(CNN)The poll numbers are in on impeachment, and it's not good news for President Donald Trump. A clear plurality of Americans approve of the House's impeachment inquiry into Trump, and they are split on whether they want to impeach and remove him from office.
Americans are more eager to impeach Trump now than they were at similar points in the impeachment sagas of Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.
Impeachment actions usually start off as being unpopular with the American public. After the House voted to start an impeachment inquiry of Clinton in October 1998, a CBS News/New York Times poll found that 45% approved and 53% disapproved.
When it comes to impeaching and removing Trump from office, the difference is even more dramatic. An average of polls taken since early last week shows that 46% support impeaching and removing Trump from office. That's about equal with the 45% who are against such an action.
Clinton vs. Trump
Back in October 1998, the vast majority of Americans were against impeaching and removing Clinton from office. In a CNN poll from then, only 31% favored impeaching and removing. The vast majority, 63%, were against it. This -32 point gap for impeaching and removing Clinton stands in contrast to the +1 gap for impeaching and removing Trump.
At no point during the impeachment proceedings against Clinton did anywhere close to a plurality of Americans want Clinton impeached and removed from office. Right now, you could argue that we're already at that point with Trump.
This, of course, is one of the key differences with the politics of impeachment now and 21 years ago. There is a belief that the impeachment inquiry hurt Republicans in the 1998 midterm elections. That may be true, but this polling suggests the situation with Clinton and Trump are very different. Impeaching Clinton was far less popular than impeaching Trump is today.
Nixon vs. Trump
More amazingly, more Americans are in favor of impeaching Trump now than they were at a similar time during the House's investigation of Nixon in 1973 and 1974.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to start an impeachment inquiry of Nixon in late October 1973. This was following the infamous Saturday Night Massacre, in which Nixon ordered his attorney general to fire an independent prosecutor looking into the Watergate scandal. A Gallup poll taken in the immediate aftermath found that just 38% felt that Nixon should be impeached and compelled to leave the presidency. The majority, 53%, said that he shouldn't.
Even after two dramatic events, the public was apprehensive about impeaching and removing Nixon.
Now, you could make the argument that the fairer comparison for Trump to Nixon is after the entire House formally voted to start the impeachment inquiry in February 1974. A Harris poll taken a few weeks later put support impeaching and removing Nixon at 43% and opposition at 41%. That gap is about equal to the gap we see today and only came months after the inquiry had really already began.
But even if you consider this later date, the 46% in favor of impeaching and removing Trump now is greater than the 43% who favored it during a similar point in the Nixon impeachment process. It wasn't until right before Nixon resigned that close to a majority wanted him out.
Some of the support for impeaching Trump and the impeachment inquiry against him may be because of polarization and dislike for the President. Trump's strongly disapprove rating has consistently been around 50%, and most of the people who disapprove of Trump are for some sort of impeachment action.
Polarization, however, is probably not the root cause of the polling we're seeing on a possible Trump impeachment. Politics were polarized during Barack Obama's administration, and not many wanted him impeached and removed. Only 33% of Americans wanted Obama impeached and removed in a July 2014 CNN poll. Most, 65%, didn't feel that way.
That split came even though Obama was about as a popular (42% approval rating) as Trump is today.
The bottom line: Americans think Trump did something wrong that, at a minimum, deserves to be looked into for possible impeachment. He is in historically unprecedented waters. The impeachment numbers he's facing now are really not good for him, given where we are in the process.
so if the WH doesn't comply with the house subpoenas, then it goes to the justice department to enforce. and we all know who runs that show. what a fucking joke this system is.
Yeah, so much for all those glorious checks and balances that everyone thought would protect the country. They were always mentioned as though anyone thinking they wouldn't work out was being completely hysterical. (meanwhile, environmental protections continue to be absolutely decimated - no real checks and balances for the environment unfortunately. It's amazing to me how easy it is for a POTUS to walk them back by decades).
Not everyone.
