If Democrats had impeached Trump yesterday, Republicans would be in a panic today.

[kentuck]

They would have felt immense pressure to convict him. Their jobs would be under threat. Every day that passes, they feel more and more pressure to do something. Defending Donald Trump is not going to get them re-elected. The reality is beginning to dawn on them.

Public sentiment is turning against the Republican Party. And they know it. That is one explanation for the fake speech that Trump gave yesterday. It was a speech of desperation.

Just as a leopard cannot change its spots, neither can Donald Trump change his racist rants.

I do believe, the pendulum has swung.

[madaboutharry]

1. I don't know, Kentuck

I would like to think you're right that the pendulum has swung. But somehow I can't help but think that this is just another bad week that republicans think they can ride out and that in a few weeks it will be back to the status quo.

[kentuck]

2. I agree that they believe they can ride it out.

Certainly Donald Trump believes that.

But, I think this is the new "status quo".

[madaboutharry]

4. Maybe this was the tipping point.

I hope that is true.

[democratisphere]

3. The pendulum still has a long way to go.

I believe all rethuglicons are racists meaning at least 40% if the voting public is racist. Democrats have a long way to go to get their act together and decide on a Presidential candidate that will appeal to the greatest number of all voters. Rethuglicons will follow drumpf into the sea and drowned if necessary. The road ahead is still long and hard.

[kentuck]

5. There is one person they care more about than Donald Trump.

That is themselves.

[democratisphere]

6. I am not sure they are smart enough to ever figure that out.

So far, they haven't.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. Oh, they care about that oaf only as far as his appeal can keep them in power.

Otherwise, they only care about themselves. ONLY.

[True Blue American]

18. We know rebicans were Democrats until Civi Rght Laws

were passed. They quickly became Republicans!

As generations passed they became meaner, culminating in Trump and Moscow Mitch. They brought the hate out in the open.

[JI7]

8. lol, you think people who wont do anything over dead kids would have done something ?

[kentuck]

9. There is a time and place for everything.

[FBaggins]

10. Half of the Democrats in the House don't seem to feel "immense pressure" to indict

Do you really think Republicans would feel pressure to convict?

Defending Donald Trump is not going to get them re-elected.

Convicting him sure wouldn't improve their chances.

[kentuck]

11. You may be right?

They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

They have made their decision to stick with him.

And that is the question? Is it politically wise for them to do so?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. That's one thing I never expected in a million years back

before the Mueller report was released! That our own Democrats wouldn't stand up for Impeachment. Remember hearing some #s about Impeachment support and thinking...oh that must be ALL of the House, only to be shocked that it was the Dems who weren't on board.

[kentuck]

30. I think the Democratic "count" may be a bit of political strategy?

I think most Democrats support impeachment at this very moment but are waiting for the right time to cast their vote.

I think they could turn on a dime.

[lostnfound]

12. Targeted propaganda is flourishing and you may not be seeing it

I’m old so I don’t do YouTube much but the other day I tried to look up some instructions for a complicated piece of equipment. Up popped a video first, which was an entertaining or appealing guy talking about the real story behind the Mueller report., and offering a free wall chart showing the details of some connections of Joseph Mifsud. I didn’t order it, but I though “dang, they’ve got MY number”.

The intensity of fervor among Trumplodytes is created by a bubble of confirming propaganda.

[kentuck]

14. "a bubble of confirming propaganda"...

It is true, we are all confronted with propaganda. Very strong propaganda from each side.

I think most of them have moved on from the Mueller Report. They simply ignored stark evidence in front of their noses. Obstruction, lying to the FBI, making money under the table - contrary to our Constitution, and abuse of power. In any other world, paying off an "adult-film star" just days before the election, would be a big deal. A very big deal.

[brooklynite]

13. No they wouldn't

If you look at the Republicans who are up in 2020, most are still in safe Red States. Even with current developments, they wouldn't feel pressure to vote to convict.

[kentuck]

15. I'm sure you are correct...

...I'm sure they are very confident that they will have no competition from the Democrats.

[JI7]

36. many voters are racist.

[kentuck]

38. ???

explain?

[JI7]

40. racist voters want candidates that will support Trump

[kentuck]

46. Do you believe they are a majority?

What percent would you estimate?

[JI7]

48. they are in some parts of the country. the parts that voted for trump

and congressional republicans.

[Recursion]

54. If they vote to convict they will lose their next primary

Your claim is ludicrous. Zero Republican Senators would vote to convict. I doubt it would even make it out of committee, and if it did it would include a bill chastising the House and recommending law enforcement investigate them for treason.

[kentuck]

57. I guess "ludicrous" is in the eye of the beholder?

I say, "If they had voted yesterday, today would have been a bad day for Republicans".

The Republican Party, with Donald Trump, are beginning to come into sharp focus, in my opinion.

Few people see the situation with Trump getting any better in the weeks and months ahead.

I think it will be harder for them to defend him as time passes.

