Pelosi says impeaching Trump is "just not worth it"

[spanone]

In an interview released Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Washington Post that impeaching President Trump is "just not worth it."

"Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it."

Why it matters: Pelosi’s comments — which mark the first public stance she's taken firmly against impeachment — will certainly rattle rank and file Democrats, especially progressives and party activists who have been calling for impeachment since the day they took back the House in the 2018 midterms.

https://www.axios.com/nancy-pelosi-impeaching-trump-not-worth-it-ecaf3447-5a00-45f2-9e54-3aab287f32d1.html?stream=top&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alerts_all

[The Truth Is Here]

1. Out of respect, Pelosi, but I disagree.

I want the impeachment articles out and approved. That means he is impeached. It is ON the Senate to remove Trump the Moron.

I like the sound of the impeached President of the United States, because it is the truth. That means the People of the United States disagrees with the fucking moron. It is the 1% of the 1% that disagrees and lives in the Senate.

[Towlie]

40. Right! Somebody please tell Madame Speaker that the question is whether the USA is worth it.

[Lars39]

2. I think she's setting her ducks in a row....

"...unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan..."
this statement does not rule it out.

[spanone]

4. I believe that threshold has been crossed 100 times over.

[still_one]

8. So you have seen the Mueller report

[spanone]

18. did i mention the mueller report?

[still_one]

21. Then on what basis? The Congressional investigations have barely started. If it happens it will

happen either on evidence of the Mueller report or the Congressional investigation, that was my point

[spanone]

47. Or....Paying off a porn star & a playboy bunny to influence an election.

Emoluments clause.

Obstruction of justice.

[still_one]

55. That is part of the investigation I am referring to

[Lars39]

22. We know that, but it hasn't been made official yet.

Mueller is still investigating and enlightening us.

[emulatorloo]

27. Have the Republicans been convinced yet? No. But maybe Mueller report will convince

enough R Senators to convict.

[fescuerescue]

39. Unless that report reveals that Trump is a Democrat

It doesn't matter what it says. Republicans won't impeach one of their own.

[still_one]

7. Exacatly

[Baltimike]

25. Yep. She's playing chess...and there aren't the votes in the US Senate yet

The only thing wishing for impeachment without counting the Senate votes will do is gas up MF45's getaway car.

[katmondoo]

42. This is the problem--the Senate won't impeach, they are not there yet

[Baltimike]

62. They won't be there until after 2020, and only is the Dems take the Senate

too much Russian money going around.

[awesomerwb1]

3. Forget bipartisan, Nancy

there will probably be "compelling" and "overwhelming".

I agree with her, for now. A half ass*d impeachment effort could do more harm than good right now without all the evidence in yet.

Unfortunately the gop has no bottom and have decided to burn the ships. They will lie, cheat and resort to whatever means necessary to save trump/themselves.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. It's well worth it!! Why would she say that?!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!0l

[BannonsLiver]

38. Because she knows what she's doing. She is a pro.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

70. Impeachment absolutely IS worth it! Thankfully, Reps. Tlaib & AOC will not be silent on this issue.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BannonsLiver]

71. I'll take Pelosi's wisdom and judgement seven days a week and twice on Sundays, but thanks!1!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

72. On most issues, yes... not impeachment, sorry.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BannonsLiver]

80. I'm sorry you feel that way.

[still_one]

6. She is right, until the Mueller or the Congressional Investigations is finished, and demonstrates

refutable evidence it won’t happen

Those who want to proceed without that, tough

[notdarkyet]

9. He needs to be impeached as soon as possible. He is destroying and breaking the country.

Our beaches, our national parks, education, the va. By time he gets done “we won’t be worth it.”

[mcar]

61. What happens after impeachment?

You do realize the Senate has to vote to remove him from office - with a 2/3rds majority?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

73. You said it!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[TreasonousBastard]

10. She's right. At this point there is no way the Senate will throw him out, and...

like Clinton, he could end up more powerful and popular after it's over. Really-- he would then be a survivor, and would never stop letting us know about it. Better he's a loser in 2020 than a victim in 2019.

Impeachments are incredibly expensive and divisive and worse than useless unless successful. And, since we have never had a successful impeachment, we don't really know what would happen.

[spanone]

14. this senate won't convict.... ever.

[TreasonousBastard]

19. Nixon's senate Republicans were firmly behind him-- until they weren't...

We're dealing with politicians here, whose most developed talent is checking the directions of the winds when making a decision.

There is a tipping point where public disapproval will rise to where his buddies in the Senate will be more afraid of the voters than of Trump.

That's when you impeach.

[emulatorloo]

30. Well said. That's exactly how it happened

[area51]

11. It's my understanding that

Pelosi's always been anti-impeachment and anti-Medicare for All.

