Impeachment isn’t just a political strategy; it’s the last defense of our Constitution. Republicans must act now, decisively and unapologetically. If they do, they may yet save America and themselves…
"Republicans control the entire federal government: they can’t pass this buck to anyone else. If they refuse to impeach Trump, they’ll go down in history as the party that enabled an authoritarian coup and ended America’s 250 year experiment with democracy."
Thom references the film "Minority Report" in today's piece - watch it if you can, or read a summary. So many of our good faith science fiction writers have shown us the future - we should believe them occasionally.
Superb post, Thom, but I fear too late. I believe the country has passed the point of no return and such niceties as "checks and balances" and "rule of law" are rapidly receding in the rear-view mirror. 21st Century Republican office holders have no stomach for doing the right thing.
Thom has always been on the front lines where democracy has been threatened, so he's not late; it's just too bad that the media has not been willing to spread his word.
Great commentary Tom but the Republicans in Congress haven’t stood up to Trump in each of his terms. Why would they change now? Unfortunately, I can’t see them growing a spine now and getting rid of this scourge to our country. I hope I’m wrong but what will they now see that makes them scratch their head and say now’s the time to impeach? Maybe the Epstein files?
For one thing, many of their donors and constuencies have soured. Some represent Dem majorities.
For another, many of them are personally adversely affected by Trump economic policies.
And Trump is far worse as # 47 -- beyond all expectations. E.G. Miami healthcare CEO Michael “Mike” B. Fernandez wrote the following open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Republican Cuban-American Miami-Dade congressional delegation: U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and Maria Elvira Salazar.
"For decades, I have stood with you in defense of the freedoms we cherish, those we were denied in the country of our birth and found in the grace of this one. I know what it means to flee tyranny.
"Like you, I carry that history in my bones and that pain in my heart.
"But like a growing number in our community, I have watched with dismay as the very values we once found sanctuary in are now being attacked by a previously unthinkable threat — the sitting president of the United States.
"In the face of all of this, the silence from our own leaders — the sons and daughters of exiles — has become deafening."
I hope you’re right. But these CEO’s have to convince their representatives to change their views and stop being afraid of Trump and do the right thing. If not impeachment then hopefully the people will see the damage their representatives are doing and vote them out next year
There are enough House Republicans who privately say that Trump is nuts to get impeachment started. They are intimidated to the extent that some fear for their lives. If someone can get some of those Republcans that Thom listed to meet with them, to provide psychological reinforcement, we have a good chance of getting started.
Waiting for Humpty TRumpty to fall off the wall.....
Republicans of conscience have indeed formed their own little coalitions, have podcasts, and appear on MSM shows. Too bad it isn't the ones that are still in office. Instead, we often tune in to more bad news about their office-holders, Cabinet members, and regime members.
Senator Murkowski's picture with Ghislaine Maxwell just surfaced along with the fact that one of her big donors was literally the sex trafficker's good friend. Homan, who is less than human, took $50,000 in an FBI sting. Release the tape! Release The Epstein Files!
It would make them heroes to impeach and convict Orange Hitler, step-up to stop the genocide in Gaza, rejoin our allies, and help Ukraine finish what they did NOT start. And since we are visiting the wishing well, I'd like the White House restored---that's the only easy one. While we wait, see you in the streets.
Impeach Trump and what do you get? It's bad all the way down to the Speaker of the House. We need to win the midterms first and take control of the house and senate. Then start the impeachment process all the way to the Speaker of the House.
Correct you are Steven. Impeaching Trump is nonsense and a waste of time, but it does provide income to who ever is behind the movement. Impeach Trump and you get Peter Thiel, I mean J D Vance, even worse because they are competent and coherent.
History - What is History? Well, what IS history? Usually something that happens (about something that happened) way down the line, say like a couple of hundred years, or at least many decades ago and usually everyone who participated is already dead. There is no one left alive who can comment on what (really)happened during the time that will then be History. And let's be perfectly clear that the following has been said loud and clear over and over again by T and his MAGAts- I REALLY DON'T CARE!
ON TV two Republican senators were asked about their legacy. Their response was, how can I care, I will be dead. That truth doesn't sink in to the public mind.
The fact that people talk about Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Jenghis Khan affects them not one whit.
That Abraham Lincoln, George Washinton, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson are celebrated and are the subjects of books,documentaries, monographs affects them not one whit.
They are only important to the living
People talk of leaving a legacy, because they are under the delusion that somehow, magically, they will survive death by passing on property, money, businesses, power, genes to their children. It is a delusion.
Nobody survives the grave. You can't take it with you, and your children are not you.
The only thing politicians are afraid of is losing the (illegal) campaign finance money the get from billionaire donors. They will support Trump as long as they are told to. Any semblance of a representative form of government was doomed from the moment SCOTUS issued it Citizens United ruling.
