Impeachment Is Not the Answer [Click] A new book from Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz argues that removing a president, even when justified, can be an unwise move.
I disagree utterly. Leaving an incompetent fool in place who is *literally* doing new damage daily is just foolish. Leaving a fool in place who believes he is in complete control of ALL of government, every branch, not to mention his "orders" to foreign countries, is just plain suicidal. I kind of liked our democracy when it worked and I'd like to have it back again.
I doubt we will give any President the Charles II treatment; I gather that most Brits these days regret it. But the argument of Tribe & Matz deserves a hearing, certainly.
An interesting article. I completely agree with the summary: "Impeachment is a very, very dangerous thing. Proceed with caution." I was somewhat surprised at the argument that impeachment is an inherently political process even in the face of overwhelming evidence of egregious crimes (and I do mean "crimes" in the legal sense). But both impeachment proceedings in US history have been politically motivated and both, IMHO, damaged the country. The book's authors are probably right that a successful removal from office would have been even more damaging. So we're probably fortunate on balance that, unless Mueller comes up with something totally outside the box, there is no realistic prospect for removing Trump from office via the impeachment process.
Toward the end, the article quotes a paragraph about what we should be doing. I fully agree. We may be stuck with Trump until 2020, but he will be gone then. And 2018 success will at least clip his wings a bit.
I agree completely with Susan. I'm past caring about protocol and caution. The damage being done to the environment, foreign relations and people in need in this nation (etc!) is unconscionable. Trow da bum out!
Seems to me it's a matter of balance. Would throwing da bum out irreparably damage our government's ability to function? I don't see how it could, but am willing to defer to people who know more about such things.
It is indeed a matter of balance. But the US political system's biggest problem over the past 20+ years has been hyper-polarization. Which, of course, Trump has grossly exaggerated. But actually getting rid of a president because you disagree with his policies could only make that worse for the foreseeable future. Trump is clearly damaging the system and the US in general, but on balance I think the damage from impeachment would be greater. While simply booting him and as many Republicans as possible out of office over the next 2-1/2 years would restore faith that the system actually works.
Beau made another great escape last night/this morning. Just broke the collar, leaving the D ring on the end of the cable, and collar on his neck. Blessedly, I didn't know until he came in, betrayed by his hope for cheese and a warm bed. He scratched at the door, I went to let him in, showed him the cheese and he literally *burst* into the house, soaking wet. I went to unhook him, and realized he wasn't hooked at all. Ordered new collar on Amazon, due Friday, and meanwhile I need to jury rig one of his old collars to last until then. Something involving wire. Whew.
And another wasp, one of the big slow, GIANT slow, in the bathroom, dead now, but am only entering there armed with black flag. Involved him/her landing on my hand, being brushed away (instinct is strong), being stepped on and then poisoned. Epi-pen and benadryl on the way from the round last week. Did I mention I'm damned sick and tired of this? AM.
Some recent emails have indirectly reminded me of an important point: This Blue Wave isn't about people who normally vote Republican voting Democratic instead. It's about Democrats turning out while Republicans stay home. That's what the numbers showed in Conner Lamb's victory and I think that's the essential point in IL-6 and elsewhere. Which makes getting Democrats to the polls the key to victory.
Forget Trump – populism is the cure, not the disease[Click] “Two recent books are typical of the current consensus in presenting populism as a new threat to liberal democracy. But properly understood, it is neither modern nor rightwing.”
Hoo Boy—Just what I have felt and tried to say for so long—said so much better.
Reverse Migration Might Turn Georgia Blue[Click] “More black people from the Northeast and Midwest are moving to Atlanta. That could help elect the nation’s first black female governor.”
Archaeologists find possible evidence of earliest human agriculture[Click] Study of plant remains on shores of Sea of Galilee show crop cultivation may have developed 23,000 years ago.
ReplyDelete—Alan
Wow!
DeleteImpeachment Is Not the Answer [Click] A new book from Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz argues that removing a president, even when justified, can be an unwise move.
ReplyDelete--Alan
I disagree utterly. Leaving an incompetent fool in place who is *literally* doing new damage daily is just foolish. Leaving a fool in place who believes he is in complete control of ALL of government, every branch, not to mention his "orders" to foreign countries, is just plain suicidal. I kind of liked our democracy when it worked and I'd like to have it back again.
DeleteI doubt we will give any President the Charles II treatment; I gather that most Brits these days regret it. But the argument of Tribe & Matz deserves a hearing, certainly.
