I am sick to DEATH of Donald Trump. I knew he was a disgrace to this country when he first threw his slimy hat in the ring (in 2015). And it has been virtually nothing but downhill since. There are a couple of things he has done that were “standard, prudent, proper, patriotic” but mostly it is throwing red meat to his base, defending his ego, and enriching himself and his friends. It’s really worse than predicted to be – which is saying a lot! There is no wisdom in continuing down this same path of obfuscation, autocratic maneuvering, dark political machinations, and utter abrogation of wholesome values. And yet, today, one of the most repugnant and ludicrous statements I have ever read (and I have read a lot!) came out of his Twitter-addicted thumbs: “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off-limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!).” I have been studying wisdom for quite some time, and I can assure you, dear reader, this man possesses less wisdom than most adolescent males. My thesis is that the wise would uniformly call for Trump’s ouster. I can say this with absolute confidence, based on what I know of “the wise” (as esoteric and ethereal as that concept may be). By the wise I am referring to wisdom incarnate; those who are in possession of uncanny wisdom, if you will).
I wish I could find a spirit of bipartisanship in my heart, but when I look at the low-information “Trump voters” who do not have the wisdom and the courage to admit they made a huge mistake by voting for him (or, alternatively and more appallingly, the second group comprised of those who, as one person put it, “hate the same people Trump hates”), I just cannot find common ground. It’s like being in two different Americas – except, due to Trump’s megalomaniacal instincts, pathological lying, and malignant narcissism, we are, all of us, stuck in a dystopia of Trump’s making. Escape is virtually impossible. The man desperately needs to be impeached and then ousted. He is a national disgrace, and doing serious harm to this country.
What follows is a number of opinions and perspectives on the option and the challenges for jettisoning this overweight, undereducated man without delay. I believe the wise would suggest it is arguably the toughest time for America politically since Richard Nixon – who at least had shame enough to resign once he was facing judgment. The sociopath in the Oval Office has no scruples, of course, but also no shame, it seems. Nevertheless, we have seen far too much stretching and morphing of America which, alas, ushered him into office in the first place! He may be a pox on all our houses for all the low misdeeds and the foul seeds we have sown. We The People must now rise up, recapture virtue, and castigate and denounce this affront to all that is right with America.
“The massive White House coverup of Trump’s abuse of power vis-a-vis Ukraine & Biden, including evidence concealment, is now clearly documented. Bill Barr is up to his eyebrows in the criminal conspiracy. He’s Trump’s John Mitchell. Mitchell ended up in prison. It’s all unraveling…” Lawrence Tribe, Constitutional scholar
“There is more than enough evidence of Trump’s corruption, crimes, and abuses of power. The case for impeachment is clear, and it’s the duty of every elected official to uphold the Constitution.” Tom Steyer, noted businessperson and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate
“…in my great and unmatched wisdom…” “…totally destroy and obliterate…”. This alarming language suggests the President of the United States is inhabiting a delusion drawn straight from the Wizard of Oz.” John Harwood, CNBC reporter
“Just, as a theoretical exercise, ask yourself how members of Congress would deal with the set of facts before them now if they did not know the president involved or their party affiliation.” David Axelrod, Director of U-Chicago’s Institute of Politics
“Just a casual reminder that treason is a crime punishable by death. The President of the United States is once again raising the specter of violence against his political opponents and the nation hardly bats an eye. It’s a blip in the news cycle.” Robert Reich, eminent economist and former Secretary of Labor
“The ordinary argument that an impeachment close to the election is unnecessary because the voters can decide whether to keep the president in office does not hold water when the impeachable conduct involves attempting to manipulate the election process itself. It is indeed a matter of national security if the president is seeking to use the power of his office—and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money—to get a weaker foreign government to do his bidding in coordination with his personal lawyer.” Slate columnist Richard L. Hasen
“At the risk of sounding a bit repetitive, Democratic leaders must come to grips with who and what Donald Trump is—and the nature of the Republican Party he leads—before this crew tramples what’s left of the republic. One of our two major political parties is now an authentic authoritarian outfit, where the political playbook at both the state and federal levels consists of using the mechanisms of democracy to strangle the popular will and entrench minority rule. Anything is acceptable if it helps you maintain your grip on power.” Esquire columnist, Jack Holmes
