Adam Jentleson’s Twitter feed is worth checking out, he was chief of staff to Harry Reid and is adamant that Pelosi’s position is untenable at this point.
Again, it’s quite possible that her being forced by others to call for impeachment is part of how she wanted it to happen. That’s just my two cents/speculation.
I’d have to go digging in my archives, thought the same a ways back, that she’ll be the reluctant person dragged into this, forced by the President through continued and ongoing obstruction.
Helps to contain any blowback from the media and provide cover for Dems at risk in conservative areas if that becomes the storyline that’s generally out there.
Clothing is exempted. For real.
After all, that’s where both Donald and Ivanka Trump’s clothing lines are made. (Also Mexico for Donnie’s stuff and a few southeast Asian countries for Ivanka’s, wherever they tolerate slave labor).
yeah, that’s pretty annoying.
First off, why is Cummings investigating this? I would think that it belongs in the intelllgence committee.
perhaps more importantly, the whole “security clearance” issue highlights just how incompetent the House’s approach to the Trump White House is. This is a national security issue. Subpoenas should have been issued immediately, with very short compliance dates –
and if the White House was non-compliant, it should have been taken to the courts immediately with a request for expedited review because it does concern national security.
But there is no sense of urgency – even when we may be handling over sources and methods information to someone who is financially compromised by Russia, or Saudi Arabia or whoever else…
And if Dem leaders don’t think that this requires a sense of urgency, dealing with Trump’s cover up of the Russian attack is probably just above funding for a hummingbird census on Pelosi’s list of priorities.
actually, Trump profits from the tariffs, because “official” MAGA hats are made here in the USA, and when the price goes up on Chinese knock-offs, it means more sales for hats that contribute to Trump’s campaign funds — and the legal fees those funds are paying.
I can see the logic of waiting for a couple court cases to wind their way through the system, and see how various institutions and branches react as rulings and appeals happen. If Dems can get some of this stuff expedited in the judiciary and a significant case forced to SCOTUS, and they similarly fast-track a decision, some dominos may fall Dems way. Of course the danger is SCOTUS sides with Trump, and at that point impeachment proceedings might be crippled, depending on the significance and issues covered in the lost case.
I think proceeding in an impeachment mode is preferable to going at it from ten directions by five committees, all throwing mud on the wall and hoping something big sticks.
Full disclosure: I have not read all the comments. Three questions:
If Pelosi initiates impeachment hearings, the House votes to impeach, and the Senate votes “No” to convict? What comes next for Democrats?
Is a subpoena from an Impeachment Committee “stronger” (for lack of a better word) than a subpoena from other House or Senate committees? Could Trump and other witnesses stall by refusing to testify or provide documents with the resolutions again ending up in court?
If the House votes to impeach, could McConnell refuse to hold a trial in the Senate? Here’s a link to Lawfare on the question. https://bit.ly/2FBzOYG
Maybe Dems are convinced Trump is losing in 2020, and all their rear guard actions nipping at his heels and keeping his criminality and incompetence in the headlines is sufficient. Not saying they’re correct, but it would explain a lot. Having a hobbled, distracted, getting almost nothing done Trump at the head of the ticket might be better than running against Pence.
If I hear her say, “got to keep our powder dry,” all hope is gone. She will have proved that in terms of spinelessness, the Dems can easily match the GOPers.
Impeachment hearings don’t necessarily end all other Trump investigations.
But they should. Dems need to compartmentalize. Hold impeachment hearings Thursdays and Fridays. Spend Mon-Wed working on, and promoting, “the people’s agenda”.
I keep hearing what a brilliant politician Pelosi is. Its been difficult for me to see, but I am starting to come around, her brilliance may be in dealing with her own caucus, herding the cats and getting them to bow to her wishes. In forming a long term strategy for dealing with Republicans and their dirty tricks, for dealing with the lawlessness of this President, things more external and not in her direct control I think she’s failing miserably. Unless things turn around quickly Democrats will be going into the 2020 elections looking impotent and ineffective in holding Donald accountable for his crimes. Something they were expected to do after being given control of the House.
God I hope that’s not her strategy
It projects weakness, and says that she is both out of touch with her constituents, and incapable of setting her own agenda.
its also fits into one of Trump’s narratives about how “Pelosi is being pushed around by the socialists”
and while it may be happening anyway, the idea that she would be doing something so stupid intentionally is distressing.
unfortunately, the Dems took the “he’s going to hang himself” approach in 2016. So I think a new strategy is indicated.
Eggs. Zactly.
Ask Seth Moulton (D-Masshole) about this:
(speaking as a proud Masshole here)
I am a huge Nancy Pelosi fan but she’s screwing the pooch on this and it’s a mistake that will reverberate permanently because it will make impeachment dead letter. As much as I marvel at her prowess in running a complicated caucus and expertly getting the ACA out of the House, she did catastrophically lose the House majority in 2010 in a huge screwup for our nation because of the decennial redistricting process. She is messing up big time on this - like an expert free throw shooter bricking game winning shots leaving Trump a chance to win it with a three.
It would likely go to a 3 judge panel 1st. Garland may or may not be on that panel. The panel could slow walk their response. I don’t think BenedictDonald can do anything about it.
Then it’s an en banc rehearing of the whole DC Circuit no matter the ruling, then it’s the SCt…and then it’s ruled on in 2075 during Donald’s 10th term in office via the magic powers of cryogenic science
I think we’ve seen enough from this administration and the McConnell Senate to infer the answers.
The House should start impeachment hearings, which will take many, many months (given all the charges and the mass of evidence), probably all the way up to the 2020 election, so they never need to waste any resources bringing it up to the Senate anyway.
IANAL, but I don’t think there’s any difference between Congressional subpoenas, no matter which committee issues them.
McConnell will never bring on the trial. If McConnell somehow dies of a heart attack and another R leader takes over and unexpectedly holds the trial, they will acquit trump. If all that happens, the rule of law is smashed to smithereens and our Constitution becomes a quaint relic, so it won’t matter what Democrats do.
Trump doesn’t have to attempt a game winning shot. The refs are on his side.