Schiff downplays impeachment, says that at this point, Trump is only leaving 'by being voted out'

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) on Thursday sharply downplayed the prospects of removing President Trump from office through impeachment, saying the only way he’s leaving office, at this point, is “by being voted out.”

Schiff’s comments came a day after former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III appeared at back-to-back hearings, including one at which Schiff presided, and offered no blockbuster revelations about his investigation into Russian election interference and Trump’s possible obstruction of justice.

“We do need to be realistic, and that is, the only way he’s leaving office, at least at this point, is by being voted out, and I think our efforts need to be made in every respect to make sure we turn out our people,” Schiff said during an interview on CNN. “Should we put the country through an impeachment? I haven’t been convinced yet that we should. Going through that kind of momentous and disruptive experience for the country, I think, is not something we go into lightly.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/schiff-downplays-impeachment-says-that-at-this-point-trump-is-only-leaving-by-being-voted-out/2019/07/25/4ce96424-aede-11e9-bc5c-e73b603e7f38_story.html?utm_term=.29f8142c78d5

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Reality is sobering.

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. In some ways, I agree with him.

The next presidential election is desperately important.

[FredSanderson]

35. ...at this point...but many more points in time to come, isn't there? I like to read whole

Quotes.

Impeachment will come, just not at this point, maybe in a couple of months after more evidence is gathered against the criminal gangsters, is fine with me.

[Cracklin Charlie]

39. I think sometimes...

About something my mom used to say.

Circumstances alter situations. I always took it to mean that you should be ready to quickly change your situation, based on the circumstances you find yourself in.

I think situations can be changed rapidly, if need be.

[Dave Starsky]

2. I wouldn't count on it, Adam.

The hearings yesterday confirmed that his ass is grass the second he leaves the White House. He ain't leaving--ever--unless it's in the back of a slow-moving ambulance, still clutching his last Extra Crispy drumstick.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Not to mention the Senate obstacle

About 19 GOP Senators could vote to convict and those would be ones seeking reelection in 2020. So they appear reasonable to voters. The rest would acquit Trump, and fear no consequences.

Democratic leadership surely knows the reality. Slow-walk hearings, investigate and build a case, and hit maximum exasperation at the process on October 30, 2020. That may well be the best case for Trump's removal from office.

And if Trump wins, you still very very likely have a House majority, hopefully a few more D Senators, and you can impeach
Jan 21, 2021.

Two swipes at him, the second only if you need it.

[Me.]

8. Exactly

Unless there is overwhelming demand by the public for his removal, the Senate will NOT convict and he will stay in office declaring victory.

[zentrum]

4. Agree. Especially after yesterday.

There wasn't enough media theater to get the country to understand clearly enough what has happened.

Schiff did a fantastic job, however. Wish he'd had been able to run the whole thing.

If Mueller really believes that Russia posed the greatest threat to our elections we've ever seen---he sure undermined any sense of urgency by his manner of presentation.

We know that body language is as important as message for most people. Wish he'd brought some of his much-vaunted courage to this fight for the country.

I think he really failed the call of the hour.

[JudyM]

27. If only Nancy would start an inquiry into McConnell's actions, and failures to act.

At the very least, the media should hold his feet to the fire on refusing to move forward with legislation to secure our election infrastructure. Sen. Warner is apparently going to press hard for this to come to the floor.

Political science and law students will be studying all the interacting parts of this long into the future.

[zentrum]

37. ++++1000

[former9thward]

56. The House has no authority over the Senate.

The Speaker can't start any inquiry into McConnell or anyone else in the Senate.

[JudyM]

59. So no check on the chamber?

[lagomorph777]

34. Mueller really believes that Russia poses the greatest threat to our elections...

...but as a Republican, he's not sure a threat to our elections is a bad thing.

[MontanaMama]

5. So why doesn't Rep Schiff get the same blowback

as the a speaker when it comes to downplaying impeachment? Am I imagining this?

[mcar]

30. You beat me to it

Gee, what could it be?

[former9thward]

57. One is the head of the House and has complete power to set the House agenda.

One is a committee chairman.

