "Unitied" States hasn't been this divided since the Civil War. This has indeed created a new "silent majority", people who have basically given up any hope of sanity of a certain minority political party that gerrymanders and tampers with voting rolls to stay in office, that has no loyalty to anything but keeping their party in power with no regard for the country or its Constitution. The massive protests the opinion mentions after Trump took office actually had no effect. The impeachment hearings have demonstrated that Republicans have no loyalty to anything but Trump, who apparently could murder folks on Fifth Avenue and forgiven. The efficacy of Democracy is on trial in 2020 and I don't have much hope for its prognosis.
We're protesting the wrong way. Why isn't Trump tower and Doral and the D.C. hotel overwhelmed with picket lines? Why is the office of Rudy Giuliani still operating in the crime business? Don't follow the money (we're not even doing that), block its manufacture.
9
Despite the crippling effect of DT on my psyche, my husband, daughter and granddaughter will join me in Milwaukee. We will not disappoint...
4
Michelle nails it again. Media, if you’re listening, the “average American” despises Trump and wants him removed from office. Let’s start hearing from the majority. Instead of trying to understand, let’s fight this war.
6
Get people registered, go to Georgia and stop them from taking names off the voter rows, just like Wisconsin .
Take the day off from work on election day and drive twenty people to the polling places. We need to all show up and do everything show up at rallies, show up at colleges and get the message out .
This is our democracy and this is our Constitution and we know how to fight for our rights.
Democracy is at stake .
4
Trump loves optics. A televised view of hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters in Washington would go far for all the world to witness along with demonstrations around the country as happened with the women's march. Holding such a major event on a Saturday during Senate trial would be impactful.
Imagine women, millennials, the elderly, the disabled, environmentalists, civil rights advocates, veterans, the LGBT community, union workers, organizations for just immigration policies, Planned Parenthood, teachers, fighters for voter rights and criminal justice, scientists, the ACLU and Black Lives Matter, gun control protesters and so many other regular citizens of all stripes and colors coming out peacefully to show the faces and hear the voices of those 3 million of us who really won the past election and not the abusive and emboldened authoritarian who currently occupies the White House.
Which group or groups can spearhead such an event and secure permits needed to demonstrate? It can happen if we awaken from our complacency.
7
This needs repeating, repeatedly:
"For some reason, though, I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values."
12
@Dominic Holland
The MSM absorbed the GOP world view decades ago.
They use their wording, messaging and stance as the
"norm", and compare everything else against that alleged norm.
The GOP helped this along by being both better at messaging, being unembarrassed to use Orwellian naming of bills and policies, and having vast sums of money to fund "Think Tanks" and advertising experts to come up with things like "stand your ground" or
"right to work" laws. After all, isn't freedom slavery?
Read Chomsky!
5
Tonight, people are going to hear their neighbors’ voices.
If you want those voices to be amplified, you have to show up.
6
I agree that mass protests should be held.
But who decided to have them on a weekday at rush hour?
Such will result in paltry numbers of attendees, and that in turn will cause crowing by the Trumpists.
You want a huge turnout? Why not a Saturday or Sunday?
How about the weekend after Christmas?
Yes, I know time and place should not matter if one is truly
"committed to the cause". But you want turnout like in Hong Kong? Don't shoot yourself in the foot.
10
@Jerseytime This is just a start.
tRump has been very good for the mainstream media. They have made $billions from their constant attention to him and his horrible activities, but they have not been nearly critical enough. They can't look away, or be fair to the opposition. They never use the harshest words to describe this human atrocity. This is why I don't trust them as much as I used to. NOW, I spend more time looking at independent news sources, those without big budgets, or big stockholders.
9
@ChesBay I guess you haven't been reading the excellent columns in this newspaper, for one, that have been rightly and hugely critical.
Just reserved my spot at the Santa Cruz Clock Tower for tomorrow evening. Trump has also intimidated the media, with blatant lies, threats and distractions, supported by false equivalencies and yes- buts from his cronies in media appearances. The press is just trying to be fair, as Rome burns. Could the NYT please point out that it's more than odd to have fifty- plus senators ignore this constitutional crisis? And allow a despot to run rough shod over what was once a democracy?
15
According to FiveThirtyEight polling averages, the country is still exactly split over whether to impeach and remove President Trump. Over 90% of Republicans are opposed.
https://tinyurl.com/y6muxz7z
With those numbers, the Republican majority in the Senate will NEVER vote to convict. No matter what further damaging evidence may come out, no matter how many people turn out to march in favor of impeachment, their minds are made up.
After a few days of perfunctory hearings in the Senate, the Republican majority will vote to acquit, exonerate and vindicate President Trump. The Democrats will be left with egg on their faces, looking feckless. Trump will sail through the election campaign with the wind at his back and his base charged up.
Most ominously, reporting from the Rust Belt suggests that this impeachment circus is not playing well with the moderate, swing voters who will decide the Electoral College.
The Democrats have overplayed a weak hand. Their need to feel virtuous, and to broadcast their virtue has crippled their ability to think strategically.
If they are to have any chance at all of salvaging the 2020 election, they need to move past the Senate trial as quickly as possible, and return to the pocket-book issues that served them so well in 2018.
If they truly want to remove Trump, Democrats must think strategically and focus on the election. A Senate circus, which Trump favors, will only further alienate moderate swing voters.
6
Just so’s ya know, this country was built and maintained on trying to do the right thing, not on cheap political expediency.
Or to paraphrase Twain, every time we’ve lived up to what we say are our principles, we’ve done jist fine—and every time we’ve taken the cheap, greedy, cozy-dog road, we’ve regretted it.
6
@Ron Cohen
If your a moderate swing voter and you don't care about the Constitution then vote Republican.
We are at a critical time and we dont have time to waste with people who are just sitting on the fence doing nothing.
5
@Robert @Tony
So, I take it from your replies, that you are in favor of giving Trump four more years.
1
Anti-Trump America? How about citizens who prefer the rule of law and observance of our constitution rather than merely opposing Trump?
The people have largely been silent and on the sidelines in terms of public presence. (Social media is a different animal.) If there is a true uprising between now and the vote sometime in January, everything could change. The national media have bent over backwards trying to show that they understand people "out there" in the states Trump won and in the process they have distorted what is really happening: Trump is an historically unpopular president who won with 46.1% of the national vote who proposes, daily or weekly, ideas that would violate the laws of the United States.
He is impatient, apparently lazy and a constant television watcher who unwilling to learn how to do the job and, because of his bloated self regard and blimp size ego, convinced he is right in everything, all the time. This is dangerous. It is our good fortune, blind luck, really, that we haven't gotten in a bigger mess by this point. (These facts are laid out in A Warning by Anonymous, a top Trump official and generally backed up by independent reporting
There are a thousand reasons to be against Trump (12,000 tweets, in fact) but that misses the point. Being for our country and its core values is what counts.
15
If Trump has provided any service whatsoever, it is that, through his own corruption, he has revealed the ongoing corruption of the Republican Party. In the Trump Era, the Republicans have lost their smokescreen and so there is nothing remaining for them to do but go all-in on overt criminality. The weird thing is, the Republican base loves Trump and the Republican Party for dropping any semblance of fairness, respect and morality. The Republican base likes to think of themselves as outlaws and, with the Bible as their smokescreen, they are right at home with outlaw leadership. Voting YES to impeach Trump is also voting YES to impeach the Republican Party.
12
Marching for impeachment is standing up for the Constitution. It is the march that SHOULD have happened the moment McConnell refused to meet with Merrick Garland. It is the march that says that are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.
I'm recovering from foot surgery and my boyfriend has a commitment at 7:00 PM, yet we are going to be there, two small voices for the law of the land. It's the only thing that matters anymore. Not Republicans. Not Democrats. Democracy.
Join us.
18
@Charlemagne
We are marching across the country' but thinking of each other as we march for justice, and the Constitution in this very collective moment when we all stand together..
As Nancy said the Times have found us and we will stand up.
2
@Tony
Yes, indeed, and perfectly stated. We stand together.
Protests, no matter how large, won't budge Republican senators who are about to condone Trump's abuses. But if it helps to energize young people it will be significant. The outcome of the 2020 election will depend on young people--that's where the deciding votes are. Voter turnout among people 18 to 29 years old spiked in the 2018 mid-terms but was still well below that of other age groups. They must do better. Now is their time--America's slide toward reactionary authoritarianism under Trump is their civil rights moment, their Viet Nam. It's their climate, their environment, their democracy that is at stake. Legions of aging hippies won't scare the GOP but thousands or millions of young faces will.
516
@fbraconi
Nevertheless, this is one “aging hippie” who intends to make his voice heard, simply because he can no longer remain silent. America needs the young, the old, and everyone in between to speak up loud and clear so we can toss this despot and his corrupt minions from the White House.
94
@fbraconi We need to help students vote from their college campuses! Very confusing process ... do they request absentee ballots or register in college state and vote in person?
32
@fbraconi I applaud your zeal in trying to motivate young people to vote. And yes, it is the young that have the most to lose. But if only a small number of non-voters of any age get out and vote against Trump and the congressmen and senators who support him he can be defeated and this country can be put on the right path toward creating a sustainable and prosperous future. Too many people sit out elections young, old, hippie or not.
40
As this time when impeachment is on the radar for some of us, let's be aware that too many of our citizens, especially our young citizens have not been educated in Civics in their public high schools. They know much less about our Constitution and our government than their grandparents did at the same age. Civics has been taken out of the curriculum in countless school districts. That's not going to generate any demonstrations but we certainly could use a President who promoted the return of Civics to public education.
307
@blgreenie
True about the lack of Civics in our schools.
However, consider that a large part of the Trump cohort are of an age that would have had that education.
Yet, here we are. Apparently, they played hooky.
37
@CVP
Even "back in the day" the quality of public education in history and civics was dependent on the city/town/school and varied widely. It has now become horrible; most of these kids today have no idea what this country and a democracy are all about.
12
@blgreenie At almost seventy now, I grew up in an era when everyone had to pass a course in Civics before graduating from elementary and then high school. We took our citizenship seriously, especially after the carnage of WWII in which most everyone's parents and other relatives participated and died.
That requirement was dropped during the reign of Reagan, and the kickoff of the trickle down world we now inhabit.
18
Signed up!
I hope the House leaders, after impeachment, don't send the articles to the Senate. Let Trump, Mitch, Graham and other Trumplicans twist in the wind. Follow Laurence Tribe's advice. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Jerrold Nadler are you paying attention to Tribe's advice? Call the man, he's probably on speed dial on your phones.
3
I just signed up for the NYC rally. Thanks much.
2
So why are we just hearing about the protests now? Where has the media been?
4
As the author says, people opposed to Trump are treated like they are an elitist fringe. The “real” Americans from “the heartland” are the ones who the national media typify as the country’s norm. The media didn’t publicize this march day because it isn’t a Trump rally. I read NYT and WaPo daily, and this column is the first I have heard about it.
2
I'll be marching in Toronto across the street from the US Consulate at 5:30. Please join me!
3
@Sally
Will you be demanding your Justice Committee allow any investigation into SNC Lavalin? No, just about Trump? Wow, way to be civic minded.
Mass protests like this are meaningless. There have been plenty already to no effect.
People have to put their tools down for a day and refuse to work. Just a day to start.
How much do you care about our democracy? To really fight for it, or is that just too inconvenient?
1
@Thomas
Amen, take a day off from work, march out like the google employees did when it became apparent that sexual harassments was being swept under the carpet with big settlements to the men to go away.
Stay off of social media for a day, dont click money into these traitors to this country.
You need votes, not more noise.
2
We have one here in Boise, Idaho and over 500 hundred people were signed up to rally. I am sure there will be way more! IMPEACH!
3
It's reality, counter-programming Fox!
1
As an indication of just how dire our political circumstances are, consider that the United States of America, once a beacon of freedom, is now having to look outward, to the likes of Hong Kong, India, Hungary, Iraq and Lebanon for civil disobedience and civic duty inspiration. As a sign at a Women’s March read, “I Can’t Believe We Still Have to Protest This (expletive)”. Yet protest it we must. With all of the fascistic attacks on our institutions, values and principles by Trump, William Barr and Stephen Miller, to name just a few, it is not hyperbolic or overly dramatic to say that our democracy, indeed our very country, is on life support. For the sake of our nation, all of its people and cherished beliefs, this president must be impeached, and we must take our indignation and outrage to the streets. In the words of the battle cry born in my Oakland hometown, “All Power to the People!”
2
I would have never known about this except for this fine column! I remain absolutely convinced that this country WILL rise up AGAIN, just like the mid-terms, x1,000,000 and run this guy right into jail, turning the global tide BACK towards decency, leadership, humanity for others and away from these horrible, narrow-minded and racist-at-every-turn nationalist actions.
6
is there one organized facebook page for all the rallies?
Mrs. Goldberg has been part of the resistance for three years. The cry-ins, marches, protests etc. began the weekend after Trump was elected and before he was inaugurated. More protests and civil unrest will only ensure a Republican rule for a generation. To my Democrat friends, when you are in a hole stop digging
6
I'm showing up!
2
I’ll be there.
And somehow try to edit John Dean’s out of the box thinking on my sign: “Let’s impeach him now and NOT send it to the Senate rather keep investigating in the House, and add such supplemental articles as needed!” Dean wrote on Twitter this weekend. “Just let it hang over his head. If the worst happens and he is reelected, send it to the Senate. But keep investigating!!”
Then send donations to McConnell’s worthy opponent. Don’t feel quite so powerless tonight.
3
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg, for alerting me to the possibility of attending a protest tonight--I would not have known about it otherwise! Why is the word not getting out? I think many people are too depressed and demoralized to continue at the 2016 level of outrage, but we also seem to lack a central organizing body and program to inform us and get us into the streets en masse. Alas!
3
Today's rallies will of course enrage Trump into another tweetstorm. I'm all for anything that adds to his apoplexy. But I also hope it will send a message to the MAGA-hatted millions who put this grifter in the White House.
4
Thank you for this.
The coverage of American support for impeachment is reminiscent of press coverage of American support for the ACA. Many of those who were against the ACA were opposed because they did not think it went far enough, which means that support for a strong governmental role in health care was actually quite high, from the outset.
So, how much of the anti-impeachment sentiment out there is based not on love for the *resident, but on a fear that the process will hurt Democrats politically? I suspect that the latter plays an important role, and that a solid majority of us do want the *resident to be impeached for his crimes.
2
I check the NYT, Wash Post and WSJ every day and this is the first Ive heard of this protest. Had I known Id have made plans to attend somewhere other than marching down my cul-de-sac with a poster board sign!
3
@Dave:
Check out impeach.org and you might find a group close to your cul de sac.
Good luck from the Great North Woods of NH where nothing is close to my unpaved road. But I will head out as soon as the plow-guy makes straight my path.
1
I’ll be marching in Palm Beach, Florida outside the offices of Senator Rick Scott! I urge all of you, march, especially in Republican strongholds and purple states! Help register all your friends and communities to VOTE!
4
Power to the People
All People
Stand and deliver
Freedom and democracy
From the corruption of this criminal
Trump and his administration
4
Since we know that Fox and others on the right lie about everything....saying among other things that impeachment will harm the Democrats.....we on the left and in the middle must remind everyone that because the GOP says it's so doesn't mean anything, in fact you can be pretty sure that if they say it it's a lie.
4
Michelle Goldberg is absolutely right about taking to the street to demonstrate our solidarity with Democrats in the House and Senate, demanding the impeachment and removal from office of Donald Trump.
As one Democrat who wanted this process to begin five months ago for several reasons, and as someone now chilled to the bone such that 22 degrees F is a good day, I wonder why this marching couldn’t have started in September or October. Brr-rr-r.
2
The temperature will be in the 20s tonight but I will be out with my neighbors across the state of Colorado to save our democracy from the dangerous, sociopathic narcissist and Putin puppet who currently occupies the White House. Bundle up, put on your pink kitty hats and join us!
7
So are we saying that a President should be impeached & removed from office if enough people join street protests.?
..-- How bout we convict people of crimes if we can get enough angry protesters in the streets..
--- Why bother with the rule of law or the Constitution.. the main thing is that we get our way!!!
5
@mike, of course not. We are saying a president should be impeached for committing high crimes or misdemeanors. The demonstrations are a way of showing that we care enough about the Constitution and rule of law to defend it against would-be autocrats.
8
@mike Of course that's not what we're saying. People are standing up for democracy and protesting his total disregard for rule of law
1
Did someone say accuracy of polls?......hmmm...... imagine participating in a telephone poll and then going to vote later on and finding there is a 3 hour wait so you don't vote at all.
Welcome to the Bible Belt, voter suppression, and "inaccurate polls".
7
We'll be there, 5:30 pm at the Capitol, here in Sacramento.
4
Sad to say that people in Hong Kong care more about democracy than Americans. Maybe once Republicans have brought us to the point where protests are illegal, we'll realize how precious our institutions used to be. In the meantime, Any links to where to march?
5
@dada Here’s a link to search for all of them (though there’s a link in the article too!).
https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/
You have exaggerated the "power' of those in the blue wave of he Kavanaugh debacle. If anything that may have had a negative effect. I know many of us Democrats who saw the overreach suspend due process. Better to march behind Elaine Luria. Mikie Sherrill and Elissa Slotkin.
Trump gets defeated due to his lack of honor. Let alone his stupid "policies."
My sign will say "Make America Decent Again."
1
Impeach and Remove protest in Red Oak, Iowa, home of Joni Ernst, tomorrow at 5:30 PM. Time to remove phony Joni.
