I am glad he's not going to be removed from office.

[TygrBright]

For two reasons:

First, and most important, I'd prefer not to EVER have the words "President M*** P****" appear in any search engine anywhere for any amount of time. I am not looking forward to a Christofascist takeover of our democracy any more than the chaotic, mix-bag oligarchic-plutocrat-plus-mindless-xenophobe takeover we are currently risking.

Second, having him in office gives us another ten months to keep dragging every sleazy bit of roach dung out from under mildewing seal around the gold-washed toilet that is [Redacted]'s "Administration" and rubbing America's noses in how the GOP has enabled it, thus improving our chances of flipping the Senate in November.

So I, for one, am quite pleased that the GOP keeps enabling the circus without sending in the second car full of clowns.

stolidly,
Bright

[Hortensis]

1. Won't say glad, but those are definite pluses.

Let's just hope we don't commit any large mass murders on the way from here to there. As it is, many will inevitably be persecuted, otherwise victimized, and die all the time the Trump era Republicans are still in power.

[lagomorph777]

19. +1 A high price to pay, but as the filth and failure become ever more evident,

voters will be motivated to clean out the P-trap.

[calimary]

35. Yes.

The idea that we’d ever call Mike Pence “President” is even more repulsive.

[Hortensis]

37. As you guys say. We need people worried for themselves.

As it is, for me the thought of a President Pence serving god and the kleptocrats from the oval office, without Trump's massive dysfunctions, is very scary.

[Aristus]

2. Well put.

[Kali]

3. I worry about further damage. A lot.

but in general, I agree with your points. it is just that he is capable of fucking up so much in the next few months.

[TygrBright]

6. Agreed. But Mikey Pants will start doing nasty damage on day one, too. n/t

[barbtries]

18. i take the position that at least he's clinically sane.

there's no bottom for trump. i wish he was gone even if it means pence for a minute. but i don't have a crystal ball, found that out for sure on 08Nov2016.

[OMGWTF]

26. Pence is a Christofascist-End-Timer, so yes, he too, is insane.

[dchill]

28. Just like Pompey.

[barbtries]

34. not clinically.

[uponit7771]

4. That would be great if there was a 2020 election. We need to talk about what to do *WHEN* Trump

... cheats and steals this election.

[TygrBright]

8. [Redacted]'s team of incompetents will attempt that, yes...

...but Mikey Pants's team may not be nearly so incompetent, and they will attempt it with the fervor of those listening to the VOICE OF GAAAWWWWD!!

At some point the greedheads are reachable on the basis of self-interest.

The rapture-maniacs are reachable only by their deluded, power-mad "burn it all down for JEEEEEEEZUZ" leaders, and they don't track the Dow Jones or any other financial index.

cynically,
Bright

[uponit7771]

14. Hmmm, good point ... Pence's band of bastards would hide it better.

[lunatica]

32. Plus, and this is pivotal, the Evangelicals

Pursue the destruction of everything in preparation for the Second coming and it’s accompanying Rapture. In comparison the IMPOTUS is the better choice because he’s only in pursuit of ultimate power.

Everything is relative as Einstein taught us.

[genxlib]

5. Assuming of course...

That he can safely be beaten.

The question is whether the negative effect of being impeached will outweigh the propensity (and now blank check) for cheating.

[TygrBright]

9. It won't, of course. But it wouldn't for the Christofascists, either.

If they were installed they would regard it as Divine Will to bring about the Rapture and that would of course involve staying in office.

Next-level consequences.

warily,
Bright

[JudyM]

7. Since it's clear we can't have POTUS Pelosi, grudging agreement here with your point.

[Grasswire2]

10. you assume elections will be free and fair.

..despite all evidence to the contrary. Comey, Coats, Wray, Mueller all telling us UNDER OATH that election 2020 is rigged "as we sit here"

It is insanely easy for a few states to be hacked with the results referred to SCOTUS for resolution. Bush v. Gore 2000 on steroids.

That's all it takes.

States are still buying hackable electronic systems. HACKABLE.

The only protection would be HAND MARKED PAPER BALLOTS, VOTER VERIFIABLE, WITH AUDIT TRAIL AND STRONG BALLOT SECURITY. No electronics, no machines, no connection to wifi. That ain't happening yet.

[TygrBright]

11. Agreed. But that's true whether he's removed or not.

Removing him won't stop the attempted hack.

realistically,
Bright

[Grasswire2]

12. removing him will mean he's not on the ballot. nt

[TygrBright]

13. Ya think so?

I see no reason why Pooty wouldn't require his minions to put his fave useful idiot back on the ballot anyway.

No matter WHO's on the ballot, it will be a Pooty stooge or just possibly worse- a Christofascist attempting to bring about the Rapture.

But I'm just curious-- do you think there's someone they could put on the ballot, and then steal the election, and it would be a "bearable" outcome?

And would THAT be a good thing?

I think our only hope is a giant national vomit-fest on November 3rd, of such massive proportions that they cannot get away with the "a few states here and a few votes there" version of the hack.

