The Impeachment Process Has Officially Begun (4 Viewers)

[Andrus]

By Laura Bassett

After months of internal arguing among Democrats over whether to impeach President Donald Trump, the dam is finally breaking in favor of trying to remove him from office. The Washington Post reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would announce a formal impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, following a bombshell report that Trump illegally asked Ukraine’s government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, one of his political opponents. (He essentially admitted to having done so over the weekend.)

“Now that we have the facts, we’re ready,” Pelosi said Tuesday morning at a forum hosted by The Atlantic. At 5 p.m. the same day, she was back with more. "The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the constitution, especially when the president says Article Two says I can do whatever I want," referring to the segment of the Constitution that defines the power of the executive branch of the government. Pelosi's message was that checks and balances of those branches are just as central to the Constitution. And one more thing: "Today, I am announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry," she said at a conference broadcast on Twitter by the Huffington Post. ...

Read the Full Story - InStyle

 

[Sandman]

The no vote by Romney may have been something that he and some other moderate (established) Republican Senators came up with. They were probably convinced (maybe even strong-armed) into voting to acquit, but they wanted to send a message to Trump that this isn't a free ticket to do what you want. So, they decided that one of them would break rank (this has never happened before in any impeachment proceeding), and vote to convict. Romney is in a good position to absorb any heat from this-- he isn't up for election until 2024. Even if Trump wins this time, he will be on his way out when Romney is up for re-election.

Then again, he may have just voted his conscience.

 

[samiam5211]

Who the heck knows why he did it...? It could be that he voted his conscience because he had no fear of blow back... could be he had a beef to settle with Trump and didn't fear any blow back... could be that that he's a deep state Dem mole that has been in hiding for decades (LOL).... who knows... they all lie so much anything is a possibility really...

I'm not much for labels... I consider myself politically neutral or Independent if you wanna put me in a box...

From my point of view... there is no more Republican Party... It's Trumps' party... His party loosely resembles what the old one was... It has some of the same political views principles... but has no filter on how to get those things accomplished, or who they smash to get it done... that's the Trump way... obviously there are a ton of people that are okay with that... results... any means necessary... you know.. that whole thing... but sprinkled with some conservative agendas... that's the new party of Trump... IMO at least.

Stay tuned though... the Dems are likely going to go in the 180 degree opposite direction soon in an attempt to fight the new Trump party (fire with fire style)... and that's only going to make it worse...

As I have said many times... we need another party... or no parties... or just a sane person to vote for would be nice.

Do you believe that the reason Trump is willing to smash things to get certain things done is because he has a deeply held belief that they are for the greater good?

I know that most of his supporters have deeply held beliefs, that’s not what I’m asking.

Do you believe that Donald Trump has deeply held beliefs about the things he promises his dupporters?

 

[samiam5211]

The no vote by Romney may have been something that he and some other moderate (established) Republican Senators came up with. They were probably convinced (maybe even strong-armed) into voting to acquit, but they wanted to send a message to Trump that this isn't a free ticket to do what you want. So, they decided that one of them would break rank (this has never happened before in any impeachment proceeding), and vote to convict. Romney is in a good position to absorb any heat from this-- he isn't up for election until 2024. Even if Trump wins this time, he will be on his way out when Romney is up for re-election.

Then again, he may have just voted his conscience.

I thought he gave a great speech. I wish he would have spent more effort on shaming his colleagues about taking an oath to god, but that’s not Mitt. He a moral man, but he’s not a leader.

 

[Infoman]

Do you believe that the reason Trump is willing to smash things to get certain things done is because he has a deeply held belief that they are for the greater good?

I know that most of his supporters have deeply held beliefs, that’s not what I’m asking.

Do you believe that Donald Trump has deeply held beliefs about the things he promises his dupporters?

I never understand these types of questions.... Do I believe that I know what someone else believes? I have no idea... How does anyone really know what some else actually thinks or believes....??? Anything would be best guess.

My best guess is... yes... I think HE believes what HE is doing is for the greater good... I mean... Don't all people who fancy themselves "a leader" do that?

 

[CoolBrees]

Mitt is not a vindictive guy.

He isn’t going to vote guilty to stick it to trump. He votes guilty because he thinks he is guilty and doesn’t have the weight of Mitch’s neck chin on his head.

 

[BobE]

So when does round 2 start?

 

[Beach Friends]

I was actually proud of the Senate Democrats today. Everyone was so well behaved. Much better than what we saw last night.

 

[samiam5211]

I never understand these types of questions.... Do I believe that I know what someone else believes? I have no idea... How does anyone really know what some else actually thinks or believes....??? Anything would be best guess.

My best guess is... yes... I think HE believes what HE is doing is for the greater good... I mean... Don't all people who fancy themselves "a leader" do that?

You shouldn’t follow a leader unless you know where they are taking you.

Not everyone doing things that you want done wants the same things as you.

If you are rounding up stray dogs to rescue, you wouldn’t want to team up with a guy who was rounding up stray dogs so he could sell them to a guy into dog fighting as bait dogs.

 

[SaintForLife]

Sounds like they will be busy. Don't stop with Hunter. Expose everyone, but I doubt that will happen.

 

[Beach Friends]

Sounds like they will be busy. Don't stop with Hunter. Expose everyone, but I doubt that will happen.

