I agree with every word. The republican party has no shame, no character, and no backbone. Mr. Blow is right; the line was crossed, and action was required, even though the result was a foregone conclusion. The silver lining is that the voters did get to witness a parade of credible witnesses that gave consistent and damning testimony. No matter how much republicans try to hide it, there shameless acts will be remembered in November.
I can't help but think of a scene out of Animal House. "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part. And we're just the guys to do it." I think the voters will prove that it was not futile.
14
You are the first person I turned to, to take heart after this mockery of a verdict. And you did not disappoint. Thank you.
P.S. "Trump sycophants" -- great phrase! In fact, let's condense it into "Trumpophant," the new symbolic animal for the Republican party.
15
One way to flip those Senate seats is to gain access to the small dollar donations of Sanders. In the week prior to Iowa, I got caught up enough to send contributions to Democratic Senate hopefuls in AZ, KY, IA and SC. Can you imagine flipping KY and SC!!! Then...the papers and Democratic establishment went after Sanders ....and decided, save your $ for Sanders. I still would like to support those candidates as obviously that would be helpful to Sanders as President. And remember folks, none of those Senators will be Democratic Socialists, so the private insurance companies will not disappear. Sanders is promoting medicare for all, but will settle for not punishing the poor on income tax day for not being able to afford a policy. Instead it will be health care available to the poor and to those wealthy enough to afford health insurance policies, good for you, but the poor will be grateful for any health care and dental we can get.
6
The impeachment case is all about Trump's use of a false campaign ad. There are about 10 million allegations of false campaign ads every year. And this one is pretty routine. It targets Biden, alleging that he exercised undue influence, an allegation that may or may not be true.
The Democrats have gone on and on about a single attack ad. Time to fess up. A single questionable campaign ad is not grounds for impeachment. Not even close. And take it one step further. The liberal media has repeatedly alleged that Trump's reference to "carnage" in the slums as if it were fundamentally racist. In fact, it is a matter that was also of concern to Dr. King. And yet the liberal media continually speaks of racism, a charge that is borderline at best.
1
I agree with every word in the article. I would add the names of Ted Cruz, Narco Rubio, Rand Paul, and some Republicans in the House.
9
"Sure, most Republican senators are safe this cycle, but some are most definitely vulnerable. That vulnerability must be capitalized upon. They have to go. These are senators like Susan Collins of Maine, David Perdue of Georgia, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Martha McSally of Arizona."
Add Cory Gardner of Colorado to this list. Gardner's trial vote proves beyond any doubt that he's a contemptible, spineless coward. We Coloradoans must do everything we can to remove him from the Senate next fall.
13
Can someone explain to me why the US bothered fighting Hitler in WWII??
Why did my father risk his life to emigrate to this country?
Why did 50,000 kids of my generation die in Viet Nam fighting the evils of Communism?
So we can have a lying president-as-king for life??
So those of us who call ourselves liberal will forever be mocked and verbally spit up - and ruled by a minority??
Something is very, VERY wrong here...
20
I totally agree! But why did you not mention two of the most egregious Senators of all time? McConnell and Graham??? Of all of the Senators that need to be relieved of their jobs, those two are the most deserving of any of them. McConnell has single-handedly obstructed absolutely everything that has come from the House, and indeed has managed to skew the courts so far to the right, we may never recover!! PLEASE TARGET THEM AS WELL.
16
Three years after the 2016 Election and Progressives and
Liberal Democrats have still not learned the lessons of the
Election.
a) Admit that you lost, Hillary ran a terrible campaign.
b) Admit that you have not learned to listen to the remaining
Blue Collar Democrats that turned to Trump, if only because
he made it seem liked his was listening to them.
c) Stop demonizing those who support Trump or question
Progressive Policies that treat those who disagree with them
as un-educated persons who do not know what is best for them.
d) Admit that the Impeachment was rushed, that more witnesses should have been called by the House and subpoenas litigated in the courts to firm up the case for conviction in the House.
e) Admit that Joe Biden helped get Hunter Biden the well paying job in the Ukraine, which he was wholly un-qualified for, where he was paid more per month than most Americans make in a year, for doing next to nothing.
f) Admit the vote to Impeach and to not Convict was largely partisan on both sides.
g) Admit that Bouton conspired with the Vindman Twins to go to the WB, EC, who then went to his friend Sean Misko who was now on Schiff's staff where they told him to go to the Compass Rose Legal Group, which had lawyers that were firmly Anti-Trump and where they helped EC write an indictment of Trump not a complaint.
I voted for Bernie in 2016, I would like to vote for him in 2020.
That won't be possible until the Democrats are honest with
themselves.
4
Charles Blow and Nancy Pelosi are very mad. It’s time for Democrats and others to show similar passion. For starters, I hope Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and The New York Times Editorial Board take note.
Democrats need to win the presidency and take back the Senate.
Dump Trump.
Ditch Mitch.
Vote blue no matter who.
13
And now, I’ve Senators want to continue investigating Hunter Biden. Travesty and waste of taxpayer money.
3
This circus began as soon as Trump was sworn in. Even the NYTimes wanted him removed from office from the get go.
In fact the media and Democrats were proven wrong BIG time when Trump, whom I did not vote for and dislike in many ways, became President. And they have become nothing short of vindictive.
Thing is as, has been shown this week in Iowa, the Democrats will have ONLY themselves to blame should their candidate not win come November. They can't even tabulate the caucus votes form a small white state well.
Fact is, come November voters will look at how the economy is doing. Even Clinton knew that when he said 'Economy stupid' back in '92.
If people have jobs and income to care for themselves and their family, they know they will probably have healthcare, food, clothing, shelter and like it or not family and friends come first. And they will VOTE their pocket book!!
4
When we nominate Sanders all these opportunities will be lost. We will probably lose a couple seats and the House even after Democrats, real Democrats, pledge not to support this Trump of the Left.
1
The unfortunate reality is that voters - even swing voters - are inspired not by logic but by excitement, the backbone for success of media paid for and owned by the wealthiest few who own today's political machine. Few voters actually give consideration to issues of actual significance - beginning with the only legitimate starting point: minimization of corruption upon our political system. Elected officials discard all campaign promises and recommit themselves to the directives of those who pay their way - before, during, and after their terms of political office.
1
"They Acquitted Trump. Make Them Pay!"
To be more specific:
https://www.paybackproject.org/
2
When Joe Biden was in the Senate (110th), these were his fellow Senators (Republican):
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
John Thune (R-SD)
John Barrasso (R-WY)
They are current Senators who never questioned Joe Biden / Hunter Biden BEFORE NOW. Subpoena them to the House!!
5
There is a swarm of internet traffic on Facebook. Trumpists are demanding jail for Schiff, Pelosi, etc. They don't seem to care that that's exactly what the gestapo did.
It's so bad that I stopped arguing rationally with each of them. I just post an edited picture from Schindler's list show the SS rounding up Jews at the closing of the Warsaw ghetto. The edit reads, "I guess you means like ---- right?" And, below, "You're following the right leader: Trumpf"
You can't reason with idolatry; but, you can make fun of it. Perhaps they will see where this is going. Maybe not.
8
Thank you, Charles Blow! I just shared your article on Facebook. You are so correct. We must do our utmost to vote out as many of the traitors as we can.
3
Agree completely!!
3
"The Times needs your voice. We welcome your on-topic commentary, criticism and expertise"
And we need the Times and other media to give their voice in calling out this disgrace of a human being who has tarnished our democracy. " Have you no decency.." would be a good starting point. Trump is out to suppress the press and has made a good start. If you ( and we) don't take him and his cronies to task we will find ourselves slipping slowly into dictatorship.
2
As a Mainer, I can tell you the people of Maine are not happy with Susan Collins. A popular slogan is "Bye, Bye Susan." I will do everything in my power to see she is defeated in the next election. I worked very hard in the 2018 and Maine experienced a "Blue Wave." We will ride that wave again in 2020. Mainers are used to quality Senators like Bill Cohen, George Mitchell, Margaret Chase Smith, Olympia Snowe and Angus King. Collins is nowhere near that calibre of intelligence, morality, and decency. She rubber stamped a sex offender to the highest court in the land. I am not surprised she endorses the corruption of the Trump era.
13
typical Blow! hey, it least you'll be able to conjure more columns like this one until he's re-elected; then you'll have to find something else - maybe reparations
6
@Mark - You’re a typical Republican, gloating at the attempted destruction of our Constitution by Putin’s puppets. Don’t start the celebration yet. It ain’t over.
8
republicans are hypocrites. Everything they complained about Democrats, they are doing; it is pure 100% projection.
Hypocrite, projection: three syllable words, it will be impossible to use those terms to try to sway republicans.
4
hey Joe, why don't you start a site to build that army? You have the visibility to jump start it now.
1
Yes, senators like Collins, Perdue, Ernst, Tillis, and McSally must go.
But to be sure we're all on the same page, here's the complete list of the Republican senators who must be defeated:
Lamar Alexander, TN
Shelley Moore Capito, WV
Bill Cassidy, LA
Susan Collins, ME
John Cornyn, TX
Tom Cotton, AR
Steve Daines, MT
Mike Enzi , WY
Joni Ernst, IA
Cory Gardner, CO
Lindsey Graham, SC
Cindy Hyde-Smith, MS
James Inhofe, OK
Jon Kyl (or whoever), AZ
Mitch McConnell, KY
David Perdue, GA
Jim Risch, ID
Pat Roberts, KS
Mike Rounds, SD
Ben Sasse, NE
Dan Sullivan, AK
Thom Tillis, NC
Spineless. Traitorous. Cowards. Every single one of them.
This shameful vote will be in the headlines of their obituaries and will constitute how history views them. They need to be defeated soundly and shamed and shunned in the public arena.
10
If we do not make the Village Idiot and the Republican Party pay this coming November, then we all will pay a terrible price. And we will deserve it.
9
Charles Blow is so right in what he says, but it's very discouraging to realize that 52% of all Americans have basic or below-basic reading skills. That means that more than half of Americans can't read articles like Mr. Blow's that state the facts about Trump.
Only 2% of our population can read at the highest level, so new ways to get the facts out to the majority of Republican voters have to be devised. This is a challenge for our schools in the long term, but for the 2020 election we need to come up with a strategy to reach all those uninformed voters. This is a shout out to all the creative people who read this to come up with practical ideas to reach the semi-literate.
8
I wonder which party’s rank and file has the most difficulty reading?
1
@Elizabeth Bennett
Had TV networks heeded the advice of Edward R. Murrow following the McCarthy hearings we would have better educated, more informed American citizens. Instead, we got reality shows, more game shows and shows that have dragged many to the lowest intellectual level possible.
When this kind of "entertainment" is a constant diet, we, like the ancient Romans, clamor for more and think our "thumbs up/down" voting is democracy in action. The sad reality is few citizens know or understand that America is a republic, not a democracy.
Ignorance may be bliss but it destroys republics.
7
@Concerned Citizen Well said!
2
Wrong as usual, Blow. It's purely an opinion to say that Trump had "corrupt intent" with the Ukraine call. Your purely partisan assumptions ARE in question.
Trump had every right as president to inquire about the Bidens and THEIR corrupt ties to the Ukraine, at a time when corruption in the Ukraine was a top of issue of concern for the United States. To say that he was trying to affect the 2020 election is also just an opinion, not a proven fact. He also had the right to claim executive privilege against Congressional subpoenas -- as Obama did against Congress during his Fast & Furious debacle -- plus the right as chief of the Executive Branch, under the Constitution, to ask the Judicial branch via a judge to rule on Congressional subpoenas. The Democrats chose not to wait for a verdict, and that's on them and their poor strategy.
Blow and his leftist friends are sure on a losing streak, aren't they?
6
Let's all be happy that justice was done. Four more years.
3
And don't forget Corey Gardner of Colorado!
3
My plan: To keep repeating the mantra, "The GOP is planing to kill your healthcare plan, the GOP is planning to kill your healthcare plan, ad nauseum." Then to back it up, "How much did your paycheck go up by since 2016?" over and over again. Then to drive home the point that the GOP will come after SS, Medicare and Medicaid, assemble the various video clips of Trump saying so, there are quite a few.
Leave everything else to the side, character, religion, racism, the idiotic wall, his love for autocrats etc. This will just confuse the issues. The top three is where it hits the voters personally.
5
It is not good for a country when the case can be made that one of the two major political parties is an enemy of our democratic republic.
5
Sadly, instead of uniting and mobilizing, Democrats are engaged in tearing apart the party, incapable of uniting behind or even defining what a viable candidate might be. Democrats vow to refuse to vote for Sanders or vow to refuse to vote for anyone but Sanders. In Iowa, we proved we can’t organize a one car parade and didn’t even have an increase in participation to blame it on. Welcome to the death of the Democratic Party.
Trump has sadly proved he is capable of sliming anyone. No one wrestles with a pig and comes up clean. He practiced on Clinton (to the gleeful cheers of the Democratic left). Now he’s smeared Biden and made his candidacy unviable (again to glee of the left). Well, lefties, now he’s starting on “Socialism” and it’s not going to be pretty. If you think Sanders can walk away unscathed, you are optimists.
The news media won’t save us. It is still wrapped in “both sides are the same” journalism that refuses to call a liar, a liar least they upset the Fox News crowd that does not even read or watch them!
Impeachment has left Trump unscathed with the highest approval rating of his tenure.
I hope you are right in this opinion piece, but I am pretty discouraged!
3
Charles - you’re saying that democratic voters should vote solely along party lines (regardless of the candidate, her/his views...etc), because you are disgusted by republicans voting along party lines!
You cannot disagree with an action and then promote an equal and opposite reaction that fails the same moral principles you disagree with.
4
Lisa Murkowski's ripe for picking. Many republicans here consider her a RINO anyway, and now she has surely lost the moderate vote.
4
All I hear from Democrats is we need "defeat Trump"
When did the welfare of this country become 2nd to beating an individual?
2
@Longtime Chi - When the White House was taken over by Trumputin, and the Republican Party is loyal to Trump and not to their oaths to honor our Constitution. Next stop: dictatorship. The Democrats appear to be the only ones truly concerned with the welfare of our democratic republic.
4
The authority and power of the Senate is meaningless if they cannot exercise it because they choose to obey a President unconditionally or because the President cannot be constrained by the legitimate limits of authority provided under the Constitution. Fearing to hold Trump accountable for fear of losing their seats is silly. By not holding Trump accountable they are rendering the effective power and authority of Congress a fiction, so their seats are just a reserved place from which they may cheer on the President.
4
Help us press for his taxes!
We need more spotlight on deceit!
5
Payback, is a Hillary...thing.
Or maybe a D thing.
But which politicos will have to pay for what they did?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR5Z6bKRp9A
Yes, yes they will.
D's, Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, et al, have been trying to de-legitimize 45 since he was elected. Followed closely by removing him from office by any means necessary. Everything from Abolishing the Electoral College to now taking away Iowa's first in nation status-it's too white, too Christian, too English speaking, too straight, and is in flyover country anyway.
Well. after impeachment-and even before acquittal-45 has:
"President Donald Trump's job approval rating has risen to 49%, his highest in Gallup polling since he took office in 2017.
"• Approval among Republicans hits 94%
• Poll shows highest party polarization on record
• Half of registered voters say Trump deserves to be re-elected"
Source: Gallup Poll: https://news.gallup.com/poll/284156/trump-job-approval-personal-best.aspx
Oh how the Basket of Deplorables are going to upset the D apple cart in the fall.
3
Posted on February 6, 2020, at 12:32 p.m. ET
Final approval for six arms deals worth roughly $30 million has been held up for more than a year, and Ukraine has no idea why, four officials told
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/ukraine-us-arms-sales
Gotta take to the streets and YouTube every day!
Right on! The true deceit, lies, power-mad Senate Republicans just earned destruction. We MUST rise up against each and every one of them...and get them out of the government. Someone tell me, please: what has Trump done for all these supporters? One misdirected comment, one stand for their constituents (about which Trump cares NOTHING) and he will curse them into history. They are traitors, no doubt about it.
1
Ok I keep hearing about Republicans being “too afraid” to stand up to Trump. But we’re seeing what happens right now with Romney. Is this what they’re afraid of? Being called a loser or Trump putting out a stupid video that only his fans will bother to watch? I’m done hearing about spineless Democrats, if this is what makes Republicans shake and quiver then they’re the real party lacking a spine.
1
His "Celebration" now ongoing is just pathetic, and sick. And scary - this is our President?
1
RESIST! Register and Vote these cowards out of office...
3
Yes, "make them pay", says the vengeful, small minded voice of "other" and polarization.
Unity or division?
The Senators followed their hearts, for all we know, and did their job as far as we know.
let it go, blow
Make Pelosi pay, for this squander of her resources.
Perhaps her eagerness to root out corruption will look at the Biden family and the Clinton Money Machine? I doubt it. Whilst in office, Biden's kids magically got wealthy with daddy as VP in the White House. magic! ?
5
Mr. Blow, you are normally to extreme for me - I want to find the centrist way. But not any more. The trump party has not bottom, there is no level to which it will not sink. So we must do ANYTHING we can to get trump out of office.
6
Very courageous and possibly even more calculating for Mitt Romney, we may well be seeing more of him before the election is over.
2
@Neil: Yowsa. So many here don't begin to have a clue.
1
Control the Senate, yes....
But also democratize the Senate ASAP
If we cannot abolish the Electoral College, then a first step is to isolate the Senate from a role in other apportionments. 535 electoral votes must become 435, based solely on gerrymandered but still roughly democratic apportionment of House seats. (Or better yet 441, to include the current non-voting representatives from D.C./ P.R./ Guam/ Samoa/ Marianas/ Virgin Isles!)
This is only a first step -- it does not solve the problem of undemocratic control of judicial confirmation, among others, but something structural must happen and happen soon and by whatever means necessary.
1
@Henry K. What are Americans thinking when they tolerate unequal weight of votes in national elections? This is a fundamental driver of division.
2
The ONLY way to make the Republicans pay at the ballot box, is for there to be a massive turn out for Bernie Sanders, and flip the Senate BLUE, it's way past time to REALLY EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD, for the "others", and finally silence that "silent majority"....ugh.
@Kim: If there is only one way, don't try it. No plan survives the first few minutes of a battle.
3
The control of the judiciary was the prize Republicans sought, and they have claimed it. Even if we were to win the Presidency, and sweep the House and the Senate, there are still the courts filled with conservative justices, including SCOTUS that will be interpreting law far into the future. We have been out maneuvered purely and simply. This isn't about right nor wrong, with the Republicans, it is about control of power, not for the good of the nation, but for self aggrandizement. The election of 2016 split the Democrats and as a result, we are not in a position right now to regain political power easily or even with a lot of work. Our country is fast becoming unrecognizable as a progressive democracy/republic, as we shift toward an authoritarian form of government. We need to put aside our differences as Democrats and become a united front against blatant corruption by a President who is backed by his minions in the Republican Party.
We need to concentrate on winning seats in the House and Senate, with the hopes of ousting McConnell. He has been the source of a malignant partisanship.
Whoever the Presidential nominee, I will vote a straight Democratic ticket this Fall, with both fear and a tiny amount of hope in my heart that we are not forever lost....
6
@Diana: Thanks to the Senate, when the House wants to query the Executive, it will have to litigate through the Judiciary first.
Great thinking Senators, ye guardians of the people.
1
thank you Mr Blow
The GOP must be removed from power at all levels of gov for decades.
They are white supremacists who dont believe in government let alone democracy.
2
@Dave Davis: Right wing government is typically a kiss-up kick down heirarchy that gives all its members the consolation of having someone to bully below them.
2
Excellent editorial Mr. Blow. Please add Cory Gardner of Colorado to your target list.
3
#Make them pay
The points made here are extremely important. No matter who you support among the Democratic candidates, the races for the Senate are mostly set. Whether it's Bernie, Biden, Warren, or Buttigieg and whether they win or lose against Trump, we have to mobilize voters in AZ, CO, ME, IA, GA, NC to vote AGAINST the Republican incumbents. If not, Trump will have free rein.
1
I wonder where the one percent is on this issue. Where are you Mr. Bill Gates? Where are you Mr. Buffet? Where are you Mr. Musk? Where are you Mr. Zuckerberg? Where are you Mr. Bezos? Where are you Mr. Dimon? Our country is in danger of sliding into fascism and you are as quiet as church mice. Money can't possibly be so important to you at your stages of wealth. Show that you value truth and morality above profits. Don't do what the German industrialists did in the wake of Hitler's rise; most of them joined in. You need to take the side of justice and goodness now. Time does not stand still.
9
Charles is back and he blows them away.
1
amen
Democrats having no platform other than anyone but Trump is not going to cut it, and it's too close to the election to come up with one now.
4
@B: Even Republican voters could appreciate being treated as shareholders of the world's largest corporation. And who likes lawyers besides other lawyers?
1
Impeachment Commentary
A fine how-de-do, impeachment’s a mess
Best left behind the Dems should confess,
What was exposed but the Dems out to fire
Trump at long last; no deal, and no buyer;
Pelosi et al, - their show lingered long
But by Act 3 they knew it went wrong;
Off went the TVs with yawns far too many,
Too much exposure for Schiff, a bad penny
Who carped and carped more, forever after
Until he lost steam with no votes thereafter;
Recriminations that Trump was acquitted,
But from the get-go the scheme was half-witted.
1
@heyomania This doesn't scan.
1
I'm an independent in rural Colorado. Nobody surveyed ME. Where do you get 82% of independents approved of his SOTU speech? No one I know.
Plan to vote Gardner OUT.
11
I agree we all must work toward changing the Senate however there are members of the Sander's campaign that are laser focused on primary of fellow Dems.
Even worse... they did not even censure him!
78
@Andrew: Congress shall henceforth submit all questions of the Executive Branch through the Judiciary.
In other words, Congress is completely neutered.
10
Thank you very much, Charles Blow. I really appreciate you and all your opinion pieces. I may collect yours and other such pieces and make a little booklet to carry around with me.
I especially appreciate Mitt Romney and have contempt for the small-minded Tucker Carlson's repudiation of his standing on his conscience.
We should all hope that conscience gets a re-birth in our political life. Thank you again and again.
3
@Ann Van Sant: Romney voted to route all Congressional inquiries of the Executive Branch through the Judicial system with all the rest of the wanna know nothing Republicans.
I was waiting for someone to yell: "You cheat" at the SOTU.
6
Sinema, Manchen and especially Jones are toast this fall, funny Blow seems to have forgotten that.
@Jordan Sinema and Manchen are not up this cycle. Sinema's other half, McSally, on the other hand...
1
At this point I feel I am writing in a place that may have fringe academic interest 50 years from now, assuming this technology is still readable by anyone.
2
Please don't forget about Sen. Loeffler, who will also be on the ballot in Georgia this year!!
1
Please join us in this reality. It'll be more challenging for you, but your work will be less easy to immediately dismiss.
One senator will "PAY!" for his impeachment vote: Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama. He's a dead man walking.
As for Republicans: The fact is, Trump's popularity is at historic highs. Most Americans, even those who don't like Trump, considered the impeachment a waste of time, and figured Trump and Biden were about even in extorting something from the Ukrainians. The difference: Biden bragged about forcing them to fire the prosecutor looking into the company that hired his son.
A CNN poll yesterday recorded an overwhelming number of Americans saying the economy was better for them than a year ago, and 62 percent credited Trump's stewardship.
Democrats have zero chance of retaking the Senate. Again, please participate in the real world. Impeachment has given Republicans a better chance than before to re-take the House.
As for the White House: Hmmmm. A historically robust economy that a vast majority of Americans say has improved their lives. Or Bernie's $100 trillion trip to 1974 Soviet-style squalor, with a wrecked stock market, punitive taxes for middle class families, recession, high unemployment, and inflation.
Talk about MAKE THEM PAY! That'd be the American family.
5
This North Carolina voter cannot wait to vote against Thom Tillis, for all sorts of reasons!!
