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HORIST: Democrats walked into an impeachment trap that they set

HORIST: Democrats walked into an impeachment trap that they set

Democrats have to impeach President Trump.  They have no choice.  But they may be snared in their own trap.

Consider the possibility that the House Democrats do not impeach Trump.  This could happen in two ways.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may conclude that an impeachment and Senate trial might actually hurt Democrats at the polls in 2020.  Or – unlikely as it may seem – there may be enough “no” votes from Democrat members to have the vote fall short.

In either case, Democrats lose big time.  Their more radical base will go ballistic.  Failure to impeach would mean that after all the harsh accusations of criminal behavior on the part of the President, they could not find them to have risen to the level of impeachable offenses.  It would be the “Russian collusion” debacle all over again.

Since Pelosi can deliver enough votes to impeach, the idea of losing the vote is not really a viable option.  THAT would be the worst of all options for Democrats.

Democrats have two very bad options – to impeach or not to impeach.  That is the question.

Looking at both options, it would appear that the lesser danger for Democrats is to impeach.  If they do not impeach, all the accusations against Trump evaporate.  Yes, they will still rant about his bad behavior.  They will still accuse him of abuse of power, obstruction of justice and parking the presidential limousine in a no parking zone – but those accusations will lose all their credibility.  It would be like one of those prosecutors saying that he has all the evidence he needs to convict a person, but he has decided to not move forward with an indictment.

We have to keep in mind that these are the same Democrats – and the same media – that promised the public that Trump had “no path to the presidency” and that he would most certainly be found colluding with Russians when the Mueller Report was published.  It is bad enough that they are not likely to get Trump ousted from office, but they cannot walk away from an impeachment.  They have painted themselves in that proverbial corner.

It is hard to know whether Pelosi & Company fully appreciated what a Senate trial might look like.  Unlike all these highly-controlled and orchestrated closed-door hearings, the trial will take place in the Republican controlled Senate – and crafty Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be calling the shots … setting the rules … writing the script.  It could be a game changer.

The schedule for impeachment is uncertain at this time.  Democrat congressional leaders initially led us to believe it would happen before Thanksgiving.  Now they are hedging – suggesting a pre-Christmas date.  Maybe no impeachment until next year.

Postponing impeachment presents yet another problem for Democrats.  It makes their assurances of criminality on the part of the President seem less certain.  It will consume more of the oxygen needed by the Democrat presidential candidates.  It would mean a trial during the height of the primary election season.

Democrats appear to be on a roll at the moment – but they may be rolling over a political cliff.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

29 Comments

  1. Kathy Long

    Larry, let’s say that there is an impeachment vote – sooner than later – the American public will be brought up to speed on Trump’s blatant criminality, suborning bribery, attempting to rig the 2020 election, and now that a judge has sent the unredacted info from the Mueller report, proof of his knowledge of Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election.

    He can’t win without Russia’s help and maybe China’s.

    I am amazed at individuals like you that are ok with that. You want a dictator who is compliant with other dictators.

    Why? Not sure, because it won’t help you in the least.

    What are you do afraid of that you’re willing to subvert our republic?
    Brown people? Taxes? Women?

    And how’s that trillion dollars deficit working for you?

    • Jim W

      Let’s look at Kathy’s “FACTS'” one at a time:
      1. Russia backed the 2016 election
      The Steele dossier was a DNC document, paid for by the Hildabeast campaign.
      2. Attempting to rig the 2020 election
      Investigating “crimes” that occurred during the 2016 campaign is not “rigging” the 2020 campaign; although, the DNC will not come out smelling like roses!
      3. A Demokratik appointed judge has ordered the release of “SECRET” Grand Jury information to the DNC
      The “SECRET” Grand Jury information will be carefully leaked to the media, exposing identities and Personally Identifiable Inf0ormation which, potentially, will endanger those appearing before the Mueller probe.
      4. POTUS Trump cannot win without Russia of China
      Well, Kathy is not reading the tea leaves. The DNC, MSM, Nevertrumpers, and whack job radicals said Candidate Trump could not possibly win in 2016. Look at the enthusiasm for POTUS Trump in the country. Don’t blink, Kathy, because POTUS Trump is going to win again in 2020.,

    • Equalizer

      What a flaming liberal. Folks like you need to move to Russia, Cuba or Venezuela. If you want communism there you go. Please leave.

