Moderate Dems warn against 'kitchen sink' impeachment push

[brooklynite]

Last edited Wed Dec 4, 2019, 11:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Politico

A group of House Democratic centrists is warning its caucus that any case against President Donald Trump should steer clear of Robert Mueller — resurfacing an ugly internal debate on impeachment that could complicate the coming weeks.

Multiple moderates — including freshman lawmakers deemed most at risk in 2020 — have urged Democrats not to relitigate the issues in the Mueller report in their own investigation into the Ukraine scandal. But key Democrats, including House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, have suggested that it could be included in eventual articles of impeachment, with many in the caucus still eager to repudiate Trump for his misconduct outlined by Mueller.

“Activities from the 2016 election, I think, should be left to voters in the 2020 election,” said Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah), who represents one of the most GOP-leaning seats in the nation. “My focus is on those things that are forward looking.”

"I would prefer that we stick to what we have," added Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-Ariz.), co-chair of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/04/impeachment-centrist-moderate-democrats-075530

[groundloop]

1. The biggest problem is that 45* has committed so damned many impeachable offenses.....

It's gotta' be tough to pick and choose which ones to focus on.

My personal feeling on this is that sections of the Mueller report detailing obstruction should be included.

[Qutzupalotl]

2. We can't leave it to voters if the President is soliciting interference

in our elections. He is a clear and present danger.

If we wanted to, we could make this the biggest, longest impeachment case in history, and people would be talking about it, saying it’s the biggest in history. And it would also be the largest and one of the greatest, if not THE greatest in history, many, many people are saying.

God knows Trump commits so many abuses of power in plain sight, we could never finish counting.

But it only takes one article.

[TheFourthMind]

3. "We can't leave it to voters if the President is soliciting interference." Enough said. n/t

[oldsoftie]

21. Trump only won by 75,000 votes. Its THERE to win. But it doesnt mean anything goes.

Many people who DID vote for him thought that "campaign trump" would do what most every other president has done; take office and shut down the campaign mode. That didnt happen & he only got WORSE. I think a lot of Independent voters who picked trump will NOT pick him again. And i doubt he's picked up NEW votes.

But when we have people swinging for the fences with new programs, a lot of people may very well stay home or even hold their nose again for trump. But staying home is almost as bad. High turnout means trump loses

[stillcool]

4. the kitchen sink needs...

to be cleaned. That build up gets caustic.

[cstanleytech]

6. Problem is that it could confuse alot of voters and the Republicans would move to exploit it

fast during the next election so I can understand wanting to keep focus on what is current.
Now if something surfaces like an audio recording of Trump talking with Putin or someone else in the Russian government from back before the elections over what the Russians can do to help him then by all means lets bring it and the Mueller report up but for now the focus should remain limited.

[lagomorph777]

26. "an audio recording of Trump talking with Putin"

Here you go - Trump soliciting Russian election interference, with video as a bonus! Listen at 0:41:

[cstanleytech]

28. That isnt what I meant and you know it. What is needed is a clear conversation of such a phone call

or atleast a tape recording made during one of those meetings he swore that never took place that we later learned actually did take place and that he lied through his teeth over.

[lagomorph777]

29. My point is, we don't actually need that because he did it out in the open.

Probably also secretly. But anybody who will tolerate his public behavior won't be swayed by any phone recording, no matter how egregious and damning.

[cstanleytech]

30. Hey I agree he probably had a number of such secret conversations but just because I believe it does

not equal proof.

[lagomorph777]

32. and proof does not equal swayed opinions.

Such proof will never penetrate the bubble.

Our only practical hope is to get our own side so riled up that every damned one of us shows up to the polls. And if we do, I hope that's enough!

[Miguelito Loveless]

5. My message to "Moderate Dems":

Pick a goddamn side.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. ...

[Magoo48]

16. Exactly,

Now is the time for strong, loud, articulate leadership. We have an abundance of just that in the House. They’ve proven themselves organized and focused. Let them do what they are inspired to do.

[Miguelito Loveless]

25. What utterly frustrates me is the fact

that some people will get mad at me demanding that these Dems "pick a side", ignoring the fact that every Republican has picked a side, and that side is fascism.

