Tag: #Impeachment

Thurs. 1/7/21: Impeach Trump. Expel his back-up band.

Time tip: This action should only take you 3 minutes to do. But you can go even faster if you put the scripts for Action #1 and #2 together on your calls to both Senators. Our one representative only gets the script from Action #1.

Action #1: We deserve a president who doesn’t threaten election officials, AND one who doesn’t incite insurrection.

Rep. Ilhan Oman (D-MN) is drafting up articles of impeachment now. Make sure your legislator knows you are in support of an impeachment action.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. [___] to know that Trump should be impeached (articles of impeachment) not once, but twice. Once because his call to Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger constituted an impeachable abuse of executive power, as well as a possible violation of GA state and federal laws. He should also be impeached for inciting a riot that threatened the safety of our elected officials in Congress, breaking his sworn oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Please ask Rep./Sen. [___] to ask President Trump to resign, effective immediately, or institute impeachment proceedings.

  • UPDATE 1/9/12: Another instance of “obstruction: “Between leaning on both Gov. Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Trump also made a call to Georgia’s lead elections investigator to “find the fraud” in a lengthy December phone call, saying the official would be a “national hero,” according to an individual familiar with the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the conversation.“
  • UPDATE 1/8/12: (Vox) How Congress can permanently disqualify Trump from office after impeachment. The impeachment process to prevent Trump from running in 2024, explained.

(Contact information below)

Action #2: Trump didn’t do this damage by himself. He had help.

We deserve legislators who don’t manipulate fraudulent information for political gain or to incite insurrection.

Continue reading “Thurs. 1/7/21: Impeach Trump. Expel his back-up band.” →

Fri – 1/24: We are watching. (2) actions. #RemoveThemAll

Action #1: Our president just bragged on international TV that he withheld everything!

Although Sen. Mitch McConnell pretends his sham of a trial is equivalent to the Clinton trial, that administration actually turned over more than 90,000 pages of documents for congressional inspection, and witnesses testified both during the Starr investigation and at the trial. The Trump administration only revealed call transcripts after the the whistleblower’s report forced them to. Trump then ignored subpoenas and forbade individuals to respond to them and now he’s openly admitted to withholding evidence at the World Economic Forum. Only a senator deeply complicit with the authoritarian regime Trump is forming would refuse to call this “obstruction of congress”.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to remind [his/her] GOP colleagues that we, the vast majority of Americans, want a fair trial with testimony from all the relevant witnesses. We want them to be impartial jurors who are paying attention, not wandering around like cats. This is the bare minimum we expect from those to whom we pay with our taxes, from those who say they are our public servants, from those who’ve taken an oath to uphold “impartial justice” at this trial, and from those who’ve sworn to “support and defend the Constitution,” including from enemies without and authoritarian threats from within.

Action #2: Call your legislators and Roberts – have GOP senator-jurors removed for cause!

Continue reading “Fri – 1/24: We are watching. (2) actions. #RemoveThemAll” →

Wed. 1/22: Our president is a giant walking, talking national security leak.

He’s trying to distract us by tossing more countries onto his travel ban bonfire…

With breathless fearmongering – “We have to be safe. Our country has to be safe. You see what’s going on in the world. Our country has to be safe,” Trump tries to divert Americans’ attention from a greater danger to our country and our democracy –  the malign foreign influences brought in and encouraged by Trump himself.

Action #1: Keep FLOODING Senate offices with calls. If you have family and friends in GOP-country, make sure they’re calling too.

The vote at the end of the Senate trial will be partially determined by GOP senators who think they’ll be kicked out by disgusted constituents. Update: Some GOP senators must be nervous, because McConnell gave up some territory. 

  • McConnell had to add more time to the proceedings –  The new plan allows up to 48 hours of opening arguments over six days, instead of four, from the House of Representatives lawmakers making the case for impeachment and Trump’s defense team
  • The resolution now “automatically” enters the House’s records from its impeachment hearings into evidence unless there’s an objection. McConnells’s draft released earlier would have required a vote to enter that evidence.

Minimum script for GOP senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to know that I want [him/her] to Continue reading “Wed. 1/22: Our president is a giant walking, talking national security leak.” →

Tues: 1/14: The “imminent threat” has always been to himself. Call your legislators!

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

-Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride.