5
I'm sure Democrats protesting and causing traffic jams during rush hour will endear them to almost everyone.
8
I'm attending one.
3
5pm at the San Francisco Federal Building for me. On the steps of Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office.
In support of impeachment and in homage to the shrewd, expert and patriotic Speaker.
7
Amen. Still hoping she is president after Trump’s and Pence’s impeachments. She could start the healing. And she has earned being the first woman president.
1
The Suffolk CNN poll recently released shows Trump ahead of all challengers for 2020. Also a majority doesn’t favor impeachment. And just like in 2016 ,and even more so, the polls are underestimating Trump support. If I was asked on the street if I favor impeachment I would say yes regardless of my true position. Why take a chance that I would be harassed? Now I would actually be afraid of being injured. The left has become that enraged. Trump supporters just stay away from the protesters today.
4
Street protests are so 1960s. They are worthless in time and energy. They achieve nothing. My "marching" against the Bush II GWOT and Iraq Adventure did nothing. Million Woman March? Trump is still there. Just go out and vote straight Dem in 2020.
2
And bring your whistle!!
3
Clapping harder brought Tinkerbell back, so why not?
5
We are sick and tired of Trump abusing the President's power manipulating stock market through constant tweets.... We are sick and tired of his constant attack on our international allies but kissing those foreign adversaries. We are sick and tired of Trump attacking and destroying all the institutions built to protect America! We are sick and tired of Trump attacking our freedom of the press. We are sick and tired of Trump's hate for rule of law and his abuse of the Constitution!
5
Just signed up for Impeachment protest City Hall Los Angeles, thanks for the info, almost 4k signed up already... Nothing on the westside of LA, ??? My first protest, 60-year-old white male liberal
Born conservative republican Laguna Beach, was for Kamala but now Mr. Bloomberg. Will be ready for Bernie and Warrens's views, give it 4 more years 2024. Bloomberg/Harris business and LAW what we need Now
3
The stupidity and lack of courage of Republican Congressmen, and now Croyn, Graham, McConnel has shocked many into inaction.
1
People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. Check RealClearPolitics' amalgamation of ALL the polls, not ones cherry-picked - "no" on impeachment has risen steadily and is now clearly the trend.
Check the Axios poll of three battleground states last week - Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Trump leads all Democratic contenders by a clear margin -- a distinct change since impeachment began.
National polls like the ones the author cites mirror the 2016 election in which California and New York gave Hillary a meaningless 5-6 million vote cushion. Impeachment being slightly ahead of no impeachment in those polls is pretty meaningless. In the states that matter to getting a president elected or re-elected, impeachment has been a clear loser.
8
Sad that a 5-6 million-person "cushion" isn't enough to allow the more popular candidate to win in our alleged democracy.
1
@ABC The dystopia that is 21st Century California -- demonstrated again today by the New York Times' piece on the sprawling refugee camps there -- is the greatest confirmation imaginable of the Founding Father's wisdom in setting up the Electoral College.
2
The womens march was so well organized and publicized. My husband and I marched in NYC. This article by Michelle Goldberg is the only bit of reporting I've seen about an impeachment march. That alone worries me. Where is the publicity and organization??
4
These United States are living a crucial moment to try to revive a compromised democracy...from Trump's persistent, and insidious, assault of the rule of law, most unfortunately with the full support of republicans...who are selling their souls to protect his criminality (I suspect, to protect their miserable little seats in congress). Therefore, the forthcoming public protests, to demand the politicians do their job and protect the constitution, is vital.
2
Compared to almost any other country, Americans are pathetic. Can you imagine yellow coat protests here? Or Pro Democracy protests that continue for months and months like in Hong Kong? I cannot. We are a country that rarely has 50% of it's electorate vote. And we have the audacity to tell the rest of the world how they should be like us. Remember...they aren't just laughing at Trump. They are laughing at a society that sits by and lets it all happen. Trump won't be threatened by marches. But he (and all his cronies) will absolutely be threatened if, on election day, lots more people show up at the polls. That is the protest we need. And that is the only one that will send the message and make a difference. If you are going to march today, and I think you should, NOW would also be a good time to make sure your voting house is in order. Make sure you are properly registered. Call your local board of elections and find out. Make sure you know where to vote. And if you are having trouble with that or getting to the polls, call the League of Women Voters or your party headquarters and ask for help. NOW. Not in October. NOW. Ask yourself one question: If everyone who could vote, did vote, what would be the likely result? Then make sure you are on the 'did' side of the equation. .
391
@Walking Man, agree with most of what you say. But this is not so much about the election as it is about the removal of Trump through Impeachment. While it's 99% assured the Republicans will stonewall any honest trial, anything that can affect or even just protest how wrong it is so important.
But yes. We are so civically irresponsible...not voting is how we got we got; we must do better.
Protest, however, is almost as important...a demonstration of solidarity against the unthinkable...abuse of power.
32
@Walking I'd like to see the stats on swing states turnout, where your vote would seem much more important. As a liberal in a conservative state, rarely does my vote matter.
14
@My, I'm sure it's numbifying to face that your vote will not matter. But to assume that, no matter how true, becomes a self fulfilling prophesy.
It must feel like the myth of Sisyphus, but even rolling that rock back up (voting) is a kind of freedom. And if it inspires others, so much the better.
Trump and the GOP want nothing more than to exhaust us.
28
A March for Impeachment. Sounds just like a 1960’s protest march or sit-in - as vapid today as it was a half century ago. Serious people won’t show up. We’ll be working.
6
Guess you missed all the changes that have taken place since the 1960s, most of which were spurred by those protests. Have you been living under a rock?
Record unemployment. Stock market highs. Low. Inflation. Low interest rates. I hate Donald Trump as much as the next guy but will we mess this up with a progressive? You can’t abolish billionaires. The history of the world is about haves and have nots. The billionaire abolitionists have a unique sense of justice. “Just us”.
2
@Desperate Jethro You cite the deal with the devil for a privileged few.
I cannot find a job, and I have been trying with an excellent job history. As an older worker, I'm just looking for a local retail gig to supplement my SS. NADA. (Agesim?). I have my savings in the bank, thus get middling interest, and I choose not to gamble in the stock market. Nothing on your list applies to me. And I'm fairly certain, it does not apply to many people.
4
Out of Giuliani's mouth dribs and drabs of a motley mixture of half-truths and lies comes into the media, now telling us that our president was informed " a couple of times" about ousting Yanovitch from her Ukraine post. I think that most likely Trump played the leading role in firing her; he has a history of quickly firing subordinates.
In time we will learn that Trump had his hand in every conspiracy and false plot that seem to be the main brews our president is busy with. It is unlikely that he did not know---until much later about all the shenanigans done to maintain power--where in reality he was the one who initiated most of them.
Impeach and remove---yes, yes, yes.
I regret that I am overseas at present and cannot join those who will march to express their anger at this man who is destroying our country, our democracy, our institutions, and our civility. I am with the marchers in spirit and would love to be with them in body.
Wishing that you make an impression strong enough to penetrate the Fox den.
3
I am in the habit of responding with fibs and lies to all political and consumer surveys and polls I am asked to participate in, whether by internet, mail or telephone.
Sometimes I am black or Asian or a woman or an American Indian, other times a Christian Fundamentalist, a Scientologist or whatever demographic mood I happen to be in that day.
I explain this behavior by rationalizing to myself that by doing this I am paying attention to groups who opinions deserve more consideration than they are presently receiving, but mostly I do it because it is fun and because political polls and surveys are a blight on the nation.
2
The entire impeachment process smacks of political crowdfunding.
5
Bottom Line: he should and will be impeached by the House. The Senate will then exonerate all of his behavior as Republicans are renowned for doing. The Divided States will remain divided and we all await the 2020 election when America decides to swim or sink.
3
The idea that impeachment is a blunder is ludicrous. The Democrats really had no choice.
If they did absolutely nothing, then Trump would be encouraged and continue to commit egregious abuses of power.
Truth be told, if it were a just world, then he would have been impeached long ago. He should have been impeached over Russia and the emoluments clause.
6
Perhaps impeaching Trump is a standin for that 'Silent Majority' who feel Trump has generally done too much damage, and will no longer tolerate him or his constant negative presence.
2
With Senator Schumer poisoning the bipartisan well by publicizing, politicizing, and polarizing there is really no way out but up.
3
This 60 year old will be marching today in front of Senator Cory Gardner’s office.
I’ll also going to:
Vote Blue.
No Matter Who.
2020
7
Mass peaceful demonstrations like in Hong Kong are the only answer to Trump and his cowardly Republican senators and congressmen. Impeachment will not remove Trump from the White House, peaceful public display of our collective displeasure will.
4
It's 100% certain that not impeaching is not working. No one should be sweating that after 3 years.
It's also 100% certain that the impeachment will die in the Senate. So the point is not to win, it's to make as much noise for a fact based case to try to make it heard, especially by those who least want to hear it.
It would be nice if everyone brought bells, the bigger the better, and just rang them out all night long. Take a short break from the words and amplify a tone.
611
@Jeff It's important to get the names of the senators who vote against impeachment on the record. Trump may completely go around the bend one of these days or commit yet another travesty, and we need to know and remember just who wanted him to stay on for another 1-5 years. History is not going to be kind to those folks.
79
@Jeff Great idea about bringing bells. So relevant for the season and our times. Let freedom ring!
38
@The Real Mr. Magoo
I thought the point was to win.
I guess I was wrong.
1
I live in a swing state and will be exercising my right of free speech in a rally in Grand Rapids.
Not since the Vietnam war have I felt so strongly about our country being led in the wrong direction by our would be dictator.
Citizenship comes with responsibility and we owe it to those who paid the ultimate price for freedom in war and for civil rights.
Now is not the time to stand back and watch this travesty in the White House who ridicules true government hero’s as well as a 16 year old climate activist. He has brought shame to our democracy and reputation worldwide.
1162
@PatMurphy77 No, it's Dems who have brought shame to our democracy by moving forward with a partisan impeachment. Get ready for impeachment to be just another political tactic (which Dems will regret when they are in charge.) And the notion that Trump can't criticize a climate activist, because she's 16, is absurd. If the NRA had a 16-year-old touting its gun advocacy, Dems would waste no time attacking him or her (and the media would applaud it).
5
@R.P.
Trump didn't "criticize" a climate activist. He attacked a teenager because of her mental health challenges — just like he mocked a man in a wheelchair. Always punching down.
38
@R.P. It is this state of denial that is the biggest threat to our democracy. That anyone can approve of Trump's behavior as perfectly normal and of a defense that consist of screaming partisanship and lack of evidence when Trump is forbidding people with direct knowledge of his blatant pressure on a foreign leader to testify is pathetic. It is obvious that he has something to hide both in this case and in his tax returns (which he promised to release after 2016 election). But of course none of it matters to you, he may be vile, but he is your man.
32
I’m attending a rally in New Brunswick at 5 pm and had 3 signs printed: Impeach and Remove. Will share, if you arrive without one. Plus I’ve called my Congressman’s office because, alas, I am represented by Smith NJ-04. He could stand up for the Constitution. But he won’t. He won’t even hold a town hall.
240
If we really want to accomplish something, march to the polls next November.
5
Marching in front of Senator Perdue's office tonight. Encouraging to see 3K fellow citizens feel compelled to defend the Constitution in a red state (for now).
5
Michelle, your calculus has a glaring flaw. 50% of voters may favor impeachment, but Trump was elected president with only 46% of the popular vote.
The implication that having more than 50% of the population favoring impeachment tilts in the Democrats favor is yet another misleading trope. This over-confidence is from same hubris echo-chamber that led the NYT to say that Trump's probability of getting elected was 15% - (15%!) - the night of the election.
5
To say the left is 'silent' or somehow overshadowed on media by Republican ideas seems crazy. 90% of the news coverage is rabidly anti-Trump across all mediums.
4
This impeachment is an exercise in futility. The Senate will not convict him, and everyone knows that. And worse, he will be elected again. While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, he secretly knows that they can be led around like bulls with nose rings - only instead of bullrings; he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is important and what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for dirty tricks and destruction. These minds see the survival of a particular belief as more important than the survival of us all. When we understand this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
26
@RLB: Sorry that you feel that resistance is futile. The most likely consequence of tonight's events will be firing up the youth vote, which is also our best chance of ousting Trump. I hope to participate from my wheelchair.
Please join others who love our country.
32
@RLB
He is simply following Obama's playbook. "Hope and Change" with an expanded arsenal of presidential powers to to counter the partisan lockup of congress.
1
Lost in all the furor and real and quasi legal proceedings is an old adage. If you want to find out what happened, follow the money. So far the only concrete money trails are $500,000 speeches in Moscow and $80,000 per month board seats in the Ukraine.
1
Anti Trump Majority doesn't exist. There is a Very Vocal Anti Trump population in this country but it cannot be correctly described as a Majority. Persist in believing that is what you have if you want. Just be ready to be surprised when the election results do not line up with those beliefs. And do not point a finger at the well armed nuclear superpower of Russia. Unless you want them to rain down upon us all of their 7000 nuclear warheads.
1
"The anti-Trump majority needs to make itself seen."
It does! (But not just once every so often.)
The argument for impeachment must go beyond our Constitution. Pundits like you must help people make the connection between Trumps behavior and the very essence of our liberties. It has to become that individually personal.
2
Interesting you bring up Kavanaugh.
That story broke because the Democrats victimized Ford by leaking her very marginal claim against her will. Compound that with the corruption of the DNC in the last election.
So either people don’t care about dishonesty and corruption or they do. If they do, they will vote for none of the above. But it’s more likely that they don’t, and Trump wins. In which case the next four years will make the ongoing hysteria and hypocrisy seem rational.
2
I am a Real American. So are my friends and family. We support the impeachment and removal of President Trump.
5
Trump has proven himself unfit for the presidency numerous times. Few are surprised that he pressured Ukraine to uncover dirt to use against a potential opponent. It is likely an impeachable offense but at the same time it’s considered normal behavior for this administration.I think most of his supporters know he is guilty, but give him a pass. Will Republican senators do likewise? If so, which is highly probable this episode will likely be forgotten by Nov 2020 and Trump will either be re-elected or defeated based on factors still unknown. That said it seems to me one who cares about democracy and the rule of law needs to show up and protest in order to look themselves in the mirror.
4
Trump is rude, crude, socially unfiltered, and a powerful business man that is doing a good job with the economy.
He may be impeached by his political opponents but he will not be removed from office and he will win re-election.
Second term presidents have nothing to lose.
Good heavens what will he be like then? He may have the rude crude and unfiltered social stand that stops drug traffic from Mexico and Asia?
2
Marching is nice, but let's face it, an email to your Representative, DEMANDING they vote for impeachment, or they will lose your vote, has far more weight.
Emails have to be sent today.
No need to email manifestos or lengthy tirades. Just a simple email demanding a vote for impeachment or lose your future support.
Your Representatives won't know you are marching, but they will get a tally of how many emails they received.
1
I called my Representative and made my views known in passionate terms. I will actively campaign against you if you don’t support the Articles of Impeachment. We all need to be involved. It’s the only way democracy works.
3
I'll be in Minneapolis tonight to attend an event at the Hennepin County Government Center. I hope fellow NYT readers and commenters have RSVP'd, and will share their plans too.
2
At least pigs don't lie. They don't reject other pigs because of the country they come from. They don't kill animals for "sport," just for food. And they don't run for re-election in 2020 (though I am not sure of that).
2
We, the People will be heard this evening at town squares, malls and sidewalks and at the polls next November.This president has insulted us, betrayed us and every day he makes a mockery of the Constitution. Enough. Many around the world are taking things into their own hands: in my country France, in Italy, Chile, India, Hong Kong...for many different reasons. All these protests, violent or not have one common message: enough with the white nationalism, the far right, the corruption, the anti democratic governments and their enablers. We are better than these governments. We are better than you Mr. Trump! Go Dems in November.
4
I’m so there- even with a cold in the damp nyc rain!!!
3
As a taxpaying, patriotic American who loves her country, I will be there.
3
I thank you for the link, and hope more people than expected show up at evry place listed
2
Really? You think it is over 50% who want him removed? Just like it was over 50% who wanted Hillary as President, right?
The fact that you do not call out the useless 50% of this country makes me NOT support YOU. I could care less if the evil people win or the good people win, because it is 50/50, so it flips and flops.
Also - the Republicans removed Clinton for one lie. They also investigated him for 8 years...but I forgot all that because I am an American and I have no memory.
Message to Justice Roberts:
The President is on trial in the United States Senate. Witnesses, who may have relevant information regarding the 2 counts MUST testify.
Otherwise, the President has placed himself above the law.
Sir, do your job.
5
Please take to the streets. The USA is dying and has been for awhile, every subsequent republican administration since Reagan has worked to kill democracy. The result - just look in this issue of the NYT at the article about homeless in Oakland.
Disregard the pollsters and ridiculous proto-centrists republican apologists. Way past time to fix the US before more die and lives are destroyed by no healthcare for many, lousy healthcare even for insured, ridiculous costs of higher education and dominance of the ultra rich. It can happen in the USA and has happened - the collapse of democracy and the utter disfunction of the system.
2
Compared to Nixon this is Clinton all over. Much ado of nothing.
2
Reading through some of the comments make me realize that some people are still not "getting it".......i.e. it's a tough time of year because of all the holiday parties.......my kids have activities........it's going to rain...........!!! Here is what I think about - my mom and dad both served in WW II; my son served in Iraq; their lives centered at the time around protecting our democracy. If your kids have an activity tonight and will miss it because of the march, take them with you and make it a lesson in history and explain why it is more important. Rain? I think of the days my son spent in 110 plus degree heat; wading through chest-high water carrying weapons; getting up from lying still in a hide site for hours with clothes drenched in sweat. Rain? No big deal. This is our country we are talking about folks!
