Impeachment just seems worthless

[JuJuYoshida]

So, other than it being symbolic to show in the books that "these guys over here think he should be gone but still isn't and doesn't change anything" means that an impeachment without dismissal is pretty much worthless?


I mean, I know it will hold him accountable as being convicted and unable to hold any future office but still seems like a whole lot of solid nothing.

[MyNameGoesHere]

1. Doing the right thing

Never seems useless to me.

[jcgoldie]

2. "I know it will hold him accountable as being convicted and unable to hold any future office "

I think you sort of addressed your own concerns

[AnyFunctioningAdult]

4. The goal

Is to prevent him from running for anything again. I would say a good number of Republicans see that as a long term upside too.

[Mike 03]

5. I strongly disagree. Impeachment was a moral imperative IMO.

It had to be done because it's the right thing to do. It's unthinkable that an insurrection would not be punished. And it's stronger than censure. And history does matter. And getting individual politicians "on the record" matters too, and will matter in upcoming elections.

[BusyBeingBest]

16. Right. It will always be in Congressional records and history, that the US government

passed its judgment on his evil actions. I have no idea why people keep seeing it as a temporary tactic or a political tool. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S FOR.

[eShirl]

6. It's a start.

[Laelth]

7. Symbols matter. The history books matter.

The House did the right thing in condemning a President who incited a mob to storm the Capitol and attempt a violent coup.

-Laelth

[NoMoreRepugs]

8. Big picture for me - it puts the moral bankruptcy of the entire RePutinican Party on display.

Once the "trial" goes to the Democratic controlled Senate and witnesses and evidence are presented in front of the entire World it will be evident that his RePutinican enablers share the blame.

So NO - this isn't worthless.

[Doreen]

9. I just want it to be fixed so he can not run for anything again.

[Towlie]

10. It not only affects Trump's future, it also exposes all who vote against impeachment or removal.

 
←

As people wake up and realize what Trump is, let the history books show who his enablers were.

[samnsara]

11. trumps to be made an example for anyone trying to do this to us again...

...the impeachment makes ME feel good thats for sure...and making sure he can never run for office again is the ultimate goal i think..

[Quixote1818]

12. I thought the consensus as to how we would benifit was to get the GOP on record supporting Trump

or not supporting Trump, so they would have a hard time getting reelected in purple and blue districts? Especially Senators who many are elected in purple and blue areas.

[left-of-center2012]

13. There is a difference between impeachment and conviction

From what I understand if he is only impeached and not convicted he can still run for future office.

Having the Senate convict him
which in my opinion is doubtful
would prevent him from running in 2024.

If the Senate does not convict him
we will see four years of Donald Trump running for president in 2024.

[LudwigPastorius]

34. Since Trump will be out before any trial can commence,...

and it is doubtful that 17 Republican Senators will vote to convict him, I am leaning toward skipping the trial and passing a 14th Amendment law that bans him from ever holding office again.

Since that only requires a simple majority from both houses, it will pass.

[MineralMan]

14. Your second paragraph IS the significance.

It is far more important than you think.

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. having a president with 2 impeachments solidifies him as worst ever

it is a blot, a stain, on Rs and the cult members.

Not doing it would have the weak hand to play.

Ds have to start getting tougher and not be Charlie Brown trying to kick the always moved football.

[Zorro]

17. I'm all for impeaching that MFer a third time

There are still a couple of days left in his term.

[EndlessWire]

26. LOL! n/t

[marybourg]

18. That's life itself. A whole lot of nothing.

Should impeachment be any different?

[radius777]

19. It's about being on the correct side of history

and signaling to future wannabe dictators they will face consequences. It also will be controlled by Schumer this time so evidence can be presented, which could later be used in a court of law even if the Repubs don't convict.

This has only just begun - impeachment is the first step in bringing down the radical Right. We already see much of corporate America, Big Tech, advertisers etc starting to rightfully purge the seditionists and conspiracists from respectable society. GOP can't live without big money.

