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Dem donor Steyer wrong to push impeachment platform in 2018
The Hill ^ | October 12, 2017 | Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor

Posted on 10/12/2017 7:38:52 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

California Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer should be applauded for his powerful efforts to support progressive causes and candidates and to strongly resist the egregious wrongs being done by President Trump.

However, this week, Steyer went much too far by writing a letter demanding that Democrats running in the 2018 midterm elections make the impeachment of President Trump a central issue in their campaigns.

Yes, as Steyer correctly charges, Trump creates a clear and present danger to the core values and institutions of the republic. But no, making impeachment a defining issue in the 2018 campaign is not a smart move and in fact would undercut the noble causes that Steyer and all progressives are trying to advance.

At this moment, Trump is fomenting a civil war within the Republican Party and conservative movement. Trump, Stephen Bannon and a growing number of the most conservative groups in America are waging a political war against Republican leaders in Congress and a significant number of Republican incumbents running for re-election in the House and Senate.

At this moment, as well, the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller and his team into Russian aggression against American democracy and potential collusion with individuals on the Trump team is widening and deepening.

It is very possible that, stemming from this investigation, voters will witness the first indictments or plea bargains in the coming weeks and months in return for more evidence being provided.

Rather than calling for the president’s impeachment or removal under the 25th Amendment as a campaign platform in 2018, Democrats should wait for the investigation to produce actions based on evidence involving those currently under investigation.

America is today being governed as a one-party state, with Republicans in control of the presidency, the House and the Senate. The prime directive for Democrats and progressives should be to win control in the midterm elections of the House, the Senate or both. This would create the ultimate and currently nonexistent check against the extreme dangers created by the Trump presidency.

At this moment, Democrats have a significant chance of regaining control of the House and an increasingly realistic chance of regaining control of the Senate, which was unthinkable months ago.

To achieve control of Congress, Democrats will have to win key races in red and purple states, as well as blue states. Democrats will have to win House and Senate campaigns in states and districts in which voters today oppose impeachment by substantial margins.

It is dead wrong to demand these candidates campaign on a platform of impeaching the president, because it would be highly unpopular with voters who will decide their fates.

What is urgently needed, instead, is a major infusion of financial support and grassroots mobilization to support Democrats running in red states and districts, as well as Democrats running in blue states and districts.

There is a major special election for a Senate seat coming on Dec. 12 in Alabama. It is a choice between Roy Moore, a far-right extremist who embodies everything that Steyer and other Democrats loathe, and Doug Jones, a highly respected Democrat who embodies the highest traditions, values and visions that Democrats stand for in the South and all regions of the nation.

Jones has a chance of defeating Moore, and if he does, it will be a political "shot heard around the world," a kind of Lexington and Concord moment for American politics that will reverberate across the nation.

What Steyer should be doing — along with the sleepwalking Democratic National Committee — is going all-out to support Jones in his underdog but viable campaign to be elected as the next Democratic Senator from Alabama.

Supporting candidates such as Jones is the way for Democrats to address the challenges facing the party and the nation, not creating litmus tests about impeachment that hurt the great cause that Steyer, progressives and all Democrats champion for the 2018 midterms.

***********

Brent Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), then-chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. in international financial law from the London School of Economics.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Parties; U.S. Congress; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: 2018; democrats; steyer; trump
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1 posted on 10/12/2017 7:38:53 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

DO IT!! DO IT!!!

Things just get better and better every day :)


2 posted on 10/12/2017 7:40:50 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump isouokt of office, it is WAR!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It is dead wrong to demand these candidates campaign on a platform of impeaching the president, because it would be highly unpopular with voters who will decide their fates.

But, it is fine to campaign on transgender bathroom "rights" and unlimited illegal immigration. Those are very popular, right? :-)
3 posted on 10/12/2017 7:42:55 AM PDT by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Doug Jones, a highly respected Democrat who embodies the highest traditions, values and visions that Democrats stand for in the South and all regions of the nation.

