I now think we need to slow down on impeachment/removal (and why we should always listen to Pelosi).

[Bleacher Creature]

Trump is now poison. If he really made the statement included in Comey's memo, and I'm sure he did, it's a slam dunk case for obstruction of justice.

What that means is everything he touches is now tainted. That includes health care, and probably even tax "reform." The former is almost certainly dead, and the latter just got much harder.

We also need to let the investigation play out. Doing so means that the Trump stain continues to create headwinds for any terrible piece of legislation. It also affords investigators time to collect evidence against other figures - i.e., Pence, Sessions, and maybe even Ryan.

Slowing down also guarantees that the issue has an effect on the midterms. I can't imagine it wouldn't anyway, regardless of the timing, but never underestimate the limited attention span of the American public.

I want Trump gone as much as anyone, but doing it this way is better for Democrats and healthier for the country (because it ensures that we root out all the perpetrators). This is why Nancy Pelosi said that we're not at impeachment YET (notwithstanding how her statement was communicated by others).

And I can't believe I'm saying this out loud, but I'm starting to think that a President Pelosi isn't out of the realm of possibility. It's obviously still a long-shot, but the fact that there's now a path to it happening is nothing short of remarkable.

[leftstreet]

1. Yes, because getting reelected is the most important thing

[CountAllVotes]

4. Exactly!

Looking out for good old #1!

Impeach these frauds now!!!

[Bleacher Creature]

5. I'd go with neutering harmful Republican legislation, but to each his own.

[leftstreet]

20. Or, campaign on popular legislation and win that way!

A bold idea

[tblue37]

2. +1. nt

[mteach]

3. Can't Trump fire them

Can't Trump ask Rosenstein to fire Mueller? And if he doesn't fire Rosenstein..just like Nixon? I don't see him having any restraint to hold back. What happens then?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Not going to happen. A fantasy. Welcome to DU. . . . nt

[unblock]

7. there is no path at all for pelosi becoming president, except if she runs in 2020.

perhaps you're banking on her becoming the speaker of the house after 2018, then getting rid of both benedict donald and pence?

republicans will never allow that to happen simulaneously.

even if both go, they will remove one, appoint a new republican veep, then remove the other.

that way they keep the white house in republican hands.


ok, ok, there's a tiny window in which they remove one, then the other immediately drops dead before they can confirm a new veep. so maybe there's a one-hour window. of course, they'd lie about the time of death, so it would have to be something like a public decapitation so they couldn't get away with that. very remote chance....

[Bleacher Creature]

13. It's clearly the longest of longshots.

But if Republicans refuse to deal with Trump before November 2018 and it costs them the House, it's not up to them anymore.

And don't forget, the Senate has to confirm a replacement VP, so they won't be able to swap Pence out with someone "cleaner."

[unblock]

14. removal requires 2/3rd of the senate.

even if we win the house and move forward with dual impeachment, republicans can block removal or at least control the timing to allow a replacement -- that's even if we also win a senate majority, which is a real longshot itself.

[Bleacher Creature]

18. Believe me, I'm certainly not going to wager any money on that scenario.

And, yes, there's probably a better chance of me winning the lottery. But a lot of things have transpired these last few months that nothing is impossible.

I probably shouldn't have raised the Pelosi scenario in my OP, because my point remains the same, which is that Trump's presence makes it a lot easier to stop harmful legislation. And letting the investigation continue increases the chance that we'll get rid of a few others as well, regardless of how it plays out in the line of succession.

[unblock]

19. Well there is a legislative upside to his incompetence,

But he can also be a disaster unilaterally....

[Kber]

8. I was just saying this last night

It's the GOP who should want to rush. That way, even if Pence and Ryan are implicated, you get President Hatch. Let this play out more slowly, and yep, President Pelosi becomes a possibility.

[unblock]

10. see post #7. republicans won't remove donnie and pence at the same time.

[LAS14]

9. I totally agree and recommend. nt

[Buckeyeblue]

11. Agreed

I don't want this thing to move so fast that it blows over with minimal damage to the Rs. I want to implicate as many of them as possible. I want big gains in 2018. And i want congress to keep those big gains in 2020 so we can undo the harm that has been done and move forward with a smart aggressive agenda.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. "Revenge is a dish best served cold."

Use the issue to recapture the House in 018 and stymie GOP legislation, then impeach him and slow walk the process so the trial in the Senate is going on during the 2020 election. We then win the presidency, House, and Senate.

[Bleacher Creature]

15. And then pass single-payer and universal pre-K, expand social security, etc.

It would be quite the silver lining.

[MedusaX]

16. completely ignores the ACTUAL CRISIS we are facing

If 45 were simply Warren G Harding or
Bozo the Clown...
then sure let him publicly fuck up for 4 years and we will consider it free entertainment.

But this is an entirely different ballgame.

There will not be a recognizable democracy by this time next year, much less Nov 2018 or 2020 ...

Once those sanctions automatically expire in March /April 2018 this little coup will be so sufficiently entrenched & well funded that 45 will lock down & become the authoritarian of his fantasies.....

Policy & politics & party all need to respectfully step aside until Liberty & Justice are no longer held hostage and the Constitution is reinstated as the guiding principle of the nation.

[Bleacher Creature]

21. I actually agree with you 100%.

Trump does pose a very clear and present danger to everyone based on his demeanor, lack of judgment and overall mental state. If that can't be contained, my entire suggestion doesn't work.

I'm just hopeful that he's been exposed so much these last few weeks, that even his own staff is taking measures to minimize what he can do. We've had Presidents who have essentially been incapacitated before, Reagan most recently. I'm not saying that horrible people won't still be making the decisions, only an election can fix that. But if he needs to be confined to is own personal romper room, his ability to do something reckless is minimized.

[Wounded Bear]

17. I've long thought that we don't want resolution too quickly...

If this played out in the next few weeks, it would fade as a 2018 issue.

This is right up there with AHCA and tax cuts for rich bastards as 2018 campaign fodder.