4
Silence is complacency and tacit acceptance of the destruction of the republic. To the barricades!
1
What Michelle, and the rest of the unhinged Left, are incapable of understanding is the Republicans are a united party. Not united FOR Trump but united AGAINST the Dems.
The Dems played a weak hand dumb with Kavanaugh and that only stiffened the back of the Republicans in the Senate. Now with this purely partisan impeachment from the House the Republican spines are stiffer.
The impeachment will fail. Trump will easily win the election and the Dems will whine and cry and use their tired old talking points: voter suppression, gerrymandering, foreign interference, Social Media ads and Fox News. They will never accept the fact that their over-focus on diversity keeps them fractured and they can’t find a candidate that can beat a simpleton like Trump.
They are completely inept at self inspection and facing reality.
4
I’ll be attending along with husband and friends. Time to make some NOISE,
5
It's good for the election that the support for impeachment is holding steady. But -- how could Ms. Goldberg forget -- it takes two-thirds to convict. Half isn't close. In trials, a hung jury, at best, is a chance to do it over again. The jury is hung on impeachment and Ms. Goldberg celebrates. i sure hope she doesn't want to do it again.
"99 percent of life is showing up." This is one of those times.
6
I am in a state of disbelief and shock being a New Yorker that the integrity of our Republic rests on this guy, the biggest liar ever. Divine Intervention is in order, and yes, agreed mass protest.
5
Only impeachment followed by ignominious removal is appropriate for the awful trump.
Could the electorate finally be waking up to just what a horror this man really is and what a threat he is to any sensible future?
2
During the trial in the Senate I hope there are massive marches in order to demand a real trial and non of this nonsense from the likes of Graham that he won't even look at the evidence.
I also hope that the Supreme Court comes to realize that its place within the three equal branches of government is at risk and should demonstrate it's independence.
8
A poll, even an outlier like the Fox poll, measures the national position. If 70 percent in California, a one party state with a one party media, favor impeachment, the numbers are lower elsewhere. Other recent polls suggest impeachment support dropping in the critical midwestern states.
Ms. Goldberg has been auto writing anti Trump columns since before he was elected to the exclusion of all else. What will she do when he is gone?
5
Honest opinion. I disagree. Extremely sensitive. Live in deep-blue state. Not reading any other comments. Read only headline. That's enough for me. In words of great protest singer/writer Phil Ochs: "I Ain't Marchin' Any More". I ain't, either, strictly for personal (uncomfortable) reasons, on all issues. Agree with most, but won't touch this one. Think about it. Thanks for reading.
1
thank you, Michelle, for the link to local marches. We will be there!
We marched in NYC in 2017; this will be Essex CT.
5
Thanks so much for writing this article (which I have now shared widely on social media). I am astonished by how many people say “Why aren’t we all taking to the streets?” when many of them haven’t attended a single protest — of so many — in the past three years, If there was ever a time to do this, it is tonight.
7
What an amazing feeling it was to read an article that actually cheered me up! Sitting around doing nothing and listening to 24 hour coverage of our democracy going down the tubes has been very demoralizing. Thank you Ms. Goldberg for alerting me to this national moment when we, the silent majority, have an opportunity to be seen and heard.
10
The “majority” of Americans who would like to see Trump out are not going to support the lefty, nutty, ideas of the progressive groups sponsoring the demonstrations you mention. Expect to see a motley mix of angry signs raging about all sorts of injustices that have little to do with each other.
6
@Art What "lefty, nutty ideas of progressives" do you despise? Healthcare for all Americans? Environmental protections that include clean water, air and non-toxic land? Education opportunities for all despite family money? Labor rights that include the freedom to work in a safe environment with a living wage? Asking the rich and corporations to pay the same percentage rate of taxes that a retail clerk pays so that we can have decent roads, bridges and libraries?
What progressive reform do you not like?
13
It's time to show up and save our country. Yes, it's that dire.
10
Ms. Goldberg, you've nailed it again, and I thank you! I've commented many times that I keep holding out the hope that the majority never wanted Trump in the first place and may be counted on to get rid of him--eventually, anyway! The other factor is the now-almost invisible trend of non-voting among eligible voters, with pundits largely focusing on a non-majority and ignoring the rest of the populace. The Republicans have thoroughly exploited this trend along with their voter suppression efforts. The record turnout last year for a midterm election was another hopeful sign about a majority of decent, sane people in this country. The results gave the country a significant change--the change in party majority in the House. Without that change, Trump and his Republican enablers would have practically invisibly carried on his horrors about election meddling. We must continue to keep in mind the power of a majority in this country and not be discouraged by a tail wagging the dog, showing from the propaganda of fanatic Right-wingers. Ms. Goldberg's reports of majority protest is very encouraging. We must realize that any Republican candidate, no matter how individually seemingly nice, will still get in dangerous lock-step with the radical Right-wing leaders. So, we must protest but also go and VOTE for all non-Republicans who fight for all of us and the common good.
8
Using the link in the article, I signed up to attend in Durango Colorado. After months of despair I feel like I can do something to make my voice heard on this.
7
Hand wringing isn’t going to cut it. Time to stand up and be heard.
6
I hope it translates into activism to flip the Senate. Without the Senate, nothing good will get done.
7
A protest like this- while symbolically helpful- is in its essence hypocritical. Why is it that so many Americans still support Trump? Why is it that elected leaders in Congress continue to support him? Why is it that the Supreme Court has become an arm of the Right to perpetuate unfairness in the electoral system? Why is it that the US is a pariah on the world stage with respect to the climate crisis? Why is it the US corrupts foreign regimes and U.S. military expenditures are roughly the size of the next seven largest military budgets around the world, combined.
These questions seem to disturb the average American less than having a corrupt oligarch for President who is grossly incompetent and corrupt. Perhaps it is easier to look the other way on these other "nuisances," while Trump is in your face 24/7.
2
Oh how I wish I could I could add my voice and boots to the Impeachment demonstrations today. At least my family will be out in force demonstrating in Washington, Boston and Los Angeles and I’ll be with them in spirit. I still have my signs from the great Women’s March here in Paris in January 2017 and treasure the memory of talking to a French policeman, sent to insure the security of the march, who told me in wonderment that he had been told to expect 500 demonstrators, and there were 7000 of us!
May today's demonstrations put Trump off his golf and cheeseburgers, and make GOP Christmases all over the country decidedly uncomfortable. #NotMy President!
6
Wish this had been better publicised so I could have made plans to go. Who are the organisers so I know where to get info when there are (hopefully) marches during the Senate trial?
3
@TJ
Agreed! The time to call everyone to action TODAY passed about a week ago....
2
Thank you for the link to impeachment events! Very helpful!
3
"Over 550 protests calling for the impeachment and removal of Trump are planned, sponsored by a coalition of progressive groups including Public Citizen, Indivisible, the Service Employees International Union and the Sierra Club."
Well these groups (I belong to Sierra Club) need to do a MUCH better job on publicity! I would LOVE to go to one of these protests, but I'M HEARING ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY!!
How about just a bit of advance notice, for those of us (most) who have work and other life obligations to schedule around??
9
Go on record. Set the tone.
Impeach this President.
Push this conman of his throne.
Express your discontent.
Let him know you had enough.
Join marching against him.
He's a golf ball in the rough.
His chances growing slim.
1
I wish we could gather in daylight when my kids are in school. I want to join you but I’m not sure about bringing a 4 year old.
2
The media never seems to interview those voters who loathe Trump, only the sycophants at his rallies, who often admit they haven’t even read any of the most basic documents of impeachment. It is indeed time to stand up and be counted, as those in Hong Kong and many other countries have been. Changing the countries’ perception may help get out the vote and change the narrative.
8
You know what? I think you may be right. I can’t remember Fox interviewing (and maybe they have since I only check what they say sometimes) Democrats to try to really understand why we disagree with and dislike this President, but I have seen plenty of interviews with his supporters on other news outlets. I doubt it would change any minds to hear our voices, but it might be a reality check that we aren’t horrible people for disliking this Administration and its policies.
Rather, we yearn for a President who raises the bar, who reminds us of the best of what it is to be American, and who makes us want to be better than we are. We want someone who cares about all Americans, who cares about the effects of industry and growth and not just the profits from industry and growth, who cares about protecting us all from water and air pollution. We want someone who loves the Constitution and who doesn’t think he is above the law. We want someone who won’t go to any length to stay in power. We want someone who abhors even the hint of impropriety. Really. We want a President who makes us feel we can be better, together.
2
I will be out in Boston. I hope and expect there will be large crowds in more unexpected areas of our nation. The real question is: will the press cover it adequately. I remember traveling to DC to join hundreds of thousands in the Million Mom March about gun policy and there was hardly a mention of it in the press. We've all got our roles to play in this fight for our democracy. I hope the fourth estate holds up its responsibility all across the country.
5
What are really needed are post-impeachment marches on Washington demanding Trump's removal. Personally I would love to see the few Republican moderates left in the Senate switch parties and vote to remove the dreck sitting in the Oval Office..
5
I am marching for impeachment today.
Less talk and hand wringing please. When we marched in anti-Vietnam war protests they were a factor in ending the war. The civil rights marches were absolutely putting ones life at risk and we still marched. When we marched for Roe v Wade we were proud and resolute. Heck, women fighting for the right to vote went through hell. The Women's March.
The malaise of my fellow Americans during this time of constitutional crisis has amazed me.
6
Trump's - and Putin's - goal is to tear down our democracy. And, right or wrong (can we even agree on that much...that it's wrong?) they have been relatively successful. That is the manifest - the observable - content of their efforts: Our country is being torn apart, dysfunctional, distracted, down the rabbit hole(s), sidetracked, spinning its wheels.
But the latent content - by definition - is not so observable. The authoritarian, anti-democratic, propagandist, corrupt infrastructure that the Republicans have been quietly constructing - packing the courts, disenfranchising voters through court rulings, voter suppression, intimidation - is working as Trump would say: "Like a well-oiled machine."
Our country now appears to be led by Russian puppets at worst (Trump, perhaps Giuliani) and Russian enablers (McConnell, Graham, Nunes, Jordan , Meadows...et al. ) on a good day.
Impeachment? Accountability? Rule of law? My sense of this situation is that the majority of Americans could give a dam - like Rhett Butler - about the devolution of our democracy, our country, our way of life. They are aloof - smugly complacent in being above it all - and therein lies the problem...
6
We need a fast-forward Hollywood movie to emphasize how bleak the existence of most Americans will eventually become if the criminal Trump machine succeeds in making him the equivalent of a king. Or, people could just take a critical look at countries where democracy has been destroyed, and what ends up being taken away and by whom.
The former is more likely to get their attention.
4
@KJ Worse than Pottersville, that's what we'll end up like in "It's a Wonderful Life," and anyone who goes against trump will feel like they are stuck in "Enemy of the State." But we don't need movies, just look at the dictatorships and racists countries around the world today and in the past.
@KJ
“It’s a Wonderful Life” could suffice.
Just look at how Bedford Falls would have become Pottersville without George Bailey. We need to channel our inner George Bailey.
So glad you mentioned the issue of protests, Michelle. I too was wondering to myself what on earth we were waiting for upon reading about other protests for justice around our globe. I am a product of the 60's, born and raised in San Francisco where protests from Cal to SF State were the norm of the day. And they worked! So much is being said nowadays about us Boomers and how we have failed the system. Well, I am here to bear witness that more than a lot of us are alive and well, know injustice and corruption when we see it, and are ready for the fight. Kudos to Public Citizen, the dynamic Indivisible, and other such groups. Let us join them where and if we can. Seeing the last of Trump by December 2020 is no longer an option. It is vital and crucial to the salvation of our Constitution and its democracy. Tomorrow let us join together if not in person, then in spirit. Give them H--l on Tuesday, and show McConnell, Graham, Nunes, ad nauseam, that they can not longer live down and within Trump's viper pit. We are simply fed up and disgusted.
13
Ms. Goldberg's faith in the power of the tired and predictable marches by the Left is naive but charming. Of course, she fails to consider that many, many voters have come to understand that the organizers of the endless Progressive marches against this or that (and, naturally, always against President Trump) are not spontaneous uprisings but rather carefully orchestrated efforts by Democrat and union activists. Indeed, the impact of the marches is usually counter-productive: that is, if these folks are against X, I'm for it. So bring on the marches, and the antics that usually accompany them -- they won't do a thing to buoy up the hapless impeachment effort which is now drowning in its blatant partisanship.
5
@Ulysses - Wow, I could not agree more! Such blatant partisanship! We've heard everything from everybody already, there is no need to hear from Mulvaney, Bolton, etc. They would add nothing except another witch hunt going nowhere.
Michelle, up here on the taiga in the states that if the Democrats win Trump is gone there is a blanket of snow not only on the ground but on the sidewalks and just walking to the mail box or taking the garbage cans to the street is hazardous.
The temp in the AM hovers at zero and 20 is the high for the day and whatever sun we see is gone by 5 PM.
I marched against the Vietnam war in St Paul but no earlier than April and no later than October.
Supporting our candidates with money and talking them up to friends and family is about the most that can be expected of us until Spring.
1
"...the majority of Americans who oppose Trump are treated like an elitist fringe."
That's because that "fringe" lost the last election cycle, in a very big way. The Left is constantly trying to convince itself it is bigger and more popular than it is, when it's not and never has been.
It remains to be seen if there is such a thing as an Anti-Trump Majority. Also, anybody who bets the rent on the polls is just gambling at this point, and will lose.
4
Great article and bravo for all those able to attend the protests. I do take exception to one important statement, though. The media (all of it - print, radio, TV) does NOT "unconsciously accept Republican ideas". The media gives false credence to Republican ideas because it sells.
Want an example? Look at the absolutely over-the-top, day after day for months, detailed analyses of Trump which the NYT ran in the runup to the election.
6
Thank you Michelle that’s exactly what I needed to hear this morning as I look out my window in New York and see freezing rain a busy workday and fight the Trump presidency doldrums. I will be there in time square representing and resisting! No one is above the law!
14
Protest? Really? I can't help but wonder how those who so strongly protested in the Vietnam War era suddenly became so go-along-with-the -herd once they grew a bit older and became the very "Establishment" against which they had so vigorously protested. Had there been enough outrage then, we might well have avoided the illegal Iraq war, and the trillions of dollars poured over there and in the ongoing Afghanistan debacle might well have been spent here. Also, ISIS would have remained an extremist fantasy, rather than a simmering legacy just waiting for a new spark. Had we demanded better then, we might not have Trump now. Protest now all you want to, sure. But with impeachment now become a weaponized political tool of both parties, between Clinton and Trump, will it matter in the long run? I suppose only time will tell.
5
@Patrick - no surprises there. They got a mortgage and they wanted a retirement, a good one if they could get it.
1
Hopefully the media will cover these rallies, because I've been to a few over the past few years which sadly, have been completely ignored.
I do think it's extremely important to also call and email your senators, regularly, in fact, and let them know how you feel.
Just as we'd all rather sit on our couches tonight, we'd rather not bother contacting our representatives, but this is no time to be passive.
It's not just for me. I'm afraid of what the county has become/is becoming for my children and their future.
11
Thank you, Michelle, for another very good article. Republicans have stolen the narrative about who is a patriotic American. Democrats need to do a much better job showing that we actually do represent the majority in this country and republicans represent the fringe.
11
Judging by what the Democrats put together during the Kavanaugh hearing, I haven’t the slightest doubt of what they’re trying to do with Trump. This will backfire in an unprecedented way.
7
The start of in the streets in your face counter efforts to right wing gaslighting
Kudos to Move On( i am a Centrist)
I am going
Who else is joining ?
No excuses
The silent majority is silent no more!
16
Yes, of course the anti-Trump majority should be seen. But it should have been seen every week since January 2017.
Since we have been so passive, though, we must now ready ourselves for the inevitable. The Republican Senate will not only exonerate a known felon in the White House, but may also decide that he is completely "absolved" of any wrongdoing. One day's worth of protest marches will not change their minds. Now, had Americans protested a couple hundred times in the past few years, things might have been different. But not now. It's too little too late.
What we really need to focus on is what we are going to do when this Republican Senate lets Trump walk away from criminal conduct that can only be described as breathtaking. Will we sit back and hope we may get rid of Trump in 2020? That we just blindly hope that the 2020 election won't be hacked? Or that Trump will leave if he loses?
Our passivity has only emboldened Trump and his supporters. He will become even more extreme, more unhinged, and so will his base. The fact is, we are in uncharted territory. We have a "president" who should be removed from office, but won't be, because he has a large, rabid, heavily armed minority of us in lockstep with him. Trump voters will literally do anything he asks of them, including committing acts of violence.
So understand this: thinking an election will "save us" now is naive in the extreme. Trump will only leave a time of his choosing, and not a day sooner.
130
@Ro Laren - perhaps the Anti_trump majority hasn't been seen hardly at all because it just really isn't that big, or as universally popular as some people would like it to be thought of.
6
@Ro Laren It's never too late to demonstrate. Now's as good a time as any to get things going again, and then to increase the pressure as needed.
18
@Ro Laren
See why the plutocrats want everyone to work at two or three "gig" jobs? Or put in lots of overtime?
So we don't have time for anything else.
41
The most significant hero to step forward and save our Constitution and Democracy is -- Mr. I. M. Peach. Long live this patriot as He begins the journey Wednesday, December 18, in the year of our Lord, 2019.
