Politics Thread

[paulxu]

Impeachment is a purely political tool. That's how it was designed. Does it make sense to use that political tool on someone not in office?

The comparison to criminal law/trials is cute but wholly irrelevant.

It is a political tool, and he's been impeached while in office. He left before "removal".
The second part of the constitution notes "conviction" of the listed crimes.
In that manner the action before the Senate mirrors regular trials, deciding to convict or acquit.
The penalty if convicted is removal from office (he's already gone) but can also include barring from ever holding office again.

[GoMuskies]

Thanks for the recap. So does using the political tool make sense in these circumstances? I know your answer. If he'd died, you'd want to dig him up for impeachment.

[STL_XUfan]

Impeachment is a purely political tool. That's how it was designed. Does it make sense to use that political tool on someone not in office?

The comparison to criminal law/trials is cute but wholly irrelevant.

This discussion always makes me think of this scene from the West Wing. "Do we want to set a precedent that anyone can stage a coup and walk away if it doesn't work?"
https://twitter.com/twwgifs/status/1351187689282936833

[GoMuskies]

For the record, I'm not sure which way I'd go on impeachment now, but it makes 1000% more sense now than the last time when everyone knew there was a 0% chance of conviction and removal.

[xubrew]

For the record, I'm not sure which way I'd go on impeachment now, but it makes 1000% more sense now than the last time when everyone knew there was a 0% chance of conviction and removal.

I agree with this. The first one was stupid. MAYBE this one is too, but not because of the belief that it would be damaging to unity. Unwinnable? Maybe. Waste of time? Maybe. No proper evidence of wrongdoing? maybe. All of those are reasons tn not do it. But, damaging to unity? No. Not if he's guilty of it.

[xubrew]

This discussion always makes me think of this scene from the West Wing. "Do we want to set a precedent that anyone can stage a coup and walk away if it doesn't work?"
https://twitter.com/twwgifs/status/1351187689282936833

No. We don't.

[XU '11]

This discussion always makes me think of this scene from the West Wing. "Do we want to set a precedent that anyone can stage a coup and walk away if it doesn't work?"
https://twitter.com/twwgifs/status/1351187689282936833

If his Tweets and speeches amount to 'staging a coup' then half of the politicians in DC should also be impeached.

If there is evidence that there was coordination by people in the government to assist a violent insurrection that overtook the Capitol, the punishment shouldn't be impeachment, it should be treason. I'm ok with investigating that even though I don't think anybody legitimate (not AOC) accused anybody of that. Is using the word 'fight' in a political context ("fight for the future of our country") staging a coup? Is encouraging protest staging a coup? Is doing those things based on an untrue premise staging a coup? I think all of those answers are no. If there is evidence that the Trump administration supported insurrectionists breaking into the Capitol to physically prevent the votes for certification, it's treason. Trump should be thrown in prison. But there's no evidence of that.

[noteggs]

my thought is that the Keystone Pipeline XL would have helped with 2, while we work on 1.

Exactly! Until that happens, please don’t destroy jobs unnecessarily.

[boozehound]

Impeachment is a purely political tool. That's how it was designed. Does it make sense to use that political tool on someone not in office?

The comparison to criminal law/trials is cute but wholly irrelevant.

That's a fair point. I guess the answer to that would involve him being tried criminally for some type of treason/sedition related charge, which may be preferable. I'd be fine with that. I certainly agree with the people who think that there should be serious consequences for this.

[paulxu]

Thanks for the recap. So does using the political tool make sense in these circumstances? I know your answer. If he'd died, you'd want to dig him up for impeachment.

Yes, you know my answer. I don't want the chance of him being in office again.

The president is the chief law enforcement officer in the country. For him to say 2 months after the election, that it was a lie and it had been stolen from him (against all the evidence and court cases, including the SC) saying it was fair and he had lost...was the flame that lit the fire. It was nurtured through 2 months and he poured gasoline on it every day on line, in the press, and on January 6th.
Around the world people were amazed that what happen could occur in the United States.
He bears enormous responsibility for pushing that lie and inflaming those supporters to march on the Capitol. Lives were lost.

Yes, I hope he, and those involved, are held accountable.