3
So far the Democrats can't even get a clean start in the first heat of the race.
Indeed, it is time for Dems to take names and kick butt! To paraphrase the old Christmas song goes: "[We're} making a list, Checking it twice; Gonna find out who's naughty or nice." Don't get made, get even!
2
Yes Donald Trump has control of FOX news but his genius is that he has control over the woke networks too. Sorry but any attention is good attention as far as he is concerned. I'm perplexed and astonished that his elixir works but it does. Besmirch your opponent and charge them of your own crimes. The mob boss rules and he has everyone scared. Except his Papa Putin.
1
@Gary: Nothing Trump says debunks the products advertised.
Nobody is above the law, and I agree. What law was Trump being charged by congress of breaking? Accusations of bribery, treason, and others were being investigated, but none were charged by congress. If they wanted to charge Trump with committing crimes, serious crimes, why didn’t they pursue those charges in the Senate? When Clinton was impeached, crimes were charged, but Democrats and some Republicans didn’t think they reached the level of impeachment. And no, it wasn’t just about sex. It included suborning perjury. I think Senators were hesitant to remove a president so close to an election for ethical lapses. If there would have been serious crimes proven, I think all Senators would have voted to remove Trump from office.
4
@Fran: YES! Let’s get Amy McGrath elected in Kentucky. I will dance in the street when McConnell is defeated!
7
If the Democrats choose Sanders as their candidate, Trump will win. This country will not elect a self declared socialist.
11
They should have been outed by their Democratic colleagues and they still should be. Those who "privately" don't like Trump, think he is guilty, don't like his holding the office... Why are Dems still being polite while the Republicans sell the country and everyone in it? Take the gloves off--say what you know. Or are the Dems as frightened as the poor spineless Republicans?
3
Enjoyed reading "The Blessing", a seemingly simplistic novel by Nancy Mitford with autobiographical notes, where a spoiled child with cunning manages to keep his parents apart, and ends up getting his ears soundly boxed. His luck eventually runs out.
In the meantime, a note of appreciation to Mr. Blow and The New York Times for holding many Americans steadfast, with an ongoing reminder of what our Nation needs to address, as parents in charge of an unruly child on the brink of criminal acts.
2
I have already let Cory Gardner know he should start sending his resume out.
1
vote for traitors who sell their country to foreign interests, for money and for power, or vote against them. it's really that simple.
3
Well said Mr. Blow. Thank you. Vote them all out!
'My hat off for Mitt Romney who alone has shown his bravery, honesty, and courage standing up to the so called goon King who has shamelessly controlled the American Congress and Senate and judiciary under his hands like Saudi King, Egypt dictator and African Mogumbo, all together. When 51 Senators of ruling party vote for the tainted President, he alone stood up to him and raised his courageous voice; the President is "guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust".'
3
Mark Keilly is an outstanding candidate for McSally's Senate Seat.....VOTE BLUE!
5
Amen brother Blow. You’re preaching to the choir.but count me in!
1
Yep; You're doing a good job, Charlie!
Actual or potential Democrat voters are little different than big business or corrupt politicians in that all are, most of all, interested in money, their financial well-being. Democrat candidates who only discuss pie-in-the-sky ideas involving massive institutional change are likely to crash to earth. Democrats’ proposals are, first, best promoted as long-term goals (which recognizes our institutional inertia & doesn’t scare off potential voters). Even more important, bring these ideas down to earth & explain as precisely as possible how the proposals will put money in voters’ pockets. Now all matters of importance don’t come down to dollars & cents, but for those who only dislike Trump & are now at least questioning Republican ethics, such real world discussions are what they need to hear.
Unfortunately America, you’ve worked yourself into a situation where the only person who might beat Mr. Trump in November is someone who is the mirror of him on the Dem side. George Clooney, for example, could beat DJT. There are probably 10 others too. Stop talking politics and start talking personalities.
(Unfortunately)
@GJD
A personality?
Oh, you mean, like Trudeau.
4
Sure, Trudeau works, though Trudeau’s pedigree is political. I think Alex Baldwin fits better, a literate mirror image satirist up against a suspicious property developer turned reality TV star.
2
Thank you, Mr. Blow. I entirely agree. I've stated all along that with an acquittal by Senate Republicans, it can be a political advertising bonanza for all non-Republican candidates. And as to the backfiring effect of being so against Trump, along with going after people who've so enabled him? Many non-Republican candidates have clearly stated humane policies and plans as alternatives to the hideous ones promoted by Trump and his Republican ilk. Those non-Republican candidates express very relevant, positive messages along with those that are anti-Trump. The critics who focus on that supposed backfiring effect seem to think that things have to be all one way or the other, or they haven't really been paying any attention to the non-Repubican candidates' campaigns. Both messages are the key! Go for it!
Your readers are overwhelmingly in blue states. But it's red states where we need to be effective.
Right now GOP operatives are busily scrubbing the voter rolls and suppressing the vote in many other ways. We need a way to help.
What are some ways blue-state people can help protect the vote in red states?
3
@Louis
By not nominating a leftist like Bernie or Warren.
6
Sue—the Rightists have done such a bang up job in the last three years: riding on the back of Obama’s heavy lifting, the economy is wobbling along well enough to keep rank and file quiet and, at the same time, grossly rewarding ALECophiles who are chipping away at political, societal, and philosophical cohesion. We have met the enemy and he is...gulp.
1
Democrats need to focus on one thing and one thing only: turnout. They have the numbers, even in swing states. They do not need to convince millions of fence-sitters to support their candidate. They need to get EVERYONE who disagrees with Trump and his bootlicking cult followers to take the time to vote. That especially means minority voters -- Blacks and Hispanics -- and younger voters. It means energizing those groups especially. How? Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket because he is honest, earnest, consistent, and is the only candidate who has shown he can rally younger voters. For VP - Stacey Abrams, who has shown what a strong mind she has and has demonstrated an ability to appeal to a wide range of voters -- not just African Americans and women but people from all walks of life. With that ticket (and Bloomberg's gazillions if they're still on the table) I honestly don't think the election would even be that close.
3
1) It was extortion, plain and simple.
2) Can some group organize an online contribution site that can bundle donation to the democrats listed (yes, and Cory Gardner)?
3) On another note, when will the democrats start articulating and promoting their basic values and ideology along with their abstract appeals and policies: some core value and principle to believe in---that represents the democratic party? We live in the age of spectacle. The republicans have understood that since Reagan. They elect a salesman to sell the product then private interests run the country. They stumbled into Trump the great conman. The democrats have a product. What is it--in a word, a phrase? Who will sell it? I just don't see it.
You say "must", but much of this is "wouldn't it be nice if".
The Republican Senators are solidly supported by their misinformed constituents and wealthy financial backers. The Democrats are splintering over principles. The right wing always knows how to close ranks and win. People watching Fox news will never learn the actual numbers about manufacturing jobs. It is a much more difficult problem than anyone imagines.
93
@seattle expat I disagree. What have the Democrats done for Americans lately? We pay their 3 digit salaries. For what? To Troll the President? Make them pay for what? There was NO Proof of a Crime . It was all based on assumption and what the democrats wanted us to believe. We saw the transcript. The Ukraine leader said he never felt threatened ever. So because he ASKED him to look into it as Trumps supporters were posting about it and he didn't know anything about this it's a mortal sin? NOTICE! President Trump didn't tweet anything about him asking of it. It was the DEMOCRATS that decided to make this a big headline. Biden was never and never will be a threat to this President. BUT! This President is surely a threat to any Democrat running. So , tell me, who is it that is doing what for their own political gain? It's the Democrats! Because they know Trump is going to win this election. The Russian Collusion Hoax fell through so they grabbed at anything as we saw with Schiff's highly distorted version of this conversation. little did he know, the President, who has nothing to hide would release the REAL conversation. Doesn't that bother you at all? They voted according to law ..You can't impeach a President because your afraid he's going to win nor can you on weak assumptions or twisting a conversation where something was briefly mentioned into political Gain .He already CAN beat Biden. So there was no reason to have to dig up anything on him for political gain.
11
@seattle expat: The internet has only created even more isolated silos so far.
2
@seattle expat Absolutely agree - Mr. Blow and others like him write as though they are observers of a different country and a different population. The Democrats, by and large, will always be at a disadvantage as they are bound by the rules of ethics and fair play. Concepts the Republicans, frankly, laugh at.
13
Make them pay? Sure. Keep waging war against Donald Trump and watch him sail into his second term.
Democrats keep missing the most crucial point: voters are sick and tired of the Democrat’s hysteria, ad nauseam, over Donald Trump. Voters want to hear precisely how Democrats intend to improve the lives of American citizens.
This obsession with ‘beating Donald Trump’ is NOT a winning strategy.
67
@Susanna I think you missed the point of the article. The author is advising Democrats to concentrate on the Senate races, NOT on Trump's reelection bid, and I agree with him. The Democratic House has already passed hundreds of bills to help Americans. With Mitch obstructing those bills, nothing happens.
40
@Kerry: The Mueller investigation was just a two year stall to let Trump settle in.
3
@Steve Bolger Sadly, this is essentially true, and shows the importance of Democrats having taken the House. With voter suppression and horribly bad luck in the selection of states up for the 2018 vote the Senate was out of reach, unfortunately, and we're paying a terrible price for that.
6
I have donated to the campaigns of Jamie Harrison, Amy McGrath, and Doug Jones, even though I've never even visited those states. I give monthly to Mark Kelly's campaign with hopes of his unseating Martha McSally. I gave to Adam Schiff's campaign, even though I know he's in a safe district, to show support for a man who worked so tirelessly to get the truth out to the citizens.
7
Obviously the prosperity you have enjoyed while Trump has been President has allowed you to have the cash to make donations.
2
@William McCain Maybe she had the cash to do this long before Trump came on the scene or even before former President Obama came on the scene. I did and know of others who did.
1
Just tell me where to send money to Mitch McConnell's opponent.
4
@Frances Grimble
https://amymcgrath.com
1
@Frances Grimble. Glad you brought that up.Mitch is more vulnerable than ever this time. Widely despised here. He even has 7 Republican primary opponents - none very strong. Our best Democratic candidate is Mike Brohier (Broyer). He checks all the boxes: retired Marine Lt Colonel, former editor of a rural weekly & educator. Mike & his wife Lynn have been farming in Lincoln Co. for 15 years. He is an unequivocal, approachable & accessible liberal in a red state, but well liked by rural & urban voters alike. Go to mikeforKY.com. You’ll like what you see.
2
Her name is Amy McGrath. Her website is: https://amymcgrath.com
2
Flipping the Senate is Job 1 in my view which is why Bernie scares me. I think with him at the top of the ticket, the Senate stays red even if by some miracle he wins the WH.
70
@JMM Very reliable and valid polls have clearly shown that the majority of people in this country want what Sanders professes. It is a constant frustration for Sanders to continue to hear otherwise--as if the majority still indicates "leftist," thus being a logical contradiction. "It's the voter turnout, stupid." That's my broadcast about what will make a difference, as it did in the record turnout for midterms in 2018.
8
@Richard Hahn: Sanders doesn't even understand corporations, of which the US Federal Government is the largest in the world.
3
A friend of mine gave me an idea. She said to send donations to Democratic Senate candidates who are facing Republican incumbents in the 2020 Senatorial election. I did a little research and gave donations (albeit small) to Mark Kelly, AZ, Jaime Harrison, SC, Amy McGrath, KY and Sara Gideon, ME. I thought it was a great idea to try to help the Democratic party win a majority in the Senate. I now pass this idea onto you all and maybe we can make something happen! Thank you in advance.
7
@Ann
Strongest Democrat to beat Mitch is Mike Brohier (Broyer) He checks all the boxes & unlike Amy (who is not as popular in Ky as Outsiders think/wish), Mike doesn’t equivocate. He has broad appeal. Check out mikeforKY.com
I wonder how much of your contribution gets to the candidate?
I would add Mitch McConnell to the list. He is disliked in Kentucky, and Democrat Amy McGrath is raising money hand over fist. McConnell is not invulnerable either.
5
Scrim1, you're wasting your money on Amy McGrath. The only reason she is running for the Senate is that she lost her race for the House last time around. No way does she beat Mitch McConnell.
It reminds me of when the Republicans thought they were going to beat Harry Reid in Nevada in 2010 by running Sharron Angle. Didn't work. Not even close.
1
Nancy and Schiff should go is right. What an inane impeachment. They didn’t even call the right witnesses. Do they know a subpoena is? If they were around in 74 Nixon would have never left office.
9
I think they know what a subpoena is. Something the President and his enablers would ignore or fight in the courts for all eternity.
1
Don't forget Amy McGrath in Kentucky.
5
Do not elect Kelly Loeffler or Doug Collins along with David Purdue for the two open Senate Seats in Ga.
I think everyone should stop calling these Senators “Republicans.” They certainly aren’t. Except for Mitt Romney (and may God bless him), they’re all “ Trumplicans” now.
5
Democrats should nominate for President and stand behind Mitt Romney. I’m not a Romney fan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Putting Mitt on the 2020 ballot would give sane Republicans an option and Democrats a bipartisan stamp that clearly says the country cannot survive as a democracy or republic if trump bullies his way back into the Oval Office.
1
Great. I'm looking forward to those binders of women who he'll consider for jobs.
2
Right on!
Flipping the senate is just as important as flipping the presidency.
Dear Mr. Bloomberg:
If you would like your money to help save the USA, please make a small donation (say, $10 million) to each of the democratic opponents of all the republican senators up for reelection.
Thank you,
Future generations of Americans.
4
Make who pay for what?
Every transaction in the world calls for quid pro quo, go to the store and the grocer tells you "I'll give you that candy bar for a dollar." Nothing wrong with that - unless you plan to lock-up every person who conducts business.
Until now, there were no American forces on the ground in Ukraine. Trumps quid pro quo did not endanger any US citizens or assets, it didn't put any of us in harm's way (unless you consider the reelection of Trump placing the entire country in harms way).
Like they always do, the Democrats jumped too soon and used a micro transgression to stir-up the entire country OVER NOTHING!
They pushed their weak case based on having enough time to campaign for the next election. Pelosi was forced to play her hand without a trump card (pun intended).
Don't punish the Senate, they saw a weak case (no blood no foul) and voted appropriately.
That said, the real villain here is the court system. As soon as Trump began refusing to react to summonses Roberts should have ordered that all cases regarding the impeachment move through the courts ahead of any other business. He should have set short decision times and mandated that the courts make a decision within one week of receiving the complaint.
John Roberts failed the people and he's going to do it again and again. If you want to go after the real villains - go after the courts - impeach Roberts.
6
@William: your analogy is flawed - your mother sends you to the store to buy vegetables for the family with her money. Instead you try to buy sweets for yourself, but get nervous when your brother threatens to let your mother know. You then go home and complain about the fuss. Do you think your mother should send you out with her money again?
1
William, good points. but the fail of the Dems was on the lack of charges, not jumping too soon. we're in the 4th year of this abomination of a WH. he'd lready committed enough to have been impeached late in 2018, early 2019. Dens should have started investigations as soon as began his near weekly trips to mar e lago. or when he failed to divest of the old US post office hotel in DC.
The Republicans need to get out and campaign for those running for office in the house and give the Republicans a majority once again. That should not be too difficult since the Democrats have carried on these sham investigations and they are are not too popular right now. They need to be voted out and a good “house” cleaning is due. They are the ones who must be removed.
3
@KMW: what sham? Not the case against Trump. A number of Senate Republicans have admitted that the case was proven, but then voted to acquit under pressure from the White House. More evidence will continue to put the Republicans to shame. As the old adage went, “there’s none so blind as them that will not see”.
1
Hopefully that is how it will play out, it should be the primary tactic of Democrats going into this upcoming election – regardless of the impeachment farce.
1
Well, last time Trump won on a whim, it was a joke! This time he has a track record, and the Dems are kind of a joke. We’ll see.
6
Lets hope the voting public get out in great numbers and exercise the democratic responsibility that the Republican Senate failed to do
2
Sorry to say this, but don’t count on many of them paying a price for their support of Donald Trump. Collins, maybe, but Ernst, Perdue, Tillis, and McSally all live in states with plenty of voters who despise minorities and immigrants, fear the future, and see Trump as their defender against the assaults of social change and the advancing calendar. They’ll do just fine, thank you. The geographic sorting of our population, as well as the persistent militant minority of conservatives, are a hard obstacle to overcome.
Kentucky elected a Democratic governor in 2018. McConnell not so popular according to polling data. Graham popular but his displays Trump conversion to venomous language combined with his role in the cover up or suppression of evidence may prove problematic for him. What we learned from Eric Kantor's primary defeat and the 2018 elections no seat is safe once the public smells the coffee.
As more damaging news surfaces, Congress takes measure steps and Bolton goes on book tours or testifies suppressing evidence providing cover for Trump painful for the leadership and Senators. Special message to Susan Collins dream on.
2
Trump is a proud xenophobic, misogynist, grifter, why would the Republican Senators co-sign it? Unless they can "identify" with him, they are shameless just like him....ugh. We made them pay in 2018, I'm sure we will make them pay in November most are just tired of him....ugh.
3
@Kim
just keep calling Trump's voters "xenophobic, misogynist, grifters" and I'm sure you'll do fine.
3
I generally do not vote a straight ticket. There are some Republicans in this state that I know and admire. There are some Democrats who I feel are not the best choice. This year however I will not vote for any Republican candidate because of the influence on the party of its candidate for President. He must not be re-elected.
12
Alternatively: they persecuted Trump; make *them* pay. I know I will do my best on that front.
94
@HMI so you were considering voting for Democrats before the impeachment?
34
@HMI , just what is it about Trump, a proven liar and utterly corrupt, amoral, and cruel to boot, that inspires such fierce indignation on his behalf? Please illuminate us.
177
@HMI The word is "prosecuted." As one does, with criminals.
131
Here’s one big problem:
Mark Zuckerberg said last fall that CANDIDATES would be allowed to continue running false ads on Facebook. (Commercial advertisers, on the other hand , are subject to fact-checking.)
And let’s not overlook that a Facebook executive wrote in a leaked memo that Trump “got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I’ve ever seen from any advertiser.”
Facebook is a big part of the problem if we want to clean up elections and have fair contests—which Trump certainly does NOT want.
5
Wait. A Facebook employee thinks Trump's campaign using electronic media (including Facebook ads, obviously) was the reason why Trump won the election? Why wouldn't he say that?
And you think this is relevant why?
I don't use Facebook so they didn't affect me at all.
Neither ekectronic media nor wild horses could have convinced me to cast a vote for Clinton
Trump ran 5.9 million Facebook ads last election between June and November. Hillary ran 66,000 Facebook ads.
1
Trump party should be the correct usage for the party formerly known as Republican and I for one will begin to use the term regularly. I urge others to do as well. You can bet the ranch that his minions will be worshipping their "chosen one" long after he is gone from office. And as a registered Republican, I will vote blue no matter who, including state and local elections.
7
I'll be doing whatever I can to send Cory Gardner back home to Colorado. His lead is by a very thin margin. I know lots of progressives here in Colorado who will not be voting for him.
5
Well stated. Thank you.
Suggest you add McConnell and Graham to the top of the list.
3
It is important to focus on the most vulnerable Republican senators but you left out the most dangerous of senators, Mitch McConnell. McConnell ushered in the rise of trump when he opposed all legislative efforts by Obama regardless and when he illegally prohibited the Garland hearing. McConnell is far more dangerous than trump could ever hope to be. He colluded with the trump WH to violate the senatorial oath of upholding the Constitution and having a fair impeachment trial. He sits on over three hundred bills from the House on his desk. He and his wife have enriched themselves at our expense in the family shipping business. McConnell is the maestro of the trump orchestra. He must be removed from office.
8
Mitch has an opponent and you can do something to help her win!
Mitch McConnell is Trump's supreme partner in crime. He must not be allowed to continue his hold on power. He alone prevented a true, legitimate President Obama's selection of a Supreme Court candidate, Merrick Garland, from consideration. He alone has sat on over 200 House-passed pieces of legislation, refusing to even have them come up for discussion in the Senate. He alone has shown his evil and prejudiced role in the impeachment by strategizing and coordinating his actions directly with Trump's legal team. He MUST be thrown out as Senate Majority Leader in the next wave of elections. May courage and morality be reign again in the Senate in November, by a landslide!
8
Without the impeachment process, the congressional Republicans would not have had to reveal their authentic selves so spectacularly. Now we have all seen and heard from their own mouths the expressions of their deep seated cravings for power and their utter distain for the constitution to which they pledged their loyalty. For that reason and for many others I am grateful to the Democrats for pursuing justice as it was laid down by our forefathers. In spite of the shameful outcome, history will have a record of this important time in the evolution of America.
4
There -is- a solution.
Vote Them All Out!
The Republican party has proven that it's current Congressional members are unqualified, and have willingly broken their oaths to the Constitution, and to "impartial justice" to participate in Trump's cover-up.
Vote Them All Out!
One, only one of them had even a smattering of courage, even a bit of conscience, even a small amount of honor to vote against the whitewash "acquittal" of Trump's perfidy. Only one of them.
They are -all- unqualified to hold their offices.
Vote Them All Out!
4
Sorry Charles your low blow hyper partisanship to make senate Republicans regret their sins as you perceive them may help you keep opinionating but it will hardly matter. In November 2020 the real American people that matter not the opinion columnists of the NY Times or its readers who were already biased to start with will have ZERO influence on how those who acquitted Trump will have to pay. I am quite impressed with how all the senators were fair minded in how they voted. Even Romney got his chance to break away from the process making it a bipartisan exercise just like the bipartisan opposition to the articles of impeachment in the house. I feel very sorry for the democrats. They have no idea of the ferocious tornado called a triumphant Trump barreling in their direction, the worse is yet to come for the dysfunctional divided disgruntled deranged democratic party of 2020. Look inwards my democratic friends, there are so many problems facing our country and your wish to have a one point agenda to make Trump and the senate Republicans pay will be regrettable for you. Wish for uniting America and serving the nation to the best of your ability. One of my guiding principle in life has been "revenge is a waste of time. Continue to selflessly work for the good of all" and I hope it becomes a guiding principle of both parties.
9
trump will pay by being reelected. the audacity of the dems to pu this to trial after mueller report said no nothing to see here and the months of clandestine hearings, could you believe with all the money and the full power of the house all they could come up with were the feckless second tier employees. thye ended the investigation and then demanded more time. totally inefficient fools as one would except from the swamp. vivia trump and all the republicans to follow. the only question is when will they start calling themselves the whigs
3
I don't have a lot of faith in the DNC. Why did they pull out of the Dakotas entirely, or did I hear incorrect information? Every state has 2 senators, no matter what the population. Take back the Senate!
1
You really think the voting public will even care? Most are trying to come up with excuses not to vote- at all! This country is going to the dogs because of apathy! Trump will win again in November. The only people whom are motivated to vote are the “haters” “bigots” and college drop-outs. Welcome to a decade of hate.
1
I find it charming that you think virtue and morality matter anymore.
1
I will be happy to get out there and support senators but it will be those of the Republican Party. They saw what a sham impeachment trial this was and could not vote to remove President Trump from office. They voted exactly the way they thought was right and fair. They are well aware that the Democrats have not stopped attacking our president since he was elected. Yes I will get politically involved but it will be with the Republicans. They all have my vote and support.
3
Donald Trump just let America know that he appreciates those who blindly supported him and that he plans pay back for everyone and everyone who didn't take the loyalty oath.
1
I have been saying this for over a year. Take on those Republican Senators who put party above Country, let fear rule them instead of the rule of law.
How do we do this? Make Democrats Republicans. If we can't get Dems elected, then get those Dems who are a bit more conservative, and support their change to the Republican Party with the directive to bring it back from the brink of Trump-insanity. I NEVER thought I would be applauding Mitt Romney and wishing he was running as a Republican, but what he did - stand up to the establishment, is exactly what is needed. Dems that can do this should invade the Repub party like a virus and bring it back so we can actually have bipartisan cooperation and make this country really great again.
