,
7 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
Fact is, no one knows what will happen to impeachment numbers in polls, if Congress begins inquiry hearings.
It is all guessing! But, it was the same in 1973, when polling said, after the Saturday Night Massacre, only 37 percent favored removal of Nixon.
A THREAD
It is all guessing! But, it was the same in 1973, when polling said, after the Saturday Night Massacre, only 37 percent favored removal of Nixon.
A THREAD
2/ According to WashPost polling, the same number of people, today, back impeachment, as did those after Nixon went on a firing spree.
Back then, like today, Dems (and everyone else) had no idea if pursuing impeachment would change those numbers, or backfire.
Back then, like today, Dems (and everyone else) had no idea if pursuing impeachment would change those numbers, or backfire.
3/ What Dems did know is that the smoke was thick around Nixon, and investigation and impeachment hearings may find the fire -- so it was their duty to pursue it. They had basically NO GOP support at the outset.
The idea that they had a cooperative GOP for impeachment is a myth.
The idea that they had a cooperative GOP for impeachment is a myth.
4/ People say, well, there is FOX News and other pro-Trump media today. True.
Folks also could have argued Nixon had advantages his GOP predecessors didn't have, in terms of burgeoning support in the Democratic south, new conservative influencers on the scene, etc.
Folks also could have argued Nixon had advantages his GOP predecessors didn't have, in terms of burgeoning support in the Democratic south, new conservative influencers on the scene, etc.
5/ Point is, this is all guesswork.
Dems can either convince themselves that the risks aren't hypothetical, but real as the sun rising, or they can say they do not know, and the only certain thing is that they're running out of options, as Trump defies subpoenas.
Dems can either convince themselves that the risks aren't hypothetical, but real as the sun rising, or they can say they do not know, and the only certain thing is that they're running out of options, as Trump defies subpoenas.
6/ In 1973 and 74, no one knew where impeachment would go.
They DID know they didn't have polls, or Senate GOP votes, on their side.
But, they did what was right, and polls slowly joined them.
They DID know they didn't have polls, or Senate GOP votes, on their side.
But, they did what was right, and polls slowly joined them.
7/ Even still, according to Pew, a majority didn't favor removing Nixon, until just before he did so.
It was at *that* point that GOP Members informed Nixon he no longer had the votes to survive.
Keep this all in mind, as polls come out. Polling CAN change, with action.
It was at *that* point that GOP Members informed Nixon he no longer had the votes to survive.
Keep this all in mind, as polls come out. Polling CAN change, with action.
