Yes because that piece of paper is what defines the rules and principles of how our government works. Your argument comes down to we shouldn't use those rules to address a violation of those principles because it might make the violator stronger. That's like saying we shouldn't try a murderer because if he wins the case he will just go and murder again. In those cases we come back again. Trump may win in 2020. He may very well win on a campaign that he was impeached but not removed from office. Or he may win because the economy is continuing to do strongly and the Democrats put up a dud. There are thousands of things that could happen between now and the election. There are thousands of things that could happen tomorrow that change the prospects of the election. What we do know is that Trump has violated Constitutional principles and as Mueller put it there is a Congressional way to address that. Or as Representative Justin Amash said: "I rise today in support of these articles of impeachment. I come to this floor not as a Democrat, not as a Republican, but as an American who cares deeply about the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the rights of the people. Under our system of government, impeachment is not about policy disagreements or ineffective governance, nor is it about criminality based on statutes that did not exist at the time our Constitution was written. Impeachment is about maintaining the integrity of the office of the presidency and ensuring that executive power is directed toward proper ends in accordance with the law. The Constitution grants the House “the sole Power of Impeachment” and the Senate “the sole Power to try all Impeachments.” We in the House are empowered to charge impeachable conduct. The Constitution describes such conduct as “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” because it pertains to high office and relates to the misuse of that office. We need not rely on any other branch or body to endorse our determinations; we have “the sole Power of Impeachment.” In Federalist No. 65, Alexander Hamilton wrote that high Crimes and Misdemeanors “are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.” President Donald J. Trump has abused and violated the public trust by using his high office to solicit the aid of a foreign power, not for the benefit of the United States of America, but instead for his personal and political gain. His actions reflect precisely the type of conduct the Framers of the Constitution intended to remedy through the power of impeachment, and it is our duty to impeach him."
Yeah I'm still not buying the fear mongering of an Orange emperor. The likelihood of me being called out as an enabler for expressing those doubts is proportional to that paranoia. I want to say it's the internet's fault, but that'd be pretending we don't have historical accounts from antiquity.
You are missing my point - I repeat it's not about him winning an election - do you not see what is happening. If you look at how deeply he has Republicans in his pocket - even repeating Russian propaganda points. This is far darker. We aren't talking about him winning an election, we are talking about whether we will even have a FAIR election ever again. Trump is now free to completely manipulate the vote and knows he has coverage from his party which controls the Senate and potentially the courts as they continue to stuff them with Trump supporters. Democracy may very well be over in the US. The Senate is not abiding by those principles and openly disregarding 100's of years of rules and traditions. The constitution is being shredded. Trump has attacked the courts and the press. We are in a new era - uncharted territory - and if Trump manipulates the election even further - what stops him? Nothing.
All restraints are off. Let's have the Democratic candidate's campaign be a stop Barron one. Slam that child every chance the Democrats get. Dig up dirt on him, mock him, and laugh hardily while doing it. Trump has shown the way.
With much respect, Lou, what holds trump back is his rapidly advancing PSP dementia, his and his staff's lack of understanding of how government functions, the bulk of government that is career public servants with an actual work ethic. Roy Cohn and the Gambinos have taught trump one mode of action, but it doesn't translate as well to administering the executive branch of the US government as it does developing real estate in NYC. Impeachment occurred only hours ago. It has not made him more powerful. It seems quite likely the articles will not be advanced to the Senate. He will not be acquitted. What I think happens next is a lame duck first-term president* who won't be able to progress any legislation. He will only make a bigger fool of himself day-by-day.
Except not impeaching doesn’t address any of that. I agree Trump has corrupted the GOP. Of the Democrats didn’t act that would mean he’s also corrupted the Democrats.
If he is acquitted it's carte blanche for him and raises the stakes of what he is capable of. It will elevate him to one step closer to being a dictator.
What else can we do but accept it. You’re gonna keep spewing the same tired ass nonsense, no changing your opinion, I’ve accepted that.