If they then descend to a more obvious form of hack, well, game on and all that.

pessimistically,
Bright

[louis-t]

15. Nah, they'll just magically come up with

65 million write-in ballots for Dear Leader.

[oldsoftie]

16. If it was "rigged" to that level, the Dems would've never won as big as they did in '18

There has been hacking going on long before '16

I think the House should introduce a bill to require all states to go back to paper ballots with all voting machines. Show the proof of easy tampering of computer voting machines to back it up
Paper cant crash and could only be tampered with by a human. Which I'm sure HAS happened at some point, but some cheating is always going to happen. Just gotta try to keep it to a minimum

[sandensea]

20. +1

Exactly. This how they've stopped or rolled back electronic voting in numeorus other countries: by showing legislators just how vulnerable to tampering they are.

As if they were designed to be.

[lagomorph777]

24. We need to remember: we took the House in '18, and Virginia in '19.

We can do this!

[oldsoftie]

33. Thats right, Not to mention other single races too.

[bucolic_frolic]

17. Senate Republicans think they're better off with him than without him

which says they have a backup plan of some kind, as if you couldn't guess. More investigations should follow to keep corruption front and center in voters' minds.

[crickets]

30. +1

[erlewyne]

21. Me too!

I want all the Republicans to eat it.

We need to come down on them every day and remind them that all they
have to do is look in the mirror and see what they eat.

It rhymes with rump.

[Eyeball_Kid]

22. Well, every option is poison, and I'm not fond of choosing which way to go.

Personally, I'd want all of the evidence to come out in the trial, and THEN have the GOPers vote to acquit. Right now, they can hide behind the intentional fraud and claim innocence when the consequences of their decision hits the fan. And I'll guarantee that Trump will make the worst of it. He'll commit one crime after another to win re-election, with all of the resources of the Executive Branch to make sure it happens. So I don't see a bright side to your first option, but the second has me more optimistic because Pence is a reputable fascist clown who has no charisma, no following, and no movement behind him. I don't even know if evangelicals will throw their weight behind him because he can't convey his message with passion. Besides, were he elevated to prez, the entire nation would be in the mood for revulsion, and he'd go nowhere with his political future.

[hibbing]

23. He's doing tremendous damage to the environment

I am afraid it will take us decades to reestablish many of the environmental regulations put in place by both Republican and Democratic administrations. I'm not glad he is staying in office.


Peace

[Pepsidog]

25. Interesting points but I want him humiliated and dragged out of the WH.

[guillaumeb]

27. My hope is that he who shall not be named will be removed, but electorally.

And yes, given his nature, he will continue to behave as he has always behaved.

[bucolic_frolic]

29. If there were a downside for Democrats for removing Trump from office

Mitch would have delivered!

[rainin]

31. If a dem wins, Nov, Dec, and Jan could be the most dangerous months of his presidency

Also, no one needs MORE evidence that he corrupt. Anyone who doesn't know by now won't be convinced. Lastly, he is more powerful now having been acquitted by the Senate. What is going to restrain him now? He's not afraid of breaking any law. And the world knows we can't stop him

[Duppers]

36. Momma's boy Pence has 0 charisma

And despite being a christofascist he doesn't have the power over IQ45's minions. He just doesn't.

[TygrBright]

39. He may have 0 charisma, but he has LOTS of homophobes, misogynists, and...

...other vermin who know he'd push their agenda without regard to consequences.

And he will be their boy, charisma or no charisma.

disgustedly,
Bright

[alittlelark]

43. He would have 99.9% of Christofascists,

but a very small % of racists, ammosexuals and other asst brain-damaged tRump supporters would give him the time of day.

[totodeinhere]

38. No, I don't care. I just wanted him gone yesterday. I knew it would not happen but that's what

I wanted. I wanted to see him totally humiliated. As far as Pence goes, I was willing to put up with him if that's what it took to get rid of Trump.

[Martin Eden]

40. Trump is an orange tarbaby

I'd rather have him stuck to the Rethug party than for their senators to look reasonable and principled by ridding themselves of him.

[NCLefty]

41. Trump has let so many religious people become judges. What is even the difference between him and

Pence on this? He appoints wacky preachers as advisors, lets Betsy and other cabinet members change rules to allow for more religion, he eagerly helps feed the christian persecution complex, etc.

Trump is a phony christian, but he's gone far out of his way to give them some of their biggest wish list items in return for blind loyalty. I'm not sure I see how Pence could be worse.

Trump is a clear and present danger because he's a moron with a cruel streak. He should not be allowed to sit in our White House and make military decisions for one second longer.

[Bradical79]

42. No, fuck that

Our country will be lucky to survive the aquital of Trump, and any Democrat who votes to acquit is a coward and a traitor. It's a vote in favor of Fascism and the further destruction of what Democracy we have left.

The idea that Pence is somehow worse than Trump is downright laughable. Trump and Pence generally support the same policies, but Pence is much more boring and uninspiring to the Trump base.

[Arthur_Frain]

44. We knew he wasn't bloody likely to be removed.

I have no problem with you making lemonade. We’d best be sure to be successful in November, that’s all I’ll say.