BobTheCoward
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2010
- Messages
- 22,789
I guess we are going to skip the evidence gathering step?
I guess we are going to skip the evidence gathering step?
Good point. There are a few single-celled organisms at the bottom of the Mariana Trench that may not know all they need to about the facts of the case. Until they've completed their investigation it would be premature to act.
Dave
I guess we are going to skip the evidence gathering step?
What's there to gather? There are recordings of Trump's speeches. There are his tweets. If one is somewhat informed there is plenty of evidence available. I'm sure we can trust the House to present it in a coherent and convincing fashion.
I guess we are going to skip the evidence gathering step?
The implication is his words contributed to the attack. Where is the evidence that actually supports that conclusion? How does one demonstrate that?
I have no doubt that your gut and common knowledge tells you that is true. But how would we know are guts are correct?
I don't know what separates your conclusion at this stage from any other unsubstantiated conclusion of causation in the paranormal sub forum.
The implication is his words contributed to the attack. Where is the evidence that actually supports that conclusion? How does one demonstrate that?
I have no doubt that your gut and common knowledge tells you that is true. But how would we know are guts are correct?
I don't know what separates your conclusion at this stage from any other unsubstantiated conclusion of causation in the paranormal sub forum.
He needs to be stopped.
If they drop it, that's a win for Trump and his faithful base- "you didn't even have enough of the courage of your conviction that he deserved impeachment to pursue it!" To them, he's a victim either way, just that not pursuing it makes him a victim of people who couldn't follow through. You have to take into account the mindless tenacity of that base- I remember thinking at the time that the "Access Hollywood" tape would surely be enough to finish him as a candidate, and we know how that turned out- if anything, it made him a stronger one with the proud deplorables. These people aren't going away because you let Trump off.
I have kind of gone back and forth on this in my mind, thinking that it might not be such a good idea from the "practical politics" standpoint, pretty much for the reasons you point out. But in the end- well, Kaylee used the word "duty" above; practical politics is fine up until the point that you need to make a decision on something that it doesn't cover, the actual principles that politics is supposed to cover somewhere, or it really is just all a game.
And then, of course, there's still even a practical reason for pursuing it- if you clear that 2/3 Senate majority bar for conviction (a big "if," I admit), then you have only a lesser simple majority bar to get over to prevent Trump from running again, and us having to do this all over again, in four years. Admitted that that won't stop a Trump wannabe from taking his place in the hearts and votes of the deplorables- but that's no reason to make it easier for them by never even requiring them to find one. It's too dangerous a game to play to assume that, with them behind him, Trump can't reach the prize again unless you act to put it out of his reach.
Short version- you can have principled politics in action through practical politics, and the only reason not to try for both is fearful politics.
A thought occurred to me about something better than impeachment.
Democrats should introduce a constitutional amendment shortening the lame duck period. Move inauguration day to December 15, or thereabouts, and the newly elected Congress up until the day before. It would have no practical effect on Trump, because it couldn't be passed in time, but it would be a serious, public, rebuke, and it's a good idea anyway.
Exactly.
Impeach him - the senate won't even take it up until right around the inauguration. In the meantime, the crazies are planning crap for the week of the inauguration. Let the senate put him on trial after he's out of office. Whether they convict or not (2/3 of senate would have to vote to convict), it only takes a majority to prevent him from holding federal office.
Their source for that is this Sept 2109 Politico article by Edward Foley, who "directs the Election Law program at the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where he also holds the Ebersold Chair in constitutional law." He says:Conviction immediately removes the defendant from office. Following conviction, the Senate may vote to further punish the individual by barring him or her from holding future federal office, elected or appointed.
So it seems that disqualification must follow conviction, it can't be independent of it. (And I'll just re-iterate my point that that disqualification would be, to me, the best reason for pursuing it)Both the Constitution and the Senate’s procedures treat removal and disqualification from holding future office as separate punishments upon a conviction of impeachment. Article I, section 3, clause 7 of the Constitution states: “Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.”
And this is why you are one of the most intelligent posters on ISF.![]()
(Thank you, ma'am)The implication is his words contributed to the attack. Where is the evidence that actually supports that conclusion? How does one demonstrate that?
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Even if someone is foolish enough to think that his actions didn't contribute to the terrorist action (or that they would have happened otherwise)...The implication is his words contributed to the attack. Where is the evidence that actually supports that conclusion? How does one demonstrate that?
Interesting thought: Some observers say the House could impeach Trump, but not refer it to the Senate immediately. That would allow the Democratic-controlled Senate to deal with Biden's highest priority legislation and appointments, and would also allow time for Repubs to get some distance from Dear Leader. Then down the road the Senate could convict him to cancel his pension and allowances and to prohibit him from running again.