"Time for G.O.P. to Threaten to Fire Trump" - NYT

[orangecrush]

"Up to now I have not favored removing President Trump from office. I felt strongly that it would be best for the country that he leave the way he came in, through the ballot box. But last week was a watershed moment for me, and I think for many Americans, including some Republicans.

It was the moment when you had to ask whether we really can survive two more years of Trump as president, whether this man and his demented behavior — which will get only worse as the Mueller investigation concludes — are going to destabilize our country, our markets, our key institutions and, by extension, the world. And therefore his removal from office now has to be on the table.

I believe that the only responsible choice for the Republican Party today is an intervention with the president that makes clear that if there is not a radical change in how he conducts himself — and I think that is unlikely — the party’s leadership will have no choice but to press for his resignation or join calls for his impeachment.

It has to start with Republicans, given both the numbers needed in the Senate and political reality. Removing this president has to be an act of national unity as much as possible — otherwise it will tear the country apart even more. I know that such an action is very difficult for today’s G.O.P., but the time is long past for it to rise to confront this crisis of American leadership."



https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/opinion/impeach-fire-president-trump.amp.html

[spooky3]

1. This is by Thomas Friedman. Nt

[orangecrush]

7. To see someone like him

saying these things is hopefully the beginning of the end for Trump.

Cover for the GOP to fold on the orange imbecile.

[DRoseDARs]

24. Indeed. He of the "Friedman Unit" aka the FU during the Iraq war and his endless predictions...

...that proved endlessly wrong. My eye started twitching when I saw who authored this. Not going to read it but whatever, the more people on Team Dump Trump, the better.

[orangecrush]

38. Agree.

[sprinkleeninow]

2. Just read the entire article. Sentence stood out, glaring.

He 'respects' those who voted for him bc he's a 'disruptor'. Whiskey Tango Alpha Foxtrot??

I felt the article was primarily right on except for the above. Tarnished the whole thing. Just my take...

[orangecrush]

5. Yes

But the overall tone I agree with.

It's being said openly now.

[sprinkleeninow]

18. "..being said openly now." Well, it dammm well should be. Should be a veritable avalanche.

Why does a writer 'sometimes' inject a mouth twister/eye roller 😏 🙄 into an otherwise near flawless piece. Friedman is not 100% left. Sorry to say, but I don't want Dem-lite opinions.

We're not 'personally' [gov't employ. etc.] affected by *'s stupid shutdown, but wait. It's already wreaking havoc in equities. This latest mindless stunt is affecting not large amount in husband's retirement; it's getting hammered.

[sprinkleeninow]

23. Apologies for MY tone. I do agree with you that the unvarnished truth is

being stated more openly now.

Happy holidays to you and yours! 💝 🎄

[NanceGreggs]

3. We passed the "intervention" stage ...

... within a few months after this Idiot's inauguration.

Holding out any hope that he will change his ways is laughable. We've seen over and over that his response to anyone even hinting that he should do things differently invariably results in lashing out and doubling-down.

The only "intervention" needed here is for the Republicans to tell him to choose between the only two available options: resign or face impeachment.

Saying "we'll let you stay if you promise to be a good boy from now on" is absolutely pointless.

[orangecrush]

4. Agree 100%

and happy holidays, Nance.

I'm honored.

[NanceGreggs]

8. Right back at ya!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

[sprinkleeninow]

20. Last sentence--that one irked me also. I missed including that one in my comments

re: the article.

*WILL NOT CHANGE/TURN A NEW LEAF.

[democratisphere]

6. drumpf will never change; what you see is what we got!

Congress needs to move swiftly to remove drumpf, the malignant cancer, from the oval office. Waiting will only create more serious disasters at his hands!

[orangecrush]

9. It looks

like that possibility is gaining momentum.

[elleng]

12. I agree.

[orangecrush]

15. Happy Holidays!

and nice to hear from you again!

[elleng]

21. To you too, orangecrush!

[democratisphere]

27. Hope so!

[YessirAtsaFact]

45. He made a national security decision based on a phone call with a dictator

That’s eye opening even for magats.

The chicken shit Republican Senators May develop enough spine to remove him if he continues losing support

[enough]

10. We are about to see just how little influence Thomas Friedman and others of his ilk

have over the Republican Party.

[orangecrush]

13. Perhaps

But the pressure is mounting rapidly.

[MyOwnPeace]

11. It is good.......

that it is finally being discussed in public by serious people.

Now it is time to DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIM!!!

How much more of the chaos can we survive?

I don't want to find out.

He must go - NOW.

Republicans must march down to 1600, have a "sit-down" with him and explain how he has TWO choices.

PICK ONE NOW!

[orangecrush]

14. It would be in Trump's own interest to resign

but either way, he's screwed.

[YessirAtsaFact]

46. He would have to get a deal to resign

Otherwise he’s going to be indicted as soon as he leaves office.

Personally, I want to see him in jail and that would require impeachment and removal.

