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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
December 27, 2019
Pelosi Impeachment Gambit Enrages Trump
Cody Fenwick December 25, 2019
Reprinted with permission from Alternet
I should say from the outset that I was not a fan of the idea, popularized by legal scholar Laurence Tribe, that Democrats should withhold the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump from the Senate to force Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to force him to hold a fair trial. While I’m concerned as anyone that McConnell just wants a sham acquittal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi objectively has no leverage over him. McConnell doesn’t want to hold a trial of the president at all, and a later trial isn’t necessarily worse for him, so the delay wouldn’t seem to give Democrats any advantage.
But the tactic is having at least one effect Democrats might welcome: It’s infuriating the president to no end.
It’s not even really clear how far Pelosi is willing to deploy this tactic. She hasn’t explicitly said she’s delaying sending the articles to the Senate. She just said that she has to see what the Senate trial will look like before she formulates a strategy for selecting impeachment managers and officially passing on the charges. And this all happened right before the House was dismissed for its winter break, and the Senate wasn’t expected to convene during the holidays either, so the “delay” could just end up being much ado about nothing.
And yet, Trump can’t stand it.
more...
https://www.nationalmemo.com/pelosi-impeachment-gambit-enrages-trump/?fbclid=IwAR1XWD5G3q7caUhdguSIaqpbCDsRRmyreYvhtSf0KjMmqrKWMJW1adZ2BAM&cn-reloaded=1
Pelosi Impeachment Gambit Enrages Trump
Pelosi Impeachment Gambit Enrages Trump
Cody Fenwick December 25, 2019
Reprinted with permission from Alternet
I should say from the outset that I was not a fan of the idea, popularized by legal scholar Laurence Tribe, that Democrats should withhold the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump from the Senate to force Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to force him to hold a fair trial. While I’m concerned as anyone that McConnell just wants a sham acquittal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi objectively has no leverage over him. McConnell doesn’t want to hold a trial of the president at all, and a later trial isn’t necessarily worse for him, so the delay wouldn’t seem to give Democrats any advantage.
But the tactic is having at least one effect Democrats might welcome: It’s infuriating the president to no end.
It’s not even really clear how far Pelosi is willing to deploy this tactic. She hasn’t explicitly said she’s delaying sending the articles to the Senate. She just said that she has to see what the Senate trial will look like before she formulates a strategy for selecting impeachment managers and officially passing on the charges. And this all happened right before the House was dismissed for its winter break, and the Senate wasn’t expected to convene during the holidays either, so the “delay” could just end up being much ado about nothing.
And yet, Trump can’t stand it.
more...
https://www.nationalmemo.com/pelosi-impeachment-gambit-enrages-trump/?fbclid=IwAR1XWD5G3q7caUhdguSIaqpbCDsRRmyreYvhtSf0KjMmqrKWMJW1adZ2BAM&cn-reloaded=1
December 27, 2019
12/26/19 1:30pm
That's Right, The Women Are Smarter: 2020 Polling Shows Record Gender Gap
Whatever it is Trump is still selling, women aren't buying it.
By Susie Madrak
Harry Enten appeared on New Day to talk about the growing gender gap in 2020 presidential polling.
In 2016, he points out, women voted for Hillary Clinton by 14 percentage points. (Editor's note: More accurately, this reflects the 93% of black women who voted for Clinton. White women? Not so much. They've woken up since then.) That showed a gender gap of 25 percentage points.
snip//
Enten said the gap holds in the swing state. "Wisconsin, a key swing state, 32-point gender gap here. Democratic. women are voting Democratic by 17 points. So we see it in the swing states as well."
That's Right, The Women Are Smarter: 2020 Polling Shows Record Gender Gap
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/12/thats-right-women-are-smarter-2020-polling12/26/19 1:30pm
That's Right, The Women Are Smarter: 2020 Polling Shows Record Gender Gap
Whatever it is Trump is still selling, women aren't buying it.
By Susie Madrak
Harry Enten appeared on New Day to talk about the growing gender gap in 2020 presidential polling.
In 2016, he points out, women voted for Hillary Clinton by 14 percentage points. (Editor's note: More accurately, this reflects the 93% of black women who voted for Clinton. White women? Not so much. They've woken up since then.) That showed a gender gap of 25 percentage points.
"What does 2020 look like?" Alysin Camerota asked.
