If your Member of Congress is on the fence about impeachment (assuming they’re a Democrat, of course, since Republicans can only vote for impeachment for Democrats per the Constitution), call or write them now. Joe Morelle, my spineless Congressman here in NY-25 (campaign motto: “Always the rearguard, never the vanguard”) finally caved a few minutes ago, according to a tweet from another constituent. I emailed his office earlier this morning.
I can think of no reasonable excuse for a safe seat Democrat not to support impeachment proceedings after the last couple of days of Ukraine revelations. Maybe some of the members in Trump districts can have a pass for now as their constituents catch up on the news, but not guys like Morelle.
Cheryl Rofer
Patricia Kayden
Already contacted Steny Hoyer. Hope he plans to do the right thing. It’s obvious that impeachment proceedings need to begin immediately.
[Individual 1] mistermix
@Patricia Kayden: Steny will be interesting to watch, since his whole raison d’etre seems to be to undermine Pelosi.
dr. bloor
@Cheryl Rofer: Wait, Lewis is spineless too?
jl
Speaking of the vanguard, another poll with Warren in the lead, this time from NH. Gosh, has Warren ever said anything about impeachment? She’s so timid, you know. Might want to point that out to timid Democratic politicians, mention Warren and say that sometimes, just sometimes, getting out in front and at least trying to lead, especially when you know you are right, can work.
Democrats need to do something high profile and make their case to the public.
@daveweigel
MONMOUTH pol of NH (trend from May)
Warren: 27% (+19)
Biden: 25% (-9)
Sanders: 12% (-6)
Buttigieg: 10% (+1)
Harris: 3% (-3)
Booker: 2% (-)
Gabbard: 2% (+2)
Klobuchar: 2% (-)
Steyer: 2% (+2)
Yang: 2% (+1)
O’Rourke: 1% (-1)
Williamson: 1% (+1)
twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1176526711577567232
NeenerNeener
I emailed Morelle on Sunday, and thought about calling his office yesterday but got too busy. Let’s hope the rumor that he caved is true.
[Individual 1] mistermix
@dr. bloor: John Lewis has more integrity and courage in his left fingernail than Joe Morelle has in his entire body.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@dr. bloor: No.
I need a cigarette.
BlueDWarrior
John Lewis, made a short speech on the House floor just now imploring a full Impeachment Inquiry, and one would assume eventual articles drawn up.
Betty Cracker
I’m represented by a Trump-humping religious fanatic, but I contacted his local office anyway and let the unfortunate woman who answered the phone know local citizens were watching to see if our rep was okay with Trump’s grotesque abuse of power and staggering corruption. She knows the answer as well as I do: sure, as long as it gives the 30% minority who vote Democratic frowny faces. :)
dr. bloor
@[Individual 1] mistermix: ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz….
Adam L Silverman
@dr. bloor: Nope, he just came out and said it must be done. Tried to find an embeddable live stream, but no such luck.
jl
@dr. bloor: Let’s have some hope. If Lewis is in the wimp out overly cautious camp, seems odd he would schedule a speech to announce that. He has a history of taking the lead when necessary. Hope that hasn’t changed.’
@Adam L Silverman: thanks for info. That is important. Lewis is an example of someone who can take the risks of leadership against odds and succeed in the end.
Marcopolo
@jl: In other Warren news, her campaign just announced they will be putting resources into Maine in the hopes of defeating Collins.
Gonna need those senate seats to accomplish anything.
Cheryl Rofer
@dr. bloor: I went through the roll call over the weekend, and I was surprised to see that Lewis wasn’t on the list for impeachment. But, as an elder statesman, he has a particular role to play, and his coming out has more weight than others. Not surprising that he would wait for a triggering event.
Adam L Silverman
@dr. bloor:
Ohio Mom
Not that it did any good but I called my Tea Party Rep’s offices. Gave those interns a stern talking to.
dr. bloor
@jl: I was being facetious. I had a pretty good idea Lewis was going to put his foot to the pedal now.
This process has been akin to riding in a car with a back seat full of kids screaming “ARE WE THERE YET?”, and now that we’re there it’s all “WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?”
Jay K.
Marcy Kaptur, my Rep from OH-9, is now in favor of an impeachment inquiry. I’d like to think all my calls and office visits helped get her to that point.