“The purpose of government is to secure our rights. Our Constitution does this through: • Federalism • Separation of powers • The Bill of Rights • The Rule of Law I’ll always support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Justin Amash, former Republican Congressman
“The president’s contact with China leaves me deeply disturbed especially on top of all the Ukranian developments. All of this demands a full and complete investigation, then let the chips fall where they may.” John Kasich, former Governor of Ohio
“One of the reasons that I did what I did back during Watergate was the thought that this must never happen again. And one of the reasons I’ve had a knot in my stomach, one of the reasons I’m [always on television] is that I’m deeply troubled by the presidency we’re living with.” John Dean, Nixon whistleblower
“The conduct described in the report constitutes multiple crimes of Obstruction of Justice. It’s supported by evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Attorney
“A group of seven first-term House Democrats on Monday penned a joint op-ed urging Congress to use all of its powers to determine whether new allegations regarding President Trump’s interactions with the leader of Ukraine are true. The lawmakers, who hail from competitive swing districts and who have experience in national security, wrote in The Washington Post that Trump should be impeached if allegations that he withheld military aid to Ukraine as part of an attempt to get the country to investigate the son of 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden are true. ‘If these allegations are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offense. We do not arrive at this conclusion lightly, and we call on our colleagues in Congress to consider the use of all congressional authorities available to us, including the power of ‘inherent contempt’ and impeachment hearings, to address these new allegations, find the truth and protect our national security,’ the congresspersons wrote. ‘He allegedly sought to use the very security assistance dollars appropriated by Congress to create stability in the world, to help root out corruption and to protect our national security interests, for his own personal gain. These allegations are stunning, both in the national security threat they pose and the potential corruption they represent.” Justin Wise, The Hill columnist
“Even if the Russia investigation had never occurred, or if the Emoluments Clause had never been repeatedly violated, the president’s July phone call to [the President of Ukraine, Mr.] Zelensky would be enough to warrant an impeachment inquiry.” Eric Swalwell, Member of the Judiciary and Intelligence House Committees
“Military officers are sworn to serve whomever voters send to the White House. Cognizant of the special authority they hold, high-level officers epitomize respect for the chain of command, and are extremely reticent about criticizing their civilian overseers. That those I spoke with made an exception in Trump’s case is telling, and much of what they told me is deeply disturbing. In 20 years of writing about the military, I have never heard officers in high positions express such alarm about a president.” Mark Bowden, writer for The Atlantic
“Invoking the fight against corruption to corruptly persecute political rivals under the cover of authority is what the Chinese Communist Party does every day. Never thought I’d see a U.S. president use and defend the same tactic.” Josh Rogin, Washington Post columnist
“In the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. government officials that the president of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.” The first “whistle-blower” complaint, September, 2019
“The business of high crimes and misdemeanors goes to the question of whether or not the person serving as POTUS put their personal interests ahead of public service.” Congressman Mike Pence, 2008
“This is like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I don’t know who these [Republicans] are! They have so changed their tune. This is really serious. One of the reasons I became a conservative – I was a Democrat back in the days when I was on the Judiciary Committee – was that I really believed that the Republican Party was devoted to the truth; that we believed in ideals; that we were devoted to the Constitution. But what I see happening now is people who are absolutely abrogating their duty; they are putting politics first; and they are scared. They’re scared of Donald Trump.” Linda Chavez, Republican
“Now that President Trump has announced…that he will not cooperate in any way with the impeachment inquiry begun in the House of Representatives, we no longer have just a crisis of the presidency. We also have a breakdown in the fundamental structure of government under the Constitution. That counts as a constitutional crisis.” Noah Feldman, professor of law
“Donald Trump is not a Commander-in-Chief. He makes impulsive decisions with no knowledge or deliberation. He sends military personnel into harm’s way with no backing. He blusters and then leaves our allies exposed when adversaries call his bluff or he confronts a hard phone call.” Brett McGurk, presidential envoy under Bush, Trump, and Obama. He resigned in 2018.
