Impeachment is a process, not a "thing"

[StarfishSaver]

Impeachment is in process, but it takes time and preparation. And the Democrats are following all of the steps of the process and are taking the time to get the process right.

The fact that they haven't launched a formal impeachment inquiry and aren't having impeachment hearings doesn't mean they aren't doing it correctly. In fact, there's nothing that would occur in the early stages of an impeachment inquiry prior to the drafting and vote on Articles that isn't taking place now.

The House Democrats are doing this in a way - the only way - that will have results that go beyond everyone feeling over the moon on the day the inquiry opens only to have that be the best day of the whole process and have everything go downhill from there.

So please don't fall for the "Democrats are doing nothing" myth. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Democrats are doing plenty

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Yes, good point.

ANYTHING that risks rewarding the KGB agent in the WH must be avoided and if there is a way to do this that doesnt reward him with higher polls, great.

[Me.]

2. Thank You For A Sane Perspective

I am mighty disturbed that so many are falling for the foot stomping 'got to have it now' of Joy Ann, Larry O'D, Chuckles and the rest. It has already started, in all but the name...this is what it looks like. Also, aside from everything else, Speaker P. is quite correct when she says the public have got to be brought along with this. For one reason, should the polls reflect a rise (and by the way, they are staring to) it pressures the Senate towards due diligence. And, it may get so bad that the traitor is forced out by his own people ala Nixon, then to be arrested for his crimes. Pure conjecture on my part but no more so than the impeach now crowd,

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I don't care. I want it now, and that's the most important thing!

Besides, my judgment is superior to everyone's in a leadership position in the Democratic party, so they should submit to my will. What's the holdup?

[mcar]

4. Thank you!

So please don't fall for the "Democrats are doing nothing" myth. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Shame on anyone who says this. They are promoting a lie.

[4139]

5. House must take it up in June AND FINISH BY mid-SEPTEMBER

Any later than that then ‘they’re just doing it for 2020 election’ wins the argument.

Mueller report was released 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, at least most of it. The longer we wait the more it looks like there was nothing in the report that was bad.

[StarfishSaver]

8. I'm sure they know exactly the timing they need to use

And that knowledge is informed by information, experience, expertise and expert advice that none of us who are on the outside looking in have.

[sheshe2]

6. K&R

Thank You.

[PufPuf23]

7. Imperative that Pelosi and Nadler get on the same page (and

I favor Nadler).

Pelosi, Nadler tangle on impeachment, contempt vote

There is growing daylight between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) over the best strategy for combating a Trump administration that is flouting a flurry of congressional subpoenas at nearly every turn.

The pair of powerful Democrats clashed in recent days over whether to launch impeachment proceedings against President Trump and how soon to hold a contempt vote against Attorney General William Barr.
Nadler, spurred by frustrated Judiciary Committee members, has been privately pushing leadership for both an impeachment inquiry, and a contempt vote immediately after lawmakers return from their weeklong Memorial Day recess.

Pelosi is still urging a go-slow approach, concerned that Democrats have not yet swayed public opinion about why such aggressive tactics are necessary. The Speaker is also pointing to a string of court victories over the Trump administration and business entities, bolstering Democrats' arguments that the law is on their side as they methodically probe the president.

More at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pelosi-nadler-tangle-on-impeachment-contempt-vote/ar-AABTT7p

[StarfishSaver]

10. Here we go again with the MSM looking for a fight where there isn't one

First, the fact that a Chairman of the Judiciary Committee may be urging the Speaker to take an action that she doesn't yet think is timely, isn't a "clash," regardless how much the press wants to push its "Democrats in disarray narrative."

Second, The Democratic leadership team is an extraordinarily tight and non-leaky team. You can bet your last dollar that if Nadler is telling the press about his conversations with the Speaker, it's because the Speaker wants him to do it.

So, notwithstanding your instruction that the Speaker and Chairman "get on the same page," not only do they already know the need to be on the same page without being told, I suspect they're very much not only on the same page, but reading the same sentence.

[lunatica]

12. I don't believe this for a second.

Unless the strategy is to pull the wool over Trump’s and the Republican’s eyes. Playing political disinformation isn’t something only Trump can do. Pelosi and Nadler have been doing it as long as anyone. Longer when it comes to Trump who only understand his bullying “dealmaking”.