1
Exactly, Mr Blow. It is crucial that we defeat trump. It is crucial that we flip the Senate. The behavior of our leaders matters. We are being lead in the direction of lawlessness and chaos, bigotry and hatred, fiscal insanity and bankruptcy.
JFK exhorted us to "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
There are those who will tell us that because the stock market is high we must vote for trump. They of course do not mention that it was peaking during the Bush term. They will tell us that job numbers are great. They of course do not say that the gain was greater during the Obama years. They will tell us that because trump still promises that he will protect us from non-white, non-christian immigrants we must vote for him. McConnell says that he is not an impartial juror, that cheating is OK if you win. That it is only bad if you get caught and lose.
Well, we can do something for our country. We can stand up for truth. We can stand up for justice. We can stand up for morality, kindness and empathy. We can vote those who do not do those things, out of a sense of self entitlement and cowardice, out of office.
1
This 2020 election is not about politics. It's about integrity. It's about recognizing when a party and a public servant is so morally and intellectually corrupt that it forfeits their rights to represent the American people. If this nation continues its public debate mode of politics-as-usual, then we eventually get down in the superficial gutter with Trump and his party. Public radio and TV now does almost as much to represent spectacle-oriented reporting as the vapid networks of CNN, MSNBC, & fake Fox News, with public radio interrupting its programming for a presidential speech that we all knew had nothing redeemable before Trump spoke.
We don't have to deny politeness to be truthful. "The Great Divider" Trump deserves our contempt but still a modicum of respect for the office he holds. How to demonstrate that respect will obviously be debatable, but we must not let our disgrace of a president drag us down into the superficial or the "payback" mode of the Indivisible movement. Mitt Romney showed us the courage of honesty yesterday. Let this be an example for "the other side of the aisle", so that we show only a genuine and not a politicized contempt for the evil of the sinner in the White House--someone we can still love in the truly Biblical sense of loving our enemies.
1
Amen! And we must do the same in 2022 and 2024. There cannot be any forgiveness for those too cowardly to stand up to Trump. We must be as ruthless as Trump and provide no mercy to these Republican Senators. Every last one should be run out of office. Deport them to Russia. They will fit right in.
And, at the same time, I am a lifelong Democratic considering making a small donation to Mitt Romney (even though he isn’t necessarily ever running again) as a sign of respect for his courage and character.
3
I have been sick to my stomach since trump descended from his escalator in 2015. The bullying, lying crudeness and cruelty of his policies has been anguish enough. However the destruction of the Separation of Powers and any accountability to the Executive will have anti democratic consequences for years. The blatant lies and "performances" in the State of the Union further erodes decency and tradition. If this man gets 4 more years we will no longer have a Democratic Republic. This is not exaggeration, rather a study and knowledge of political consequences. Vote BLUE for every office for the love on your children and grandchildren as well as our fragile environment being upended with near daily deregulations on clean air and water.
2
Over 275 days the GOP had this cover up fake trial on . They need to pay the tax payers back. They had no intention of doing the right thing convict and evict now get them where it hurts in the wallet.
Why don't you encourage the House to hear the new witnesses and gather the new evidence? If it's all that important find that all out and bring it up.
2
Make them pay by contesting them in every election would be nice. The Dems don't do that.
1
"extreme tribalism and devotion to Trump."
No one is devoted to Trump - they are just afraid of him.
1
If I'm not mistaken, Mitch McConnell is up for reelection too and he's the worst of the offenders. I know KY is a very red state and that's why Amy McGrath needs even more of our help. It's shameful the way he engineered that so-called trial, the only trial I've ever seen without hearing witnesses and seeing every bit of evidence that can be produced. The House was akin to an indictment, verifying that there is enough evidence for a trial, while the Senate was supposed to conduct the trial. Senate Republicans blatantly refused to do their jobs. Now it's our job to remove them from office.
5
The 2018 midterms showed us the way: moderate Democrats focusing like a laser beam on bread and butter issues like the healthcare, college, jobs, housing. Do what works.
Liberal outrage about the horrors of Trump, however fitting, just fuels more backlash from the Trumpets and would-be Trumpets. It is Trumpian rocket fuel. Do not - NOT - talk about social issues at all.
Focus on how he has made healthcare harder to afford, that manufacturing jobs are not only not coming back, but the manufacturing sector is officially in recession.
How he has not reduced the number of illegal immigrants, has not gotten his Wall made, has not made Mexico pay for it.
Point out that his one good idea - the $1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill - just evaporated the moment he was sworn in.
Point out that farmers are hurting due to his trade war.
Talk about how his tax breaks for the rich has exploded the deficit.
Point to his tangible failures.
10
@Livonian :
Also turn out the vote, especially among women of color.
2
I agree with Blow for one of the few times with two exceptions.
1. "Anything that can be done to oust these Republican senators must be done." Unless he means "Anything within the Constitution that can be done...".. I'll give him the benefit of doubt here...deserved or not.
2. He assumes most Americans feel that the Democrats are any less likely to act on "tribalism" than the GOP, or most Americans feel that the Democrats are less corrupt. Both may be a bit risky assumptions.
3. "No one in this country is above the law." Really?
1
I cannot and will not argue against this column. But did we notice that Putin's Hump had his highest approval rating yet, at 49%. allegedly because of the performance of the economy.
If the Americans in general do not even understand that (1) a president has only a small influence, if even that, on the economic performance and (2) the current economic performance is at the expense of the $1 Trillion deficit, then can we count on them to make Hump's enablers pay?
Yes, they should be made to pay. But will they? After all, just look at the guy placed to sleep and watch TV in the WH by Putin.
4
McConnell and other Republicans committed perjury when they took an oath to God to give impartial justice, after they told us they would do what Trump wanted.
Does anyone care?
9
The Republican Party as we have known it no longer exists. In fact it has been nonexistent now for over a year, thanks to Donald Trump who has devoured it like a parasite from within, leaving a shell like appearance of what is left of these Republican senators and congressmen. Educated Democrats for years have held great respect for their Republican counterparts but now that the Republican Party has been turned in to a neofascist cult, all bets are off.
And in this way Mr. Blow is absolutely correct ; this is no longer about defeating Donald Trump, it’s about cutting off the head of this toxic dragon that is impersonating the Republican Party.
Defeating them all in November is the best and most resounding way to send a message to them that the party is indeed over.
5
It is nice to read many comments and articles from persons who say that no matter what someone has done to make their life difficult for several years, they will automatically forgive the tormentors. Surely Trump must be the only person who carries a grudge.
2
If you want to defeat Trump stop shopping from June until after the election. You will save money while saving America.
2
Trump's UNpressurized phone call to the Russian President was well within his job duties to protect our country. Look it up. It's the law.
3
@Really?
Ummm...protect us from what, exactly?
He didn't withhold the same money from Ukraine the first two years of his presidency. What suddenly changed that was necessary to protect our country?
Hmmm...what's changed since those first two years? I doubt you'll need to look that up.
We must have term limits for the House and Senate. Thankfully, there are term limits in place for the President.
Politicians make a career of getting a free lunch from the taxpayers. Vote the bums out and let's rally for term limits.
2
Thank you Charles! I passionately agree with you, and it looks like Indivisible's Payback Project could be a helpful and interesting way of channeling the anger and frustration that one may feel due to the immoral, dishonorable and disgraceful Republican behavior.
3
Make them pay sounds nice but if the Democratic party keeps up with the "my respected colleagues" and "learned opponent" stuff in the Senate it's only words. When the Democrats take off the gloves and stop their naivete and gullibility and act like Trump and the GOP are going to cheat and lie and sabotage every caucus and primary, then I'll believe they're serious. Start calling them out as hypocrites and spineless cowards. Start calling them traitors to America. Get some campaign ads going that will get under Trump's skin. Push him over the edge and get him to drive his crazy train over the cliff. Get out the vote and take both houses and the Presidency. Get out the blue tsunami.
1
In Montana, I am committed to voting against Steve Daines.
1
It has been a foregone conclusion from day 1. I also expected someone like Mittens to be the proverbial sacrificial lamb for the Republicans who do not really need him. Now Mittens is really honorable as people think, he should turn independent. Quite a few Republicans have done so for reasons and causes less disgusting than that WH abomination.
2
After her long “explanation” on why she voted for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to SOTUS, and her laughable comments on why she voted for Mr. Trump's acquittal she deserves – IMHO , no credibility at all - from no one.
2
@Efraín Ramírez -Torres
Sorry - I was referring to Senator Susan Collins from Maine.
Make them pay. How disgusting. Just because the Senate Republicans viewed the impeachment differently than him, Blow thinks they should pay for their "sins"? So, punish anyone who thinks different than Blow? We don't need zealots in this country and should be opposed to those who are. I thought Democrats were proud to have always taken the high road. Blow is taking the underground.
8
Glad to read Charles has a new mission and passion in life: Three years ago it was to never let Trump out of his sight and to watch him like a hawk for the slightest misstep. Now he's heading up a Neighborhood Watch over all Republican Senators. The resistance never sleeps.
5
People who are calling for a Democratic moderate to run against T, are overlooking not only amongst too many, their incompetence (Biden's lack of being on top of his game, much less able to fight T without crashing) or lack of experience in negotiating so many constituents (Buttigieg), but the important fact that the progressives are carrying a vision; and giving a sense of Hope, enthusiasm, passion for politics that the others cannot tap and which will not carry that huge populace to the polls. Crazy! A vision and pathway to truly reform our corporate controlled polity will bring out the voters to overturn T and we all know that voter turnout WILL determine the outcome of the election!
2
How about recruiting Sherrod Brown?
1
After the Corrupt Republican Party crashes and burns, is it possible that a new, principled, conservative Constitutional Party might arise from the ashes to carry on the Great Experiment of self-government? As a life-long Dem (86 years) I'd vote for them. At least until they got off life-support. The idea of a one-party system should be anathema to every right- or left-thinking American.
3
I shutter to think what this Country's politics will become if we fail to "Make Them Pay." Thanks to Trump, we now know there is a significant portion of the electorate (Call them what you will.), who yearn for Trump-style leadership, even if it destroys the fabric and strength of the Nation. Just think of the dozens of political imitators, out there, just waiting in the wings to capture a weak- kneed party like the GOP and then march us off to Authoritarianism. Believe me, it's on the horizon folks. It's on the horizon.
7
@BILL BAILEY Authoritarianism is on the horizon no matter which party is in charge. If you think Republicans are challenging democracy now, just wait to see how much climate change legislation will polarize our politics. If you think rural America is revolting now at the idea of government coming for their guns, just wait until they think someone is coming for their trucks.
2
This obsession with Trump and "making him pay" is only helping to destroy any chance democrats have of winning anything. You're playing Trump's game on his turf with his ball, and you're losing. Please remember the 2018 election when the democratic candidates actually had a message and a plan, and they won. This compulsion with all things Trump, and the strategy that Mr. Blow suggests will only lead to failure yet again.
6
I hope every young person eligible to vote in this next election hears this call to action. My question, is it that we have lost the soul of America or just that it has revealed its truth. The question I have for young voters, is this the america you want? Its this next generation that will have to decide where we go from here.
2
Absolutely spot on. McConnell didn't give Trump the Senate acquittal for free. He could have easily swung his caucus against Trump, endorsed Pence as a "place holder" and moved on. But, he certainly made promises, deals and gave assurances to secure his members support for acquittal. In the last two days, we've heard, repeatedly, references to infrastructure and reducing drug prices. McConnell has previously thwarted the bipartisan Grassley-Wyden bill capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors and requiring drug companies to pay back Medicare if they increase prices faster than inflation. It might sound far fetched but was Grassley's vote to acquit traded for an assurance of the bill's passage, moving it finally to Trump ( who says he supports it) for signature? Are there pet infrastructure projects in other Senators states now being considered for passage? Did those Senators trade their acquittal votes for those assurances? No question McConnell had Trump over a barrel. But, McConnell was playing the long game. He most likely saw his opportunity to give Republicans Senators wins on key issues and lock down their bids for re election thereby keeping his majority in power. That's politics. And, McConnell always held all the cards.
3
Charles at this most critical time when we might be on the verge of losing the purpose of the constitution can we now call out the one group who can insure the lawful continuance of the constitution-- celebrities who are well known moderate republicans who have been sitting on the sidelines. Surely, an appeal from them to leave the Trump clan would have a very great effect on republican citizens.
What Trump did was only wrong if it was PURELY for personal political gain. If there was no chance of corruption and a corruption cover-up on the Biden's part, then Trump was wrong. But do you really believe that?
Every knows what the Democrats have SAID they believe, but do you REALLY believe that Burisma hired the VP's son and the Secretary of State's son for any reason other than buying influence with the US Government?
It seems to many that there was a very real chance of corruption at the highest levels of U.S. government. If so, Pres. Trump had a very good reason - for the public good - to pressure for an investigation. The public good intersecting with a president's own political interests is no crime or offense; indeed it always has been and always will part of the political calculus.
It appears that the President truly believed the Biden's were guilty, and acted in accordance with that belief to pressure for investigation.
The greatest crime he committed? Trying to drain the DC Swamp
5
funny he only thought of it two plus years into his presidency and forgot to tell budget office people why he was holding the money back
Short of moving to the states where these senators live, Democrats in New York have little or no say in their elections. Senators are elected by state-wide popular vote. People from other states should not, and do not, have any say in who represents other states.
Unlike House elections, there's no real way to gerrymander a Senatorial election, it's about sheer numbers in a plurality of states, which is anathema to the Democratic strategy of focusing almost exclusively on only very populous and wealthy states. Continuing to deny the sovereignty and franchise of states is why the Dems do not control the Senate. It has nothing to do with the politics of the Democratic Party, which are capable of appealing to people anywhere. It is a total failure of strategy and messaging and losing sight of how the American electoral process actually works.
You cannot disenfranchise the states even by constitutional amendment. States are due representation in the Senate as part of the most basic framework of our government. It's time to stop pretending this isn't how our government works and start playing the game.
1
it's also part of the Constitutional system that there be checks and balances, freedom of political expression, no person above the law-- all being trashed by Trump and his unpatriotic sycophants
Did Mr. Blow or anyone else at the NYT think the Democrats were going to do anything else but impeach? Did Mr. Blow or anyone else at the NYT think the Senate was going to do anything else but acquit? I don't think so. This process should have taken place in just two days, one to impeach and one to acquit. Actually it could have happened in one day. Impeach in the morning and acquit in the afternoon. If they had done that, the vote would have been the same as it was after all this drama. Mr. Brooks called this a political action in a previous editorial and that was what it was. One of the Democrat's House members said he wanted Trump impeached because he was concerned "If We Don't Impeach This President, He Will Get Re-Elected". That is the closest to the truth as we are going to get. If the Democrats were sure he could be defeated, all of the impeachment process would not have happened, It was political. It had nothing to do with high crimes etc. If you look at the candidates you would see that at least the Democrat House member quoted above, called it as it was.
9
@Ron Got it. Facts don't matter, the perversion of the Constitution doesn't matter. Winning matters.
2
This was about laying out the case and exposing Trump’s corruption for all (sentient human beings) to see and consider before again voting for a corrupt, lying narcissistic grifter. The facts presented in testimony by actual patriots in service to America proved the corrupt conspiracy despite Trump’s failure to produce subpoenaed documents and witnesses. I guess you missed it all. BTW: this has nothing to do with The New York Times and everything to do with the very corruption the FF’s worried about. You can read about that in The Federalist Papers but I guess you missed that as well, along with The Constitution. The result really isn’t the point.
We need to build a museum, to preserve for all time the truth of this period in history. It should be called The Real Donald Trump Presidential Library. It must contain the verifiable truths, without slant in either direction. The people who willingly discard principles and loyalty to the country out of fear for their political careers, or greed should be exposed for their grandchildren to see. History will Judge Donald Trump. It should also judge his enablers and sycophants.
Perhaps the knowledge that they will be held accountable in the long run, that their actions and choices will be captured for people to see for decades to come.
2
I used to believe that if an elected representative voted either for or against something that was popular, I always thought they should have the opportunity to explain their vote, and as long as the rational that was used to bring that representative to a different conclusion from that of their constituency, was reasonable and made sense, then that should be good enough. But if an elected representative votes a certain way, just because the party wants them to, and if not then that representatives own colleagues smear them, want them “banished” or “expelled” from their own party, for doing exactly what we send them there for, that’s not democracy. I don’t vote to send a representative to government just to have them vote the way the “party” wants them too.
As an independent that caucuses with democrats, if Obama had been Trump, and the Senate majority was democrat, I would fully expect those representatives to do their constitutional duty, to protect and defend the constitution against any enemy foreign or domestic. And if the evidence was as convincing as it was against Trump, I would fully expect Senate democrats to remove him from office . When we we demand that our representatives vote against our interests, or the interests of the country, then we aren’t a democracy anymore. The Senate just becomes a rubber stamp not the co-equal branch of government, with oversight, because without oversight, you have a unrestrained authoritarian.
2
I'd be very careful about putting forward demands to "make them pay." Remember: demands such as that have a habit in US politics of cutting both ways.
6
Americans who care about decency must unite and work like crazy to get the Democratic nominee for President elected, whomever she or he may be, to retain a large majority in the House, and to take over the Senate. Undoubtedly, the person who wins the nomination will not be my first choice, maybe it will even my least favorite. But I must and will put all that aside and work to get him/her elected. My Senatorial candidate, Mark Kelly of Arizona, is a fine candidate, with a good chance to defeat the appointed Republican, Martha McSally. Kelly already has my support. Politicians have a habit of telling us this is the most important election of our lifetime. This year they are right. We cannot fail. The survival of the Republic rests in the balance.
3
@Ted Everyone needs to realize that the currents are running against public order and reasoned governance. We are not talking politics here. This is a crisis in America never before seen in our history.
2
@Frankster If that is true I'll see you on the barricades!
Remember, those Republican Senators are less afraid of Trump himself and more afraid of the Trump voters in their constituencies. Campaigning to get the vote out, and to get those Senators out,, will demonstrate to them who their REAL constituents are, and who they let down.
3
Not to be pessimistic but there's a big hitch: McConnell is sitting on the bipartisan legislation and money allocated to combat voter fraud and suppression. So, just as it's certain Trump will continue to cheat, it's certain that free and fair elections down the ticket will be compromised. We should all be very, very afraid. I know I am.
7
Among the many things we hear from "Democratic leaders" is one variation or another of 'Blue no matter who.' I get the sentiment, but that is not how a thoughtful citizen votes. As in 2016, when the DNC cheated to put a heavily-baggaged candidate up, who then ran the most horrifyingly ridiculous campaign in memory, voters were left with choosing the proverbial 'lesser evil.'
That is no choice at all, because evil is evil and choosing either is voting against one's best interests, as well as one's conscience. So Mr. Blow's call to vote for Republican Senator's opponents simply because they aren't Republicans is just another stale view of 'Blue no matter who.'
I refuse to advocate for, fund, or vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation who has no clear path forward and a delineated course of action to get us there. Being opposed to something or someone is nowhere near a viable platform for election.
3
Won't work. The fact is half of the US thinks Trump is defending the constitution by doing what he does. They live in an entirely alternative political and cultural universe where their vision of America is the real one and it is one Trump and the Republican Senators support. For them "the constitution" is symbol, not line-by-line laws. It means the America of their Mind. Thus the Democrats are the real subversives, defying the constitution out of irrational hatred and malice for American people. They are, without question, the corrupt and Trump is the incorruptible champion of truth and justice. The only thing that will turn them is the economy going south, and there's no time for that to happen before the election in a way that hits home. I believe Trump has won four more years, perhaps even winning the popular vote. Reactionary forces are ascendant everywhere. There's no reason US will buck this trend yet. Even if Senate and Presidency flips, Supreme Court is Trumpist for the rest of our lifetimes. He's the most successful politician of the 21st century. And why not? Whoever thought politics or running a superpower required morality?
4
They/ we need Mike Bloombergs money/influence -- it is that simple.
4
You think Bloomberg/his money is going to influence me?
How about a decent PLAN, focus on the main issues and show how anyone could trust the plan would be worked? That isn't going to take Bloomberg/his money to accomplish.
Some Democrats have wearied of the fight. They are throwing up their hands, throwing in the towel and taking a vacation from politics.
1
@Leonie: not this one.
1
Here is a thought : If Hillary had been the Liberal Party candidate as well in 2016 she would have won Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida and would be President today.
There are enough of us to unseat Trump and the vile people who still enable him. All we have to do is turn out and vote. We need to focus like crazy on voter turnout and fair voting access for all.
3
Trump was acquitted by Republican Senators. But who really lost? The Democratic majority in the House or the Republican members of Congress?
Consider what has happened after the Mueller Report was released after having bern misrepresented according to Trump’s wishes by Barr, and the President’s behavior at the Prayer Breakfast this morning after yesterday’s acquittal. In both cases the facts proved that Trump crossed the line but nobody held him accountable. In both cases he responded by attacking those who proved his behavior was wrong as evil and as having lied to do harm to him because they feared his righteousness.
Anyone who has followed current events has found that Trump is not truthful. He will not admit to having behaved as he has and portrays all outcomes as victories. Worse he’s not an informed decision maker, he often makes silly decisions. Yet, Republicans in Congress will not criticize him for fear of his ability to manipulate Republican voters into perceiving critics as “Never Trumpers” attempting undo their votes.
The Senators may think that they are protecting their party and their re-election prospects, but they are enabling a person who has neither convictions nor boundaries. Despite his aggressive talk, Trump is fundamentally an insecure person who strikes out to scare away danger. He’s going to escalate his bad acts until he is held accountable. Those bad actions are going to be blamed upon Republicans by all.
1
You listed a few incumbent Republicans who are vulnerable, but you omitted Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado. He is near the top of the vulnerability list, perhaps second only to Susan Collins. Colorado has become a reliably blue state. In 2018, the voters there elected Jared Polis, an openly gay Democrat, as their Governor. Now a popular former Governor, John Hickenlooper, is challenging Cory Gardner for his Senate seat. If the Democrats can't flip this seat, they will not flip the Senate, so let's focus on blue states like Maine and Colorado first!
4
He is them. They are him. He is just much better at being them than they are.
may I ask, did you not know the results months ago?
may I ask, what was the point of this distraction and farce?
May I ask, what is the "woe is me, the economy stinks" mantra gonna do while wages are rising and unemployment is down down down...
good luck
exit the echo chamber, look around. Come up for air. The sun is shining. The sky is not falling.
7
Wages are only rising for the investment class (folks with FT, benefited jobs). Folks in my hometown in Michigan are holding two and three ‘temporary’ jobs with zero benefits.
The ‘point of the farce’ is the constitution, separation of powers and the need to demonstrate that there are limits when it comes how taxpayer and government money is allocated (to allies by congress), or withheld (to get ‘dirt’ on a political opponent).
If you have kids, you might also ask: why do set curfews; why do you have house rules; why do you go to church; why do you emphasize hard work and honesty: because they set an example for everyone else.
Shocking that as a country, we can’t establish the same.
3
@Lissa , wages are rising for al including the lower rungs of income. Look at the real data, not media spin
7
@Open your Mind
Nope. Modest gains by those in the 50th percentile and those below that are only seeing slight gains due to the minimum wage hikes (where they occurred), which I suspect I do not need to tell you, is absolutely not a Trump policy.
https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/whose-wages-are-rising-and-why/
1
Just watched Trump’s unhinged, vitriolic acquittal victory lap, which made me feel like all is lost. Immediately sent$15 to Susan Collins Dem challenger Sara Gideon, which made me feel slightly better. That’s my survival strategy til November. Give often to challengers of vulnerable Senate Republicans. Can’t just focus on the White House this election.
