General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Roger Stone's Head [View all]H2O Man
(73,506 posts)Whoever you are looking for isn't here ....it's just me and the dogs.
It's hard to say. I know that among republicans in the Senate, there are discussions about some research they have had done on impeachment. It has to do with the post-Nixon events. In both the Reagan/Bush and Clinton cases, of course, impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate were possibilities. Some Democrats were making a good case for impeaching Reagan for Iran-Contra. Even at the time when he denied knowing anything about it, that was a second ground for impeachment.
Republicans in particular argued that, so close to Nixon, it would destabilize the government. They were sincere in believing it would damage the nation domestically and internationally. One of their main points was that Reagan was close to closing a deal with the USSR on nuclear weapons. They also noted he was half-way through his second term, and Democrats had a very good chance of taking the White House in '88.
Enough Democrats went along with it, that Reagan didn't face impeachment. Some Democrats were still intent upon impeaching Bush, but obviously, not enough.
With Clinton, while I didn't think his lies were cause for impeachment, others did. I think more republicans were upset by sex in the White House. When the House impeached him, and sent it to the Senate, there were Democrats unsure of how to vote. So they went to Senator Robert Byrd. Now, Byrd believed Clinton committed an impeachable offense. He actually spoke of wanted to vote to impeach him. But, he said, it would be damaging to the nation. Clinton was also half-way through his second term. Byrd made a comment I thought I'd always remember ....but I'm old, you know, and not very bright .... but Byrd said that there are times when rational thought points in one direction, but wisdom points in a different direction.
Based upon what is known now, it's likely the republicans in the Senate will say what Trump did was clearly wrong, but not enough to remove him. And that's a shame, because unlike Reagan or Clinton, Trump cannot be trusted to not engage in equally corrupt behaviors in the future. Just the opposite -- if Trump remains in office, or "wins" the 2020 election, it is 100% certain he will increase the levels of corruption.
Oh, wait! You asked a question. On November 19, 2020, Trump will be either a lame duck, or a turd that has been flushed away.