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pnwmom

(108,980 posts)
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 01:52 PM Apr 2018

Laurence Tribe: Poorly timed talk of impeachment could backfire

"Even in the face of clearly impeachable offenses by a monstrous president, it’s vital to understand how ill-timed talk of impeachment can occasionally backfire. If we want to save our democracy and not just vent, we must think very carefully."





https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/us/politics/trump-impeachment-midterms.html

WASHINGTON — As Republican leaders scramble to stave off a Democratic wave or at least mitigate their party’s 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.

What began last year as blaring political hyperbole on the right — the stuff of bold-lettered direct mail fund-raising pitches from little-known groups warning of a looming American “coup” — is now steadily drifting into the main currents of the 2018 message for Republicans.

The appeals have become a surefire way for candidates to raise small contributions from grass-roots conservatives who are devoted to Mr. Trump, veteran Republican fund-raisers say. But party strategists also believe that floating the possibility of impeachment can also act as a sort of scared-straight motivational tool for turnout. Last week, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas used his re-election kickoff rally to introduce a video featuring a faux news anchor reading would-be headlines were conservatives not to vote in November.

“Senate Majority Leader Schumer announced the impeachment trial of President Trump,” one of the anchors says.

SNIP
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Laurence Tribe: Poorly timed talk of impeachment could backfire (Original Post) pnwmom Apr 2018 OP
food for thought Eliot Rosewater Apr 2018 #1
Without a clear Wellstone ruled Apr 2018 #2
I agree Dem2 Apr 2018 #3
knr struggle4progress Apr 2018 #4
the democrats position on this is pretty simple Takket Apr 2018 #5
And if the evidence shows that Trump has committed serious crimes.... kentuck Apr 2018 #6
It only takes thinking and paying attention. ananda Apr 2018 #7
If anybody deserves to be impeached, it's Trump Proud Liberal Dem Apr 2018 #8
The logic here is, "Let's not provoke the hornets." Girard442 Apr 2018 #9
No, it's "let not wake the hornets." Right now it appears they will have a low turn-out in Nov. pnwmom Apr 2018 #10
the fascists will use any bs line to get out the vote so talking about elmac Apr 2018 #11
Impeachment talk could backfire Progressive dog Apr 2018 #12
I do not see getting 67 votes in the Senate Gothmog Apr 2018 #13
He's right. We need to play chess. DemocratSinceBirth Apr 2018 #14
Yet strangely gratuitous Apr 2018 #15
From Eric Holder and David Axelrod Gothmog Apr 2018 #16
From Prof. Tribe Gothmog Apr 2018 #17
Talk of Impeachment is a bad move Gothmog Apr 2018 #18
I remember when some DUers were furious that Dems in Congress pnwmom Apr 2018 #19
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
2. Without a clear
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:04 PM
Apr 2018

Liberal Propaganda Media Outlet or outlets. Tribe is right. Let the Rethugs or Mueller take this Guy out.

Dem2

(8,168 posts)
3. I agree
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:07 PM
Apr 2018

He would have to have Republicans turn on him for this to occur anyway, so let's let them stew in their inability to do their jobs, which entails oversight of the executive branch.

Takket

(21,577 posts)
5. the democrats position on this is pretty simple
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:18 PM
Apr 2018

"if mueller's probe returns charges of criminal activity against drumpf, we will impeach."

That's all they need to say about impeachment. There is no sense in demanding it right now since they don't have any charges to serve as a basis for impeachment.

kentuck

(111,103 posts)
6. And if the evidence shows that Trump has committed serious crimes....
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:22 PM
Apr 2018

Then let the Republicans defend him. We should encourage them to do so.

ananda

(28,866 posts)
7. It only takes thinking and paying attention.
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:35 PM
Apr 2018

It has been obvious from day one and even before the election
that 45 was unfit for the job and would be the most corrupt
president ever!

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,414 posts)
8. If anybody deserves to be impeached, it's Trump
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 02:50 PM
Apr 2018

for gross incompetence alone. However, I harbor no illusions that it is going to happen, even if Democrats take the House and Senate, so I don't think it's politically wise for Democrats to propose it and/or run on it unless it can somehow actually be achieved. The case that Mueller is putting together may or may not create the groundswell of support needed for a conviction to be secured in the Senate. At any rate, if Democrats win control of one or both chambers in Congress in 2018, they can at least start REAL investigations into things that demand accountability and put the pressure on him to resign and/or get the Republicans to turn on him (though they probably won't). "Worst case scenario" is that he spends the next two years limping along as basically a "lame duck" President and we beat him in 2020.

Girard442

(6,075 posts)
9. The logic here is, "Let's not provoke the hornets."
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 03:03 PM
Apr 2018

But the hornets are swarming around us and stinging us right now. I don't think they're going to get any more provoked than they are already.

pnwmom

(108,980 posts)
10. No, it's "let not wake the hornets." Right now it appears they will have a low turn-out in Nov.
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 03:05 PM
Apr 2018

Let's not give them a reason to vote.

 

elmac

(4,642 posts)
11. the fascists will use any bs line to get out the vote so talking about
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 03:46 PM
Apr 2018

throwing the bum out doesn't matter, what matters is the amount of Dems voting, that is the key.

Progressive dog

(6,905 posts)
12. Impeachment talk could backfire
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 05:25 PM
Apr 2018

but even if not one Democrat mentioned impeachment, Trump and his colluders would claim they did.
Democratic candidates should run against the Trump party, not for impeachment of the psychopath.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
15. Yet strangely
Sun Apr 8, 2018, 05:55 PM
Apr 2018

The most reckless statements by Republicans are never ever poorly timed or ever backfire against them. Only one party has to act like adults, and when they do, they have to be extra careful or it will backfire because of poor timing.

pnwmom

(108,980 posts)
19. I remember when some DUers were furious that Dems in Congress
Wed Apr 11, 2018, 09:26 PM
Apr 2018

didn't act to impeach Bush. And then when Obama became President, they were furious he didn't spend the first couple years prosecuting Bush people. They didn't seem to have any understanding that that would have prevented Obama from accomplishing anything (and he had a whole country he had to save from a depression).

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