"So take a look here," Enten said. "I averaged our last two CNN polls, October and December. Take a look at this. I'm specifically looking at Biden and Trump to simplify things a bit. Take a look here. Women in average of our polls voting Democratic by 24 percentage points, voting for Joe Biden. Republicans voting for Trump by ten percentage points. That's a gender gap of 34 points. That is huge. I have never ever seen that before in any poll, heading into a presidential election."
"That's unbelievable."
"That's a canyon. I think the real question is why is this gap widening," Enten said.
"This is 2016 versus 2020, and what we see is women in 2016. Take a look at the Biden versus Trump polling. Men pretty much voting the same. 10 in 2020, 11 in 2016 both for the GOP. But women, that's where the gap is. Look at this. 24 point lead in our polling among women versus just a 14-point victory for Hillary Clinton back in 2016."
"So women either love Joe Biden or they have a problem voting for Donald Trump," Camerota said.
"I think the answer here is Trump. And let me just point out: if this holds with women, it would be the biggest Democratic victory among women just absolutely since 1964, even in that blowout election."
"So take a look here," Enten said. "I averaged our last two CNN polls, October and December. Take a look at this. I'm specifically looking at Biden and Trump to simplify things a bit. Take a look here. Women in average of our polls voting Democratic by 24 percentage points, voting for Joe Biden. Republicans voting for Trump by ten percentage points. That's a gender gap of 34 points. That is huge. I have never ever seen that before in any poll, heading into a presidential election."
"That's unbelievable."
"That's a canyon. I think the real question is why is this gap widening," Enten said.
"This is 2016 versus 2020, and what we see is women in 2016. Take a look at the Biden versus Trump polling. Men pretty much voting the same. 10 in 2020, 11 in 2016 both for the GOP. But women, that's where the gap is. Look at this. 24 point lead in our polling among women versus just a 14-point victory for Hillary Clinton back in 2016."
"So women either love Joe Biden or they have a problem voting for Donald Trump," Camerota said.
"I think the answer here is Trump. And let me just point out: if this holds with women, it would be the biggest Democratic victory among women just absolutely since 1964, even in that blowout election."
snip//
"I did a recent voter panel of white women without a college degree. We saw some erosion. People that were struggling with the previous vote," Camerota said.
"It's a 19-point going towards the Democratic party."
"It's a 19-point going towards the Democratic party."
Enten said the gap holds in the swing state. "Wisconsin, a key swing state, 32-point gender gap here. Democratic. women are voting Democratic by 17 points. So we see it in the swing states as well."
December 27, 2019
Millions of patients would be affected by DACA's termination, medical association leader says
Gabe Ortiz for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday December 26, 2019 · 5:15 PM EST
The president of the Association of American Medical Colleges writes that “a key tenet of medicine is to do no harm”—and the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program “falls well short of this ethical imperative.”
Dr. David Skorton, a cardiologist, writes in The Washington Post that it’s not just beneficiaries and their families who stand to be affected by the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the Trump administration’s termination of the program: “In fact, research indicates that the physicians and trainees who stand to lose their eligibility if DACA is eliminated would, collectively, serve as many as 5.1 million patients over the course of their careers.”
Among these medical students are Denisse Rojas and Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn—one of the DACA recipients who sued over the program’s termination—and they say the program has been key to their education and career goals. “It has really opened up so many doors,” Rojas told the Association of American Medical Colleges in 2017. “My mom immigrated to the United States without a high school education, but she earned her GED and enrolled in nursing school. She’s a source of light and inspiration to me. If my mom can do this, I can absolutely do this as well.”
Skorton writes that there are thousands of young immigrants who are in the same position as Rojas and Latthivongskorn across the U.S. “Today there are approximately 27,000 doctors, nurses, dentists, physician assistants and other health-care workers whose DACA status allows them to work and contribute to patient care. The program also is enabling nearly 200 current medical students and medical residents to pursue careers in medicine.”
He notes that the administration is also seeking to deport these young immigrants while at the same time the U.S. will be facing a massive shortage of doctors by 2032. “Every single U.S.-educated and -credentialed health professional—DACA or otherwise—is a precious asset to our country,” he continues. “Worse, this physician deficit will be concentrated most heavily in communities with the greatest need, including rural areas and low-income neighborhoods. As a result, some of our nation’s most vulnerable patients will be hardest hit.”