A Ghost To Most
I’ve been needling Ed Perlmutter daily to get off his cowardly ass. No luck yet.
/Out
WaterGirl
@dr. bloor:
Who knew? He has kept that so well hidden for all these years! :-)
I don’t think that’s what Cheryl meant, and I don’t think you do, either. Just putting that here because, well, because Rep. John Lewis is my guy.
Aleta
So, 5 more Dems out in support in the last few minutes.
jl
@dr. bloor: Oh, OK. Thanks. Maybe suggest to timid Dems that they take a look at Fox News today. That place is pissing its pants, and in limited modified hang out mode, in a flop sweat, from clips I saw on youtube earlier today.
Kay
@jl:
Warren has a bold strategy. She’s running as herself :)
A real leap of faith on her part, and I’m so pleased it’s being rewarded. She’s betting we’re GOOD. You know, all evidence to the contrary.
dr. bloor
@jl: It’s not going to matter much longer what the timid Dems have to say going forward. It looks like Nancy Smash is about to hit her number, and I would expect things to move forward in a coordinated and definite (but not nearly fast enough for the kids in the back seat) manner.
Kay
@Aleta:
Good. They have to be a team. I’m not sure they’re capable of that but if there was ever a time to rise to the occasion this is it- they’re all we have.
rikyrah
BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) Tweeted:
Over the past few years, Melania trump has masqueraded as an anti-bullying, “Be Best” advocate.
In the past few days, Conservative heads attacked Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Climate Activist.
This seems to be a prime example of bullying.
Melania trump is SILENT.
#BeBest twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1176311703266582530?s=17
dr. bloor
@rikyrah: Probably best that way. Anything falling out of her surgically enhanced pie hole right now would only raise the nation’s collective blood pressure into stroke territory.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Aleta
low-tech cyclist
@Patricia Kayden:
You’re in Hoyer’s district too, huh? I called his office late yesterday afternoon, and two or three times last week. I’ll call him again when I get off work in about three hours. I’m pretty sure the people answering his phones recognize my voice.
Kay
@Aleta:
Smart. I was very impressed when I read she held back spending on her senate race because she just needed to win, she didn’t need to win by a mile. It’s important to me that they make good use of the millions of dollars people give them. Everyone focuses on the raising of money. I want them to look at the spending of money. They can do that differently, too.
It’s such a great problem to have – “I have all this money- where shall I spend it?” They don’t just have to keep plowing it in the same way they have for 30 years. Spread it around.
Aleta
3 more Dems came out in support in the last 6-7 minutes …
dmsilev
@Dorothy A. Winsor: That’s the planned caucus meeting at 4 Eastern I assume? This afternoon should be …interesting.
And seeing how events are accelerating and sweeping some of the more reluctant Congressmen along brought to mind a quote from one of my favorite TV series of yore: “The avalanche has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote.”
low-tech cyclist
@Marcopolo:
I’ve got an automatic monthly contribution to Warren’s campaign set up, but I may have to give extra on account of this.
Gelfling 545
@jl: “Limited modified hangout “. Doesn’t that just bring back memories.
Raoul
Tulsi Gabbard is of course talking a ‘wait and see’ (what Putin wants) approach.
Also saw that she may be in the next Dem debate. I hope Warren stomps her on impeachment (though ignoring her entirely is probably the wiser strategy, which is why I comment on blogs and Warren is likely pulling ahead).
Leto
@Kay: It’s the same bet that President Obama made. It’s a better message than, “It’s all going to hell, vote for me!” Which was/is Trumpov’s message. Granted, it got him his first term so…
[Individual 1] mistermix
@Raoul: Tulsi needs a primary opponent to focus her attention.