We thought that the Soliemani assassination was a suspiciously well-timed and bloody wag-the-dog from Trump’s impeachment, but it’s worse than that. News stories say that he may have felt pressured to kill the Iranian general to curry favor with some of his future jurors in the Senate. “High crimes and misdemeanors” is an apt phrase for a president willing to starting a war to save himself. But using military force without proof of imminent attack is more than abuse of presidential power – it’s actually illegal and should rightfully be added to the articles against him. His trial is no longer just about whether he extorted a foreign country to smear a political rival. Over 200 people from seven countries have died as collateral damage from those Jan. 3rd drone strikes. This struggle to hold on to his ill-gotten seat has turned into a bloodsport and we will not accept a sham trial.

Events since the original two impeachment articles were approved:

  • Just Security issued a report on Trump’s direct involvement in the illegal withholding of funding from Ukraine, naming a full range of potential witnesses.
  • John Bolton, former national security advisor, and the “first-person witness” the GOP has stated they want, has volunteered to testify, though Trump plans to block him his appearance, claiming executive privilege to “protect the office.”
  • Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born associate of Rudy Giuliani, has just submitted the contents of his cellphones, including audio and video recordings, to the House Intelligence Committee.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported on Trump’s possible influence from senate supporter and potential impeachment jurors to strike against Gen. Soliemani, a possible war crime.

Make these calls.

Minimum script for Representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to support the following things. Continue reading “Tues: 1/14: The “imminent threat” has always been to himself. Call your legislators!” →

Thurs 1/9: “Hold on, Madam Speaker!” And don’t miss the anti-war rallies tonight!

Action #1 – Go to your “NO WAR” rally tonight! There are over 365 of them across America! 

cropped-no-war-with-iran.jpeg

Action #2 – Trump can use”emergency powers” to stop impeachment. His action of war against Iran is a warning.

Read yesterday’s post about the terrifying powers our immoral president can use “in case of emergency.” This is no mere “wag-the-dog” comedy. Make the calls to your legislators supporting all anti-war bills now.

Action #3 – Don’t send the articles to the Senate Chipper-Shredder of Oblivion yet! 

Our more antsy legislators want to put up a white flag to McConnell and hand the articles of impeachment over to a rigged “trial” and certain dismissal or acquittal. (See Sen. Schumer’s statement here about McConnell’s misleading claims of similarity to the Clinton impeachment) There’s no hurry other than handing Trump a win before his Feb. 4th SOTU address. Our country deserves better. New developments will lead to additional charges and those involved need to speak on the record, using Congress’ power of inherent contempt if necessary, and be questioned by people who care about the answers. That means that the House has more work to do. Don’t let everything done so far evaporate in McConnell’s hands. This impeachment is worth a war to Trump. It’s worth a wait.

Minimal script for Nancy Pelosi: I’m calling from [zip code] to thank Speaker Nancy Continue reading “Thurs 1/9: “Hold on, Madam Speaker!” And don’t miss the anti-war rallies tonight!” →

Mon 1/6: Trump is willing to start a war to stop his impeachment. The GOP is willing to sell their souls. Are you willing to call your legislators?

Since his impeachment, new information and possible new crimes, have come to light.

Two articles of impeachment were just not enough to contain our president. According to new reports in both Politico and justsecurity, he appears to have personally blocked Congressional-approved funding for Ukraine and then miraculously released it the day after Rep. Adam Schiff demanded to see the whistle-blower complaint. Until then, he and his administration ignored the Pentagon’s warnings of violating the Impoundment Control Act, causing $35.2 million of Ukraine’s funding to lapse and needing new congressional legislation to restore it. His actions could be a violation of a 1974 law created after President Richard Nixon refused to release funds approved by Congress…and a brand new article for his impeachment. (A timeline of this multi-player, slow-walking shakedown of a foreign country, including Trump’s long chat with Putin (May 3, 2019) here.) (20 emails on Ukraine aid still being withheld)

Action: It’s time to thank Nancy Pelosi and ask her to hold on.

Continue reading “Mon 1/6: Trump is willing to start a war to stop his impeachment. The GOP is willing to sell their souls. Are you willing to call your legislators?” →

Fri 1/3: Did our president just start a war to win an election or to distract from his impeachment?