5
How on Earth can anyone in their right mind, of any political stripe, ever trust a Republican politician again?
7
33 seats are up in November for Senator. Fill them with Democrats. They want Americans to vote. Let's vote to end this corruption.
5
Please don't forget Mitch McConnell!
He, too, is up for re-election. Ditch Mitch!
4
@ET: YES! Send a donation to Amy McGrath, running against McConnell in Kentucky. Read about her in Wiki! Wow!
@Hortencia
I live in KY. Amy McGrath is not popular across the state. She equivocates & would get killed in a debate. She could not win her own congressional district 3 years ago. Her money is coming from out of state donors. Check out Mike Brohier at mikeforKY.com. Our best hope to finally beat Mitch!
I wonder if the head of the snake is cut off, will the body will be killed? Senate Republicans are flip-floppers who will do anything to stay in power. If Trump is out, they will fall in line with the next leader. Just look at Portman's comments during the Clinton impeachment, as one commenter made clear yesterday. Ironically, one of the biggest flippers, Romney, voted for removal. Of course, he is safe in Utah, so it likely won't hurt him, thus he is staying somewhat true to form. I would like to see further aggression from Romney so that the GOP can splinter.
The reason that many moderate Republicans like me continue to support Donald Trump is our revulsion at hysterical comments like your opinion piece.
You flatter yourself by calling your histrionics "resistance." If you want changes our government, persuade a majority of your fellow citizens that you have a better path. So far, you're sure not persuading me.
You scare me far more than Trump does.
9
What did the Clintons get for election interference with Johnny Chung? Democrats rely on short memories or complete lack of principles. They not only forced us to keep Clinton in office, they rigged their system to get a second act with HRC.
2
Completely agree. And if people are wondering what they can do, this excellent episode of "The Wilderness" podcast gets specific about tactics and strategy, and outlines a bunch of things anyone horrified by Donald Trump can do to defeat him and his cronies this Fall:
https://crooked.com/podcast/chapter-6-the-path/
Four more years of the Trump insanity will destroy the Union. In November, Vote as if your life depended on it.
4
Amen. (A word Republicans won’t understand).
2
I used to think women would make better leaders than men in the political realm.
Gail. Lisa, Joni, Marsha Blackburn and others have erased that notion. They are just as cowardly as their male counterparts.
1
@Greg
Your logic is feeble. Four women over the life of the male-dominated congress have disappointed you and led you to draw that conclusion?
People like myself who stayed home in 2016 and allowed Hillary Clinton to win our state will not be sitting this one out if Sanders or Warren is the nominee. After watching the circus that the House Democrats put on I cannot in good conscience vote for any Democrat who s running for federal office in my State even if I have the welcome option to vote for one of the other Democratic presidential candidates because put simply, they do no represent my beliefs. How do I know that? Because they have not expressed what their beliefs are other than being poor losers. Nobody likes a poor loser.
7
Thank you for setting me on the path! I just donated to the Democratic challengers of the senators you mentioned, specifically : Theresa Greenfield (IA), Mark Kelly (AZ), Calvin Cunningham (NC), and Sara Gideon (MN). I will donate to the Georgia senate candidate when I know wins their primary on 3/24. I urge anybody who can, to do the same. I live in IL, but I want to contribute to the effort of overthrowing the GOP traitors.
Vote. Vote only for Democrats. In this way, one can say “no” to the Republican/Fox hate machine.
Charles is spot on with this essay. It is not up to them to save the Nation; whether them is a presidential nominee, or running for Senate of House, or the news business, or some other them.
This is up to US. We the People must do our duty and get out and vote. In the meantime, work.
If we as a Nation decide that we're OK with a wanna be Mussolini as the face of the Nation then all the red caps in world will not make America great. Ever again.
Your aging parents can't wait; your children can't wait; your dog or cat can't wait; the planet can't wait. Another year of this so called president is going to damage a lot of what we should be. Another five years, FIVE YEARS, and the damage to all our institutions, not to mention the Earth, will be unfixable.
1
When the Democrats won the House the conservative pundits claimed that they will now spend the next two years on endless investigations. Nancy Pelosi replied that there will certainly be oversight, but that the American people sent them to the House to do the work: infrastructure, drug costs, etc. Now, almost two years later the conservative pundits seem to have been proven right. I don't hear people saying: "Oh, I was an undecided voter, but now that the Democrats spent a few months on an exercise whose outcome was clear from the beginning, I will definitely vote for them". If anything, I think it is more likely the Republicans will flip the House back to their column.
6
How unfortunate it's come down to an us vs. them scenario: the blue tide charging the red wall. All or nothing, take no prisoners.
Did you see Trump at the prayer breakfast, which has always been respectful and non-partisan? He was seething in low tones and spewing hate like a demagogue. He was only there to demonize and divide, which is how he got elected. Yes, he must go but that won't be easy.
2
Ob yes it will be easy! Karma got to Rush, it’ll get him too!
His majesty will find a way to defeat himself just like impeachment. There are no adults in the very White House day care center.
The bully is done. Ignore it. For instance, his hair screams "I have no gay friends"!!!
Focus on a better future for all of us who love America without fear...so there.
How would listing the things Trump has done, list the things he wants to do and then provide arguments. How would that go?
3
I propose a slogan for the 2020 campaign: Vote Democrat–Every Race, Every Place
I normally wouldn’t advocate indiscriminately voting for a party rather than a person, but times are fraught and normal thinking is not sufficient. This is an emergency, and the only cure is to vote against the party that has consistently, and cynically, attempted to rig elections in its favor. Moreover the representatives in the Senate of that party have, with one exception, succumbed to fear and voted to acquit a man who was clearly and unequivocally guilty. He obviously committed the crime of which he was accused.
It was a conundrum. Though I did not support removing Trump from office–I believe the election is the best venue to accomplish that–it was clearly not morally defensible to acquit him. As was extensively documented, he did what he was accused of, and it was corrupt and wrong. What’s worse, the trial accomplished Trump’s goal: fatally tarnishing Biden’s reputation.
The Republican Party should go away–not the millions of voters who have believed in its message, but the party itself. In a two-party system like ours, we need both center-right and center-left parties. Yet it is crucial that they be parties which at least attempt to play by the rules, not because they are afraid of being caught, but because it is the right thing to do. The current Republican Party does not meet that definition, and deserves to be soundly repudiated in the upcoming election.
2
There is an extremely important article—filled with info about how the Trump info machine operates—in The Atlantic, written by McCay Coppins.
It defines precisely how the disinformation campaigns function, how those projects are carefully modeled on what worked for Duarte and other autocrats, and how they create floods of thousands and thousands of mass messages that attack disliked members of the news media ( digging up dirt as far back as 2 decades ago or longer).
It also explains some of the roles of Don Jr., and that Trump’s campaign network has built data bases on nearly every voter in USA. Further, it explains that leaving many targeted text messages on every available cellphone in USA is also part of the current campaign.
It is the most important article I have read anywhere in a long time—and very troubling.
3
The Democratic prosecutors never proved most of their allegations, but relied on hearsay and rumor. Nevertheless, even accepting that pretty flawed record as factual, no one proved intent re the 2020 campaign or even put forth any facts backing up a corrupt intent to influence that campaign.
7
If you want the testimonies of non-partisan lifelong government employees to be ‘proven’, then call the list of increasing numbers of people known to have first-hand accounts of the incidents in question.
Oh! You do want to hear testimony from those folks? Under oath? Then why is it that you cannot?
The Executive branch refused to allow it. Not even written answers to questions submitted (which Trump did with Mueller).
Americans, and you, seem to struggle identifying patterns and data representation of patterns.
You say there is no ‘proven intent’ to manipulate the 2020 election.
What was Trump’s intent when ‘paying by omission’ for gathering ‘dirt’ on a likely opponent? Spreading known conspiracy theories to discredit Biden’s son?
Part of the issue with your points is that you think the past three months has been about impeachment; it’s really been about the vote to not call witnesses.
@JLB What's more we are 9 months from an election. They only did this because they are concerned they can't win the election. Again, ****they only did this because they don't think they can win the election***. This is more of an abuse of power than anything alleged by the Democrats.
3
you can't be serious...
Charles, there's a more effective way to make them pay.
Withhold your dollars from their businesses. This will bring a longer lasting change than voting against them. Faster too.
I agree they need to be voted against but if you don't buy what they're selling, then they'll sing a different tunes so fast it'll make their heads spin!
3
It's all fine to try and ideologically define how we'll back to normalcy after the Republicans have broken the most sacred manifest of all, which was to share power. They are afraid, and scared, but also besotted by a populist blowhard who's willing to say the ugliest of their thoughts, in order for them to hang onto what they errantly perceive as a vanishing way of life. They have failed to honor our pledge to share power equally. The overriding truth is that change is constant. DJT and his now 52 minions in the Senate cannot change that. The other truth is that America is now ruled by a minority vote. When they 52 Senators from 26 states with 18% of the population voted to acquit, that sealed the deal. Democracy cannot stand with minority rule, especially when almost everyone of those states is dependent on financial aid from the 82% of the population who pays their bills. Perhaps we have outlived this old Constitution of ours, for can it no longer guarantee majority rule. Everyone I know, socialist or capitalist also acknowledges that he who pays the bills, makes the rules. Time for a re-evaluation of our national finances. All three branches cannot function without the good will and fiscal contribution of the majority. There's no acquittal for that, but there must be accountability to those who contribute most.
4
Yes, let's make them pay by voting every single Democrat out of office and having them replaced by the GOP! To those GOP Senators who were hoping to retire in the near term as private citizens in this great land, I have some unfortunate news. You will be needed for another term and many terms thereafter.
2
Romney 2020!
"I, for one, am happy that the Democrats in Congress did what they did. Indeed, they had no choice. A line had to be drawn and defended."
But, if it were either of the Clintons, no line would be drawn - anywhere, ever.
5
@Ami
What are you talking about, the republicans impeached Clinton for lying about an extra martial affair, and they investigated Clinton for 6 of the 8 years he was in office. In fact the republicans have been investigating either Bill, or Hilary, eventually finding NOTHING, let me repeat nothing. Your Clinton argument isn’t holding water anymore (not that it ever really did) and by the way, not one republican or any of their supporters can name one crime that either of the Clintons have been accused of, that has been proven to be true, not one. And just to be clear, even the bipartisan committees found ZERO. Instead what we are stuck with is an orange IMPOTUS that’s really a simpleton, that spoon feeds his supporters garbage conspiracy theories while Trump undermines THEIR VOTE as well. Republicans just aren’t smart enough to know it.
1
Clinton was impeached for lying about a consensual sexual relationship.
Trump was impeached for lying about withholding congressional appointed aid to an ally in the hopes of getting ‘dirt’ on a potential presidential opponent-by nature, election interference.
Mitch McConnell is also up for reelection, and unlike some of the senators named, he is not at the top of the polls in his home state. Let's add him to the list who should not be returned to office. In fact, I put him at the top of the list...if he were not enabling Trump, much less harm would have been done in the last 3 years.
14
Mitt Romney should leave the Republican Party and become an independent, caucusing with the Democrats like Sanders and King.
Then Bloomberg and Romney should run against Trump and Pence in November.
2
Or, whoever the Democrat candidate is should also be endorsed by the Liberal Party.
But I like that Bloomburg/Romney as a ticket and with the Liberal Party doing the right thing, as well.
Folks, Doug Jones needs help. He took a courageous step, he needs support, donate to his campaign if you can. We need people like him in congress.
15
Bravo. Bravo.
It would not hurt to this end that the Times continually update its readers about campaign money tallies the named candidates receive from PACS controlled
by trump allies, as well as the little items/favors their
private donors (with names) have gotten.
The control of campaign finance strings by trump was surely
a fundamental reason for much of the craven public enabling offered by the fifty trumpicans. So that issue must be continually followed up on and duly reported.
Romney's independence can also be seen in light of his
personal wealth, and how that shelters him from the effects of trump string pulling.
An item not gone into here was the carefully constructed
rationale that what trump did was neither criminal nor unique to him. That played into the deep cynicism of many people,
especially independents, who were easily convinced that
other presidents probably did what he was charged with doing. This forced the democrats into proving a negative.
The muddling of foreign and domestic interference,
and its domestic consequences, was surely due
to the systemic gaps in our clear thinking skills.
There's also the issue of House issued subpoenas so that
the missing testimony be at least publicly presented under oath and for the record. It'll be very interesting to see what bolton now chooses to do in response to a subpoena and a clearly delivered public threat from his former boss to prosecute him were he to testify.
2
Don't forget Mitch McConnell.
8
The core of Trumpism is fascism, plain and simple.
The 14 characteristics of fascism according to political Scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt: 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism 2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights 3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause 4. Supremacy of the Military 5. Rampant Sexism 6. Controlled Mass Media 7. Obsession with National Security 8. Religion and Government are Intertwined 9. Corporate Power is Protected 10. Labor Power is Suppressed 11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts 12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment 13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption 14. Fraudulent Elections
Trump and the GOP are batting 1.000 here, folks. Wake up before it's too late.
15
@Americanitis every GOP president is accused of being a fascist. Meanwhile left-wing universities are blocking conservative speakers. And left-wing media is actively trying to shutdown and censor right-leaning media.
They impeached Trump -- make them pay.
Hey Charles, how about both parties putting up some of our amazing American Best and Brightest who will toss politics aside and lead our country. Neither are doing that now.
5
The best and the brightest know that there is no way to “win” in politics because Americans from both parties have made complaining and criticism a national sport. The utter disregard for data, science, evidence, and above all true expertise is rampant across the political spectrum. Social media has given everyone a platform for expression, but that doesn’t mean everyone is truly qualified to opine. Under those circumstances, why on earth would a successful person throw their hat in the ring? Abigail Spanberger is one of the most qualified representatives to be elected to the House, yet from day one she is been subjected to withering, unfounded attacks on her character simply because she happened to be photographed standing next to members of The Squad one day. When Americans finally grow up, become truly educated, and learn to maintain comity when discussing policy options, maybe then the best and brightest will step forward.
6
Thank you Mr. Blow....We no longer have checks and balances in our government because of republicans. They do not care about our country. It is a dirty bird who fouls his own nest. They have fouled the country with the foul trump. Many republicans will be voted out. The US will have a course correction.
4
vote every one of them out of office - they defiled their oaths of office.
9
Unfortunately, we Dems belong to a party that will continue to bring a dull knife to a gunfight.
6
YES! Every Democratic rep should start every public statement anywhere and in any context with the (insert descriptor here)
followed by the Republican's name. Start a contest here to suggest suitable words. They had fun shouting crooked Hilary enough times.
I'll start you off with "Clock and Calendar boy".
1
Let's not forget, we need to keep the House out of the hands of the trumplings (neo-quislings) as well. Trump will attempt to whack Nancy Pelosi and all of the Impeachment Managers, especially Adam Schiff -- I will be unsurprised if he tries to get DoJ into the act. And we need to pick off the trumplings that were the most dishonest and disgraceful during the impeachment hearings. In that regard, Nunes may be the most vulnerable, given revelations from Lev Parnas, but Gaetz and Coach Jordan have some baggage too.
3
@Brian Agee
After Nixon was impeached, the year he left office, there was an election similar to this impeached POTUS. House republicans gave up 56 seats, handing the democrats a supermajority, the Senate gave up 6 seats, along with the Senate majority. The House supermajority, lasted until the mid 1990s, when the republicans took the House after 40 years of being in the minority, the Senate would shift back to republicans after 30 years of democratic control. Which explains why the democrats are playing catch-up when it comes to the likes of Trump, the democrats didn’t have to really work to maintain power, they didn’t have to resort to voter suppression, voter fraud, while they have engaged in some gerrymandering, it’s nowhere near as bad a Republicans. Republicans often use the First Amendment as the basis of their court arguments yet the way republicans apply gerrymandering, it literally violates the free speech of voting democrats, but the republicans don’t seem to care about those peoples rights. It also seems that the Republican Party isn’t to interested in the First Amendment when it comes to Bolton’s book, seems they’d like to quash the release of his book.
Kentucky voters, PLEASE vote out the grim reaper. Evil cannot be tolerated anymore.
9
Maybe (we don't know, because Mr. Trump muzzled prosecution witnesses) the extent of the president's bad deeds was limited to what's on the record. I think maybe the House would have been better off limiting their accusation to "obstruction of Congress." That should alone be enough to oust any public official from his or her office. It is not acceptable for the president to obstruct inquiry into his own potential malfeasance--there is no accountability in that scenario.
3
I DO think it's time for Maine voters to make a show of giving Susan Collins the "Lucy Award" (of Charlie Brown fame). As was the case with Kavanaugh, Sen. Collins always promises THIS time she won't yank the football away.
The implicit, or explicit, promise to do the right thing, the tough thing, ALWAYS, ALWAYS loses out to the expedient thing. Please Maine voters, it's your turn to do the expedient thing.
Vote Senator Collins out of office!
(But give her the "Lucy Award" first.)
13
@SurlyBird Maine voters should make a show of being "troubled" by her opponent's policies, then vote her out.
1
I just donated to Mark Kelly's campaign against Martha McSally. He's a former Navy pilot, engineer, and NASA astronaut (plus the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords). McSally's not a true incumbent - she lost to Sinema in 2016 and is only in office because she was appointed to fill John McCain's seat. Unlike McCain, who sometimes broke party ranks to do the right thing, McSally consistently put party before country, the US Constitution, or simply doing the right thing in Trump's impeachment. I'll be doing what I can to see to that she goes 0/2 in her Senate races.
9
You democrats distort and denigrate everything the GOP does. All you want to do is to push the country together under your control whether they agree with you or not. THAT IS ABUSE OF POWER. The impeachment proceeding in the House was handled poorly. The dems never established that the President did anything that any other preceding president before him did. In short, you are manipulating people who can not think for themselves, who cannot think rationally, who react emotionally to everything they hear or witness.
5
@tambien
Well you’d have to be smart enough to evaluate the evidence. First off you had several witnesses that had first hand knowledge, they testified to that end. There was not one person that testified, even the one republicans called, Volker. But you would have had to been paying attention to the testimony, not just Facebook, or a twitter feed, Fox (so called) News was only showing it in the lower right hand corner of the screen, and you couldn’t hear it, because Faux News didn’t want you to.
When you rely on a fake news channel like Faux your going to be spoon fed what they want you to hear, or know, it’s kind of like Chineses State T.V. Now you can live in world where facts mean nothing, but to the rest of us, who don’t live in a propaganda echo chamber, Trumps been outed for the criminal he is. Even Mitt Romney, Alexander, have said as much. Lev Parnas goes on trial in early Oct, you know the guy with 90 minute videos having dinner at Trumps joint, oh right Trump doesn’t know him. Lev Parnas came out and fingered Nunes, who promptly claimed that he didn’t know Parnas either, until a phone call log from Parnas shows a call from Parnas to Nunes cell phone. Nunes suddenly “recalls” talking to Parnas.
Let’s be clear, Parnas goes on trip in October, so far everything he’s said he has, he’s proven he has the goods, he’s even said Leningrad Lindsey Graham is involved in Ukrainegate, Lev said he’s got proof, and every time he’s said he’s got something on someone, poof.
Does anyone seriously believe this government represents 'The People'?
Charles Blow, thank-you for this column. Our two Senators wrote NYT commentaries. Senator Portman said 45 did inappropriate and wrong acts, but did not rise to the level of impeachment. One resourceful Ohioan sent Senator Portman his statements made in favor of impeaching President Clinton. The contrast between then and now highlighted his hypocrisy. Senator Sherrod Brown's commentary highlighted the cowardice of the Republicans, especially in light of Senator Romney's heartfelt speech. He noted the words a journalist shared with him, "How can Republican Senators walk upright when they have no backbone?" What is worse than acquittal of 45, is the Senate's giving up its Constitutional power of Executive Oversight. In addition to resistance, there is major reconstruction to do to repair all the damage to our democratic institutions and traditions.
5
The ones that will be paying are the Dems that supported impeachment and live in mostly Republican states. Say bye bye to your seat.
6
Charles,
Make them pay, I am as upset as you but everyday for the last two weeks I check 538 and Trump's approval ratings. He is gaining ground, in the face of undeniable guilt, precarious world events and all round stupidity. What do we do in the face of this? They have rigged the stock market and disconnected from reality the bedraggled middle class who will accept the gains from their 401k's as pay for selling their souls. This is not about marshaling forces they have muddled everything up, it is about being able to present the truth and the dangers this Faustian bargain will bring on. And some as you know just want to endorse racism and xenophobia which sadly is probably number one on their priority list. They will cheat and lie and risk the very existence of this country basic principles. And I am not sure Democrats and all the others outraged have the courage to fight this hard enough and succeed. Why aren't people in the streets as they were on Jan. 20, 2017? I hope I am wrong.
3
Is Milt Romney the ONLY Senator of "deep faith" in the morally-bankrupt Republican Party? Sadly, so it seems. The G.O.P. should pay a serious price for this, come November. Lincoln must be whirling in his grave......
5
Democrats can’t even run a primary election without catastrophic results and you think they can flip the senate? Tom Perez and his lack of leadership and President Obama deciding to sit this ridiculous primary season out has left the Democratic Party leaderless and rudderless. Two of the main contenders for the nomination are not even registered Democrats. It is looking more and more like a McGovern/Dukakis like disaster in November.
7
@Lou Panico The real disaster will come if trump is re-elected. Enjoy your time under the bus, when the republicans “privatize” your SS and Medicare........
@todd sf
I’m a Democrat Todd and I am despairing that the Democrats are imploding.
Jeez, are you actually going to blame Obama for this ?
Really!
I’m tired of the blah blah blahs and cartoons while IMPOTUS and Republican cohorts continue to implode our democracy, our country and our Constitution. Between today and November, and thereafter, they will cause further damage, disunity and chaos. The decline of the modern Roman Empire before our eyes.
3
In Iowa we have a few people in need mentioning as Democrats running against the Trump disciple Joni Ernst. Michael Franken(D) a 3-Star Admiral from Sioux City IA and Kimberly Graham(D) and Theresa Greenfield(D).
We just saw Michael Franken speak the other day and think he is a great challenger for the seat. It is time to have a person with integrity represent Iowa. It is time to make Grassely and Ernst, these shameful sycophants, pay.
5
You go, Blow. Just like Thomas Paine.
BTW, Donald is already getting even with Romney. He's going to allow oil drilling and mining in Utah's glorious national monuments.
6
These incumbent Senators must go:
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Vote for Amy McGrath.
Lindsey Graham of S. Carolina. Vote Jaime Harrison.
Susan Collins of Maine. Vote for Sara Gideon.
David Perdue of Georgia. Vote for Teresa Tomlinson.
Joni Ernst of Iowa. Vote for Mike Franken.
Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Vote for Cal Cunninham.
Martha McSally of Arizona. Vote for Mark Kelly.
I recommend you read up on these "vote for" candidates, because their accomplishments are inspiring!
21
@Laura -- Thank you for this!
2
@Laura what a wonderful and helpful response. Thank you!
3
I fully agree, Mr. Blow. Make them pay! I just went online to make a contribution to Susan Collins’ opponent and Martha McSally’s opponent. If thousands, better yet millions, of outraged patriots did the same this week, we’d send the one message all spineless Republican Senators understand - their seats are in jeopardy.
3
You lefties are truly entertaining. I start every morning with a good laugh by reading your comments.
7
David Smith -- I do the same thing at lunch hour, when I turn on el Rushbo. A howl (albeit, a sick one) a minute!
4
@David Smith -- "You lefties..."
Wow, how did you know I'm a southpaw?
All rightie now!
2
Please don't forget Democrats like Doug Jones who is facing a serious battle to retain his seat. Seats have to be retained as well as taken. https://dougjones.com/
4
Before you all go gaga over Romney, consider this.
