The Unexpected Consequences of Impeachment

[kentuck]

Primarily, it is that Republicans now feel responsible for their President's misbehaviors and misdemeanors. Up to the point of impeachment, it was the responsibility of the Democratic House to hold him accountable. Republicans were happy to maintain that responsibility in Democratic hands.

Since their refusal to convict, his every action reflects upon their desire to get re-elected. They wanted to believe he had learned his lesson. He seems to have learned the exact opposite lesson to what they wanted. He now believes he can get away with anything he wants. There is no one to hold him responsible. The idea of absolute lawlessness creates problems for those Republicans that wish to win the next election.

Yesterday, eight Republicans joined with Democrats to pass a War Powers Resolution to prevent their President from unilaterally declaring war on Iran. It was not enough to over-ride a veto but if Mr Trump commits another act similar to the assassination of a foreign official, will they be able to sell it again as an act to "prevent terrorism"?

It's as if they were forced to take custody of a juvenile delinquent. They promised the judge (the American people) that they could control him and keep him out of trouble. They are having difficulty controlling Trump's tweets and preventing the Justice Dept from outright mutiny.

The Democrats did their job and the Republicans, when they refused to convict, took responsibility of everything Mr Trump does from now until election. They cannot blame the Democrats. They would like for him to maintain at least enough normalcy to get them thru the next election. That could be a very big mountain to climb.

Democrats have probably not yet realized the benefits they created for themselves with the impeachment vote? They could sit on the sideline and let Mr Trump do whatever his lawless heart desires. It is the Republicans that will pay at the polls. They asked for it. Now, they've got it.

[True Blue American]

1. Great points

And we need to remind them of every transgression because it is on their shoulders including what Barr is doing.

52 Senators are to blame. Even Romney voted to acquit on Contempt of Congress so he is to blame, too.

We need to get rid of 3, Mitch,Paul and Portman. You made a great start with electing a Democratic Governor.

[JeaneRaye]

15. Take the Senate!

Portman is actually Ohio, I think. But you are right about Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell. Also, we need to get rid of Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Cory Gardner, Lindsey Graham, Martha McSally, Thom Tillis and any other Republican running for US Senate this year. Rand Paul is the only one of those that isn't running, but we should remember him when he does run again. As bad as I want to see Donald Trump gone, the Senate is more important. Trump will be greatly inhibited if both the House and the Senate are Democratic. If Mitch happens to win his election, the least we could do is make him MINORITY leader instead of Majority leader.

[True Blue American]

25. That was my point.

I can vote against him.

[malaise]

2. Great post

Off to the greatest page

[poli-junkie]

3. I think Pelosi realizes the consequence of Republican acquittal.

[True Blue American]

26. Made them vote to Acquit!

Now, Trump is worse. This is different than just loading Republican Judges who just might change.

[Blues Heron]

4. Spot on

[mwooldri]

5. The Trump Party is a reflection of the President.

The former GOP take this responsibility on by abandoning Republican Party policy and going with what Trump wants. That's why I call them the Trump Party and no longer Republicans nor Conservatives because they at this point are neither.

[FiveGoodMen]

29. I think it's the other way around.

Trump is the culmination of GOP trends for the last four decades.

[GoneOffShore]

32. Vichy Republicans.

[Leith]

6. Good

Tie that albatross nice'n'tight around their necks.

[Kota]

7. well said kentuck

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. They did not believe he learned a lesson. They wanted him to continue.

GOPers hate our government. They seek to cripple it until it can only afford to pay them.

[Cyrano]

9. "It is the Republicans that will pay at the polls."

I admire your optimism, kentuck.

First of all, you suggest there's going to be an election.

Second, you suggest that it's going to be a fair election. That there will be no Republican voter suppression in places that the electoral college can make a difference? That there will be no Russian interference?

I've been reading your posts long enough to know that you understand what we're up against better than most.

The Republican Party is going to do everything possible to steal the presidency (again) and to hold onto the senate. They've got the power to do it. All we can hope for is a turnout of Dems so massive that they can't rig the outcome.

Any Democrat that thinks both parties are "playing by the rules," is a fool. They will do whatever is necessary. We will rely on GOTV. All I can do is hope that's enough.

[kentuck]

10. To believe that our votes will not count is to give up hope.

Yes, the Repubs will stoop to anything to win an election. We all know that. But, I hope that our voting system is not so corrupted that if we come out in numbers, that we cannot win.

I am not yet that cynical.

[bronxiteforever]

11. Excellent! K&R

[abqtommy]

12. There's plenty of room in Gitmo for tRUMP, Barr, McConnel, all the reTHUGS in the House and

Senate and selected members of the judiciary and state governors too.* If anybody wants me to help
compile a list of names and make sure there are plenty of sets of shackles available I consider it my
patriotic duty to be of help.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Guantanamo_Bay_detainees

In 2018 there were 40 prisoners remaining in Gitmo after 775 had been sent there. That means we
have room for at least 735 more prisoners. It's a simple math operation to determine how many
treasonous traitors qualify for transport and incarceration.