Raoul
@Aleta:
Ule
I’ll admit I’m not as smart as most front-pagers and commenters here. So, can someone explain to me why Pelosi has wasted 9 months on what was absolutely, totally inevitable? I don’t get it. How was impeachment ever a threat for purple districts? If those districts went against Trump’s GOP in 2018, how exactly are they going to turn against Democrats, 2 years afterward, after impeachment hearings that if handled well can be devastating? How is impeachment not an excellent political tool that will concentrate the mind of independents and GOP-Lite suburbanites? So, why has genius Pelosi been so petrified, assuming that Trump’s support is so solid that she had to allow him to do whatever he wanted for 9 months? I don’t get any of it.
donnah
I emailed my Rep Mike Turner in SW Ohio, but I expect nothing more than a mealy-mouth reply. He’s notoriously way up Trump’s ass and usually dismisses anything negative that’s said avout him. There was a glimmer of humanity that showed after the Dayton Oregon District shooting, but that was just because his daughter was there at the time. He’s not going to show any spine with regards to impeachment, but he now knows how I feel.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I don’t know anything about Joe Morelle, or the district, and maybe he deserves your sneering, but maybe… just take the fucking win?
AliceBlue
@[Individual 1] mistermix: IIRC, she has one but I can’t remember his/her name.
BlueDWarrior
@Ule: Because too many Democrats didn’t want to do it then. They want to do it now, so now you go.
How stupid would she have looked if she had called for an Impeachment inquiry and half of her own caucus would have been like “yeah… can we not?”
Aleta
@Aleta: Correction:
Total in support now is 157 Dems, 1 Ind.
Of remaining Dems,
45 have not said anything yet.
33 say “not now or undecided”
(from NYT interactive count)
Marcopolo
@Kay: And remember, the typical campaign response to having more money has been to run more ads. Or rather more specifically to hoard it till the eve of the election to spend eleventy million dollars running endless tv ads to convince the 1% of voters who are still undecided (editorial comment: who the effing eff is still undecided the last few days prior to an election? Really?) to vote for them.
Spending resources early to build your ground game is awesome. Forward looking, even.
I was planning on doubling my monthly contribution to her for September since it is end of quarter time. Guess I will triple it now.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@BlueDWarrior: “Why didn’t Obama just….?”
the number of people who are baffled by the fact that individual legislators have agency and input in our system government is baffling
also, the idea that an impeachment vote, even with Dem unanimity, in and of itself will stop trump from doing anything
Zzyzx
@Ule:
It’s a different case. Impeachment for Russian collusion was going to be a rough sell because it was too hard to explain what the actual issue was to people who didn’t already dislike Trump. My rule of thumb is that if you don’t have a good one sentence summary of a scandal, it won’t appeal beyond your base.
The Russian thing was Trump going up to the edge of the law and being all “Is this bugging you? I’m not touching you!!” and us going, “Well if you connect all of these dots and carefully parse obstruction law…” It was worth pursuing to see what else would come up but it was a hard sell outside the base.
Now Ukraine? That’s easy. Trump, as president, sold out an ally at a time of need for personal gain. How do we know? He admitted it repeatedly on camera. When it can be explained like that, it’s easier to get people on board.
Served
twitter.com/howardfineman/status/1176539782861729792
It’s happening
Howard Fineman
@howardfineman
Very solid #Dem House leadership source just confirmed to me that
@SpeakerPelosiwill announce a formal impeachment inquiry this afternoon and imply that she herself favors impeachment of
@realDonaldTrump.
Raoul
@[Individual 1] mistermix: In a few days when I have a chance, I’ll check out @kaikahele. Unless he’s got some strange policy positions or a bad record in the HI state senate, I’ll likely kick him a few bucks.
Zzyzx
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
In retrospect, I’m gaining more respect for Pelosi. She took a lot of heat in order to protect new members. That’s a sign of a good manager.
Adam L Silverman
Biden is going to give remarks at 2 PM EDT about the Ukraine stuff. It is being reported as the closest he’s come to calling for impeachment.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Zzyzx: she’s a lousy political performer, but as she has said, a master legislator
Raoul
What does the BJtariat know about Eliot Engel? He is the chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He just joined Schiff and Cummings in issuing a joint written demand for documents by this Thursday. I hadn’t heard his name before, so this seems like another (if by itself smallish) ratchet upwards.
I hope these House members are brushing up on inherent contempt.
JPL
@Adam L Silverman: Bloomberg is saying 2:30
MattF
My Congresscritter is Jamie Raskin, who is, um, obviously, in favor of an impeachment inquiry. Maryland 8th is about as safe a blue district as there is.
Adam L Silverman
@Raoul: Long serving Democratic member of Congress. Not particularly flashy. Usually wins the annual Congressional most offensive nose hair contest, but comes in second to John Bolton in the all Federal government competition.