[The_Counsel]

6. Dammit, Adam...Ask Yourself ONE FREAKIN' SIMPLE QUESTION!

Did the president commit any crimes?

If the answer is "yes," then you impeach. Period. That is the House's JOB!

I can't believe this is so hard for allegedly intelligent adults to comprehend....

[Cartaphelius]

10. The Founding Fathers

disagree with your actions. So they gave the House this tool
to protect America and its future.

Impeachment is not a one-off.

It is the standard for criminality.

To NOT do your job, as required by your oath, makes you no different that Trump.

[The_Counsel]

18. I Think You Misinterpreted My Thought Here...

I'm saying impeach if you think crime(s) have been committed. Whether the President is eventually convicted/removed shouldn't matter. That's the whole point of the inquiry. THAT'S why the Founding Fathers set it up that way, I believe...

The problem now is most considerations are political. We're seeing why that's a problem now, too...

[Auggie]

20. The Senate vote will favor Trump, "exonerate" him, and help him win in 2020. So no ...

DO NOT IMPEACH. It's a victory for Trump.

[ancianita]

21. Does not matter. The evidence is there & compels the House to AT LEAST begin impeachment inquiry.

THAT is their JOB.

[mpcamb]

24. I agree. I HATE the notion of never taking on trump's glaringly public crimes with impeachment.

If the rotten republicans in the senate won't convict, it's on them but history would show we DID something.

[Auggie]

28. Trump, the GOP, and Russia welcome House impeachment ...

Pelosi, Schiff & company are doing the right thing. Schiff is right -- the best way to remove Trump is to vote him out.

[ancianita]

43. Doesn't matter what they welcome. Voters who voted in the majority expect them to do their job,

honor their oaths off office, and not kick the criminality can down the road to voters when an
official Impeachment Inquiry will turn out senate incumbents and put a democratic majority there.

Voters won't be as likely to change things without House Democrats showing up the corruption of the president AND the Senate.

Then don't have to send an impeachment vote to the Senate. Just hold impeachment inquiry. THEN the public won't feel as if House Dems kicked the criminality can down the road.

[BigmanPigman]

44. Exactly!

[wasupaloopa]

29. It is the only thing that matters. Our democracy depends on trump being defeated in 2020.

Those who vote to jeopardize that with a failed impeachment are doing as much to get trump reelected as the Russians.

[durablend]

22. "They didn't impeach me"

"Even Democrats know I'm not guilty of anything!"

[The_Counsel]

23. The Rule of Law Is a Lie Then, I Take It?

Every U.S. citizen is bound by the Constitution, the "supreme law of the land," as it were. That includes EVERYONE. The President, all members of Congress, every Supreme Court Justice. That's what "no one is above the law" means.

If the President is guilty of any crimes, he is derelict in his/her duty and should be removed.

If members of the House does not perform due dilligence to impeach, they are derelict in their duty and should be removed.

If members of the Senate does not remove a sitting President guilty of crimes, they are derelict in their duty and should be removed.

Again, the problem here is "politics over government." We're all so tribal that we can't see reason. It's a recipe for disaster sooner rather than later.

I am proud to have been born in the United States. I wonder which country I'll die in...?

[duhneece]

25. Agreed. Anything that helps trump is bad

I’m simple like that

[trev]

31. And if we don't impeach, two things happen:

1. Trump's crimes fall further from public scrutiny.
2. Trump declares exoneration by implication.

Trump Victory.

And we'd be left with no more ammunition to keep him from being re-elected.

[Auggie]

32. Only if the Dem candidate or Dems in general ignore Russian ties to Trump ...

this is fact -- Russia helped get Trump elected. Trump knew about it. And lied to cover it up. Harp on this. RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA. -- the secondary message after JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.

[trev]

45. People are convinced the economy is just fine.

The official numbers say it is. One has to investigate the deeper issues surrounding those numbers in order to understand things aren't so great.

I don't think that's a winning issue.