He has no idea that real political manipulation isn’t anything like bullying tactics.

[PufPuf23]

16. I hope that you are correct.

Trump keeps on doubling down on his bullying and manipulation and we continue to lose ground waiting for a tipping point.

I envy your optimism.

[lunatica]

19. If you have trouble feeling optimism

it really helps if you at least take a ‘wait and see’ attitude. At least it’s more emotionally balanced and really, it’s the easiest to live with. That way you are in your cooler head rather than in the hot turmoil of emotions.

Remember those dark times when things worked out well in your life. When something bad turned into something good, and it happened in spite of your worst fears.

[Me.]

13. Not Quite

“CNN)Pressure is mounting for House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler to launch impeachment proceedings, but the New York Democrat is weighing dueling loyalties to eager members and to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has urged her caucus to stay the course on investigations and ignore the growing chorus for what would become a bitterly divisive process.

The discussions boiled over in a series of tense meetings Monday night, with Nadler ultimately siding with Pelosi, a California Democrat. But Nadler told Democrats on his panel he was sympathetic to their calls to open up a formal impeachment investigation, something that Pelosi rejected in the private meetings.

Still Democrats say Nadler will not buck Pelosi, and would only move forward with an impeachment inquiry if she were on board.

"He's in a very difficult position," said Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat on the committee who has pressed for opening an impeachment inquiry.”

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/politics/impeachment-jerry-nadler-house-democrats/index.html

“Democratic leaders are looking for ways to keep the caucus on board when Congress returns this summer. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler divulged details to the caucus on Thursday about the next steps for a long-awaited vote to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt. Nadler is pushing for that vote the first week lawmakers return.

And Nadler also suggested Democrats consider voting to streamline the process when they return in June, allowing committees to hold people in contempt of Congress without needing a full House vote.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/23/impeachment-pelosi-democrats-1342685

[lunatica]

9. If I see a thread started by you now

I click on it because you can be trusted to be consistently reliable as a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and positive DUer. You are calm and patient and have joined the ranks of mature DUers who hold this place together in the worst of times. <——- you.

Thank you.

[StarfishSaver]

11. What a lovely thing to say.

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it!

[Gothmog]

22. It is clear that you are a member of the bar and understand the concepts being discussed

[CaptainTruth]

14. I will second that. You rock.

[Hekate]

15. What you just said, lunatica

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Was nearly a year of Congressional investigations before impeachment of Nixon referred to House

We are now at the beginning of the process.

After the Saturday Night Massacre, Rodino began his committee's investigation. On October 30, 1973, the House Judiciary Committee began consideration of the possible impeachment of Richard Nixon. The initial straight party-line votes by a 21–17 margin were focused around how extensive the subpoena powers Rodino would have would be.[20]

...

The committee spent eight months gathering evidence and pushed Nixon to comply with a subpoena for conversations taped in the Oval Office.[62] Its quarters were in the old Congressional Hotel,[60] which had become the O'Neill House Office Building. Security guards patrolled the halls and the work was done in rooms with closed blinds.[19]

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Divisive memes like "Ds are doing nothing" are promulgated by hostile web brigades. . . . nt

[MBS]

20. Excellent, thanks.

Really good point- and we all need reminding.

[Gothmog]

21. Senate GOP vows to quickly quash any impeachment charges

Link to tweet

GOP senators say that if the House passes articles of impeachment against President Trump they will quickly quash them in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has broad authority to set the parameters of a trial.

While McConnell is required to act on articles of impeachment, which require 67 votes — or a two-thirds majority — to convict the president, he and his Republican colleagues have the power to set the rules and ensure the briefest of trials.

“I think it would be disposed of very quickly,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)....

“Why on earth would we give a platform to something that I judge as a purely political exercise?” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another member of the Judiciary Committee. “We have to perform our constitutional duty, but if people think that we’re going to try and create a theater that could give you the perception that this is a matter that rises to the level of Watergate, that’s nonsense.”

Tillis said he would support McConnell bringing the impeachment process to a quick close, and that any kind of extended trial would be “rewarding what I view as bad behavior on the part of the House.”