Hark the clarions ring out in this holiday season - Here, here!
3
Impeachment is the only course of action. I support the House voting to impeach, and then HOLDING the articles of impeachment rather than sending them over to the Senate where Mitch has already indicated he is coordinating the trial in "lock step" with the White House.
Nothing says the articles have to be submitted right away. Impeachment by the House will stand and the trial will wait until later. Mitch can't call the trial until the House sends the articles. Trump will lose his mind with impeachment hanging over his head instead of feeling emboldened by an assured Senate acquittal if sent over the first of the year.
This is an idea floated by Never-Trumper Charlie Sykes and former Rep. David Jolly, an idea with lots of strategic and logistical merit.
Why give Mitch the opportunity to acquit Trump, to exonerate him? Refrain from sending the articles after the House votes to impeach him. Continue building a water-tight case in these turbulent times, continue to win over more Americans, and use the voted-upon articles to keep Trump on a very short leash as long as possible. Play hardball. Play for keeps. We're talking about the Constitution.
See you in the streets.
648
@Thera
A great idea, keep him "Impeached" and don't let the Senate exonerate him.
It should be remembered that you can threaten the enemy and get away with it. You can insult and annoy him, but the one thing that: is: unforgivable and that is certain to get him to react is to laugh at him. This causes irrational anger. — Saul Alinsky
43
@Thera
I like the way you think.
28
@Thera , Yes, especially with the "jurors" having disqualified themselves. Fairness? Justice? Shame on Senate republicans.
33
Some Senators won't read the impeachment charges. Some won't even read the summary. To them, I urge them to read the election returns from the 2019 elections in Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky.
256
@Sue
These trash politician's don't know how to read. T
here are no critical thinking skills. Why would they think anyone would reelect them again?
Those red states hurt by tornados last night should be thinking about how they eat up all of the federal disaster money and give nothing back in return but hate they couldn't even tell you what is in the Constitution or who wrote it.
The GOP like them dumb
11
@Sue: It might be better for them not to read those returns and enter the elections with a false sense of security.
5
"I suspect that’s because the media tends to unconsciously accept Republican ideas about who constitutes an “average American,” so that the majority of Americans who oppose Trump are treated like an elitist fringe.".. i think that nails it. The endless nauseating media equating of the working class with a white steel worker in Ohio is the tip of the iceberg on this. The American working people are a highly diverse group with a broad range of opinions
329
While I support impeachment, it feels like Ms. Goldberg is treading on thin ice here. If, despite all that Trump has done and said, only about 50+% of Americans support impeachment, then that hardly represents a solid majority. And paying short shrift to the all important swing states, where support for impeachment is well below 50% is dangerous because it gives her readers a false sense of security about the mood of the country where, like it or not, it may matter the most come 2020.
What this tells me is that Democrats cannot run just any candidate and hope to win in 2020 because people don't like Trump. Democrats need a candidate that can win in the heartland, where voters tend to be more centrist, even among liberals.
57
@John Voters in the "heartland" (whatever that means) aren't going to vote for a Democrat anyway, no matter how "moderate" the candidate is.
If you're depending on some perfect candidate because, you think Trump voters are just waiting for a moderate Dem to come along, you're going to be very disappointed.
24
@John
Poll methodology is important.
Polling responses are taking a drastic nosedive, because most people don’t answer the phone when a number they don’t know calls, and even fewer people who do answer stick around to answer a few questions.
Online polls are extremely inaccurate because they are easily manipulated by external factions. We saw this in 2016 with state and local elections. The national election popular vote result was within the margin of error of national polls, but the shocking electoral college result stemmed from a total botch job of state & local polls.
13
@Jack Lemay
So you're implicitly giving up on winning in 2020 then huh? Because it matters not a whit if Democrats turn out 2 million more voters in already Blue states. And that's precisely what Sanders and Warren are likely to do. Get more voters in Mass, NY, California, etc. And our response to that should be, big whup, because while more votes may give Dems a moral victory, it won't change anything related to the ELECTORAL COLLEGE. And spare us all the whining about how the EC is unfair. It's not going anywhere, so Dems can either work within it and win or whine about it and lose.
5
Unfortunately, the tokenist two articles rushed through without regard for winning even swing voter support (& after months of timid stalling) won't be a strong precedent for future impeachments. And, because they were designed to fail to begin with, there is almost no chance of winning the 20 Republican Senate votes needed to convict.
To focus just on the Ukraine shakedown inexcusably sanctions Trump's many other crimes and abuses. Doing so without calling for withdrawal of Biden, who also shook down Ukraine (rightly) and used its corruption for personal gain (of his son) -wrongly- won't wash with swing voters either.
Trump did not win a majority of popular votes in the 2016 primaries or the general election. Congressional Republicans could have impeached and removed him in early 2017, for reasons much graver than those they impeached Bill Clinton on. Congressional Democrats could have urged this then and at least started an inquiry last January, instead of waiting until September, after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called out their cravenness.
If you want to help give Democrats excuses for failing to mount a real opposition, or like giving Trump a quick easy victory, go march for this sound bite impeachment. If you want to actually get rid ASAP of the most criminal president ever, tell your Rep in Congress to vote no until more evidence is pried out from behind the massive Trump stonewall coverup, and a much broader and more incisive set of impeachment articles is drafted.
4
@Sage Sorry no evidence of Biden shaking down the Ukraine. Please cite your sources if you have any other than Fox or Guiliani.
3
This is not about Hate. It's not Revenge for the 2016 Election. It's about Justice. Do we as a Country believe the Constitution deserves Compliance. Simple as that..........
332
Thank you for interrogating this notion that Congressmen in districts who voted for Trump in 2016 are committing political suicide by supporting impeachment.
George Bernard Shaw said that when a politician talks of his duty, he's about to do something he's ashamed of. When Republicans threaten congressmen about the so-called risks of voting for impeachment, they are really admitting that Trump ought to be impeached on the merits, so let's emphasize the politics of it instead,
What, after all, is the alternative? If they vote against, shall they, then, explain to their constiuents, "I knew he should be impeached--I know right from wrong, after all--but I couldn't do it, because it would cost me my job?" Would their constituents say, "Oh--OK, then" and vote for them again anyway?
What explains the many districts that voted majority for Trump, then elected a Democratic congressman last year? Did voters change their minds? Few. What happened is, different people voted. If those same people (and many more people who have a moral compass) can be brought out to vote again next year, those Congressmen should be re-elected. Doing the right thing is not always impolitic, even though cynical Republican devils may want you to think so.
110
I certainly hope someone in D.C. actually pays attention to the protest marches of their constituents. I am not optimistic.
If POTUS is not listening to the Legislative Branch, and if, in fact, the Senate portion of the Legislative Branch has melded with the Executive Branch, the only governmental body in D.C. who might be responsive is the House, the Democrats of the House.
But they are stymied by legislators and an executive who ignore the law, the Constitution, and their sworn oaths. Mitch McConnell has vowed to ally with the White House in the impeachment trial, thus violating his future oath of impartiality during the trial.
There are a lot of protests here in France. Protesters have stamina, and can go for weeks. They fight for the valuable protections we have. French protests are effective in changing the course of government.
The French have many positive things worth fighting for, as do the Americans -- democracy and the rule of law, healthcare and the environment, for example. A one-time, nationwide protest isn't enough. Effective protests are weekly, and long-term.
156
@Lilou
Thank you for this, Lilou. You've given us the voice of practical experience.
16
@Lilou
I'm among the small but vocal minority of Americans who have been protesting since the 2016 election.
We are here. We exist. We invite everyone to join us. We share skills.
In NYC: riseandresist.org
Nonviolent direct action works. Our democracy and the future of our planet are worth the effort.
23
@A Mazing -- thank you for your continued efforts! It's not easy persuading the apathetic or the overworked to participate, even one time, let alone on an ongoing basis.
Any luck organizing in red states with blue cities? This won't just be for impeachment, it will set up the structure for the GOTV effort.
17
Though polls show Americans more or less evenly divided about whether Trump should be impeached, the Democrats I know feel much more strongly about their position than the Republicans (disclaimer: small sample size for the latter). Going out into the streets is how we communicate how strongly we feel.
I'll be out tonight no matter what.
10
Neither rain, sleet, or snow will keep me away from tonight's march. It's beyond time to stand up for democracy.
17
It’s not about polls. It’s about the Constitution.
Most of the people polled probably could not spell “Constitution.” And that’s okay. They are not the officials sworn to uphold and defend it.
Members of Congress have a sworn duty. Their failure to do so will be akin to a soldier going AWOL during a firefight. Never again would such officials be able to show their face at a ceremony honoring veterans.
“Protect and defend the Constitution” or die in shame.
12
Ms. Goldberg, I hear your call to march but people are kinda worn out. Also, they realize that the Senate is corrupt and will shutdown impeachment before any vote is taken.
But despair not. Your words will reverberate in our heads as we ‘march’ to the polls in November.
2
I thought I heard something yesterday about 240,000 voters in Wisconsin being struck from the voter rolls, mainly in areas of the state with large concentrations of Democratic voters. Also in states such as Georgia and Texas are working on paring down voter rolls in Democratic leaning areas. November of 2020 may be too late!
2
The protest must be a sustained, daily boycott and general strike as Gandhi led. Let’s look to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico: after two weeks of sustained boycott, demonstrations and protests, no one lost their job, no one got hurt, no one missed a meal, and their governor resigned in disgrace.
11
Yes, anti-Trump majority, make yourself seen!
Take to the streets. Take to the airways. Take to the digital-ways.
The very soul of our democracy, Constitution, rule of law, and even reality—is under siege.
Every effort must be made to remove the blight upon our nation called Trump.
11
For some reason, though, I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values. I suspect that’s because the media tends to unconsciously accept Republican ideas about who constitutes an “average American,” so that the majority of Americans who oppose Trump are treated like an elitist fringe.
The operative word in the passage cited above is "unconsciously." That's being generous. The media. What a laugh. A more apt description of the industry would be "sock puppets of the plutocracy."
6
There is reason for hope, Michelle.
With the Fox news poll as evidence, it is more likely that 4 Republican Senators (Romney, Murkowski, Collins and Ernst?) will force McConnell to call Mulvaney, Bolton and other witnesses.
And, if those witnesses disclose something really bad - who knows? - If the Fox poll moves from it's current 9 point gap in favor of removal to 13 or 14 points or more, maybe some Republicans will magically find their consciences, and remember their oaths of office.
5
Few can or will show up. Will bolster Trump even more. Why create these self fulfilling prophecies.
2
@Rachelle Lane
It’s snowing out now, nothing much, just a few inches throughout the day. So the 50 miles drive to Montpellier won’t be much of an impediment for me later on.
The arrogance of Ms. Goldberg and her compatriots in wanting to undo the results of the 2016 election will surely backfire.
6
@dmanuta Excuse me, but that has always been a facile argument. This is most definitely NOT about undoing 2016, but holding a lawless President who has committed bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors accountable. If it were about undoing 2016, the Democrats would be impeaching Mike Pence too, who having been elected VP in 2016 will assume the office of the Presidency should Trump be impeached and removed from office, so stop whining.
4
@dmanuta Nothing will ever undo the 2016 election. It´s done. A fait accomplit. Why people keep bringing this up is beyond me. Someone once said it and a bunch of parrots started repeating it ad nauseum ... hoping that it would become true, perhaps? It is time that people realize that the impeachment is about law and order. It is about censuring a man who see no limits to his incompetence, his lies, his crimes and misdemeanors, his disregard for the country´s institutions, and his minions, who all seem to have something hanging over their heads obligating them to defend the indefensible. So, let´s forget about the 2016 election, only the parrots will be harking on that. It is time to move on, open their eyes and but their brain cells to work and realize it is 2019 and the country is in trouble.
3
A protest march is not built to undo elections. Neither is impeachment. Fake talking points are signs of weakness, especially by those that parrot them.
2
Y’all protest too, too much! Americans don’t need to see screaming, angry, Democrats, protesting everything from A-to-Z. Kavanaugh hearings were a disgrace, As was the testimony of Christine Ford, whose testimony became more unbelievable every day. Believe it or not, many independents, agree with republicans, that although trump is far from perfect, many of his policies are proving to be going in the right direction for our country. Like it if not. Not...vote in November!
5
@Pvbeachbum
What Republicans? Many independents can't agree with Republicans because there aren't any. At least not any to be recognized as such. I don't know what dark force inhabits the bodies of those formally know as Republicans (especially in the Senate) but it is a force that must be defeated for the survival of our democracy. I do agree with you that Trump is "far from perfect." About as far as Earth is from Pluto, whether Pluto is a planet or not.
2
@Pvbeachbum - I didn't have any trouble believing Professor Ford. Why did you?
3
The Trump electoral majority will make itself seen in Nov 2020.
3
You could also call the offices of senators all over the country to voice your opinion. I do it every day! Leave your message or, if lucky, you'll get a human to tell your reasons for impeachment. Have a zip code from that state handy. Our voices need to be heard.
8
"Make Some Noise" are more appropriate on the streets than in football stadiums.
Bring a marching drum if you have one. If the media refuses to show us, make sure they hear us and notice the numbers.
I'm taking the train to New York. Normally, I avoid Times Square. Not tonight!
8
Americans could do worse than look to the recent political experiences of their southern neighbor, Brazil (you know, that big country in South America?). Here, too, we had a corrupt and unpopular president (never mind the numerous NYT op-eds claiming the opposite) facing impeachment — which was considered a long shot, due to a Gov't majority in congress. Brazilians took to the streets by the millions. A series of peaceful but forceful mass protests across the country finally tipped the scale and the president was impeached and removed, six months later.
5
Americans could also look at the example of Puerto Rico, which was more recent, and Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, whatever Trump May believe.
2
Thanks to Michelle for her advocacy and to BB for mentioning the demonstration in downtown Chicago. I’ll be at the one here in Springfield where snow is forecast. Like BB I plan to do a lot of campaigning in the coming months. I’ll be going door to door in neighboring New Hampshire, which is right across the river from us.
5
Done. I am signed up in Santa Cruz! Thanks for the link.
5
How about if we skip a Civil War and just form two new countries? The Blue States can form the New United States, where diversity, education and innovation thrive, and where a woman’s body is her own. Rational gun measures will at least be heard by the New United States Congress and will pass in the New United States. The New United States will cover the healthcare of everyone. And the New United States can have a New Amendment guaranteeing that if a New Senator takes an oath to be an impartial juror for an impeachment trial, she/he/they MUST honor that oath.
The Red States can form the Old United States, where only some have health insurance and where evolution will not be taught in schools. Pre-existing conditions will knock you into the uninsured roles in the Old United States, and government assistance will be minimized even though you previously depended greatly on the government before the States divided. In the Old United States, you will be free to carry a gun anywhere. Although you will be more likely to shoot your spouse or yourself to death, you can consider yourself the Old United States Militia like Clarence Thomas believes. You will be free to deny and even ignore climate change, although you won’t be bailed out of your ignorance by the New United States when your town floods. Your cost of living will be higher, but you never really understood the basic economics of tariffs anyway.
14
@Richard Lee - don't forget that all the blue states also have the movies, aerospace, Tech, legal pot and the best wine.
3
I would invite the New US to join Canada. We already have universal health care and our elections are done in 4 weeks, and we don’t waste billions on never ending election campaigns.
1
Even though I frequently email and phone my representatives, like Jeff Van Drew, I have never participated in a protest
...
until tonight.
8
Bush the War Criminal finished two terms with high GOP support after ruining the economy and starting two needless wars. I remember seeing billboards after Obama took office showing a photo of Bush with the caption...Miss me yet?
With their history, I doubt extortion is going to sway any GOP voters or representatives to do the morally right thing. Much like an O.J. juror and after weeks of convincing testimony my senator Lindsey G. has already said he sees no evidence of a crime.
2
Yes, we are still a 50/50 nation. The Democratic half who voted against Trump in 2016 all would like Trump removed, because they were unhappy with his election, and will be unhappy if he is re-elected. That's all true as far as it goes. There does not appear to be any movement in the other half of the country.
Given the extremely low probability that Trump will be removed, Democratic Senators from red to purple states are going to be tempted to vote against removal. I think the likely vote for removal will top out at about 45. That will be trumpeted as vindication by the president. The weeks of the Senate trial, with various Democratic candidates for president forced to sit silently, will be largely a stage-managed show put on by the Republican Senate majority, which gets to set the agenda for the trial. So 50% support for removal will likely translate to 45 votes (out of 67 needed) for removal, not unlike the numbers in the Clinton trial.
Demonstrations supporting impeachment are rather like the trial itself, an exercise in virtue signalling. I hope they will make people feel good, but seeing a bunch of activists demonstrate against Trump, the same activists who demonstrated against him before he was 24 hours in office, isn't going to convince anyone of anything. The same people who think a petulant and entitled liberal elite run most important parts of the country will see confirmation of that in the demonstrations.
This changes nothing.
2
Thank you for the link to todays protests, I will attend. We need to do as many things as possible to get him out of the White House-protest, register people to vote, get them to the polls, donate. Our democracy is hanging by a thread. Please make your New Year's Resolution to keep fighting in 2020, we are all exhausted from this, but can't give up now, our democracy is too precious to lose to this man and his enablers. Do it for the children!