[emulatorloo]

28. It's more complex than what you say.

There aren’t enough Republicans votes in the Senate to convict Trump. Yet.

She says it needs to be bipartisan, and she is correct for impeachment and conviction to occur.

Nixon was not at risk of being impeached until enough Senate Republicans got on board.

That may happen with Trump as well when Mueller report comes out, but we are not there yet.

[onenote]

12. This is what a lot of us have been saying

If there is a strong enough case that 2/3 of the Senate is likely to convict, then go ahead. Unless and until that happens, starting impeachment is not worth it in that the acquittal by the Senate will only strengthen Trump.

[LonePirate]

46. Exactly! An acquittal is a big win for him.

[skylucy]

67. +1000

[tonedevil]

13. I don't want to see...

the House voting for Articles of Impeachment that the Senate won't sustain. If you are going to hit the king you better kill the king, but I do not want to hear that Impeachment is off the table.

[Takket]

15. She will impeach as soon as she's handed a document worthy of impeachment

Until then she only feeds the media’s desire to paint Democrats as having no agenda other than “presidential harassment”.

So keep passing legislation the country needs (doing your job) and save the bullet for when you have a target.

[TwilightZone]

43. Agreed.

The argument that we should impeach him even if it means an undeniable failure in the Senate has never made any sense.

Keep the investigations going and gather evidence. And, as you noted, pass legislation that shows the country what Democrats stand for and what they could expect if they vote for us in 2020.

[misanthrope]

51. Correct, and the American public will only abide unreasonable presidential harassment

if the POTUS has an abundance of melanin. Sickening but true.

[eleny]

16. Sounds like reverse psychology

I can see some people grinding their back teeth wanting to disagree with her on everything but hitting a snag here.

[woodsprite]

17. Love to ask her how she justifies letting

him and his cabal damage, sell out our country, and kill our democracy.

[emulatorloo]

34. See post 15

There’s no chance of impeachment/Conviction unless Republican Senators get on board. Mueller Report May have something so damning it will get enough Republicans convinced

[misanthrope]

53. Unfortunately

Trump would have to personally steal the bank accounts of Republican Senators while raping their offspring for them to agree to impeachment. And they might not even do it then.

[fescuerescue]

48. SHe's not justifying it

She's just pointing out that impeachment won't stop that damage.

Not until the votes are there and she knows they aren't.

[Miles Archer]

20. It's a BIG FRIGGING roll of the dice

There is no way to accurately predict, other than via past impeachments, how public opinion could harm Democrats in 2020.

What we DO know is that the "base" isn't going to budge...if Trump makes it to 2020, they'll vote for him again.

It all comes down to everyone else.

Trump's approval ratings...as low as they may be...are SHOCKING in light of all the knowledge "the public" already has. I don't follow the polls with any kind of regularity, but he seems to fluctuate between high 30s and mid 40s. In light of everything, I can't see how that is even possible.

All I can say is that if steps aren't taken to impeach him, we'd better have a staggering "ground game" in 2020. We need to reach and motivate record numbers outside of Trump's "base." I haven't seen the message (or messages) yet that will accomplish that. I see common sense proposals, but the public needs to become energized. We also need a candidate who knows how to stand their own against Trump without getting sucked into his "game."

The country is ALREADY divided. The only thing that will heal that divide is someone in the Oval Office who is not as divisive as Trump. So it's a coin toss between impeachment and 2020.

[fescuerescue]

50. Also, disapproval ratings are not the same as

"I won't vote for him" ratings.

I know of several folks who disapprove of Trump but are prepared to vote for him again. Why? because they feel any Republican is better than any Democrat.

[Kaleva]

23. She is correct.

[lame54]

24. Not this again...

"Impeachment is off the table."
That statement empowered Bush knowing there would be no threat of impeachment

[CaptainTruth]

26. Wait to see Mueller's report, along with a possible indictment of Trump.

And please don't say "a sitting president can't be indicted." That's the opinion of a guy who wrote a memo, it is not in the Constitution & it is not law.

If Trump's crimes warrant it, indict him & let the courts settle it.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. ITTMFA

The Trump crime family, the GOPer criminal organization, and the RW propaganda machine divide the country. Dissect them.

Impeach the treasonous mofo already!

Do your damned job.

[FrankBooth]

31. Impeachment is off the table

Until it isn't.

This statement made in March of 2019 won't mean a thing by the Summer of 2020.

[RDANGELO]

32. Ok with me.

Unless you get a strong majority, (55%). in favor of impeachment. It's not worth risking a backlash. Kick his ass in the election.

I don't think that's going to happen because the DOJ will not indict Trump.

