And in Other Trump News & Weather...
-
Sef
- I dissent.
Depressing reality, but I think this is spot-on:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/americas-goodly-veneer-was-lie/601105/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/americas-goodly-veneer-was-lie/601105/
-
mmeadow
- Supporter 2004-2021
Wow, that sums up the dilemma going forward.
I was educated by liberal leftists, steeped in the "good" US, a sanitized history with emphasis on a few high points: the Revolution, the ideals of the Constitution, the Civil War fought to free the slaves, fighting the Fascists, and helping to rebuild Europe afterwards. Starting with observing the Vietnam War and educating myself, it has become harder and harder to feel much good about my country and people.
I was educated by liberal leftists, steeped in the "good" US, a sanitized history with emphasis on a few high points: the Revolution, the ideals of the Constitution, the Civil War fought to free the slaves, fighting the Fascists, and helping to rebuild Europe afterwards. Starting with observing the Vietnam War and educating myself, it has become harder and harder to feel much good about my country and people.
-
Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Apparently, parts of the "new" wall are being easily breached. Cut, climbed, etc.
When Trump said "if there's a concrete wall in front of you go through it, go over it..."
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/11/2/1896748/-When-Tru ... t-go-over-it
And something the Guardian ran across:
When Trump said "if there's a concrete wall in front of you go through it, go over it..."
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/11/2/1896748/-When-Tru ... t-go-over-it
And something the Guardian ran across:
-
Sef
- I dissent.
You know how you can tell when Trump is lying? His lips are moving:
45 Ways Trump Has Been Dishonest About Ukraine and Impeachment
45 Ways Trump Has Been Dishonest About Ukraine and Impeachment
-
Sef
- I dissent.
Good break-down of the impeachment proceedings:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-the-impeachm ... O?ocid=ientp
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-the-impeachm ... O?ocid=ientp
-
Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I bet there are some other stellar breakdowns too. I'd like to see what Laurence Tribe has to say, for instance.
The reasons republicans give for dismissing it all are truly weak. It looks like a very clear case to me - also so much obstruction (continuing) it is hard to keep track of.
The reasons republicans give for dismissing it all are truly weak. It looks like a very clear case to me - also so much obstruction (continuing) it is hard to keep track of.
-
bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
I heard an absolutely riveting talk on impeachment last night by Barbara Radnofsky, author of A Citizen's Guide to Impeachment. The book is short, and I'm sure includes all the main points, but these are the ones that stuck with me. I haven't been a fan of impeachment until I heard the testimonies of the state department and White House employees, but Radnofsky convinced me that it's better than any other possible alternative.
1) tRump could do untold damage to the country, more than he's already done, if he's just defeated at the ballot box in November. He's got three months to stack the courts with even more judges, pardon everybody he can possibly pardon, repeal everything he hasn't already repealed, and leave us with a shell of a country.
2) Impeachment carries no penalty except immediate removal from office. The founding fathers designed it that way, to prevent "tumults and insurrection." He can do nothing one minute after he's impeached, so he has no time to wreak havoc.
3) It is incredibly hard to prove most of the possible charges they might bring against him. Many require proving intent, and that may be impossible to do with him, since his intent changes day by day. The successful impeachment charges that have been brought in the history of the US charged "harm to the US." That's easier to prove.
4) She thinks Schiff is absolutely brilliant at this, and is very impressed by the previous impeachments he's done (two, if I remember correctly). She thinks if Pelosi will keep her nose out of it (Pelosi wants jail, not impeachment), Schiff can put together articles of impeachment that could do the job if the Republican Senate will just do it.
5) If tRump goes to jail as a sitting president, we're screwed. He's still president -- the courts do not have the ability to remove him from office. Pence can't succeed him, because he's still president. It would take legislation to fix it, and with the divided legislature, might be impossible to achieve.
I think the book's only about $10. I started it last night, but it was late when I went to bed, so I'm not far enough into to tell you whether she's as entertaining a writer as she is a speaker. But hey, $10 isn't much to lose.
1) tRump could do untold damage to the country, more than he's already done, if he's just defeated at the ballot box in November. He's got three months to stack the courts with even more judges, pardon everybody he can possibly pardon, repeal everything he hasn't already repealed, and leave us with a shell of a country.
2) Impeachment carries no penalty except immediate removal from office. The founding fathers designed it that way, to prevent "tumults and insurrection." He can do nothing one minute after he's impeached, so he has no time to wreak havoc.
3) It is incredibly hard to prove most of the possible charges they might bring against him. Many require proving intent, and that may be impossible to do with him, since his intent changes day by day. The successful impeachment charges that have been brought in the history of the US charged "harm to the US." That's easier to prove.
4) She thinks Schiff is absolutely brilliant at this, and is very impressed by the previous impeachments he's done (two, if I remember correctly). She thinks if Pelosi will keep her nose out of it (Pelosi wants jail, not impeachment), Schiff can put together articles of impeachment that could do the job if the Republican Senate will just do it.
5) If tRump goes to jail as a sitting president, we're screwed. He's still president -- the courts do not have the ability to remove him from office. Pence can't succeed him, because he's still president. It would take legislation to fix it, and with the divided legislature, might be impossible to achieve.
I think the book's only about $10. I started it last night, but it was late when I went to bed, so I'm not far enough into to tell you whether she's as entertaining a writer as she is a speaker. But hey, $10 isn't much to lose.
I have an, as yet, unsubstantiated suspicion that the recent doctors visit by Trump may have been the first step in a potential exit plan for him.
If things go badly he could say that, despite reassuring everyone there was no issue, his doctors have advised him against testifying in the hearings "For Health Reasons"
If things still go badly for him then the next step is for him to decide to step down, again "for health reasons". He would hate to give up the position but he would rather it was on his terms than for him to go down in history as an impeached president.
He would probably claim the health issues were brought on by the Unfair Treatment of him by the press and his opponents. I am sure his supporters woudl believe this without question.
By stepping down Pence would take over and be in a position to pardon him if any charges were brought against him and the "Health Issues" could be used to help justify this, claiming that the undue stress resulting from said unfair treatment may have be behind some "Errors in Judgement" and that any prison sentence would be detrimental to his health and recovery.
Just a thought
If things go badly he could say that, despite reassuring everyone there was no issue, his doctors have advised him against testifying in the hearings "For Health Reasons"
If things still go badly for him then the next step is for him to decide to step down, again "for health reasons". He would hate to give up the position but he would rather it was on his terms than for him to go down in history as an impeached president.
He would probably claim the health issues were brought on by the Unfair Treatment of him by the press and his opponents. I am sure his supporters woudl believe this without question.
By stepping down Pence would take over and be in a position to pardon him if any charges were brought against him and the "Health Issues" could be used to help justify this, claiming that the undue stress resulting from said unfair treatment may have be behind some "Errors in Judgement" and that any prison sentence would be detrimental to his health and recovery.
Just a thought