I covered the GOP side in 2016. Republicans warned repeatedly about almost the exact scenario we saw on Wednesday: Trump fomenting a violent mob hopped up on conspiracy theories and lies about his opponents.
So maybe I'm missing it, but: Anyone seeing any statements from prominent R Senators yet saying "Don't use the 25th Amendment, don't impeach?"
Because we're now pretty far into this conversation. There have been reports of 25A talk since yesterday. Impeachment looks increasingly likely, even imminent. Seems like people would have strong reactions?
Comes as dozens of members are calling for impeachment or 25th Amendment process to remove Trump (over 70 as of last night), and the number is almost certain to grow. Taking it off the table.
The entire Democratic membership of the House Judiciary Committee called on Trump to be legally removed by his cabinet yesterday. Seems like an odd time to leave.
Going to be lots of tweets like this today, but House Democrats also have the ability to initiate removal proceedings themselves and refer them to the Senate. A lot of statements effectively pawning it off to Pence.
Person after person getting off the Trump Train at the very last local stop now that there’s nothing to be gained from it also publicly said something like this would happen before they got on it. It seems banal to point out, but it’s poisoned good faith political debate.
This was the crux of Romney and McConnell and others’ speeches yesterday: Trump presents his own challenges to democracy, but the fact nobody believes even some of his most prominent elected supporters are sincere in their support also is toxic. It makes debate impossible.
Hypocrisy is a normal feature of politics. Making alliances with rivals is too. But there’s not much precedent for warning a rival is an immediate danger to democracy, decency, and truth itself THEN getting on board only to complain they did the thing you said they were doing.
People forget this, but literally Pence’s first day on the job was Trump humiliating him. He spent 30 minutes at his intro press conference rambling and mocking Pence’s Cruz endorsement. nytimes.com/2016/07/17/us/…
Starts with: "We had an election that was stolen from us, it was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side" before telling supporters to go home.
Again, will be surprised if impeachment talk doesn't pick up again once members are safe.