Of course, undocumented immigrants deserve protections not because of what they can contribute to the U.S., but because they’re human beings and families deserving of dignity and respect. With DACA, “I could finally breathe a sigh of relief,” fourth-year University of New Mexico School of Medicine student Yazmin Irazoqui Ruiz told Congress earlier this year. But now, “Here we are, facing that being taken away.”
Millions of patients would be affected by DACA's termination, medical association leader says
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/26/1904537/-Millions-of-patients-would-be-affected-by-DACA-s-termination-medical-association-leader-saysMillions of patients would be affected by DACA's termination, medical association leader says
Gabe Ortiz for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday December 26, 2019 · 5:15 PM EST
The president of the Association of American Medical Colleges writes that “a key tenet of medicine is to do no harm”—and the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program “falls well short of this ethical imperative.”
Dr. David Skorton, a cardiologist, writes in The Washington Post that it’s not just beneficiaries and their families who stand to be affected by the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the Trump administration’s termination of the program: “In fact, research indicates that the physicians and trainees who stand to lose their eligibility if DACA is eliminated would, collectively, serve as many as 5.1 million patients over the course of their careers.”
Among these medical students are Denisse Rojas and Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn—one of the DACA recipients who sued over the program’s termination—and they say the program has been key to their education and career goals. “It has really opened up so many doors,” Rojas told the Association of American Medical Colleges in 2017. “My mom immigrated to the United States without a high school education, but she earned her GED and enrolled in nursing school. She’s a source of light and inspiration to me. If my mom can do this, I can absolutely do this as well.”
Skorton writes that there are thousands of young immigrants who are in the same position as Rojas and Latthivongskorn across the U.S. “Today there are approximately 27,000 doctors, nurses, dentists, physician assistants and other health-care workers whose DACA status allows them to work and contribute to patient care. The program also is enabling nearly 200 current medical students and medical residents to pursue careers in medicine.”
He notes that the administration is also seeking to deport these young immigrants while at the same time the U.S. will be facing a massive shortage of doctors by 2032. “Every single U.S.-educated and -credentialed health professional—DACA or otherwise—is a precious asset to our country,” he continues. “Worse, this physician deficit will be concentrated most heavily in communities with the greatest need, including rural areas and low-income neighborhoods. As a result, some of our nation’s most vulnerable patients will be hardest hit.”
Of course, undocumented immigrants deserve protections not because of what they can contribute to the U.S., but because they’re human beings and families deserving of dignity and respect. With DACA, “I could finally breathe a sigh of relief,” fourth-year University of New Mexico School of Medicine student Yazmin Irazoqui Ruiz told Congress earlier this year. But now, “Here we are, facing that being taken away.”
December 26, 2019
Ursula Perano
36 mins ago
Survey: Germans say Trump is more dangerous than Putin, Kim or Xi
41% of Germans believe President Trump is more of a threat to world peace than North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping or Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a YouGov survey reported by DW.
Why it matters: The results show the degree to which trust in U.S. leadership has eroded under Trump, even among countries like Germany that are traditionally viewed as close allies.
Details: 2,000 Germans participated in the survey, which was conducted between Dec. 16 and 18. Kim Jong-un came in second at 17%, followed by Putin and Khamenei at 8% and Xi at 7%.
Between the lines: Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have a rocky relationship. Trump has bashed Germany and other European countries for what he views as unfair trade policies and a failure to hit NATO defense spending targets.
Go deeper: NATO allies spooked by Trump despite White House soothing
Survey: Germans say Trump is more dangerous than Putin, Kim or Xi
https://www.axios.com/germany-trump-dangerous-putin-kim-xi-64205f2a-9eb2-4884-a9f9-c7e57a017420.htmlUrsula Perano
36 mins ago
Survey: Germans say Trump is more dangerous than Putin, Kim or Xi
41% of Germans believe President Trump is more of a threat to world peace than North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping or Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a YouGov survey reported by DW.
Why it matters: The results show the degree to which trust in U.S. leadership has eroded under Trump, even among countries like Germany that are traditionally viewed as close allies.
Details: 2,000 Germans participated in the survey, which was conducted between Dec. 16 and 18. Kim Jong-un came in second at 17%, followed by Putin and Khamenei at 8% and Xi at 7%.
Between the lines: Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have a rocky relationship. Trump has bashed Germany and other European countries for what he views as unfair trade policies and a failure to hit NATO defense spending targets.
