Time Magazine Has Published An Op-Ed By Two Legal Scholars Calling For Trumps Impeachment

[babylonsister]

http://modernliberals.com/time-published-impeachment/

Time Magazine Has Published An Op-Ed By Two Legal Scholars Calling For Trump’s Impeachment
http://time.com/author/james-c-nelson-john-bonifaz/

February 8, 2017
James Schlarmann Commentary


Well…that didn’t take long.

I’m not sure how long it took conservative publications to call for Obama’s impeachment, but I’m pretty sure that Sub-President Donald Trump just broke some kind of record having a major publication call his impeachment. Yes, you read that right, today, a major publication called on Congress to impeach Trump. Granted, it’s in an op-ed and it’s not like it’s going to convince Republican congressmen to wake the fuck up or suddenly start caring that they’ve let a conman in to the Oval Office, but it’s still very cool seeing Time publish the piece, written by James C. Nelson and John Bonifaz, both of whom are legal scholars with careers working in government and the courts, calling for Trump’s impeachment.

It means there are people paying attention. Just how many is not certain right now, of course, but they’re out there. That’s a good first step.

In the piece, Nelson and Bonifaz argue that Sub-President Trump has been in direct violation of the emoluments clause in our Constitution since he took the oath of office. That clause is meant to do something that I know most of us just simply must not care about…keeping the president from taking foreign bribes. I mean, why on Earth would we give a shit if the guy we elected to run our country is really doing the bidding of a totally different country?

more...

http://modernliberals.com/time-published-impeachment/

[VMA131Marine]

1. As we are finding out, ...

Laws only matter when they are enforced.

[babylonsister]

2. Something has got to give; this is untenable. nt

[pat_k]

17. As we already learned when Dem "leaders" turned a blind eye to WH war criminals.

Dems in the House and Senate turned a blind eye to torture. Even worse, the so-called "leadership" went all out to quash the groundswell for impeachment that was taking hold within the caucus in 2004. If torturing in plain sight of the American electorate wasn't "bad enough" for them take enforcement action (impeach BushCheney), it's hard to imagine what crimes they would consider "bad enough."

Perhaps it's finally dawning on the current leadership that the party's past complicity with election thieves and war criminals is what got us to where we are. Perhaps they are seeing that they MUST "change their ways." Hope so. If not, we are in deep shit.

[Alice11111]

42. Nancy Pelosi said she would not do it, now

She said the same thing out GWBUSH too. Same reason, we have too many important things to focus on. WTF? Like giving them a blank check.

This is different though. He is certifiable looney and he's setting us up for WW3 fast. Remember when he said, he liked war. Why have Nukes if you can't use them?

[pat_k]

83. Her head is too far...

... up the beltway sphincter.

I don't know if she is reachable. But we have to keep trying. Hammer away at their irrational rationalizations for inaction. Shame them. Anything to get though. The only way to chip away at beltway group think is to keep hammering away and help them to see how insane they sound to folks "out here." And, if at all possible, to do it in face-to-face meetings.

More here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028586836#post1

[tomp]

47. I asked for two things from obama.

prosecute bush/cheney, inc. and free leonard peltier. Aside form purely justice considerations, these issues would have been extremely important issues of education for the american people, most of whom are unclear about how government actually functions.

neo-liberalism is the enemy.

[pat_k]

82. After...

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2017, 10:54 PM - Edit history (3)

...Obama gave the war criminals in CIA blanket immunity ("look forward, not back&quot I was unable to listen to a word he said for years. We expect criminals to be criminals. When the "police" (or whoever we put our trust in to uphold the law) turn a blind eye, that is when we are truly screwed.

Are they reachable? I don't know. But we have to keep the pressure on. Even on Obama. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear him say

"I made a terrible mistake. Crimes against humanity were committed in the name of the American people. I thought we needed to move forward. I "banned" torture and gave immunity to the officials involved. That was wrong. A president does not have the power to "ban" torture. Any more than a president has the power to "unban" it. The Geneva conventions are the law of the land. When government officials openly violate the conventions, the only way to "move on" is to prosecute. Because of my failure, America is once again a war criminal nation. Mr. Trump advocates torture. He would "unban" it. This cannot be allowed to stand. It is time for the American people to do the right thing. There is no statute of limitations on war crimes. I call on you to join me in demanding prosecutions, starting with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Jon Yoo. I ask you to join me in calling on Mr. Trump to denounce torture. And if he refuses, I call on you to demand that congress immediately move to impeach him for violating his oath."