“’I need loyalty. I expect loyalty,’ Trump told his first FBI director, and then fired him when he refused to pledge it. Trump has evinced little respect for the rule of law, attempting to have the Department of Justice launch criminal probes into his critics and political adversaries. He has repeatedly attacked both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller. His efforts to mislead, impede, and shut down Mueller’s investigation have now led the special counsel to consider whether the president obstructed justice. As for the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Trump has repeatedly trampled upon them.” Yoni Applebaum, The Atlantic columnist
“Whether through indifference or ignorance, Trump has betrayed fundamental commitments made by all presidents since the end of World War II. These commitments include unwavering support for NATO allies, steadfast opposition to Russian aggression, and the absolute certainty that the United States will make good on its debts. He has expressed troubling admiration for authoritarian leaders and scant regard for constitutional protections.” USA Today Editorial Board
“Each time the White House defies a subpoena or exerts the phony ‘executive privilege’, Trump is obstructing justice. Think of it as a running crime spree.” Teri Kanefield, attorney and writer
“The Framers of Constitution gave Congress power to impeach a president to protect from what Hamilton called ‘desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.’ Madison feared a president who would ‘betray his trust to foreign powers.’ They had Trump in mind.” Robert Reich, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley
“Why have so many people in the Trump administration kept so mum about the president’s bad behavior and obvious wrongdoing? Why do they protect a leader who doesn’t deserve that consideration and is himself so disloyal to people around him? It’s one of the central mysteries of Donald Trump’s presidency, and it’s a question that’s front and center in the inquiry into the July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine. The more we learn about that call, during which Trump pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, the more we find out that many people in and around the White House knew about it, were rightly alarmed by it and moved to prevent the details of it from leaking out into the world.” Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist
“It is alarming to watch a POTUS who recognizes absolutely no legal, moral, or ethical boundaries. But it would be foolish to ignore the fact that his willingness to do or say anything gives him a certain asymmetric advantage in battles with people who play by the rules.” David Axelrod, former Campaign Manager for Barack Obama
“Ten bipartisan former White House Chiefs of Staff, from Presidents Reagan to Obama, agree: A president must never solicit political help from a foreign nation. This is not a partisan issue. This is about the sanctity of our elections and our democracy.” Adam Schiff, Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee
“You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart? Right? The spies and treason, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now.” Donald Trump
“Mr. Trump and the people around him are starting to believe their own fictions. …that is a turn away from democracy into something much more frightening… where the leader defines what the truth is & people run around trying to make the world match his lies.” Timothy Snyder, Professor of History, Yale University
“The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the Constitution. Mr. Trump must be held accountable — no one is above the law.” Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco
“It has been a little bit hard for people to get “past the Rubicon’ [of impeachment], but I think that the President made it impossible to look away. Beyond all the noise, I think, essentially, everybody’s got to do their duty. If you go back and look at what James Madison said at the Constitutional Convention, if you read The Federalist Papers65, and you read what Hamilton wrote, it’s clear that this is one of the exact reasons they put the impeachment clause in the Constitution. It’s a very sobering, serious moment for the country that I think we’ve got to look at very squarely and simply, [Congress members] just need to do their duty, and let the chips fall where they may.” Mitch Landrieu, former Mayor of New Orleans
“The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the Constitution. He must be held accountable — no one is above the law.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
“This president has committed multiple high crimes and misdemeanors and what is happening when the House refuses to impeach him, is that he continues to do more and more of it,” Painter said. “That is what is happening. He is emboldened to continue to violate the constitution, whether it’s the unconstitutional emoluments, whether he is using foreign governments to get to his political opponents, ignoring House subpoenas, showing the middle finger to the United States Congress, the abuses at the border, the list goes on and on and on, and as Speaker Pelosi doesn’t have the courage to impeach him, he’s going to keep on doing it.” Richard Painter, White House ethics lawyer for George W. Bush (yes, I guess there was such a thing!)