I've never bought into it. And I mean, since learning about it in elementary school US government classes. I memorized the system enough to pass quizzes and whatnot, but it still never made any sense. The way I've always viewed it: Federal rules and doctrines were basically drafted to perpetuate a false narrative about the balance of power among not only the branches of US government but also between US citizens and their federal government. Mr. Guinan always grew weary when my hand shot up to question things like this, and eventually, he just ignored me. I mean, I understand why. He didn't have the answers. Dude was a teacher in Florida, No. 49 in education at the time, and had to deliver pizzas to supplement his salary.
Anyway, having said that, nothing about my country's doctrines (or most countries' doctrines that I've perused, for that matter) has ever made any sense to me.
You're right, not everyone. That was hyperbole. I didn't believe in them either, and some others here didn't, and obviously elsewhere. It was just a HUGE talking point in reaction to the extreme concern some of us were expressing when Trump was running, and then won, and then started getting worse and worse. SO many kept referring to these checks and balances in an attempt to diminish the deep concerns and fears that were being expressed. I guess that is one thing that is good with all this...... All of those who trusted in checks and balances will surely have learned a valuable lesson. Maybe even law makers will react to this lesson, and try to build some checks and balances that will actually work next time America elects an insane despotic moron.
If they fail to abide by the subpoena then we’ll chalk that up as obstruction of justice when the articles are drafted.
Yeah, but unless Senate decides otherwise, that doesn't really even matter.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
First, do you think the repubs in the Senate will protect Don Team Trump Treason when all of the evidence is presented and made contextual at trial?
Second, do you think the Supreme Court is going to allow this shit to continue?
Third, does anyone think the repubs might conduct an intervention, leading to resignation in exchange for blanket immunity from State and Federal charges?
First, do you think the repubs in the Senate will protect Don Team Trump Treason when all of the evidence is presented and made contextual at trial?
Second, do you think the Supreme Court is going to allow this shit to continue?
Third, does anyone think the repubs might conduct an intervention, leading to resignation in exchange for blanket immunity from State and Federal charges?
Drain the swamp. Suckers.
I don't have any faith that the Repubs will do anything respectable. If they do, it will be a very unexpected surprise to me.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
First, do you think the repubs in the Senate will protect Don Team Trump Treason when all of the evidence is presented and made contextual at trial?
Second, do you think the Supreme Court is going to allow this shit to continue?
Third, does anyone think the repubs might conduct an intervention, leading to resignation in exchange for blanket immunity from State and Federal charges?
Drain the swamp. Suckers.
I don't have any faith that the Repubs will do anything respectable. If they do, it will be a very unexpected surprise to me.
First, do you think the repubs in the Senate will protect Don Team Trump Treason when all of the evidence is presented and made contextual at trial?
Second, do you think the Supreme Court is going to allow this shit to continue?
Third, does anyone think the repubs might conduct an intervention, leading to resignation in exchange for blanket immunity from State and Federal charges?
Drain the swamp. Suckers.
I don't have any faith that the Repubs will do anything respectable. If they do, it will be a very unexpected surprise to me.
Party before country. Absolutely disgraceful.
It really is. And they seem to do it and still sleep at night, which is actually terrifying, considering their roles in the world. And depressing.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
so if the WH doesn't comply with the house subpoenas, then it goes to the justice department to enforce. and we all know who runs that show. what a fucking joke this system is.
Yeah, so much for all those glorious checks and balances that everyone thought would protect the country. They were always mentioned as though anyone thinking they wouldn't work out was being completely hysterical. (meanwhile, environmental protections continue to be absolutely decimated - no real checks and balances for the environment unfortunately. It's amazing to me how easy it is for a POTUS to walk them back by decades).
Not everyone.
I've never bought into it. And I mean, since learning about it in elementary school US government classes. I memorized the system enough to pass quizzes and whatnot, but it still never made any sense. The way I've always viewed it: Federal rules and doctrines were basically drafted to perpetuate a false narrative about the balance of power among not only the branches of US government but also between US citizens and their federal government. Mr. Guinan always grew weary when my hand shot up to question things like this, and eventually, he just ignored me. I mean, I understand why. He didn't have the answers. Dude was a teacher in Florida, No. 49 in education at the time, and had to deliver pizzas to supplement his salary.