4
We’re looking at the national gaslighting of America by Republicans. It’s the model Fox, et al have used for years: say something often enough, loudly enough, and with the pretense of authority enough and people will believe it. It’s been very distressing to see all noise about the impeachment backfiring on the Dems, but nothing the other way around, to wit: Republican’s depravity, which is even more distressing. Trump is one man, but 53 senators is an abomination. Indeed, that a fringe element within the party can gain enough traction to then go on and become the part itself, and then spread it hegemony over the nation as effectively as it has, is due in no small measure to Republican control/influence over such a wide breadth of the media. It’s one thing to have a genius for digging up new bogeymen with which to scare voters. Now, we have the propaganda machine effectively creating the reality in this country.
5
One of the things that needs to happen right now is that some powerful group should start to mass an army of volunteers and paid staff to start mobilizing to prevent voter purges and ensure that people on those lists are reentered on the rolls !!!
This should have already been done yesterday for any extant lists of purges.
4
I really hope that people will seize opportunities, as we did in the days of the Nixon impeachment, to stand on street corners and overpasses with large signs reading: "HONK TO IMPEACH!" I very well remember the cacophony in downtown Boston at these displays, and how well it communicated on the news as car after car passing by honked lustily in favor. Consider it an audible straw poll. Let's do this!
3
Unfortunately, despite such clear and convincing evidence of his high crimes and misdemeanors, nothing seems to be able to sway Trump’s loyal followers.
Let’s hope you’re right that this makes a difference and that it isn’t just preaching to the choir.
3
I'm going to my local protest tomorrow night....We need to be out there in big numbers!
3
I applaud Michelle Goldberg's call for marching for impeachment. Of all presidents, Donald Trump is most smitten by numbers (he constantly boasts about the large throngs at his rallies) so it is imperative to get out in huge numbers and march to demonstrate that the good people of this nation are disgusted and exhausted listening to Trump's constant barrage of lies and rancor.
6
Thank you for your informative column, Ms. Goldberg. I've been wondering why people who are completely disgusted and outraged by the wholesale hijacking of our country (by the worst of the worst) would take to the streets en masse. I am elated that it finally appears to be happening.
1
The press can run op-eds on how we need to March for Impeachment, but the real question is whether what remains of a free press can fulfill its duty and relate the actual facts in all its articles.
During any legal proceeding an accused may not communicate with any juror about anything related to the case. Any accused who tries to influence jurors is guilty of Jury Tampering. Any verdict rendered by such a jury is invalid. Any accused who engages in such conduct faces criminal prosecution. Any jurors willingly working with the accused face criminal prosecution. This is black letter law. It applies to all federal proceedings, and to proceedings in every state in the country.
Senate Republicans are to be the jurors in Donald Trump's Impeachment trial. Mitch McConnell is the foreman of that jury. Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators are actively plotting with Trump on how to circumvent the law and quickly acquit him. These are the facts.
Republicans will acquit Trump after a fake trial in which Trump, McConnell, and other GOP Senators engaged in blatant Jury Tampering.
Will the press say that this is what happened? Will the press say that the verdict is invalid? Will the press say that there is no acquittal? Will the press say that in any other legal proceeding Trump, McConnell, and all other Republicans who worked with them would be criminally charged?
Or, will the press shirk its duty, throw up its hands, and falsely say: "Well, that's just partisanship for you"?
2
Meanwhile the GOP is in denial about Trumps ability to win them elections. He hasn't won one for the team since his own. Now the GOP is fighting hard to retain seats in congress and governorships in Mississippi and...Kentucky? Just what exactly does Trump do for the GOP, if he cannot win elections for them?
3
Why March now? Are all the popular streaming shows now showing repeats between seasons? This nightmare is of our own collective making, and the decades long result of hubris, ignorance and greed by rank and file voters. Most protest movements historically end up attracting leaders who are just as narcissistic and charismatic as the people they are trying to depose. It’s time for a thoughtful and well plotted grass roots counter movement to the one with specious narratives.
Just finished volunteering last week for a local city council candidate who lost. Did not want to attend this protest in the cold. Received a MoveOn text on phone and deleted it.
Michelle, you changed my mind. Have been in such rage and despair. This is the only way we citizens can collectively express ourselves. We cannot silently accept evil or we condone it and condemn our children to short, nasty, brutish lives--in the 21st Century.
Thank you!
3
I am not one of those marching people; I will not be on the streets.
Still, in my head I will be there
The House will impeach him, the Senate will acquit, Trump will still be in office next year and is probably going to win a second term because the Democrats have spent so much time spinning their wheels.
Yes, let's march, peacefully, for hope. There's just got to be a better way to run the country. If not now, when? If not us, who?
6
The moment is here, indeed, to reinforce ending
Trump's barrage of badness.
2
Time better spent talking to VOTERS and getting out the vote!! There are more millennials than any other demographic category and their collective vote is the single most important vote.
Are we seriously doing polls for this? Democrats and the media need to focus on who the next leader will be to excite the country. As a democratic, I’m over impeachment being front and center
At the coffeehouse where I hang out in Portland, Oregon, every weekday morning the seating area in the middle of the room becomes the "flyover zone." There's a retired military lifer who loves Trump, thinks that the Illuminati control world events, and believes that they fabricated the existence of the Dark Ages. That is what America is up against.
Maybe we need a message like the Sardines in Italy! A catchy inclusive come all come together to make change happen and fight the extreme right movement! So far the message is gloomy and maybe not as inclusive as we would like it to be.
1
@Elizabeth
Excellent point.
What's wrong with this picture?
"Over 550 protests calling for the impeachment and removal of Trump are planned, sponsored by a coalition of progressive groups...."
That's good news as far as it goes, but it won't be particularly edifying for America to see confirmation that progressives favor impeaching Trump. For that matter, the question of impeachment shouldn't even be connected with progressive politics. The appearance of such a connection will be a negative effect of the protests, which is not to say they should be called off; just that they have a down side.
Impeachable offenses are offenses against the Constitution and the entire American people. Demonstrations for impeachment ought to be conspicuous by their inclusion of Americans of various political persuasions who were not turned out by progressive organizations. We can't make that happen, but we need to understand that until it happens the demonstrations will make far less political headway than noise.
If the energizing effect on progressives greatly exceeds the impression on others that the impeachment of Donald Trump is a vindictive progressive project, then the protesters will not have marched in vain.
1
Thank you for this important reminder that citizens can do more to protect their democracy than simply write a check. I will be at the march in Providence RI and on time.
I must add that I don’t see any way this impeachment effort should ever be viewed as a political blunder. If one accepts that US politics, at its core, is about charting the best way forward within the context of our constitution, then impeachment at this moment is a step that only a coward would run from. If future historians have any quibble with the impeachment decision, it will no doubt be consternation that we waited so long.
Some politicians who stand up for the constitution may indeed lose their jobs, but politicians are forever saying that they want to go to Washington to fight for the people. When I was in the Marines we were required tp study the history of the Corps. One fact was clear; they won their battles by running towards the line of fire, not away from it.
13
@P. Bourke Agree 100 percent.
1
Just as important is to call your Representative and your Senators, no matter their political affiliation, and let them know how you feel. Let them know you will remember whether or not they believed in the rule of law and that Democracy needs to be defended.
6
It is a delicate balance.
Don't get me wrong Trump is a serial criminal and should be impeached but the question should be the best way to get rid of him legally.
Polls in swing states that elect presidents in the electoral college show a bare 50-50 split if not more for Trump.
Not only is impeachment going nowhere in the Senate, it could backfire and give Trump another term like what happened when they impeached Bill Clinton.
Better to oust him in next yrs election with the strongest candidate, right now it is Biden leading against Trump even in a good (faux) economy. Republicans and Russia are interfering in elections but so far not one vote was hacked into in 2016 or 2018.
Elections in previous yrs. were worse, notably in Cook County Ill, where votes were bought like candy.
3
@Paul when has vote buying in Cook County Ill ever favored Republicans? I think its been like 90 yrs since they have had a Republican representative. That would be like Labour losing these former coal valleys in England.
1
@Paul
Clinton was impeached in his second term.
A 50-50 split is significant. There is some portion of the anti-impeach 50% that is against impeachment but won't vote for him. There is no one (virtually) in the other camp that supports impeachment but will vote for him again anyways.
2
@Jim thank you for you reply. It hurt the republicans in the midterms in Clinton's second term if I recall.
I am not quite sure what you mean in your second paragraph but history is replete with great leaders that compromised and united to get things done.
The supreme teacher of this was Lincoln. Abolitionists wanted the gov't to do everything in their power to end slavery even if it meant extreme measures, (ie impeachment today) They could not end slavery from 1776 to 1865.
Lincoln ended it in a little of four yrs. with careful uniting, he had slave owning unionists in his cabinet. He saved the union first and then ended slavery because without the former he could not get the latter.
When you are trying to get rid of an evil like Trump you use the best possible method to get rid of him, not the most expedient.
Right now Biden is leading Trump in the polls for next yrs. Impeachment is barely 50-50 especially in swing states and going no where in the Senate.
It doesn't do the democrats any good if they do the moral and just thing and give Trump another term.
1
The only times I remember protest marches having major influence were the anti-Vietnam war marches and the Tea Party protests. Both seemed to get a lot of media coverage.
This is first I've heard of today's march and it's tonight. A good example of the media letting us down.
14
I won't be able to make it out to the march here today... but there is an absolute and well founded fear about terrorism at mass gatherings like there never was prior to the Trump presidency. It's on my mind and my friends minds as we marched downtown in support of Rodney Reed a month ago. In our stomachs we are very aware that there is an armed and angry group that has said very threatening things.
4
Thanks for writing this Michelle! I’ve been waiting for this march.
13
I completely agree. It is time for the majority to show its displeasure with this conman not just at elections. It is essential to make the trump base understand they are the minority and they will always be the minority.
8
I heard somewhere that congress could impeach but not refer to the Senate thereby laying out the impeachment articles and the evidence but not giving Trump the satisfaction of being acquitted in the Senate. Probably not legal, given that the accused has to be able to defend himself. But it would be nice to denyTrump the Senate is show trial.
11
You wonder why Americans “horrified the depravity of this administration aren’t taking to the streets?” Where have you been? In my northeastern city, there are protests against Trump every day. Really, every day. Rallies, silent vigils, marches - true, none big, but they’re happening. We can thank social media for that. It’s easy, probably too easy, to organize a protest, and so they’re gong on all the time. Problem is, it’s always the same people. And the sheer frequency has caused local news outlets to ignore them - oversupply reduces value, I suppose, just like widgets. The occasional big protest will attract more media attention, true, but the message will be the same, and here’s the killer: the protesters will be the same. Usually well-to-do whites looking to have a memorable experience with their friends and demographic equals. No, what’ll work is simple but evidently beyond our reach: Democrats agree on a moderate liberal candidate and vote. That’s the formula, but I’ll get lambasted just saying it.
8
Trump used the power of the US government, and the unique position he occupies, the Office of the President of the United States, to leverage a foreign power to use its government resources against an American citizen.
What person, or business, will be next?
15
I thank Ms. Goldberg, who has been advocating all year for public protest, for public witness to the truth and to the urgency of preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution. In fact, this is an oath that we all take--or ought to--as responsible citizens. I'm headed to Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago, and see this not just as a high-profile one-off, but a downpayment for the next eleven months.
19
Every senator that has made a public statement regarding the absolute guilt or innocence of the President should be barred from serving as juror in an impeachment trial. It would be impossible to swear to the oath that senators take at the opening of proceedings:
"I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be,) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of , now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: so help me God."
24
Pelosi said a couple days ago they’ve been preparing for impeachment for over two years now, which predates Trump’s alleged Ukraine collusion. That proves this impeachment is a political stunt and all House leadership should also step aside.
6
@Once From Rome Where did she say that? Nancy Pelosi always said up until Trump withheld the aid to Ukraine in exchange for information for his own political gain, that she wouldn't move on impeachment because it is divisive (in her opinion, I think it is Trump and the GOP that are divisive, not to mention Russia). I don't see your reference at all and certainly doesn't prove what you think it does.
@Once From Rome I disagree. I believe it shows that impeachable offences have been done for two years, not just since July.
2
Judging by the polls, the last election, and even the soothsayers in Britain, perhaps this column should be titled:
"The Anti-Impeachment Majority needs to make itself seen."
But they won't. Because they don't want to be called a racist. Which is why, even when impeached, Trump will win.
Even this Clinton voter can see this one coming.
6
@profwilliams
As a Clinton voter, you well know that popular majorities aren't necessarily decisive. In that election a lot depended on location and in this demonstration a lot will also depend on location. How the elected view it in light of their re-election chances.
4
We've been marching and marching and marching some more. Quiet conversations with neighbors with whom we disagree, beginning with listening, could be equally important.
12
If we are simply supposed to wait for the next election, why did the Framers put impeachment and removal in the Constitution?
148
I agree it is time for the majority that favor the impeachment to stand up and be counted, loudly, but this is not well publicized. This is the first I heard of it and have a conflict to attend. That is where this effort and the Dems need to do better and take a page out of trump's playbook. Organize, plan. Provide resources. Get on the air with what trump did to support impeachment and why it's important (a better use of Steyer and Bloomberg's money to be honest). Have signs ready, t shirts. Organize to show up at GOP events just as trumpers do at Dem events (like yesterday's town hall by Rep. Slotkin - there was not question the opposition was briefed and organized). Unlike trump, there won't be a need to pay the protestors. Just need better planning and organizing. And get on TV nationally, including Fox News, quickly. trump and his PACS have too much share of voice.
50
@Foodie Bravo/Brava Foodie! Thank you!
Your comment is spot on. Yes, it's well past time to take a page from the orange one's playbook.
Dems/Progressives need to learn how to organize and use all forms of media to get their messages out--and learn fast! And those messages need to be catchy, clear and concise, with constant repetition.
It was encouraging to see Rachel interview the head of Indivisible last night, but why did she wait so long? Should have started talking about it last week.
12
@Foodie If you are part of an Indivisble Group in your area, you would have known about this plan for at least a month. Emails and social media notices have been organizing and providing details of the events for at least 2 weeks. The only detail that remained was the actual date of the impeachment vote, and organizers understandably could not put that info out prior to last Friday. Get on the internet and find a protest near you - in our State you will definitely find one. I get a little tired of hearing about the incompetence of our side when our organizing efforts led to a blue wave that literally paved the way for this impeachment.
2
President Trump will be impeached tomorrow in our Congress. We need to march for his removal from office, not impeachment which is already a fact of our American history.
27
Frankly, I’d prefer to stay home. But I cannot sit idly and allow our nation to shun justice, decency, and the constitution.
Venting our outrage in these comments sections is not enough. I hope you'll join me and take part at a local event near you on this historic occasion. The stakes are too high for any of us to ignore.
52
Have confidence. He has no strategy. He’s flying on improvisation and luck alone.
11
@Perceiving Dawn & The Mitch Hunts: He has McConnell who has just made the accused the chairman of the jury.
@Perceiving Dawn & The Mitch Hunts that is and always has been enough for his base and complicit republicans in the senate.
"For some reason, though, I rarely hear pundits wagging their fingers at Republicans about the price they’ll pay for clinging to a president who is consistently out of step with mainstream American values. "
How I wish the whole lot of them would be swept out of office--McConnell, Graham, Johnson, the whole treasonous bunch who support an outlaw president.
Of course, they probably won't. Even so, Michelle is right: to make an impact you have to hit the streets. Large masses of people turning out for impeachment have a way of gaining attention, inspiring even more to step forward.
At a minimum, people should bug their Congressmen and women to fight for a fair, thorough Senate trial, with the appearances of key witnesses heretofore denied by the Oval Office Autocrat.
It's the least we can do.
79
A massive strike and march to show the need to clean our White House of the criminals currently fouling our nation will be an indicator. That would include each and every cabinet member from Mnuchin to Carson and particularly Pompeo... I suggest a Multi Million Person call and email to our federal government showing support of a thorough cleanse wanted.
It's sickening to know those people are trying to lie..cheat and take advantage by ignoring our Constitution
Time is not on our side... a Cleanse is of the essence.
1
@ChristineMcM
Why in heaven's name should the Republicans in the Senate call the witnesses demanded by Schumer and the Democrats?? Adam Schiff and Nadler refused to allow the Republicans the witnesses they wanted in their hearings. You only like the tyranny of the majority when you're in charge?
Thanks for posting this Michelle. You inspired me. I will definitely be attending this event tonight. I hope many of my fellow Americans (especially those suffering from democracy grief) join together in an evening of protest and solidarity. Often it feels like our voices simply aren’t heard in this country anymore. Well, here is a chance to speak up loud and clear, an opportunity to let Donald J. Trump know EXACTLY how we feel about him. Impeach and remove! That’s what I’m talking about!
34
'Tis the Season to take a stand.
If for no other reason, and the reasons are countless, let's give cover to those incumbent Republicans desperately in need of it.
Give them the gift that'll keep on giving: Doing what's right for the future of democracy as well as for themselves. Make this a habit that will go on forever. Or longer if necessary.
19
Ms. Goldberg cheapens her argument when she included her sense of dread at Trump's inauguration. Impeachment is a remedy for malfeasance in office - not a means of reversing an election. I share her desire to see him removed via election results in less than a year but not a soft coup as too many people seem to prefer.
4
@Rick If it was about reversing an election, conviction would put Hillary Clinton in the White House. Instead, conviction would give the US Pence. I believe Pence was elected to the position that replaces the sitting President if he dies or is removed. Your argument doesn't hold in that case. And I believe that Ms Goldberg used the example to demonstrate the importance of displaying one's political displeasure legally. The march after Trump's inauguration displayed concern for what it was largely expected Trump would do. This march would demonstrate concern for what Trump has done. If you want to ignore the evidence, you can deny Trump's abuse of power. And you will have your chance to demonstrate that he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions by voting for him in 2020.
