Yesterday I wrote about using anti-hardball reform tactics to blunt GOP power grabs and preserve democratic institutions. People have been asking whether Pelosi is playing constitutional hardball with the Articles of Impeachment. I don’t think so. When we’re talking about Pelosi, it’s important to look at her exact words. What she actually says is often …
(This is an update of earlier threads. Long-time readers will find much of this repeated. But I have a lot of new readers, and it was time to do an update.) Harvard Prof. Levitsky, in this lecture explains that the U.S. is passing through a difficult transition. Before the Civil Rights and women’s rights movements, …
I’ve been getting lots of worried questions about all the judges Trump has appointed, mostly because of headlines like this one in The Guardian: A little history will dispel much of the panic. (In a separate post, I’ll chart the way forward.) Through most of U.S. history, courts have been right wing. How far to the …
Here’s the email dump from Friday night. (The administration released the Ukraine-related emails in compliance with a court order.) The emails confirm testimony gathered during the House impeachment investigation, particularly Laura Cooper’s, and adds a few new details. Much of the emails look like this: Raising the question: Why all the redactions? Classified to protect …
The issue now is whether to call witnesses at the trial. McConnell says no more witnesses. Schumer (and Pelosi) want witnesses. (As we all know, Trump ordered witnesses not to testify during the impeachment inquiry. Many did as he wished and tried to tie the matter up in the courts.) Here I suggested it wasn’t …
To Call Witnesses or Not to Call Witnesses. That is the Question. Read More »
(Over the Cliff Notes) Art. I, Sec. 3 tell us: After approving Articles of Impeachment, the House selects managers who act as prosecutors at the trial. In the Johnson trial, there were 7 managers. In the Clinton trial, there were 13 managers. [Interesting tidbit: One of them was Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) Two others remain in the Senate, Steve …
A few hours into yesterday’s eight-hour impeachment debate, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) said the Democrats, in bringing impeachment, are “tearing families apart.” She said this without a touch of irony. Not long afterward, Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IND) said the Democrats have not brought “one single piece of evidence” to support impeachment. (If anyone wants to …
Dear GOP leadership: If you read Trump’s letter to Speaker Pelosi, you’ll see that Trump has put you on the horns of a dilemma. You can either embrace outrageous lies and take Russia’s side against the FBI and Ukraine or: incur Trump’s wrath & lose support of his base. What will you do? The dilemma …
I read the Impeachment Report to Accompany H. Res. 775 Ready for some nerdy fun? Let’s dive in. Spoiler: Yup, Trump committed “multiple federal crimes.” The report integrates the information from the Judiciary Report on the Constitutional Grounds for Impeachment, so if you missed my Over the Cliff Notes for that report, please read this. …
I said to a person I respect: “A significant portions of the GOP Congressional leadership are partnering with Russia to achieve their domestic political agenda.” She said: “I need evidence before I’ll believe that.” (She is not a Trump supporter) So I put together a sampling of the evidence. 2013: Russia enacted anti-homosexual legislation. 2014: …
