Democrats finally, as a united party, came around to initiate full impeachment proceedings against Trump.
That was the easy part, a fortuitous whistleblower (aka patriot) left them little choice, lest they be labeled enablers.
But, there is no unity regarding the best means to proceed in the inquiry, and two camps have quickly formed. The more moderate camp wants to move narrowly on the Ukrainian matter with a quick review of the evidence, versus those who want to allow evidence to develop from other investigations.
The stakes could not possibly be higher, as covered in the WaPo this morning.
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The Washington Post reports on the debate splitting the Democrats:
House Democratic leaders are eyeing a fast-paced investigation into the possible impeachment of President Trump, instructing the committees handling the probe to wrap up their findings within weeks in hopes of concluding before the holiday season.
The justification for the “fast and narrow” approach is that “moderates” do not want to get dragged into an “Impeachment-only” congress, in which the question lingers on and on, with building public frustration.
The argument necessarily assumes that Trump’s extortion of Ukraine and the attempt to cover it up is sufficient to justify the impeachment process.
Surely, that is true.
But it is not the only consideration.
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Others, myself included, favor a more thorough examination of all Trump wrong-doings, with the Ukrainian matter acting as the key to the locked door on a far broader pattern of abuse.
The prospect of a quick impeachment means that a host of House probes could be left without a resolution. The House Financial Services Committee has been trying to secure Trump’s financial information amid Democratic allegations that he laundered money as a business executive. The House Oversight and Reform Committee is in a legal battle trying to get additional documents that former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen said demonstrate that the president undervalued his wealth to dodge taxes and win lower loan interest rates.
Some issues would get left without resolution? No shit.
If the Ukrainian matter has taught us anything, it is that Trump views the presidency as a vehicle for his own self-aggrandizement, either with financial riches, or political power. It also demonstrates the lengths Trump will go in order to suppress damaging information.
If we do not use the impeachment inquiry to get answers as to Trump’s taxes, and financial records, to really get at the root of Russia’s influence, and to find out how much American policy has been put up for sale, I fear we never will.
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Admittedly, the stakes could not possibly be higher.
I am positive that the Democrats would love nothing more than to have “all” of Trump’s dirty laundry on the table before them.
But I am afraid that this “fast and narrow” approach is nothing more of an extension of the “impeachment must come to us,” thinking that got us here. Without the fortuitous work of one whistleblower, we wouldn’t be “here” to begin with.
Trump got caught brazenly extorting the Ukrainian president, but I find that to indicate that there is much more, and much worse, stuff out there with respect to his finances and his subservience to Russia and Saudi Arabia.
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The Democrats in the House have an oversight responsibility. Pushing this forward with a narrow focus, knowing that Republicans — as it stands now — likely won’t support removal, makes no sense to me at all.
Trump has lost mountains of credibility within the Republican party, each official, whether they acknowledge it outwardly or not (doesn’t matter), must know — deep down — that there is worse stuff out there.
There is that server.
There are the taxes. And another whistleblower in the IRS.
There are the Deutsche Bank records
And there is the fact that the moment Trump figured out that the Dems were serious and made serious demands, he caved.
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In my mind, it is high time to get tough on all fronts. Use the impeachment process to fumigate the White House.
Each damaging revelation increases the likelihood that Republican senators tire of going before microphones and pretending it is all nothing.
It is also the right thing to do.
Though, to be sure, there is some risk.
I hope the Democrats make the right call on this, and cease to fear their own shadow. Going bold this week worked. Keep doing it.
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Peace, y’all
4C
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