Anyway, having said that, nothing about my country's doctrines (or most countries' doctrines that I've perused, for that matter) has ever made any sense to me.
You're right, not everyone. That was hyperbole. I didn't believe in them either, and some others here didn't, and obviously elsewhere. It was just a HUGE talking point in reaction to the extreme concern some of us were expressing when Trump was running, and then won, and then started getting worse and worse. SO many kept referring to these checks and balances in an attempt to diminish the deep concerns and fears that were being expressed. I guess that is one thing that is good with all this...... All of those who trusted in checks and balances will surely have learned a valuable lesson. Maybe even law makers will react to this lesson, and try to build some checks and balances that will actually work next time America elects an insane despotic moron.
If they fail to abide by the subpoena then we’ll chalk that up as obstruction of justice when the articles are drafted.
Yeah, but unless Senate decides otherwise, that doesn't really even matter.
An impeachment matters either way.
And what matters most to republican senators is....public sentiment
"Well I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer. They should investigate the Bidens. Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine. So, I would say that President Zelensky, if it were me, I would recommend that they start an investigation into the Bidens."
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."
Now, the two Daily Caller founders did use the same op-ed to applaud investigations into the Obama administration. And they did write that "it's hard to argue" that Trump's conduct rises "to the level of an impeachable offense."
I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,773
edited October 2019
an official with "more direct knowledge" considers filing their own complaint.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,773
he may have found his scapegoat. this seemingly after Perry said he would appear before a committee.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
The lawyers acknowledged that their argument had not been tested in
courts, but said the release of the president’s tax returns would cause
him “irreparable harm.”
The lawyers acknowledged that their argument had not been tested in
courts, but said the release of the president’s tax returns would cause
him “irreparable harm.”
Can't authorities just go to the IRS and ask for the files they need?
IRS is part of the Executive. His political appointees are running interference and denying Congress , what by law under certain conditions, are entitled to.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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mickeyrat
up my ass, like Chadwick was up his Posts: 35,773
posted in another thread but, this is very informative.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Can't authorities just go to the IRS and ask for the files they need?
IRS is part of the Executive. His political appointees are running interference and denying Congress , what by law under certain conditions, are entitled to.
Hmm. Okey okey. I see. And that's what that whisleblower whistleblowed about then. Okey.
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
Fallout continued from the whistleblower complaint about
Trump’s phone call with the leader of Ukraine, with House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi saying the attorney general had “gone rogue.”
Comments
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First, do you think the repubs in the Senate will protect Don Team Trump Treason when all of the evidence is presented and made contextual at trial?
Second, do you think the Supreme Court is going to allow this shit to continue?
Third, does anyone think the repubs might conduct an intervention, leading to resignation in exchange for blanket immunity from State and Federal charges?
Drain the swamp. Suckers.
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Donald Trump should probably stop talking now
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/04/politics/donald-trump-impeachment-ukraine-week-in-review/index.html
"Well I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer. They should investigate the Bidens. Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine. So, I would say that President Zelensky, if it were me, I would recommend that they start an investigation into the Bidens."
Tucker Carlson says Trump's Ukraine call was inappropriate: 'There's no way to spin this'
whole article here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/05/media/tucker-carlson-op-ed-ukraine-trump-impeachment/index.htmlNot today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
firm representing whistleblower now represents multiple ........
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
https://apple.news/Az7jNEf4ZTeKw9r1QUlelbw
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https://www.axios.com/trump-impeachment-richard-nixon-bill-clinton-858da3dd-3c1b-4918-a80d-f58fd9c5ce9e.html
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Can't authorities just go to the IRS and ask for the files they need?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
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Live updates: Intelligence Committee members to work during recess, Trump presses for Schiff’s resignation
Fallout continued from the whistleblower complaint about Trump’s phone call with the leader of Ukraine, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying the attorney general had “gone rogue.”
John Wagner and Colby Itkowitz ● Read more »
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