Some Democrats are warning that we should not begin the impeachment construction project (open hearings for an impeachment inquiry) because, lacking the requisite 2/3 supermajority needed to convict in a Republican senate, it cannot succeed and Trump would then claim that he had been exonerated.
While the larger point is that sometimes we have to just DO THE RIGHT THING regardless of what is politically expedient, the overly cautious assumption is not correct for two reasons:
First, as former HUD secretary and presidential candidate Julián Castro pointed out, if the Democrats take NO ACTION, Trump will say that “even the Democrats knew they didn’t have anything of substance or they would have acted on it.”
Second, even the political calculus that you can’t get a senate conviction, or that a failure to convict would somehow backfire, is not correct. They are remembering a sham impeachment of Clinton on trumped-up phony charges which the American people rejected as a political sham.
A better impeachment example is 24 years earlier — the successful impeachment of Richard Nixon (he was not actually removed from office BY impeachment, but BECAUSE he knew an impeachment was forthcoming and would result in conviction and he resigned instead, so it was the impeachment process that worked to remove him from office) — based on real crimes.
If Democrats in 1974 had voted to impeach before all the smoking guns were uncovered, they would never have gotten the Republicans in the senate to agree to vote for removal. If Democrats vote articles of impeachment before the smoking guns are uncovered — those reported by Mueller as well as additional material not within Mueller’s scope of inquiry — it would similarly fail. So we need the hearings to uncover those smoking guns.
Where there was a substantial basis, the process worked; where there was no substantial basis, it did not.
Is impeachment analogous to imprisonment? Because if you are imprisoned, they confine you in a prison. My sense of surreal justice likes resonates with the idea of stuffing him into a peach.
Maybe that kid, James Henry Trotter, could be persuaded to donate his peach to the cause.
Impeach trump.. you get Pence.. be careful what you wish for.. Better to expose the trump for what he is.. and let the voters decide.. and pray.. really pray.. that Russia does not have enough influence to swing the election as it did the last time.
Free advice to the winner of the Democrats nomination process.. being as it seems legal now.. immediately get cozy with Russia.. China.. even Iran and enlist their help to smear the Republicans..
I believe Ms. Pelosi’s strategy is sound. You don’t need to give the White House any rope. It’s got yards and yards of the stuff and is hanging itself almost daily now. Remember the shut-down? Pride and ownership in and of it. It worked so well. Let this would-be Achilles sulk in his tent. He’s better at that than anything else.
Trump’s idea of ‘the I word’ (infrastructure) is to build The Wall.
According to his tweets, The Wall is being built by renovating existing parts of The Wall which don’t meet ‘high standards’ (as if Trump knows standards) and these renovations are the same as building new parts of The Wall now, which weren’t there before the renovation.
Elections matter. If the Democrats had taken the Senate, Trump would be facing the firing squad of impeachment already. (Not that Democrats can shoot straight, but you know what I mean.) I’m waiting for Putin to get so fed up with Trump that he releases at least SOME of what he has on Trump. Just to get rid of the dang thing!
I think Nancy Pelosi’s on the right track. Spend the next 17 months on hearings, investigations, probes, confrontations, court challenges, and showing the American public what the Democrats would do if they were in charge, all the while keeping the current administration so tied up dealing with the mere possibility of impeachment that it can’t find the time to keep wrecking the country.
Good cartoon. This is all the Democrats can build – a case against their hated opponents. …With nothing for the American people. Just bitterness and spite.
DD Wiz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Some Democrats are warning that we should not begin the impeachment construction project (open hearings for an impeachment inquiry) because, lacking the requisite 2/3 supermajority needed to convict in a Republican senate, it cannot succeed and Trump would then claim that he had been exonerated.
While the larger point is that sometimes we have to just DO THE RIGHT THING regardless of what is politically expedient, the overly cautious assumption is not correct for two reasons:
First, as former HUD secretary and presidential candidate Julián Castro pointed out, if the Democrats take NO ACTION, Trump will say that “even the Democrats knew they didn’t have anything of substance or they would have acted on it.”
Second, even the political calculus that you can’t get a senate conviction, or that a failure to convict would somehow backfire, is not correct. They are remembering a sham impeachment of Clinton on trumped-up phony charges which the American people rejected as a political sham.