Abortion a 'difficult issue' for Alabama Democrats as Doug Jones pushes pro-choice stance


4 posted on 10/12/2017 7:44:00 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

http://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Abortion-a-difficult-issue-for-Alabama-Democrats-as-Doug-Jones-pushes-pro-choice-stance-450104903.html


5 posted on 10/12/2017 7:44:35 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

6 posted on 10/12/2017 7:45:46 AM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

tl;dr

couldn’t get passed the ‘but’ part.


7 posted on 10/12/2017 7:47:28 AM PDT by Fhios (Down with your fascism, up with our fascism.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

I know Texas is YUGE but what’s with the blue at the bottom?

And even NY looks quite red! Is it NYC that kills us?

I’m a staten island and we voted Trump 57 percent. A WEAK number, but people had strong feelings either way about him.

I Expect to see my fellow Islanders go at LEAST 63 percent for him next time.

Though the north shore is littered with obama’s sons and daughters.


8 posted on 10/12/2017 7:48:02 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump isouokt of office, it is WAR!)
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To: dp0622
That's a queer proposal.

=================taking back the English language===

queer |kwi(ə)r| adjective
1 strange; odd: she had a queer feeling that they were being watched.

• [ predic. ] dated slightly ill.
2 informal, often offensive (especially of a man) homosexual.

9 posted on 10/12/2017 7:49:23 AM PDT by ptsal ( Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - M. Twain)
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To: dp0622

Exactly what “egregious wrongs” is Trump pushing’ cupcake?


10 posted on 10/12/2017 7:49:24 AM PDT by Stand W (My Name is Tucker Carlson and I am going to destroy you.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As stubborn as POTUS.45 is, he will only take it personally and go to the hilt to win, rain or shine, hook or crook, etc.—and I won’t even go further with what I really wanted to finish this with here!
But you folks are already thinking these things!

Semper POTUS.45 Locked and Cocked!
TRUMP IF We CAN KEEP HIM!
Gunny G
*****


11 posted on 10/12/2017 7:51:47 AM PDT by gunnyg ("A Constitution changed from Freedom, can never be restored; Liberty, once lost, is lost forever...)
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To: dp0622

Cities are the problem in every single state.


12 posted on 10/12/2017 7:52:21 AM PDT by workerbee (America finally has an American president again.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Leftists are pretty much all stupid.


13 posted on 10/12/2017 7:52:54 AM PDT by jospehm20
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To: dp0622

The blue at the bottom of Texas is muy Hispanic. These are many of the counties that have more registered voters than population. Twelve counties I think

But there IS no voting fraud. I have it on good authority from Progda


14 posted on 10/12/2017 7:53:04 AM PDT by Stand W (My Name is Tucker Carlson and I am going to destroy you.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"As a Democrat Senator in this Republican and Trump-leaning state, I pledge to impeach President Trump if re-elected."

Yeah, that should fly for the vulnerable Democrats up for re-election this cycle...

15 posted on 10/12/2017 7:53:05 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (eliminate perverse incentives)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Jones has a chance of defeating Moore.

No he doesn't....

16 posted on 10/12/2017 7:53:16 AM PDT by apillar
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To: Stand W

None, which is why it would be GREAT if dems ran on this!!

They would get slaughtered!!

You have to add 5 to 7 percent to any approval rating on Trump because of those who fear to tell the truth for some reason.

My wife has a big MAGA sticker on her bag and she works in Columbus Circle in Manhattan!! :)

Tough broad


17 posted on 10/12/2017 7:53:48 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump isouokt of office, it is WAR!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

a highly respected Democrat who embodies the highest traditions, values and visions that Democrats stand for in the South and all regions of the nation.

Corruption, Oppression, Slavery, Bondage,...


18 posted on 10/12/2017 7:53:59 AM PDT by eyeamok (Idle hands are the Devil's workshop)
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To: workerbee

Cities are the problem, worldwide!


19 posted on 10/12/2017 7:55:18 AM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (The world continues to be stuck in a "all leftist, all of the time" funk. BUNK THE FUNK!)
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To: Stand W

No, none :)

Even though a scientific study showed FIVE MILLION potential illegal votes

Trump has to clean up the voting system before 2020.


20 posted on 10/12/2017 7:56:00 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump isouokt of office, it is WAR!)
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