Where do I stand? The
short answer is I am not sure. The issues are not only complex but of
the gravest nature that Democrats get it right. The Report was as
impeccable in substance as it was long in length (448 pages.) I am of
two minds one of which was formed by a political ally and compatriot.
My
first thoughts last evening: If Democrats controlled the Senate there
would absolutely positively
be enough -- more than enough -- evidence to impeach this so called
president. He would not only be impeached but he would
be the first president in US history to be convicted and removed from
office. Three presidents in American history are of impeachment note --
Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868, Richard Nixon in 1974 (resigned
before certain impeachment and certain conviction in the Senate) and
Bill Clinton. No president has been convicted ... yet. Today the
Democrats do not control the Senate Republicans do. Because of that
conviction on impeachment would be nearly impossible and, as many say,
would be a waste of time.
Maybe
it would not be a waste of time. Looking at
the Clinton impeachment. In 2000 the electorate gave Republicans the
presidency. It gave them the House and the
Senate through 2007. Maybe we could have our cake and eat it
too. Trump could definitely be impeached by a Democratic control of the
House. Although there would be no conviction in the Senate that
impeachment in the House would historically stand. It would be an
eternal stain on Trump and his presidency even if he could not be
convicted in the
Senate. The election of 2020 because of the shameful stain of
impeachment as well as a huge amount of evidence against him on
obstruction could throw the 2020 election
entirely
in Democratic hands. From what I have investigated after the Clinton embarrassment impeachment and during the
contentious 2000 Bush presidential election the Republican Party kept control of
both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate until 2007. This
time Democrats could take it all.
Another view:
"In
the case of this
lunatic president, the House going after him would be throwing raw meat
to his
base. The last thing we want is to have him re-elected! To some
extent we need to listen to Nancy and the House Committee Chairs.
Remember that the chairs will investigate and may get lots more
incriminating evidence on him, including the financial information. Once
he is out of
office, he could be a busy boy in court for some time" If found guilty
no one would be there to pardon him. He could end up in jail.
Presidential
historian John Meacham believes in the Constitutional process which
leaves it to Congress to remove a president from office. While this
would be the optimum way to proceed practicalities may need to dictate
otherwise. There are serious cases against Trump and others in the
Southern District of New York and elsewhere. Trump will, I believe, pay
and pay dearly. Perhaps, we
should not court even the possibility of handing impeachment red meat to
Republicans during the 2020 campaign. Perhaps we should let the exposé
which Mueller has iterated en masse
to perfection in his Report which we should read and let the massive
obstruction of justice and other malevolent acts do its electoral job.
Note Bene:
Listening to Congressman Tim Ryan 3rd District of Ohio on Morning Joe
who attended a town meeting last night. He said no one in two hours of
discussion mentioned the Mueller Report. He said no one cared about the
Mueller Report but they cared about making ends meet, jobs and they
cared about their children. That says a lot and from my observation
tragically so. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake. It
envelopes all issues economic, political and most importantly
international. Life and death issues are mandated by a president. It
is one of the most important choices we can make. We must think about
who we are and who we want to be. Nothing short of the lives of
generations are at stake.
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