A thread on impeachment. By an "expert on Member of Congress psychology"

[sharedvalues]

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1175837129353650176.html

A thread on impeachment.

I staffed a Blue Dog for 3 yrs & a moderate House D for 7 more—including 5 yrs as her Washington Director.

Technically, I've covered every issue before the federal govt but really, my only true area of expertise is Member of Congress psychology. 1

People say: impeachment isn't popular. But that's backwards. Dem leadership has enormous power to shape public opinion and national politics (inside and outside of the Caucus), not simply follow them. 2

Impeaching Nixon wasn't popular at the outset either, but showcasing his crimes in well-coordinated hearings played on the nightly news led to a dramatic shift in public opinion. Or at least that's what the historians say. 3

A month *into* the famous Ervin Committee hearings, the percentage supporting Nixon's removal was still down in the teens.

Support for removal didn't cross 50% until late July 1974 -- and he resigned two weeks later!

It's also not at all clear that impeaching Clinton actually hurt Republicans as much as pundits would have us believe. 4

And, of course, the crimes Trump has committed are much, much worse and he's far more personally unpopular. Like, *historically unpopular.* 5

Meanwhile, members truly are influenced by pressure from their constituents, their peers, and their leaders. I've seen it.

Dem leadership making the case for impeachment w/a clear, unambiguous, unified voice would make a huge difference, both outside and inside the caucus. 6

Instead, trying to avoid impeachment when Trump's actions are so blatant, so egregious takes a psychological toll on the caucus (seriously). It's like staying quiet when you see abuse.
Moral negligence is also harder to maintain, which is why Dems have bungled it so badly. 7

Pelosi hasn't *only* been prioritizing the concerns of her nervous frontline members, she's *also* been lobbying the rest of the caucus against impeachment.
Not impeaching term-limited GWB despite activist calls was probably the right call in '07. But it's dead wrong now. 8

Democrats putting all of their hopes on winning the election (a la 2016) aren’t being upfront that they're playing a rigged game—
one rigged 'legally' via the electoral college & voter suppression *and* illegally via foreign interference. 9

Real, coherent, well-managed impeachment proceedings protect against some of that illegal rigging, making it much harder for Trump to undertake (as much) corrupt election tampering. 10

Like the kind he's already engaging in! It's hardly a coincidence that his Ukraine call happened the day after he thought the Mueller report was truly dead. 11

People say: it'll hurt the Democratic majority. Look, I ❤ good policy, I've devoted my career to it, but this election's not going to be about Dems' new Rx pricing bill or even (for most) about guns. It's going to be a referendum on Trump. Period. 12

I repeat, this election will be a referendum on Trump... and as a corollary, on Democrats' seriousness as defenders of the Constitution. 13

But forcing GOP senators to take an affirmative vote to protect Trump after the country has watched a forceful prosecution of his crimes arguably helps Ds reclaim the Senate as much as it jeopardizes control of the House. 14

GOP senators are *loathe* to vote on impeachment for good reason. Susan Collins doesn't want to take that vote. Cory Gardner, Martha McSally, Thom Tillis... they don't want to take that vote. Let's make them. 15

So now, let's do what we need to do. Call your House members. Call their DC offices, call their district offices, call their campaign offices. Show up to their events. Show up to their offices. It makes a difference. I've lived it. 16

Senators can’t start the impeachment process but House members *do* pay attention to what the rest of the delegation is doing.
Plus, having a senator come out in support prompts local reporters to ask for the House members’ response.
21

Thank your electeds who've already called for impeachmt; sometimes staff need the support. Force the ones who will never support impeachment to know that they have constituents who do.

And then, get your family & friends to do the same! 18-fin

[PoliticAverse]

1. "Impeaching Nixon wasn't popular at the outset" - exactly. There was no way Republcans were voting

Nixon out. The investigation developed the evidence and will that changed that.

[SharonAnn]

11. Republican at the time, I was against Nixon's impeachment until

The hearings. The scope of his wrongdoings were breathtaking to me. None of this would’ve come out without impeachment hearings.

[EveHammond13]

2. I am so angry

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. Right there with ya.

[pnwmom]

3. The bottom line:

We should all be channeling our anger in calls and emails to our elected Representatives. And especially for those who Congress members who already support impeachment, consider contacts to Committee heads and other leaders --who work for all of us.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Call Every Single Day!

[phone] and keep doing it!

[stopdiggin]

5. enormous power to shape public opinion

"Dem leadership has enormous power to shape public opinion and national politics"

Which is of course why Obamacare took off like a rocket -- and was SO popular with the public that the Dems lost control of both chambers of congress (and a whole slug of statehouses) during Obama's two terms. Now that's shaping some public opinion!

[StarfishSaver]

10. And took more than a year to get just enough votes to drag it over the finish line

[CrispyQ]

13. The dems dropped the ball.

There's absolutely no excuse for losing 900 state seats. The GOP has been playing the long game while the dems have been in reactionary mode for the past 40 years. Ignoring hate radio is just plain stupid.

[sharedvalues]

14. Rightwing media fills America with lies. Just reject it.

And tell everyone you know:”If you watch Fox or listen to Limbaugh I can’t be friends with you.”

[LuvNewcastle]

7. Whether or not the Democrats vote to impeach, Trump is going to continue

to commit impeachable offenses, the next one worse than the last. If the Democrats won't impeach, he's going to make them look like pussies for not doing so. So the Democrats might as well start the investigations and hold the hearings.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. WE are the party of protection

It is time to protect the Constitution.

[JudyM]

9. "this election will be a referendum on Trump... and... on Democrats' seriousness as defenders of the

Constitution.”

[CrispyQ]

12. Contact directories

Senate directory

House directory

Speaker of the House contact form

Call your rep. If they support impeachment, thank them! Call your senators & ask them to speak out in favor of impeachment.