Just one thing: The GOP is a skin suit. Think "Men In Black."
In "Men in Black," an alien kills a farmer named Edgar and then wears his skin like a grotesque disguise. It’s not just a metaphor—it’s literal. The alien is a giant cockroach-like creature from another planet that needs to blend in on Earth, so it hijacks Edgar’s body by tearing off his skin and wearing it as a suit.
The GOP is just a skin suit with a bunch of congressional cockroaches inside. Sooo . . .
The GOP is NOT Obi-Wan Kenobi. For our only hope, we gotta look elsewhere.
Outstanding metaphor. Placing hope on a handful of Trump humping Republicans to see the light and come over to the light from the dark side is foolish, and plays right into the hands of the forces behind MAGA and Trump.
Now that you put it to us like that, I recognize that the situation is probably hopeless unless the people rise up in resistance in large enough numbers to cause the police and military to join the resistance. The Republican leadership is not going to have a come-to-Jesus moment. They are empty vessels and useless toadies, with the exception of a very few. MTG and others who have opposed Trump on the Epstein files will go along on the shutdown and other issues and the Epstein scandal will be overshadowed. He will do whatever it takes to wrest control. Open defiance by millions is our only hope. That or a fatal heart attack.
Robert,I agree 100%. One of the reasons so many have not protested is because during the past few months,the stock market has been parabolic and IRA's ,other investments have done extremely well. Many are feeling much wealthier,so they forgive the "Nazi" @ 1600 Penn Avenue. You can blame Jensen Huang ,president of Nvidia who is a close friend of Trump and a company that is responsible for most of the stock gains in the past 8 months. He is a huge proponent of AI and when asked if he was concerned that AI could result in 18 months to loss of 40 millions jobs,he was gleeful. There have been multiple warnings of how AI could lead to momumental job losses not only in the next 18 months but in three yrs,job losses as estimated by Goldman Sachs could reach 300 million jobs globally.
I think we must recognize that AI and big tech is the greatest threat to the our continued existence.
Wishful thinking I fear. Good luck. Reps will not do anything. The only ones remaining to save the constitution are the military officers and soldiers. Amen
You are wrong there Jack. Tues, Sep 30, all General and Flag Officers will convene at Quantico, VA to swear allegiance to Trump who will be there. And Hegseth has issued a direct order that no military can talk to the media. Disobedience of a direct order is a court martial offense, and the punishment can be dishonorable discharge
Trump has also fired the Commanders of the Judge Advocate Generals Corps of the Armed Forces, and now has a compliant military.
Further, the ideology known as Dominionism or Christian Reconstruction has infiltrated the service academies starting with the AF Academy, when after it opened it's doors, megachurchs moved in and started recruiting cadets.. This virus has spread to Annapolis and West Point and of course the officers they produce.
The enlisted take an oath which does say protect and defend the constitution, but that is nebulous, they are unable to determine what is and is not constitutional, but it also includes "obey the orders of the President and officers appointed over me"
And the majority of enlisted come from rural and red states, and would love to bust heads of the libs, finally the military is by nature ultra conservative.
Then we get into either a military soft coup which would probably involve the refusal to follow unconsitutional orders, and could include using the threat of a hard coup. That is a classical coup d'état which it is achieved with the use of military force. Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_coup
Stop with any talk about actually impeaching Dictator Donny. Yes, should the Dems take the House, and even if, highly unlikely, they take the Senate, there will never be enough votes from the cowardly Republican Senators actually to impeach Dictator Donny. So, stop bringing this up and hoping Senate Republicans will grow a spine; they will not, because they are as corrupt and dishonest as their leader, Dictator Donny. Dictator Donny knows the Senate is his ace in the hole, along with the corrupt and highly compromised Supreme Court. By this time next year, we could be living in a fully realized authoritarian dictatorship, and the country will struggle to survive, let alone see Democrats holding impeachment hearings in the House. The mess that has been created by willfully ignorant and gullible voters voting for a corrupt, dishonest scoundrel might become irreparable by this time next year. We did this all to ourselves by the bad decisions that were made over the past 40-50 years, and the decisions that we neglected to make over that same time frame.
FACT-
"Republicans control the entire federal government: they can’t pass this buck to anyone else. If they refuse to impeach Trump, they’ll go down in history as the party that enabled an authoritarian coup and ended America’s 250 year experiment with democracy."
Thom references the film "Minority Report" in today's piece - watch it if you can, or read a summary. So many of our good faith science fiction writers have shown us the future - we should believe them occasionally.
Fair warning---there are vicious little bots and eyeball scenes that are stomach turning.
Really stuck with me, and U R right, especially because you're not a bot.