“In a sign that the right-wing media’s relentless defense of President Donald Trump may be cracking, Fox News host Tucker Carlson published an op-ed with Daily Caller co-founder and publisher Neil Patel zinging Trump for his call with Ukraine’s president. ‘Donald Trump should not have been on the phone with a foreign head of state encouraging another country to investigate his political opponent, Joe Biden,’ Carlson and Patel wrote. ‘Some Republicans are trying, but there’s no way to spin this as a good idea.’ Carlson and Patel added, ‘Like a lot of things Trump does, it was pretty over-the-top. Our leaders’ official actions should not be about politics. Those two things need to remain separate. Once those in control of our government use it to advance their political goals, we become just another of the world’s many corrupt countries. America is better than that.’” Oliver Darcy, writer for CNN Business
“Given the unique nature of the Ukraine allegations—which go directly to interference with the 2020 election itself—the path toward an impeachment vote is clear: House Democrats should move to wrap up the hearings and investigations and bring the full matter to a vote before the end of the year, and before voting begins in 2020 presidential primaries.” Slate columnist Richard L. Hasen
“[Donald Trump was asked if he can cite another instance where he called for an investigation by another foreign leader into someone who was not his potential political rival, he couldn’t think of anything off-hand]. Amanda Carter said: “Well if wants some information on this, he could ask his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, who sits in jail at this very moment for meddling in Ukranian elections and taking lots of money from pro-Russian forces in that area and not reporting it. So there’s some corruption Trump might be interested in. But, here’s the thing: we’re all on Fifth Avenue right now; he did the deed in broad daylight: he called for a foreign adversary [China] to interfere in the election – after he did it with Russia, after he did it in the transcript [of the phone call, regarding Ukraine] – and then he did it on the White House lawn. So, this is something you can’t look away from. There’s a lot of Republicans ducking and covering and hiding in the alleyways, but they will have to line up on one street or the other on this question. In other words, behind Donald Trump, who supports cheating to win elections – because that’s what this really boils down to – or do you oppose it? And these Republican Senators really should engage in some self-reflection: Do you want China, Ukraine, you name it, coming after you? Your family? Your campaign? Because if you don’t stand up to it, it’s fair game.” Amanda Carpenter, former Communications Director for Ted Cruz
“The Constitution gives Congress the right to pursue impeachment. And a president inviting foreign interference in American affairs — for personal gain — clearly qualifies as a potential ‘high crime.’ By pretending otherwise, Trump is making a bet. He’s betting that he can bend the Republican Party to his will and get congressional Republicans and administration officials to parrot his fictions. He’s betting that the media won’t be able to resist framing this story as, ‘Both sides have a legitimate argument.’ He’s betting that Democrats won’t be willing to engage in as tough a brand of politics as he is prepared for.” David Leonhardt, New York Times columnist
“I will be the hero! These morons — when this is over, I will be the hero.” Rudy Giuliani, the President’s attorney and moonlighting as emissary to Ukraine
“I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its Members to do some soul searching—for us to weigh our consciences—on the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America; on the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.” Margaret Chase Smith, anti-Joseph-McCarthy Senator from Maine
“Dear GOP Senators: You’ll soon face a choice. Will you accept the evidence of your eyes and ears, and the findings of the US intelligence community—and Mueller? Or will you stand with Trump let him do whatever he pleases? You won’t be able to do both.” Teri Kanefield, author and lawyer
“[The President’s actions] are completely inappropriate. I thought the president made a big mistake by asking China to get involved in investigating a political opponent.” Senator Susan Collins, Maine
“If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War-like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.” Dallas-based pastor, Robert Jeffress
“You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic if this body determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role. Impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office. Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, in 1999.
“In accusing the intelligence community whistle-blower of partisanship and treason, President Trump has redefined whistle-blowing to serve his private interests rather than the rule of law. In the American tradition, whistle-blowers expose illegal or unconstitutional acts that the powerful want to keep secret.” Allison Stanger, author of a book entitled Whistleblowers
“We already know there was a ‘quid pro quo’; we already know what Trump was trying to do, and I keep thinking about that part in the Mueller Report when Bob Mueller kept saying that a lot of the obstruction happened out in the open. So, of course, Trump said the other day, ‘China, help!’ I mean, imagine if my child said to their teacher: ‘I cheated on my test, but I’m telling you I cheated on my test, so it’s okay, right?!’ It’s outrageous, and the fact that the Republicans are hiding in the background is shameful. And everybody assumes, ‘Oh, Trump is going to get away with it, and that’s bad for the Democrats!’; I hope it’s bad for the Republicans. Shame on you! I say to my Democratic friends: We have to raise the temperature and make sure that we take out any [member of Congress] who thinks it’s okay to protect this President when it’s clear he thinks it’s okay to shred our Constitution.” Karen Finney, Democratic strategist.