Action – That Americans will die because at least one of these is true is a tragedy.  Call your legislators. Take away his power to start war.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code]. I understand that although Gen. Soleimani was an enemy of the US, killing the second most powerful man in Iran is equal to Iran assassinating Generals Petraeus and Mattis, the head of Special Operations Command, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I have a question and a demand. Trump authorized this assassination without Congressional authorization, consultation with the “Gang of 8” or with our allies.

QUESTION: What was Trump’s legal justification for this action and its apparent violation of Executive Order 12,333? What is his justification for violating international law by basing the attack in Iraq without that government’s consent?

DEMAND: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) has been fighting against presidents’ unlimited use military force since 2001. It is time for you to join her and stop to this lawlessness with legislation NOW by approving  H.R.1274 – Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force (which repeals Public Law 107-40. –‘Authorization for Use of Military Force’’). (For senators, demand that they introduce legislation matching Rep. Barbara Lee’s H.R.1274. For GOP senators, remind them that impeachment is becoming more urgent, not less.)  (Read about Rep. Lee’s fight here. Her current statement is here.) Continue reading “Fri 1/3: Did our president just start a war to win an election or to distract from his impeachment?” →

Wed.12/18: America stood in the cold to affirm that we still believe in the rule of law, not corrupt would-be kings!

Thank-you post to all who came out on a cold and windy Tuesday night!

  • Thanks to the 400-500 people who joined us last night in front of the Ventura County Government Center, from both our county and from further afield, who chose the sidewalk over their couch and the cold over comfort.
  • Thanks to those who joined over 600 other events across the country to remind our legislators that no one is above the law in America.
  • Thanks to those who wrangled big flags in strong winds and those who patiently held flashlights to illuminate them.
  • Thanks to those who brought cookies and sugary joy.
  • Thanks to that amazing woman who set up the hot cider station!
  • Thanks to those who made signs – artistic signs, simple signs, funny, sad, angry and heartfelt signs, and to those who held light – candles and flashlights.
  • Thanks to those who manned our voter registration table and to all who were already registered and ready to vote.
  • Thanks to the volunteers who held our big “IMPEACH” letters and who transformed themselves into an impromptu, yet impressive drill team.

Continue reading “Wed.12/18: America stood in the cold to affirm that we still believe in the rule of law, not corrupt would-be kings!” →

Mon 12/16: Can you say “recusal?”

(Kangaroos by Pixabay.)

Above: Senator Lindsey Graham quote, Senator Mitch McConnell quote. 

“I solemnly swear [or affirm, as the case may be] that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of [the person being impeached], now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.”

Quote from Chapter IV, Paragraph 5  & Chapter XXV of the Senate Rules

Action – The fix is in. The “jury foreman” – Sen. McConnell is bragging about “total coordination” with the defendant administration.

“Sen. McConnell has promised to sabotage that trial, and he must recuse himself. No court in the country would allow a member of the jury to also serve as the accused’s defense attorney. The moment Sen. McConnell takes the oath of impartiality required by the Constitution, he will be in violation of that oath. He has effectively promised to let President Trump manage his own impeachment trial,” Rep. Val Demings declared in a news release issued by her office Friday afternoon.

House Judiciary Committee member, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) stated “In other words, the jury – Senate Republicans – are going to coordinate with the defendant – Donald Trump – on how exactly the kangaroo court is going to be run.” On Twitter, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) added that McConnell is “proudly announcing he is planning to rig the impeachment trial for Trump.” Continue reading “Mon 12/16: Can you say “recusal?”” →

Tues 11/26: GOP legislators…To what do you owe allegiance? Asking for the country we love…

“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. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country to investigate one of the President’s main domestic political rivals.” (Whistleblower complaint)

Action – Contact your friends and relatives with GOP legislators and ask them if they swore an oath to the Constitution or to a man.

Former Director of the United States Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub, in reference to a clip of Fox News in which host Tucker Carlson’s roots for Russia over Ukraine states, “This clip is just one more exhibit supporting the case that it’s no longer left vs. right but democracy vs. authoritarianism. I think many still underestimate the threat to the republic.”

What does it mean to our democracy when a president abuses his power by using a Russian intelligence myth as a tool to pervert foreign policy into serving his personal interests?

Continue reading “Tues 11/26: GOP legislators…To what do you owe allegiance? Asking for the country we love…” →