Superb post, Thom, but I fear too late. I believe the country has passed the point of no return and such niceties as "checks and balances" and "rule of law" are rapidly receding in the rear-view mirror. 21st Century Republican office holders have no stomach for doing the right thing.
Even if it got so bad they decided to do this I fear it would be too late.
Thom has always been on the front lines where democracy has been threatened, so he's not late; it's just too bad that the media has not been willing to spread his word.
Great commentary Tom but the Republicans in Congress haven’t stood up to Trump in each of his terms. Why would they change now? Unfortunately, I can’t see them growing a spine now and getting rid of this scourge to our country. I hope I’m wrong but what will they now see that makes them scratch their head and say now’s the time to impeach? Maybe the Epstein files?
Why would they change now?
For one thing, many of their donors and constuencies have soured. Some represent Dem majorities.
For another, many of them are personally adversely affected by Trump economic policies.
And Trump is far worse as # 47 -- beyond all expectations. E.G. Miami healthcare CEO Michael “Mike” B. Fernandez wrote the following open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Republican Cuban-American Miami-Dade congressional delegation: U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and Maria Elvira Salazar.
"For decades, I have stood with you in defense of the freedoms we cherish, those we were denied in the country of our birth and found in the grace of this one. I know what it means to flee tyranny.
"Like you, I carry that history in my bones and that pain in my heart.
"But like a growing number in our community, I have watched with dismay as the very values we once found sanctuary in are now being attacked by a previously unthinkable threat — the sitting president of the United States.
"In the face of all of this, the silence from our own leaders — the sons and daughters of exiles — has become deafening."
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article304271841.html#storylink=cpy
Good post Daniel,you like I are not ready to throw in the towel and let this "Nazi" pig prevail.He is like the stage four " Cancer" .
I hope you’re right. But these CEO’s have to convince their representatives to change their views and stop being afraid of Trump and do the right thing. If not impeachment then hopefully the people will see the damage their representatives are doing and vote them out next year
There are enough House Republicans who privately say that Trump is nuts to get impeachment started. They are intimidated to the extent that some fear for their lives. If someone can get some of those Republcans that Thom listed to meet with them, to provide psychological reinforcement, we have a good chance of getting started.
Consider the Jerry Weiss scenario, https://jerryweiss.substack.com/.
It's one thing to know Trump is an existential threat to American democracy, and something else to have the courage to act.
Waiting for Humpty TRumpty to fall off the wall.....
Republicans of conscience have indeed formed their own little coalitions, have podcasts, and appear on MSM shows. Too bad it isn't the ones that are still in office. Instead, we often tune in to more bad news about their office-holders, Cabinet members, and regime members.
Senator Murkowski's picture with Ghislaine Maxwell just surfaced along with the fact that one of her big donors was literally the sex trafficker's good friend. Homan, who is less than human, took $50,000 in an FBI sting. Release the tape! Release The Epstein Files!
It would make them heroes to impeach and convict Orange Hitler, step-up to stop the genocide in Gaza, rejoin our allies, and help Ukraine finish what they did NOT start. And since we are visiting the wishing well, I'd like the White House restored---that's the only easy one. While we wait, see you in the streets.
Impeach Trump and what do you get? It's bad all the way down to the Speaker of the House. We need to win the midterms first and take control of the house and senate. Then start the impeachment process all the way to the Speaker of the House.
Correct you are Steven. Impeaching Trump is nonsense and a waste of time, but it does provide income to who ever is behind the movement. Impeach Trump and you get Peter Thiel, I mean J D Vance, even worse because they are competent and coherent.
Read the Jerry Weiss scenario.
Well written. I pray patriotic Republicans heed this warning.
History - What is History? Well, what IS history? Usually something that happens (about something that happened) way down the line, say like a couple of hundred years, or at least many decades ago and usually everyone who participated is already dead. There is no one left alive who can comment on what (really)happened during the time that will then be History. And let's be perfectly clear that the following has been said loud and clear over and over again by T and his MAGAts- I REALLY DON'T CARE!
ON TV two Republican senators were asked about their legacy. Their response was, how can I care, I will be dead. That truth doesn't sink in to the public mind.
The fact that people talk about Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Jenghis Khan affects them not one whit.
That Abraham Lincoln, George Washinton, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson are celebrated and are the subjects of books,documentaries, monographs affects them not one whit.
They are only important to the living
People talk of leaving a legacy, because they are under the delusion that somehow, magically, they will survive death by passing on property, money, businesses, power, genes to their children. It is a delusion.
Nobody survives the grave. You can't take it with you, and your children are not you.
Thank you Thom:
We definitely have to find some Republican heroes and heroines to step forward ASAP - if not yesterday.
They have to make their secret impulses public and brave the immediate consequences. They will need all the help we can give them.