    • David Barron

      Kathy Long, You must be getting highly classified information from some special source to make the following statement. ” the American public will be brought up to speed on Trump’s blatant criminality, suborning bribery, attempting to rig the 2020 election, and now that a judge has sent the unredacted info from the Mueller report, proof of his knowledge of Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election.”, or you are just believing a desperate and pathetic Democratic Party as they continue to flounder an apathy over the results of the 2016 election and dumping of the incredibly dishonest, unethical, and lying Hillary Clinton. What is the source of your information, the news Media, Democratic Party, a close friend, or are you just making this all up. Unless you have honest sources and reliable information you just look foolish making such bias and baseless, not to mention lemming, statements. You seem to be the kind of person who would prejudge any person through mob pressure and lynch them from the nearest tree regardless if they were guilty or innocent. Let the established system to its work before we execute the charged. I would dismiss you as radically prejudicial from any jury of piers.

    • JMichael270

      Kathy, its time for you to do some research for yourself rather than being spoon fed by MSM. May I suggest you go to You Tube and watch Glenn Beck’s Ukraine: The Democrats Russia. It is lengthy, 2 hours, but very informative and factual. Whether your a Republican , Democrat, or Independent I’m sure you do not approve of corruption in our government. The facts presented give you the times, the players, the associations, the cover-ups. You will see how far down the rabbit hole this goes. You may want to skip to the 32:00 mark to start watching. Take Care !!

      • Patty

        Here Here, well said dear man! I watch the whole report and it sure defines everything very clearly that it was a coup against Trump from the beginning .

    • patriotliberal hater

      Hows Obamas 10 Tril added to the National Debt working for YOU !! TRUMP 2020 / PENCE 2024 !! SNOWFLAKES GONNA BE MELTIN’ AGAIN !!.

    • Larry Horist

      Kathy Long. At this time, we are long getting the prosecutor’s side of the issue. Adam Schiff is serving as the prosecutor and using secret testimony to spin the narratives. That will eventually end and as we hear the other side, perceptions are bound to change. The process is very unfair … and nothing like the Nixon or Clinton impeachment hearings. Not being able to subpoena “defense” witness is a huge disadvantage. And even under the new rules, Republicans can only issue subpoenas IF Schiff agrees. But it is virtually certain that the Democrats will undertake the most partisan impeachment in modern history. But, wait until it gets to the Senate where the Republicans will set the rules. And there will be sufficient push back on the Democrats Articles of Impeachment to have Trump remain in office. That will actually strengthen him in the 2020 election. Pelosi was right when she said there should not be impeachment unless it is bipartisan — and she feared it would divide the nation and consume all the attention during the campaigns. Lots of road ahead.

    • Knobby

      The Russians did not hack the 2016 Election. They did hack Hillary’s private server, but that is a different story. The Russians did publish a lot of negative social media posts about candidate Clinton, and this is because Putin hates HRC. If you want to know why, go to PBS.org, look up Frontline, and search for “Putin’s Revenge”. This 2-part series, researched and created by Frontline (not the Trump Campaign) explains everything. The GOP could have run Robin Willams for President in 2016 (post mortem), and the same anti-Hillary ads campaign would have been run against her. Frontline says it best: Hillary screwed Putin, and he returned the favor.

    • CCblogging

      Kathy, you are full of leftist BS

  2. Donald Crane

    Oh Kathy, you need to re-examine your assumptions and try, instead, listing real facts supporting your assumptions. Feelings, intuitions, allegations, labels, and talking points are merely evidence of wishful thinking, not facts.

  3. Daytonadude

    She’s the result of someone who gets their news off the commie main stream brainwash idiocy.

  4. Mike Tanco

    I hope all of you citizens that voted in the 2016 election understand what the Democrats are telling all of us. It doesn’t matter who you voted for either. They are saying that from now on if we don’t like who you voted for and it’s not our candidate, we’re going to impeach them.
    Now, that would give the Republicans the same right if they don’t like the person that won. Do you see where this is going? The people’s votes don’t matter!!! Wake up America!!!

  5. Marti

    I think of the Democrats as spoiled children now. Used to think they had sense.

