General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am about to give up, because I can't control it or anyone. [View all]better
(884 posts)Because I'd like to redirect your attention to her words, and encourage us all to apply them to the evolving context of the present.
We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason.
She is absolutely right that we should not impeach for a political (or worded perhaps more appropriately, partisan) reason. That would be an abuse of power, as it was when the Republicans impeached Clinton despite his crimes having no bearing upon his capacity to fulfill the duties of his office. And it would, therefore, potentially be bad for our electoral prospects, as you suggest.
But we are now dealing with a president whom the evidence proves to have obstructed justice, multiple times, specifically undermining an investigation into an attack on the fabric of our democracy. And whom the evidence now conclusively shows to be compromised by a hostile foreign power. It even shows that Trump believed himself to be compromised. In that light, impeachment proceedings can very justifiably be deemed to be a constitutional obligation at this point, because the president poses a now documented, confirmed risk to national security, and he has violated his oath of office.
The arguments you raise against impeachment proceedings are purely political/partisan. Speaker Pelosi herself also made clear that we should not avoid impeachment for such reasons, and we have now very clearly moved past the point where moving forward with impeachment would be for political/partisan reasons. We know he obstructed justice, we know he is compromised, we know he violated his oath of office. We are, therefore, obligated to uphold the Constitution using the process ordained therein.
Yes, the possible outcome is scary, and yes, there is risk.
But duty outweighs risk.