This Watergate timeline is interesting in light of the current discussions

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

about whether/when/how to impeach Trump:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watergate-scandal-timeline-nixon

What this shows is that there wasn't a single event or proceeding that did Nixon in - it was the steady dribble, day after day for two years, of more and more bad news for Nixon, which provoked more bad behavior, which provoked even more bad news. Is something like that what's needed this time?

Take note, also, of some of the behavior not only of Nixon but of his minions, especially John Mitchell (who eventually went to jail). Sound familiar?

[Pantagruel]

1. the steady dribble, day after day for two years

Pelosi knows it and wants to engineer exactly that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. That's kind of what I've been thinking.

Nothing will drive Trump crazier, and provoke him to do even dumber things, than having the threat of impeachment hanging over his head, not knowing if or when it will happen.

[MBS]

9. yes, and good reminder whenever I start to tear my hair out (like now). n/t

[elleng]

3. It was the steady dribble,

and we're seeing it now, yesterday, today, and likely tomorrows.

[Leghorn21]

4. I respecfully request the steady dribble of one Felix Sater at an open hearing, please

He was set to testify on March 27, but when Barr dropped his "summary", Sater was cancelled...

DT is terrified of his old chum

It would be so GRAND to see what he's got to say

pleeeaaase, he'd be a gold star DRIBBLE!!!

[The Blue Flower]

5. Bad actors acting badly

It's inevitable that they'll keep cycling down and do themselves in. They don't know how to do anything else.

[Hortensis]

6. We didn't allow most of it to invade our happy, introverted

little home revolving around our new baby, just scans of the morning paper and the evening news mostly in the background while we crawled around the floor. Much more vivid are memories of a happily determined baby who rocked and then rapidly scooted backwards instead of ahead as intended. Our job was to extravagantly admire his achievements and move the toys within reach so he could try, try again. And the 9 first steps he took instead of one or two I can remember as clearly as his excitement.

But I do remember during what went on forever, what turned out to be unbelievably two years (!) in retrospect, that the right, who hadn't much liked Nixon before, rallied passionately to defend him against us and reelected him in a 49-state sweep! That was awful. I'm happy to say, though, most of what must have been intensely emotional rioting, recriminations and infighting wasn't allowed in. I had to have read about it, we had the LA Times spread over our breakfast table every morning, but that moderating filter wasn't the internet and we weren't strongly engaged.

All to the good, and that's what I'd like to pass on to some living through this one. Eventually Nixon was removed, allowed to resign, its own source of controversy. We understood but mostly strongly disapproved, but nevertheless escaped the anger that I now realize would have become an addiction for some by then.

[guillaumeb]

7. Recommended.

And pre-impeachment hearings would make this more visible.

[Historic NY]

8. Exactly, that is what did in NIXON....

it never got to the trial mode.

[Kablooie]

10. What happens if they finally impeach just a short time before the election?

And a majority of the public is onboard for impeachment?
If it happens just a few months before the election it would all be fresh in everyone's mind when they vote.

If Republicans vote not to convict they will be running a despised, criminal as their candidate and could damage Republicans who are running for reelection.

If Republicans vote to convict, their only candidate for president is eliminated.

This may be what Pelosi has in mind.

It could cause a major disaster for Republicans, which is exactly what they need right now.

[mgardener]

11. I was in college

I remember.
And it was like a leaky faucet and pressure by the people on Republicans that finally made Nixon resign.
I doubt Trump's ego will allow him to resign.
I think that it is time for We, The People to rise up and demand that our representatives hold Trump responsible for his actions.

[NewJeffCT]

16. There was no Fox News in the days of Nixon

and there was not an army of right-wing talk radio hosts, either. No Sinclair Broadcasting, nor a One America Network

[George II]

12. Unfortunately times were different back then. Democrats had majorities in both houses....

....and the Supreme Court was a lot more liberal at the time. Plus, politicians and judges still believe in country before party.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. There wasn't a single event. However, there were devastating events that shifted things...

It wasn't just a steady dribble of minor offenses. There were at least two major events that rocked Nixon's administration. The first came shortly into his second term. Nixon had an approval rating of 67% at the start of his second term. Throughout the campaign in '72, Watergate was not much an issue and it certainly didn't impact Nixon's popularity much. But then, during the hearings to appoint L. Patrick Gray as permanent Director of the FBI, Gray admitted to the Senate that John Dean likely lied to FBI investigators and Dean specifically asked him to keep the administration to keep him updated on the Watergate investigation.

The next month, James W. McCord admits, after having been found guilty of the Watergate burglary, that the Watergate burglary was not a CIA operation and, in fact, involved other government officials. This begins the interest of the investigation into the White House's role.

In April, Dean begins cooperating with federal prosecutors. Nixon's approval at this point has now dropped ten points in just over two months.

On 4/27, after evidence comes to light that Gray destroyed Watergate files from E. Howard Hunt's safe, Gray resigns. This also ties the investigation further to the White House. Three days later, White House counsel John Dean is fired. H. R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff, is forced to resign.

On 5/7, ten days before the televised Watergate hearings begin, Nixon's approval is now at 45%. In just three months, Nixon's approval has gone from 67% to 45% - a decrease of 22 points. It's by far one of the quickest, and largest approval drops in modern American history.

That wasn't a slow drip but an avalanche that devastated Nixon and changed the narrative about Watergate pretty much over night.

Nixon went from having an approval of 67% on 1/23/73 to having an approval of just 45% in early May. In three months, Nixon's approval decreased by 22 points.

At that point, it was over for Nixon. He continued to bleed out support - and this was BEFORE the Senate hearings into Watergate were televised (and a year before impeachment hearings). So far, there hasn't been a moment with Trump where his approval has just tanked.

[uponit7771]

14. **** THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT !!! **** A thousand cuts from credible source means the party of

... the impeached doesn't usually fare well in controlling parts of the government post impeachment proceedings of any kind.

[kimbutgar]

15. I remember this and it was death by a thousand cuts for Nixon

It’s only been really 5 months since a Democrat’s took control of Congress. Andin June it looked like Nixon was safe then it went downhill from there.

I know we want it now but we must be patient . Nancy is the scorpion who is trying go coax fat Donnie on her back for a ride across the river before she stings him to death.

[certainot]

17. there's a major difference today. they have 1500 coordinated radio stations now.

that is why a democrat can be impeached for a consensual blowjob and this insane sex-on-the-wrong-brain treasonous abuser and scamming serial liar even got close to the white house.

they're all making excuses for trump and attacking the 'deep state coup'

that is the difference, and the sooner democrats figure it out the sooner he'll be gone and the better this will end. otherwise the africans the radio stations are saying are coming across the southern border will be paired with a growing ebola problem created by clinics being attacked by..... russian paid mercenaries? just like in 2014 elections but bigger - with a lot more social media hype