Schiff downplays impeachment, says that at this point, Trump is only leaving 'by being voted out'

[Baclava]

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) on Thursday sharply downplayed the prospects of removing President Trump from office through impeachment, saying the only way he’s leaving office, at this point, is “by being voted out.”

“We do need to be realistic, and that is, the only way he’s leaving office, at least at this point, is by being voted out"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/schiff-downplays-impeachment-says-that-at-this-point-trump-is-only-leaving-by-being-voted-out/2019/07/25/4ce96424-aede-11e9-bc5c-e73b603e7f38_story.html?utm_term=.29f8142c78d5


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I sense a theme going forward

[calguy]

3. It's called reality

no time for dumb moves. I want trump to run as a wounded man rather than one claiming to be exonerated by the Senate.

[durablend]

7. Got news for you

He's already crowing about being "exonerated" by Mueller.

[boston bean]

35. But he wasn't and will be by the senate.

[Crunchy Frog]

34. As opposed to crowing about being exonerated by the House?

[Turin_C3PO]

4. Pelosi will be House Speaker as long as she wants it.

The House Dems largely support her leadership, except for a few of the Conservadems who were elected in red districts.

[Turin_C3PO]

8. I'm just stating reality.

There’s not a groundswell of opposition to her leadership.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. I think that this is supposed to be her last hurrah as Speaker

Which makes her timidity sort of baffling, given that she seemingly has nothing to lose.

[BootinUp]

2. It's called remedial math. Nt

[CentralMass]

19. Impeachment does not equal removal from office.They should impeach to document tRumps impeachable

deeds and capitulation by a corrupt GOP.

[BootinUp]

20. When the majority of polled people disagree

Then it’s called a dumb move.

[CentralMass]

22. The Democratic party will continue to lose ground by letting each republican administration get away

with whatever they want..
That is the bottom line. You can't hold the high ground by repeatedly sweeping malfeasance in the highest levels of the government's under the rug.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. Someone on MSNBC just made a similar point.

If impeachment never happens, and we talk about how bad trump is, we will have to explain why if we thought he was so bad, we didn't impeach him. Now we can not say it was because the republican Senate would vote no. Because it was stated yesterday that that wasn't the reason.

[CentralMass]

36. +1

[ElementaryPenguin]

23. The majority of people may not be concerned about climate change...

But we can't afford to wait around for all of them to come around before we do something about it!

[Faux pas]

5. How's

that going to work when all of our foreign adversaries are fixing the election(s) for all the 'compromised' right wing assholes?!?!!!!? I'm beyond pissed with the chicken shits who are supposedly representing us.

[triron]

16. Yes. And Schiff knows this very well. Something is WRONG with this 'no impeachment shit'.

[Peregrine Took]

27. Agreed. Something stinks.

He know its very possible that 2020 will be stolen, too, so what gives?

Cynically thinking, could Schiff be selfishly reluctant to impeach as it would give too much attention and glory to Nadler as Chairman of the Judiciary?

[triron]

31. I don't see that as a trait of Schiff's but you never know.

I think he's worried about crossing Nancy. Why I don't know.

[Faux pas]

40. I think they're risking a lot

by not at least going thru the motions. Those who supported them and gave them the blue wave won't ever do that again. They are only helping the hump and his stooges.

[hurple]

9. What if?

Democrats start impeachment proceedings in mid-2020, to coincide with election season? Would the constant fountain of evidence of his malfeasance drive his numbers down, or would the appearance of partisan attack drive them up?

[Baclava]

38. An October surprise? That would really light up the airwaves.

I say go for it

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. This doesn't speak to the point of whether Trump SHOULD be impeached

I believe even Pelosi is now on record saying something to this effect:

Not having enough votes in the Senate to convict Trump is not the reason she would not impeach Trump. She said she wants to build the case and if there is enough evidence to impeach she will do it and force the Republicans to make a decision.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212313219

For numerous reasons Trump should be impeached.

[Marcuse]

21. trump is not the only one sworn to defend the Constitution. I want Congress to keep its oath.

[leftstreet]

37. +1

[GulfCoast66]

39. The senate is not the only problem.

Pelosi does not have the votes in the House!

No leader can ignore their caucus on an issue of this magnitude. And you can’t whip members on this kind of issue either. They will rebel.

People forget 2018 was a victory of Moderates. The 30 or so moderates that flipped moderate districts from red to blue. They were not sent to DC to impeach. Pelosi will not risk our House majority for a failed impeachment attempt.

[Turin_C3PO]

15. While I'm pro-impeachment, I respect Adam Schiff's take on the matter.

It’s true that it’s up to the citizenry to remove this asshole from office. Impeachment will be a much deserved stain on his record but nothing more.

[bigtree]

17. again, that's not the only reason to open the inquiry

...and the party will be flatfooted by not beginning this year, especially if the election goes the other way.

[Roland99]

18. Impeachment hearings will air MANY of the sordid details

And it will wear on independents who turned toward him vs hillary

[Timewas]

26. If I understand correctly

During an impeachment the house is basically the prosecutor and the senate is the jury with the chief justice being the presiding person, if that is correct then they could force t-rump to be questioned under oath...

[MineralMan]

24. Schiff is correct. With the current Senate,

the 2020 election will be the first opportunity to get rid of Trump. I suggest we all work toward that goal, rather than fret over impeachment.

Think about it, please.

[Baclava]

25. The power of the people is greater than the people in power

Write that down

[Iliyah]

29. Republicans are not the only ones who can be

devious.

[triron]

32. So Schiff is not showing his hand?

[Crunchy Frog]

33. The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

I've seen virtually no one on this board actually thinks that impeachment would result in his removal.

Many people think that it would be a good way to inform and educate the electorate and increase the likelihood that he'll get voted out in the next election, as well as demonstrating that the Dems are doing something to hold him accountable, and uphold the Constitution.

[cbdo2007]

41. This actually makes me think something is happening behind the scenes...

And Schiff and pelosi may actually be putting the case together even more for impeachment.