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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans Seize on Impeachment for Edge in 2018 Midterms
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WASHINGTON As Republican leaders scramble to stave off a Democratic wave or at least mitigate their partys losses in November, a strategy is emerging on the right for how to energize conservatives and drive a wedge between the anti-Trump left and moderate voters: warn that Democrats will immediately move to impeach President Trump if they capture the House.
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Everybody has told him that, Corey Lewandowski, Mr. Trumps former campaign manager, said about the prospect of a Democratic takeover of the House. The threat of impeachment is something that unifies everybody in the party, even if youre not a big Trump supporter.
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Democrats are divided on how to respond to the charge. Many top officials in the capital fear it is a political trap that would distract from their core message and possibly even boomerang back to harm them in November. But other more progressive figures see impeachment as a rallying cry of their own to galvanize the lefts anti-Trump base.
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The Democratic leadership, though, has sought to tamp down these impulses. They believe Republicans are setting a trap and are irritated that the billionaire donor Tom Steyer, who recently said he wants to host a series of primary debates this year, is trumpeting the issue. These Democrats argue that the party needs to focus on a substantive agenda and assure voters that they will exercise sober and reasonable oversight of Mr. Trump.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/us/politics/trump-impeachment-midterms.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
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Takket
(21,577 posts)That if mueller brings criminal charges to the table they will most certainly impeach. That is what Congress is supposed to do. No reason to commit to impeachment before charges are brought
kentuck
(111,102 posts)Democrats would not want to impeach if there is no evidence. What is the possibility of that?
And Republicans would not want to defend Trump if there are serious criminal charges involved. That is some pretty shaky ground also.
Until the evidence is in the public domain, it is best to keep your cards close to your vest.
Zoonart
(11,869 posts)The Democrats walk a fine line between the esposure of the depth of corruption of the administration, and being angry without being the lynch mob.
Thekaspervote
(32,777 posts)Pelosi and schummer are being smart like a fox...if asked, they never more than casually reply, almost as disinterested
marble falls
(57,102 posts)zonemaster
(232 posts)Then they might have a chance.
Hillary Clinton, whatever her flaws were last time, won the popular vote by 3 million, even with the help of Russia, various acts of skulduggery, and after the GOP and Trump had worked their base into a veritable frenzy of (pseudo) Pro-America, xenophobic, coal-rollin' fury.
With all that has transpired since Trump's election, the vast, vast majority of it bad, insane, anti-American, corrupt, anti-Christian*, etc., I can't see how a Democratic challenger would not do even better than Hillary. This has been a disaster for the country that will take decades to repair. I think more people get that now, though had they thought objectively for more than a millisecond, should have been rightly able to imagine such a scenario before the election. But, nevertheless, here we are, and we have to keep the pressure on to get Trump and the GOP Tea Party ilk out of and away from power for many election cycles.
And don't count on the Republican House or Senate to do ANYTHING regarding impeachment. There has been more than enough evidence of a mountain of serious ethical and criminal activity, and they've basically given no more than lip service to the whole affair. Also, don't forget how the Republican Senate stalled Merrick Garland's SC nomination, and later installed nutcase Neil Gorsuch. They have no problem going as low as possible, and just when you think they can't go any lower, they find an undiscovered avenue to plumb the depths further.
marble falls
(57,102 posts)those 20-30 something-ers who didn't vote. It would give them something other than they didn't want - Cheetolini or the Democratic candidate.
sellitman
(11,607 posts)I think Trump is toxic enough that we should turn this around and wave the banner of being the Law And Order Party. When Mueller brings his indictments we should promice America that our Representatives will do their jobs in Congress and uphold the laws of the land and Impeach.
We should flip this on them.
kentuck
(111,102 posts)I think we should wait to see what Mueller has on Trump before we initiate it.
sellitman
(11,607 posts)Wish he could speed it up.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)It may satisfy opposition but it's not going to motivate or win hearts and minds of infrequent voters. The people who are invested in impeachment as an end game are a vocal minority.
It's worth remembering that our side dug in to support Clinton. I think we even picked up seats in '98 midterms.
kentuck
(111,102 posts)Republicans kept majority in both.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)I hope our candidates and supporters will keep their eyes on the prize. We can't afford to blow this opportunity to elect more Democrats.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)why throw red meat to their base???
Let GOP keep ahold of trump and bring up impeachment and if/when mueller starts bringing more indictments against trump's inner circle and perhaps trump himself...let the GOP keep defending the indefensible. But as democrats we should say we are "about the rule of law"
and leave it at that
lovemydogs
(575 posts)The republicans are looking for any message they can fine to stir up the base to go out and vote.
It is not surprising they would use this as a strategy
BootinUp
(47,165 posts)Accountable