25
Having Trump removed for malfeasance isn’t and never has been a coup. Trump and the republicans have thrown the word around because they chose to forget he lost the popular vote. And I’m sure it polls well with the base. Trump and his allies who refuse to release the complete Muller report, transcript of the “perfect call” or any other evidence that would clear him are just happy to have a way to project treason on the Democrats upholding their oath of office as opposed to the President who never wanted to be bothered with his. Coup, don’t think so.
1
@Rick
65 million is more than 62 million. Hilliary won the popular vote, lost the electoral college, which was by design intended to thwart the democratic process.
She mentioned the march because, frankly, informed people knew what was coming. And they were right, in spades. Plus, as the truth has come out, what people thought — that something was wrong — has been borne out...Putin tipped the scales against the popular vote.
3
“You have to show up.” This is what is required of all of us. When I have friends who despair that Trump will win re-election, my answer is that democracy is not a spectator sport at this point. We must all jump in if we haven’t already - join voter registration and voter education efforts, make sure everyone we know votes, volunteer for Democratic campaigns, and call/write Senators and representatives even when it seems futile.
The extreme right has been at this for years, as I saw many years ago when I worked on Capitol Hill for a Republican. We naively thought we could simply go about our lives and vote once a year, while they were busy writing, calling and lobbying every single day. It’s time for the rest of us to show up and save the rule of law from a now corrupt and pro-Russian Republican Party.
63
Those of us protesting for impeachment have some things in common with the recent protesters in Hong Kong. They marched and raised their voices day and night for weekends-on-end so that at least the whole world and future generations might hear them say:
"We we will not ignore reality or become complicit in giving away our freedoms and human rights. We are not throwing away the profoundly good gifts that our Founders gave us. We may indeed lose, but we will stay true to our homeland and to our ancestors that sacrificed for us. We stay true to our Constitution, our democratic values, and to each other. We protest for what is right and good and decent, and don't forget that."
I deeply respect the commitment, guts, humanity and unity the protesters in Hong Kong demonstrated. I hope we have similar courage and conviction in the street. Regardless, we should take their message lesson to heart: They have succeeded as human beings and patriots despite their failure to stop China from destroying their world in ever bigger and faster steps.
We may not be able to stop trump, his sycophants, the rich people that own and direct congress, and the foreign countries helping them turn the Republic into our Founder's and our's worst nightmare, or worse. Too many of the forces that brought us this to point are only getting stronger. But that's all the more reason I intend to shout for truth and our Constitution with fellow patriots in the streets. Long Live Our Constitutional Republic!
25
May I add, Long Live Our Constitutional [and Secular] Republic!
All the moderate democrats in GOP districts who informed they will vote for the articles of impeachment are following the example of the public servants who testified in the House. They are telling their constituency that some have to stand up for the constitution and our democratic institutions.
These representatives will model public opinion because once Trump is impeached, the support for removal will increase the same way that the public support for elected candidates increases once they are just elected.
So the moderate GOP senators might see that voting for removal might be more popular than protecting criminal behavior. Their consciences have not been able to accomplish doing the right thing but some last-minute polls results might.
26
A Tuesday night the week before Christmas? Who is scheduling these things?
I really hope people turn out in huge numbers, but part of me worries that Americans just won't won't show up on a work night, especially when there's so much shopping still to be done.
4
@617to416
Who heard of up an evening's shopping to help save our democracy? To go a little bit out of the comfort zone to protect the rule of law? Americans will show up, in the cold, a week before Christmas to ensure there will be something to celebrate in years to come.
25
@617to416
That's what Black Friday was all about. Shopping is all about what's before and what's after, long after, tonight.
Then you can shop until you drop, spend until bend. Tonight's the night to send a very special gift to preserve and protect our democracy against tyranny before it's too late. Everybody on your list will understand and thank you even more.
3
And so little published/broadcast notice.
Democrats and others not in support of Trump, do not be afraid! There is so much fear and self questioning on this side the aisle. It is VERY clear, without hesitation, we need to take a stand, the future of our country is at stake.
35
I'm in favor of doing what it takes to win in 2020. And that has little to do with impeachment and everything to do with winning over the working class.
Here's the short version. Being working class has been changed forever by the lack of upward mobility, the end of the American dream. Most working class people, are basically the same as you and me. And, without a dream, things are dreary. Unfortunately, they've landed on the wrong solution, recreating the past. They aren't traditional family people but they put stock in the idea. So feminism, the LGBT and too much abortion talk (they do want choice of course) shake them. Helping the poor is ok, but they liked it better when the upwardly mobile got first priority. Free Medicaid for the poor while they pay might is bad optics. Admittedly, it's more dicey because a lot of the poor are black. In their eyes -- and they're probaly not proud of this -- that adds insult to injury. In short, being working class isn't what it used to be.
Some will hone in on their prejudices. But the core story is that they just want a chance. They would like to be upscale, too. I'm all for compromising. The prejudice has got to go but they deserve a chance. They can't be bought off easy. There will have to be cuts in programs for other deserving constituencies. But they're a deserving constituency, too. And I'm for meeting them half way.
4
@michjas Fair enough. But the stats show that the "working class" provided only a small percentage of Trump's votes. Still, every little helps.
3
@Des Johnson Statistics show that all but two white guys in factories voted for Trump and the two who voted for Hillary were on opiates when they voted.
@michjas Yes, Your comments do have style. Of course, it was rather more than two guys who voted for Clinton--actually over 40% of male voters went for Clinton, while ~53% went for Trump. Younger voters favored Clinton, while older white guys went for the old White guy,.
3
I would love to see Impeachment succeed and President Trump removed from the White House. The first and not the second can happen and the "big win" of Impeachment rather seems to be furtherance of a kind of solidarity among those already in agreement. Congratulations. For want of a victory of sorts, Democrats have decided to play dice with next year's election by making a spectacle of what should more appropriately be a sad recognition. It would be so much more politically useful to limit the rift than widen it. Better to focus upon celebrating in November.
3
I’m sorry. I disagree. The Republicans are not defending the constitution and we are protesting . No. They can’t just do this to our country. Trump loyalists are heckling public servants. The divide is there and one side is promoting the truth and the other , lies. So no , I will be out with my sign.
44
@Jerry Meadows
It’s rather laughable, I must say, to accuse the Democrats of making a spectacle out of things when the Republicans have acted like infants in the throes of a five-alarm tantrum throughout the investigation and impeachment hearings. Have you not seen Jordan, Collins and a host of others with steam coming out of their ears belligerently denying facts presented methodically by *civil* servants in sober proceedings run by Democrats on the committees?
32
@RickyDick On the contrary. I suppose your expectations of how Republicans should behave are greater than mine. I suppose as well that my hope is the removal of President Trump from the ranks of the employed and if it makes you feel better to see complicity within my desires to see that end met, so be it. This is real life. You win control of the country by attracting the most people to your side, not by slapping each other on the back and saying "my, we are such good people."
1
No, it’s NOT NATURAL in an operating democracy for protest to wane in the face of this criminal authoritarian, who daily shows contempt for the public & any challenge to his supreme ego.
Much of US media does accept GOP ideas of ‘average American’ & the GOP/mega donors’ definition of what’s ‘fringe’ vs centrist.
Why don’t Americans, like people abroad, march in the streets for their rights as citizens? Many are conditioned to put up with a lot more. Abroad, citizens demand more respect & march for rights in colored vests, while Americans stay home. Why this political passivity in our world famous democracy?
We the people should have for years been demanding what our colonists demanded when they overthrew King George. Namely-- proper Representation for our Taxation.
We 'proud, free, independent' Americans should have been marching, nation wide, for universal affordable health care & lower tuition--- centrist abroad for generations, where even conservatives support it.
That list of groups marching Tuesday sound too 'left’ by the definitions of our politics. Our high cost elections and onslaught of paid ads-- banned by some other democracies-- are subsidized by our richest political donors.
They define left/right/center.
They will dismiss as left/fringe the public spirited groups leading any protests. Many citizens will accept this & carry on. We'll later implore our govt---pretty please, can't we have HC for all like other nations? No? Ok, maybe 2024, or 30?
14
@Meredith Amen! Thank you, Meredith.
1
I am waiting to watch the Republicans tie themselves in knots, as well as to this sinking Administration, in abdicating their responsibility to uphold the Constitution. And, looking forward to the coming Democratic Senate.
30
I think of the many demonstrations across the world where tens of thousands; hundreds of thousands; and even a million people will demonstrate at real risk of life and limb against egregious abuse of power and injustice even less then what we are seeing now in our own country.
Democracy dies not at the hands of despots but by the willful ignorance and indifference of the people. The question is not whether he should be impeached by how can he not be impeached. The fact that virtually the entire republican party and its supporters are willing to so ardently protect the indefensible conduct of this president shows the threat to our democracy and most cherished freedoms is far greater then we can begin to imagine.
We the people are witnessing the death of our democracy happening right before our eyes. If we can not make even this one small bit of effort to show support for those on the front lines of battling to save then we deserve the fate that awaits us from doing nothing.
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Immensely sensible observation and advice to the American people. Society these days has moved into a phase where just feeling anger and disappointment with one’s leaders needs to be publicly and repeatedly emphasised in order to have any significant effects. Social and other media have by constant repetition of false propaganda implanted impressions in the minds of harassed and tired voters that tend to stick unless rudely and loudly awakened by the realities of the truth and the consequences of ignoring it. Mass rallies across America until and during the Senate trial and thereafter until election time, will deliver an effective message and prevent Trump being re-elected, should he be acquitted by the Senate, must now gather pace. I hope I do not offend my American friends when I say that as a young British Citizen, in my early thirties, I spent most of my weekends along with thousands of people in London demonstrating outside the American Embassy, against the Vietnam Nam War. The effects of these demonstrations throughout Europe played an important part in America withdrawing from Vietnam! Decent Americans must do the same to Donald Trump.
29
Boston lives and breathes its place in the nation's history and yesterday, it reenacted the "tossing of that tea" in Boston Harbor, an annual event.
I suggest that we honor the extreme sacrifices made by dissenters in that time in order to bring us freedom and liberty in our own.
Toss Trump.
Toss the GOP.
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The forecast for many places suggests that the weather will not be conducive.
3
Neither was Valley Forge, but George Washington eventually led the rebel to victory.
13
We are a bit weaker in surviving discomfort but we have Umbrellas- we can write on the umbrellas, ponchos- whatever it takes.’
1
Impeachment is splitting independents somewhere in the middle. The 50% support for impeachment is quite good but feels like it is not motivating people to come out in droves. We are fatigued by Trump actions getting worse without any consequence. It is time to accept that impeachment has lost its power when each day is more outrageous than the previous one. Another women's march may not happen again. The climate in 2016 was still optimistic. Somehow, the past three years drained the energy to punch back. It is a mass depression of sort for the nation. We have to get out of this funk.
11
You’re very accurate in characterizing the current political climate as “depression” and “funk” and “fatigue.” I think that characterizes the mood of many of us well. I don’t like to speak for other people, but I certainly feel that way. I’m one of the minority of people, who when faced with a “fight or flight” reaction, always chooses “fight.” I don’t say that to brag, I was born that way, but it’s the main reason, I suspect, that I haven’t totally given in to cynicism yet. I’ve toed the line...
2
@OpEd
So the going’s getting tough. That’s when the tough get going, as the song says.
Trump has been trying to exhaust you. That’s how people with his mental health conditions get away with abuse,
and criminality.
If you say you’re too tired, you’re saying you’re going to hand American democracy to a wannabe a Dictator.
Buck up, whatever you have todo. Nothing is more important than this, right here, right now.
@OpEd
I find encouraging each other to “ keep the faith” is helpful. Me trying to encourage another is equally me encouraging myself in moments of doubt, fatigue, despondency.
I’ve taken short breaks from things, going for a long swim or walk to help calm the mind, catch the breath. Others might have their methods to get that second or third wind.
1
I keep saying, if the Democrats are really serious about impeachment, they need to start telling their constituents to get out in the streets, go on strike, SHUT IT DOWN. The energy and momentum is there, but the politicians insist on a narrowly-focused, legalistic proceeding, confined to a few halls in the nation’s capital. Impeachment must be brought home - and the costs of continuing to support our president must be brought to bear upon the republicans and moderates in every district, not just the ones where Democrats expect to compete.
American politics is so election-focused, but voting is only one tool that the people have to make their influence known, and as we have seen, often the least effective. It is not uncommon, in other countries, for workers to go on a general strike when the political situation becomes intolerable.
Unfortunately, liberals in the United States and Europe haven’t paid much attention to the unions or to the workers at large. The sense of betrayal is palpable, seeing as workers willing to admit that Trump’s policies are probably not in their interest still cannot trust a democrat. It is true that the Republicans are primarily responsible for this country’s mess, but they are honest villains, letting you know that while they don’t care about you, for as long as the plunder continues, you might have a chance at getting some scraps.
Truly, I think the Democrats fear that a mob to impeach the president would immediately turn back on them.
7
@Jerome S.
No Jerome, the fear is that we start to run our country by mob rule..
The reason our "politics is so election-focused".. is because that's how we run our democracy.. through elections & the rule of law... -- Not by some angry mob.
... Sorry, count me out.--
1
There seems a concerted effort across the media to suggest the verdict on Trump in the Senate is a given; a bleak assessment that can only demoralize some portion of the majority of Americans (within a margin of error) who believe Trump violated his oath of office and deserves to hear the words, 'You're fired!'. All respected soothsayers aside, anything can happen on the field of battle and over confidence, like pride, often goeth before a fall.
26
Hope is the thing with feathers, right?
I have been waiting to protest Trump’s presidency and more importantly defend the America I know for more than a year. I am not going to sit by and watch Trump, his administration, and the GOP trample on our democracy and ideals. Family separation, dehumanizing immigrants, abandoning our allies, incessant lying, and gutting environmental protections are but a few of his actions that will have lasting consequences. Having a president who so blatantly prioritizes his own interest over that of the country is what the founders feared. We are better than Trump and we need to show it.
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I’m going and I hope everyone else will too. If Hong Kong protestors can keep it up for eight months straight, we can drag ourselves out for one day.
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Those holding the impeachment sign in the picture belong to a group of committed progressives who come from the wealthiest Congressional District in the nation, Virginia District 10. Median income $124,000.
If I had been on the scene, my sign would have read "Noblesse Oblige."
5
@michjas What? How do you know how much money those progressives make? Do you know them personally? And so what if they do have lots of money? What do they stand for is what counts? If they are for impeachment that is OK in my book and gee maybe they are for M4all too if they are real progressives. Well to do people can care about this nation if they want, I welcome them in the fight against corruption.
22
@cheerful dramatist I know about them becomes I'm observant. Their t-shirts tout an organization which is a local 10th District thing. And you can look up the organization, its politics and the median income of their district. As for their wealth and their political beliefs, I don't think I'm the only one who resents rich people who want the government to spend trillions that will quadruple the taxes I pay on my $65,000 income. I'm all for helping and sharing but I do need to pay the mortgage.
3
@michjas
A little misguide: $124,000 is middle class, not rich. As for Dem's raising taxes, Republican corporate policies mean Americans pay the highest prices in the world for the basics – a hidden tax people don’t see. It’s not about raising taxes – it’s about reprioritizing how the money is spent. Do we really need to be paying oil and gas companies billions of dollars in special depreciation and depletion allowances? Allowing the top ten percent to pay lower tax rates than the bottom 50 percent? Ditto for all other corporate giveaways that take more out of your $65,000 that all the people on “welfare” several times over. Along as people keep letting themselves be duped by platitudes, myths, and stale prejudices, we’re going to have America ruled by people who do not care about your $65,000 and would take it all if they could, including your SS. Better lay off the Kool-Aide and do a little homework.
3
Let’s just drum up no less enthusiasm to show up at the polls next year; that’s where the last laugh will be had.
6
According to the polls, Republican voters overwhelmingly oppose impeachment and removal of the president. As long as that is true, the Republicans in the Senate will not budge, no matter how many marches place—because they know those marchers are not their voters.
You want to get rid of Trump? Stop wasting time and energy on impeachment, which is a bridge to nowhere. Focus instead on the next election, especially on the Rust Belt states where the Electoral College will be decided.
Why is that so hard to understand?
6
@Ron Cohen Because you have to take the leap of faith that the current Executive will let it be a FREE and FAIR election.
27
@Ron Cohen
How about pushing for walking *and* chewing gum?
3
@Ron Cohen
"Why is that so hard to understand?"
For the same reason we put criminals in jail - to prevent more crimes!
3
Thank you for covering the groups who are calling for December 17 impeachment demonstrations, Ms. Goldberg. You bet, we'll show up.
The beautiful little City of St. Petersburg, Florida, drew an unprecedented 26,000 to the 2017 Women's March. Since then, crowds assembled to defend science, the environment, The Resistance, the Gulf of Mexico against oil drilling and basic human rights.
When I hear Trump defenders say we've always been out for him - I have - ever since he uttered his first thousand pre-election lies and 77,000 voters in three swing states mattered more than nearly three million who backed Hillary Clinton. I consider resistance to be my civic duty.
Our daily dose of Trump's vile spillage and his party's wanton deconstruction of our government are so toxic I cannot imagine us surviving another four years. I'm beyond understanding my Republican neighbors or those too busy with their lives to notice how dangerous our times are. I hope enough people show up to send a message to our nation's leaders that none of this is normal or to be tolerated.
