Seth wrote:
What I see happening here, and I believe Pelosi does as well, is exactly what I believe you are speculating on: Would a Trump impeachment set a precedent? I believe it would, and I don't think she wants to go down that road.
It's very clear to me that the "progressives" in the House are living up to the penchant today's Democrats have for not looking any farther ahead than the now, as though they are confident that if they "win this one," they'll be set... As if it doesn't occur to them that the House, the Senate and the White House will continue changing hands into the future and that the precedent they set now will likely be used against them later.
It doesn't even seem to enter their minds that impeachment will be unlikely to result in President Trump's removal, nor that after the entire Mueller debacle the electorate, having expected to move on, will punish them for forcing the country to sit through an impeachment in the aftermath of what they had considered a "done deal."
This entire affair is both profoundly childish on these Democrats' part and utterly counterproductive, and at best will send a message to the American people that everything from the Russia collusion kerfuffle to the brouhaha over the president's tax returns is just as Trump said, a "witch hunt" on the taxpayers' dime.
What I see happening here, and I believe Pelosi do... (
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You are spot on! Yes, impeaching President Trump would set a precedent. The Mueller report cleared him and his staff of working with or for the Russians. Now all they have is obstruction of justice. But, justice was not obstructed--there was no crime to hide.
His income taxes before he was sworn in, they can't impeach him on them, but a civilian court can try, find, or jail him if he lied or cheated..... but, only after he is no longer president.
The Constitution is clear, the person being considered for impeachment must be a government official. In the past 40 or more years, presidents held some sort of federal office, so the House could impeach any one of them for actions that happened while in office in their previous job. Not so with Trump, he was a civilian having never held a federal office.
So, here is the problem. If the House moves forward with impeachment they would have to prove that President Trump 1). Committed a crime after he was elected and 2). He intended to cover up that crime. Not liking the President is not sufficient cause. Not liking his policies, again is insufficient. They have to find a indisputable crime to charge him.... Unless Ford is correct and the House can use any excuse. However, when Ford wrote that opinion the vast majority of law makers disagreed.
The start of the impeachment talk all started with Adam Schiff who grew over confident when he successfully had two judges removed from office: G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. and Samuel Kent. He has greater ambitions and driving the impeachment of the President would give him "power" and notoriety, in other words a step to his next position. The judges were easy, they actually were criminals. But, a sitting President that investigation proved no crime, that is different.
Should the House decide and impeach the President, I doubt that he will be removed from office. I think Pelosi knows this and if they go in that direction and fail to remove him from office, 2020 will be another Republican year and those in the House who are up for reelection will go Republican.... thus not only will it ruin the Democrats bid for the Oval Office but they will lose the House too. This then will set off a rush to complete the promises made on immigration, over seas trade, health care....etc.
There may be other consequences. Killary may be retroactively impeached. She was never tried for espionage, although she did knowingly released classified information. So, she could be tried for that crime, she destroyed government property which is punishable as theft, and if she destroyed the equipment to hide a crime...., obstruction and so on. If this happens the government will collect all funds she collected as a retiree from the government. And Bill could be investigated for his cooperation/collaboration in her criminal actions. And that is just for starts.... Bill, Obama, Lynch.... it could get real messy. So.... I think that Nancy has been around long enough to realize the can of worms impeaching Trump would let lose.
This is my thoughts on the issue.