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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWashington Post Op-Ed by 44 former Senators
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/we-are-former-senators-the-senate-has-long-stood-in-defense-of-democracy--and-must-again/2018/12/10/3adfbdea-fca1-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html?utm_term=.0fc7e4d1f17fDear Senate colleagues,
As former members of the U.S. Senate, Democrats and Republicans, it is our shared view that we are entering a dangerous period, and we feel an obligation to speak up about serious challenges to the rule of law, the Constitution, our governing institutions and our national security.
We are on the eve of the conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation and the Houses commencement of investigations of the president and his administration. The likely convergence of these two events will occur at a time when simmering regional conflicts and global power confrontations continue to threaten our security, economy and geopolitical stability.
It is a time, like other critical junctures in our history, when our nation must engage at every level with strategic precision and the hand of both the president and the Senate.
We are at an inflection point in which the foundational principles of our democracy and our national security interests are at stake, and the rule of law and the ability of our institutions to function freely and independently must be upheld.
During our service in the Senate, at times we were allies and at other times opponents, but never enemies. We all took an oath swearing allegiance to the Constitution. Whatever united or divided us, we did not veer from our unwavering and shared commitment to placing our country, democracy and national interest above all else.
At other critical moments in our history, when constitutional crises have threatened our foundations, it has been the Senate that has stood in defense of our democracy. Today is once again such a time.
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It's over Don the Con
LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)One that needs to be repeated.
KelleyKramer
(8,851 posts)This is going to put some real pressure on. The Senate is a very 'clubby' group, much more so than the House
gordianot
(15,226 posts)Foreign and dark laundered money spends as well as domestic money from Wall Street and small donors.
KelleyKramer
(8,851 posts)Mitch is in on the Russia treason up to his third chin, I agree with you there
The Senate is a clubby group, and he can't just wave off 44 senators
He will never do the right thing.. I just want to see him squirm
watoos
(7,142 posts)CNN just came out with a ridiculous poll claiming that only 50% of Americans feel that the Mueller investigation will implicate Trump in "wrongdoing." They even used the word wrongdoing instead of crimes or treason. It's like, Trump did something wrong like when I pulled the girls pigtails sitting in front of me in 1st grade.
Isn't propaganda grand? This is why Democrats have a hard time pushing any agenda, they have to fight against the M$M.
You know what the right wing narrative was last night on all of cable news? Pay attention people. It was that Democrats have to wait to even bring up the idea of impeachment, it may be politically damaging to them. Are you frigging serious? I will say that I did see a clip of Auntie Maxine truth telling and pushing for impeachment, but that was it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying impeach on day 1, we should wait for more Russian collusion to be revealed by Mueller but yes dammit we need to keep pushing the narrative that Trump deserves to be impeached, it shouldn't even be a question if, only when. Our president is a threat to our nation's national security and that is one of the narratives that should be out there.
Farmer-Rick
(10,072 posts)Those in power call it everything but what it is. A constitutional crisis, an infiltration of politics by a hostile foreign power, too much influence of money in politics, bribery.....call it what you want.
Carl Marx predicted Trump and the failure of government.
calimary
(80,700 posts)has been openly spoken - all over the place. Its definitely A Thing now. Realistically. Thats a rather remarkable change.
malaise
(267,828 posts)They're catching up
calimary
(80,700 posts)Im glad to see it. Im glad to see the I-word coming up again and again. Two years ago, nobody dared. Now its commonplace! The subject is coming up, on-camera and in print, frequently! No longer shied away from except by us kooks on the far left. Now EVERYBODYs bringing it up! Its something actually realistic to talk about. Its become normalized.
That, in and of itself, is a victory.
And if theyre saying it, what that usually means is - A LOT MORE people are thinking it.
matt819
(10,749 posts)Someone pointed out in another thread that of these 44 former senators, only 9 were republicans. That pretty much tells me everything I need to know. Also, how many former senators chose not to include their names on this letter?
So, an interesting, and maybe even welcome, gesture, but I would suggest it needs some more context.