“When you ask foreign leaders to collect information against domestic political opponents, that is corruption. It violates the law. But it also violates the spirit of what a democracy is all about.” Timothy Snyder, Yale Professor
“‘Great and unmatched wisdom’; ‘I am the chosen one’; ‘What you are seeing and what you are reading is not what’s happening’; ‘I alone can fix it’; ‘The press is the enemy of the people’; ‘[Immigrants] will infest our country‘; This is the language of an authoritarian.” Robert Reich, author, economist
“The President would seek to win at any cost. If it meant lying to the American people. If it meant lying to his Cabinet. The name of the game was winning. Winning at any cost.” Senator Mitch McConnell, current Senate Majority Leader, in 1999
“On january 20, 2017, Donald Trump stood on the steps of the Capitol, raised his right hand, and solemnly swore to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and, to the best of his ability, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. He has not kept that promise. Instead, he has mounted a concerted challenge to the separation of powers, to the rule of law, and to the civil liberties enshrined in our founding documents. He has purposefully inflamed America’s divisions. He has set himself against the American idea, the principle that all of us—of every race, gender, and creed—are created equal.” Yoni Applebaum, The Atlantic columnist
“In the 34-year history of USA Today, the Editorial Board has never taken sides in the presidential race. Instead, we’ve expressed opinions about the major issues and haven’t presumed to tell our readers, who have a variety of priorities and values, which choice is best for them. Because every presidential race is different, we revisit our no-endorsement policy every four years. We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach. Until now.”
“The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naïveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate.” Senator John McCain, deceased
“Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism— The right to criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; The right of independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us doesn’t? Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in.” Margaret Chase Smith, anti-Joseph-McCarthy Senator from Maine
“Simply put, Democrats must impeach Trump because he has likely committed high crimes and misdemeanors. It is the right thing to do in defense of the republic. But it will also be good election-year politics as they try to sink Trump and take the Senate, without which any Democratic legislative agenda is dead on arrival. The only reason they wouldn’t, at this point, is that they are afraid.” Jack Holmes, Politics Editor at Esquire magazine
“Donald Trump is a traitor. Now, I know there is a lot of talk about treason, people on both sides, Jake, have been irresponsible using that word ‘treason.’ I’m not accusing this president of treason. Our founders were very specific about what treason means. But when you look at ‘traitor’ more broadly defined, this president betrayed our country again this week and it’s not the first time he did it.” Former Congressman and 2020 presidential candidate, Joe Walsh
“I believe that Democrats have to place their faith in something more fundamental: the power of the truth. There are politics involved in everything that happens in Washington. And impeachment is no different. In fact, it is a purely political act. But beyond that, there is an apolitical truth: All political corruption, abuses of power, conspiracies, cover-ups and attempts to deceive and mislead the public are wrong. Many Trump loyalists will never accede to this point, but many more Americans, at the core, know this difference between right and wrong.” Charles M. Blow, columnist for the New York Times
“Trump and his supporters have attempted to dismiss the fast-moving impeachment inquiry led by Democrats as purely ‘partisan’ and a ‘witch hunt.’ But several prominent Republicans have been publicly critical of the president’s efforts to pressure Ukraine – and China – to investigate his political opponent, Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden. Several others have claimed, as did Boyle, that a significant number of Republicans in Congress would vote to impeach Trump if they could do so secretly. ‘One Republican senator told me if it was a secret vote, 30 Republican senators would vote to impeach Trump,’ GOP consultant Mike Murphy, who worked for prominent Republicans including Senator Mitt Romney and former Senator John McCain of Arizona as well as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, said in an interview with MSNBC at the end of September.” Jason Lemon, journalist
“The President’s actions are having a profound impact on our society. His misdeeds have caused many to mistrust elected officials. Cynicism is swelling among the grassroots. His breach of trust has eroded the public’s faith in the office of the Presidency.” Senator Chuck Grassley, Iowa, in 1999.