A better impeachment example is 24 years earlier — the successful impeachment of Richard Nixon (he was not actually removed from office BY impeachment, but BECAUSE he knew an impeachment was forthcoming and would result in conviction and he resigned instead, so it was the impeachment process that worked to remove him from office) — based on real crimes.
If Democrats in 1974 had voted to impeach before all the smoking guns were uncovered, they would never have gotten the Republicans in the senate to agree to vote for removal. If Democrats vote articles of impeachment before the smoking guns are uncovered — those reported by Mueller as well as additional material not within Mueller’s scope of inquiry — it would similarly fail. So we need the hearings to uncover those smoking guns.
Where there was a substantial basis, the process worked; where there was no substantial basis, it did not.
continues…
feverjr Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Trump was told infrastructure was too expensive by his staff, they would have to raise taxes to pay for it. Time to blame the Dems for the failure ….
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-bipartisan-infrastructure-plan-already-imperiled-as-mulvaney-gop-lawmakers-object-to-cost/2019/05/03/bc1d1e74-6dae-11e9-be3a-33217240a539_story.html?utm_term=.5437a5b0d7b7
Dtroutma almost 5 years ago
With Bonespurs it’s hard to tell whether he’s building them a case for impeachment, or 25th Amendment, all day, every day!
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member almost 5 years ago
We definitely need to rebuild democracy!
jimmjonzz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Is impeachment analogous to imprisonment? Because if you are imprisoned, they confine you in a prison. My sense of surreal justice likes resonates with the idea of stuffing him into a peach.
Maybe that kid, James Henry Trotter, could be persuaded to donate his peach to the cause.
Ontman almost 5 years ago
They can build towards impeachment but the Senate has a wall for that.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
Senate won’t even let a House bill come up for a vote.
Might as well start impeachment, what else is left?
morningglory73 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
DD Wiz is absolutely on the right track. A smart person indeed.
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Impeach trump.. you get Pence.. be careful what you wish for.. Better to expose the trump for what he is.. and let the voters decide.. and pray.. really pray.. that Russia does not have enough influence to swing the election as it did the last time.
Free advice to the winner of the Democrats nomination process.. being as it seems legal now.. immediately get cozy with Russia.. China.. even Iran and enlist their help to smear the Republicans..
Bookworm almost 5 years ago
I believe Ms. Pelosi’s strategy is sound. You don’t need to give the White House any rope. It’s got yards and yards of the stuff and is hanging itself almost daily now. Remember the shut-down? Pride and ownership in and of it. It worked so well. Let this would-be Achilles sulk in his tent. He’s better at that than anything else.
A# 466 almost 5 years ago
Let us keep in mind that treason is still a capital crime.
braindead Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Trump’s idea of ‘the I word’ (infrastructure) is to build The Wall.
According to his tweets, The Wall is being built by renovating existing parts of The Wall which don’t meet ‘high standards’ (as if Trump knows standards) and these renovations are the same as building new parts of The Wall now, which weren’t there before the renovation.
.
And all Trump Disciples believe all his tweets.
braindead Premium Member almost 5 years ago
BTW,does anyone else notice that the Republican infrastructure plan is remarkably similar to the Republican health care plan?
.
I’m pretty sure both were developed from the Republican plan to cut the deficit: You guys do it. We’ll go on Fox and claim how it’s Socialism.
And Venezuela.
Godfreydaniel almost 5 years ago
Elections matter. If the Democrats had taken the Senate, Trump would be facing the firing squad of impeachment already. (Not that Democrats can shoot straight, but you know what I mean.) I’m waiting for Putin to get so fed up with Trump that he releases at least SOME of what he has on Trump. Just to get rid of the dang thing!
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I think Nancy Pelosi’s on the right track. Spend the next 17 months on hearings, investigations, probes, confrontations, court challenges, and showing the American public what the Democrats would do if they were in charge, all the while keeping the current administration so tied up dealing with the mere possibility of impeachment that it can’t find the time to keep wrecking the country.
David Illig Premium Member almost 5 years ago
President Mike Pence? No, thanks!
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
The only solution is Trump’s removal.
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
Coming by about October 2020. Which is indeed “soon” by some standards.
newyorkslim almost 5 years ago
Good cartoon. This is all the Democrats can build – a case against their hated opponents. …With nothing for the American people. Just bitterness and spite.