,
18 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
Impeachment thoughts for a Saturday. 1
When I was a manager/supervisor of a large office of attorneys I learned a few things about accountability. 2
You have to hold everyone to standards of work, professionalism, interpersonal appropriate conduct. 3
Not to punish the person who is creating problems and chaos, but for the wellbeing of everyone else. Examples are important. Standards are important. 4
I look at the Presidency the same way. We need to have standards for presidential conduct, and we have to hold Presidents accountable. 5
If we do not, then we are saying we have no standards and any level of misconduct is allowed. 6
And that is a dangerous place to be, especially for a country as powerful as ours. 7
Impeachment is a process. If the President has slipped below acceptable standards, such as by lying to Congress (B. Clinton), then it is appropriate to begin the process. 8
The process may not result in the President being removed from office. But it does inform and reinforce our standards for conduct. 9
Our current President lies about things big and small, all the time. It is harder to figure out the standards of acceptable conduct for someone who is at base unethical and untrustworthy. 10
But there are still standards we should be able to agree upon. 11
I submit that we should all agree it is unacceptable to work with a foreign government to coordinate disinformation campaigns and attacks on the other presidential candidate. Run a tough campaign, but dont work with potential enemies. You can't owe them favors.
It is unacceptable to personally benefit, to have family members benefit, or to have your business benefit from government contacts or actions that you control. 13
If there is an investigation into your actions, it is unacceptable to lie under oath, or to act to impede or obstruct the investigation. 14
If the President's conduct falls below acceptable standards, it must reviewed and the impeachment process should begin. 15
If Congress does not start the review, the impeachment process, then we will have abandoned all standards. And no one will be protecting the people's interest in good government and our democracy. 16
Congress must act. Whether it results in removal is not the point. Accountability and standards of conduct for our Predident is. (end)
Just learned Elizabeth Warren is making about the same argument. Good company indeed!
