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CanonRay

(14,104 posts) Thu Jun 8, 2017, 04:48 PM Jun 2017

Seems to me we have the opposite problem from Watergate

During Watergate, the question was whether a crime could be proven against Nixon, but there was little doubt that if that happened, action would be taken. In fact when it was established that Nixon had ordered the coverup of the break in, virtually all Republicans got behind impeachment.

In our current case, the crime of Obstruction of Justice (there may be MANY others) is basically already proven. The question is, does anybody want to do anything about it, at least on the GOP side. They are still trying to find defenses for Trump.

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Seems to me we have the opposite problem from Watergate (Original Post) CanonRay Jun 2017 OP

It's actually not true that "virtually all" Republicans got behind impeaching Nixon. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #1

Dems had the votes. Did not matter what the RS said. AngryAmish Jun 2017 #5

i think the only way to get the GOP on the correct side of this mess barbtries Jun 2017 #2

The difference is that Watergate still had American loyalists, not Russian sell-outs in the GOP. TheBlackAdder Jun 2017 #3

Sadly true, but a slight correction... it's "Better Russian than Democratic" (n/t) FreepFryer Jun 2017 #4

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,735 posts)

1. It's actually not true that "virtually all" Republicans got behind impeaching Nixon.

Reply to CanonRay (Original post)

Thu Jun 8, 2017, 05:11 PM

Jun 2017

Article I of the articles of impeachment voted on in the House Judiciary Committee (obstruction of justice) received Yes votes from all 21 of the Democrats on the committee, but only 6 of the 17 Republicans. Article II (abuse of power) again received Yes votes from all 21 Democrats but only 6 from the Republicans. Article III (failure without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things) got 19 Yes votes from Democrats and 2 from Republicans. Ten of the 17 Republican members opposed all three articles.

In the end it was three Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott, Senator Barry Goldwater, and House Minority Leader John Jacob Rhodes, who met with Nixon to tell him he faced certain impeachment in the Democratically-controlled House and not enough votes in the Senate to avoid conviction.

But it's not accurate to say all the Republicans turned against him. If the Democrats hadn't controlled Congress Nixon might have survived the scandal.