The continued insistence that a failure to remove in the Senate - which, at the moment, is 100% guaranteed - is irrelevant to the conversation is misguided, at best.

But, it sure is popular.

It will undoubtedly rile his base and it will turn off voters who voted for us in 2018 because of issues-based campaigns. They don't want the focus to be entirely on Trump. They want the focus to be on them and the issues that affect their lives. That focus is why we made progress in 2018.

"We all know how corrupt and horrible Trump is, but believe it or not, a significant percentage of folks across the country do not"

There's little evidence of that. Nearly everyone knows who and what Trump is. His base keeps him afloat because corrupt and horrible is what they want. People who are apolitical aren't going to pay any more attention to impeachment proceedings than they have the past couple years of Trump ignorance and stupidity. Everything they need to know to vote him out in 2020 is already public knowledge.

Clinton didn’t attack Muslims, migrants, minorities and disabled people or pow’s. He tried to be president to everyone. He was a uniter not a divider nor did he get Russian help to get elected.

One can not in all honesty compare the two.

Impeachment is our only direction.

but I'm sorry to say that the political reality is far worse.

1. The monster will not resign. He is too much of a monster who thinks he has the power to control others. Even if removed it is unlikely that he would actually go. We have a 3rd world dictatorship situation on our hands except that he is also a psychopath.

2. The republican monsters in the Senate will not vote to convict because they have set their lot with him. These are not the same republicans who eventually stepped up to their constitutional duty and dropped their support for then monster Nixon. These republicans are much deeper dug in than then.

The situation is dire. Impeachment won't work. If we are to defeat this thing we will have to do it in November of 2020 and yes, the nation and maybe much more is at stake on that day.

The most damaging weapon we have is the ballot box

I agree right from the start that conviction is very unlikely.

While we don't have enough votes to convict, we do have enough votes to impeach. Throughout the impeachment hearings that would follow, Trump would be exposed on a national scale, which just might be enough to sway so many of the fence sitting voters who voted for Trump in 2016 to vote for Democrats in 2020.

We really need to stop being so fearful of impeachment. If we believe in justice, then we need to use the best tool available to us to hold Trump accountable for his crimes. That tool is impeachment. With or without conviction, impeachment will be a huge negative for Trump, not for Democrats.

I'm sick of standing by and watching this asshole get away with his atrocities without trying to hold him accountable in a legal and truthful manner. There's a reason that the impeachment articles were written into our Constitution, and we shouldn't ignore it just because we're afraid of what might happen. When the truth is on our side, we shouldn't be afraid to do what's right.

Democrats took back the House by winning a lot of swing districts and lean red districts, by running moderate liberals who campaigned on stuff like health care and jobs instead of Trump, because Trump is still above water in some of those districts. For those Democrats, voting to impeach Trump would be a death sentence for them in 2020.

Throw the bums out at the Ballot Box!

Mike Turner for sure! Get a good Democrat to run against him!

That means after 2020. I know, I know...that is how they got Nixon. If we were to impeach before 2020 it is a sure fire way to get his taxes to Congress, so that is one way they can nail him by 2020 and show his cult how broke he is and how crooked he is.

I want to nail him ASAP, so impeach (start the proceedings anyway), get his taxes then let the real show begin!

Get all of his malfeasance on the public record.
When the republicans in the Senate refuse to follow through, they will find themselves in a truly sticky position.

As Nancy Pelosi said...he's not worth it.

passing an ACA rescue bill that actually expands Medicaid while lowering the cost of health insurance premiums and prescription costs; and, passes a bill to return the tax scam money to the American people; and, passes bills that strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Things that caused people to vote to give us back the House in 2018.

We need to motivate voters to get out and for us, not mobilize the Republican base. Impeaching Trump won't get him out of the White House and could backfire.

as it will never see the light of day in the Senate.

And how about motivating people to vote by making it look like our side stands for something. Not impeaching could also backfire.

