What is the role of impeachment?

[SHRED]

Are we or are we not compelled by The Constitution no matter the politics?

[uponit7771]

1. Yes and most of the arguments against impeachment are not rooted in good logic

[SHRED]

3. I'm so pissed

At Hoyer and Schiff today.

So Democratic leadership is going to sacrifice the impeachment process to the political winds?
They are going to, in essence, let the Republicans control what they do?
Goodbye 2020 then.

[Iliyah]

2. Senate Republicans.

They think they are above the law. Nixon was confronted with impeachment or resign. These Republicans now will never do that unless something drastically changes.

[SHRED]

4. I'm perplexed

So Democratic leadership is going to sacrifice the impeachment process to the political winds?
They are going to, in essence, let the Republicans control what they do?
Goodbye 2020 then.

[uponit7771]

5. We can impeach and not convict or remove to get the KGOP to stop stonewalling.

[tymorial]

6. Congress is absolutely impelled.

I do believe it is the role of Congress to pass legislation and to act when the executive branch has violated the constitution and/or oath of office. Politics are getting in the way here. In some ways I do understand it and in others I am ashamed.

If Trump gets re-elected there we need the house to maintain our majority. However if we did engage in impeachment and Trump came out victorious then we would be harmed and in all likelihood we would lose the majority in 2020. That cant happen.

In a very real way the house Democrats are between a rock and a hard place

[dumbcat]

7. I just did a quick re-read of the Constitution

and it gives the House "... the sole power of impeachment." That's all it says on the matter as it pertains to the Congress (specifically the House) taking any action.

So it leaves it kinda ambiguous as to whether it is a duty that they are compelled to perform. If the framers wished to do that, they could have written something like "The House SHALL take action to impeach when ..." or words to that effect.

Alas, I don't see any compelling in the current language.

[defacto7]

8. It's not a duty or a directive, it's a power they can choose to use.

I don't understand the talking point asserting some duty unless it's just an opinion people want to believe about congressional duty.

[brooklynite]

9. NO we are not.

Article 1, Section 2: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Article 1, Section 3: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.

Nothing says that the House MUST Impeach.