They can say anything they want but bullshit is bullshit.

If Democrats accept the status quo as "normal", then we will lose the next election, and we will deserve to lose the next election.

[JI7]

63. you are the one treating it as normal by refusing to acknowledge reality

which is that shitty voters is why we have shitty republicans in office.

[kentuck]

67. "Shitty voters"?

Hard to disagree with that.

[Perseus]

16. I think we have hit the tipping point for Demcorats to Impeach

And they need to do it NOW, this is all fresh, show the horrendous displays of inhumanity and vulgarity that "TeamMitch" of "MoscowMitch" are displaying, the videos from the creature's rallies inciting violence and racism, there is so much they can use to justify the impeachment, I don't understand why Pelosi still refuses to do it, what is behind Pelosi, does she know something we don't know? I am sure she knows a lot we don't know, but does she know something we don't know that gives her confidence that without impeachment proceedings we will get rid of this cancer in the White House and the Senate?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

29. Like Lawrence Tribe said, there is plenty to impeach

over and above the Mueller findings. It is becoming clearer every single day that it won't happen. What amazing luck for trump. Why we aren't, like you say is a true mystery. If they know some secret horrors that no one else knows, stuff worse than everything we do know, no one else seems to know it. Becoming brutally apparent it was and is never gonna happen.

[kentuck]

35. From what I can ascertain....

Nancy believes it would divide the country. She is probably right about that?

But, Trump wants to divide the country already. He will seek to divide no matter what the Democrats do. That is the dilemma facing Nancy and the Democrats.

My biggest fear is that many Democrats will "turn off" in the next election, if he is not impeached.

All politics aside, what would be the right thing to do?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

49. Divide the country...sounds good to me now. Those

Who think he is evil and those who don't or more importantly are unaware. It's those that are unaware that we need to reach.

Yes...your biggest fear is 100% legit. The effect of not impeaching on the millions of Dems who want to impeach, will be devastating especially when you add in that we can't seem to protect the election.

[kentuck]

51. I hope I am wrong on that.

I hope Democrats flood the polls for a landslide victory.

[boston bean]

17. No. They would be out there talking about impeachment rather than implements of death.

Have you learned nothing since 2000?

[kentuck]

19. I learned that we did not win the election in 2000.

Not the Presidency.

Also, I believe neither the House or Senate?

Which lesson were you referencing?

[boston bean]

28. Bush twice war. . Obama and the obstruction. Hillary.

Media not doing their job because they pick the low hanging shiny fruit.

Going on two decades of this shit where false equivalencies reign supreme.

Can we get power back? Do we have to give them something else to talk about? Let’s get the mother fucker and lay bare to the country what despicable deplorables they really are. Rather than allow them to craft messages of democrats going on a partisan political witch hunt.

Now we are not going on a partisan political witch hunt but it will be framed as such. By the media. It will drown out everything else. It is their wet dream.

Again, have the last twenty years passed you by?

[kentuck]

32. How much confidence do you have in a Democratic message?

Do they not have a counter? Is it too weak to compete?

What does that say about us?

[JI7]

39. it's the voters that are the problem.

[kentuck]

41. A quote:

“Politics is the art of persuasion. Good ideas die because due to a lack of charisma or character.”

― A.E. Samaan

[JI7]

42. yeah, mcconnell sure is charismatic with character. lol

[kentuck]

44. And neither have been his opponents.

It's like no choice at all.

[JI7]

47. so there was no difference between Grimes and McConnell ?

i didn't realize Grimes was such a horrible candidate.

[kentuck]

50. There was a difference in message.

Mitch had the coal money from Eastern Kentucky.

And he tried to portray Grimes as anti-coal and pro-Hillary and it worked for him in Kentucky.

But, people have had time to take a closer look at Mr McConnell. I doubt that the same message will work for him the next time around.

Actually, Grimes was a very good candidate. They were successful in defining her as something she was not. That was unfortunate.

[JI7]

53. so being pro Hillary is seen as negative in Kentucky which proves my point

in california being pro Hillary would be seen as positive.

and being pro coal is pretty much a republican position .

which all just proves my point that these people live the republican message.

[kentuck]

60. Yes, that was in 2016.

Parts of Kentucky, mainly the coal-mining region, hated Hillary Clinton. They hate "libs" in general. However, they don't seem to be as keen on Mitch McConnell as the last time he ran?

But the entire state should not be seen as one and the same. Louisville and Lexington are seen to be rather liberal in their politics. It's just that they don't have enough votes to make up for the rural support for Republicans. But they are not bigots.

[JI7]

61. but the entire state votes for senator. there are bigots in california also

but they don't have enough numbers to win statewide . but they do in some local places.

and it still goes back to my point that there ARE people who support shitty republicans in places because they believe shitty things.

[kentuck]

66. I can't disagree with you there.

Although I would hesitate to call all Republicans "bigots". For some, there may be other reasons they vote Republican? As John Prine might say, "They voted for Eisenhower, 'cause Lincoln won the war". Party loyalties go back a long ways with some people.

