The war in Washington isn't between Trump and Democrats. It's between Trump and Congress

[dajoki]

The war in Washington isn’t between Trump and Democrats. It’s between Trump and Congress.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-war-in-washington-isnt-between-trump-and-democrats-its-between-trump-and-congress/2019/05/09/20760ab2-7286-11e9-9f06-5fc2ee80027a_story.html?utm_term=.a9a06ef824dd


The escalating war in Washington is not between the White House and “Democrats,” despite what President Trump may claim. It is between an arrogant, out-of-control executive and the people’s duly elected representatives in Congress, whose sworn duties transcend politics. There’s a big difference.

Trump tries to drag everyone and everything down to the basest, most transactional level, which is the only level he knows. In his telling, it’s “Democrats” who are demanding to see his tax returns, “Democrats” who want public testimony by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and former White House counsel Donald McGahn, “Democrats” who are holding hearings and issuing subpoenas for the sole purpose of persecuting Donald J. Trump.

The president cynically tries to paint the whole thing as pure politics, as if it were all some kind of game. But it is not. An adversarial foreign power, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, maliciously interfered with our presidential election in 2016. Trump campaign officials and advisers had scores of unusual contacts with Kremlin-connected Russians, then lied about those contacts. Trump tried repeatedly to thwart any investigation of those contacts and lies, engaging in conduct that many legal experts believe clearly amounts to obstruction of justice.

None of this is normal or acceptable, none of it, and Congress does not have the option to shrug and look away. Acting in the name of the nation, the House Ways and Means Committee has the statutory authority — and good reason — to look at Trump’s tax returns. Acting in the name of the nation, the House Judiciary Committee has the duty to read Mueller’s entire unredacted report and hear from Mueller and McGahn. Acting in the name of the nation, the speaker of the House must decide whether Trump’s conduct was so egregious that impeachment hearings should be held.

The fact that the House of Representatives is currently controlled by the Democratic Party instead of the Republican Party does not alter its responsibilities — or mitigate its powers.

<<snip>>

[Liberalhammer]

1. Americans vs. The Republican Party

I'd say it this way. The repugs have proven their loyalty to Putin and Russia.

[dumbcat]

2. What about the Senate? They're part of Congress

Why aren't they helping?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Because Senate Republican SWORE an oath to Trump, not the US Constitution....

And that is why we must point out that Congressional Republicans up for re-election next year MUST point out that Trump has hijacked the Republican Party and turned it into his own corrupt image. Fuck the US Constitution and the institutions that made this country one of laws. That they, along with Trump care only for their own greed and not the needs of the people.


The more Democratic Party go after these topics, perhaps more people will finally realize that all they hold dear, the idea of Democracy must prevail.

VOTE in 2020!

[dajoki]

5. The repub party has been haeded this way...

for a long time.

[Wounded Bear]

4. It should be that way, but Repubs are siding with the President...

and abrogating all congressional power and responsibility.

[Hortensis]

6. The Republican leaders have BETRAYED their constitutional role

to act as a check on a rogue president and have thrown in their political lot with a Republican president; and with that they are betraying their entire nation.

We still hope some vestigial care or honor, or just survival instinct, will force enough of them to step back from the brink if our democracy is to survive.