Re: POTUS: It Can Happen Here Again
I'm not sure what you are specifically referring to when you write "any of this" so I won't attempt to answer whether it's right or wrong. However, I'm happy to give you my view of the impeachment process we're witnessing.
I don't view impeachment as something similar to say a criminal trial where the prosecution proves certain elements of a crime and a neutral arbiter decides innocence or guilt.
In my view impeachment is, was and always will be a political act. It's initiated by politicians, the President's fate is decided by politicians, and the actions of the House and Senate will ultimately be judged at the polls. That is why when 60% of the population said Nixon must go, with the number going steadily up, the politicians sent the signal they were prepared to act and Nixon could see the handwriting on the wall. Congress knew they would not be punished, in large part, at the polls in 1974 and 1976 if they got rid of Nixon.
I think the problem in today's world in terms of impeaching someone is that the sides have really entrenched with about 45% of the public supporting each side, and that the party fighting the impeachment is counting on not getting punished at the polls.
Personally I don't think there will be wholesale political punishment when Trump escapes, which he seems destined to do. Individual Senators in certain states will be at risk, but others won't have any problems. I expect it will cost Trump the presidency in the fall, but I personally expected that he would likely lose anyway assuming no major missteps by the Democrat's candidate.
Just my two cents.
I'm not sure what you are specifically referring to when you write "any of this" so I won't attempt to answer whether it's right or wrong. However, I'm happy to give you my view of the impeachment process we're witnessing.
I don't view impeachment as something similar to say a criminal trial where the prosecution proves certain elements of a crime and a neutral arbiter decides innocence or guilt.
In my view impeachment is, was and always will be a political act. It's initiated by politicians, the President's fate is decided by politicians, and the actions of the House and Senate will ultimately be judged at the polls. That is why when 60% of the population said Nixon must go, with the number going steadily up, the politicians sent the signal they were prepared to act and Nixon could see the handwriting on the wall. Congress knew they would not be punished, in large part, at the polls in 1974 and 1976 if they got rid of Nixon.
I think the problem in today's world in terms of impeaching someone is that the sides have really entrenched with about 45% of the public supporting each side, and that the party fighting the impeachment is counting on not getting punished at the polls.
Personally I don't think there will be wholesale political punishment when Trump escapes, which he seems destined to do. Individual Senators in certain states will be at risk, but others won't have any problems. I expect it will cost Trump the presidency in the fall, but I personally expected that he would likely lose anyway assuming no major missteps by the Democrat's candidate.
Just my two cents.