Top Mitt Romney adviser Joseph Cofer Black, who publicly goes by “Cofer Black,” joined Burisma’s board of directors while Hunter Biden was also serving on the board.
4
Well done Charles Blow. You are 100% right.
1
Why can’t Mr Blow concede defeat gracefully and move on?
6
No, don't just make them pay, pay, make them openly, publicly destroy the movement they created. Vote against every Republican from Dogcatcher to President, regardless of the candidates, in every election until the Republican Party faces complete electoral annihilation unless they repudiate Trump, Trumpism, and the whole spawn-of-Tea-Party bozo-fest. When Devin Nunes faces the kind of abuse that Romney will face, then the GOP can begin to rebuild into a useful party. And since 90% of the current GOP supports Trump, you can safely assume that Republicans you meet support him. Ask them. If they do, loudly demand that they defend their support, remind them he is a racist, a fraud and a sexual predator. Ask them if they would leave Trump with their daughter or lend him 5 bucks. Make their life miserable, don't do business with them or let them in your home, don't let your kids play with theirs, confront them in town meetings and in the street. Make Red Hats fear your willingness toi shame them. Let everyone you know be certain that you Trump and Trumpism evil, and that supporting Trump is indefensible. All Republicans must be shunned until the current GOP is smashed, never to return in its current hideous form.
7
Always hard to read Charles with imagining a “-viation” behind his last name. The harsh judgemental and divisive stance he takes is his usual. Of course the other side says just the same thing...”they voted to impeach the President! make them pay!” And we get nowhere...
2
I am not sure when columns at this fine paper began reading like fundraising emails from the DNC, but if respect for all journalism is to revived with the public, this really needs to stop
10
@joey8
It's an opinion piece.
According to a new Gallup poll Trump’s approval ratings have been rising from 39 percent last fall to 49 percent by the end of the impeachment process—”the highest level of his presidency so far and at least three points higher than Barack Obama could claim in early February of his reelection year.”
Everybody with half a brain knew this was going to happen, up to the dissent by Romney (he was humiliated by Trump while begging to become SOS)
What Trump has learned is that he has now become a dictator with more political power than ever because of people like Adam Raytheon Schiff as well as Susan Collins and her fellow Republicans, who are terrified of their Hair Fuehrer!
Dems have allowed Donald Trump to emerge stronger than ever from the impeachment debacle, and they’ve lost their soul by spewing out war propaganda every bit as noxious as anything emanating out of the White House.
Adam Schiff has claimed that the US is arming Ukraine “so that we can fight Russia over there so we don’t have to fight Russia here” and called Russia a “wounded, dangerous animal.”
Schiff is a dangerous ignoramus and it is inconceivable that so many viewers actually think his speech was wonderful.
Trump has enough faults but this ridiculous impeachment farce as if Ukraine is some sort of needy democracy attacked by Russia, and Joe Biden is a good guy, is ominous.
With this impeachment debacle Dems have handed Trump his second term by bringing a case based on nothing but hearsay. Utterly pathetic.
4
Charles, Did you forget Cory Gardner of Colorado? More vulnerable than any of those you named. He's toast.
6
Thank you for the clear action plan.
"Susan Collins of Maine, David Perdue of Georgia, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Martha McSally of Arizona" your opponents will gain all the support my friends in America can muster.
2
Please contribute to Jamie Harrison’s campaign, no matter where you live, so we can rid the Senate of the excruciatingly hypocritical Lindsey Graham.
3
Yes, let us clean the garbage bin.
1
Already a crowd funding site to defeat Collins. Almost $4 million that goes to democratic opponent to defeat the traitorous Susan Collins. Give generously.
https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/387413/fund-susan-collins-future-opponent
3
DJT and his Republican co-conspirators in crime will pay big time on Election Day.
Go Bernie! Go Dems!
All that we have left is voting and protesting en masse. We cannot trust elections anymore unless we agree on paper ballots (which is not going to happen in 2020), and so the only thing we have left is to protest, ideally in Washington D.C., as politicians cannot ignore it. But as dangerous and wrong as Trump is to the country, truth is, the Republican Party made him happen by losing their values starting in the ‘80’s. They may be the party of Trump today but they haven’t been the Republican Party in a long time. And if the Russians have their way again in 2020, this party of Trump is here to stay.
3
Twenty-three skidoo to the 23 Republican senate seats on state ballots in November.
For a change, I totally agree with Mr. Blow's comments.
For those voters who believe Mr. Trump was guilty of actions warranting removal, get out and campaign against, and vote against, your Senator if he or she voted not guilty.
For those voters who believe Mr. Trump was not guilty of actions warranting removal, get out and campaign against, and vote against, your Senator if he or she voted guilty.
This is the essence of the American political system, when those who are elected to represent you go against your interests, they no longer deserve the post.
1
Please, how about all the blatant, inappropriate and illegal behavior of the Obama intelligence and justice department ironically using foreign assets that is slowly but surely being unearth by John Durham ... the hypocrisy here is rich ....
6
Mere hearsay and gossip. Also, Obama isn’t the President any longer. Stop attempting to cloud the issue.
2
@Koko Reese: My fellow Republican John Durham is doing good work for his party. If you want to make a case that a former president was just as bad as Trump, consider that the your argument is premised by confirming the current President is also doing the wrong thing. I suspect that if any Republicans suspected President Obama, while in office, had committed impeachable offenses they would have tried to impeach him.
1
Republicans who refuse to defend the constitution are cowards and traitors to their country. Anyone who votes for cowards and traitors must be considered to be the same.
2
Give it up. You're doing a lot of harm to the country. You've been doing it since Trump announced his candidacy. If there's a crime here, it's what the media and the Dems have put us all through.
.
Take two aspirin and see how you feel in the morning. You lost. Move on.
6
The voters will never maintain a crusade to clean out the GOP trash from our Congress and White House. Perhaps we can eliminate the kakistocracy in government but not throughout Congress.
1
Trump and Republicans are setting an example, for the world.
Democracy is now obsolete? Dictatorship is the future, for all?
It's not just about the Constitution. It's about democracy, globally.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If we let Trump and the Republicans win in 2020, democracy fails.
1) I think what we need, first of all, are continued investigations.
We need documents and witnesses and John Bolton's book.
2) Second, I think we need a new democracy wave, right now.
We can search for ways to proclaim a "new birth of freedom."
For example, we can use slogans and songs, like "Democracy."
"Democracy is coming to the USA" (Leonard Cohen)
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
==============================
1
I found this list of all the Republican Senate seats up for grabs this year:
Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia)
Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana)
Susan Collins (R-Maine)
John Cornyn (R-Texas)
Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas)
Steve Daines (R-Montana)
Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming)
Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
Cory Gardner (R-Colorado)
Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi)
James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma)
Jon Kyl (R-Arizona)
Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
Pat Roberts (R-Kansas)
Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota)
Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska)
Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina)
We should also remember that Doug Jones in Alabama could use some support for his couragous stand yesterday.
5
Thank you for posting that list!
Sinema, Manchen and especially Jones are toast this fall, funny Blow seems to have forgotten that.
3
Perhaps the children's folktale - The Emperor Has No Clothes - should be required reading for all Republicans. Their president nakedly admits his crimes and his party goes along with him to the detriment of the country. It is well past time to get rid of this buffoon.
1
Indivisible has set up Project Payback to target 9 GOP Senators whose seats need to be flipped. As a constituent of a blue state, I'm looking for ways I can influence voters in red and purple states. https://indivisible.org/payback-project-p2p
2
Trump’s not some aberration. He owns the Republican Party because his values of racism, misogyny, greed and homophobia are the same values of the callous bloated bigoted Evangelical racists that form the base of the GOP.
3
Obama got out just in time! The next democrat president won’t be as lucky!
2
In time for what? What are you suggesting?
How about we throw out all the fools and start all over again.
1
I won’t support a Republican for dog catcher. The moral ones-if there are any left— need to form a new party
2
Perfect example of the Dems hatred of our President.
The Dems have been wanting to make the Reps "pay" for winning since 2016.
More nonsense and delusion from Charles Blow.
I certainly hope, during the upcoming campaign for our President, the Reps show the video clip of Blow and others laughing as they make fun of voters on the Right.
That alone should secure the reelection of our President.
6
Republicans:
When a despot is unleashed, he immediately goes after those best placed to remove him.
That's not Democrats. That's you.
4
Make them pay? How? Biden? Ha!
Trump is more popular now than before. And his play to Black America (supporting HBCU's, criminal justice reform, low unemployment, etc.), which you seem to have missed, will work with some Black folks- certainly not all, but some.
But the sad truth is that YOU did this. You overplayed your hand. And now you want to double-down with MORE resistance?
Perhaps another track, work with him to get things done. The Democrats have NO policy wins. They, like you unfortunately, have been fighting "Trump" so long you forgot to be FOR something.
The Iowa mess is a reflection of where the Democrats are: confused and unable to fight anyone as Trump grows more popular everyday.
Good Luck with this new plan!
7
What star does the Democratic Party steer by now that Polaris has blown up?
1
@Steve Bolger
...and Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is dead?
Don’t overlook Cory Gardner from Colorado.
1
Democratic congressmen and congresswomen impeached an innocent (by trial) president. Make them pay.
5
Just tell us where to send the checks!
1
That headline explains why heads rlled during the French Revolution, why dissidents were sent to gulags in the USSR, why Pol Pot and Communist China killed millions, and why Venezuela became a hellish dystopia. Revenge is the mantra of the left when they lose.
2
Payment is underway for Mr. Blow but not in the direction he perceives. The boomerang of contempt and boorish disrespect captured by the jaw impaired Speaker Pelosi has cemented the payback of division and discord within the now fragmenting Democratic Party. This Left listing ship is no longer seaworthy and is taking on water faster than can be bailed in Iowa. The white clad sheep and hand sitting, sniveling and sneering, pouting and pretending Democrats unable to stand for the Tuskegee Brigadier General and the Philadelphia schoolgirl has cemented their disgrace. Their sins are due payment.
For a carrot your way, perhaps Mitt Romney can change Parties, although he is a man of God, so probably not.
6
whenweallvote.org was co-chaired by Michelle Obama. Imagine if everyone who is going to comment on this column visited the site and pitched in?
Note: I'm not affiliated with the organization.
Perfectly said Mr. Blow. Thank you.
2
Glad this sham impeachment is over. Congratulations President Trump.
5
They impeached Trump. Make them pay!
4
What about Jaime Harrison running against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina! He needs support!
2
Thank you Rachel!!!! And Lt.Col., retired, Amy McGrath in Kentucky against McConnell!
There are still many areas of deep corruption to examine in djtrump. Should he be re elected then go for articles of impeachment again, where they are fitting.
Time to start running 1980’s style ads:
[Ominous voice]
“Senator _______ doesn’t care what the US Constitution says about a President breaking the law. ______ even engaged in a cover up of witnesses because he/she didn’t want the American people to know the truth!”
1
Amen. So say we all. Thank you.
This November, America must rid itself of the Toxic Twins: McConnell and Trump...
3
Mr. Blow, while I agree with the bulk of your column:
Please, please don’t say “republicans”. This is the same as saying “all republicans”. Say “most republicans”. You say and know that not all republicans voted one way. Please don’t contribute to the polarization....
You forgot Cory Gardner, Colorado - here in Colorado we did not.
1
Here in Arizona I will do my part to keep McSally from a win, she is a pice of work just another Republican sheep falling in line.
1
The charge of obstruction of Congress was a no starter.The other charge of using his office to help his campaign was also weak.The country outside the dinning hall in the Times Edifice was against impeachment.
If the Times did what I would expect from dedicated journalists investigate Bidens this whole issue would not have come up.
Did the Editors of the times thought that Hunter and Burisma is not worth examining?Obama boasted about how his administration was scandal free.I know the answer.The press refused to look.All the news that is fit to print as long as it supports our political agenda.
4
@Gdk: Why are you here? You could be twittering with the King.
Maybe even show up to vote in elections. A tough one for Democrats who are more into whining than voting. Voting wins every time even the dumbest Republican has figured that out. The left not so much....
2
Exactly so. If you'll pardon the metaphor we now have the kill list. All of it drawn up by Senate Republicans and their blind fealty to stupidity. Every single Republican Senator is on it, with but one exception. Time to start arranging to take them out of office. They are not worthy of the job they were elected to do.
But don't misconstrue. This isn't a vendetta (heh).
They make it easy. Ask yourself, at a base level, what exactly have they done for their constituency? Truly? That's the opening to leverage and attack. Kill them on the kiting of the national debt. Destroy them on their failure to deliver domestic policies that actually benefit average America.
Do it with aggression and focused intent. Kill them. Kill them all. Ummmm...so to speak. Remove them from their cherished and privileged position. They deserve all of what they get. And let me start. I will not vote for a single Republican representative, at any level. I consider anyone on that side guilty by association. Period. Now let's go to war.
John~
American Net'Zen
Michael Bloomberg, George Soros, Tom Steyer, et al. are you listening?
It's time to Reboot the American Revolution!
Vote them all out. Every last one of them. The media has been printing articles every election cycle up to the 2016 election about the impending death of the republican party. If this isn’t a reason to throw the last shovelful of dirt on their grave, I don’t know what is. Otherwise, this country no longer exists. It will just be the biggest banana republic on the planet.
As if it isn’t already.
1
Young people don't vote. The poor don't vote. The recently immigrated don't vote. Republicans vote and gerrymander to drive the point home even further. If Dems hope to win, they will need to stop being such fragile souls and come together. Drop the stupid identity politics and make a truly American message that appeals to everyone of every stripe with respect for all.
1
@SHAWN Davis: Identity politics is a projection of them too. They are witless.
2
Cory Gardner of Colorado must also go in November!
2
As this country is in crisis, moral crisis that is, a tough remedy is in order; and this includes the shaming and ousting of totally unrepresentative republicans from Congress...usurping the will of the people to hold criminally corrupt Trump guilty as charged. Justice demands it. And speaking of justice, what an outrage that Barr, Trump's 'personal sychophant' defender, that published anti-Mueller papers to be elected AG, contributed in confusing us...by giving a vulgar weasel a pass. Now, if we have 'the will' to put a stop to this moral violence (G.O.P.+DJT), we must gather, at a community level and nationally, the courage, hard work and perseverance, to see things through: a democrat president and a Senate democratic majority...and restore law and order, and a sense of justice, so that peace in society may say daylight again. Just in case some 'anomie' is in the cards, we must wake up from this lethargy, by thinking this mafia-like government is normal. It is not, by a mile!
1
More serious distracting misguided misleading nonsense from Mr. Blow .
They aka Senate Republicans didn't acquit Trump. And they Senate Republicans want pay with their most loyal partisan political base.
Among the 63 million Americans who voted for Trump in 2016 was 58% of the white European American voting majority including 62% of white men and 54% of white women.
While among the 66 million Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton was 92% of the black African American voting minority including 88% of black men and 95% of black women.
And there is no finding of acquittal nor innocent after an indictment nor an impeachment in our legal system. There is either guilty or not guilty. You are always and forever indicted and impeached.
4
@Blackmamba
A distinction without a difference, in this case.
So, Charles would've been happier with President Pence in the White House? Seriously? Impeachment would not have happened if there was a serious chance of conviction. That's why cynical costs, like myself, know this was all a game by the Dems to harass a duly elected president (I know, Russia, Putin, Ukraine, Facebook ads (!), blah, blah, blah.)
3
@MJG You forgot misogyny, sexism, transphobia, racism, Islamophobia, children in cages, Hillary really winning in 2016 (Trump is illegitimate), blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum. Same old, same old baloney...with the parrots/echo chamber commenters on the NYT, Let's admit that Schiff is mentally ill and probably Pelosi and Nadler are too. Schiff will never stop. He and his cronies must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
1
David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, was elected to the Senate and hasn't been heard from since. Stacey Abrams would be an outstanding candidate for that seat.
1
Exactly right Mr Blow.
I urge everyone to forget Trump - he has loyal followers who will follow him anywhere.
The Dems need to focus on getting back the House and the Senate and then making Trump a lame duck - exactly what the GOP did to Obama after the disasterous mid terms.
NYT: Whenever you call for Republican senators to be defeated, please tell us who's running against them. Anything to make it easier to donate.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, 'No prisoners!'
Well, the National Dem Party just had to fire two of their ring leaders for the Milwaukee Convention because the two couldn’t get along with workers.
Tom Perez - you are the Dem National Leader. Where are you? You and your officers flit around the country on fun filled events and hold your whatever meetings here and there. Bit it’s high time you people dug in and became visible!
You want our votes? Start making yourselves visible to the common voter. Your Milwaukee speeches might be too late!
1
The Senate races aren't just as important as the presidential race. They are MORE important. If we are going to have a hope of saving what's left of our democracy, we must turn the Senate blue this year and hold on to the House majority. Get out and work for a Dem candidate. Send these traitorous Republican senators - McConnell and his like - packing.
“Focus like a laser” on 2020 retribution. Yes. But most obviously that means spending a ton of money plastering GOP idiocy everywhere in a way that makes their idiocy a laughing stock. Pepsi versus Coke is not won by fact or argument, but by adds that amount to SNL skits using actual clips from GOP Senators’ excuses and Trump’s laughable meandering off subject and total ignorance of fact.
1
Throw them out!
Trump did nothing wrong
Throw them out!
Climate change isn’t real
Throw them out!
Guns don’t kill people
Throw them out!
Those people are to blame for your problems.
Throw them out!
My patience (after the events of this week) is at an end!
How do you plan to make them pay? You have nothing in your hand.
3
They impeached Trump because they know they can’t beat him at the polls. Make them pay!!
5
@William All of the candidates on the Democrat side are horrors with the exception of Bloomberg and perhaps Klobuchar. Trump will win by a landslide this time so everyone can stop complaining about the electoral college. The Democrats will surely pay in November.
2
They impeached him because he’s guilty. Plain and simple.
Doesn't matter if they regret their sins or not, but they should suffer for them.
@Steve: They will finally be allowed to experience passionate love in Heaven forever.
Mr. Blow is absolutely correct. Democrats, and all anti-authoritarians need to unite, and work this year to defeat McConnell and all the vulnerable GOP senators. Plan on manning a phone bank, or showing up in a contested state to handbill, or knock on doors, register voters, or drive people to the polls. Pick your contributions carefully, and donate directly on candidates' sites. You can do it. We must.
You are so right!
I speak as someone outside of the United States' boundaries - geographically, politically and in terms of citizenship. Yet I am at least as anxious as Mr Blow that Americans wake up to the precariousness of the present situation. You have a science-denying depot and would-be king with nuclear codes at the helm. This is simply too dangerous a situation to be allowed to continue.
So come _on_ America. You are the can-do people, are you not? For the sake of the planet, heed Mr Blow's calling!
1
The power of Washington has always been in the Senate while the president is Nothing but a hood ornament on a car.
1
Vote em out. Rip it up.
Why are stations allowed to run political ads. Why are they NOT required to give each candidate x no of minutes of uninterrupted facetime? for free in the service of the republic.
1
Run for office. Register people to vote then get to the polls!
You don't need to live in Kentucky to vote against McConnell- just elect Democratic Senators in your state!
1
Also Amy McGrath running against Darth Vader (McConnel) in Kentucky.
2
These guys don’t get to change the meaning of the Constitution UNLESS WE LET THEM WIN. They want the voters to choose our president but won’t let us see evidence pro or con? They want to make the executive branch mightier than their own Congressional branch? That sounds pretty stupid to me and I think we’re smarter than that. I’m sick and tired of hearing that they’ve already wrecked democracy when WE haven’t run them out of DC yet. McConnell has simply taught us what real obstruction and corruption look like. Ditto Trump. Collins showed us hypocrisy. Roberts, safe in his Federalist appointment, regularly features partisan bias. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY TOO. They are not WE THE PEOPLE. WE ARE. They have betrayed us, pretending that such betrayal was justified because some Democrats feel that Trump poses a threat to the rule of law! They have obstructed the rule of law. Now is the time to obstruct THEM. VOTE
Reporting for duty sir.
1
From Emily's list, seven senators "on notice" : Senator Gardner. Colorado. Senator Perdue, Georgia. Senator Ernst, Iowa. Senator McConnell, Kentucky. Senator Collins Maine. Senator Thills, NC. Senator Cornyn, Texas. Go online today and donate even just a little money to their opponents. It feels good and it's a good start. I hope to travel to one or two of these states and do some on-the-ground volunteer work.
1
Control of both houses mean Trump if he wins the election can be impeached in 30 day no matter what. The Criminal deserves lid fe in prison with the rest of the traitors known as the GOP.
You forgot about Cory Gardner (CO).
President Trump did not “pressure the government of Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens.” Article 1 of the articles of impeachment alleged that “President Trump—acting through his agents—asked Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation of Joe Biden and a discredited theory that Ukraine instead of Russian interfered in the 2016 election.” But Article 1 was disproven during the impeachment trial.
Ambassador Kurt Volker’s testimony was entered into evidence on the first day of the trial. Volker testified he asked President Zelensky’s aides to have him make a public announcement that read: “We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, including those involving Burisma and the 2016 U.S. elections, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.”
The proposed public announcement, which was never made, did not mention the Bidens or a discredited theory that Ukraine instead of Russia interfered in the 2016 election. The House managers made no attempt to rebut Volker’s testimony, which is undisputed. They simply relied on Senate Democrats to ignore it.
The proposed announcement appears on page 122 of the House Intelligence Committee report, which is online at https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20191203_-_full_report___hpsci_impeachment_inquiry_-_20191203.pdf
2
What Trump and his supporters are doing is crazy, unhinged, un American. This is not how democracy works. And to explain it it makes little or no sense.
Therefore, to make it democracy Americans must rise everywhere and head to the voting booths. Vote the crazies out. Restore democracy!
I live in TN, and I'm donating to candidates for Senate in purple states (not TN).. I'm also donating to McGrath (Dem, KY Senate race). We have to defeat those GOP senators and Mitch!! That way even if we God-forbid the Pres. We can stop the horror
2
You tell us to flip vulnerable Republican Senate seats. But how about also telling us what the local Democratic clubs are doing to help us grass roots activists.
In 2018, thousands of SF Bay Area people drove, rode chartered buses to Republican districts in the Central Valley, some 90-120 miles away. The two Central Valley districts closest to the Bay Area flipped. It was SwingLeft that gave me the organization to start canvassing immediately on getting to my destination. I never felt my time was wasted. The local Dem clubs did have volunteers at tables for registration and debriefing. However, it was SwingLeft volunteers that recruited us, set up training for canvassing, and using the minivann app and setting up teams for specific neighborhoods.
SwingLeft also had several events to register voters, often at the time and place when immigrants were sworn in as US citizens. When I see voter registration tables at malls, Farmers Markets, they were never on the initiative of local Democratic clubs.
What I'm saying is individuals and online activists are working in the absence of pro-active professional Democrats. Why is that?
1
Yes, as a KY resident I know we need help. Mitch is probably not at risk but I want to say this about the help you offer. When reaching out to those who still support the GOP, please don’t shout, scream or in any way humiliate them. Instead, show interest in their lives, offer appropriate concern for their worries and through your own example reveal what genuine community looks and feels like. In other words, seek to trump the hate that currently dominates everything with love. It is our only hope.
Trump's base will not change. Read the polls. Needle remains constant : (+/- 2-5%). They are who they are. Forget them. Motivate the independents, undecided and non-voters.This is a huge opportunity. Remember one thing. Since 2016, millions have turned voting age in November 2020. They are internet savvy and have been made more aware of the impeachment proceedings (hopefully they feel disgust).
Popular vote was won by the Democrats in 2016. With all the public exposure of Trump's escapades since then, winning the popular vote by a large enough margin should be a no brainer. Should be. No guarantee however.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to add lots of nails into the GOP coffin. Don't blow it. Thanks to Trump and the GOP Senators, they have handed Democrats a rare and golden opportunity to clean them out and clear this whole mess up. When 75% wanted evidence and witnesses, the wind has filled the sail of the Democratic boat. Steer with the wind. Full speed ahead!