[melman]

33. "bipartisan"

[TDale313]

35. There need to be consequences.

We are where we are now, in part, because no one held W or Cheney or the rest of that admin accountable. Trump may not be worth it, but sending the message treason and intentionally undermining our Democracy will not be tolerated is important. Cause the next one will just feel emboldened. And if we don’t make these fuckers pay there will a next one.

[JCMach1]

36. Her job was to say wait for investigations and reports

And she didn't do it...

[dalton99a]

79. All she had to say on the matter

[Turbineguy]

37. Maybe she's thinking about all those likely to get shot

by right wing death squads itching for civil war. If trump is defeated in an election it's just harder to counter that.

[oasis]

77. +1

[Kurt V.]

41. the DOJ says he can't be indicted. speaker says no impeachment.

he will not be punished for his many crimes. come on Nov 2020!

[LonePirate]

44. There are not 67 Senate votes to convict so he "wins" via a jury decision. Pelosi is boxed in.

[Baitball Blogger]

45. There goes her fucking legacy.

From 0 to 60 in 3 seconds.

Let's face it guys, in this big American experience, we are alone.

[BannonsLiver]

64. Yeah she's not winning over those prone to knee jerk reactions today.

[Kurt V.]

69. knee jerk.? just bc it's news today? you think many haven't already

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2019, 08:03 PM - Edit history (1)

considered this, put thought into in and formed opinions?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

74. Don't get her strategy.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Baitball Blogger]

82. I don't either.

Maybe she's pulling an Obama? I use to get exasperated with some of his decisions, until I learned to be patient because he usually had another strategy working in the background. But it was just a matter of days or weeks before that strategy became obvious. He just has more information to work with, than we did.

[dsc]

49. Until the Mueller report comes out we have no business Impeaching him

when it comes out we will have a decision to make. If we get the complete report, including the underlying evidence, the decision will be to Impeach or not depending on how much evidence there actually is. If we don't get the complete report than we will need to investigate.

[fescuerescue]

52. Oh please there's plenty of reasons to impeach him now

The only reason he hasn't been impeached is because such an effort is 100% guaranteed to fail right now.

Nancy knows that.

[dsc]

56. So we have no business doing so

Now, at some point, after the Mueller report we will have to Impeach him no matter if it will or won't fail.

[fescuerescue]

65. It's a matter of opinion. Pelosi's opinion most of all.

Would support impeaching him if you knew for sure it would fail and you knew such failure would give him enough of a boost to get re-elected?

No need to answer, doesn't matter what we think.

However that is essentially what Pelosi is saying. She's not going to impeach until and unless she thinks it will move us forward. Sideways is pointless and backwards is contrary to her mission.

[gratuitous]

54. Leaves open the question of what is compelling and overwhelming

Because we've seen that there is nothing (and I mean NOTHING, up to and including crimes against humanity) that Republicans won't defend. So "bipartisan" is essentially meaningless.

The original sin of the Obama administration was to look forward to the future instead of backwards to the past, and let the Bush administration completely off the hook for the invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Guantanamo Bay gulag, and the lies and deceits that led to all that. By failing to hold the Bush administration accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, we got the Trump administration. The United States was not well served by papering over those crimes.

Similarly, the United States will not be well served by allowing the Trump administration to get away with its various crimes. Prosecuting the small fry is good, but it's not even half the job, and Democrats weren't returned to power by the American people in 2018 to avoid conflict or divisiveness with a bunch of vocal yahoos who aren't satisfied with anything they get or get away with.

[DinahMoeHum]

57. If you aim at the king, you damn well better not miss.

In the meantime, until the investigations are done, I'll settle for the complete and utter destruction of the GOPas a consolation prize.

[theophilus]

58. She says Trump is not worth going after if it means tearing the country farther apart.

She is right. The Senate would not convict and most folks don't even know about that part. Ms. Pelosi is right!

[Blue_Tires]

59. I really hope she's trying to be disarming now only to spring the trap later...

that's the only way any of this makes sense...

[malaise]

60. What if it's two out of these three

''...that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan...''

[Irishxs]

63. I Agree

Impeaching without public support would be a timebomb for Dems.

[still_one]

66. unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming

[samnsara]

68. a woman has just told trump..in front of the world.. that 'hes not worth it'...

...it was a brilliant troll. Dont worry shes not letting one thing out of her site....

[dalton99a]

75. The only thing Trump respects is power - for the House, the power to impeach.

[Liberty Belle]

76. Saving our courts, our checks and balances, from being staffed IS worth it.

By the next election irreversible damage will be done to our justice sytem and the corporations and religious fanatics will have total control if Trump is allowed to continue appointing wingnuts and sycophants to courts across the nation.

[dustyscamp]

78. So the only way we could beat Trump is through impeachment?

People don't think our canidates are capable of doing that in 2020?

[Beringia]

81. He is not worth it, makes no sense

He is the worst president ever. What would a person have to do or be to be worth it?