Mezz
I just called the Boston office of Stephen Lynch, who is — as of 1pm — opposed to impeachment, because “something something, Trump Wins 2020” which is an act of moral cowardice. ESPECIALLY in this district (MA-08).
The nice staff member said the phones have been busy today. I asked if the Congressman would be having a town hall meeting to explain to us constituents Lynch’s indefensible position on impeachment. Now that Trump has basically admitted his government is a Protection Racket, again the calculus seems easy: if you think he committed a crime, you are constitutionally bound to impeach. If Lynch does not think Trump’s committed crimes, then he’s the dumbest ass in North American captivity.
He already has a primary challenger (Brianna Wu) from the Democratic side. He better get right RMFQ.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Now that you ask… surprising little for such an important post, reminds me of how I had never heard of Richie Neal before he became powerful enough to fuck up the quest for trump’s tax returns. My impression is garden-variety NYC Dem, fairly moderate (a member of what Obama calls The Blob) on foreign affairs.
Adam L Silverman
@JPL: Fine, we’ll do it at 2:30. Happy now? Just make sure you pick up creamers, sugars, and sweeteners with the coffee this time!//
zhena gogolia
I called Rosa De Lauro yesterday and she’s already cracking
wnpr.org/post/delauro-larson-warm-calls-impeachment
low-tech cyclist
@Adam L Silverman:
What, is Biden going to do a Zeno’s Paradox-like approach to impeachment? Halfway, then half of the remaining distance, etc.? How far to the Antelope Freeway exit?
Adam L Silverman
@MattF: I’m just glad someone finally got him some hair conditioner.
dr. bloor
@Raoul: Bronx/Westchester guy, through a couple of redistrictings. Not a super-high profile guy, but been around long enough (80’s? 90’s?) to be taken seriously.
Edit: What Adam said. Wasn’t aware of his prodigious nose hair.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
OT, but…
Adam L Silverman
@low-tech cyclist: I have no idea. I’m not his speech writer and as far as I know, I don’t know anyone working for him. Or if I do know them, I don’t know them well.
MattF
@Adam L Silverman: That, and… maybe even a comb. Sheesh.
Adam L Silverman
@dr. bloor:
congress.gov/img/member/115_rp_ny_16_engel_eliot.jpg
JPL
@Adam L Silverman: haha At first I assumed Bloomberg was wrong..
eric
@Mezz: they just said he is getting a confidential security briefing and will announce a decision after.
dr. bloor
@Adam L Silverman: I guess we all have our own ways for coping with a receding hair line…
Jim, Foolish Literalist
if this is true…
the article suggests Pelosi wants Schiff, a closer ally, more influence than Nadler. I like Nadler but I think Schiff is better on TV (then again, I always preferred Letterman to Leno or the Jimmies), and that counts. I also hope they’re keeping that Berke fella around
the Conster
@Ule:
What are you talking about? The committees oversight requests have been completely stonewalled. There are 2 dozen active investigations. The courts are hearing 6 cases generated out of the House’s Article I powers of oversight demanding they compel the exec branch to comply with subpoenas. Do you know how anything works?
BlueDWarrior
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Schiff running it would be more telegenic, though I don’t doubt Nadler’s chops in actually running committies.
Impeachment is as much a PR campaign since you are trying to convince House members to send charges up to the Senate, and ostensibly Senators to vote for removal.
Fat lot of luck on the latter, but the former is very much doable now.
MisterForkbeard
@Ule: I think others have commented on this, but: in order for impeachment to be successful in either a literal or political sense, it needs to have the right environment. Democrats in particular get POUNDED by the media for anything even the slightest bit improper or out of line, and coming right out the gate with impeachment would have basically doomed it from the start. The whole process would have been labeled as vindictive and partisan immediately, it wouldn’t have gained enough support to work, and it might even have failed in the House, which would be a disaster of epic proportions.
We can say that Pelosi should have been more aggressive and Democrats more unified in pushing exactly how awful Trump is and what he’s done, but that’s an uphill battle. At this point, something finally broke through the general “Yeah, Trump is probably corrupt so meh” malaise and is really getting people angry. Now it has a chance of succeeding in the House, though it will probably still fail in the Senate unless Trump gets completely pasted in the inquiry and Republicans start abandoning him.
eric
take a look at the front page of fox news. talk about a bubble. Lead Story: California homelessness.
