This is the anti-impeachment argument I have been hearing from others close to Congress. It’s what House leaders think. And it is Very Wrong.
@casten.house.gov: “Impeachment… doesn’t accomplish anything unless it is followed by a vote to convict in the Senate.”
No, no, no. This is status quo…
@casten.house.gov: “Impeachment… doesn’t accomplish anything unless it is followed by a vote to convict in the Senate.”
No, no, no. This is status quo…
Reposted from
Sean Casten
Because a number of folks keep asking, let’s talk about why the Democrats overwhelmingly voted to table Al Green’s motion to impeach Donald Trump. TL;DR: if you want Trump to be out of office ASAP, this was the right call, right now. Read on for the explanation…
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Fundamentally, what Casten is doing here is giving a series of justifications for why Dem leaders should do nothing— why they should continue House business as usual and wait for others to push back on Trump.
It’s excuses for the status quo.
Beyond this being an argument for the status quo, it’s transparently reactionary—the Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity.
(h/t @jeetheer.bsky.social on this I think.)
“No president has every been removed.”
That’s The Rhetoric of Reaction: Futility.
And…
YES @seancasten.bsky.social, yes that is what we are calling for: drawing public attention to Trump’s crimes.
Use impeachment articles for that. Hold unofficial hearings!! Take action. Don’t just sit on your laurels and make excuses.
THIS is the series of excuses for sitting on their hands that Democrats tell themselves?!??
It’s so sad to see it laid out like this, so poorly argued, so devoid of strategy or energy.
I am reminded of the story of the German couple that left anti-Nazi post cards around Berlin for people to read.
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The postcards they wrote urged people to refuse to cooperate with the Nazis, to refrain from donating money, to refuse military service, and to overthrow Hitler.
They now belong to history.
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