“The situation is not guaranteed to end well, it’s true. (I define “end well” as a definitive rejection of a president who rejects democracy.) But anyone who believes that Trump is harming the country should feel more encouraged than they have in quite some time. Why? As I’ve written before, impeachment is an inherently political process. It has always been a battle for public opinion, above all. That’s why Richard Nixon was forced out of his office and why Bill Clinton finished his term. For now, Trump is losing the battle.” David Leonhardt, columnist for the New York Times
“I really believe that the President of the United States should be held to the very highest of standards. You know, Winston Churchill said: ‘Truth is incontrovertible. Ignorance may deride it, panic may resent it, malice may destroy it, but there it is.’ I think we have seen the truth.” Senator James Inhofe, Oklahoma, 1999
“Our entire legal system is dependent on our ability to find the truth. That is why perjury and obstruction of justice are crimes. … Perjury and obstruction of justice are public crimes that strike at the heart of the rule of law — and therefore our freedom — in America.” Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho, in 1999.
[Here] is a plea to those Republican senators [who look fondly upon America, and great Americans such as President Lincoln]: Please, listen to your own words about the distinctive greatness of this country. America is better than President Trump and his grubby attempts to put his own interests before the national interest. You — and only you, the Republican members of the Senate — have the ability to end this nightmare. Now is the time to begin distancing yourself from Trump, for the country’s sake and, in the end, your own.” David Leonhardt, columnist for the New York Times
“The first man put at the helm will be a good one,” Benjamin Franklin mused to the Constitutional Convention in early June, perhaps winking in Washington’s direction as he said it. But then he added ominously, “Nobody knows what sort may come afterwards.” Gillian Brockell
“Donald Trump doesn’t represent us — he represents the worst of us. He’s an unfit con man who thinks he’s above the law. He sides with foreign dictators over our allies, spews hate virtually every time he opens his mouth, and is tweeting us into a recession, as we speak. We can’t afford four more years of Donald Trump, and together we can stop him. It’s not going to be easy — but bravery is never easy.” Joe Walsh, 2020 Republican presidential candidate
“No president can be allowed to subvert the judiciary or thwart the investigative responsibility of the legislature. There is clear evidence that President Clinton committed perjury on two or more occasions, and urged others to obstruct justice.” Senator Roy Blunt, in 1999
“President Trump told a foreign leader to dig up dirt on his political opponent. This can’t be acceptable to any Member of Congress—Republican, Democrat, or Independent. Please, my friends, speak out in support of this impeachment inquiry. Speak out in support of getting to the bottom of this. Join the Democrats on this one—because it’s the right thing to do. There is no disputing that President Trump asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. As Members of Congress, you must condemn that.” Joe Walsh, 2020 Republican presidential candidate
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make in my career, and it is not a decision I enjoy making. However, after much study, much thought and much prayer, I have come to the following conclusion: Either we are a Nation of laws or we are not, and if we are, then those laws have to apply equally to all people.” Congressman Jon Thune, in 1999
“I don’t think the president will be re-elected. Many of us thought, I certainly did, that he wouldn’t be elected the first time. So it could happen. But if it does, I think that spells doom long-term for the Republican Party.” Former Senator Jeff Flake, Arizona
“The Mueller Report detailed multiple instances in which the president blatantly attempted to obstruct justice in an investigation into whether he and his associates accepted help from a hostile foreign power in 2016. Democrats chose not to impeach the president, despite the fact that he’d broken the law repeatedly, and so far have failed to even call many of the key witnesses to testify before Congress. No wonder, then, that Trump reportedly called the Ukrainian president the day after Mueller’s testimony and hinted, likely in mobspeak, that he would hold up $250 million in military aid until they got to work investigating Trump’s political opponent.” Jack Holmes, writer for Esquire