[justicejunkie]

71. I think we need to shame the Dems

The Dems have let us down. A number of them voted for 3+ Trump nominees. We should start circulating the phrase on twitter: #Resist or #NoReElection!

[vlyons]

73. damn straight!

n/t

[pat_k]

84. Absolutely.

And we need to get "up close and personal."

The irrational rationalizations for inaction and beltway groupthink that has kept them from doing the right thing time after time can be defeated. We just have to keep chipping away.

More here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028586836#post1

[Fantastic Anarchist]

79. Our Republic is an Illusion. NT

[pat_k]

85. Every system is a system of people...

... and therein lies the greatest strength and greatest weakness.

As long as there are still some citizens willing to stand up for our common humanity, there is hope. As long there are some elected officials and civil servants in our state and federal governments willing to stand up to the right-wingnuts, there is hope. As long as there are people in our state and federal courts who are willing to stand up for the principles of fairness and justice embodied in our laws, there is hope.

And as long as there are people like you, there is hope.

We are seeing the very worst of humanity in action. And we are seeing the very best.

I don't know who will come out on top. I just know that I need to figure out what I am able to do in all this, and do it.

And when I fall into immobility and despair, here are some of the words that help drag me back into the world.

"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds."
-- Dinos Christianopoulos

"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
-- Samuel Adams

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-- Anne Frank

"It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

[Fantastic Anarchist]

86. Great post and great quotes, especially the first one.

Thanks for the inspiration.

[panader0]

3. And to think, a few months ago I didn't know what

an emoluments were....

[leftstreet]

5. I thought it was, like, skin cream or something

[fierywoman]

9. (I thought so too!)

[Hekate]

24. Appropriately enough, I think the root of the word is "oil"

[guillaumeb]

4. A GOP controlled Congress will never impeach Trump.

1972 was a different time, and the GOP still believed in a multi-party system at that time.

[babylonsister]

6. Can any of us, even rethugs, listen to this

day in and day out for 4 years and not try to stop it? It's torture.

[guillaumeb]

7. The GOP listens to its donors.

If it is torture can Americans ask the World Court to step in?

[DK504]

60. Is there any thing they would think

is over the line and out of bounds when it comes to this madman?

[guillaumeb]

75. If Trump took an action that could lead to GOP election losses, I believe that the GOP

would act. Otherwise, why should they?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. They will when tRump is more a liability than a benefit regardless of how many bills he signs.

Republicons own tRump lock, stock, and barrel. They searched far and wide throughout this great land and the best they could come up with was Дональда Трампа, aka Putin's puppet.

They had numerous opportunities to distance himself from his craziness but supported him all the same.

His behavior as President was predicted by Democrats and sober Republicons, but many of the latter kept quiet about their views and outwardly supported him.

Putin will dump tRump when he is no longer useful and when the turmoil of an impeachment will destabilize the US again, which is Putin's main strategy.

Never lose an opportunity to put the Trump millstone around Republicons' necks and to let it drag their party to the bottom of the river.

[guillaumeb]

18. But never underestimate the power of the GOP to continue

to convince the racists.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Sure. Squeeze the GOP into a corner with their racist sexist christo-fascist core.

The GOP sells fear. Their hard core base is maybe 20-30% of the electorate. Push them into that 30% corner.

Democrats win when they sell a positive future and are truly inclusive.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

40. My concern is that the Dems will never be able to get any message to a large enough

segment of the population because the RW propaganda machine is in the process of a executing a very successful mission to delegitimize truth tellers and ultimately obliterate objective truth.

