Democratic leaders are trying hard to keep a lid on impeachment talk.

[DonViejo]

Ixnay on Impeachmentay

Democratic leaders are trying hard to keep a lid on impeachment talk.

NOV. 03, 2017

On Oct. 11, Democratic Rep. Al Green took to the House floor and called on his colleagues to impeach President Trump. Green’s 15-page resolution didn’t allege a specific crime—articles of impeachment don’t need to—but it did include a bill of particulars that almost any Democrat could get behind, citing Trump’s “record of inciting white supremacy, sexism, bigotry, hatred, xenophobia, race-baiting, and racism by demeaning, defaming, disrespecting, and disparaging women and certain minorities.” As a privileged resolution, Green could have forced a vote—something that Republicans, smelling an opportunity to divide Democrats, would have been pleased to offer. But when the time came, Green didn’t appear on the floor to formally offer his resolution.

That came as a relief to the rest of the Democratic caucus, and particularly to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who had spoken to Green that morning. For all their talk about Trump’s transgressions, Democratic leaders are trying desperately to keep a lid on the idea of actually impeaching him.

To party leaders, strategists, and Democrats in competitive districts, talk of impeachment only serves as a distraction heading into an election cycle in which the party hopes to retake the House and, if the stars align perfectly, maybe even the Senate. With a historically unpopular president and polls trending in their favor, the mere mention of the I-word sends Democratic leaders scrambling to dismiss it as “premature”—lest they hand a rallying cry to Trump’s defenders.

That pragmatic approach has created an irreconcilable tension with a restive base that tends to view impeachment in moral, historical terms. Activist groups like Indivisible and MoveOn called on Congress to start the impeachment process in June, and the issue seems likely to pick up steam as indictments from special counsel Robert Mueller roll in. The billionaire investor Tom Steyer collected more than 1 million signatures in support of impeachment in just two weeks after he launched a $10 million campaign to push the issue.

Steyer, the Democratic Party’s biggest donor, was prompted to act, he told me in an interview, by the party’s “silence on this issue, when it was obvious to the majority of Americans—or certainly the overwhelming majority of Democrats—that this guy has to go.”

more
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/11/why-democratic-leaders-dont-want-to-talk-about-impeachment.html

[Kentonio]

1. It seems so obvious that we simply don't have the votes yet

What are they hoping to achieve by doing this before the midterms?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Perhaps, explain what's comin' if Democrats are elected? Relief from the orange Nazi dick-tator...

AS WELL AS - yes, America, we can walk and chew gum at the same time... it's AMAZING!! - a progressive legislative agenda. Sounds like a winning strategy to me!!

Since when does it make sense NOT to tell the electorate what we would do if put back into power, because we're not back in power yet? By that logic, why say ANYTHING bout our legislative goals?... Since we're not in power to enact them.

[Kentonio]

3. If we take back congress then I'm all for impeachment

In fact I'd be furious if we didn't push for it. Until we have that power back though, it's a waste of time and energy. We need to be running in 2018 on a positive message, we can take out the trash later.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

4. Promising to "take out the trash" IS a positive message...

everyone I know would walk over hot coals to vote for that AND - note the word "AND," in ALL CAPS - a positive progressive legislative agenda.

[Demsrule86]

9. I would bet you don't know folks in the states we need to win in order to take the House...consider

the Ads...'vote for the GOP candidate or they will impeach Trump'. In a year that is usually not good for the president's party this would inflame and motivate Trumpettes. Why is this a good idea?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. Have you seen the Nazi-in-Chief's poll numbers lately?! Sinkin' like the Titanic, even in red states

... that's why.

[Demsrule86]

11. Those are national polls doesn't mean in the states we need there are not a contingent of Trumpetts

who could if inflamed cost us the election...Trump won with low numbers.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

14. As I said... "even in red states."

Indeed, the Nazi-in-Chief's poll numbers have fallen the MOST in those states.

[Demsrule86]

8. Again, I am forced to ask...what good is impeachement without a Senate who can

convict Trump? You need 2/3 of Senators...we won't have that in 19 ...given the makeup of the senatorial races in 18.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

12. Then I'm forced to ask...

why are so many Democratic leaders, including Hillary herself - and rightfully so! - continuing to push for perceived anti-Rethuglian Constitutional Amendments, such as repeal of the horrific Citizens United case, to name one example? We need 2/3 of the Senate for that too.

Should we shit-can our party's push for the Equal Rights Amendment too until we take back 2/3 control of the Senate? I say "no"... fight on!

[Demsrule86]

6. The states we need to win are moderate to red which means that talk of impeachment will

only bring out Trumpettes who might not be as motivated otherwise.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. So, then why is Hillary herself pushing impeachment?

What does she know that other master political strategists don't?

[Tatiana]

5. Even if we had the votes, I am starting to think Pelosi is opposed to impeachment.

Perhaps as a philosophy -- several members of Congress have expressed the idea that this was the man the American people selected and it seems wrong to overturn the will of the people.

If 2018 is a wave election and we establish a clear majority in the House, Trump should be impeached. I hope this is just strategy on Pelosi's part and not the way she truly feels.

[Demsrule86]

7. Not unless there are enough votes to convict him in the Senate...otherwise waste of time and money.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

18. Tell that to Hillary... seem to recall she's also pushing impeachment... and rightfully so.

[kentuck]

13. You can't impeach with a minority.

Sorry.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Can't pass most things through Congress with a minority...

should we lay down and not advocate for what we believe in? I think not!!

[PdxSean]

15. Without a majority, such a resolution would only incite Trumps base.

. . . citing Trump’s “record of inciting white supremacy, sexism, bigotry, hatred, xenophobia, race-baiting, and racism by demeaning, defaming, disrespecting, and disparaging women and certain minorities.”

Um, those are the reasons red states and Evangelicals voted for Trump. They are one.

[kentuck]

16. If Repubs lose the House, there will be ample paranoia to let them determine their own fate...

It would shake them to their core.