monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

We knew Trump was a maniac. We've always known that. What's so horribly scary and depressing here is that all those others are playing along rather than walking out and resigning en masse.

Yes and he's right.

The Founders, weren't perfect.

They imagined a time when a president might be a tyrant without clear and convincing evidence of violating any law and they wanted Congressional patriots to be able to rid our government of such a tyrant.

As much as they understood human nature and the possible venality of politicians, I don't think they imagined a Congress taking advantage of the wiggle room they've been provided to stage a coup for partisan reasons alone.

I'm not saying this is what Democrats have planned. First of all they don't have the votes to do so, and even if they did, I have confidence (perhaps misplaced) that there enough serious patriots among them (particularly in the Senate) to not attempt such a coup if there is no real evidence or "High Crimes & Misdemeanors"

If I'm wrong they will destroy the Union.

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Sessions is already a known liar (I refer to his confirmation hearing and Russia info), so I don't see its going to make much of a matter where he 'testifies' with this batch of lies.

Understood. But he does now, with this decision, put himself in the spotlight and with that comes very close attention and legal jeopardy. He will certainly be as well prepared for this as they can craft the thing but there are serious risks here.

the fact that Trump has not done anything wrong

Caitlin Owens reports that Senate Republicans are going to keep their health care bill secret, because god forbid the public should find out what’s in it:

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Senate Republicans are working to finish their draft health care bill, but have no plans to publicly release it, according to two senior Senate GOP aides.

“We aren’t stupid,” said one of the aides. One issue is that Senate Republicans plan to keep talking about it after the draft is done: “We are still in discussions about what will be in the final product so it is premature to release any draft absent further member conversations and consensus.”

So they’re doing an end run around the normal committee process, writing it in secret, hoping to send it to the Congressional Budget Office for a score before anyone gets to see it, then they’ll take a quick vote before opposition gets too loud. For a bill to remake one-sixth of the American economy and determine the course of everyone’s health care.

The arrogance of believing they can get away with that is just stunning, particularly when you recall how much they complained that the Affordable Care Act was “rammed through” when it was debated for an entire year, including dozens of hearings and markups and one of the longest floor debates in history.

Quote oralloy:

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the fact that Trump has not done anything wrong

Many would disagree that that is a fact.

Officials in Washington State sued and got Trump's travel ban shot down because it violated Constitutional rights. Why shouldn't these state officials have the right to sue on Constitutional grounds also?

I've tried to explain the purely political nature of the impeachment process to oralloy several times over the last few days, to no avail.

Many would disagree that that is a fact.

It's an alternative fact.

Like Whitewater?

I think it's way too early to be planning the impeachment of Mr. Trump. If something is discovered during the investigation which really implicates the president in truly questionable activities, enough to cause moderate Republicans to peel off, then you'll see the forces for impeachment catalyze.

Let's say that conflicts of interest are discovered, along with questionable dealings with Russia, and exposure of an extensive record of lying. I think the old man would resign and just work to pump up the tattered remains of his "movement" rather than face a trial.

It's an alternative fact.

I agree our attention should be on the Russian/Trump investigation but, in the meantime, the republicans have been quietly working on a disastrous health care bill.

People care way, way, way more about health care than they do about Russia (or anything else, for that matter)

[D]espite the constant swirl of Trump-related Russia controversies, the early evidence from the campaign trail is that the president’s scandals are far from the Republican Party’s most serious political vulnerability. Half a dozen political scientists and political organizers on the ground said in interviews that they see one issue galvanizing voters more than any other — health care. [..]

The stakes of the AHCA are immediate and obvious. Though a revised bill hasn’t received its final estimates, the AHCA would cost an estimated 24 million people their health insurance, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It creates a waiver that would allow states to opt out of key Obamacare rules, like the one banning insurers from charging those with preexisting conditions more. There is a seemingly endless list of provisions that are vulnerable to attack — massive tax cuts for the wealthy, smaller financial benefits for the poor and elderly, weaker protections for children and parents.

“On Comey and Russia, voters see there’s a lot of smoke and maybe even some fire; they’re yet to see that the fire might burn them,” said Jesse Ferguson, a former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee official, in an interview. “Whereas on health care, the country knows that repeal will burn them.” [..]

“Health care attracts more interest and passion and anxiety than any of the other ‘Trump scandals’ — people aren’t keeping up with the FBI director or the Russians or these other things that Washington is obsessed with,” Hopkins said. “Everyone cares about health care and understand how it affects their lives.”

Small note to Democrats in DC: If you want to win, talk less about Russia, more about healthcare.

Healthcare is visceral, Russia is not.

Keep pushing Russia stuff, but primarily behind the scenes where it can play out naturally without need for aggressive grandstanding

Keep pushing health care, and the GOP's naked/ugly/distorted desire to further disenfranchise working class & poorer americans.

Affording the basics of a good life -- health care, education, transportation, home -- is what many Americans are dealing & obsessed with

Right now Trump isn't (& IMO won't) deliver the jobs he promised. In addition the GOPs policies will make those basics far more expensive

Trump won because there was a sense in large parts of country (IMO justified) that DC had failed to deliver the hope/change it promised.

For many Americans their lives still felt like running up on a down escalator. Job losses, stagnant incomes, rising health care. etc

Trump/GOPs policies are making that worse. Keep reminding voters that you really get their frustrations & you will do better this time.

Build economic credibility. Yelling about Russia, while maybe justified, will only push people into tribal camps --A knee jerk defense.

Im waay more interested in his entire ignoring of the "Pinkney Clause" of the US Constitution , (which, s I understand, is only applicable to the Executive and the Judicial branches).
I need a Constitutional lawyer to explain that one.

The Pinkney Clause ( re:"Emoluments") will force Trump to reveal his tax records . There was a big deal in this mornings Balto Sun.

snood wrote:

It's an alternative fact.

Which can be more efficiently termed a "fuct" or "alt-fuct"

not if a case goes forward. Ever hear of subpoena?

Mark Twain wrote:

It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.