I think we need to fight the RW's shock and awe campaign of lies with a nonstop media blitz of facts and progressive messaging. I thought we needed it long before now but it didn't happen. Not on the scale needed to drown out the other side.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

41. Yup. Need to counter their media war with our own positive progressive fact-based media.

National media, CNN / MSNBC / WaPo / NYT and others are becoming more balanced, but there is much that can be done on social media and other outlets.

Need to wean the RW Authoritarian Followers (tRump supporters) off their fake news outlets by relentlessly laughing at them whenever they regurgitate lies. Nobody wants to look foolish and nobody wants to look like a sucker.

The sucker narrative is a good one, but shouldn't be pushed too hard as an insult. Better perhaps to emphasize the "conned" phrasing.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

80. I've long supported laughing at them.

Humiliating them. Make them feel like snail shit.

They don't respond to anything else. They're literally too stupid to insult, but you can still laugh in their faces. Pointing and laughing.

Fuck them. They deserve for what I have to put up with. Even I voted for Clinton to try and avoid this bullshit, and these assholes still made it happen.

Point and laugh. That's what you do.

[manicraven]

57. We should be able to sue the likes of "Fox News" for libel or deception, and we can show harm, too.

What is the cost to all of us when a chunk of citizens votes against what would be in all of our best interest?

[guillaumeb]

51. I would agree, but part of that positive future involves a credible alternative.

If both parties are crafting a message for the rich donor class there is no alternative.

[Dustlawyer]

30. Trump wants his own fascist oligarchy.

[Alice11111]

44. There were some moderate,rational Repubs then.Vindictive

is their rally cry now. No one cares about ethics or the law. They don't even care about appearances. Just obstruct, lie, punish, make those without the power and money suffer. They are as bad as the worst prisoners who are in for heinous crimes. They are supported by fat cats and they skate no matter what they do though.

[guillaumeb]

52. True. The GOP is all about power. Power to make the agenda and reward their donors.

And profit from their connections.

[Roland99]

45. Not the GOP in its state today. lock-step, one-party rule, all others be damned

[guillaumeb]

53. I agree. My feeling is that the modern GOP does not want a multi-party system.

And they will do anything to sustain their power.

[Initech]

61. They don't believe in listening to the other side.

AM hate radio has rotted their brains.

[guillaumeb]

76. True. They have been lying for so long that some are convinced by the lies. eom

[Initech]

77. Didn't Stalin say that if you repeat the lie long enough it becomes fact?

[guillaumeb]

78. Yes. And his GOP followers from the Bush Jr. and Trump Administrations

apparently believe it.

[ProudLib72]

8. As long as the turtle can hit the mute button

no one is going to even mention impeachment.

[Initech]

10. Throw him, his whole cabinet, and McConnell out on their ass,

[C Moon]

11. Didn't they name him person of the year 2016?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. No, they did NOT. They named him Newsmaker of the Year. Big difference.

[marybourg]

37. Yes.

http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2016-donald-trump-choice/

But that distinction is given to:

the person who had the greatest influence, for better or worse, on the events of the year. (Emphasis mine).

So, not inconsistent with an opinion piece calling for his impeachment.

[C Moon]

39. I wonder if they would have given Richard Ramirez person of the year in 1984.

I just think it's silly, because "Person of the Year" sounds like an award for someone who has done something positive for the world.

[marybourg]

55. It may sound like it, but that's never been the

intent. Time Magazine was much better known back before the internet, when we all shared the same "news", before the Publican party decided it needed its own news. So most people knew what "Man (as it was then) of the Year" meant. Mr. Hitler was it at least once.

[iluvtennis]

12. Good article...thanks for sharing. Now, let's do it - impeach the shit stain. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. You'll only get one go at impeachment. Put it in motion only when it can't fail.

Besides, if you wait a while Pence might over-reach and get himself into a sticky mess like Agnew did before Nixon.

Pence is Nixon's Agnew.

[Hekate]

25. Agree wholeheartedly, Bernardo. If the Dems jump the gun they won't get Repub support....

....and will just end up with egg all over their faces. At the moment the Repub Congress as a whole is too drunk with power to listen to the few that are sickened by this display.

