A top Democrat disagrees with Pelosi, says impeachment proceedings 'inevitable'

[BeyondGeography]

Washington (CNN)A high-ranking Democrat broke with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday, saying he supports impeaching President Donald Trump and believes impeachment proceedings are inevitable.

"To me it's not a question of 'whether,' it's a question of 'when,' and probably right now is not the right time, but I think at some point it's going to be inevitable," Rep. John Yarmuth told CNN's Erin Burnett on "Erin Burnett OutFront."

The comments put the Kentucky Democrat, who's the chairman of the House Budget Committee, at odds with Pelosi, who said she does not currently support impeaching Trump even though she believes he is unfit to be President, according to a Washington Post magazine interview published Monday. The issue has divided congressional Democrats.

"I'm not for impeachment," the California Democrat said, adding, "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."

Yarmuth said there is "validity" to Pelosi's point, "and I respect that, and ultimately it's going to be her call." But, he said, "I believe that the impeachment power is in the Constitution for a reason, and if we don't use it, then it becomes meaningless, particularly when you have a President who has committed crimes while in office, who has abused the power of his office, and many other reasons why I think he's committed impeachable offenses."

...Yarmuth said he is not sure if there are currently enough Democrats to vote for impeachment. He doesn't think impeachment can be a "political calculation," but has to be instead a "recognition of constitutional responsibility."

More at https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/11/politics/democrat-nancy-pelosi-impeachment-john-yarmuth-cnntv/index.html

[manor321]

1. Good for him! I haven't heard ANY Democrat agree with Pelosi

So far I hear a lot of Democrats disagreeing or trying to rephrase what Pelosi said, but getting it wrong.

Pelosi explicitly compared this to when people were asking to impeach Bush.

She is absolutely wrong and I hope she gets the message of how upset everyone is.

[OliverQ]

5. Adam Schiff said he agreed with her view.

[elleng]

2. 'Inevitable' doesn't mean NOW.

'he is not sure if there are currently enough Democrats to vote for impeachment.'

[BeyondGeography]

3. It also doesn't mean impeachment isn't worth it

Thankfully.

He’s saying it would be a dereliction of constitutional duty not to impeach. I agree.

[elleng]

4. Right.

[emulatorloo]

9. We have one shot at this. Damn sure better have enough votes in the Senate to convict

I think Pelosi is looking at the long game. If revelations in Mueller report are explosive as I think they will be, Republicans will finally have their Nixon moment and realize Trump has to go

[lancelyons]

14. You trust in the gop way more than you should.

[Nevermypresident]

11. So tired at this point of "psych games", three dimensional chess bullshite. Good luck

to all of us, because it is a dereliction of constitutional duty to not bring articles of impeachment in the House, Speaker Pelosi.

This is a overwhelming example of why so many non voters are so cynical and "turned off" by politics.

You Don't Go Into Battle Because You're Sure of Victory. You Go Into Battle Because It's the Right Thing To Do.
C.J. Redwine

[BeyondGeography]

12. This was a comment at Kos

“Nothing Americans love more than the team that refuses to fight unless they're guaranteed to win and have absolutely zero chance of getting hurt. That'll show those lawless traitors!”

[dalton99a]

17. Spot on.

[apcalc]

6. I sort of think Nancy is playing a psych game on/with Trump.

Either making him foolishly relax about the investigations going on, or just indicating to him that he isn’t even worth impeaching, he’s just that bad and ineffective.

Just a thought. She typically plays him well.

[Quixote1818]

7. If EVER there will be a President who needs to be impeached, it's this ass hole criminal!

He isn't capable of doing ANYTHING legally or with any kind of competence!

[dalton99a]

16. +1.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Trump is our best chance to flip the Senate as

well as capturing the White House.

Pelosi knows what she speaks of,a wounded President is your best Campaign Slogan.

Committee Investigations provide a smoking gun,watch Pelosi move on Impeachment.

[klook]

10. I agree on both counts.

I do feel that Trump *should* be impeached -- there is certainly just cause (in a just world -- if we lived in one!!).

However, a Republican presidency that's listing to port is indeed our best hope for 2020.

[redstateblues]

13. Hakeem Jeffries

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. impeach because he continues to damage the country

Impeachment itself will put the brakes on his rampage.

Failure to impeach will lose a significant number of the first-time voters from 2018. What's the point of a blue wave if it fails to act against the destructors and they continue to get away with their crime wave?

Failure to impeach is a failure to do the Constitutional duty of the House.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

18. I trust Nancy Pelosi to deal with tactics and strategy.

We are in good hands.

Investigations will begin. The Mueller report will drop. The public needs to be driving calls for impeachment. Speaker Pelosi is wise.

For now, it is death by a thousand cuts.