Go deeper: NATO allies spooked by Trump despite White House soothing
December 26, 2019
A President Who Ignores the Constitution Is a Colossal Threat—Even to His Own Party | Opinion
Christine Todd Whitman
On 12/24/19 at 10:33 AM EST
Christine Todd Whitman
President Donald Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives. What happens in the Senate in early 2020 may not remove him from office, but this is nonetheless a historic moment. If we peel back the political layers of this situation, we can begin to understand its significance, as well as the dangers it presents to America and, yes, the Republican Party.
My fellow Republicans face a critical question: Are we affronted by Trump's undermining of the rule of law, as the face of our party? Our highest office holder has ignored the Constitution, our nation's foundational and overriding legal document. It appears true that constitutional arguments do not grip the American public. However, it is critical for the future of our nation that we make no partisan exceptions when it comes to the rule of law.
snip//
As a Republican who increasingly doesn't recognize the party of which I have been a member for more than 50 years, I am deeply concerned for the future. The American people deserve a Congress that stands for more than just partisan politics. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi allowed her caucus to vote their conscience, but Republicans were twisting arms in every direction to ensure that the ranks would not break. Imagine if we allowed representatives to do what they were elected to do—represent their constituents. As the trial heads to the Senate, I can only implore my party to let people vote their conscience. Let them uphold the oath they swore when elected and will swear again for this unique session.
Now we wait, as Republicans and Democrats dig in their heels. Considering the offenses, I question the lack of bipartisan concern over our president's subversion of political power and authority. Many Republicans may push against impeachment because it threatens the power their party enjoys with one of their own in the White House, but some heels may be too deeply rooted in the floor to appreciate the big picture of this threat.
This should not be layers on layers of politics. This is about the sanctity and security of our Constitution. We cannot abide by a precedent that ignores the rule of law when our party is benefited. A president who ignores the Constitution and obstructs Congress is a colossal threat, even to the party he or she represents. Trump is counting on the support of his party in the Senate, but his safety net appears to be our party's self-destruct button.
A President Who Ignores the Constitution Is a Colossal Threat--Even to His Own Party
https://www.newsweek.com/president-who-ignores-constitution-colossal-threateven-his-own-party-opinion-1479049?utm_source=GoogleNewsstandUS&utm_medium=Feed&utm_campaign=Partnerships&fbclid=IwAR0B3dqNHFrvtbaPXlPRJtHjCs1L90UyOmEmqhO5ZVe3UqOVTP7BwmiPvnwA President Who Ignores the Constitution Is a Colossal Threat—Even to His Own Party | Opinion
Christine Todd Whitman
On 12/24/19 at 10:33 AM EST
Christine Todd Whitman
President Donald Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives. What happens in the Senate in early 2020 may not remove him from office, but this is nonetheless a historic moment. If we peel back the political layers of this situation, we can begin to understand its significance, as well as the dangers it presents to America and, yes, the Republican Party.
My fellow Republicans face a critical question: Are we affronted by Trump's undermining of the rule of law, as the face of our party? Our highest office holder has ignored the Constitution, our nation's foundational and overriding legal document. It appears true that constitutional arguments do not grip the American public. However, it is critical for the future of our nation that we make no partisan exceptions when it comes to the rule of law.
snip//
As a Republican who increasingly doesn't recognize the party of which I have been a member for more than 50 years, I am deeply concerned for the future. The American people deserve a Congress that stands for more than just partisan politics. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi allowed her caucus to vote their conscience, but Republicans were twisting arms in every direction to ensure that the ranks would not break. Imagine if we allowed representatives to do what they were elected to do—represent their constituents. As the trial heads to the Senate, I can only implore my party to let people vote their conscience. Let them uphold the oath they swore when elected and will swear again for this unique session.
Now we wait, as Republicans and Democrats dig in their heels. Considering the offenses, I question the lack of bipartisan concern over our president's subversion of political power and authority. Many Republicans may push against impeachment because it threatens the power their party enjoys with one of their own in the White House, but some heels may be too deeply rooted in the floor to appreciate the big picture of this threat.
This should not be layers on layers of politics. This is about the sanctity and security of our Constitution. We cannot abide by a precedent that ignores the rule of law when our party is benefited. A president who ignores the Constitution and obstructs Congress is a colossal threat, even to the party he or she represents. Trump is counting on the support of his party in the Senate, but his safety net appears to be our party's self-destruct button.