65
Swing state folks please vote and help anyway you can to get others to vote who do not want Trump as President. Register the same people who need to be registered. Help find those thousands who have been taken off the rolls eg. in Wisconsin and get them eligible to vote. There is time but need to act as soon as possible.
17
I’m going in my tiny town south of SF. Mostly farmland 83 signed up. But so important.
33
Another aspect of the polls and sentiment movement is that movement appears, understandably, to be 1-way (toward impeachment). No movement from those who favor toward not-favoring. Like a ratchet. Notch-by-notch.
5
It’s going to be Epic. As an aging ex activist I am thrilled to see a serious protest in this disinformation,dangerous, debacle of America. We need the Hong Kong solidarity.
33
Who are these "average Americans"? Let's look at the ones who voted in 2016. 'Blue jeans and beer'? Not quite. We often hear how Hillary beat Trump in the popular vote by almost 3MM. True as far as it goes, counting only votes For. What about votes Against? According to the Federal Elections Commission official results, 10.7MM people more voted Against Trump than voted for him including 3rd parties. www.fec.gov
73.7MM vs 62.9MM. They are the difference.
Who are those voters who voted against Trump, the 54%? We need to keep in mind that they may include some elites, as pro-Trumpers include some 0.1%ers, but overall they represent America better than Trump's base ever has. They are the great mass of us who are too diverse to fit any single category. But one thing is clear: They/we can stop Trump. It is up to us. It is our country, not any one man's.
Vote as if your country depended on it!
39
I've been saying all along that instead of buying into the defeatism of "McConnell's going to rig the trial anyhow," we should be calling, writing, pressuring every Republican Senator, especially in swing states (if I didn't live in DC without representation, I'd have been doing this like a dripping faucet for months).
Getting out in every state to demand impeachment is imperative. The only way the GOP is going to uphold the Constitution is if we pressure them to do so.
33
Great advice. Let's go for it.
If enough show up, and some of those Trump zombies see it, they will wake up. As things stand, they are proving to really not be up to living in a participatory democracy. Come on folks, wake up!
15
I'm more suspicious of telephone polling these days. Especially after the Hillary-is-gonna-win thing. Other polls since then have also given me pause at their outcomes. I bet there are a lot of Trump supporters who simply won't talk to telephone pollers, especially now that we have cell phones that display who is calling. I don't pickup the phone if the caller isn't displayed, and I certainly wouldn't pick up if my phone display said some news or polling outfit was calling.
7
Get serious Michelle!! Yes, the people will rally but give us a SPECIFIC location and time! "Tuesday" is not good enough. I marched in the November, 1969 Vietnam protest in D.C. 500,000 citizens, amazingly well-organized, forceful yet peaceful. We stand ready but look to younger leadership now.
8
@Brian she did give a link to specific locations and times. The link is in the article, but here it is again: https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/
21
@Brian T
And a very important link it is!
Thank you for emphasizing it.
impeach.org. search by zip code.
1
Great column! Good advice! Trump is nowhere near as popular as he, Republican politicians and Fox think he is. His approval ratings have been in a band of 35 to 45 % for his entire presidency. I do not believe there has been a single president since polling was started who has never once had an approval rating of 50%, except for Trump.
24
All due respect, but living in California in a solid blue district, it seems like a waste of energy. But if I were in Colorado, Maine, Arizona, or any state with a GOP Senator up next year, I’d be lacing my boots right now.
7
@JoeFF
I think it's more about sending a unified message across the United States with people in the streets. I'm going tomorrow even though I live in Cali as well.
62
@JoeFF
Whew, JoeFF! You say it's "a waste of energy" to protest Trump if you live in a solid blue state. What about protesting in a solid red one? Wouldn't that be a waste of energy, too?
Well, some of us in cherry-red Alabama are gathering in the cold tomorrow night in three cities, Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery, to support the impeachment and removal of Donald John Trump. Maybe we won't be strong in numbers, but that isn't why we're assembling.
We are assembling because in America we still can do this--we have the right to protest a wrong and to call for justice. We are sending a message to Congress, to the Senate, and to the President: Ignore us at your peril.
2
@JoeFF
There are red areas of the state. Go as close as you can to one.
1
Is that the same anti-Trump majority who's poll numbers indicated to the NYT that Hillary was 85% likely to win the election? :-))
We learned 2 very important lessons about polling from the 2016 election: one, that polls are often completely wrong; and two, that many people will not admit they support Trump when speaking to a pollster, but will vote for him in the privacy of a voting booth. I respect your opinion, but survey data provides a very weak basis for one's opinion.
7
@Dr B
The polls were not completely wrong.
9
True, @Dr B polls are often way off. But bodies are not! Show up at a march and be counted.
1
@Dr B
How about ignoring polls and instead looking to the steady stream of toxic waste emanating from trump’s twitter feed for motivation to get out and protest? AND VOTE!
2
It appears that Trump supporters are so fed up with the direction of the country that they are willing to try something completely different including authoritarian rule so long as it reflects their demands such as higher status for white Christians. To establish a national identify of white and Christian they are willing to allow the country to be torn down in order so it can be rebuilt. That would seem to be the goal when they say "blow it up," They are asking for a lot. A judicial system that is extremely right wing, a press that reflects the views of the authoritarian president, and a rubber stamp Congress. And they need to find a way to control the majority who will not willingly go along. Most likely they would have to rely main on fear, but also arresting political opponents and sending some political opponents into exile.
26
@Bob
It has occurred to me, and your post somewhat affirms the thought, that the US is headed in the direction of Gilead (from The Handmaid’s Tale).
2
It's going to be too cold, too dark, at 5:30 pm (and at the waterfront?) A march probably won't change anything...
Nothing can keep me away! These are important times for a show of unity and sometimes marches really make a difference.
Democracy is inconvenient by nature!
143
@GreenSpirit I plan on going to the one in Downtown Seattle. Several thousand people signed up to attend- hopefully at least a quarter of that number show up. I can hardly wait. The weather will probably be miserable but who cares.
4
One of the critical features of Trump being convicted in the Senate is that at the moment the vote is announced he ceases to be president and commander-in-chief. No matter what crazy orders he gives, and no matter how loudly AG Barr insists that those commands are legal, our military will be under no further obligation to obey Donald Trump.
Compare this circumstance to a Trump defeat in November, 2020. He will continue to serve as president and commander-in-chief until January 20, 2021. He will surely make much mischief between the election and Inauguration Day. After all, Trump is going to prison if he loses the election. This is why every protest march, every speech given by every Democratic presidential candidate must contain a reminder to our armed forces that they do not have to obey an illegal or unconstitutional order given by their commander-in-chief.
We're heading into "Banana Republic" territory, and it's unsettling to think that our military will almost certainly be called on to save our democracy, because Trump and his Putin-Republicans are going to try with all their might to bring it down.
102
@WDG While I sympathize with you, I don't think Trump is going to prison. He is no more convict-able than OJ Simpson in LA. I don't understand why, but he has a very resilient fan base and none of them will believe him capable of committing a crime. Almost every jury will have some of them.
1
At the moment it’s clear he won’t be POTUS after 1/20/21, he’ll pardon everyone in sight and then resign in exchange for a pardon from President Mike “46” Pence. Or just flee the jurisdiction.
2
@John G You make a good point, but it's also true that a number of Trump sycophants have been convicted. Their proximity to Trump was a liability, not an asset. The Oval Office gives Trump protection. Once Trump loses that shield he'll become, as Robert De Niro has observed, just another punk with a big mouth. The southern district of New York can't wait to get a shot at him.
The only thing that could keep Trump from wearing an orange jumpsuit is a Pence pardon. But Pence is an ambitious guy, and he knows what happened to Gerald Ford after the Nixon pardon.
Trump knows all of this. He's particularly dangerous because I suspect he truly believes that there's no point in the universe continuing to exist if he's not in it. Trump won't even blink at destroying our country, or even the entire world. He is a flat out sociopath who unfortunately controls the US armed forces and the US Justice Department. The coming year is going to be a white knuckler.
3
Thank you for this piece.
This March for Impeachment must be special; I don't recall reading about marches before they occur and, even after large nationally organized rallies, the press usually isn't impressed. But here it is in the NYT before the event and Rachel Maddow also covered the march in her program today. She interviewed one of the leaders of Indivisible, who said there are march events even in red states, including one in Iowa where Joni Ernst has got to notice.
As of an hour ago, the march in SF had 2,900 RSVP's and the one in Sacramento had 2,850. It will take aerial cameras to catch us all so I hope the media's ready with helicopters.
Let's remember the attempted destruction of ACA was thwarted by citizens camping out at their Congress people's offices. It's just possible that huge demonstrations across the nation for impeachment will impress on Republican Senators that voting against conviction on the articles of impeachment may please Trump but not the constituents that put them in office.
33
I'll be at the rally on Boston Common. I am sharing information about the event with friends and neighbors. On the schedule are Congressman Joe Kennedy, Senator Ed Markey and Governor/current Republican presidential challenger Bill Weld. Let's make our voices heard - in support of impeachment and removal - on the Common and throughout our country!
67
Thanks for the info about the marches for impeachment. I will take my white cane and march in my neck of the woods. Its the least I can do. To show solidarity now may not get Trump convicted in the Senate, but it will the beginning of the end for Trump at the polls.
121
Republican voters are overwhelmingly against impeachment and removal of the president, polls show. As long as that is true, the Republican majority in the Senate will vote to acquit, exonerate and vindicate President Trump. He will enter the 2020 election campaign with the wind at his back, and his base charged up. He could win in a landslide.
If the Democrats are to have any chance next year, they must move beyond the impeachment circus as quickly as possible and get back to addressing kitchen-table issues—the formula that worked so well for them in 2018.
Kitchen-table issues, so-called, are those that matter most to most Americans; they boil down to good jobs, healthcare, education and retirement security.
Democrats keep talking about "doing the right thing." Doing the right thing is an empty gesture if means losing—for that’s where the Democrats are headed.
9
@Ron Cohen and the rule of law is not a kitchen table issue where you come from? Voters dont care if the President sells out to Putin?
Maybe you are right..in that case America is not longer what it was when I was growing up..
266
@TrumpThumper
I for one care, but I don’t want empty gestures; I want actually to get rid of the man. As long as the Republicans control the Senate, impeachment will not do that; only an election will do it.
11
@Ron Cohen-The Democratic-majority led U.S. House has passed over 400 bills addressing "kitchen-table" issues. About 80% have them have been stalled by Mitch McConnell in the Senate, who hasn't even brought them up for a hearing.
118
For anyone planning on going to a demonstration: Show up on time, or even early. The point of a demonstration is to get press coverage, and the press reliably shows up at the very beginning. Also know that the point of a demonstration is to show numbers. If you're nervous, just remember that you're just a body to add to the count. If you want to get on camera make a clever sign. It's easy. Just show up--and don't be late.
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"Trump’s skill at intimidating the political class into believing that he is anything but historically reviled still matters. It keeps his supporters in line and demoralizes his opponents. That’s why, with an impeachment vote in the House expected on Wednesday, it’s important for anti-Trump America to make itself visible."
Incisive and cogent! Thank you Michelle.
I have not joined a public protest since the march against the Vietnam war half a century ago. Tomorrow I will carpool with four 60/70 year old friends to gather at our congressman's office in Newtown, PA along with at least a thousand others.
We the people must reassert our resistance to oligarchy, authoritarianism, blind ignorance and malevolence. It is a necessary step towards a more perfect union.
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@Steve M
Glad you are joining! It's not going to create a miracle, but it is a show of solidarity and hopefully, large numbers of folks will brave the weather.
Democracy is inconvenient!
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I am not the biggest fan of Michelle's op-ed but this one is well thought out and important. The exhilaration of watching millions come out after the day of inauguration was tremendous. Tomorrow i have a very long work day but will be excited when i get home to watch the late night news and see how every day americans have come to take back the country. The rule of law is one of the most important aspects of what makes the United States an ideal for the world to want to emulate.
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I will be out in front of Sen. Steve Daines office in Montana tomorrow. Sadly, Daines will be laughing all the way to the bank since he cares not one whit what his constituents think. He doesn't even bother to hold town halls.
Throughout the country, money talks way too much in politics, and in my state both GOP "representatives" have personal fortunes to help keep them in office. And since they don't feel the need to ever face the voters, they can be counted on to support Trump to keep it that way.
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@avrds
So who keeps voting them in office?
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@avrds , another reason for candidate Warren who will rid the corruption and money handling in our government.
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This editorial is wrong on several levels. It shows the writer’s impatience about Trump’s still sitting in the White House. This inspite of the constant anti Trump demonstrations from day one of his election. Even the everyday vicious attacks by the media or the Russian witch hunt didn’t break him.
The writer is wrong about THE UKRAINE GATE. The House proved no crime on the president’s part. There may have been intent on Trump’s part, but it was not proved in anyway better, than the harmful intent toward Trump on the FBI part.
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@Marian Gee, I dunno, maybe that's because of all the obstruction and stonewalling? Why would an innocent man do everything in his power to block anyone from testifying or even handing over documents.
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Except that Trump and his lackeys publicly admitted it the day it came out, and then claimed they didn’t the very next day.
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@Marian
Are those comments direcy quotes from Fox news? If so you need to put them in quotation marks.
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Progressive protest marches are similar to Trump’s tweets. They please partisans and alienate moderates. Both sides appear to be eager to lose the election.
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@Charles Woods
Take a risk and participate. Be proactive and hopeful because it is contagious just like cynicism, but with an important difference. It has much better results.
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I was at an impeachment rally on Sunday and there were several people there registering voters. These events are an excellent tool for keeping worn down resisters engaged and bringing new or disenfranchised voters into the fold. For every “moderate” potentially alienated, there might be two brand new progressive voters registering for the first time.
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@Charles Woods
No, you're quite wrong.
Trump's tweets are infantile temper tantrums.
Progressive protest marches are citizens expressing their discontent with Trump.
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I'll be out with a mixture of emotions:
Sadness that this is necessary,
Resolution to fight the good fight,
confidence that we are on the side of reason,
and joy that in America such dissent is still possible.
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Marching in streets alone is not going to be enough, but it can certainly be part of the strategy. It can make a difference.
We need to be in the streets this time because Republicans need to see, with their own eyes, just how many of us there are.
If the only thing they care about is getting re-elected, let’s make them nervous.
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@Chickpea ...yes, need to see how many of us there are. And the protests should go on into the future with regularity.
The more people that march, the more it will show politicians what they can expect from voters. If ony a few citizens turn out, then they can be dismissed on the media as 'fringe, left wing, radicals.'
Why are Americans so passive about demonstrations? Too many have been conditioned to accept abuse and exploitation. That goes for the middle class too.
If we ever needed self assertion, we need it now.
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@Meredith, I believe Americans who disapprove of Trump aren’t passive about demonstrating & protesting against Trump; they fear the over-reaction of Trump’s base, who seem to embrace violence. I was so scared when I attended the Women’s March in January 2017 in my small city, I sent text messages to my adult children with the location of my parked car with my dogs inside. I definitely felt there was a chance I might not make it back to my car. Never before have I feared my fellow Americans as I do now.
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It's extremely unlikely that the Senate will vote to remove Trump from office.
We will find out how much the entire impeachment process hurt Trump and all those who continue to support him when the results of next year's election have been counted.
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Republicans and Fox paint impeachment as strictly partisan, Democrats vs. Republicans. But if Trump is impeached and removed from office, presumably Mike Pence, a Republican,
would inherit the presidency. Republicans would still be in charge of the executive branch. What is partisan about that?
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@Whole Grains
It's not partisan. It's the Constitution.
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@Whole Grains Carly Fiorina said it best today: the Republican Party of today is all about swearing fealty to Donald Trump, no matter what.
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@Whole Grains
Your basic argument is non-sensical. You are positing that the Republicans should accept a partisan based impeachment of their president because a Republican Vice President will then get the presidency?
This is absurd.
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maybe resulting from the various divisions in American society today, the energy to defeat the ongoing catastrophe feels extremely unfocused. The most important manifestation of this is the lack of a widely shared passion for a single strong candidate for 2020, sadly so far. I wish there was a way to take all the energy that would go into a protest and put it into putting heads together to pick a candidate. In the absence of that, it feels like what’s going on in the center and left is just another symptom of the malaise. respectfully, I don’t see how protests are going to change minds or turn anything around substantively. I hope I’m wrong.
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If people want to stop Trump and the GOP they need to march to the polls in 2020 and vote. Trump repeatedly violated his oath of office and committed a host of "High Crimes" yet the GOP, with the rabid support of approx. 40 percent of the population, will acquit him in a Senate circus trial anyway.
If journalists want to truly help they must stop pretending that impeachment is "hyperpartisan", or "highly partisan", or "very partisan".
Trump and the GOP don't care about a March for Impeachment, but they'd definitely care if every article about impeachment (not opinion pieces) stated that the word "partisan" would no longer be used. It would mean that what remains of the free press was done parroting their disinformation. The press could then explain how it is a totally illegal for a defendant to meet with a majority of his jurors, and most specifically the foreman of the jury, to plan how to circumvent the law and quickly acquit him.
In Trump's Impeachment one group seeks to uphold the law; another seeks to destroy it. If America's bastions of journalism regard it as partisanship, then everything is partisanship, including if members of organized crime are charged with extortion and bribery, and admit to committing the crimes. It's preposterous, but this is the GOP’s defense of Trump.
All decent Americans need to vote Trump out of office. The press needs to stop parroting Trump/GOP disinformation. Trump is being held accountable for his crimes; that's not partisan.