Adam L Silverman
@dr. bloor: He’s had his mustache for as long as I can remember. More seriously, he’s solid, not flashy. Lots of experience. Knows what he’s doing.
dmsilev
And so it (finally) begins.
Adam L Silverman
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: It isn’t just that Schiff is better on the mic and on camera, Schiff is one of the few Federal prosecutors to successfully prosecute an actual espionage case. Making Espionage Act cases are especially difficult to do, which is why you hear officials threaten to use the act against someone and then almost never doing so. In this specific instance, Schiff successfully prosecuted a Federal agent for spying for a hostile foreign power.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Dick Durbin, once described by George Will as about as controversial as meat loaf (I say it with some affection, I think he’s underrated and probably wouldn’t be a worse minority leader than Schumer)
dr. bloor
@BlueDWarrior: We’ll see. I’d guess no one thought Sam Ervin was going to be All That during Watergate. Plus, Nadler’s and Trump’s mutual hatred means he’s definitely bringing his A game.
Adam L Silverman
@the Conster: And the President has until a civil trial against the Trump Organization and his former bodyguard/professional hitter Keith Schiller begins on Thursday to accept scheduling options for his deposition under oath in the case.
rikyrah
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I still think Ted Lieu should be the face of the committee. He’s good on tv. Doesn’t lose focus. Is great on social media.
Betty Cracker
So, the Republicans came up with a new post-hoc justification for Trump’s extortion attempt and reprogrammed the dementia patient with new talking points:
Seems transparently fraudulent to me, but I guess their PR options are limited, given that Trump keeps blurting out crimes on camera. At least this latest fabrication is consistent with Trump’s shaking NATO down like he’s running a two-bit protection racket. The original excuse, “Trump: Enemy of Corruption,” was laughable on its face.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Mezz: I’m a bit surprised, even though I know Lynch’s reputation, that he’s not at least on board for an inquiry, or a hedged statement about the necessity of full disclosure. I wonder where Cuellar and Lipinski are. Wouldn’t put it past that legacy fuck Lipinski to pull a Lieberman
zhena gogolia
@Zzyzx:
Glory Hallelujah!
zhena gogolia
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I’M IN LOVE WITH BARRY BERKE AND I DON’T CARE WHO KNOWS IT
joel hanes
@Kay:
“I have all this money- where shall I spend it?” They don’t just have to keep plowing it in the same way they have for 30 years.
And they really don’t need to plow it all into last-minute media-consultant-driven TV ad campaigns in races that are not too close to call. And even in very close races, media overkill is a thing.
Adam L Silverman
@Betty Cracker:
Kay
@Betty Cracker:
You do wonder why they switched though. The “fighting corruption” thing was ludicrous of course, but it was an excuse. Why switch to this one?
I bet it’s because they’re getting their story straight with GOP Senators. The Senators introduced the whole “want EU to pay more” excuse, so maybe they’re aligning the defense.
James E Powell
My congress-creature is in the “Wouldn’t criticize Trump even if he shoots a child in the middle of Fifth Avenue” category. I called and emailed anyway because no matter what he and his staff say, they are keeping track of the calls, emails, and letters.
Betty Cracker
@Adam L Silverman: LMAO! Pelosi had a point about the self-impeaching thing…
Kay
@joel hanes:
I feel like that could be part of the switch in financing. If they’re going to to raise more from small donors they should talk to us about where they spend it just like they do with big donors.
zhena gogolia
youtube.com/watch?v=uvqJ1mTkEuY
(taken from YouTube comments)
Adam L Silverman
joel hanes
@Ule:
can someone explain to me why Pelosi has wasted 9 months on what was absolutely, totally inevitable?
Because half her caucus would not have voted for impeachment until this week, and making threats on which you cannot deliver is a hallmark of incompetent leadership.
She is the _Speaker_, not the CEO nor the commanding general. She cannot command Representatives to vote for impeachment; she can only persuade, arrange circumstances to encourage, and seek further evidence.
Back in the day she could have used earmarks as incentives for vulnerable members of her caucus, but that’s no longer possible.