[Auggie]

46. Do you have a link? I do: Job layoffs surge 35% to highest level to start a year in a decade

cnbc.com / April 4th, 2019

Layoffs hit their highest level for a first quarter in 10 years as 2019?s job market got off to a shaky start, according to a report Thursday from outplacement firm Challenger, Gary & Christmas.

Total announced cuts hit 190,410, a 10.3 percent increase from the fourth quarter and 35.6 percent jump from the same period a year ago. The level was worst period overall since the third quarter of 2015 and the highest level for a first quarter since 2009 as the economy was still mired in the financial crisis.

SNIP

The auto industry led by sector in March with 8,838 layoffs, followed by energy with 8,149 cuts. Financial firms were next with 4,884, while retail followed with 4,860. Retail has announced 46,061 cuts this year, an 18.5 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2018.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/job-layoffs-surge-35percent-to-highest-level-to-start-a-year-in-a-decade.html

Official numbers mean nothing to people who are laid off, under-employed, struggling, hungry or homeless. They know the real truth.

[trev]

47. I agree with your last statement, as I fall into some of those categories.

But it'll be hard to convince these voters you refer to when many Democratic states have unemployment rates equal to or higher than the Republican ones--and average overall rates higher than Republican averages.

https://unemploymentdata.com/unemployment/unemployment-by-state-and-political-party/

[JonLP24]

36. A former prosecutor made a good point yesterday

There would never be a trial in America if we were worried about not getting convictions. A jury might "exonerate" someone but that hasn't stopped prosecutors even when it comes to innocent people.

[Auggie]

38. Point. But I still agree with Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi -- no House impeachment

[Thekaspervote]

52. A law enforcement official has to present a case point by point on the evidence to the prosecutor

In charge. Not a he said she said. There has to be a smoking gun for the crime. If the prosecutor does not feel they can bring a conviction, they will not move forward with charges. Many of these men (Adam Schiff) and women started out as prosecutors. They KNOW what they are talking about

[JonLP24]

53. So does the former prosecutor that I'm paraphrasing

The smoking gun is the whole report. Also impeachment proceedings would bring people like Don McGahn to testify. That will be damning.

I agree with the former prosecutor on CNN (can't remember her name), Jackie Speier, and now the Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus.

[Turbineguy]

7. Nixon did not have

the kind of supporters trump has. I don't recall anybody talking about starting a civil war to keep Nixon.

[The_Counsel]

19. Truth.

And Nixon won the White House with a far greater majority than Trump did.

Less than two years after carrying FORTY-NINE STATES, Nixon was out of office.

[Firestorm49]

9. It appears that Mr. Schiff has faith in a fair election.

How is he (or we as a nation) going to counter what may well be unparalleled foreign interference when we know sure as hell that McConnell and his band of gypsies has no interest in the same. I find it insulting that these pseudo American Republicans claim to own the flag but are content on watching it burn.

We have no idea of the inner workings, subversive plans, and hidden agendas of the Republican Party, but for them to have the nerve to say they are patriots is not only laughable, but in my opinion, treasonous.

Our work is cut out for us.

[Autumn]

11. If you don't impeach he goes down in history as innocent and the victim of a with hunt.

Reality is, he's already declaring victory. And I guess he's right to do so after all he wins.

[brooklynite]

13. If you DO impeach he goes down in history as exonerated...

[Autumn]

15. But he goes down in history with that impeachment, his crimes exposed and the Republicans

are shown and proved to be enabling his crimes.

[Wuddles440]

17. Agree!

And that's why an impeachment inquiry needs to be initiated immediately! Such an action is a moral imperative and failure to do so is an absolute dereliction of duty/oath of office.

[BlueWI]

41. He's claiming exoneration now. He doesn't even have to wait for exoneration from the Senate!

The Trump campaign conspired with the Russians, and the results were timely releases of opposition research, manipulating voter opinion through social media, and accessing of voting machines in individual counties all over the U.S. (though there's apparently no evidence of changed votes).

Are we against this or not? Are we willing to challenge this election meddling with the current House majority, or not?

Do you honestly think this isn't exoneration? I can't imagine a clearer argument for exoneration - not even having to face impeachment with a Democratic majority that could vote on it in tomorrow, if it had the political will.