  6. jack stone

    there is no way ANYONE will EVER show these “people” that they have been indoctrinated by the communist /left wingnut media .No matter how much good our nation is now experiencing thanks to our good fortune in having ELECTED a president who actually loves this great republic .”they” have boxed themselves into a psychological corner from which there is no escape. After YEARS of demented ,vitriolic,hatred shown towards the voters who selected the person they felt was best qualified to bring our nation back from the brink of socialist disaster..Now that “we” voters have been proven right the leftwing radicals have shown what they really are. a pack of unhinged.raving,demented,America hating,crazies..EVEN Alan Dershowitz ( a lifelong democrat) thinks “they” are “off the rails..

  7. Kurt Walker

    What do you want from government??? If you want total government control, want to be forcibly unarmed, want total socialism, higher taxes, have your property condemned and confiscated, have your resources taken and given to illegals, be dictated to as what you may or may not do for the rest of your and your children’s lives, if this is the kind of government you want then the democrats are there for you. BUT if you simply want freedom to go your own way and live your life as an American you cannot believe anything the democrats are spouting.Check things out G O O D before you vote.

  8. DrAnalog

    You are delusional.

  9. Jeanette Kelley

    “Kathy Long”,

    For a well Written Person, it’s so sad you are really void
    of the facts regarding this whole “Crap of Lies” that is going
    on against our Duly Elected President Trump. You obviously
    drink the communist/socialist Kool Aid the Propaganda main
    media feeds you! I believe you took what these Anti Americans
    wrote regarding this whole bunch of junk about our President
    and put your name on it.

    The Main Stream media is nothing more than an Puppet and
    mouthpiece for the Socialist Democrat Party. If you really
    have a brain in your head, you would research the facts!
    If you really believe that LYING WITCH HILLARY
    CLINTON was robbed of the Presidency, then you really
    need some serious education outside of the Schools that
    brainwash our youth and people like you.

    This is Our Country, and individuals like you should care
    where these Anti-American/Communist/Socialist Democrats
    want to take this Great Nation of ours.!

    Stop believing all these lies and get informed Please!

  10. tiffany dayton

    Trump was put in the White House to clean it up.God put him here and no one can remove him, but God.Trump is not through cleaning the evil up.He will serve 4 more years.God Bless Trump.The Devil is not as strong as God.

    • George

      Trump is himself the evil SOB. You people need to get a grip. He will be impeached and jailed for his BS

  11. Jeanette Kelley

    Amen to Tiffany! God put President Trump in there for
    a reason! The Lord knew we needed a strong NON
    POLITICIAN Man in the Presidency to save this Great
    Nation of ours that was given to us by him and by the sacrifice
    of so many, who have died to keep us free!

    God Bless our President & Vice President!

    Go TRUMP/PENCE 2020!!!

  12. Linde Barrera

    I consider myself a Ronald Reagan Republican, not a Nelson Rockefeller Republican. I voted for President Trump and I will do so in 2020.

    I just wish Republicans would give the same type of tax breaks to “Middle Class Slobs” as they do to the wealthy millionaires. Tax laws should be fair and equitable, and not play favorites for 1 group over another.

    I also think this whole impeachment process is a ridiculous “dog and pony” show on the part of the Dems and makes them look totally stupid, just like professional blow-hards!

  13. Ron

    THESE DERANGED AND DEPLORABLE LITTLE BOY’S AND GIRL’S will have to find someone else to PLAY with. THEY NOTHING AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING IN THE FIRST PLACE ON PRESIDENT TRUMP ! BUT THE RESPECTABLE REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT ON THE DERANGED AND DEPLORABLE’S. THEY ARE THE PUPPETS IN THE THREE RING CIRCUS OF THE DERANGED AND DEPLORABLE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION !!

  14. Robert Taylor

    The leader of the liberal socialist demoncrats is an OLD hag sliding into senility yet trying to keep up her grabs for personal power! Just consider what a HORRIBLE mess her home district is! My thoughts now is how is the hag of the west going to try and get the rest of the country of bail out her district for the mess it is in?