[turbinetree]

27. The job of Congress is to Defend and Protect the Constitution

either your for it or your not..........................and so far the fascist in the republican party have not , well said "pick a goddamn side".............................and welcome to DU................

[certainot]

20. rw media is selling that 'moderate dems' are at risk bullshit and the media gets 'concerned'

chuck todd has a lot of them on regularly

but it doesn't much matter what dems do or say as long as they ignore 1500 coordinated radio stations, they're always going to be able to push dems 15 points right with the bullshit blowing from those stations and a few hundred racist liars hiding behind call screeners reaching 50 mil a week being able to pretend they represent the masses

[lagomorph777]

31. If Bloomberg and Steyer want to save the country,

They should buy Fux and UnClearcast. Flip the noise machine around. Watch some MAGAT heads snap right off.

[certainot]

35. just buying iheartless/unclear would do it, and cheaper, it's prob still $20 bil in debt

[William Seger]

24. Deploraphobia

The irrational fear of Trump's 40% base.

[htuttle]

7. Don't stop with the kitchen sink! Throw in a baby grand piano

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Now is not the time for moderation... impeach the bastard now!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[ritapria]

9. The Moderates want to normalize 10 Counts of Obstruction of Justice ?

Do they want to grant free license to all future Presidents to do the same without consequence ? ….They all took an oath of Office to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and Domestic ……...They must stop their fretting and bedwetting and do their duty ….If they don't want to uphold the Rule of Law and reign in a Criminal President , they ought to get the Hell out of Washington ...

[orangecrush]

10. This

[BannonsLiver]

14. Or

They realize that we are a nation of fucking idiots that doesn’t do nuance at all and has to have everything presented in the most simplest of ways for people to understand. And that maybe just maybe they know they’ve got him dead to rights on the Ukraine stuff and there’s no need to go on some quixotic journey to run up the score. There’s that, too. Pelosi herself had said it needs to be about Ukraine. Last I checked she’s pretty good at her job, don’t you think?

[JonLP24]

15. This is about obstruction of justice

I'm following this whole thing as well as I can and this pattern of obstruction dates back to the Mueller investigation. They chose not to do anything then but then he proceeded to obstruct the Ukraine investigation. I wish I could explain how important that is but articles of impeachment should include his entire history of obstruction of justice.

[abqtommy]

11. In a perfect world there would be a meeting of centrists from both parties, but those days

are gone and there must be nobody more lonesome than a Centrist Democrat. Blue Dog Democrats
are barking up the wrong tree. I have no use for them.

[oldsoftie]

22. Oh, dont forget, "moderate" republicans are RINOs.

Disagree with trump on ONE thing and you're blasted as a RINO by the talking heads

[abqtommy]

23. From what I've seen, "moderate Republicans" have been extinct for a long time.

[JonLP24]

13. His pattern of obstruction goes back to the Mueller investigation

He tried to obstruct justice like 50 times not to mention witness tampering thru his Twitter account.

[bucolic_frolic]

17. It's a matter of degree

If angioplasty doesn't work in 2020, let's go for quadruple bypass in 2021. It pays to have a backup plan because Trump weasels out of everything.

[Maribelle]

18. History is in the impeachment hearing committee room taking notes.

She will determine what will appear historically regarding the Impeachment of Donald Trump.

How much of Trump's blatant abuse and overt illegal crap do we want in the impeachment book?

[DeminPennswoods]

19. The "blue dogs" can always vote against an obstruction of justice

article of impeachment if or when it comes up for a floor vote. I don't honestly know why they are so uptight, though. No matter what they do, they will be attacked for it. Honestly, they should stop living in their fears.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

33. Politicians are elected, ostensibly

to represent their constituents. I suggest the moderates check with them and see what they want done. I'll bet the people want a more assertive show of force from the Congress...…….

[Nitram]

34. Of "moderate dems" are talking about charges Mueller suggested were supported by the

evidence his investigation collected, then they are neither moderator nor Dems.

[Blue_Tires]

36. Fuck that shit we're moving ahead with or without them...