It's hard to wait -- but we will lose bigly if we don't.

[Silver Gaia]

38. I agree with this as well. We need it to be an ironclad case that they can't weasel him out of.

[Ligyron]

68. Yup, too early right now, we need a bunch of evidence yet and we'll get it soon enough.

[Perseus]

14. They might impeach him because

the decoy (Trump) has done its job.

They now have all the people they need to do whatever they want, and they have the majority, although they may need Trump a bit longer as a decoy, but he will eventually live up his usefulness.

[MadLinguist]

20. yes, they need the so-called prez to do a little more damage before impeachment

so that there is someone to blame and take the symbolic fall for the rest of the crap they are planning to unleash but my bet is that every single GOP senator and congressperson has their pre- and post- impeachment game-plan

[alfredo]

33. The 25th Amendment could be used.

[jalan48]

21. Didn't Pelosi just say she didn't think there were any grounds for impeachment at this point?

[KingCharlemagne]

22. Is she taking it off the table again? - nt

[jalan48]

23. We have to look forward you know....

[LanternWaste]

64. You should ask her. And let us know how it goes.

You should ask her. And let us know how it goes.

Unless you're not being sincere and simply acting out like my ten year old niece often does... which is doubtful, as I'm quite certain your sincerity is as great as your honesty, and as deep as your intelligence.

[Hekate]

28. If she did, it's no more than I say here almost daily. Pelosi's great talent is being able ....

....to count votes. The votes are not there yet. Anytime the leader of a party goes off half cocked and loses, they will get the reputation of being a loser.

As hard as it is to wait for the right moment, we will gain nothing and lose everything by moving too soon -- because we won't have the votes yet.

[jalan48]

29. Do you think we will ever get the votes as a minority party? I doubt it.

So, no half cocked for Pelosi it looks like.

[Hekate]

32. I believe strongly that there are Repubs who will sober up and be sickened by the sight...

...of what is going on. Count the votes, jalan48. We got Collins and Murkowski to cross over and vote against deVos.

We're only 2 1/2 weeks in. McCain will join us.

[jalan48]

35. We shall see. However, I think it will be the Republicans counting, not us.

In the meantime speaking out about Trump and the emoluments clause might be a good thing for Pelosi to do, as a leader of the House. Why even say there's nothing yet? Lead from the front, not the rear.

[llmart]

50. I think you're wrong about the "why" of it...

Repubs will not "sober up and be sickened". They will wake up only when it becomes a liability to their reelection chances.

[not fooled]

56. Collins and Murkowski

were only let off the leash because McConnell knew it was safe to let them, i.e. DeVoid would get confirmed anyway. Those two voted DeVoid out of committee (12-11 along party lines; all 'pukes voted for her). The final vote was theatre to try to appease the constituents in their states who were up in arms about DeVoid.

So, they get no credit except as frauds in this matter.

[tomp]

48. we don't engage in fights because we know we will win.

we engage in them because the are they right thing to do. one always has to consider the effects of non-action, as well.

[alfredo]

34. A good prosecutor doesn't file charges until they are sure they can win.

[Akamai]

26. One of my old friends is passing away from a genetic disease and he is not able to talk. However,

when I told him today over the phone (he is in another state) that it looks like Trump might be impeached, his wife said he smiled and nodded!

Nice to know that Trump can provide someone with good cheer -- especially if it means he will be impeached!

[babylonsister]

27. Really sorry about

your friend, Akamai, but happy he found something to bring joy.

[Akamai]

31. Thanks! He's a hell of a nice guy -- I will not see his like again. Wonderful family around him and

a good death, if there is such a thing.

He was diagnosed last January and wanted to live long enough to vote against Trump.

I remember the night Reagan beat Carter and both of us were shocked at that as well. But we sure celebrated Obama and his time in office.

Again, thanks for your kind words.

[MontanaMama]

36. I'm sorry about your friend Akamai

I never thought I'd see a day when so many of our dying loved ones hung on long enough to vote against the orange menace. Sending you a DU heart to honor you and your friend. Peace.

