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Mr. Ected

(9,670 posts)
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 05:00 AM Mar 2017

Betcha Congress now knows that the FBI has audio of Trump collusion with Russia

Therefore Feinstein's and Grassley's ashen faces and zombified expressions yesterday. The media and the Congress will now investigate further and dot the I's and cross T's as the tracks are torn out from under the Trump Train.

What we're staring at is a Constitutional crisis. The Founding Fathers anticipated a lot, but a two-party system that, worst case scenario, would circumvent checks and balances and allow a President with less than a majority to rule as a dictator was not one of them, particularly when that candidate commiserated with a hostile foreign nation to ascend to the presidency.

Treason is narrowly defined and impeachment is dicey when the head of the Senate and possibly handfuls of Republicans are potentially implicated in the scandal as well.

We simply do not have a legal process in place to address this incursion on American government and politics. Who creates the rules that will need to be promulgated to adequately investigate and punish the wrong-doers?

That's the worry that I see in the Senators' faces: they know what happened, they know their duty is to prosecute, but there isn't an existing institution within which this may be adjudicated.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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lindysalsagal

(20,584 posts)
1. Wouldn't surprise me. This will take time for the senate to digest and accept.
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 06:19 AM
Mar 2017

They're elected officials, but we often forget they're just people, and people resist drastic change, no matter what it is.

This will take some time but Schumer and Pelosi are on it and will blow the whistle eventually.

longship

(40,416 posts)
3. Unfortunately, impeachment is only the first step.
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 06:36 AM
Mar 2017

One still has to convict in the senate.

Normally that is a good thing (Bill Clinton), but in this case it makes the bar too high in a situation where ideologues and madmen have taken over.

C_U_L8R

(44,990 posts)
4. Was that a look of 'what do we do now?'
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 08:31 AM
Mar 2017

Assuming that they were told something with substance,
I'm sure both Feinstein and Grassley are thinking...
Okay, now what? What do we do with this intel and
how do we proceed towards an orderly resolution...
including impeachment. Neither one wants blowback
or chaos. Curious what's next.

MineralMan

(146,262 posts)
7. It's sure looking that way.
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 09:30 AM
Mar 2017

I wish it would just all get revealed in public so people would be clear on what happened.

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
10. I think they may very well impeach him or force him to resign.
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 10:14 AM
Mar 2017

He is not popular, and if it becomes knows that he colluded with a foreign power to steal the election or hack the Democrats...it is high tech Watergage and the GOP will act...if they don't the Dems will act when they regain power in 18...I do not think Trump will last

wiggs

(7,810 posts)
12. The public has to demand a do-over. IF...IF the public ever gets to know the full
Thu Mar 16, 2017, 11:19 AM
Mar 2017

extent of a compromised WH, NY office of FBI, Attorney General, Commerce Sec, Sec of State, and fraudulent election then millions have to hit the streets to demand action and justice.

Not a million in DC. Millions. Everywhere.

By their vey nature, elected officials will pursue scripted remedies...but when remedy calls for an unprecedented, unanticipated, unimaginable pathway toward resolution, only clear demand by 10s of millions will help them find it.

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