December 26, 2019
Officials Who Spoke Out Against Trump Continue To Pay The Price
By Kate Riga
December 26, 2019 10:50 a.m.
President Donald Trump and his loyal Republicans have turned against many of his own foreign policy apparatuses since the impeachment inquiry, leaving those officials who spoke out against him to pay the price in the workplace.
According to the Washington Post, an uptick of angry tweets from Trump sends armed security officers to the whistleblower’s side to protect him from threats while on his way to and from work at the CIA.
Bill Taylor, top diplomat in Ukraine, has opted to step down in January rather than try to continue his job as Rudy Giuliani impresses upon Ukrainian officials his lack of standing with the President. By stepping down early in the month, Taylor is also sparing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from having to appear beside him during a January trip to Kyiv.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council official, has continued to work in the White House since his testimony. But Trump and his allies have smeared him as being in cahoots with the whistleblower to undermine the President, calling him “vindictive Vindman.”
Fiona Hill, former top Russia adviser at the White House, has become a favorite target of far-right media, and has consequently received abusive phone calls, some of which have scared her young daughter. Alex Jones, the right-wing troll who runs InfoWars, has advocated for her to be punished for her testimony, adding a misogynistic flourish: “indict the whore.”
For Hill at least, the venom isn’t entirely new. Since she began working on the NSC, both external and internal attempts to discredit her flooded in as Steve Bannon and his ilk crafted an “enemies” list of people whose abject loyalty to Trump was in doubt.
Now, those tensions have been blown open as usually apolitical foreign policy officers are called to testify about their true feelings about Trump’s behavior.
Officials Who Spoke Out Against Trump Continue To Pay The Price
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-testify-nsc-diplomat-hill-taylor-vindman?fbclid=IwAR1Tzg_WnpugDJjJLUQL1MGBv-aZq6jXYz4t6sC4yuG8QB_XEXuxjXZV5GQOfficials Who Spoke Out Against Trump Continue To Pay The Price
By Kate Riga
December 26, 2019 10:50 a.m.
President Donald Trump and his loyal Republicans have turned against many of his own foreign policy apparatuses since the impeachment inquiry, leaving those officials who spoke out against him to pay the price in the workplace.
According to the Washington Post, an uptick of angry tweets from Trump sends armed security officers to the whistleblower’s side to protect him from threats while on his way to and from work at the CIA.
Bill Taylor, top diplomat in Ukraine, has opted to step down in January rather than try to continue his job as Rudy Giuliani impresses upon Ukrainian officials his lack of standing with the President. By stepping down early in the month, Taylor is also sparing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from having to appear beside him during a January trip to Kyiv.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council official, has continued to work in the White House since his testimony. But Trump and his allies have smeared him as being in cahoots with the whistleblower to undermine the President, calling him “vindictive Vindman.”
Fiona Hill, former top Russia adviser at the White House, has become a favorite target of far-right media, and has consequently received abusive phone calls, some of which have scared her young daughter. Alex Jones, the right-wing troll who runs InfoWars, has advocated for her to be punished for her testimony, adding a misogynistic flourish: “indict the whore.”
For Hill at least, the venom isn’t entirely new. Since she began working on the NSC, both external and internal attempts to discredit her flooded in as Steve Bannon and his ilk crafted an “enemies” list of people whose abject loyalty to Trump was in doubt.
Now, those tensions have been blown open as usually apolitical foreign policy officers are called to testify about their true feelings about Trump’s behavior.
December 26, 2019
Kentucky State Newspaper Publishes Scathing Op-Ed, Accused Mitch McConnell Of Violating His Oath
Even his home state has no problem calling him out.
Andrea Thompson
by Andrea Thompson 1 hour ago
snip//
But while the majority of the country expected nothing less out of ol’ “Moscow” Mitch, one newspaper from McConnell’s own home state of Kentucky has absolutely no intention of letting their Senator get away with this mockery — at least not without very publicly calling him out on it.
In a downright blistering editorial in the Louisville Courier-Journal, penned by Boston College law professor and Kentucky native Kent Greenfield, the Senate Majority Leader found himself properly called out by Greenfield, who wrote that Mitch would be violating his oath if he does not do what is required by the very Constitution he took an oath to uphold — ensure that Donald’s impeachment trial in the Senate receives the proper full and fair hearing.
