The Soapbox

Joined: 01/04/2001 Posts: 26982
Likes: 34245

What's this?

In a nutshell, because he was elected.

The way to combat all those things you describe - which is purely a matter of opinion, even if I share a lot of it - is to win elections. I think some Trump voters see him as a disaster, but ardent Trumpies, maybe as much as 35% of country - think he's the cat's meow.

Mid term elections have frequently been the first step towards marginalizing a president. So the wait is often not three years, which is why a first 100 days is typically such an important measure.

Proving collusion to a point where an election gets overturned is a very, very high bar. It is unlikely to be met. Impeachment is not designed to allow the opposition to "not have to wait 3 years" when it is of the political opinion that the pres it lost to is a total disaster.

Watergate was a crime, and the trail of the investigation, largely due to the efforts of two reporters, led to an impeachable offense. Nobody set out to come up with a way to impeach. Since Clinton, where many dems thought that repubs were just looking for a way to not have to live with a guy that many of them thought was a disaster for the country (and the impeachment had nothing to do with the reason Starr was appointed), the losing side in elections seems to start thinking about how to impeach the moment they lose. Bad policy (in the opinion of some) becomes impeachable. And not surprisingly the country has only become more polarized ever since, now on steroids with social media.

Collusion - an actual arrangement with the Russians with a quid pro quo. If that is found, so be it, you have an impeachable offense. But the real answer to not having to live with a pres many of us thought would inevitably be a disaster is to not anoint a highly flawed candidate; to not assault fence sitters for considering membership in the basket of deplorables; in crafting a positive message - in short, make the case to the American people.

If you fail in that effort, well, try again. Impeachment isn't supposed to be a safety hatch for the losers, which if used recklessly, really begins to look more like disenfranchisement of those who disagree with you.

[Post edited by hoolstoptheheels at 12/04/2017 11:09AM]

(In response to this post by Chuck Taylor)

Posted: 12/04/2017 at 11:07AM

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Current Thread:

Trump lawyer claims the "President cannot obstruct justice .(The Hill link) -- WaxHoo 12/04/2017 07:58AM

Even if he shot someone in the middle of 5th Ave ... ** -- NJHoo 12/04/2017 10:48AM

That statement looks more true every day, unfortunately ** -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 11:20AM

It was the only time he told the truth in the whole campaign ** -- VAGentleman05 12/04/2017 2:41PM

At every turn Trump and/or his people attempt to define reality to their... -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 10:28AM

Yep. When it is best to be quiet, Trump will be the loudest. ** -- Guy LeDouche 12/04/2017 11:26AM

Very incomplete statement ... of course the President can opine on a case -- CharlestonSC 12/04/2017 10:19AM

And when he didn't, he fired him, and has SAID as much ** -- Hoo TV 12/04/2017 10:31AM

But now he didn’t say it according to Trump -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 11:26AM

"It's not a crime if the president does it." - Richard M. Nixon -- HowieT3 12/04/2017 09:53AM

Fake News! -- Beerman 12/04/2017 10:04AM

That's true ** -- FfxStationHokie 12/04/2017 09:59AM

Isn't he the same legal genius who crafted Trump's incredibly stupid tweet -- Hoo TV 12/04/2017 09:01AM

So we are back to "I hope you can let this go" being obstruction? -- psychobilly 12/04/2017 1:43PM

Yeah, that's the ticket. It's just silly irrational "Trump haters" -- Hoo TV 12/05/2017 09:34AM

Let’s just say there’s a reason this guy is under his own shingle and no -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 10:44AM

Hard to represent someone if you are a co-conspirator ** -- 757 12/04/2017 10:27AM

He probably just also made himself a witness as well. ** -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 10:29AM

Supposedly crafted. ** -- DanTheFan 12/04/2017 09:08AM

Right ;) ** -- Hoo TV 12/04/2017 09:12AM

If obstruction is all they've got -- wahoo138 12/04/2017 08:53AM

I do think there's a balance ... If Trump is just stupid and technically -- CharlestonSC 12/04/2017 10:20AM

Some are expecting dems to run on "impeach Trump" -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 09:07AM

Nearly ever aspect of Trump's tenure has been extraordinary................ -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 10:46AM

In a nutshell, because he was elected. -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 11:07AM

Am simply saying that an election doesn't negate findings of wrongdoing and -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 11:58AM

It's a mindset thing. I am not contending that a president who -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 12:09PM