[Akamai]

81. Montana's -- I called their house several times today before I got through.

His wife said he died this morning without any pain. He had something called MDS which causes lack of oxygen in the blood system, among other conditions.

I thank you so much for your kind thoughts! And also for teaching me how to donate to DU!

[Vinca]

43. There's no way Trump lasts 4 years, but the House won't start impeachment proceedings until

he craps all over GOP bills and refuses to sign them. Democrats will never help them out to override a veto. There's adequate evidence to begin impeachment today, but we'll have to be patient. There is a chance that Don will have had enough at some point and tell us all to go to hell. Fingers crossed.

[catbyte]

46. Republicans couldn't care less about the law or the Constitution as long as their useful idiot

signs anything they put in front of him. This just gets worse and worse every goddamned day.

[Nitram]

49. I'm glad someone got that ball rolling, and Time Magazine is an excellent platform for

national visibility.

[Motley13]

54. I believe the reasonable repugs agree that blotus is unstable

they are waiting & collecting evidence to get rid of this maniac, I just hope we can last long enough to get the nuclear codes away from him. I think he is crazy enough to teach us a lesson by using them.

[BSdetect]

58. KAC is a crap artist. Watch her squirm her way back to the next election nutjob candidate's campaign

[UTUSN]

59. Daily transgressions and lies. But Repukes are so craven for POWER they won't stand for the country

[RobertDevereaux]

62. Cannot come soon enough!

[SticksnStones]

63. It's a brilliant plan..how else would republicans have gotten an ultra conserv like Pence

Into the White House.

Except to sneak him in the back door.

I hate these guys

[Mike Nelson]

65. I think...

...the Republicans will impeach Trump when they are done with him and ready for Pence.

[spanone]

66. K&R...

[Grins]

67. I once played a game with myself: "When would the first demand for Obama's impeachment come out?"

I'd look and search for it from time-to-time and it finally happened*. Without checking my notes I think it was October of 2009. And the "high crimes and misdemeanors" on which his impeachment was based was trying to give Americans affordable health care and clean energy. (That bastard!)

But now; two weeks after an inaugural....? That's a first.

(* N.B.: I have to caveat that it had to be impeachment AFTER actually becoming President, because calls for Obama's impeachment first arose the day after he won election in Nov. of 2008.)

[calimary]

69. Inching toward possible rescue (at least a partial rescue)!

Yesterday, I made a note: while watching Chris Hayes on MSNBC, I observed the first mentions of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

First time I've heard those key words brought up! Spoken by Congressman Cedric Richmond, D-LA, who I believe chairs the Congressional Black Caucus. He said so TWICE. Hayes jumped on that, to clarify - "you just said 'high crimes and misdemeanors,' does that mean there could be IMPEACHMENT?" Richmond replied that they were watching and keeping track, more carefully and closely than ever before, because, as he put it, "we are just very concerned about the way this president acts."

I caught it a second time on the show's replay, just to check the quote. Seemed somehow significant and I wanted to note the date. The idea of IMPEACHMENT appears slowly but surely to be starting to take shape.

The subject has now actually been broached. "High crimes and misdemeanors." Wonder how soon we'll hear it again?

[Wibly]

70. dump Pence first

If America is going to impeach 45, then they had best find a way to remove Pence first, because he's an even greater threat to America's well being.
Unlike 45, Pence actually believes in the end of days, and the final conflict. He believes as a Christian he has an obligation to bring about the end of the world.
Forty-five on the other hand believes in nothing but his own glory. I'd say the former is far more dangerous than the latter.

[malaise]

72. Oh Yes

K & R

[rolypolychloe]

74. Shouldn't be making appointments

I would like to know why Trump is being allowed to make appointments. I believe there is a court case already accusing him of violating the emoluments clause, which is now in the discovery phase. If they rule against him, he will be removed from office. So, until that case is resolved, he is not a legitimate President. Now, the appointments made up to now can all be undone when he is removed from office, but the Supreme Court appointment is a lifetime appointment. I don't know if that can be undone if Trump was an illegitimate President at the time. I don't know why the Democrats aren't using that very valid reason to stop the Supreme Court appointment.