[Cattledog]

20. Would you consider prosecuting someone serving life

who killed a guard worthless?

[H2O Man]

21. No pardons

in cases of impeachment.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

22. He'll go down in history as the only POTUS to be impeached twice.

Schoolkids will be taught this as long as there is a United States.

Further humiliating and disgracing this ratfucking traitor is never worthless.

[matt819]

23. Sure, but. . .

The Senate doesn't get the opportunity to have a trial and convict without an impeachment.

If they don't convict, then maybe you're right re symbolism. But it still had to be done. If the president is impeached for incitement to insurrection, then there was an insurrection. Then everyone being arrested participated in one way or another, in an insurrection (in addition to all the other crimes being charged). Also, you either impeach for this kind of behavior - with or without a conviction - or you pretty much let every other wannabe dictator know that incite to insurrection is a legitimate behavior by a president who decides he wants to stay in office.

Plus, every person who did not vote for impeachment is tarred with the same brush. That may or may change things for their next election, but it still needs to be out there in the voters' minds.

[tinrobot]

24. It does a number of important things:

1) As you said, it makes it so he can't run for office again. Do you really want him crying foul for the next 4 years?

2) Denies him Secret Service protection. He can't profit off the government by making them stay at his hotels.

3) Denies him security briefings (that he would probably sell to the highest bidder)

4) A trial would put the facts of the matter into the spotlight. We need to expose the traitors.

5) Puts everyone in the Senate on record. That's super important for future elections.

6) Holds him accountable. If he can get away with this, anyone can.

[Timewas]

25. Well

If it accomplishes nothing else it is at least an attempt to do the right thing. If he is convicted he loses his pension 100k a year, he loses his travel expense of 1 million a year,he also loses lifetime secret service protection..BUT what in my opinion will probably bother him the most is he can no longer carry the title of President and I seriously believe that will piss him off more than anything.

[EndlessWire]

27. We might get him.

The burning question is, who in the Congress helped them? Someone did. They had info the average citizen doesn't have. So, who helped them? If a Senate trial is required to discover this, then Impeachment 2 was worth it.

They can start the Senate business when McConnell becomes Minority Leader. We have Georgia, Peaches, to thank for that.

[meadowlander]

28. He won't be able to run for office again.

Peace of mind... priceless.

[subterranean]

30. Impeachment alone won't accomplish that.

In order for that to happen, he has to be convicted by the Senate, and the Senate then would have the option of also voting to bar him from running for office again, which only requires a simple majority.

[consider_this]

29. And he may behave this last week...

and dial down the rhetoric/incitements. Case in point, he did put out that video last night. I doubt he wants to do any more things to corroborate the existing charge. Hoping that will result in less crazy from the MAGA thugs.

[LudwigPastorius]

32. I don't underestimate removing Trump permanently from contention for public office.

Trump's followers are thick, granted that, but once they realize that he'll never be president again (or even an elected dogcatcher) it will help serve to put a stake in the heart of his violent personality cult.

[Celerity]

33. [phone]

[old guy]

35. Unless there is a conviction,

it is really just a symbolic gesture. I agree it should be done but have no delusions that it will do any real good. The repub base has not and will not change because of impeachment or conviction because they don't believe the truth. I don't know what it will take to accomplish that.

[Vinca]

36. I totally disagree. What's written in our history books is important.

I don't want future generations to wonder why we did nothing. If Trump happens to be convicted and can't run again, that's a bonus, but it's definitely not worthless to pursue this.

[OnDoutside]

37. It was worth it to give people a chance to let off steam, at the very least. The Senate Trial is now

worthless because he will be out of office in a few days, and barring him from office only helps the GOP.

[yuiyoshida]

38. You don't have to worry, The Southern District of NEW YORK needs to speak to

Donald J. Trump regarding some RICO charges he is heavily involved with.