DeleteAlan
An interesting article. I completely agree with the summary: "Impeachment is a very, very dangerous thing. Proceed with caution." I was somewhat surprised at the argument that impeachment is an inherently political process even in the face of overwhelming evidence of egregious crimes (and I do mean "crimes" in the legal sense). But both impeachment proceedings in US history have been politically motivated and both, IMHO, damaged the country. The book's authors are probably right that a successful removal from office would have been even more damaging. So we're probably fortunate on balance that, unless Mueller comes up with something totally outside the box, there is no realistic prospect for removing Trump from office via the impeachment process.
DeleteToward the end, the article quotes a paragraph about what we should be doing. I fully agree. We may be stuck with Trump until 2020, but he will be gone then. And 2018 success will at least clip his wings a bit.
I agree completely with Susan. I'm past caring about protocol and caution. The damage being done to the environment, foreign relations and people in need in this nation (etc!) is unconscionable. Trow da bum out!
DeleteSeems to me it's a matter of balance. Would throwing da bum out irreparably damage our government's ability to function? I don't see how it could, but am willing to defer to people who know more about such things.
DeleteIt is indeed a matter of balance. But the US political system's biggest problem over the past 20+ years has been hyper-polarization. Which, of course, Trump has grossly exaggerated. But actually getting rid of a president because you disagree with his policies could only make that worse for the foreseeable future. Trump is clearly damaging the system and the US in general, but on balance I think the damage from impeachment would be greater. While simply booting him and as many Republicans as possible out of office over the next 2-1/2 years would restore faith that the system actually works.
DeleteSacred Harp Singers - I'm Going Home (with lyrics) [Click]
ReplyDeleteAh, such fine music…I wonder if I will ever have a chance to learn…
--Alan
New Data Show Republicans’ Health Care Self-Own Is Taking Its Toll[Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
Wow, Listener, I love today's photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cat! :-)
DeleteIn the immortal words of Jim Hightower, "There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos."
ReplyDeleteThought Molly Ivens said that. In any case, it's one of my all time favorite quotes, and so true!
It sounds better with a fake Southern accent...
DeleteAlan
Beau made another great escape last night/this morning. Just broke the collar, leaving the D ring on the end of the cable, and collar on his neck. Blessedly, I didn't know until he came in, betrayed by his hope for cheese and a warm bed. He scratched at the door, I went to let him in, showed him the cheese and he literally *burst* into the house, soaking wet. I went to unhook him, and realized he wasn't hooked at all. Ordered new collar on Amazon, due Friday, and meanwhile I need to jury rig one of his old collars to last until then. Something involving wire. Whew.
ReplyDeleteAnd another wasp, one of the big slow, GIANT slow, in the bathroom, dead now, but am only entering there armed with black flag. Involved him/her landing on my hand, being brushed away (instinct is strong), being stepped on and then poisoned. Epi-pen and benadryl on the way from the round last week. Did I mention I'm damned sick and tired of this? AM.
That boy is too strong for his own good. Or at least for his human's good.
DeleteOh, Puddle! Wasps on top of everything else. You're brave. I would have run away screaming. There is absolutely a time and place for Black Flag!
DeleteNot only is there a time and a place for Black Flag, it involves far less collateral damage than either a shotgun or a flame thrower!
DeleteA Flit gun would do very well also, but I haven't seen one in several coons' ages, more's the pity...
Alan
Hey! Cool! This article highlights Vermont's Front Porch Forum! :-) (It's at least halfway through the article.)
ReplyDeletehttps://newrepublic.com/article/148281/escape-facebookistan-public-sphere
Wow! Tremendous penetration! I had no idea!
DeleteAlan
My goodness, puddle, the critters around you aren't doing you any favours lately!! Let me know when that epi-pen arrives so I can exhale. Love you. ♥
ReplyDeleteThis is just sad. . . .
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/hummingbirds-beware-praying-mantis-killers-1.4203443
Some recent emails have indirectly reminded me of an important point: This Blue Wave isn't about people who normally vote Republican voting Democratic instead. It's about Democrats turning out while Republicans stay home. That's what the numbers showed in Conner Lamb's victory and I think that's the essential point in IL-6 and elsewhere. Which makes getting Democrats to the polls the key to victory.
ReplyDeleteYep; Stacey Abrams, too. I was reading somewhere (will post it if I rediscover it) that return migration is moving Georgia politically leftward.
Delete--Alan
Forget Trump – populism is the cure, not the disease[Click] “Two recent books are typical of the current consensus in presenting populism as a new threat to liberal democracy. But properly understood, it is neither modern nor rightwing.”
ReplyDeleteHoo Boy—Just what I have felt and tried to say for so long—said so much better.
—Alan
I haven't found time to read the article, but that is very much my opinion as well.
DeleteHere it is:
ReplyDeleteReverse Migration Might Turn Georgia Blue[Click] “More black people from the Northeast and Midwest are moving to Atlanta. That could help elect the nation’s first black female governor.”
—Alan