Yep. It's happening. But, it will be handled in a deliberate manner without parodies and whatnot.

 

[samiam5211]

Yep. It's happening. But, it will be handled in a deliberate manner without parodies and whatnot.

It would not surprise me if we find out Hunter Biden did some shady and illegal stuff.

That won’t really do anything to justify anything Trump has done, or show that the pressure campaign to have the prosecutor fired were corruptly motivated.

We were all there when the world called for the prosecutor to be fired, and it was clear why he had to go.

It should not take more than a few people in the Justuce department conducting an investigation to get to the bottom of anything illegal Hunter Biden may have done.

It certainly isn’t worth congressional investigations or our national attention.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

GOP senators label Trump's behavior 'shameful' but not impeachable

As Republicans senators explain how they will vote on whether to convict President Trump and remove him from office, a familiar refrain is emerging: The president's behavior was wrong, but not impeachable.&nbsp

thehill.com

It seems at least four other Republican Senators agreed with Romney but lacked the testicular fortitude to impeach.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) became the latest Republican to criticize Trump's behavior, but say that she will ultimately vote to acquit him.

"It is clear from the July 25, 2019, phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky that the investigation into the Bidens’ activities requested by President Trump was improper and demonstrated very poor judgment," Collins said from the Senate floor Tuesday.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) were both viewed as potential swing votes on whether to allow new witnesses and documents as part of the trial.

Murkowski announced Monday night that she would vote to acquit but called Trump's behavior "shameful and wrong."

"His personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation. ... Degrading the office, by actions or even name calling, weakens it for future presidents, and weakens our country," she said.

Lamar Alexander (R-Tennesee) announced last week that he would vote to acquit Trump. He reiterated on Tuesday that "what I said is the way most people feel, which is the president did it, it was inappropriate for him to do it.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who said last week that he would vote to acquit Trump, said delaying Ukraine aid or a White House meeting pending an investigation was "not appropriate."

 

[samiam5211]

GOP senators label Trump's behavior 'shameful' but not impeachable

As Republicans senators explain how they will vote on whether to convict President Trump and remove him from office, a familiar refrain is emerging: The president's behavior was wrong, but not impeachable.&nbsp

thehill.com

It seems at least four other Republican Senators agreed with Romney but lacked the testicular fortitude to impeach.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) became the latest Republican to criticize Trump's behavior, but say that she will ultimately vote to acquit him.

"It is clear from the July 25, 2019, phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky that the investigation into the Bidens’ activities requested by President Trump was improper and demonstrated very poor judgment," Collins said from the Senate floor Tuesday.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) were both viewed as potential swing votes on whether to allow new witnesses and documents as part of the trial.

Murkowski announced Monday night that she would vote to acquit but called Trump's behavior "shameful and wrong."

"His personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation. ... Degrading the office, by actions or even name calling, weakens it for future presidents, and weakens our country," she said.

Lamar Alexander (R-Tennesee) announced last week that he would vote to acquit Trump. He reiterated on Tuesday that "what I said is the way most people feel, which is the president did it, it was inappropriate for him to do it.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who said last week that he would vote to acquit Trump, said delaying Ukraine aid or a White House meeting pending an investigation was "not appropriate."

Sometimes doing what it takes to keep a job is evidence you done deserve the job.

 

[JimEverett]

I applaud Collins, Murkowski, Alexander, and all the other Republican Senators except Romney. We don't want impeachment to be a political weapon and we certainly don't want to reward half-arse investigations that value speed over competence.
Shame on the Democrats. SHAME! (Seems to be the Democrats' word of the day)

 

[samiam5211]

I applaud Collins, Murkowski, Alexander, and all the other Republican Senators except Romney. We don't want impeachment to be a political weapon and we certainly don't want to reward half-arse investigations that value speed over competence.
Shame on the Democrats. SHAME! (Seems to be the Democrats' word of the day)

Have you watched Romney’s speech?

If so, do you think Mitt believed what he was saying?

 

[Beach Friends]

Have you watched Romney’s speech?

If so, do you think Mitt believed what he was saying?

What I can say is that if you asked people, before the first allegation was made, if there was one GOP senator to vote for removal which Senator would it be - Romney would have been the favorite by far. I don't think it's because people think he is just that more noble than everyone else.

The man hates Trump.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

I applaud Collins, Murkowski, Alexander, and all the other Republican Senators except Romney. We don't want impeachment to be a political weapon and we certainly don't want to reward half-arse investigations that value speed over competence.
Shame on the Democrats. SHAME! (Seems to be the Democrats' word of the day)

That "half assed" investigation uncovered the truth of what trump was up to in Ukraine and according to those Senators, The House proved their case but those same Republican Senators decided to put party over country.

 

[coldseat]

I applaud Collins, Murkowski, Alexander, and all the other Republican Senators except Romney. We don't want impeachment to be a political weapon and we certainly don't want to reward half-arse investigations that value speed over competence.
Shame on the Democrats. SHAME! (Seems to be the Democrats' word of the day)

So principled.

Always important to ignore the truth and what was proven about the president's illegal and corrupt actions that though all of our history until now would have been considered sufficient to remove any president from office.

For all of your issues with the Ukrain investigation, there's nothing you can point to that the Democrats actually accused Trump of that was false. He did it.