Greenfield pointed out in his discourse that Mitch has already given several indications that he has no intention of being a fair or impartial juror in regard to Trump’s impeachment trial and has even gone so far as to publicly admit his coordination with Trump’s White House lawyers.
It seems strikingly clear that even Mitch’s home state has no love left for him.
He had better hope that whatever reasoning is behind his blind loyalty to Donald Trump is worth it. Because he won’t be seeing another term come election season.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2019/12/26/trump-impeachment-mitch-mcconnell-about-violate-two-oaths/2714462001/
Opinion: Donald Trump has violated his oath. Mitch McConnell is about to violate 2
Kentucky State Newspaper Publishes Scathing Op-Ed, Accused Mitch McConnell Of Violating His Oath
https://politicaltribune.org/kentucky-state-newspaper-publishes-scathing-op-ed-accused-mitch-mcconnell-of-violating-his-oath/?fbclid=IwAR0Ge-SZAL98REQinewN5jfTfg00UDNUJ9N74C_GXiHNxonLDJerSgbS-pgKentucky State Newspaper Publishes Scathing Op-Ed, Accused Mitch McConnell Of Violating His Oath
Even his home state has no problem calling him out.
Andrea Thompson
by Andrea Thompson 1 hour ago
snip//
But while the majority of the country expected nothing less out of ol’ “Moscow” Mitch, one newspaper from McConnell’s own home state of Kentucky has absolutely no intention of letting their Senator get away with this mockery — at least not without very publicly calling him out on it.
In a downright blistering editorial in the Louisville Courier-Journal, penned by Boston College law professor and Kentucky native Kent Greenfield, the Senate Majority Leader found himself properly called out by Greenfield, who wrote that Mitch would be violating his oath if he does not do what is required by the very Constitution he took an oath to uphold — ensure that Donald’s impeachment trial in the Senate receives the proper full and fair hearing.
“The framers wanted to make sure the Senate would never take such a trial lightly — this oath requirement is over and above the oath each senator has already taken to support the Constitution,” Greenfield wrote. “The Constitution does not set out the text of the trial oath, but the Senate rules do. Senators will ‘solemnly swear… that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.'”
Greenfield pointed out in his discourse that Mitch has already given several indications that he has no intention of being a fair or impartial juror in regard to Trump’s impeachment trial and has even gone so far as to publicly admit his coordination with Trump’s White House lawyers.
“Short of declaring war, the Senate is about to conduct its gravest and most serious constitutional obligation — to exercise the ‘sole power to try’ impeachments,” the Kentucky native ended. “All senators should take their obligation of faithful impartiality seriously, especially McConnell. History is watching, and it will be a harsh judge.”
It seems strikingly clear that even Mitch’s home state has no love left for him.
He had better hope that whatever reasoning is behind his blind loyalty to Donald Trump is worth it. Because he won’t be seeing another term come election season.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2019/12/26/trump-impeachment-mitch-mcconnell-about-violate-two-oaths/2714462001/
Opinion: Donald Trump has violated his oath. Mitch McConnell is about to violate 2
December 26, 2019
Solid majorities think Trump abused his power and should have complied with impeachment inquiry
Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday December 26, 2019 · 9:00 AM EST
Democrats landed on drafting just two articles of impeachment narrowly focused on Donald Trump's Ukraine scandal for multiple reasons. But one of those factors is surely that American voters largely support the premise of both articles—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—even if they still don't support removing Trump from office over it.
To determine whether voters think Trump abused his powers, FiveThirtyEight went back and averaged eight high-quality polls from late September to late November testing the abuse of power question.
Civiqs polling is roughly similar, with 53% saying he committed impeachable offenses, while 45% say he has not. FiveThirtyEight similarly revisited several polls released since the impeachment inquiry began that tested perceptions of whether Trump has adequately cooperated with the inquiry.
But while solid majorities say Trump should have complied, just 48% of voters in a late November Economist/YouGov poll disapproved of his decision to ignore congressional subpoenas, while 33% approved and 18% were unsure what they thought. The result suggests that even if strong majorities favored Trump’s compliance, some people weren’t exactly sure what to think about Trump's level of cooperation. A more recent early-December Monmouth poll, however, found that 61% of voters think Trump did not cooperate (just 31% think he did) and 53% say he did so specifically to hinder the investigation (while 35% say he had legitimate reasons).