I think our voters who want health care and other important social programs they can count on in their futures will be very encouraged that we already have a plan and legislation ready in the House to back the plans up. I think that stands for something. And I think Pelosi is right about impeachment.

The Problem Solvers Caucus with Mika this morning? Democrat and Republicans teaming up to solve problems.

That will put Jordan and Meadows noses out of joint. They have only accomplished chaos and members are sick of doing nothing.

......based on that, I am not so optimistic.

. . .The GOP Must Be Destroyed

If we cannot get conviction by the Senate after impeachment by the House. . .

. . .then all of us must work to ensure the complete and utter destruction of the GOP.

Remember, 22 GOP Senators are up for re-election. Just sayin'.

It will take a lot of work especially in rural areas where Rush Limbaugh radio and similar entities are on all day. It will take indictment of Hannity and others for activities and loyalties I strongly suspect.

But I am not sure that he will be.

Of just doing what's right.

Wish it would, but I seriously doubt it. There are powerful forces working to make him a two-term president, even. The 2020 election is of monumental importance.

Impeachment might actually help Trump. There is nowhere near enough votes in the Senate for a conviction.

With every day that passes, it is less likely that he will be impeached, and more likely he will even get re-elected.

This is the reality we need to face up to. This is possible. Prepare for it, because if it happens, he and his cult will be off the rails and see it as a sign from god that he is ordained to rule as lord and king!

And, with every day that passes, he and his enablers are putting more and more puzzle pieces in place to ensure that this is exactly what happens.

My speculation is we win big 2020

We love our candidates. Polls show we rule social issues. Polls show significant disillusion of independents for Trump’s policies.

Reports Trump is concerned that his base is not enough to win so he’s starting a holy war.

Democrats are motivated. Trump’s base can’t even spell motivation.

And then, using your own logic, the opposing party will rationalize impeachment if and when they have the numbers.

WE, THE PEOPLE.will need to depose the atrocity and his cowardly sycophants. This burden falls squarely on us. I simply ask for good leaders. A great leader would be nice but good will do.

She's never had a taste for impeachment.

nor can she prevent any House member from filing articles of impeachment, discussions which could be followed by a vote to impeach.

What Nancy Pelosi can do is give her guidance and try to talk people out of it. She alone can't stop it from happening, though, but correct me if I'm wrong about that.

She can pretty much stop anything from reaching the floor. And the Committee chair will have a strong incentive to not even let it out of committee.

And that is, if Trump was convicted in The House, it wouldn't be "because Democrats don't like Trump". It would be because:

- Trump has been implicated in a felony - campaign finance fraud with a hush money payment

- Trump "overruled" ALL advisers and gave FAMILY security clearances though they were deemed security risks.

- Trump instructed federal law enforcement officers to violate the law, and promised pardons if they were convicted.

- Trump constantly interfered with a lawful criminal investigation into Russian 2016 election interference, and has attempted to interfere in other ongoing prosecutions.


I'll stop there, though we could add others. Once this is laid out in The House, how on earth would Senate Republicans justify keeping him in office? They need to be put in this position BEFORE November 2020.

If they did Trump would have never gotten elected.

First, the House doesn't convict, the Senate does. And there is no way regardless of the evidence that 20 republicans are going to vote to convict. It is naive to think so.

And without a conviction in the Senate, Trump will able to run in 20 saying he was exonerated. The GOP and right wing media will paint it as a partisan exercise by the Dems to make them look bad.

If it has any chance of occurring it has to be during 2019. No way they are dumb enough to have impeachment proceedings in 2020 during our primary or the general election, it would completely drown out any other issues.

is NOT impeachment. It is a verdict rendered after a Senate trial. And with Rs holding the Senate he will not be removed.

Trump should have been impeached by now. He just thumbs his nose at the law. If he did not collude with Russia he and his campaign sure WANTED to. And indirectly did. And benefited from Russian interference. But the way things are now, the only real hope we have is voting him out in 2020. If the Democrats fail, we are in for a horrible ride with 4 more years of Trump consolidating power and putting yes men in government. Shocking.