Will we Democrats learn from all this?

[SHRED]

That we cannot afford to enable anymore?
Like, "impeachment is off the table".

How has "moving forward" helped us considering what's happening to our government now?

I'm liking Adam Schiff. He seems like the type our party needs more of.

[NurseJackie]

1. So, you're suggesting that Democrats never learn... or that Democrats are stupid?

It's unclear what the subtext is. Can you be more direct in what it is you're trying to say?

[frazzled]

2. Perhaps we can at least learn how government works

Impeachment originates and is conducted in the House of Representatives. Currently, the Republicans maintain a substantial majority in the House, which means they control the agenda (what gets voted on), they control the committees, and they control the impeachment process. If anyone is going to impeach this president, it has to be the Republicans. Democrats yelling "impeach" is ... well, just that: yelling. They can't do anything about it. That's how it works. Can we learn that?

[Tatiana]

3. Perhaps the point of the OP is that if we had not taken impeachment off the table...

we might not be in this position.

[Atman]

4. Bingo.

I was going to post that "Democrats never learn," but I'm sure someone would have alerted on me.

I think you're absolutely correct. When take any disciplinary action off the table before we've even investigated, we show our hand. It's got to stop. It is a huge part of the reason lying cheating Republicans keep winning while just sit there stunned that they won again.

[SHRED]

5. This

[Tatiana]

7. Agreed. I'm still so irritated at Pelosi for that blunder.

We essentially told the Republicans to F- us over because there would be no consequences.

Fast forward to now -- that's why they are so brazen. Look at Nunes! My G-d! Even Grandpa McCain had to admonish Nunes's behavior as unseemly. But they learned the consequence during the Bush years. We can murder, lie to Congress and the UN, steal, cheat, and there won't ever be a consequence.

And, the evidence of the malfeasance was a lot more straightforward then, as opposed to now. If we had impeached Bush, even if there weren't the votes to convict, we would have taught them a lesson: that their bad actions would have consequences.

[frazzled]

12. It was never on the table to take off

At least not in the first weeks of this god-forsaken presidency. You can't just say "impeach him!" after 10 days, especially if you have no power to initiate an impeachment.

If all you want is posturing, knock yourself out. The smart people (like Schiff) are doing the investigating and behind the scenes positioning that may hopefully someday (sooner rather than later, one hopes) force the Republicans to put impeachment on the table. The Democrats CAN'T put impeachment on the table until they gain the majority.

[Atman]

13. We're not talking about impeaching Trumpsky. Yet.

That's not the issue. The point, Democrats apologizing and playing nice before they even know what they're apologizing for. We should be out front saying that we're going to hold this administration's feet to the fire, every member, no matter how far up this scandal leads. Instead, we cower in the corner and hope that nobody gets hurt. At least Schumer is pretending to care. But he's firmly entrenched in the inner circle, too, so I doubt he'll ever take any steps to deal with these scumbags, regardless of what any supposed investigations bring.

[scheming daemons]

6. The biggest thing to learn is to NOT attack a Dem President like many on left did with Obama

When he passed the ACA... .he was brutally attacked BY THE LEFT... enough so that it helped cost us in '10.

We should've rallied around the ACA as a necessary first step toward universal health care.

Instead... we beat up Dems and the President because it didn't "go far enough".


Hopefully the next time we have a Dem in the White House, we'll appreciate him/her more and not work AGAINST them.

[Tatiana]

8. A President should expect criticism in a democracy.

Dissent is patriotic. Marching lockstep with anyone because they have a "D" by their name is ridiculous and asks people not to think for themselves.

I fully supported President Obama and worked for the first campaign. However, I said it then and I still believe the President caved when he did not pursue the public option. That may have saved us from the current debacle we are now facing.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. Maybe we should learn to slap the shit out of those who would prefer to badger us into

circular firing squads. Perhaps we should reject voices who are intent on division. Maybe we Democrats need to show the door to the figures and forces that continually disparage Democrats and tear us down. Yeah. I would like that.

[SHRED]

11. I'd like to "tear down" one thing

Remove one thing from our party.

Capitulation to Republicans.

.

[HughBeaumont]

10. The challenge I see . . . .

. . . is constructing a factoid-terse economic message that attracts the middle/working/poor knowing how the greedbag re-branded Feudalists are.