| Thank you to those who sent me your thoughts about impeachment last week. I received a huge number of insightful emails. I've included a selection of excerpts from your responses, which have been lightly edited for length and clarity, below. As always, feel free to send me your thoughts, suggestions and favorite reads from the section at Op-reads@nytimes.com. |
| "The idea of impeaching Trump is extremely attractive. From what I've heard, read and seen of the Mueller report, there is ample reason to support articles of impeachment. Still I have some reservations. Such a move might be supported by the Democrat majority in the House, but would likely get little to no Republican buy-in, allowing the president to continue to rage against 'angry Democrats'. It's also extremely doubtful that the Senate would vote to convict in the event of a trial; too many weak-kneed Republican senators. Again letting the president frame the entire affair as Democrats' revenge. I am very much in favor of Democrats in the House making every effort to see that Americans are reminded frequently and meaningfully of the entire Trump machine's effort to sabotage the government, both openly and clandestinely." — Charles Murphy |
| "I want open House and Senate hearings into anything the Mueller report aired that taints Trump. I do not want Pence as president. He has done enough dismantling the government. I want Trump out, not through impeachment, but through the election process. I do not think any of the Democratic candidates are bombastic enough to win the limelight during the campaign, but in that case it is up to the citizens to vote Trump out no matter how lackluster — but sane — a Democratic candidate might be." — Karen Gray |
| "I do believe 45 has earned all the necessary criteria to pursue articles of impeachment. Morally, this man needs to be removed from office because of the crisis he has created due to his lack of any form of accountability, responsibility, consequences or moral compass that is needed to lead what was the most powerful country in the world whose allies always stood firmly by us. We were never a perfect country but had a clear pursuit of equality and justice, which has suffered even more under the occupant of the White House today." — Gina Shea |
| "It is very important that the House of Representatives bring a bill of impeachment against Trump, regardless of whether or not the Senate is likely to vote to convict — or any other strategic or tactical political concerns. If we do not vote to impeach, we send a message to future generations that Trump's outrageous, treasonous behavior is somehow acceptable." — M.A. Murphy |
| "I don't know if congressional Democrats should initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump, but they definitely should not do it now. It would be a complete waste … An impeachment started now will be meaningless by November 2020. For impeachment to succeed, voters have to be able to quickly turn their outrage into action. They need to be able to go to the ballot box and act on their outrage. That means impeachment has to be coordinated with the election to be effective." — Chris Jennings |
| "I believe presidents should be indicted for breaking the law while in office. Justice is, ostensibly, blind to the perpetrator, so a fair hearing of the facts should be possible in a court. Impeachment is a political act. Sadly, in the hyperpartisan period in which we are living, I do not believe there are enough congressmen willing to put country before partisan ideology, for impeachment to be anything more than theater." — Stephen Campbell |
| "My stocks are up a lot and my neighborhood is safer and my patients more affluent. I am happy with his conduct in Israel. I do not want him impeached and I see no grounds for impeachment. I think he is the greatest president of my lifetime." — Howard Kirschner |
No comments:
Post a Comment