So since trump is likely not to be removed from office, was there any thought to wait to do impeachment after 2020 election if he were to be re-elected? Is there a chance Dems are going to get more senate seats in 2020?
I’m just wondering do the Dems really think this is going to help them during an election year?
I wonder if they're worried about potentially losing the House in 2020 (Someone more knowledgeable feel free to chime in on this). Obviously if that happened, impeachment wouldn't go anywhere even if they did win the Senate. Plus, didn't Pelosi promise to hand over the speakership after 2020? A majority in the House under Pelosi's leadership and a slim R majority in the Senate may be their best bet.
I don't know how much impeachment will help or hurt Dems in 2020, but there's just no good way for them to hold off for 11 months. They can't just slow-walk it for that long - it will dominate all other issues and Dems really need to be connecting with voters on the issues. I can't imagine that tabling it until after elections would go well either - that would make it look more politicized, and would only fuel further obstruction.
While anything is possible losing the house is not likely though the margin by which they hold the house may shift up or down depending on how it goes. There are several seats won is fairly close districts that could swing back. However the DEMS are also looking at 2 picks up in NC based on new districts and a few in TX as well based on shifting voting patterns in suburban districts.
So much depends on the strength specific candidates and turn out. There is also sometimes downstream impact of senate races on lower seats which might play out in AZ for example where Kelly has been running a right tight campaign so far. I don't know who is running against Collins in Maine or Ernst in Iowa but those races are expected to be hot as well. I think turn out in 2020 is going to record breaking on both sides.
I'm sure she's exhausted. I've been watching this from my couch and I'm freaking tired!
Also, no matter what you think of Speaker Pelosi, the woman has devoted her entire life to public service. Impeaching a President for actively working with a foreign government to undermine our elections and then watching her colleagues tap dance for him as if this isn't a constitutional crisis has probably made her weary and disgusted. I mean, it made Schiff cry.
Asked if she 'hates the president,' Nancy Pelosi fires back: "I don't hate anybody ... As a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. I don't hate anyone ... Don't mess with me when it comes to words like that."
ETA: the “do you hate Trump” question was asked by Sinclair Broadcasting reporter James Rosen, who left Fox News after sexual harassment allegations.
So since trump is likely not to be removed from office, was there any thought to wait to do impeachment after 2020 election if he were to be re-elected? Is there a chance Dems are going to get more senate seats in 2020?
I’m just wondering do the Dems really think this is going to help them during an election year?
They’re not doing this to help their election chances and waiting 1+ year after we already know he did it would play into the “they don’t like that I won” narrative.
So since trump is likely not to be removed from office, was there any thought to wait to do impeachment after 2020 election if he were to be re-elected? Is there a chance Dems are going to get more senate seats in 2020?
I’m just wondering do the Dems really think this is going to help them during an election year?
I believe our Senate retake chances are very tight/unlikely. But I always have to find a reserve well of hope.
With respect to why now, I think that it's more about upholding their Constitutional duties than thinking this will help 2020 election chances. At a certain point, just saying "the president is a criminal" becomes "yeah, and you could have done something about it and sat on it." Like, the emoluments clause is vague and weird and hard to impeach on, but give me an investigation in return for aide is straightforward.
I think Pelosi held off for so long because she DOESN'T necessarily think this is a politically smart move, but forces within and the law were starting to make Dems look foolish for just talking about how he's a crook without taking action.
So since trump is likely not to be removed from office, was there any thought to wait to do impeachment after 2020 election if he were to be re-elected? Is there a chance Dems are going to get more senate seats in 2020?
I’m just wondering do the Dems really think this is going to help them during an election year?
I believe our Senate retake chances are very tight/unlikely. But I always have to find a reserve well of hope.
With respect to why now, I think that it's more about upholding their Constitutional duties than thinking this will help 2020 election chances. At a certain point, just saying "the president is a criminal" becomes "yeah, and you could have done something about it and sat on it." Like, the emoluments clause is vague and weird and hard to impeach on, but give me an investigation in return for aide is straightforward.
I think Pelosi held off for so long because she DOESN'T necessarily think this is a politically smart move, but forces within and the law were starting to make Dems look foolish for just talking about how he's a crook without taking action.
I totally agree with this, especially the bold. I think they all know the R's are going to brush this off, but it is their job and duty to do this.
As far as the Democrats coming under fire for doing this, is there anything useful to do to show them support, even if they lose? Both my state senators are Democrats, and my Rep is Justin Amash, who I did call to thank for voting for the impeachment inquiry.
It's just got to be so awful for them to sit and listen to the R bullshit day after day, and seeing the Rs put Trump ahead of country.
My mom is also one of those comfortable white suburban Boomers who leans more conservative but thinks Trump is an idiotic ass and has done wrong. She won’t likely vote Dem but she may stay home. We are in a solidly blue state but she would probably vote R on down ballot races so staying home would be more ideal.
I also think since the Senate won’t likely vote to remove him that Trump is dumb enough to try more illegal crap before next November.
An official in Zelensky's office tells BuzzFeed News that the president was caught off guard by Rudy Giuliani's arrival in Kyiv this week, learning about it from the media. Equally shocked by his arrival was the U.S. Embassy, according to a US diplomat.
Post by Velar Fricative on Dec 5, 2019 13:38:00 GMT -5
The whistleblower backed the Ds into a corner anyway. Not in a bad way, just that when that was reported, everything moved so fast. Holding off until after 2020 would have been unrealistic and probably would hurt the Ds more.
An official in Zelensky's office tells BuzzFeed News that the president was caught off guard by Rudy Giuliani's arrival in Kyiv this week, learning about it from the media. Equally shocked by his arrival was the U.S. Embassy, according to a US diplomat.
As to why now, I heard on one of my podcasts (Maddow?) that there is no double jeopardy provision in impeachment, which means that the House can impeach him now, the Senate can acquit him, and there's nothing stopping the new Senate from trying him again next year if Dems gain control.
I am too tired to look for an actual source now.
Of course, Dems won't gain control of 67 seats on 2020, so it won't be enough either way.
Breaking via WaPo: Trump has routinely communicated with Rudy Giuliani and other individuals speaking on cellphones vulnerable to monitoring by Russian and other foreign intelligence services, current and former U.S. officials said.
Breaking via WaPo: Trump has routinely communicated with Rudy Giuliani and other individuals speaking on cellphones vulnerable to monitoring by Russian and other foreign intelligence services, current and former U.S. officials said.
His allegations were widely seen in Ukraine as part of a Kremlin-orchestrated disinformation campaign meant to undermine the Ukrainian government as it sought to strengthen ties with the West.
The fugitive Ukrainian was stripped of parliamentary immunity in 2016 and accused of embezzling some $64 million from a subsidiary of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned gas company. A former member of ousted Kremlin-backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanuykovych’s Party of Regions, Onyshchenko was also accused by Ukraine’s Security Service of treason in late 2016 of allegedly helping Russian intelligence destabilize Ukraine.