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@Robert B
The press can run op-eds on how we need to March for Impeachment, but the real question is whether what remains of a free press will fulfill its duty and relate actual facts.
During any legal proceeding an accused may not communicate with any juror about anything related to the case. Any accused who tries to influence jurors is guilty of Jury Tampering. Any verdict rendered by such a jury is invalid. Any accused who engages in such conduct faces criminal prosecution. Any jurors who willingly work with the accused face criminal prosecution. This is black letter law. It applies to all federal proceedings, and to all proceedings in every state in the country.
Senate Republicans are to be the jurors in Donald Trump's Impeachment trial. Mitch McConnell is the foreman of that jury. Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators are actively plotting with Trump on how to circumvent the law and quickly acquit him. These are the facts.
Republicans will acquit Trump after a fake trial in which Trump, McConnell, and other GOP Senators engaged in blatant Jury Tampering.
Will the press say that this is what happened? Will the press say that the verdict is invalid? Will the press say that there is no acquittal? Will the press say that in any other legal proceeding Trump, McConnell, and all other Republicans who worked with them would be criminally charged?
Or, will the press shirk its duty, throw up its hands, and falsely say: "Well, that's just partisanship for you"?
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@Robert B ...if Amerians across the nation march in the streets like those in other countries for the rights that they deserve, it will eventually modify our politics. This must be done regularly, on into the future, with specific and legitimate demands.
This will help change attitudes and make our lawmakers offer us better policies in the public interest. Dumping the Trump is only the 1st step, in removing blockages to the progress we deserve.
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Yes! The press needs to stop the way they parrot the GOP talking points. I understand that is their way of offering balance. But, when the behavior and lies of this president are normalized and minimized by the republicans, it is not fair or balanced behavior.
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The House Impeachment process is a Constitutional responsibility as is a trial in Senate to remove or acquit.
The important point for all of us to remember is that the role of the House is to investigate legitimate claims of presidential abuse, gather evidence from witnesses, and through committee meetings develop articles of Impeachment if the evidence warrants. The House would be negligent if they just let the abuse happen with no response.
The Senate receives the articles of Impeachment and then holds a trial based upon the evidence from the House, and calling additional witnesses for further testimony in an effort to reach a verdict.
This whole process rests upon the House and Senate's oath of impartiality as they seek the truth.
In my view the House has met their Constitutional mandate. Unfortunately the Senate Majority leader (and other senators) have made public statements which call into question an honest and impartial process.
It will fall upon the American people to watch how this senate trial unfolds and hold elected officials responsible if they lose sight of the rule of law.
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Oh, the optimism and eagerness of Youth. By all means, knock yourselves out, have fun and get energized and motivated. But, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that VOTE.
Seriously.
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@Phyliss Dalmatian
I am not young (I’m 68 years old), but I believe in the Dem’s current impeachment plan. And, apparently, I’m not alone. The most recent Fox poll shows that 54 percent of all Americans think trumpf should be impeached,
The president brought this upon himself by not letting members of his administration testify before Pelosi’s and Schiff’s committee. We also have Guiliani acting like a mad man making wild comments about his investigations.
If trumpf isn’t concerned about impeachment, why is he tweeting up a storm? His recent remarks about Schiff are outrageous. And, his comments about Pelosi’s alleged denture problems are beyond cruel.
I’m well aware that the impeachment will probably not make it through the Senate, but sometimes you have to do the right thing — and this is the right thing.
Now is not the time to be so glib when something is so important.
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One persons glib is another persons realism. I’m all for Impeachment, it’s the right thing to do, no matter the results.
Cheers.
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I no longer trust our presidential elections to be free and fair. I’ll vote anyway, but I have a feeling that the fix is in.
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I wish there was more advance notice for people to attend. Many of us can't just drop everything and go.
I hope this is just the start of protests around the country, every day if necessary, so that people know they could go to the next one if they can't go tomorrow....
We probably need to be marching every day until Election Day 2020....
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The week before Christmas seems especially poor timing —many people are already stretched from trying to juggle holiday parties, kid and religious events, gift shopping, and other preparations on top of their regular jobs!
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@MmmHmmm No one's even paying attention to this "impeachment vote" since the holidays are only 9 days away. This impeachment talk is putting a big damper on people's holiday plans. Also the economy is booming in many parts of the country so people are busy shopping for gifts. I don't know anyone who is even talking about it in a serious way.
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@Sam C. I don't know anyone who isn't taking this seriously. Demonstrations have been planned, contingent on the date of the vote in the House, for weeks. Generally they are in the center of towns and cities, are after 5:30, and will follow the American tradition of peaceful protests.
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You can look at impeachment different ways. From the point of view of excitable activists it's all about constitution, the 'people', etc. For the hysterical left it's about getting an administration into office in Washington that will tax businesses to death to give free everything to everybody. From the perspective of the news media it's about boosting circulation in a weakening industry. From Mr. Trump's standpoint it's about an intrinsically weak opposition party trying to find a way to get back at him for defeating them in 2016, and have never been able to get over the shock of their loss.
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@Ronald B. Duke Yep, those are the only ways to look at it. Nothing to do with the President abusing his office by denying crucial, congressionally-approved military aid to an ally under attack in order to gain a domestic political advantage. No sir!
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What about all of us who believe that Trump abuses his presidential power and deserves to be held accountable? They seem to be conspicuously absent from your list. Why is that, I wonder?
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@Ronald B. Duke
“excitable activists”
Hmmm, thanks for the inspiration.
I think I’ll become one today, well at least an invigorated activist, invigorated by the gatherings of many others, all of whom realize this country is on a precipice.
It’ll take all our efforts to pull us back from that edge.
I’ve spent much of the past 40 years climbing on steep rock faces and frozen waterfalls, generally comfortable on narrow ledges high above the ground.
As scary as a few close calls on those cliffs and mountains were at the time, it’s this precipice that scares me the most.
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Marching in the streets hasn't accomplished much here in the US of late. Media does its best to NOT cover such events.
Look at the Occupy movement. It was crushed in a coordinated effort under Obama - a supposed 'progressive' Democrat - who pandered to the financial industry.
It matters little how many people take to the streets - no matter what the issue. They will be studiously ignored.
A few wealthy people having drinks at a fundraiser get far more attention.
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@cynicalskeptic To add to your point - I can't imagine the march that would have made Obama truly progressive, even while wondering if more marches should have occurred.
That said, I don't remember as many discussions of wealth disparity before Occupy. I'd even say it prepped the public discussion for Bernie's 2016 campaign. Even if we don't get President Sanders/Warren correcting 40 years of tax structure maladjustments, the needed shift may be occurring -- if folks keep marching and occupying.
So what have recent marches accomplished? As Chairman Mao said, when asked if the French Revolution succeeded, "It's too early to tell."
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@cynicalskeptic
If anything, I contend Occupy Wall Street brought us the 99% & 1% phrases into use and an organizing concept.
That was of great value in of itself.
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@cynicalskeptic If we give in to cynicism with resignation, the Russians have won. Nope! We are going to march, speak out, and get out the vote!
3
It would be good to have the call to action come more than one day in advance.
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@David in Toledo MoveOn announced a week ago that on the eve of the House vote there would be nationwide rallies, gave a website to find one near you, and asked you to register. Its been all over FaceBook, the blogs, and news stories.
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@David in Toledo.
Get involved. Register with a local or national political organization. I guarantee you’ll always have more than a day’s advance notice for a call to action.
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@David in Toledo
It only takes one person to initiate a rally or march, so no need to wait for someone else to take action. You or anyone can act. Two women in Oregon decided we needed a Women's March and led a team of 8 to make it happen, and 1400 people attended. YOU CAN DO IT, TOO!
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“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Marching tomorrow in honor of the Constitution and rule of law.
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No reasonable person believes there is any chance that the Senate will complete the impeachment process by removing Trump from office.
It is all but certain that the consequence of approval of the articles of impeachment by the House will be its formal rejection by every Republican Senator, accompanied by calumny against those who made the accusation. The dynamics may very well be that of Clinton's Senate trial of 1998, resulting in his increased popularity, where, if there had not been term limits, he very well could have won re-election in 2000.
One indication of the lack of analysis of the sequelae of even the inplausible, that the Republican dominated Senate would convict Trump, is any thought of a year under the presidency of Michael Pence. He has been an admiring prop for his leader, who cites these three personal identifies in order: Christian, Conservative and Republican. Unlike Trump whose evangelicalism is an instrument for solidifying power, for Pence it is genuine, with his expected pushing the limits of vilification of those who do not believe in a supernatural creator.
The momentary intoxication of pleasure in the House voting for impeachment of Trump should not be indulged, when the next act is so certain.
3
@Call Me Al
That may be so, but doing nothing is to give legitimacy to the idea that Congress has no duty to upload the Law as written in the Constitution. To do nothing is to invite every president going forward to thumb their nose at the Congress- a Co-Equal Branch. Impeaching him is their duty and the fact that the Senate won't do their duty doesn't change the responsibility of the House.
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@Call Me Al All the more important to show how many citizens support impeachment.
Pence would be a much, much less dangerous President. No- one likes hime, especially the Republican base.
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@Elizabeth
While most of Trump's supporters are his base, those who cheer at his rallies for "lock her up"; he also has support from some who abhor the left's economic positions.
Then there are those who give credence to Law Professor John Turley, who presented a cogent case at the Judicial Com. hearings that his impeachment does not meet the constitutional criteria.
Trump's irrationality has fostered a backlash, that tragically has descended to his level. It is this that can destroy our constitutional Republic,
My friends in California and Washington State are not going tomorrow. One friend attending UC Berkeley is done for the semester and NOT going to the protests. If you cannot rely on Berkeley then we are really in trouble.
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@Bruce Colman Yeah, but I and my husband will go. In Berkeley. And because your friends are not going to bother, does that mean you give up too? I hope not. I'm embarrassed I haven't gone on a march to make my position known since we invaded Iraq; I don't want to feel bad later that I missed this one. I do it for my soul. You could, too.
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@Bruce Colman Tell your friends to get off their duffs and go. Shame them.
2
@Bruce Colman
Isn't your sample size a bit small?
3
I’m sure glad that I m not from South Carolina... I would have a very hard time admitting that I had a senator who supposedly pledged an oath to the constitution not once but multiple times saying that he doesn’t want to hear any of the evidence. His former best friend is rolling in his grave.
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@JD I know what George Romney would do. An absolutely honest man. Not sure what Mitt will do. Hope he will honor his father's idea of what it meant to be an American public servant. But honor has little currency in the Repubican party. I will be watching and hopeful that Mitt chooses honor.
The mention of Lindsey Graham's name actually raises bile in my throat.
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Not to mention Sen. Sam Ervin, also of South Carolina, a leading voice of integrity during the Watergate impeachment effort.
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@JD
South Carolina has given us the first State to secede from the Union in 1861, Lindsay Graham and Nikki Haley who appears to now be a Trump sycophant too. Possibly the most backwards State in the Union.
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It's too bad so much energy was expended on the Women's March the day after the Inauguration when so much more may now be needed in this election year, not only in public protests but on the grass roots level of working for Democratic candidates.
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@Alan J. Shaw
Its not like we had a finite supply of energy that we could only march once. What's your point?
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@Alan J. Shaw That wasn't wasted energy, that was martialling resources and rallying together. Those couple of days have sustained a lot of us to keep working hard.
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@dlb
There's a difference between the physical energy expended attending marches or rallies and making phone calls, monetary contributions and NY Times comments in support of Democratic candidates, particlarly for those of a certain age or disability. Does that make any sense?
Wow. I just found an event just up the street from me. Yep. I’m going. Thanks for the link. I would have not known of it otherwise in our little town. (There’s never any protests gatherings so close to where I live.) And I have been wondering why there hasn’t been any mass peaceful demonstrations. I have also wondered about why I haven’t heard pundits opine on the danger to politicians’ political lives when they don’t support impeachment and removal.
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@Suzanne If impeachment hearings were having an impact we would see Trump's polling crater. But the opposite is happening. According to a new USA TODAY Poll Trump now leads his Democratic rivals in his bid for a second term. The national survey, shows Trump defeating former Biden by 3%, Sanders by 5% & Warren by 8%. We shouldn't find this surprising. A majority of Americans may support impeachment, at least until it interrupts their favorite TV programs. This sentiment was on full display two weeks ago when viewers took to social media to voice their frustration that CBS decided to preempt The Price is Right in favor of the continuing hearings. Fans were livid. Yes, there was a great discussion of the views of the Founders, but many people tuned out. They're shopping, cooking, & spending time with family. They're simply not interested in seeing this during the holiday season. Trump is at his best (in his mind) when he's fighting back & slinging mud. Impeachment hearings driven by activists have over-reached. It will be spun by Trump as a witch hunt to fair-minded voters. When impeachment fails in the Senate as everyone knows it will, Trump will again claim victory. He believes this debacle will facilitate his winning a 2nd term. The excessive amount of attention to this can backfire, with Trump being reelected & it not being the result of Russian interference. Let's get this over with. Protests are a waste of time. We will be better served in focusing on the 2020 race.
7
Public demonstrations in favor of impeachment are unnecessary given that the House undoubtedly will vote for impeachment. Such demonstrations should be saved for the impeachment trial in the Senate and their goal should not be to pressure the Senate to convict Trump. That is mob rule. Rather, the goal should be to pressure the Senate to demand that all of the witnesses with relevant knowledge of the Ukraine, including Trump, testify under oath so that even if Senate Republicans choose to continue to disregard the evidence, at least the public will be able to consider that evidence when the cast their votes in 2020 for President and when they consider whether incumbent Senators have abided by their oaths to uphold the Constitution.
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@Jay Orchard
Lets do both, in favor of impeachment and in the Senate. Maybe the goal is to let our legislators on both sides know that we citizens are engaged and paying close attention.
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@Jay Orchard I think Tuesday night's just a warm up.
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@Jay Orchard
“Such demonstrations should be A PREVIEW for the impeachment trial in the Senate.”
Otherwise, a well-considered, cogent, soundly-advised comment.
2
I have never been more convinced of anything in my life that Trump is guilty of an impeachable offense of the highest order. Possibly if we had, like watergate, waited to question leading figures in the administration we would have shown to the American people. Instead we decided to rush this so it would come before Christmas. Michelle, whom I have great respect for, is cheery picking polls in this piece. In actuality Trump has gone from 14%- before the hearings to his highest point ever, 9% - now. He has gained two full points in the last 24 hours. Polls now show him beating every Democratic candidate. And this is just the beginning. The moment that he is impeached Mitch takes over and makes all the decisions. He can start the trial in the middle of the first primaries. He can run the trail for the next 10 months. He can make the whole trial about Biden or any other democratic candidate. The Democrats have made many mistakes during these 3 years but this is one that we will never recover from. Cancel the vote, return the investigation to the judiciary committee and wait for the more important witnesses....there is still time to save our country. I wish the truth was different but the world isnt what we would wish it to be. Save our Constitutional Democracy.
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@Greg Jones
Are you not paying attention?
The judiciary could drag this thing out past the election!
It makes no sense to go to the judiciary.
Nobody knows what is going to happen. People have these strong opinions and nobody knows. What many of us feel is fear. It is reasonable to feel afraid. That does not mean we are doomed.
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@Thinking I am paying the closest of attention, dont you understand that as soon as the impeachment happens Mitch makes all the decisions? Trump isnt going to be on trial....the Democrats are and there is nothing we can do about it.
There were more of us back in 2016 but he won because of the electoral numbers. Tomorrow the demonstrations will be huge all over the country. And surely there are even more of us now then there were in 2016. He will be out of office very soon.
January 2021 we will work on repairing our country.
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He “won” because of A) Russia, B) Facebook.
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@A Absolutely. And C)The Electoral College.
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Demonstrations need to be large, peaceful and positive. That is the only way to be palatable and inclusive. Too many, myself included, are fatigued by the constant negativity, even if it warranted. Let's get back to that hopey changey thing. I liked it.
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@woodyrd
It only takes a few radical activists (from either end of the spectrum) to disrupt a demonstration. Be careful out there ! I'm going to do the same thing I did on the day of the Women's March -- go for a long, meditative solo walk in the hills, looking south over the Alaska Range, bathed in our beautiful midwinter alpenglow, and think sane thoughts.
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@woodyrd
Unfortunately, this is a show of force. A show of force is bound to be unpalatable and of course, opponents will be feeling excluded, if not put upon.
Is this a wise moment for such a display? I don't think anyone can know. For participants it is an act of faith and an act of solidarity. Inevitably, an opportunity for provocation.
The election will offer some evidence regarding the country's determination of fitness to serve. Then we can continue our strategies of living together.
2
@William
I just don't understand this line of reasoning. Supporters of impeachment are supposed to hide their beliefs in a closet because their "opponents" might feel excluded and put upon??
Are they such snowflakes? Do Trump rally attendees hide their feeling so as not to offend?
As for being an "opportunity for provocation" (I suppose you mean violence), I suppose their could be, but in my opinion it's just as likely to be from the right.
Finally about "living together". Republican leaders say that Democrats promised bipartisan support for impeachment. Are they then to blame because of the usual Republican total intransigence? Obviously the country is split down the middle on political matters, but its patently absurd to draw the conclusion that the responsibility lies only (or even mainly) with
liberals; it takes two to tango as they say.
One final thought going back to Michelle's piece: she says that it has become accepted in the media and elsewhere that the average American is right-leaning conservative. Even on CNN most of their focus groups taking the pulse of the voters seem to involve Republican Trump supporters, giving the impression that they are the only ones out there. They're not.
14