[Golden Raisin]

16. Republican talk is proverbially cheap. For 2 agonizing years the

Complicit Republican Congress has stood by silent, or worse, aided and abetted Trump's demented Reign of Terror against our Constitution and the Rule of Law. Ditto for the deplorable Republican citizenry/electorate who support Trump/Pence. Apparently there is no outrage severe enough for them to take action or show they have a pair of balls. So I am waiting for January 3rd when the Democratic House can start, at a minimium, applying some Constitutional brakes and viable resistance via hearings and subpoenas to this mad shitshow. Hopefully Mueller will finally release his report and hopefully it will be damning enough for complicit Repubs to actually do something. Not holding my breath.

[orangecrush]

17. The repubs

would do well to consider the damage to their party that will result from their lips being glued to Trump's butt.

[Scarsdale]

44. Doesn't the stock market decline

affect their stock, too? Maybe THAT will be the tipping point. McConnell does not want the truth about Russian money and the gop coffers exposed, but it is too late. Hey, Mitch we know all (or something) about the money flowing into the RNC coffers from Russia.

[Mr.Bill]

19. Forget talking to him.

He will only retaliate against those who do. Just do it. Take action and remove him from office before he can do anything to stop it from happening. He could be removed from the white house, kicking and screaming of he wants to, before the sun sets on January third.

[Amaryllis]

22. Never would have guessed it would be markets plunging to bring them to this point, right?

I always thought it would be when they saw it affecting them financially.

[Ferrets are Cool]

29. But it IS affecting them financially.

That's why you are seeing these kinds of articles.

[Amaryllis]

39. THat was exactly what i meant. First sentence was sarcastic, second one wasnt so it mabye wasnt

clear. I think most of us knew GOP woudlnt turn on him till it affected them financially. Kids in cages and all the other stuff doesn't move them.

[Ferrets are Cool]

47. Gotcha!

[orangecrush]

33. I see

what you did there!

[marble falls]

25. Supposedly there's a 'Draft Mattis 2020' movement in the GOP.

[orangecrush]

37. Not suprising

Probably won't get far, but is a weathervane.

[Generic Brad]

26. But then he would expose their dirty secrets

That is how he has held that entire party in check. Sad to say, but I don't think they will be enough Senate votes to impeach him no matter how bad it gets. Too many Republicans are compromised.

He will be leaving in a limo (end of 4 year term), handcuffs (arrest) or a gurney (choking on a Big Mac). I do not see them ever voting for impeachment in the Senate.

That said, I still expect him to resign or become physically incapacitated before March 31st. He is too much of a narcissistic cupcake to handle the mental pressure of Congressional opposition.

[Fuzzpope]

28. Skip the intervention please.

Let's get down with an ending of appropriate kinetic force capable of arresting Trump's sustained inertia.

Giant rock smash little Trump fly. Physics can solve any problem.

[orangecrush]

36. ...

[BadGimp]

30. Wishful thinking in the extreme.

The Republicans in the Senate will never willingly abandon this President let alone force his resignation or vote to impeach him. If they were to do that, they would bring about the complete destruction of the Republican Party. There is just not enough backbone in the party to save it or the country.

This will get a lot uglier I'm afraid.

[orangecrush]

35. Not removing him

will also bring about the GOP's destruction.


Win - Win for Democrats!

[FiveGoodMen]

54. "not enough backbone in the party to save it or the country"

I think they've got plenty of backbone.

What they don't have is the will to do anything good.

[Hamlette]

31. threats will do no good, it is a ridiculous column....let me guess, he got this from a cab driver

I'm over Tom and his "talking to a taxi driver blah blah blah."

If he's written this even a month ago I might have thought "brave, for him" but now, it's too little too late.

[UpInArms]

32. Grifter

If America starts to behave as a selfish, shameless, lying grifter like Trump, you simply cannot imagine how unstable — how disruptive — world markets and geopolitics may become.

We cannot afford to find out.

Been saying it forever ... am glad Friedman finally bought a clue

[orangecrush]

34. Indeed!

[BeckyDem]

40. This is a joke, right? Who is going to run the intervention for the GOP?

They are corrupt to the core. Never trust a con.

[demosincebirth]

41. He is like the tale about the scorpion and the frog.

[orangecrush]

43. Will Google that!

Thanks!

[ROB-ROX]

42. THE GOP HAS ONLY DUMB DRONES

I think republican voters will continue to do as their masters tell them. The GOP voters lack ethics and the morals of a "normal" person. Therefore they will do nothing until their masters decide to have their drones attack "old bone spurs." They have truly breed zombie drones who lack the ability to think better then "toddlers."

[Cha]

48. KR!! Anybody that takes a pic like this deserves to be FIRED.

[orangecrush]

49. Dear God help us.

We are in Bizarro world.

[Cha]

50. We had Lucky Stars with

the BLUE WAVE!

[orangecrush]

53. We did!

[John Fante]

51. What a clown. Has he ever taken a good picture?

[Cha]

52. Never. The strutter

is as ugly on the outside as he is rotting on the inside.