[struggle4progress]

13. GOP is Trump. Trump is GOP. Pretending to show daylight between them, but joined at the hip

[Perseus]

14. They NEVER believed he had learned his lesson, republicans are crooks but not stupid

No one on their right mind would believe they believed he had learned his lesson. He didn't learn his lesson after the Muller report, and after the Muller hearing, he has not learned any lessons after 3,000 lawsuits against him, why would he?, He has gotten away with all of them. Anyway, everyone knows he is too corrupt, too evil to learn any lessons that would convert him into an honorable citizen. He is a very twisted tree, he cannot be put straight, his criminal behaviour comes from his younger days.

No republican acquitted the piece of crap because they thought good things would come out of it, they did it because they are compromised, because they are cowards, and because they have lost all dignity and principles, that is if they ever had any.

[struggle4progress]

24. +

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Republicans will be tracking to the middle from now to election day

Don't let them off the hook, not even the ones that beg House Democrats to serve up impeachment casserole, in part because it would give Republicans hope to delude the public yet again.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. The vote limiting Trump's power to unilaterally wage war should have been unanimous.

Many Republicans still fear Fat Donnie's wrath, obviously. They would rather hundreds of thousands of people die because of a war to feed Trump's ego than to get a nasty tweet about them that might enrage his "base."

We have recent history to back this up. More than 100,000 Iraqis died so that Dubya could be a "war president," a designation which would ensure his place in history as a great president. At least, that's what he said in his book.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Maybe not unexpected but true!! As for war resolution

That is great that some R's stood up on war with Iran. It's Non-binding, isn't it? so no veto involved...but at least it's a ray of hope!!!

I am way more jaded than you are K. We need to get a handle on those swing States. Any state that's close will be bombarded with voter intimidation and Facebook sleaze.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

19. I would like to see tRump censured numerous times in the House.....

as an accompaniment to his impeachment for the history books.

This emperor's clothes need more brown stains......

[PatrickforO]

20. You know, those are really good points, but I had a notary come to

my home today to witness a transaction.

She listened to me, but later said that neither she nor her husband know much about politics or what is happening, and they don't vote. And, what's more, they don't intend to vote in November.

Unfortunately, if the orange diarrhea is reelected and drizzles into the White House again, she and her husband will HAVE the government they DESERVE.

The real problem with that is WE will also have this government, but will NOT deserve it. And that's a damned shame.

[BarbD]

30. Convincing people to vote is tough.

For years I've been trying to understand why so many people don't recognize the power they have with their one vote. It has been my experience that immigrants and their children have a greater appreciation of the freedom to vote. Maybe part of it is our education system that no longer teaches Civics. People neither comprehend or care how our society works.

Then there are those who loftily say all politicians are crooks and they are above it.

Whatever the reasons, it is a daunting task to get out the vote -- a challenge we have to face and conquer if we want to save our democracy.

[DemoTex]

21. L'Enfant Terrible

An unstable, malevolent genie unleashed by the Senate GOP. And watch them .. nervous and distracted, like cats trying to scratch shit on a sidewalk .. as they realize they cannot get the genie back in the bottle.

[kentuck]

22. It's almost like slow-motion karma...

The realization that the people are going to exact revenge.

[Baked Potato]

23. Good one!

It’s like looking at a difficult lie on a difficult hole. (Sad golf analogy)

Either it’s gonna be a great birdie, or a damn crappy bogie. I’m hoping for a birdie, we deserve it!

[duforsure]

27. The GOP are screwed now

After openly rejecting witnesses, documents, the truth, for Justice, and now want to manufacture crimes against all that oppose him , or have exposed him, will make them lose even more in 2020, and when its exposed , which i think it will be, trump and putin bribed them with campaign cash from putin , and hacker help from him if they protected him from getting convicted. I think they are now mostly compromised from this and previous help from putin helping them getting elected. I also think they'll wait until its closer to election to bring this out exposing him, but that could speed up watching him undermine the Justice system for himself using Barr as his fixer openly now. I THINK justice will prevail, or we become putin's russia.

[ewagner]

28. Good points....

I am particularly impressed with the thought that the Senate Republicans are now literally saddled with responsibilities for a teenage, juvenile delinquent!

[c-rational]

31. Excellent points and read of the situation.

[Dan]

33. The American people and our allies pay the price.

The GOP - they are with Trump, likes jackals waiting to get their tiny bites of whatever Trump leaves.

[DENVERPOPS]

34. Extremely well said Kentuck! Thank you.... n/c