Adam L Silverman
@Betty Cracker: Between that and one of the infinite Rudys Giuliani throwing Pompeo under the bus on Hannity last night and it’s becoming what should be a circular firing squad.
Kay
@Adam L Silverman:
Melania looks unhappy, as usual. She could go. It would take months for anyone to notice anyway. I feel like we’re keeping her from things she enjoys. She knows it’s not a real job, right? She won’t get dinged for no-shows.
Gelfling 545
@Adam L Silverman: I suppose some could see Biden calling for impeachment as self serving when Trump is attacking him.
Josie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I called Cuellar’s office this morning and the young man who answered the phone was polite but non committal. I made sure to point out that I would not vote for him in the primary if he did not support an impeachment inquiry. I’ve always liked him, but this is a deal breaker.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Kay: I will never not believe that she didn’t get a huge pay out to stick around after he stumbled into the presidency.
I think I used the right sequence and number of negatives there
frosty
I called my useless R rep and told him to impeach Trump, Barr, and Kavanaugh.
eric
@Kay: her lawyers are researching whether impeachment voids the prenup as a matter of public policy…
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Ule: Because it’s necessary for Pelosi to be forced to impeach.
It’s reasonable to expect that Pence will go down as well. Who takes the Presidency then?
We here are Pelosi partisans. No matter how much we bitch and moan about her choice for the timing of this announcement, we’re not going to wonder if the impeachment is being driven by personal ambition.
A lot of people in this country, hell, likely a good number of people in her caucus, aren’t going to see it that way.
eric
according to Fox, Tulsi is a hard no on impeachment…..
Fair Economist
@Ule: Even as of the latest polling (not yet including the Ukraine stuff) large majorities of Americans opposed impeachment. Swing district Reps don’t like to take unpopular stands. This latest revelation has changed the media take – even Fox is sputtering – and now it looks like a net plus.
zhena gogolia
@eric:
I believe that word is nyet.
eric
@zhena gogolia: *golf clap*
dmsilev
@eric: I’m sure that will immediately catapult her into the lead in the Democratic Presidential primary…
James E Powell
@Ule:
I would say it’s mostly because Pelosi is the leader of a coalition and several coalition members would not support impeachment for reasons that they have not disclosed. I disagreed with the repeated efforts to shut own talk of impeachment and believe there should been more of a “we will have to see after the president answers our subpoena” response.
I also believe the Democratic donor class is against impeachment, but I have no proof. I am certain if they favored it, it would have been the top priority since January 2019.
joel hanes
@Adam L Silverman:
Henry Waxman was not a physical adornment to the house caucus.
Mister, we could use a man like Henry Waxman today.
Adam L Silverman
@Kay: All depends what addendums she made him sign and he made her sign to the prenup when he actually won the election.
joel hanes
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
probably wouldn’t be a worse minority leader than Schumer
IMHO, would be better, because has more personal integrity.
the Conster
@Adam L Silverman: who is the plaintiff in that one? So many crimes to keep track of.
eric
@Adam L Silverman: I was only kinda joking about impeachment voiding the prenup. She could claim that his impeachable offenses are the reason for the divorce, such that the document is not enforceable.
catclub
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism:
huh? what? I can imagine enough GOP senators voting for Trump to go or making it clear they WILL vote for him to go.
I cannot imagine they would do the same, at the same time, with Pence. Holding off Pelosi as prez, and keeping the judges rolling, is their priority.
Adam L Silverman
@joel hanes: He was a solid guy too.
Adam L Silverman
@the Conster: Several protestors that Shiller beat the shit out of in front of Trump Tower shortly after the President announced his candidacy. They were standing on the public sidewalk in front of the building with signs. If I recall the video correctly, Matt Calamari, the President’s other former bodyguard/professional hitter, also smacked several people around in the same fracas.
Rand Careaga
Get a load, and I do mean load, of this from FTFNYT:
Yeah, and if my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a wagon.
I need to look up their coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer murders. I imagine it went something like “After reviewing the contents of Mr. Dahmer’s refrigerator, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office is considering criminal charges, but could yet still turn away from prosecution if exculpatory evidence comes to light.”
Ella in New Mexico
Uggh! GD it why won’t the site let me post a link to Christine Pelosi’s Tweet? argle bargle >:-
Let’s Roll!