1
@Roger
"Popular vote was won by the Democrats in 2016"
The popular vote Democrats crow over was mainly a result of high margins in populous Democratic strongholds like New York and California. What matters for controlling the senate is the popular vote in a plurality of states. You can't concentrate on only a few high population states the way the Democrats have been doing. The reason Trump took the election and the Republicans hold the Senate still is because a plurality of states continue to support them.
Again: it does not matter how many more Democrats vote if they all live in the same place. Each state gets only 2 senators. You can't change this even by Constitutional amendment. If you want more Democratic senators you have to appeal to people in other parts of the country.
Charles M. Blow writes, "If in fact no one in this country is supposed to be above the law, that case had to be made by someone."
This shows that Blow is suffering from a bad case of law-worship. The law is a tool used by the rulers to rule over other people, not an ethical principle.
Using their law, they perpetrated slavery before the Civil War, and Jim Crow after, and have used it since to deny full restitution for their victims and their heirs.
Using their law, they stole big areas of land and resources from the American tribes, and use their law now to avoid returning the stolen land and pay full restitution.
Using their law, they have imprisoned innocent people, with some caged on death row. Jesus the itinerant preacher and Socrates the philosopher immediately come to mind.
If we use the evidence provided by historians and journalists, when Blow asks us to accept the law as legitimate, is he not asking us to accept injustice as legitimate?
If we ignore the evidence, "no one is above the law" sounds fair, and isn't that why the rulers promote this bogus notion? But, why should we the ruled ignore evidence?
3
When Bloomberg realizes he is not going to get the nomination, he should use his remaining money to go after the cowards like Collins. Pour his money into support for whomever is running against them.
Take them down.
3
@Michael: Money won't fix US politics.
Blow's temper tantrum is a riot. The majority of citizens know the impeachment was just a witch hunt. Wild-eyed Democrats have been screaming about impeachment since Trump was elected. And, Mr. Blow, get your facts straight. The president has every right to set foreign policy according to the Constitution. Trump exercised that right, although he did not withhold any aid, as you assert. He most certainly should have as many of us are sick of paying what is effectively 50% of our income in taxes of one sort or another to aid foreign corrupt governments. Democrats think that the more often they tell a lie the more true it becomes but Americans are smarter than you like to think. The level of hysteria coming from the liberals on the left is evidence that they already know the election is lost. So keep shrieking and accusing but we see right through you. And we are looking forward to another four years.
5
@K. Edwards: Who still believes in witches?
@Steve Bolger I would also like to get on DNC payroll Any suggestions?
Thank you for expressing the opinion and outrage of every decent American with ethics. The entire Republican Party must be thrown out of office when up for reelection. Label the Republican Party for what it is, an unethical cult headed by corrupt cowards. Vote these cowards out of office from the local level to the national level. Make the Republican Party a distant memory seen only in the history books.
2
If you can give the leader of the Birther movement the medal of Honor then I guess you can do whatever you want. If the FBI says that ALL investigation start and end with the president's hand pick guy then.... Knowing the GOP members are voting as they are TOLD by leadership but not how their constituents feel should tell you something.... who is behind this curtain orchestrating these lemming responses to obvious high crimes. 75% of the country ignored!! Party over country!! Party ignoring country! Party trying to GO BACK to a time that reflects their parties majority of voters. The same ones that claim they've been forgotten or ignored. Good luck with forcing votes cause of your identity heritage of a phony culture against the other or new people.
Consider donating to the fund "Get Mitch or Die Trying", started by the much admired former Obama staffers from Pod Save America.
2
Some of the tactics employed by republicans should be employed by the democrats. If not, they cannot win. Pelosi is an embarrassing loser. So is Schumer. We need modern democrats with modern methods. Just witness the old school efforts of Iowa, trying modern methods but with old school tactics. Again trying to build a horse but getting a camel. Turn the Group lose and get out of their way.
The Democratic Leadership is made up of incompetent cowards. They could have used Trumps tax returns to prove his self dealing. The could have locked up every person that refused supeana's until they talk .
Why they work from a totally
different standard than the Republicans?
They still can do all these thing and draw them up again but ahh shucks hes just gonna beat us again. I want pit bulls in office not poodles.
1
Thank you for your comment!
If we don’t vote out all the crooks that ignored the constitution and covered up for the President, GOP single party control will be the norm and our country is doomed.
1
Telling people to wait for the election is like telling a school board to leave pedophile principle in school until the end of the year. You have to call out wrong when its wrong.
Once again the Dems have unelectable candidates for POTUS on the platform.
Bernie is a socialist, he won’t defeat the Trump machine.
Pete, although smart and articulate, is gay. Christian Democrats won’t vote as the idea of a male “First Lady” will never fly with them, Christian Democrats will sit on the sidelines.
5
The GOP is just following the "merchant of doubt" play book.
It was outlined first by tobacco companies, then used to undermine global warming science, and now to justify Trump's crimes.
First, deny the problem exists: Doctors recommend cigarets, who wants another ice age, we can make America great again with perfect phone calls.
Second, sow doubt: No link between cigaret and cancer, it's just sunspots, they're all just Democrats.
Third, confess with a smirk: Okay, cancer, but who cares? Sure, warming planet but the economy, stupid! Maybe it was wrong, but he's learned his lesson...
And the results are in.
A signal victory for cancer, coal and oil, and the most corrupt POTUS in US history.
1
And the most important Senator to defeat is Mitch McConnell. Donate to Amy McGrath!!
2
You forgot to nail WV's Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, up for 2020 re-election, who brought Trump to a Boy Scout Jamboree in WV where he made smutty, vulgar comments to teenagers that have characterized his business and political and show biz life. Capito has also voted a straight Trumpian line, selling out her state. Well, so did her father, convicted felon and former WV Gov. Arch Moore.
2
There is always something each one of us can do. During WWII, America mobilized in every area to defeat both Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. What is most often forgotten is the centrality and power of logistics to make it possible to achieve the ultimate goal of military conflict: ordnance on target.
This time around I will do my part just as in the last cycle. I will donate as much cash as I can but locally I will also do one more thing. Napoleon said an army advances on its stomach. I will regularly cook to provide meals to fuel the army knocking on doors and making calls and signing up voters. It may not be Cordon Bleu but it will not be pizza, coffee and chips either.
I will do my part and we will achieve our objective: votes on target.
How can we make “Republicans pay"?
By voting for the craven Democrats who never really tried to stop them or Trump, but only went through the motions with a delayed, very narrow, and botched impeachment "effort," for which no public or Republican support was ever really even sought?
No way.
We have by miles the most blatantly corrupt, abusive and destructive US president ever, and the Democrats managed to get one Senate Republican vote for removal ?
An absolute, unforgiveable failure by both moribund political parties.
Fire them both.
They have zero sanction, authority, or protection in the US Constitution. They were never supposed to part of the system in the first place, let alone take it over and run it into the ground. Send them both to the dustbin of history where they belong. The GOP in 2020 and the pretend opposition Democrats in 2022.
President Payback must be defeated on Election Day which means record voter turnout will be required.
1
Re register as Republican so you can vote in their primary for Romney
Cal Cunningham, the presumptive democratic opponent to 'my' current senator, Thom Tillis, received my cash donation today as a direct function of Mr. Blow's wake-up call.
All hands on deck.
2
Add to the list: Elise Stefanik, trump's poster girl and favorite yes-woman from upstate New York.
Support Tedra Cobb and upstate households instead of Washington ladder-climbers.
1
Fortunately history is written by those that win. Despite Chuck Schumer and the support from the Times the one sided view of the left will not prevail here. The Democrats are just as partisan as the Republicans and need to be called on it rather then rewarded by the NYT for it.
The Democrats botched this badly and continue to be the party of investigation, faux outrage and identity based factions. They say they can walk and chew gum but let’s face it, they can’t even count their own votes. They loathe the EC but have a complex caucus process in Iowa that can’t properly be explained but can easily be seen to be about as far away from the one person one vote majority take all process they want to impose on the country.
Their candidates are conflicted with 2 billionaires running along side an anti-billionaire faction.
Pelosi (she of compassion and prayer) exposes her hypocritical self as a petulant child for the world to see and goes unchecked. This was abominable behavior but glossed over by the left.
The Democrats are collapsing rapidly yet Charles pretends they aren’t.
Listen to James Carville Dems, He’s your only hope.
7
THANK YOU! This is yet another example of push-down pop-up in America. You knew that the backlash to the first African-American president would be be severe. You knew that the country would elect the total and complete opposite president. Every time a previously marginalized group gets a tiny bit of justice or what is legally theirs to have to begin with- you get violent, white, Christian mobilization tenfold. The country went from an African American of Kenyan heritage to a white nationalist. The Tea Party in 2010 was the beginning and the Senate and House takeover completed it BEFORE Trump. What did Obama get done legislatively or judicially after ACA? Nothing. Why? Because the GOP controlled the House and Senate. McConnell held back judges. Keep the House and get the Senate! Think about it, if Democrats had the Senate, Trump would today be the only president actually removed from office after an impeachment trial.
What is going to be really interesting is how the Trump apologists deal with the revelations which are going to be forthcoming when John Bolton's account of things come to light. The American government might be able to block its' official publication one way or another, but in the internet age it's inevitable that a copy of the manuscript is going to be leaked.
I can't imagine how they are going to explain away or dismiss the level of corruption which Bolton will bring to light. It's obvious that it's a big deal -- otherwise the White House wouldn't have worked so hard to ensure that Bolton's evidence didn't become public during the Senate's recent impeachment whitewash.
But I've no doubt that they'll try.
1
@curious: Bolton has been classified. Even his book. Tough luck.
We will have four more years of Donald Trump in the White House unless the Democrats nominate Michael Bloomberg as their candidate. He is the only person who can defeat Trump.
5
@RBR: Yes, the US needs a kinder and gentler plutocrat.
The libs never seem to get it. While their anti Trump resistance is strong and deep it is geographically very limited. In spite of all his demagoguerie and blowhardiness, in much of the country where it matters he is viewed as far less a threat to the country than are the sanctimonious Democrats.
While it is already probably too late, unless the Democrats undertake to shift priorities to the vast number of people who have been overlooked, dispossessed and taken for granted for decades, there is no chance of defeating Trump nor gaining a Republican majority in the Senate nor keeping it in the House.
5
We need to get rid of Portman in Ohio, a state whose popular former Republican governor stood and continues to stand against Trump.
4
Susan Collins played a game. She said she wanted witnesses and stood her ground. Her position, which spoke of her objectivity to seek the truth, had to be approved by McConnell. Collins is in a tough race in Maine and many women here are still furious with her for her Kavanaugh vote. Her apparent admirable position to stand for objectivity had to be approved by McConnell to improve her respect among Maine voters. The Senate had the votes so she could play politics with Maine's electorate. Now, with her acquittal vote reveals her true values which have yielded to the Trump cult and not Mainers. Mainers are smart. They will read through her political maneuvering. She will be viewed as cynical by lots of decent people. And Sara Gideon is a real challenger for her. Mainers will vote with values to elect someone whose interest is in Maine; and to take back the Senate from broken and immoral hacks. If Collins rated down with McConnell as one of the most disliked Senators in the Senate, her acquittal vote will only aggravate her worth with Maine voters. And there is a great deal of voter activism occurring here. Pay back should come to all these Congressional thuggish slaves to our gangster President.
4
Talk Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, that will get everyone's attention.
Tell people they will lose ACA without having any replacement in place and remind them how many times Cheeto promised the best healthcare plan ever.
In summary, point to their benefits and healthcare and you may see a change in voting pattern.
I emphasize the word "may" since the Internet combined with Faux News and ignorance pretty much brainwashed the GOP/Trump supporters.
3
Dems are in disarray:
Low Iowa turnout.
Front runners unelectable.
Trump's approval level all-time high.
The economy is booming.
The USA is better of now.
7
Yes, outrage over the Republican Senators' abdication of their duty and oaths is clear and must lead to voter rejection and participation. Given the Republican money and voter suppression, turning them out of the majority in November will not be easy, but the tenor of the outage must not be permitted to subside. Trump is a street fighter and so the Democratic candidates must not shrink back from frontal attacks on his mendacity. Democratic candidates must start to be pragmatic and stop the nonsense that we have witnessed in the presidential primary process so far with jibes at each other and proposals that have little support or chance of enactment. I believe that Mike Bloomberg is the ultimate pragmatist and at the least his ability to finance whatever is necessary to turn out Trump and his fawning senators can prevail. We should fear Trump as he has convinced his followers to fear the majority of Americans.
1
This impeachment was all about the ultimate high crime and misdemeanor - the corruption and perversion of the electoral process for the personal benefit, using taxpayer dollars, of the president. American conservatives who support Trump have sold their political souls and country. I am writing this as a former Republican who will never again vote for any Republican candidate.
6
Just as this impeached president will be charged w crimes when he leaves office, so too the senators who spewed ignorance and lies should be tried for treachery in not upholding the US Constitution and for dereliction of duty.
3
The message to Democrats needs to be: Stop being considerate. The GOP killed bipartisanship years ago. Now it’s Democrats job simply to wrest power from the GOP. Strip them of their power. Take it away before they lead us to further ruin.
4
The crusade , says the author , should be joined by Democrats and " everyone else who believes in virtue". I will not join the crusade; will that mean that I am not virtuous?
6
yes!
they have a different view from us, and they did their job! The Nerve of them!
Yes to open minds and mutual respect? Or, no ?
3
and let's not forget to protect Doug Jones.
2
I agree with Charles Blow. Here's what I think would put a stop to Trump's and the Republican's lies: 1. the media should stop repeating their lies; 2. social media platforms should cancel their accounts; 3. they should be censored to the point that they no longer influence our national dialogue. Absent these remedies they will continue sinking our nation below the depths of our ability to rescue it.
If I could give my two cents to the Dems, it would be not to run against Trump but to run against the Repubs as a whole. Mention Trump as little as possible. Instead, lump them all in together. "The Republicans want to take your health care, poison the air and water, warm the globe and cage children..." Etc.
The country needs not only to get rid of Trump, but of Trumpism. Which is, unfortunately, now synonymous with the Repub party.
7
I wouldn't limit payback to politicians. Also consider ways to make their vocal supporters in your community pay.
When people show you who they are, believe them and behave accordingly.
10
This impeachment did great damage to our system of government. It was not based on a high crime and misdemeanor and did not have bipartisan support. Instead this was a misguided political stunt to help dems take back the senate, knowing that they do not have a candidate that can beat Trump on the issues. All house members and senators that supported this impeachment must pay the political price and be voted out of office.
44
@johnny
The only reason that the effort was not bipartisan was the abject fear congressional Republicans have of Trump. They know the offense was sufficient to meet the bar for impeachment.
104
@johnny
Yes, impeachment could backfire on democrats. You think Pelosi and Schiff don't know that? Of course they do. What Trump did regarding Ukraine required them to act and I'm proud of them for doing so, regardless of the negative consequences.
177
@johnny
Democracy is a misguided stunt that does not have bipartisan support. I agree with the second part of that that, but not the first, and not the part about punishing people who stand up for it. And like the majority of the country - 53% according to a recent Monmouth poll, I thought Trump’s behavior warranted impeachment. I believe he committed a crime and engaged in a coverup. In a healthy democracy he would be out of office, no matter what excuses his supporters make. It’s as simple as that.
63
Even if the democrats take the senate i am worried about McConnell controlling the dialog. He was able to control it when Harry Reid was majority leader.
Chuck Schumer needs to be replaced if the democrats take over the senate with someone more savvy and strong. Maybe Elizabeth Warren could be effective.
2
richard g,
Your point about control of the Senate doesn't make sense. You point to Harry Reid being too complacent to Mitch McConnell in years past. Then you suggest that Chuck Schumer must be replaced by Warren if Democrats gain control of the senate. Warren or Schumer would be an excellent choice for Senate majority leader.
In what fantasy is Blow living in? The Dems can't make the GOP Senators pay if they can't govern, and they can't govern if they keep losing the WH, the Senate, SCOTUS seats, and a majority of governorships and state legislatures. Great -- the Dems showed the POTUS nobody is above the law. Guess what -- half the country still doesn't care, and Trump's approval rating is at an all-time high. When are the Dems going to stop patting themselves on the back and start actually winning elections. The reason they won the House is they talked about healthcare, not Trump or impeachment. Use that as the template.
5
@SF They won't stop patting themselves on the back because Democrats are incapable of admitting that they ever lose. They didn't lose 2016, they didn't lose impeachment (Pelosi saying Trump wasn't acquitted because there was no trial is the height of infantilism), that voters prefer their policies even though they reject them at the polls..... Until Democrats become functional adults, they will continue to have their hats handed to them.
2
A lot of Senators are up for re-election this year. It's essential that we vote blue and get those republicans out. We need to be the majority in the Senate, even if Trump wins re-election. VOTE VOTE VOTE
4
One of the biggest factors in the GOP support of Trump is fear of losing their seat in Congress. Once they are elected, they learn how to play the game very fast and they will do anything to keep
their job. Extra money keeps pouring in from supporters and lobbyists, and GOP politicians are very greedy.
They stop caring about about the average constituents in their
districts, and will only listen to their big private donors or big businesses or influential PACs. The politicians become more and
more corrupt and arrogant with every month they are in office.
They are hungry for power and eventually lose their core values.
We must vote them out of office if we still love democracy and justice. Otherwise our country will continue its downward spiral.
1
Do not waste your breath telling Republicans how voting Republican is bad for America. Gazelles do not waste their breath telling lions how lions are bad for gazelles.
Instead, focus on wages. Sure, the stock market are up, but what about your wages? Can your wages afford you daycare for your kid while you work? The Dems are fighting for a living wage for workers, not bonuses / tax-breaks for executives.
Focus on healthcare. The Republicans are suing to take away your pre-existing coverage provisions. The Dems are fighting to provide you with universal health care, so you can get the care you need even if you lose your job.
Focus on the environment. The Republicans actually gloat about how they have made it easier for corporations to pollute our air, water, and soil. The Dems understand that sustainable economic activity includes judicious environmental regulation.
Focus on education. The Republicans actually want to keep the populace poorly educated, so they can control them. They "love the poorly educated" - i.e. laugh at them. The Dems want to ensure that qualified students can get an education without being burdoned with six-figure loans.
After that, focus on local issues as appropos - the Flint water situation, the Keystone pipeline, and so on.
1
..., they rejected Merrick Garland and temporarily shrank the SCOTUS - didn’t pay for that. One should neither assume that “they will pay for that” nor that they will be “made to pay for that.”
2
Iowa has shown the Democrats do not have a viable candidate for the Presidential Election and the House has demonstrated that it is not interested in governing, but power and the hatred of Donald Trump. Once again, Americans are left with the choice of who is the lesser of the worse.
2
@Tommy2 What Iowa has shown is that Iowans prefer two of the candidates (Pete and Bernie) the most.
The rest of it - not interested in governing, hating Trump*, etc. - are just Fox talking points repeated so often that people are beginning to parrot them.
Tommy2,
The house has created much legislation that could benefit us all, The Senate is not taking up those bills for debate. It is the GOP Senators that are blocking new changes. What planet are you living on?
For decades, Republicans have cynically branded Democrats as being weak on crime. It turns out that it is the other way around, with the GOP, starting at the very top, meriting that moniker.
2
Old and all-white, Republican senators know their days are numbered as the nation becomes more diverse. But many of them only have a few years left to live anyway, so Trump is their last hurrah.
2
The final stage of futile resistance is the revenge fantasy, well expressed by Mr. Blow's column. Sure, the Dems can't take down Trump. But they can, and must, take down the entire Republican Party! I'd be interested in what the odds makers have to say about that scenario.
But, Mr. Blow, why stop at just the Republican Party? Why not destroy the hopes and dreams and economic gains of everyone who is guilty of voting for Trump or for any Republican? Of course, I guess you already have that plan in mind -- you're running Bernier or Warren for President. Again, I need to check with the odds makers before I put any money down on that bet.
2
Sixty-seven votes to convict and remove. That would seem a high enough hurdle to insulate a future Democrat from retaliatory chicanery.
Because.. the new problem is psycho-partisan payback. As crazy as it might sound, Republican Senators HAVE NO QUALMS about citing Trump's often-stated belief of unfair treatment.. as the basis to open any investigation that serves - "since we have no defense, take the offense".
Bullying is The New Red.
Don't think - Is it even possible that Donald Trump will go FURTHER OFF..Our Founder's course?
It's his nature to take and take he will ..
It's their nature to enable and enable they will ..
Pull our slipping democracy AWAY FROM New Red's No Rules Precipice.. by sending this batch of kookies home to cool-off (if they can).
(1) I am counting the days until I get to vote against Susan Collins.
(2) Mr. Blow, how about some thoughts directed at the DNC and the nine Dems running in the primary. Surely, they have a role to play which may be different than what they are doing right now.
1
My father, a lifelong Republican, is now a member of what I like to term a "NAR" - "Never Again Republican". He's conservative about fiscal and international policy, middle of the road/leftish on social issues, a Vietnam vet, a retiree, a grandpa. And a voter.
Dad always considered Trump a joke - he worked in the financial markets in 80s NYC, where the almost daily punchlines about Trump's latest business failure, shameless flamboyance, and unchecked ego-centricity made my conservative, Ohio-born Dad roll his eyes in disgust. A longtime admirer of fellow vets Colin Powell (say what you will) and John McCain, he consistently voted Republican election after election.
Thanks to Trump, my dad's current NAR status means that, although he doesn't identify as a Democrat, he has totally abandoned the Republican party of which he once was a card-carrying member. He finds Biden smart but weak, Warren divisive, Buttegieg promising but green, Bloomberg a long shot, Bernie a bit of a joke. (His opinions, not mine.) But he'll vote for any of them over Donald J Trump.
He's not alone. He and my mom (Democrat), are completely surrounded by NARs in their neighborhood (deep in the heart of Texas, I might add). They're Boomers. They're grandparents. They're well-educated. They play bridge. They don't Tweet, or use Instagram, and they found the half-time show "a little too racy".
But they VOTE.
Here's to the NARs - our best hope for the future.
10
I agree. It’s sad to see, although not surprising, that when Republicans were given a perfect opportunity to do the right thing and separate themselves from the racism, xenophobia, and lies of Trump, that they chose not to. How can he not be a time bomb for their party? I know, I know...When you listen to the impeachment evidence and witness testimony and then hear the contorted rationalizations for why Senators voted to acquit, how can you possibly think they are worthy representatives of us and our nation? Romney always seemed to me to be testing the political wind without disguising it very well and maybe he did so this time, but I’d like to think he’s being the statesman he’s always wanted to be.
Some thoughts on making things right...
1. Highlight Chief Justice Robert's role in not calling witnesses--something he could have done. Hold him publicly accountable.
2. Unfurl the new GoP flag: yellow and white stripes and bananas replacing stars against a yellow background.
3. Introduce censures in both houses of Congress and force Republicans to take a very public position on Trump's guilt.
4. Subpoena Bolton, Mulvaney and the others/documents in the House. Find some way to depose Bolton in Congress so we can hear his story and put the lie--the very absurdity of their rationalizations--to GoP apologists.
5. Demand access to the unredacted perfect call. If useful publish important new findings.
6. Demand access by an ombudsman/joint select group of Congressmen to find out what else is wrongly squirreled away in that top secret server.
7. With Bolton's testimony, the release of the email cache (demand unredacted version) by the State Dept. a day late and other new information reopen the House impeachment inquiry. There is no double jeopardy rule governing impeachments.
8. And if all else fails, introduce in the House an impeachment inquiry into 52 GoP Senators breaking their oaths --surely this is worse then Clinton's lying about a sexual dalliance under oath.
All of these eminently reasonable proposals should be done forthwith. Since they won't at least turn them into the knife edge that severs GoP control of the Senate!