Start here: https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/
Half of the problem solver caucus are Republicans kissing Trump's ass. The Democrats are DINO's.
The only thing politicians are afraid of is losing the (illegal) campaign finance money the get from billionaire donors. They will support Trump as long as they are told to. Any semblance of a representative form of government was doomed from the moment SCOTUS issued it Citizens United ruling.
We were once known as the Land of the free and home of the brave. Right Reps?
I cannot say that I disagree. But . . .
Just one thing: The GOP is a skin suit. Think "Men In Black."
In "Men in Black," an alien kills a farmer named Edgar and then wears his skin like a grotesque disguise. It’s not just a metaphor—it’s literal. The alien is a giant cockroach-like creature from another planet that needs to blend in on Earth, so it hijacks Edgar’s body by tearing off his skin and wearing it as a suit.
The GOP is just a skin suit with a bunch of congressional cockroaches inside. Sooo . . .
The GOP is NOT Obi-Wan Kenobi. For our only hope, we gotta look elsewhere.
Outstanding metaphor. Placing hope on a handful of Trump humping Republicans to see the light and come over to the light from the dark side is foolish, and plays right into the hands of the forces behind MAGA and Trump.
Now that you put it to us like that, I recognize that the situation is probably hopeless unless the people rise up in resistance in large enough numbers to cause the police and military to join the resistance. The Republican leadership is not going to have a come-to-Jesus moment. They are empty vessels and useless toadies, with the exception of a very few. MTG and others who have opposed Trump on the Epstein files will go along on the shutdown and other issues and the Epstein scandal will be overshadowed. He will do whatever it takes to wrest control. Open defiance by millions is our only hope. That or a fatal heart attack.
Robert,I agree 100%. One of the reasons so many have not protested is because during the past few months,the stock market has been parabolic and IRA's ,other investments have done extremely well. Many are feeling much wealthier,so they forgive the "Nazi" @ 1600 Penn Avenue. You can blame Jensen Huang ,president of Nvidia who is a close friend of Trump and a company that is responsible for most of the stock gains in the past 8 months. He is a huge proponent of AI and when asked if he was concerned that AI could result in 18 months to loss of 40 millions jobs,he was gleeful. There have been multiple warnings of how AI could lead to momumental job losses not only in the next 18 months but in three yrs,job losses as estimated by Goldman Sachs could reach 300 million jobs globally.
I think we must recognize that AI and big tech is the greatest threat to the our continued existence.
I totally agree Robert.
Wishful thinking I fear. Good luck. Reps will not do anything. The only ones remaining to save the constitution are the military officers and soldiers. Amen
You are wrong there Jack. Tues, Sep 30, all General and Flag Officers will convene at Quantico, VA to swear allegiance to Trump who will be there. And Hegseth has issued a direct order that no military can talk to the media. Disobedience of a direct order is a court martial offense, and the punishment can be dishonorable discharge
Trump has also fired the Commanders of the Judge Advocate Generals Corps of the Armed Forces, and now has a compliant military.
Further, the ideology known as Dominionism or Christian Reconstruction has infiltrated the service academies starting with the AF Academy, when after it opened it's doors, megachurchs moved in and started recruiting cadets.. This virus has spread to Annapolis and West Point and of course the officers they produce.
The enlisted take an oath which does say protect and defend the constitution, but that is nebulous, they are unable to determine what is and is not constitutional, but it also includes "obey the orders of the President and officers appointed over me"
And the majority of enlisted come from rural and red states, and would love to bust heads of the libs, finally the military is by nature ultra conservative.
Then we get into either a military soft coup which would probably involve the refusal to follow unconsitutional orders, and could include using the threat of a hard coup. That is a classical coup d'état which it is achieved with the use of military force. Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_coup
The Epstein petition may force the issue.
Thank you Thom, for your courage in continuing to speak out. If only our congressional republicans (and John Fetterman) had half your courage.
Stop with any talk about actually impeaching Dictator Donny. Yes, should the Dems take the House, and even if, highly unlikely, they take the Senate, there will never be enough votes from the cowardly Republican Senators actually to impeach Dictator Donny. So, stop bringing this up and hoping Senate Republicans will grow a spine; they will not, because they are as corrupt and dishonest as their leader, Dictator Donny. Dictator Donny knows the Senate is his ace in the hole, along with the corrupt and highly compromised Supreme Court. By this time next year, we could be living in a fully realized authoritarian dictatorship, and the country will struggle to survive, let alone see Democrats holding impeachment hearings in the House. The mess that has been created by willfully ignorant and gullible voters voting for a corrupt, dishonest scoundrel might become irreparable by this time next year. We did this all to ourselves by the bad decisions that were made over the past 40-50 years, and the decisions that we neglected to make over that same time frame.