Pelosi says Democrats "not on a path to impeachment" despite Trump's "stunt"

[madville]

Source: CBS News

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was adamant that Democrats remain uninterested in pursuing impeachment, despite what she called President Trump's "irresponsible behavior" at the White House on Wednesday, when he dismissed claims of a "cover-up" in a 12-minute long tirade against Democrats in the Rose Garden.

At her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Pelosi claimed the president is "crying out for impeachment" as Democrats continue to press ahead with numerous investigations into the Trump administration. Pelosi told reporters, however, that any suggestion that Democrats are planning to pursue impeachment "simply isn't the truth."

"Impeachment is a very divisive place to go in our country," said Pelosi, reiterating her long-held position.

Her comments to reporters come one day after a bipartisan meeting on infrastructure at the White House collapsed, with the president incensed by comments Pelosi made Wednesday morning. After a meeting with Democratic lawmakers prior to the meeting, Pelosi said the president was engaged in a "cover-up" by fighting congressional subpoenas.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/speaker-pelosi-speaks-to-reporters-after-white-house-temper-tantrum-over-investigations-live-stream-today-2019-05-23/

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Is this some kind of reverse reverse psychology?

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Perhaps it's a signal

that while investigations are ongoing, the drip, drip, drip of exposure to his "high crimes" will influence the 2020 elections in our favor? There is no reason for the Speaker to tip her hand this early. imo

[denbot]

5. Right now the GOP and his wanna-be Third Reich base will rally round the assclown.

Most of the American people are not fully engaged in what is going on, so impeachment at this time would seem like a repeat of the Clinton farce.

By Madam Speaker out playing his game of insults and triggering Shitler’s moronic responses, he will continue self-diminish his mantle as POTUS to the American people.

As the Democratic House continues the drip of revelations of insolvency (motivation), corruption (means), and finally treason (the crime), very few of the GOP will be able to stand by Shitler as the Republican Party circles the drain come 2020.

[I_have_had_enough]

25. Nancy knows

...where the bodies are buried and she knows the dirt on orange man will be building until the elections.
Trust Nancy.

[shraby]

2. Maybe she's hoping he will resign if the kitchen gets hot enough.

[SunSeeker]

3. Not proceeding with formal impeachment investigation hearings is a mistake.

Formal impeachment investigation hearings entitle her to Mueller grand jury info, whereas regular oversight hearings do not.

We need to start the impeachment inquiry now. Our country is already divided. Impeachment won't change that.

[usrbs]

7. + 1000 N/T

[cstanleytech]

8. Maybe it is a mistake but then again trying to impeach him is a two edged sword as he and

the Repugnants would get tons of free PR and that might make it even rougher for us come the election like what happened before the 2016 election when the media provided him tons of free PR.

[SunSeeker]

9. Trump already gets tons of free press. This will finally give Dems some.

The press will cover impeachment hearings way more than they're covering our current oversight hearings.

[cstanleytech]

11. It could go either way really because like I said its a two edged sword.

[SunSeeker]

12. Anything could go either way. Might as well do what's right.

If any president warranted impeachment, it's Donald Trump.

[crazytown]

18. Here's a question - does Pelosi have the 417 necessary to begin impeachment?

The once person who knows that for sure is the Speaker.

[SunSeeker]

20. Yes. We have the majority, and the caucus would do what she wants.

This is not a big ask of Dems for her. We're not talking about voting on articles of impeachment, we're talking about going to formal impeachment investigation hearings, so that we're entitled to get grand jury info.

[crazytown]

23. You've counted every member of the Blue Dog caucus?

18 Dems desert and the Dems have a catastrophe on their hands.

[SunSeeker]

24. I I think Pelosi could get those 18 to vote for an impeachment inquiry.

She's very good at keeping her caucus in line.

[pat_k]

19. + absolutely

As Pelosi even said herself, he has abused power to obstruct justice in plain sight -- and continues to do so. Impeachment is now a moral duty. They are the only check on such abuses.

To fail to impeach now is like a prosecutor with undeniable evidence against a murderer who refuses to prosecute. Without formal indictment, the murderer can claim, "look, I've been exonerated," and the claim stands because there is nothing meaningful happening to counter it.

Her campaign to keep Impeachment of bush "off the table" for torture helped set this country on the road to the hell we are in now in. Congressional failure to show moral courage now will probably get Trump reelected.

The outcome is irrelevant. They must take a stand and make the case to the nation without the mealy mouthed bullshit that they are "investigating" high crimes that are proven by facts already known.

On edit: Trump's bluster against fictitious evils is taken as "courage" to "stand up" by far too many. The best way to counter that is to show some REAL courage and take a MEANINGFUL stand to protect the workings of our constitutional democracy from a tyrant.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. She is playing Trump like a master

puppeteer.

[JaneQPublic]

10. Yep. Giving him more rope with which to hang himself.

Like she said, he's self-impeaching.

[johnnyfins]

13. I wholeheartedly agree

She is not showing any of her cards. I would bet she already knows the reasons why he is fighting tooth and nail to keep all of his financials hidden. It wouldn't even surprise me if a select few (including her) have already seen the unredacted Mueller report as well.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. Who's actually protecting who here?

(again)

[yaesu]

14. tRump is committing obstruction in real time now, not just in the past, so what does it take

to bring a criminal to task?

[pat_k]

21. Back in 2005, the first thing Pelosi and Reid did...

... was put all their efforts into stopping the impeachment train that was gathering some serious steam. And they succeeded. And they were proud of it.

When they refused to impeach Bush to fight for the most basic human rights they surrendered the "values debate" to the radical right. They set us on the path to the hell we are in now.

Bush was committing war crimes in plain sight and she choose to protect him.

I have no doubt that she will continue to use her considerable influence to protect Trump -- and by so doing, will probably get him reelected.

The "political calculus" was insane then. And it is insane now. They've turn themselves into the "wimps" Trump says they are.

[Honeycombe8]

15. Then what is the point of the investigations?

Not being sarcastic. I really want to know. If he can't be indicted, and Congress won't impeach him (although we know it would be on paper only, for historical purposes), then what would be the point in all that time and cost for investigations?

[INdemo]

16. Not proceeding with Impeachment gives the House back to Republicans in

2020 and so goes our Democracy..of all the Bragging about Pelosi..Well don't believe she is the political Genius many thinks she is.

Its much like 2010 when Rpukes accused the Democrats of causing the huge deficits bronght on by Bush/Cheney and their big banks but yet they would not fight back....they would not stand up for the new healthcare bill they just turned the other cheek..Well they lost a huge number of seats and Welcomed in the T-party

[pat_k]

22. Spot on

See also
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2319950

[BlueWI]

17. Messaging on this topic is a muddle.

At least the investigations and the court rulings are affirming the case for obstruction and financial crimes.

[CentralMass]

26. Why does she do this ?

[BeyondGeography]

27. Whether it's reverse psychology or not, it is incoherent

Trump wants impeachment...he’s angry because we’re not on a path to impeachment...Trump is engaged in a cover-up and has committed impeachable offenses.

Ok.