Ahead of State of the Union, Democrats are united against Trump - but not on impeachment

[DonViejo]

By David Weigel and Sean Sullivan January 30 at 12:11 AM

NEW YORK — As President Trump prepares for his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, Democrats are asking whether he’s engaged in obstruction of justice, enriched his business through his office, or otherwise violated the law. Few are using the “I-word” — “impeachment” — to say so.

At home, tending to worried liberal constituents or competitive primaries, many Democrats are facing voters who want to end Trump’s presidency, and ask what it would take to impeach him.

Some have embraced the effort, while others have sidestepped it, wary of turning the November elections into a referendum on impeachment — that Republicans intend to portray Democrats as unhinged by the president, and out of ideas on jobs or health care.

Perhaps heightening that peril is the ascension of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), a constitutional law expert with firsthand experience battling Trump, to the position of ranking Democrat of the House Judiciary Committee. It is the surest sign yet of how seriously House Democrats are preparing for a legal showdown with the president.

In one year, if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives, Nadler will become Judiciary chairman. At a recent town hall in his Upper West Side district, Nadler’s constituents made clear what they want him to do.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/ahead-of-state-of-the-union-democrats-are-united-against-trump--but-not-on-impeachment/2018/01/29/0aef316a-02ec-11e8-bb03-722769454f82_story.html

[Zoonart]

1. Looks like our intrepid leaders have decided

that impeachment talk will not play in November.
Shocker.

[brooklynite]

2. Good...Impeachment is a pointless exercise at this time.

It won't get people elected in 2018. And it won't be successful unless people are elected in 2018.

[Wounded Bear]

3. I don't think we want to emphasize impeachment in the election run-up...

Trumplodytes will read that as a "return to the old system" that the elected Trump to dismantle.

All politics is local, though. Eveery candidate needs to run on issues that his constituents want him/her to fight for. Look at VA and AL. It was all about the ground game and GOTV. Nationwide, and in most districts, progressives are in the majority.

I still believe that progressives win on issues, not personalities.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. In 2010, the (Koch-funded) teabaggers ran and won on anti-Obamacare

and gained 63 seats in the House. In 2014, they solidified their power by completing the takeover of the Senate with a net of 9 seats (including the LA runoff and AK concession).

The GOP found a subject to fire up the base and it worked.