Overall, Americans are inclined to agree with the articles of impeachment as laid out by Democrats even if they are sometimes unsure of exactly what happened. In the case of both articles, solid majorities believe Trump abused his power and think he should have cooperated with congressional investigators.
Solid majorities think Trump abused his power and should have complied with impeachment inquiry
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/26/1905311/-Solid-majorities-think-Trump-abused-his-power-and-should-have-complied-with-impeachment-inquirySolid majorities think Trump abused his power and should have complied with impeachment inquiry
Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday December 26, 2019 · 9:00 AM EST
Democrats landed on drafting just two articles of impeachment narrowly focused on Donald Trump's Ukraine scandal for multiple reasons. But one of those factors is surely that American voters largely support the premise of both articles—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—even if they still don't support removing Trump from office over it.
To determine whether voters think Trump abused his powers, FiveThirtyEight went back and averaged eight high-quality polls from late September to late November testing the abuse of power question.
We found that 54 percent of Americans believe Trump either abused his power or acted in his own self-interest, while 39 percent said he had not. That’s basically in line with the share of Americans who believe Trump committed an impeachable offense, according to our own polling with Ipsos.
Civiqs polling is roughly similar, with 53% saying he committed impeachable offenses, while 45% say he has not. FiveThirtyEight similarly revisited several polls released since the impeachment inquiry began that tested perceptions of whether Trump has adequately cooperated with the inquiry.
In a Suffolk poll conducted in late October, 66 percent of Americans agreed that the White House has an obligation to comply with subpoenas from the House committees demanding testimony and documents. A Quinnipiac poll released about a month later found that 76 percent of the public thought Trump should comply fully with the impeachment inquiry.
But while solid majorities say Trump should have complied, just 48% of voters in a late November Economist/YouGov poll disapproved of his decision to ignore congressional subpoenas, while 33% approved and 18% were unsure what they thought. The result suggests that even if strong majorities favored Trump’s compliance, some people weren’t exactly sure what to think about Trump's level of cooperation. A more recent early-December Monmouth poll, however, found that 61% of voters think Trump did not cooperate (just 31% think he did) and 53% say he did so specifically to hinder the investigation (while 35% say he had legitimate reasons).
Overall, Americans are inclined to agree with the articles of impeachment as laid out by Democrats even if they are sometimes unsure of exactly what happened. In the case of both articles, solid majorities believe Trump abused his power and think he should have cooperated with congressional investigators.
December 26, 2019
Republicans see Clinton’s impeachment through rose-colored glasses
12/26/19 10:03 AM
By Steve Benen
If the point of the headline on Karl Rove’ latest Wall Street Journal column was to get attention, the editors succeeded. It read, “Clinton’s Impeachment Was Dignified.”
Those of us who remember the details of the impeachment saga surrounding Bill Clinton, and read Ken Starr’s report, can probably think of a variety of adjectives. “Dignified” isn’t one of them.
A week earlier, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), one of the House impeachment managers who encouraged the Senate to remove Clinton from office 20 years, wrote an op-ed for the New York Times and emphasized an even less defensible point.
Sensenbrenner’s underlying point was that contemporary House Democrats failed because they didn’t convince House Republicans of Donald Trump’s guilt. It’s a difficult argument to take seriously, since for GOP lawmakers, nothing short of a signed presidential confession would’ve made a difference.
snip//
It’s amazing that we even have to revisit all of this. As we’ve discussed before, some younger news consumers may have limited memories of the era, but in the 1990s, most Republicans in D.C. woke up every morning with a fairly specific goal: trying to destroy the Clinton presidency. It was an era in which Tom DeLay ran a scorched-earth campaign against the White House. It was an era in which Newt Gingrich shut down the government because Clinton made him use the wrong exit on Air Force One. It was an era in which Dan Burton, the then-chairman of the House Oversight Committee, felt compelled to shoot melons in his backyard in the hopes of proving that there were murderers in the White House.
And it was an era in which Republicans’ hatred for Clinton led them to impeach the president as part of a partisan and undignified campaign. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.
Republicans see Clinton's impeachment through rose-colored glasses
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republicans-see-clintons-impeachment-through-rose-colored-glassesRepublicans see Clinton’s impeachment through rose-colored glasses
12/26/19 10:03 AM
By Steve Benen
If the point of the headline on Karl Rove’ latest Wall Street Journal column was to get attention, the editors succeeded. It read, “Clinton’s Impeachment Was Dignified.”