    California used to be a beautiful state until the socialists messed it up. Now every year the fires are becoming worse. Could overuse of scarce water have anything to do with the “climate” changing? Of course. The same reason could be pointed out for most of the southwestern states. I remember National Geographic articles about subsurface reserves being depleted so much that surface levels of the ground fell several feet! Just a few years ago one of the biggest news items in the southwest was states fighting each other over water usage!

    Another reason to consider for the California water problems is the huge number of illegal aliens being “welcomed” into California when contrary to state leaders there isn’t even enough water or power to service their own citizens at a sustainable level? Guess that could explain the streets of LA turning into toilets. Uses a lot less water than providing sanitation for the large number of homeless!

    Land of fruits and nut and home of liberal socialist demoncrats! Maybe it seems like a pretty good place if you are a super rich liberal socialist demoncrat politician spending most of your time elsewhere. Even when you are home to your utopia you live in a mansion behind high wall on a gated and guarded state!

    Think how wild these dimwits could go if they get back power of the country!

  15. MR DONALD A WILLIAMS SR

    They’re setting their own impeachment trap?! That’s supposed to be a bad thing, right?

  16. Linde Barrera

    This article was top shelf, first rate, and thank you for writing it, Mr. Horist. I am a Ronald Reagan Republican (not a Nelson Rockefeller Republican) but I do not care for Mitch McConnell because he tries to come off as a “good ole boy” from Kentucky but in reality he is a wealthy elitist from Washington DC. He is part of the Swamp Culture, just as many baby boomers born in the 1950’s (I am one of those) who were part of the Hippie Culture for probably a dozen years before they started a family or began working a serious job. (I was never a Hippie!) To conclude, the Dems HAVE painted themselves into a corner with this impeachment issue. No one should feel sorry for them. And because of their obtuse stupidity, more Republicans will be elected or re-elected in 2020 as will President Trump. Amen!

  17. Jeanette Kelley

    This is in regards to this comment left by “GEORGE”

    “Trump is himself the evil SOB.You people need to get a grip. He will be impeached and jailed for his BS”.

    You obviously don’t know evil, for if you did you would see what
    your “SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST PARTY” have become and
    are doing!

    President Trump will never be FULLY IMPEACHED or JAILED
    FOR HIS BS”, as it will never even pass the SENATE or even
    be taken seriously by the SANE Republicans in the SENATE.

    What about your wonderful “President Obama”, and his corrupt
    administration and many, many questionable things he did
    against our Great Country & Constitution????? I guess, Fast
    & Furious, Bengahzi , interfering in ISREAL’S election, spying
    on certain reporters he didn’t like (James Rosen FOX NEWS),
    just to name a few things. It would take me to much time to
    go down the list! Why do you think Edward Snowden had to
    flee this country, as he exposed all that Obama & his croonies
    were doing to the American People? By the way, I”m not
    defending the Bush Administration by any means, he did several
    things that were just as bad.

    President Trump has done nothing wrong or IMPEACHABLE!

    THE ONLY THING HE DID WAS BEAT THAT LYING WITCH
    HILLARY ROTTEN CLINTON, THAT WAS HIS CRIME!

    Try using the Brain that God Gave you , and try seeking the
    the Truth for once in your life!

    Watch something other than the PROPAGANDA DEMOCRATIC
    MAIN MEDIA!

    Don’t you care about your Country? Get a Clue!!!

  18. DB

    Other than harass the POTUS for nearly 4 years, since before he even won the election, what have they accomplished besides drive a wedge deeper and deeper to divide the country while the POTUS MAKES AMERICA A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL?

  19. samurai_larry

    I talked with a gentleman the other day and he said Trump continually uses profanity in his speeches, etc. Are liberals and Democrats totally “out there”. Where do they get all the junk they say about President Trump? He has never acted like a dictator yet that flows out of their mouths as if it were absolutely true. If he was what they say, they would not be able to say it without severe consequences. Are liberals and Democrats so devoid of reality that they believe their own rhetoric? Are they just sheep that follow their Democratic shepherds without question. If you want to look at potential dictators, look at Schiff and Pelosi. Look at what they are doing with their so called impeachment inquiry, it a a partisan joke. They control it all, they dictate the rules. Isn’t that what a socialist or dictatorial government would do? Is what the Democrats offer – socialism – really that appealing to you? Is that what you want for America? Wow, you are totally devoid of reality aren’t you!!