For starters, I don't buy the notion that there has been an impeachment.... -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 2:02PM

I totally disagree. O and W were not impeached not for lack -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 3:13PM

Colluding with the Russians may have been the genesis of all of this....... -- Chuck Taylor 12/04/2017 3:37PM

Seriously. If there were an "impeachment mindset" GWB & BHO would've been. ** -- VAGentleman05 12/04/2017 2:46PM

How do you figure that? -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 3:02PM

"We lost, how can we impeach?" LOL. So true. ** -- Hokieesith 12/04/2017 12:19PM

Rs tax cuts for the rich and healthcare, that’s what Ds should run on ** -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 09:25AM

Please do, how has running on healthcare worked for you lately? ** -- TomKazanski 12/04/2017 10:50AM

See Virginia’s election results. -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 11:19AM

If by "those people" you are referring to Northern VA, RIC, and VA Beach -- Hoo23 12/04/2017 5:20PM

By "those people" I meant those who listed healthcare as their #1 issue -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 5:28PM

Keep telling yourself that ** -- TomKazanski 12/04/2017 11:30AM

Impeaching him without a lockdown case -- wahoo138 12/04/2017 09:10AM

I think it would probably be a disaster no matter what, -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 09:12AM

Just let Mueller decide -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 09:28AM

Except Impeachment is the shiny object the Dems are chasing...being anti- -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 09:48AM

These tax cuts aren't designed for the rust belt workers -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 09:56AM

How many of the dissaffected Rust Belt workers that went to Trump are -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 10:05AM

When they start losing their healthcare, still are underemployed, and their -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 10:14AM

Trump's pretty well inoculated himself -- Beerman 12/04/2017 10:32AM

His dedicated base of cult-worshipping Neanderthals is nowhere near enough -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 11:04AM

Why will the economy likely be slumping in the next Prez year? ** -- Stimp 12/04/2017 12:25PM

I have no actual basis for saying it will be, other than that seems to be -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 12:38PM

Curious to what direction the Dems will go...full progressive anti-rich -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 11:08AM

Time will tell. My money is on someone we're not even talking about today. -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 11:13AM

And Tuck is not really a fire breathing, all in Trumpie, I don't think. -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 12:00PM

If the Dems nominate a candidate like Robert Kennedy or a man like -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 1:38PM

Yeah, I don't know what I'll do if the dems nominate a -- BocaHoo91 12/04/2017 12:07PM

Yes...and generally okay. I do like the fact that ISIS has been largely -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 11:22AM

Clearly the best course. -- DanTheFan 12/04/2017 09:45AM

I'm a little more optimistic. I don't think anything is ever irreparable. -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 10:48AM

As crazy as celebrating Flynn's plea agreement as all he's singing about** -- Hoo TV 12/04/2017 09:37AM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ** -- WaxHoo 12/04/2017 09:19AM

This must be in-addition to claiming he tweeted for the President yesterday -- hooshouse 12/04/2017 08:58AM

That is the thing about Trump. His out of control frenetic -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 09:11AM

Good post ** -- 06 Hoo 12/04/2017 08:55AM

I'm seeing it play out all over social media -- wahoo138 12/04/2017 09:01AM

The Democrats are idiots, but the cloud of Trump shadiness and GOP selling -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 09:19AM

Not bust. Campaign issue. -- hoolstoptheheels 12/04/2017 09:17AM

I don't think the Dems will have any problem getting their -- wahoo138 12/04/2017 09:20AM

Noooooooooo!!!!! ** -- Hokieesith 12/04/2017 08:45AM

Predictable response from a fascist Hoo doesn't give a rat's behind about -- WaxHoo 12/04/2017 08:54AM

Umm Uhh. He's a fascist Hokie. ** -- HowieT3 12/04/2017 09:56AM

I don't like being called a hoo. Huge insult. ** -- Hokieesith 12/04/2017 10:24AM

Calling you a Hoo would be a Yuuuge insult to Hoos everywhere ** -- WaxHoo 12/04/2017 10:41AM

Beats being a facist Hoo (pic) -- Tuckahokie 12/04/2017 10:29AM

Dowd is a big fat washed up bag of dicks. ** -- WahooRQ 12/04/2017 08:37AM

That works in a Monarchy. ** -- HoosWillWin 12/04/2017 08:34AM

Wasn’t this guy alive when President Nixon resigned for this exact charge? ** -- WahooMatt05 12/04/2017 08:18AM