Posted on 01/15/2020 6:16:28 AM PST by Kaslin
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is gloating because President Donald Trump is "impeached for life," and "there's nothing the Senate can do that can ever erase that." Like a prosecutor telling a defendant, even if acquitted, you're "indicted for life" and you'll never shake the disgrace. So much for the noble principle of innocent until proven guilty.
Could this be the same never-hate Pelosi who wore black on Dec. 18 as she "solemnly and sadly" called for a vote to impeach the president? What a charade. The Dems' goal all along has been to impeach Trump and damage his re-electability in 2020.
The House is preparing to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, where a trial will get underway next week. Already, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are conspiring to make the disgrace stick by smearing Trump's likely acquittal as a cover-up.
They've been demanding an upfront guarantee that the Senate will call White House staff as witnesses, knowing that's a nonstarter with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell prefers the trial format used for Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment: First, the House presents its charges, and Trump's lawyers rebut. If the senators need to know more, they can call witnesses. Delaying that decision doesn't mean the trial is rigged.
Some Trump supporters are urging the Supreme Court to step in to halt the Senate trial before it begins. That will go nowhere because the Court ruled unequivocally and unanimously in 1993 that it would not interfere in impeachments. It's up to the Senate to question the wisdom of degrading impeachment into a partisan tool. Allow it now, and any future House majority can impeach a president they don't like.
After all, House Dems argued Trump could be impeached even if he hasn't violated any law. Their first article of impeachment accuses him of putting "personal political benefit" ahead of "the interests of the nation." Who's to say what's in the national interest?
That definition of an impeachable offense is so vague and subjective that any president could be impeached. Senators should reject it.
Democrats charge Trump with a second offense, "obstruction of Congress," for claiming executive privilege and refusing to allow White House staff to testify. But executive privilege isn't something Trump invented. Previous presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama have said "no" to congressional requests, relying on the courts to referee. This time, House Democrats were in a rush to impeach and unwilling to battle Trump in court. They took a short cut around our constitutional system of checks and balances. Senators shouldn't go along with it.
The Senate could vote to dismiss the articles, on the basis that these charges are not impeachable offenses. Trump called for that on Sunday, but there is no political will among Senate Republicans to take the heat for that. And the truth is that acquittal is better than dismissal.
So, after opening arguments, the next question is whether to extend the trial and call witnesses. Dems are running ads against vulnerable Republicans like Maine's Susan Collins accusing them of unfairness for not guaranteeing witnesses, and it's having an impact. Collins indicated on Friday she'll try to get witnesses called. But calling witnesses isn't the same as getting them.
Even if the Senate votes to subpoena White House staff, including former national security adviser John Bolton, don't count on hearing from them. Trump indicated on Friday that he intends to limit or block testimony, including Bolton's, citing executive privilege. Bolton may defy Trump, but it's less likely Trump's current top advisers will.
In ordinary times, Trump's stance would set up a court battle. Dems lost their chance for that once they voted to impeach. The 1993 ruling makes it clear the Supreme Court will no longer intervene. That means there's no practical way to force the president to produce witnesses.
Expect a short trial, an acquittal and no relief from the venomous anti-Trump rancor driving the Democratic Party. House Democrats are looking for new grounds to impeach. As if Congress had nothing better to do.
and apparently they are all prog commies for life...which far worse than being fake impeached.
And Trump will be the first impeached POTUS to be reelected.
It would be fun to have this on my bucket list:
Get impeached as president and still win re-election.
In my book, that’s better than winning re-election without being impeached. Lots of guys did that. :D
Being impeached by these deranged lunatics is a badge of honor. I imagine POTUS will be impeached a dozen times before his term ends in 2024 . . . or 2028.
Question: If the Republicans take back the house, can they vote to rescind the Articles of Impeachment?
BFD! What difference, at this point, does it make?
They are a bunch of reprobates gone mad. . . and our forefathers and past veterans gave it all for this?????
I didn’t know about the 1993 ruling by the USSC. I think they should look at it again. In my opinion, it’s unconstitutional what the Dems have done.
Not Necessarily, A New Republican Congress could easily open an investigation into the Impeachment of Donald J Trump, declare the entire impeachment scam an Illegal premeditated Conspiracy, Refer ALL of the actors involved to the DOJ for the Crime of TREASON and Rescind the Articles of Impeachment that were Fraudulently produced.
Seems to me, if the swamp is impeaching him it means he is trying to drain the swamp, just like he said he would. His elect-ability goes up in my eyes.
William Jefferson was impeached and was reelected. Don’t tell me you forgot?
William Jefferson Clinton was impeached and was reelected. Don’t tell me you forgot?
Which is why Mitch should declare that there are no actual crimes in it, and declare it null and void because you cannot impeach the President for DOING HIS JOB
Yep. A reelection will erase that. There is nothing she can do to erase the stain of a vile Democrat caucus.
Sorry nasty Nancy, but YOU have “impeached your party for life”; there is no retrieving it from the dishonor you led it into committing.
I really don’t think many people care, except for that insignificant radical fringe of leftists. More folks than ever are seeing the corruption and where it comes from. Thank you Trump!
Clinton was reelected in 1996 and impeached in 1998.
PDJT will be the first “impeached” Prez to be reelected following Nancy’s tantrum.
He’s a President for life first.
This dirty impeachment will be buried and put where it belongs.
The lime pit is ready.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.