So why bother to have hearings, and risk nothingburgers like that of yesterday? Why not just go on recess and campaign?

Can't disagree more with your point on exoneration by impeachment. It what sense is he not exonerated now??? A Mueller Report that's been on the shelf now for months?

Another thing I don't get - even if you're not for impeachment, why would you say that you're not for it? Not even the threat to uphold the rule of law - boy, that's three dimensional chess, I guess.

Not feeling this strategy. Someone hip me to the logic, if they're able.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. That must be the Democrats strategy. Piss off people by not impeaching so that they'll turn

out to vote. IMHO, it shows a lack of spine and non-commitment to their Constitutional duties. And that might also piss off voters.

[Autumn]

16. I don't think that worked out well the last time "impeachment was off the table".

[otchmoson]

14. Turning out people ISN'T the answer!

We turned out people last election--about 3 million more than the opposition. Did we win?

And since the current leadership in the Senate is opposed to all attempts to insure fair elections, the next election may be worse. Who controls the voting machines? Who counts the votes? Who adjudicates contested vote counts?

We can turn out the vote in unimaginable numbers and still not be on the winning end of the decision. Why OUR current leaders do not look to recent history is a real headscratcher. While I love the hearse dream, a media-blitz spurred by ongoing, unending house hearings and leadership talking points as impeachment inquiry gathers steam looks to be a better alternative. At least it isn't totally out of our control; fair elections, on the other hand, appear to be on rather shaky ground.

[MarvinGardens]

40. 2018

We turned out people last election--about 3 million more than the opposition. Did we win?

Yes.

[trev]

48. I think the poster was referring to 2016. nt

[underthematrix]

26. Here's my take

Link to tweet

[Auggie]

33. Schiff knows. Pelosi knows. This is the right thing.

[The Liberal Lion]

42. In order to stay in compliance with DU rules I will just say:

"HARUMPF!"

Anyone who has ever read anything I've written here will recognize my meaning.

[sprinkleeninow]

51. And to that I'll add: "KAPUSTA!" (Slovak Creamed Cabbage.) eom

[YOHABLO]

49. So we're going to take the chance of Trump being ousted by election?

What if .. (fill in the blank)

[brooklynite]

50. What if...Trump is Impeached and not convicted?

[spin]

55. The reality is that impeaching Trump at this time would lead nowhere. ...

Removing him from office would require a two thirds vote in the Senate. With the evidence we have today which is largely his obstruction of justice I can’t see enough Republicans in the Senate voting to remove him from office.

Trump probably is hoping the House impeaches him. In my opinion impeachment is a trap.

Now if something so serious is discovered as to turn his base against him then Republican Senators would join with Democrats and Trump would be history. Perhaps some serious crime can be uncovered in the ongoing investigations in the House. However if that effort fails the voters may re-elect Trump and vote a good number of Democrats out of office. The voters will feel the Democrats accomplished very little since they took over the House in the midterms except wasting time trying to remove Trump from office.

Nancy Pelosi is a very intelligent and shrewd person and I feel that is why she is hesitant to push for impeachment.

[FrodosNewPet]

54. It's a sad and scary fact

But I believe that between the electoral college math, the inevitable foreign interference, and the Democratic circular firing squad, this turd will be in the White House until January 20, 2025 (or whenever he has a fatal medical event).

[madville]

58. Prosecutors don't try cases they know they will lose

just to do it. I don't see impeachment much differently, it is a waste of time and a gift to Trump if the Senate will never convict.

[Everyman Jackal]

60. The House has sole rights to impeachment proceedings.

The House can start them whenever they want and can end them whenever they want. So start now with whatever it is called to subpoena everyone who has ever worked for Trump in the federal government. Subpoena every document that Trump has ever signed while president. Make sure that every crime he has ever committed as president is thoroughly gone over. Make sure that the American people learn everything illegal, immoral, and unethically he has ever done as president. And then impeach him 15 minutes after the polls close on November 3, 2020. Do the same for everyone who has ever worked for him in the federal government.