Trump committed Bribery—the facts confirm it, and many of us told Democrats to write the articles of impeachment that way. They didn't—which, ironically, means they still can. Democrats should continue their investigation for another two months and then impeach Trump for Bribery.
PS/ This would not be a stunt—but exactly what GOP senators demanded. Democrats must call their bluff. The GOP demanded:
1⃣ An article that alleges a statutory crime.
2⃣ An article that includes all inculpatory evidence the House has.
3⃣ A process with post-resolution subpoenas.
1⃣ An article that alleges a statutory crime.
2⃣ An article that includes all inculpatory evidence the House has.
3⃣ A process with post-resolution subpoenas.
PS2/ The sham Senate trial gave Democrats a map for how to defeat every fake objection the GOP raised—by following the desperate, silly prescriptions the GOP demanded. We can't consider Bolton! they cried. OK—now Democrats can subpoena him and include his testimony in an article.
PS3/ You haven't alleged a crime! the GOP cried. OK, now he'll be impeached for Bribery. Your subpoenas were invalid! they cried. OK, now we'll re-subpoena a small number of witnesses—and new ones—all of which will happen under terms which the GOP agrees produce valid subpoenas.
PS4/ Some will say, no, it's over! But remember, the House has gotten *substantial* new info and docs since December 18, 2019—and *none* of it was considered by the Senate. *Nor* did the Senate ever consider Bribery. And the GOP concedes any *new* House subpoenas would be valid!
PS5/ Consider also that the House has sent 400+ bills to McConnell on *other* subjects and they've all died—and their death let the GOP falsely claim the Democrats were "doing nothing." So it's not like turning away from Trump and toward domestic policy gets Democrats *anything*.
PS6/ Moreover, maybe we should put politics aside and consider the safety of the nation? And our elections? What Trump did in Syria is impeachable and led to the rebirth of ISIS. What he did in Ukraine—Bolton confirms—is helping Russia take over eastern Europe. This isn't a game.
PS7/ Trump has been told by his generals that selling our troops as mercenaries to Saudi Arabia is illegal (see A VERY STABLE GENIUS). But he's now doing it—putting their lives in danger. That too is impeachable. My point: I don't think Democrats *can* turn away from impeachment.
PS8/ So if there are no policy proposals Democrats can turn *to*—because the GOP will block them—and national security continues to be at stake, and the GOP has offered a roadmap for how the House can proceed with new articles, and the evidence is there, how can they *not* do so?
PS9/ Democrats are often led by the media; if the media seems to be moving on, Democrats decide they've no power to shape the media narrative and follow meekly behind whatever new story media is chasing. But newsflash: it doesn't work that way. Media must cover what Democrats do.
PS10/ Just so, Democrats often assess what America has "patience for"—not realizing that that increasingly is synonymous with "what media has patience for." Which fundamentally has to be "what politicians have patience for." So policy-/decision-making is back asswards right now.
PS11/ The GOP sought to repeal Obamacare, what, 1.1 million times? It investigated Benghazi for, what, 118 years? Did it pay *any* price? Did anyone even *think* it'd pay a price? But somehow Democrats doing what the GOP actually *demanded*—continuing to investigate—is a problem?
PS12/ Much of this feed is about reimagining what's understood, what's possible, what's a reasonable and accurate framing of events. Democrats have some entrenched patterns of thought and action that not only are feckless and counterhistorical but aid Trump's ongoing crime spree.
PS13/ If you think there's something—GOP outrage; voter ennui; media approbation—blocking the House from launching 6 new impeachment inquiries and bringing 10 new articles of impeachment (all of which would be factually predicated) the block is in Democrats' minds, it's not real.