1
Once again Mr. Blow hits the proverbial nail squarely on the head. If the Democrats or any American citizen of good will want to see the country turn back to the path of cooperation and reconciliation espoused by President Obama and his "Hope and Change" agenda, they must make a concerted effort to gain control of the White House and both bodies of Congress. This is imperative to counter the bad intentions of a corrupt and shameful Republican party. The time for false equivalency and "alternative facts" are over. If we can't agree on the truth or what is right and what is wrong we are truly lost.
2
I look forward to voting against Martha McSally with great pleasure.
1
Apparently intolerance is now our nation's defining characteristic.
1
Winning back the Senate may be more important than beating Trump.
1
Mr. Blow, as much as I enjoy your commentary, you live in a different universe from many hardcore Trump supporters. They are convinced that Trump has been acting lawfully, that Democrats are sniveling unpatriotic cowards who want to give away free stuff to the undeserving, that (because they are white and poor) white privilege doesn't exist and the racism among minorities is much worse than their own, and so forth. None of the ideas in your recommendations in this column addresses or even shows awareness of the nature of the support for Trump in many red-state areas.
I have some concern that the drastically different worldviews held by various American factions could lead to civil unrest.
1
Repubs acted not so much of "devotion to tRump," but out of raw fear tht he will turn his deplorable against them in a primary. And Oh, he would have,
Right now it looks like the only people who will pay will be Democrats. I don’t like Trump, but impeachment attempts this point, with the election only months away, was a fiasco. Nancy Pelosi should have stood her ground and not caved to her loony left.
As an aside, though both were rude, Nancy tearing up aTrump’s speech was also a tactical, unforced, error. I guess trying to be the bigger person is now out of style.
7
Add Senator John Cornyn in Texas to the list. As many have noted, Texas is less a red state than a blue state that doesn't vote.
2
Question for the NY Times Readers - apparently using undue political interference in the U.S. election doesn't matter, especially if you are the so called president - so can someone other than a U.S. citizen contribute towards Democratic campaigns now? Is it legal now for foreign contributions to be made to unseat those trump republicans?
@mariamsaunders Taking foreign donations never slowed down Obama or the Clintons. Obama's website famously never validated the country of origin of the transaction (which Paypal routinely does). Regarding Bill Clinton, does the name Charlie Trie ring a bell?
Hate to say it but ever since voting went electronic -many States' systems STILL run on DOS! -the results cannot be trusted. We need some way to verify or we need to go back to paper ballots.
2
Unfortunately, Trump just hit an all time high of 49 % approval in Gallup. What is the matter with your country?
6
Agreed.
To me, this incarnation of the GOP is the inevitable result of a party in the throes of an authoritarian trend that actually began with the intervention of SCOTUS in the 2000 election complete with the disingenuous suggestion that it was saving the republic from "chaos".
I see the complete abdication of moral responsibility of all but one Republican senator as threatening, if not more, than the country's fate under the rule of a criminal sociopath, given the scale of their capitulation to a man entirely devoid of conscience, ethics or virtues.
People who are so debased that they willingly participate in throwing away their own boundaries and even rights have no business in the public sphere, particularly since they neglected to take the public wishes into their calculations by voting against a real trial. Every one of them deserves the fate they blocked for the most diabolical, ignorant and dangerous president in at least modern history.
1
How lame. Instead of focusing on formulating good public policy geared to help all Americans, the Dems put the party first.
6
Nancy Pelosi did those who support - or might support - Trump a big favor when she wore her contempt on her sleeve during the State of the Union address, capped perfectly by tearing up her copy of the President's speech.
Progressives not only despise the President, they despise the people who voted for him and the electoral process that put him in office. Hillary Clinton was kind enough to state explicitly that Trump supporters are despicable.
Emotional intelligence tells us that feelings are always mutual. Sometimes we are better off if we don't get what we ask for, Mr. Blow.
6
In my opinion by the time November rolls around and more and more information surfaces, no Republican seat will be safe. Unless of course voter suppression, election fraud, Russian and Saudi hackers, GOP patented machines and outright election theft keep Republicans in power.
2
Very impassioned and insightful essay Mr.Blow. A great call to arms.Unfortunately the Democratic party doesn't fight the way Republicans does. They are the righteous nice guys. Republicans ruthless and pernicious when they attack you politically. The only thing sitting in at the capitol rotunda get you is arrested.
3
@bernard oliver
Obama won twice, Trump lost the popular vote, the dems clobbered their 'ruthless' opposition in '18 and Trump still is the only President in the history of Gallup never to poll over 50% approval (even if this changes soon, we're three years in!). Your perspective now applies to the Republican lemmings who can't and won't fight back and no longer to the Dems.
3
@Cajal
Democrats did everything by the book during the impeachment procedure. Doesn't matter how noble you are . If you cant win in the trenches you lose. winning the popular vote and the polls doesn't mean anything if you cant get the vote out.
Don't get mad ,get even. DNC cant even run a proper primary .Nice guys finish last.
I'm in. Heading over to Payback right now.
We can make Mitch McConnell vulnerable by working to elect Amy McGrath and other Dems.
2
We lawful, honest, righteous Americans have these short-term gain Republicans and their decrepit leader in our daily thoughts, ready to dole out long-term pain at the voting booth.
2
When President Obama was confronted with some nasty thing said about him he'd shrug it off, "That's just politics...." Perhaps he acquired that clear thinking in the Senates in which he served.
Trump never had that experience. He never negotiated, he never compromised. He'd bully, he'd sue, he'd run out on his obligations, and he runs our country the same way.
The real danger here is not only does he take everything personally, but so do his followers. A majority of the Senate and the Electoral College represent a minority composed of Trump-thinking White Americans, who like Trump are sore losers and believe they are the true victims.
We've seen the right-wing fake outrage of crowds-for-pay during the Florida recount, and it worked. I fear a close Trump lose and the real outrage of his minions.
1
Support the Democratic Senate race in Kentucky! Senator McConnell 's term expires this year. He's almost 78 now, if re-elected in 2020 and able to serve another full term he would be 84 in 2026. Pass the torch.
5
Out of the obsequious den of Trump toadies, only one Republican, Mitt Romney, has shown that he has a spine. His short explanation was sincere, truthful, and eloquent. It is very clear that Trump overstepped his bounds. It's also clear that this was a "serious" overstep. The talking heads on TV suggested that Mitt is jockeying for position in a future presidential election. If so, he is the only Republican who deserves such consideration.
3
We really must Rise Up and take our country back from these corrupt, craven Republicans. I pray that it’s not too late.
3
The democrats are a hot mess. Their only motivation appears to be to hear themselves speak. Like children who have learned a new lesson. You say they need to focus like a laser. They hardly seem capable of turning on a light switch. Calling everyone a racist and then discounting them, does not appear to be working. Even if you think someone has racist tendencies, they are still children of God. Dialogue and honest debate will do more to cure them then overt hatred and ostracization. While you lust in hate, you are being trounced by Trump. Trump is trying to be all inclusive, more than we can say for the supposed liberals. We all need to try to come together. Hateful attitudes may give you pleasure, but they are seen by me as a poor effort to make things work. You need to reset and start in a new direction. Your current model is clearly not working for you or anybody else. If the people in power decide to turn on you, as you have on them, you can be easily decimated. Start to think clearly, shed the academics demonic rationalizations to hate. It is not working.
5
"What we have watched in Washington from Republicans during this impeachment is nothing short of a travesty." Indeed. Pure cynical careerism, nothing else.
2
Trump Job Approval at 49%
Let that sink in.
Half of America is very happy with this President.
4
@P&L: Sickening isn’t it?
It's so sad that you are so sure you are right and they are wrong.
It is impossible for you to conceive that Trump's actions, while awful, are not impeachable, and that other presidents have done at least as bad, without being thrown out of office.
I hope one day you are accused of something that appears a little gray, rather than black and white.
5
Thanks Charles! I, for one, am fired up. Let’s all campaign like mad, like Obama taught us to do. Grassroots campaigns truly make a difference.
PS: remember Lt.Col., retired, Amy McGrath in Kentucky who’s running against McConnell! We must SQUASH McConnell! Read Amy’s Wiki page ... WOW! Send donations to your in state Democratic candidates and to these out of your state weaklings. We can do it! We must do it! Our way of life depends on it and that’s not an exaggeration.
3
“It is done.” The heaviness of your first words in today’s column hit me forcefully. After living through the tragedy of the outrageous pre-trial promise of acquittal by the Majority Leader, in very clear terms to promise to lie under oath, I had little faith that his cabal would deny that conclusion. Yet I watched and listened. I mourn the loss of my father’s Republican Party, even if only as a sparring partner. There is no room for rationality under Tribalism. On your positive and proactive urging, I will support and encourage the opposition in Maine, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Arizona and Colorado. (Thank you JW in Mo.). You say that flipping is difficult, but America has no choice. I agree with you! Your summation NEGATES your opening, and I THANK YOU for lifting the veil on an “almost” perished democracy!
PS (I really miss Claire McCaskill in the Senate!)
1
"Indeed, there is no longer a Republican Party. There is now only the Party of Trump. He is them; they are him."
The party of Lincoln, of Teddy Roosevelt is dead. The party of Eienhower and even Nixon is dead. Ronald Reagan said, "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me." Well, Ronnie, you would find no home in the mob of timid, toadying sycophants the Republican Party has become today.
I am retired on a fixed income. I will be sending what meager contribution I can afford to Amy McGrath, who is challenging Mitch McConnell for the Kentucky Senate seat. That vile, despicable, hypocrite should be on the top of everyone's list of senators who should be sent packing in November.
2
My favorite guy, author, journalist, reporter took to twitter
Anand Giridharadas
@AnandWrites
There aren't a lot of moments of pure patriotism and self-sacrifice in American life anymore, of bravery in the face of what be a reminder of a life filled with threats and disparagement.
Let us honor one when we see it.
Bravo and thank you
@MittRomney.
https://www.amazon.com/Winners-Take-All-Charade-Changing/dp/110197267X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EJL0F1S7EJOC&keywords=winners+take+all+by+anand+giridharadas&qid=1581001203&s=books&sprefix=winners%2Caps%2C141&sr=1-1
https://fortune.com/longform/anand-giridharadas-winners-take-all/
Can't agree more!
Anand Giridharadas is an American writer. He is a former columnist for The New York Times. He is the author of three books, India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking, The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas, and Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. Wikipedia
He was today on Morning Joe.
3
The 2020 Elections will determine if our country transitions from a Democracy based on the “Rule of Law” to one that is based on the “Rule of Money”. Donor Dollars has rigged the economy to the will of the Donors. Obviously the Republicans have indicated that 95% plus of their Members in Congress are guided by the “Rule of Money”. Their members were vetted to do the will of Wall Street, the Medical Industry, Corporate Lobbyists and the NRA among others too numerous to mention before they were permitted to run for the Senate.
Mitt Romney is the only Senator that was influenced by the Oath of Office that ended in “So help me God” rather than $$$$$’s.
In this day and age I am voting for a “Superman Approach”. Let’s go back to the Glass-Stegall Act of 1932 and tax rates prior to the Reagan Presidency.
1
Why not support Amy McGrath who’s running against McConnell? What joy at his defeat ...
3
Charles blow is right that we have reached a critical juncture. It is no longer a time for bipartisanship or false equivalence.
As Lincoln said in his acceptance speech for the Senate in 1858, observing that a house divided against itself cannot stand. “It [the Union] will become all one thing, or all the other.”
One side must prevail.
At the end of his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln said,
“If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offences which in the providence of god, must needs come, but which having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attibutes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope—fervently to we pray—that the mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if god wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s two hundred fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’”
Sometimes one party is right and the other is wrong. The Republican Party has no liegitimate claim to righteousness or governance and we must be freed of its toxic corruption, no less than slaver
1
Do republican voters listen to what the GOP has to say? No, they listen to a highly organized media machine with huge personalities driving the plan of attack. The moderates and left have no such system and instead spin around in little circles, bumping into walls and things. Pelosi and Schumer are done with a capital D and replacing them with ‘the squad’ is a terrible idea. Find some stronger leadership with some sound ideas and you might have a chance.
What are sound ideas? Replacing or even augmenting capitalism with socialism is not one of them. No one is voluntarily getting on board with this, ever.
1
This American will be voting to restore Constitutional normality back to this country, so WHOMEVER the Democratic nominee is, I am fully in support and will work tirelessly to get them elected. Four more years of this current administration will be the end of our republic, and all for which it stands. Let's make November 2020 a blue wave...nay, a blue TSUNAMI!!
1
Should Trump be re-elected (heaven forbid), but Dems take the senate and hold onto the house, what would Trump be able to do without massive objections and negative press from the Dems? The Dems might then be able to drive a stake thru the heart of the republicon party, or at least their zombie arguments (see Krugman 2/3) about tax cuts, climate change, and health care.
Should Trump lose, and the senate stay in republicon hands, what would Dems be able to do to counter republicon obstruction? Not much!
The senate is the more important battleground. Trump and the presidency must not be allowed to become the sole focus in November.
“We must do this we must do that” “Strategizing to win here and over there”. No one Ends up winning all there is, is a disconnect between the citizens of a great country. This is a pack of animals jousting for power and authority over the territory. How about citizens joining in the efforts of getting great policies through, work out the states differences and move forward. It does matter who runs the country and that’s every American citizen. As long as the country is moving forward taking votes with everything in mind versus causing conflict, the country would be moving forward to a better place. Trump seems to be trying to pick up Americans up off the mat, dusting you guys off and trying to give you a brand to be a part of. I believe you join the movement forward and contribute the best you can or get lost in the negativity, giving yourselves a life of pain.
1
I could not agree with this article more!!!
Personally, I want Republicans to know:
I am mad AND I Vote !
2
Checks and balances are for silly Democrats. The republicans have a much bigger fish in sight.
President for life trump. The republican party in power alone. No more checks/balances, no more constitution. It's going to be a totalitarian regime now, with trump as it's narcissistic dearleader.
Otherwise, the utter hypocrisy and blind devotion to one man makes no sense. If you look at it as a Putin-backed play for ONE PARTY RULE, it makes total sense.
If we oould get a great last minute candidate, McConnell is vulnerable too. Can't we recruit Andy Beshear? Stacy Abrams must run. Jay Inslee must run. There are some great candidates out there who aren't running for the Senate.... and I'm sorry but we need every Senator running for President to just stay in their seat. I have always argued that with McConnell as head of the Senate, it does not matter much who is President.
1
Who do you think is going to make them pay? As in 2016, the Dem party label has bee hijacked by interlopers who never lifted a finger to help raise funds for congressional elections, but only attack the 'establishment' more than they ever attacked the real opponents from the other party. They are the unbending arrogant selfish kind who would put their self-interest and self-righteousness over the health of the nation, just like the other side puts their party and their 'leader'. But the other side is united in supporting a mad man who I fear will also be tremendously helped by the fracture within the Dem party, mainly due to these interlopers!
1
Mr. Blow, you forgot to mention Mitch McConnell, the most important senator to get out of office than any of them if Democrats can not take back the Senate.
1
Egregiously, you left out the most reprehensible Republican Senator of all, without which, none of this would have come to pass, and that is Mitch McConnell. Support his Kentucky opponent as much as you can. Get him out!
1
The other "they" accused Trump on a legally baseless charge and displayed childish behaviors, from screaming to throwing torn-up paper on the floor.
Move them back a grade and clean the Trump erasers.
Make THEM pay!
3
Or- the Democrats could pay this army of messengers. Instead of the same ol’ cadre of “professionals”.
I love this article! I will send it to my tribe, and ask them to send it to theirs, especially in swing states. I haven’t been particularly politically active in my life, but if not now, when? I will also, today, go through the list you provided of vulnerable senators and donate to their opponents. Again, if not now, when? Thank you for your direct and inspiring words.
4
Sounds great. “Make the pay!” How? What?
What does it mean that there are 3/6 female senators on the list?
Anyone else notice that?
1
@Marg, I agree, it is amusing when "diversity" runs headlong into reality.
1
Great! Now we must keep the names of the Republican Senators in the media every day. We should know these Trumpists by heart. There is no Republican party so refer to them as Trumpists from here on out.
1
I live in a state that already has two Democrats for Senators so there’s not much that I can do on that front. My Congressman, John Katko, is a Trump mouthpiece and I will definitely vote for whoever runs against him in November.
Sadly, you have one thing right; it’s not just this president (oh, excuse me, I meant to say king), but the whole Republican Party. I’d hoped it would be different.
Aside from your recommended political, internet support of Democrats in these states, what is the House going to do now?
Does double jeopardy attach to this impeachment acquittal? Was the....king...put in ‘jeopardy of life or limb’?
The stonewalling of the House’s ability to investigate, either for legislative purposes or possible impeachment must not be allowed to go unchallenged. That is a green light for any administration to indulge in....unacceptable behavior.
They must call witnesses, challenge in court every refusal. And demand this Supreme Court immediately take the case/cases for a timely decision. We can not wait years to reestablish the checks and balances system. And the Court should not be let off the hook to decide this- political- question. It is fundamental, and we need to hear from them.
It seems to have taken conservatives years, decades to build a philosophy of executive privilege, impunity. It remains for this...conservative?....court to ratify or nullify it. Then we can go from there.
Trump* was not acquitted.
The Senate agreed that Trump* did committed the crimes as charged. They just voted to not fire him for those crimes.
That, my fellow countrymen, is no acquittal.
2
Lindsey Graham ought to be high on this list. He has a viable opponent! Absolutely, there is no higher priority than expulsion of the Senate majority. Every single re-election bid needs to be oppressed. The ones mentioned in this article are low-hanging fruit, but Graham and McConnell are the most important! No More Years in office should be the goal.
2
You could help by devoting columns this summer to each of these races, naming the opponents (after the primary!), and encouraging readers to donate and/or volunteer.
4
Throw the entire GOP out, except Mitt, the only one left with any integrity. Out, out, out, damned spot.
3
Everyone knew they would. I didn’t even blink. It’s like watching a show 100 times, you know the ending by heart. I’m curious about what Americans will do this fall.
2
If the government is ever going to change, Mitch McConnell's re-election bid must be pointed out by the press - why is he not listed in this editorial? He is not immune to the electoral process. Everyone in America who is against the partisan dysfunction in this country must do everything they can to support Amy McGrath, his opponent in the upcoming election. Indeed, removing McConnell from office would be just as necessary, if not more so, than voting the current president out.
5
Thank you Mr Blow for your tireless spirit of defiance. Forthright rebuke is the slap back we need to see against this political mafia.
6
Well, the impeachment is over. Time to get busy and work to get Trump out of office. It's up to the voters now. Let's get McConnel out as well as the other Republicans who have sold their soul to Trump. I listened this morning to Trump's hateful speech. It's time to get this Dictator out of office. Glad one Republican had the guts to go against the tide. Cheers to Romney!
7
I’m spending my retirement on Democratic senatorial candidates. And don’t forget Kentucky and South Carolina.
9
It is time for the trump-junkies in Congress to collect.
It occurs to me, Donald john Trump owes them bigly, big league and big time.
All they need to do is seize on any of his other dozen or so impeachable offenses, and when they want him to do something, or hopefully, cease and desist doing a thing, they can meet him and show their own Articles of Impeachment.
Obviously, even the weakest would be approved in the House dominated by Democrats and since they'd be "Republican", and I use the term nostalgically, articles, he'd be convicted in the Senate -- overwhelmingly.
Too bad for the rank and file that their leaders are complicit in his other crimes or feel they might be implicated as having had guilty knowledge..
2
@lkent: They can sit back and twiddle their thumbs between fundraising calls.
1
@Steve Bolger
they did him his favor. #@SoLoyal! Now they can scrape him off the bottom of their shoes. Trump? Who he?
Just a question Charles. Trump might be the worst person alive, yet, I thought the House had to make "the case"( THEY DID NOT!), and the Senate had to try it?
It is something called a rush to judgement!
2
@bsb: This is all just conjecture about what dead people are thinking.
@bsb I guess you didn't listen to their case.
How to explain Mr. Trump's rising approval ratings?
3
@Ronald B. Duke
"How to explain Mr. Trump's rising approval ratings?" Ignorance, bigotry, and misogyny explains why his supporters like him. Period.
1
Right and if Bernie is our candidate, not only will these dudes retain their job, but you can scratch a number of Democrats running in contested races. Down the tube.
3
They ALL need to pay at the ballot box in November.
And after that, no more forgive and forget, no more bygones be bygones, no more kumbaya bi partisan nonsense.
Commissions, investigations, indictments, trials and jail for 40 years of Republican perfidy, subversion and war against the middle class, poor people and American democracy.
All of them. Each and every one of them.
9
Yes, thank you. Here in NC, we are organizing to remove Tom Tillis. He is as good as gone.
Only certain Senators are up for election:
The 2020 United States Senate elections will be held on November 3, 2020, with the 33 Class 2 seats of the Senate being contested in regular elections. The winners will be elected to six-year terms extending from January 3, 2021, until January 3, 2027. There are two special elections A John McCain replacement and one in Georgia following the resignation of Johnny Isakson at the end of 2019.
In 2014, the last regularly scheduled elections for Class 2 Senate seats, the Republicans won a net gain of nine seats from the Democrats and gained a majority in the Senate. Republicans defended that majority in 2016 and 2018, and held 53 Senate seats following the 2018 elections. Democrats held 45 seats after the 2018 elections, while independents caucusing with the Democratic Party held two seats.
Including the special elections in Arizona and Georgia, Republicans will be defending 23 seats in 2020, while the Democratic Party will be defending 12 seats. Democrats will need to pick up three or four seats to gain a majority in the Senate, depending on which party wins control of the vice presidency.[a]
Several races are expected to be competitive, including the Democratic-held seats in Alabama and Michigan as well as Republican-held seats in Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, and Maine
3
After the Democrats’ failed gambit with the speedy “impeachment light” game, why and how could anyone get excited about voting and/or contributing to that feckless crowd any more than to the lock step sycophant Republicans.
With a choice between 2 overly self serving political parties-the utterly corrupt and the utterly incompetent-it’s tough to get excited about either
2
Grandiose plans for November are all well and good assuming it's a fair election. The Republicans have now proven they can be counted on to ensure it's not.
6
@Mark Merrill Have you heard about Iowa Dem. primary?
2
Popular belief in the US Constitution will be tested in November.
If Americans vote against their Constitution, all is lost.
5
@Greg: The Constitution itself divides us by its random distribution of federal voting power built in by the need to get Georgia and South Carolina to join the original Union.
1
Trump ain't perfect,far from it. It's just that the alternative is no better. The DNC is a powerful political organization that has has politicized much of the civil service. Teacher unions, local,state and federal government workers all pay dues to unions that support Democrats. Now that Democrats are moving so far left if they win likely tank the economy.
Appears Trump is one of the few Republicans capable of standing up the DNC on equal terms nationwide, unlike Romney who Democrats would turn into mincemeat.
8
You make some good points, but you’re dodging the question facing everyone, most especially conservatives, in the here and now: What cost victory?
Any leader can choose to lead in multiple ways, and not all arguments have the same effect on those who hear them. What Trump does is best described as anti-leadership: Always go for the argument that gets the job done and changes the mind in front of you, no matter what the upshot of that argument might be. If it takes scapegoats, then scapegoat. If it takes appealing to fear of those around you, then do it, because that one always works like gangbusters. If it takes smashing to a pulp the institutions and norms that will safeguard the citizens who live under administrations that come after you are gone, why not? What do you care? You won’t be there to worry about it!
Someone like a John McCain was within one VP choice from the presidency. He chose not to hurl insults and xenophobic slurs at his opponent during a campaign. He insisted on decency. Will that kind of honor sometimes mean getting bested in the short term? Maybe so - that’s the cost of principles.
But where is your confidence? Do you really believe that conservative ideas, longer-lived than this country, can never win again without a slimeball like Trump to do what it “takes?”
