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Mme. Defarge

(8,027 posts)
Fri Sep 20, 2019, 08:24 PM Sep 2019

Jennifer speaks for me!

Republicans — any member of Congress and any Cabinet member — must be asked in any media or congressional appearance whether the “threat of withholding congressionally authorized funds to — in the Post’s words — ‘extort’ a foreign leader into investigating a domestic political opponent and his family” is impeachable. No hedging, no filibustering. The American people have a right to know if Republicans actually think this is acceptable. They should also be asked if the president has the power to prevent a whistleblower’s complaint from reaching Congress in contravention of the whistleblower statute. Until a firm answer to those two questions is obtained, the questioner should keep at it for as long as it takes to get an answer.
As for the Democrats, the reaction to suppression of a whistleblower and the potential the president engaged in impeachable, if not illegal, conduct has been spotty. On one hand, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) knocked it out of the park:

In an appearance, she had more to say, explaining the gravity of the situation:

Beto O’Rourke put out a brief but effective statement. “In 2016, President Trump asked Russia to interfere in our elections,” he tweeted. “In 2020, he’s asking Ukraine to do the same. If no one is above the law, then we have no choice but to impeach this president. When will Congress have the courage to act?” Good question.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) also addressed the issue in a TV interview, correctly noting that this president has a pattern of misusing his office for personal, political gain.
Others seemed to go merrily on their way, sticking to campaign stump speeches or talking about other issues as if the whistleblower incident does not pose a grave threat to our democracy. Their obliviousness or feigned obliviousness suggests they really aren’t up for the job they are running for. A candidate who avoids a national security and constitutional crisis because he’d rather talk about domestic matters is not the person you want as commander in chief.
This is a stress test for Schiff and Pelosi, for Republicans in Congress and in the administration (would they rationalize even extorting a foreign power to get dirt on an enemy?), the presidential contenders and the press.
If Trump cannot be investigated for this and held accountable for his actions (even if no quid pro quo was involved), we really have given up on our constitutional system. Heaven help us.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/20/reacting-allegations-egregious-high-crimes-misdemeanors/

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