Democrats, don’t impeach Donald Trump
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By Thor Hogan,
Why censure, not impeachment, is the proper way to deal with the president’s misdeeds.
On Thursday, freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) infuriated many of her colleagues by telling a room of liberal activists that the Democratic House of Representatives would “impeach the motherf—er.”
To some on the left, Tlaib’s comments seemed not just sensible but long overdue. After all, President Trump has committed impeachable offenses. At a minimum, he has interfered with the ongoing inquiry into Russian election meddling. He has publicly admitted as much, and his numerous tweets on the subject reveal a pattern of obstructing justice. There is also increasing evidence that he colluded with various parties to defraud the American people to win the presidency. We will know more about his offenses when special counsel Robert S. Mueller III concludes his investigation and the House begins its examination of the president’s conduct.
Yet Tlaib’s comments disregard the political reality: Gaining a conviction in the Republican Senate is highly unlikely, and thus far, impeachment remains politically unpopular. This makes it worthwhile for House Democrats to consider an alternative path. Rather than allowing her party to get mired in an impeachment battle that will distract from its progressive message, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) could orchestrate a presidential censure.
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