Adam L Silverman
@Rand Careaga: Are those spare ribs? Yummy!
cain
@Kay:
This is really great stuff, she’s investing downstream so to speak because she’s preparing not only for her presidency but for Congress as well so that she can put her policies in place. This is great forward thinking stuff. Go Warren!
geg6
Am hearing rumors from a friend who is connected to Howard Fineman (yes, he was a Pittsburgher before he became a Villager) who says Howard says Nancy is going to announce a formal impeachment inquiry this afternoon.
Can’t wait. And of course, I have to be at a local high school a large part of the evening giving a financial aid night presentation, so I’ll miss all the fireworks.
the Conster
@Ella in New Mexico:
That was in reply to that insufferable douchebro who’s been one of those useless Pelosi screaming meemies who will never accept that she’s been following the path she and Doug Letter mapped out since before she got the gavel back.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Betty Cracker
Marshall is right:
Rhaegal
@Adam L Silverman: John Lewis is a national treasure, but he did wait a very long time to come out in favor of impeachment. He hadn’t taken a position until today.
Betty Cracker
Watching Pelosi at the Atlantic Festival. She made the point that a clear quid pro quo in the transcript isn’t necessary for impeachment, that pressuring Zelensky is enough to impeach the motherfucker.
zhena gogolia
@geg6:
Work has this annoying habit of getting in the way just when things get interesting, doesn’t it?
rp
The video of Trump speaking at the UN is disturbing. He sounds like a zombie.
Aleta
https://www.theatlanticfestival.com
Pelosi now at Atlantic Fest
(In a discussion, not an announcement.)
Matt McIrvin
@Fair Economist: Since this story broke, Trump’s job approval is up.
Josie
@rp:
He did. He also did not look healthy. Face was puffy and eyes were almost hidden from view. I’m wondering what drugs he is on or what is going on with him.
Betty Cracker
@rp: He really does look/sound drugged.
PSA: There’s a new impeachment-infused thread.
low-tech cyclist
@Zzyzx:
How about babies in motherfucking cages? Was that going to be a hard sell?
Spanky
@Patricia Kayden: and all MD-5 constituents of Steny Hoyer:
The head of the Maryland Democratic party is Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, wife of Rep. Elijah Cummings. It might be useful to contact the party and explain that if Hoyer doesn’t lead on this he needs to get out of the way, and who would they like to be his primary challenger? Because we constituents are going to be working to move him out if the party doesn’t, if he’s not on board.
I suspect they’ll pass it along to Steny if enough of us call.
Contact info is:
Maryland Democratic Party
33 West Street, Suite 200
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-269-8818 or 301-858-8818
410-280-8882 (fax)
[email protected]
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@catclub: Yes, but you know it would be brought up every time Pence’s involvement was even hinted at, as part of the defense of Pence.
Pelosi was never going to cheerlead for impeachment because the accusations of self-dealing would be too easy to reach for.
Remember, it’s always projection with these people. It’s what they would do, so it must be what she’s doing.
janesays
@catclub: There will never be 20 GOP senators willing to vote for Trump’s removal from office.
McConnell could give golden tickets to Collins, Gardner and any other Republican senator in a vulnerable 2020 seat allowing them to vote for conviction with the Democrats, and it still won’t come remotely close to being enough to actually remove him from office.
Impeachment is not about removing him from office. It’s about fully exposing his criminality to the American public before they go to the polls next November.
janesays
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: You are more likely to win Powerball than see this process end with Pelosi acending to the presidency via the constitutional line of succession.
Trump’s not leaving the White House before January 20, 2021, unless he keels over and dies from one too many Big Macs before then. But hopefully, impeachment will be so damaging as to crush him and his party at the polls next November.
Ella in New Mexico
@the Conster: same thing ;-)
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@janesays: I never expected her to.
I’m saying that she wasn’t going to open herself to the accusation, because it would needlessly complicate the PR side of the entire effort. Just one of many elements she’s been juggling all this time, but it’s one that people outside the world of political junkies understand.
Dunno why people inside that world can’t seem to grok it. All I had to say when the subject came up in meatspace was “If the investigation takes down both Trump and Pence — and you know Pence is in the up to his eyeballs — who then takes the Oval Office? The Speaker of the House. Who also runs the investigation. There’s a built-in conflict of interest that she has to tiptoe around.”