Those of us who remember the details of the impeachment saga surrounding Bill Clinton, and read Ken Starr’s report, can probably think of a variety of adjectives. “Dignified” isn’t one of them.
A week earlier, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), one of the House impeachment managers who encouraged the Senate to remove Clinton from office 20 years, wrote an op-ed for the New York Times and emphasized an even less defensible point.
Earlier this Congress, Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, and Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, set forth criteria for undertaking an impeachment. They said that the evidence would have to be overwhelming and compelling, and, importantly, it would have to be bipartisan.
Looking back at the Clinton impeachment, I’m convinced we satisfied each of these. Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel, conducted a very lengthy and nonpartisan investigation…. Mr. Starr testified before our committee that the president might have committed impeachable offenses.
Looking back at the Clinton impeachment, I’m convinced we satisfied each of these. Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel, conducted a very lengthy and nonpartisan investigation…. Mr. Starr testified before our committee that the president might have committed impeachable offenses.
Sensenbrenner’s underlying point was that contemporary House Democrats failed because they didn’t convince House Republicans of Donald Trump’s guilt. It’s a difficult argument to take seriously, since for GOP lawmakers, nothing short of a signed presidential confession would’ve made a difference.
snip//
It’s amazing that we even have to revisit all of this. As we’ve discussed before, some younger news consumers may have limited memories of the era, but in the 1990s, most Republicans in D.C. woke up every morning with a fairly specific goal: trying to destroy the Clinton presidency. It was an era in which Tom DeLay ran a scorched-earth campaign against the White House. It was an era in which Newt Gingrich shut down the government because Clinton made him use the wrong exit on Air Force One. It was an era in which Dan Burton, the then-chairman of the House Oversight Committee, felt compelled to shoot melons in his backyard in the hopes of proving that there were murderers in the White House.
And it was an era in which Republicans’ hatred for Clinton led them to impeach the president as part of a partisan and undignified campaign. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.
December 25, 2019
Posted on Tue, Dec 24th, 2019 by Adalia Woodbury
Opinion: Impeachment Is The Christmas Present Trump Deserves
Days after Speaker Pelosi led the House to impeach Donald Trump, the president and Republican leaders continue to feel the same sting a child feels when punished.
The fact that impeachment happened before Congress and the President went to their holiday destinations means Donald Trump got the Christmas present he deserved. For once, the return reflected the quality of his decisions and deeds.
To hear Republicans tell it, Trump was Jesus and everyone who ever faced persecution throughout the history of humanity and the only reason is because Democrats hate him. That is the greatest big lie of all the big lies surrounding the one means by which Donald Trump came anywhere near the concept of personal responsibility.
snip//
Let’s put the emphasis on celebrating the fact that the rule of law remains alive. In the coming year we have the chance to cement our faith in the ideas of equality, democratic representative in a Republic where the rule of law is king, not in a place where a king is the rule of law.
Making that statement means showing Trump and his counterpart in the Senate, the door. This year, Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives gave Donald Trump the Christmas present he deserved. It’s up to us to give ourselves the government we deserve in the upcoming year.
Opinion: Impeachment Is The Christmas Present Trump Deserves
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/12/24/opinion-impeachment-is-the-christmas-present-trump-deserves.htmlPosted on Tue, Dec 24th, 2019 by Adalia Woodbury
Opinion: Impeachment Is The Christmas Present Trump Deserves
Days after Speaker Pelosi led the House to impeach Donald Trump, the president and Republican leaders continue to feel the same sting a child feels when punished.
The fact that impeachment happened before Congress and the President went to their holiday destinations means Donald Trump got the Christmas present he deserved. For once, the return reflected the quality of his decisions and deeds.
To hear Republicans tell it, Trump was Jesus and everyone who ever faced persecution throughout the history of humanity and the only reason is because Democrats hate him. That is the greatest big lie of all the big lies surrounding the one means by which Donald Trump came anywhere near the concept of personal responsibility.
snip//
Let’s put the emphasis on celebrating the fact that the rule of law remains alive. In the coming year we have the chance to cement our faith in the ideas of equality, democratic representative in a Republic where the rule of law is king, not in a place where a king is the rule of law.
Making that statement means showing Trump and his counterpart in the Senate, the door. This year, Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives gave Donald Trump the Christmas present he deserved. It’s up to us to give ourselves the government we deserve in the upcoming year.
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