I find that as unlikely as it is short-sighted. And it may indicate that there are problems with conservatism as it is currently constituted politically. The word “corrupt” comes to mind.
@Biomuse you're right. Confidence isn't 100%. I did support a Romney or Kasich type until I believed they could not handle the Clinton/DNC machine. I live in Calif. where dems have total control and getting stronger..Trumps trade dealings cut income on my modest small farm,but state policy have made farming a paperwork burden..and I'm almost organic.
Corruption? Democrats are not immune they are just more skilled at it imo. They would not have done Ukrainian strong arming on the phone with 20 people listening in on call. I see Democrats a bigger threat,fully aware I might have eat crow at some point for supporting Trump.
Make the republicans pay. Nice idea but saying it won't make it happen.
The basic idea in politics is winning elections. The people who win make government policy; the people who lose elections don't make policy.
That sounds simple but I am not sure that the democrats really understand that you have to win to have a voice.
When Mitch stiffed President Obama and ignored the nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supremes, many people said that the republicans should pay a price for that. But I don't recall that they paid any price at all. I think that they actually increased their majority.
Best wishes. Regardless of what happens or doesn't happen in Washington, many of us can live happy and productive lives.
4
@Aubrey That only goes so far - once we really have a dictatorship you might find it is a lot harder to live happy and productive life.
It'll be tough to flip the republican-controlled senate? Trump is likely to win re-election?
Frankly, now that the American dream has been exposed to be an absolute nightmare, there's really nothing there that's worth saving. Ten years before the dissolution of the USSR, nobody could have envisioned what was about to happen in 1989. I wonder what the USA will look like 10 years from now? Anyone's guess, but it's a safe bet that it won't look anything like it does today.
7
I need a legal reference for the illegality of Trumps actions. I argue with my friends who insist Trump did nothing illegal or wrong. Cite the law that makes it illegal. I am a Never Trumper and I want him out of my government. So, Mr. Blow, and every other news person please provide the legal citations to help me with my arguments against Trump.
4
@John OBrienj
The USA doesn’t look like it did 10 years ago and is indiscernible from what it looked like at the turn of the millennium, 20 years ago
Don't forget to concentrate on defeating McConnell; support his very able opponent, Amy McGrath. Even if the Senate as a whole is not flipped, a defeated McConnell will no longer be majority leader, and there will be one additional honest senator.
18
Nothing will change, as the country is very politically divided.
Trump will be reelected, as will most of the republican senators. The impeachment trial did not move the needle.
I hope that we don't have four more years of bickering, but we might. It would be good to get some positive things done in Congress.
5
One key lesson from this column deserves more emphasis here: tough as it is, just electing a president is *not* enough. EVERY race counts -- Senate, yes, but your state and local offices too. Republicans have known that for years, and have followed that strategy since the aftermath of the Goldwater debacle in 1964.
Democrats are effective at generating policy ideas, but repeatedly get clobbered on politics. In this system, you can't produce big change, or small changes, or prevent bad changes, without winning elections.
A lot of them. Repeatedly.
9
@M Johnston: The more issues people have, the more likely they are to be Democrats. Try to make sense of that. The Republicans have it easy because their base shares a set of common theocratic issues.
The Free Press should continue to report each and every item, each revelation that piles more and more on top of all the evidence that Trump's actual crimes are beyond a shadow of anybody's doubt. Those that support him don't doubt the facts. They don't care. There are still among us those that do care and for whom Trumpism is not OK.
13
It is obvious that every Republican should be defeated. The objective should be to destroy the entire party. As a party it has become so 'rightwing' that it is not possible that it can do anything that is good for the American public.
But the compromise made in the constitutional deliberations means that most Senators are elected by poor rural residents from states with minimal populations. Since most of us do not come from that social group we can actually do nothing to correct the problem with the Republican Party.
5
It’s a short distance from patriarchy to despot. There are those among us, Trump supporters, who see the Presidency in precisely those terms. What is being sought is redemption, not a President. The coming election is about being saved, which does not respond to a political solution.
What to do? Offer a redemptive solution, as Jimmy Carter was, by being a genuinely decent and honest man (or woman, although it’s unclear whether Trump supporters, in their misogyny, would ever vote for a woman). The answer is not political—it lies in human character. Not in politicizing character, but in being a woman or man of character.
2
Social media is important especially for those who get there news there, but don't forget letters to your local newspapers and to local news blogs.
2
@Lynn: Do you ever suggest that people read here?
AGREED! But, no need to be partisan about this: "Now that Republicans have refused to do their duty out of extreme tribalism and devotion to Trump, Democrats need to make lists and take names. There is no time for crestfallen recriminations." There are some Republicans of conscience out there, along with plenty of Independents. This is less a battle of Republican V Democrat, and more a battle of conscience V craven.
7
So sad for your country, and so sad to see the debacle that was the Impeachment trial. Recently watched a TV series here in Scotland about John Adams and the founding fathers of your country. Without doubt they will be spinning in their graves. Both sides of the political argument failed miserably, and honesty and integrity were absent from their seats in the House and the Senate. I wish all Americans a better future, and that will only be achieved now at the ballot box.
10
@Meshy: The dead do not have to suffer through watching their works crumble to ashes as their whole gestalt fades into history. We only have to live once.
2
How could you not have named Mitch McConnell? He bear led this nightmare from the get-go.
Those republicans coming up for reelection in 2022, then again in 2024, cannot be forgotten either.
Nothing short of a complete purge will do.
25
@jhbev: Don't forget, the federal judiciary is now a hotbed of state's rights advocates. In other words, it is a minefield for minds.
7
Charles Blow is correct that the race to control the Senate is as important as the Presidential contest - in fact it is more important, but not in the way he suggests. Now that the Democratic Party has been entirely co-opted by the left, a Senate controlled by the opposition is the only bulwark against the massive increases in the size and powers of government that all of the Democratic Presidential candidates, without exception, espouse.
4
@Ken M. You are being silly, what with your 'co-opted by the left'.
You need to take a reality check. It is trump and Mitch who are telling you that the executive branch is now unchecked by Congress. Remember all that 'executive FIAT' whining you folks did a few years back?
Now look at you. Obama, Hillary etc had waaaay too much power, so you're all gonna give the presidency more power.
Derp.
This only makes sense when one realizes that trump supporters really do want their dearleader in office for life. President for life, with all the power he wants.
Your patriotism fails to impress.
@deb - A mere 10 years ago, when Democrats controlled the White House and Congress, moderates in the party prevented the adoption of a public option for health care. Today, a public option is considered a “moderate” alternative to Medicare for All. If you don’t recognize that there is no longer any room for moderates in the party - that the party has been co-opted by the left - you are not paying attention.
Come the November elections, should the electorate give Democrats a majority in the Senate, I'll be surprised, but I would accept the collective will of the voting citizenry. That is the way the system works.
But, be aware, this call for "widespread resistance" just might backfire by igniting a voter counter resistance, kindled by the Democrats' inept attempt at impeachment and conviction.
In this round of the Democratic Party versus President Trump, the Democrats lost and Trump won and all this noise under the rubric of resistance just might increase his chances for reelection. So, proceed, by all means.
2
@GWB
The "collective will" went for Hillary. Trump was, indeed, impeached. Look up the meaning of "rubric."
@GWB: Cynicism is metastatic now. The system lacks any rational credibility.
@Rea Tarr
I suggest you look up the meaning of "rubric."
Nationally, Clinton did indeed receive more individual votes than Trump. Unfortunately for her, and Democrats, she did not win the majority of votes cast for electors in the states she needed.
That's the way our system works. It is not likely to change.
I’m staying with friends just outside Boston. As we sat around the table bantering ideas of what we as individuals can do, one mentioned she’ll be going up to Maine to do some “get out the vote” door knocking.
I’ll be doing something similar, maybe elsewhere, but Maine isn’t too faraway for me too.
My thinking is my efforts would be better spent there than helping with a specific candidate’s campaign.
6
I'm more of the opinion "they impeached Trump, make them pay." I didn't vote in 2018 but I plan to vote against my Democratic House rep this year. Unfortunately both of our Democratic Senators in NY are likely safe.
7
@Bill
""Make Them Pay" is the perfect follow-up to "Make America Great Again." Works well, too, with the slogan, "I've Got Mine. Too Bad You Don't. Ha Ha."
@Bill Why do you feel this way? What is Trump doing for you? Are you really happy with where our country is today?
@PJP I’m happy every time I look at my investment statement. The economy is the best it’s even been by some measures and not just for the upper or middle class. Unemployment is at its lowest ever, real wages that have been flat for decades are finally rising. A good economy and keeping us out of war are the main things I want in a President. Don’t want to risk that with an untested Democrat.
If everyone reading this donated just $5--or more if you can afford--to one or more of these candidates' opponents you would be voting with your dollars.
15
"Republicans who have chosen party and despot over country and law must be made to pay at the ballot box in November. If a majority of the Senate cannot be expected or made to do the right thing, the Senate majority must be changed. It must be defeated."
Believe me, they will pay, and unwittingly, immersed so deep in their hubris, they put into national circulation the coin they will use to pay; we know that coin to be Bernie Sanders, the true blue gentleman from Vermont by way of Brooklyn, a dependable coin several decades in circulation now recognized as the stalwart principled standard-bearer of what our Democratic Republic used to be all about, and will again next November.
Stand fast everyone, stand with Bernie Sanders; we are the fire-stop and we will reduce the conflagration that is Trump and his Republican partners to a burnt-out cinder.
5
Mitt Romney voted that he wants all commerce between Congress and the Executive to run through the judiciary so he doesn't have to think about it.
Good luck with that.
1
I am wondering why hundreds of thousands of Americans are not protesting on the national Mall against Trump. This kind of rally can and should be organized by those who want a change in leadership. It has been done very effectively in the past, and may be the only kind of message that will make Trump nervous. I agree that voting out senators who acquitted Trump is crucial, but we should kick off this political season with a massive display of physical protest that shows Americans can still rise against corrupt leadership, even if (and espcecially if) it is their own government.
16
Are you willing to get that started?
Mitch McConnell is not generally considered vulnerable, but he also must be targeted for defeat. Even as minority leader, he was very destructive. The message should be that Republicans favor winning elections by cheating. That was obvious well before Trump's infamous phone call, with such tactics as purging likely Democratic voters from rolls, closing polling places in heavily Democratic areas, restrictive photo ID requirements, gerrymandering, restricting early and absentee voting, false information about voting days and times communicated to minority communities. Since Congressional Republicans in both houses voted almost unanimously to condone soliciting foreign interference in our elections, a reasonable question is whether they themselves have secretly been doing that in their own campaigns.
A problem is that those who inhabit the Trump ecosystem are constantly bombarded with messages that Trump is the heroic caped crusader, bravely defending the country from unpatriotic Democrats.
16
When I heard on the news that Mitt Romney was the only senator to ever vote to convict his party's president during an impeachment, I realized that impeachment has been an illusion since day one. There was never a chance for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, or Donald Trump to be convicted and removed.
No president will ever be impeached and removed unless the opposite party holds 2/3 of the senate.
8
The recommendation provided here is essentially to do what the republicans did - vote based on party lines.
"Republicans who have chosen party and despot over country and law must be made to pay at the ballot box in November." In other words, everyone rally around the Dems regardless of the candidates, because the republicans must pay.
This is just the opposite of what people should be doing when voting. This recommendation is nothing but more partisan voting and will do nothing but divide the country even more.
Not a favorable NYT comment, I'm sure, but one that should be said. This whole us vs. them and vice versa needs to stop.
2
I was expecting another in the tome of NYT op-ed articles complaining about Trump's character. And uh, ummm, I think we got that.
Finally, a hint at a strategy that should restore some balance and sense.
Thanks.
7
The first thing the Democrats need to do is get their messaging straight, and do much better at it.
Obama won using the audacity of hope as his mantra. Ask him for help with messaging, his speeches were literally inspiring.
What the Democrats want for this country is to restore, for all of the people, not just the wealthy:
a life where you can go to church, send your children to school, go to a concert or movie, without the fear of being killed - to get guns off the streets.
a life which includes meaningful work that will support a family - a full-time job with pay that will pay the bills. A minimum wage increase, job training, relocation help, and much more.
a life which includes affordable and good healthcare. Don't close rural hospitals, don't drive people into bankruptcy because of a serious health condition.
a life which does not include destruction from floods and fires - help in case of emergency and, every day, help healing climate change.
a life where children can get a good public education. This means early life childcare, good public schools and help with college admission and expenses.
And, most importantly, respect for everyone. We are all in this together, we need to restore our courage, respect and decency, right now. Trump and the Republican coward senators have not honored these values, they are lying to you. Vote Democratic, all down the line.
34
Thank you for your well composed, intelligent and heart felt comments.
They are spot on!
5
Trump had every right to bring up the Bidens in the phone call. They are corrupt. The democrats and main stream media like to say that all of the allegations concerning Hunter and Burisma Holdings have been debunked. Debunked by who? I am glad that an investigation into the shady dealings of the Bidens has begun. And it goes much deeper than just the Burisma story. Biden was just clobbered in Iowa with another rout waiting in New Hampshire. After he withdraws from the race I hope that the investigations will continue.
7
@Micky Haught: First of all, just like with. Hillary and Benghazi, there was no proof of any direct involvement with the killings of those Americans (if anyone is to blame, it's the Republicans for denying funding for additional security. But, I digress...)
Second of all, there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by either Biden.
Biden's getting "punched in the gut" in Iowa, more than likely had nothing to do with it. And besides, the Iowa Caucus is hardly a make-or-break for any presidential candidate; by the same token, John McCain ate Dubya's lunch in New Hampshire; we all know what happened after that.
As for Biden's bid, your rationale reminds me of some cities, who when their favorite sports teams lose their first game, they lament "the season's over..."
As Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over, 'til it's over."
2
@Micky Haught
After all this time, and all the simplified explanations of the charges (for people who have difficulty with compound sentences), you still haven't grasped that the phone call was an attempt at blackmail. The Biden's had nothing to do with it.
@Micky Haught:
If "Trump had every right to bring up the Bidens in the phone call," why was the call put on a highly secure server? Why not discuss the Biden "problem" with US intelligence instead of talking with Ukraine. If so innocent, why did the White House withhold documents and not let admin officials talk to the House, why not let officials talk to the Senate?
How about the corrupt Trump family and the emoluments clause? Oh, that's right — Trump can do no wrong in the eyes of Republicans.
1
Dream on. Trump will win in a landslide, both chambers of Congress will be overwhelming Republican. America has now seen the Democrats in their true light.
8
Defend your “landslide” statement, because he won by relatively few votes in three states last time. And his support isn’t up (all the other polls except Gallup didn’t show an increase). And almost three million more voted for his opponent.
15
Much better to have dreams than delusions.
@Reva Cooper yes, the millions in California...which is 72%white, for Gods sake! You can’t trust THEM!
1
How about a list of GOP Senators up for re-election, whose seats are flippable? This would enable donors around the country to best allocate their political donations.
9
@Famdoc
Go to Indivisible.org. They have a full list.
The list is on the column.
Indeed, the Senate must be changed. Even were Trump to lose the election, we would still have a Republican senate. Let us remember what Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republicans did to President Obama. McConnell made it his work to keep the president from succeeding, and McConnell succeeded at that in many areas. (Remember McConnell’s refusal to bring Press. Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court for a vote in the Senate? Remember McConnell’s refusal to bring forth Democratic or even bi-partisan legislation before the Senate for a vote?) McConnell must go. His tribe must go.
19
Absolutely correct
1
Several commenters on this opinion piece have asked about critical races: which states and who is running against the GOP. Please go to actblue.com to fill in any blanks you may have. You can also make donations on line. I also recommend supporting The Lincoln Project, a George Conway et al.endeavor. There are decent Republicans more than willing to help Dems win so we can collectively neutralize DJT. You can also donate to The Lincoln Project. Any amount will help. Let's remove McConnell by voting for Amy McGrath, a very well spoken candidate. Let's do it!
21
Funny thing about this: When you ask people in the rural areas around here what their concerns are, progressive policies are the obvious solutions. When you ask the same people about their political opinions, though, they are Trumpers, through and through.
Appears to be problem of marketing, not substance.
18
We're doomed, the handwriting is on the wall. There won't be a recovery from this. We've had a good run, but it's over...
3
Donald Trump is no 'power play' of established coterie.
He is a dark horse in politics.
He is there because of the 'you' Charles is calling upon.
Times have changed and so have values.
Charles and all of us who don't understand these new values and the new society need a reality check.
4
You are wrong Charles. Impeachment was not demanded nor was it forced on Democrats. All that was needed was oversight and exposure. The Aid to Ukraine had been released within the legal prescribed window and no investigation was undertaken or announced by the Ukrainians. End of story. Censure, resolution of Congress was all that was needed. Obstruction of Congress was a nonsense in that the House never pursued its other options. Democrats impeached Trump because they could. nothing more.
11
It’s always been about the party. They’ve used him to force their agenda and make him the scapegoat for what they’ve wanted all along.
And if this isn’t the kick in the pants we needed to change things we deserve them.
“This has long since stopped being solely about Trump. This is about the whole of the Republican Party. Indeed, there is no longer a Republican Party. There is now only the Party of Trump. He is them; they are him.”
3
Mr. Blow,
In a sane world, your article, today, would resonate with everyone in it.
I totally agree that DJT had to be impeached regardless of outcome. All that was revealed, through this process, has been stunning and we don't even know the full extent of his misdeeds along with his accomplices.
Trump has built a wall, alright, and it is a Senate Wall of Sin. I suggest someone should make a book with this title and it should be 52 pages, one for the name of each Senator.
5
If working to get Republicans out of office is the way to make the Emperor pay, the best suggestion I have is for states to work mightily to adopt Oregon's vote by mail system.
Ever since it was adopted, voter suppression has been minimized, and there are fewer and fewer Republicans sitting in office.
And make no mistake about it, the Trump Revolution is about the elevation to God status of the very wealthy, we are now firmly on our way to becoming Russia, with its pretend democracy and pretend rule of law, all with billionaire oligarchs getting richer and richer, and yes, that includes Bloomberg and Bezos.
Income inequality at some point becomes disenfranchising to the very poor, we own nothing and are nothing in America. Personally, I have surrendered to the inevitability of the racist Republican Party doing internally to us what they did to the Middle East, divide and conquer for their own profit.
Awarding that medal to Rush was a very, very loud dogwhistle.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
28
First time ever that I am actually praying for an economic recession.
4
@USNA73 Really? You would seek to undermine the success of ordinary Americans to satisfy some dark attachment to your own vanity? Hard to believe that is something you learned at USNA or on board CV 67.
2
@JW Here are some facts why a brief recession now may serve us well. A second term for Trump will set us up for a disaster, both economic and worse, a catastrophic world event costing countless lives. The deficit is now over 1$ trillion and the national debt is being used to fund tax cuts for his patrons and corporate buybacks. Hardly the stuff that is benefiting the "ordinary American." If you have fallen for the bait and switch of a meager tax cut traded for future cuts to your Social Security and Medicare then stay with this sinking ship with Trump at the helm.
Finally, don't you dare question my service Mister. You have no idea nor right to do so.
@USNA73 You wrote: 'Here are some facts why a brief recession now may serve us well. A second term for Trump will set us up for a disaster, both economic and worse, a catastrophic world event costing countless lives.' Those are not facts. They are fear-based doomsday predictions, similar to those that came before and after Trump taking office. A fact is that none of those previous doomsday predictions about Trump as President have come to pass. All those who have served our country have my eternal appreciation and respect. I would question anyone praying for economic hardship on Americans. Service or no service.
1
A point that needs to be made is that senators who sided with Trump did so, not out of a belief in his innocence, but out of weakness and fear. People that weak and fearful have no business being in the U.S.Senate.
15
Make them pay.
Vote all Democrats out for wasting millions and 3 years of work on nothing.
They should have been working for us, instead they wasted all that time and money on a partisan fight.
Let the Democrats know they failed, vote them out.
10
@AutumnLeaf
You are So correct! Until the democrats and the media stop blaming Trump for their loss...
yeah but Charles come on, we don't live in those states. We have to figure out a way to get people to move to those states. Maybe Bloomberg can offer grants to anyone who moves to Kentucky for at least one year.
4
@Sirlar
Bingo!!
Bloomberg should take his billions and use them to move people to red states: Montana, Kentucky, South Dakota.
He can open up Bloomberg offices in those states, pay to relocate young millennials, or anyone who wants to work there for at least 2 years and HIRE THEM. (Bloomberg is worth about $60 Billion dollars -- he can afford it).
This is the only way to ensure democracy with the Electoral College which over-represents sparsely populated rural states (Wyoming: Population 567,000).
How can we petition Bloomberg to do this?? He's pouring millions into worthless ads to get himself nominated and he has NO CHANCE TO win the Democaratic nomination. Absolutely NO CHANCE. He has already spent $200 million on ads. He could have spent that $200 million and opened Bloomberg offices in red states.
Democrats are doomed if they nominate Sanders (too old, heart problems), Warren (too much baggage) or Buttigieg. Biden is too old too -- I'm seeing that all the time in his interviews -- he repeats himself too much.
Let's face it -- 40% of the country will not elect a candidate with those issues and the devil you know (Trump) is better than the devil you don't know.
Amy Klobuchar is looking better to me all the time: she's a fresh face, pragmatic, she radiates optimism, and she's got a lot of spunk. Klobouchar 2020!
Someone should start a petition to draft Bloomberg to relocate and offer people jobs in RED states he really wants to stop Trump.
1
Maine, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Arizona?
As much as one would agree that those Senators who took an oath for impartiality and were taught in their civics’ class that the Founding Fathers created a system of Checks and Balances so as to limit abusive power should pay the penalty of losing their seat, it is not going to happen.
For over three years, this newspaper has published a number of insightful articles about the appeal of Trump. What descent Americans would be appalled by—misogyny, infidelity, lampooning the handicap, dissembling, appealing to the nation’s baser instincts, etc—no longer applies.
The GOP is well entrenched in these states as they are in many others.
This is not 1954. Yes, there are those who mimic Joe McCarthy, but the call of a Joseph Welch no longer holds an appeal to large number of Americans.
“Have you no sense of decency?”
This November those five senate seats are not as vulnerable as Mr Blow would have. When challenged on their beliefs, people are not open to reason. They simply double down.
So it will be with these five senate races as it will be for the presidential.
1
Yes, maybe voter turnout will rocket to fifty seven percent from fifty six percent.
2
i've already begun taking the steps you suggested Charles.
just the same, looking at the comments from people on the mall published by the new york times yesterday really scared me.
the majority of people seemed to think trump did nothing wrong. others thought it might have been wrong, but wasn't enough for impeachment or removal. still others seemed annoyed at the democrats' actions in congress on impeachment. many mentioned "the great economy."
a few were upset that trump remains in office.
i don't get it. what are these people reading? not reading? trump violates the constitution, attacks healthcare, hurts the middle class he claims to be helping with tax laws and removable of restrictions on damaging the environment. are they deaf? i don't assume that people are ignorant, but i'm questioning that. maybe more liberal folks were just not visiting washington d.c. due to their disgust with our government.
i am making the effort and i hope may others will, too. i just worry that if this deafness is too much to overcome. would these people, if serving on a local jury, acquit a person charged with stabbing a neighbor because they were concerned that the penalty would be too severe?
the job is to listen to the facts, the witnesses, and see evidence. then act according to the law.
the senate failed to do that. they should pay. but if their constituents are like those interviewed, i fear it won't happen.
5
Good luck with that.
This piece must have been written weeks ago with only the Romney betrayal to be added today.
Republicans know that President Trump is doing what is right for our country. It's just too bad that it is not quite right for Mr. Blow.
This rallying cry for "resistance" is tired and worn. No one's mind is being changed by these rants. It is a cry of desperation. See you in November, Mr. Blow.
9