[standingtall]

74. Any Democrat who runs for office and refuses to admit they voted for Obama is a horrible candidate

so yes Grimes was a horrible candidate.

[Hortensis]

20. +1000. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

21. That Trump speech was strategic

He was mouthing words he didn't believe. That's why he kept sniffling. It was a signal to MAGAts, meant to distract from the words he was being forced to say.

Yes Kentuck, the pendulum has begun its return from the most extreme point. Republicans are boxed in. THey cannot defend him, they cannot enact anything, they can only retire or be silent. We must make silent an unacceptable option. MAKE NOISE!

[lark]

22. I love that you find reason to be optimistic.

Wish I could be. I think this is just a momentary blip which will be over in a few days if not already done. drumpf didn't mean a word he said, not one, except trying to use this for his own advantage on immigration. That he's totally unserious is underscored by linking background checks to immigration changes. So no immigration changes, which will not happen, no gun law changes and he's back to "send them back" and "lock her up" almost guaranteed within a few days.

[kentuck]

25. I understand your point.

Is this just a "momentary blip"? I don't know? The thing that tends to make me believe otherwise, is that the shit just keeps coming. He is going to continue to stoke divisions and Republicans will have no choice but to go along with him.

Of course, Trump didn't mean a word of it and his supporters know it.

I believe most people are tired of it. They see it for what it is. They do not see any good in it, now or down the road.

I don't know if that is too "optimistic"?

[Bettie]

23. You and a couple of others

keep me relatively sane. It is good to know that some people are able to remain hopeful.

I'm trying though and I appreciate you and your posts. Thanks for showing the light at the end of the very, very long tunnel.

[kentuck]

31. I read your posts, also, Bettie...

You help keep us in balance.

[Bradshaw3]

71. I agree with Bettie

I always appreciate your perspective and your approach to discussions.

[kentuck]

72. I learn a lot from special DUers...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. You raise good points. I look at it a bit differently

If we had done the right thing, people would be hearing all the known crimes up until now in the Impeachment process. This would be the backdrop.

Meanwhile, trump is committing new travesties to compound on. There would not be any other way to look at it - it would have hurt him..and reduce his support. It would have put tremendous pressure on those who were still supporting him.

Yet, we did not do the right thing. His crimes are piling up and he's getting away with it all. He doesn't even have to answer to anyone since he's systematically dismantled the press conference structure as we knew it. Along with owning the legal system. Add in, no progress with election protection and infighting among our candidates, and we are really screwed.

[kentuck]

26. i agree wholeheartedly with your first comment.

Also, I agree that it would have put tremendous pressure on those who were still supporting him.

Also, I would add, he is presently in the process of dividing the Supreme Court, so as to make every decision partisan and political, in my opinion.

Nobody surrenders power without a struggle.

[Pepsidog]

33. If you are correct then a slow, painful march towards impeachment with plenty of hearings.

[kentuck]

34. That would probably be the worst thing that could happen to the Republicans?

Because the leopard is not going to change his spots.

[JI7]

37. the same goes for the voters who vote for the republicans

[kentuck]

43. Are the Democrats capable of getting out more voters than the Republicans?

What do you think?

[JI7]

45. in california we do. but not all parts of the country is like california

many areas of the country are full of bigots.

[kentuck]

55. Do you think it is possible to win an election with bigots only?

What is the best way to fight the bigots?

[JI7]

56. first we can stop pretending it's not about bigotry

[kentuck]

58. We cannot surrender to bigotry...

...no matter what part of the country it might be.

I believe our country is better.

[JI7]

59. pretending it's not bigotry is surrendering

[kentuck]

62. Who is pretending there is no bigotry?

There is bigotry in California, I am sure?

But, how much bigotry do you think is in America? Are half the people bigots? Or is it just those in the Southern states, Trump country?

I fail to see where you are going with your comments??

Perhaps we can agree that we have to fight it wherever we find it? We should not be silent about it?

[JI7]

64. majority in some states and districts are bigots. that's why bigoted republ8cans get elected to offi

and why Trump remains popular with most of his party.

[Recursion]

52. LOL. Republicans will feel zero pressure to convict Trump

They will get pressure from their constituents to try the Democrats who voted to impeach for treason. Any Republican who votes to convict would be primaried and lose.

[Trumpocalypse]

65. The latest poll

disputes you

https://www.pollingreport.com/trump_ad.htm

[kentuck]

68. How were Republicans supposed to respond to such questions?

Of course, they don't think they voted for a corrupt, criminal asshole.

[Trumpocalypse]

69. Who cares about Republicans.

It's independents we need to focus on.

[kentuck]

70. I tend to agree with that...

We need independents.

[TwilightZone]

73. There's zero pressure for them to convict.

Nothing has changed where they're concerned. If nothing Trump has done thus far has swayed them, yesterday's lame speech certainly wasn't going to.