Author: Andy Rowell

Watching politics leads to moments of discouragement and the search for hope

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date October 1, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

Virginia Heffernan, PhD in English from Harvard, and TrumpCast podcast host, sincerely wonders in this thread whether those who seem to plot and scheme shamelessly, have any fear that a God might judge them someday.

Today Trump biographer David Kay Johnston also is disturbed by the brazenness of those who call themselves Christians.

David Cay Johnston

✔@DavidCayJ

Fake Christian gets disgusting support from conman.

Where are the actual Christian pastors? https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1178477539653771264 …

Donald J. Trump

✔@realDonaldTrump

Replying to @realDonaldTrump

….If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.” Pastor Robert Jeffress, @FoxNews

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12:35 AM – Sep 30, 2019

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Lawyer Seth Abramson, who has given his life over to attempting to collate and uncover Trump's scheming with foreign leaders also finds himself wondering about whether there is a God who will bring judgement where it is deserved.

Ezra Klein in this conversation with David Brooks in May also wishes for belief in God, that it might provide stability and clarity.

Michael Lewis in his conversation with Ezra Klein in June worries that it may take a catastrophe or a pandemic for many to reject corruption in government.

1:36:26 (vox.com/podcasts/2019/…)

The common thread is close observers of Trump being shocked by the willful denial of the truth and the haughty dismissal of moral obligation. Then these observers, marvelling at the depths of human self-delusion, wonder what it would take before some would repent of their ways. But I take comfort that maybe …

His truth is marching on.

More angst

And others too trying to bring hope:

More wondering about whether there is any justice out there in the universe:

Again, I would say a lot of these comments by observers of Trump are profound, groaning prayers for justice and that the truth would come out and that God would spare the United States and the world from greater disaster and catastrophe. More asking of big questions about humanity from the author of Traitor: The Case Against Donald J. Trump.

Again, I think this is the right reaction.

More sincere incredulity prayerfully directed:

Melissa Moore@MelissaMoore77

I don’t usually like to quote-tweet but dear God these days are something else. I’m sitting here trying to take in these southern baptist pastors doubling down in their support of Donald Trump & I am dizzy w/ anger. https://twitter.com/jackngraham/status/1178645825683148800 …

Jack Graham

✔@jackngraham

When it’s all said and done in this current political attack from the leftists socialists,,,,,,God rules over the affairs of man and government. Who is on the Lord’s side?

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8:43 PM – Sep 30, 2019

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More wrestling with evil:

D.L. Mayfield@d_l_mayfield

· Oct 1, 2019

Evil. Nothing else to say here. https://twitter.com/juliehdavis/status/1179157882937528323 …

Julie Davis

✔@juliehdavis

He talked about a snake-filled trench & other painful countermeasures for his border wall. He asked if migrants could be shot in the legs. He purged aides who resisted. A look at Trump's border obsession, adapted from my book with @shearm, out next week. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/politics/trump-border-wars.html …

D.L. Mayfield@d_l_mayfield

How are we not depressed all the time? I would say I am 50% of the day at least, oftentimes berating myself for it. But you know what? Our world is running on evil, I am allowed to be depressed about that.

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9:27 PM – Oct 1, 2019

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Sept 26, 2019: Trump slashes number of refugees permitted to enter the United States

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 27, 2019

You Retweeted

Matthew Soerens

@MatthewSoerens

Sep 26

@WorldRelief

Denounces Proposed FY2020 Refugee Cap of 18,000

World Relief Denounces Proposed FY2020 Refugee Cap of 18,000 — World Relief

Today, the Trump administration announced its intention to set a refugee ceiling of just 18,000 for FY 2020. World Relief strongly opposes this cut to the nation’s refugee resettlement program, which…

worldrelief.org

You Retweeted

Samantha Power

@SamanthaJPower

Sep 26

This is an abomination. For our leadership in the world, for the American economy (talk to Buffalo, NY and Clarkston, GA), for our self-understanding as a nation, and for the world’s most vulnerable.

Quote Tweet

POLITICO

@politico

· Sep 26

President Trump has slashed Obama’s proposed 2017 refugee cap by more than 80% since taking office. bit.ly/2lv1Wp9

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Amy Sullivan

@sullivanamy

Sep 26

I have no doubt that Stephen Miller put this draconian refugee policy in motion long ago, but announcing it just as Trump needs to shore up support re: impeachment is an…interesting move.

Quote Tweet

Galen Carey

@GalenCarey

· Sep 26

Each line on the graph below represents 20,000 people who had to flee their countries, can't stay where they are, at least in safety, and whose futures have been put on hold. Defending these cuts by pointing to asylum seekers on the border most of whom will be denied ring hollow. twitter.com/dukekwondc/sta…

Show this thread

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Wendy R. Sherman

@wendyrsherman

Sep 26

Imagine how many of us would not be here in America if this had been the number when our parents or grandparents found refuge here… outrageous and unAmerican decision by Trump administration.

Quote Tweet

BBC News (World)

@BBCWorld

· Sep 26

US slashes refugee limit to all-time low of 18,000 bbc.in/2nyPCEP

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Rich Stearns

@RichStearns

Sep 26

We turned away Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis in WWII. I thought our national conscience had learned a lesson. Guess not.

Quote Tweet

Galen Carey

@GalenCarey

· Sep 26

Alas. That the administration had already telegraphed plans to slam the door on refugees by slashing the # to be resettled during FY2020 by 40% to a new low of only 18,000 takes away none of the sting. Incredibly inconsistent w/ the pledged commitment to religious freedom.

Mandy Rodgers-Gates

@MandyRG77

Sep 26

So at what point do white evangelicals realize that the individualized charity and ministry they say are what *really* matters (vs. government policy) CAN'T ACTUALLY HAPPEN BECAUSE OF – wait for it – GOVERNMENT POLICY?!?!

Quote Tweet

Matthew Soerens

@MatthewSoerens

· Sep 26

The number of persecuted Christians & other religious minorities resettled to the US has already declined drastically. It is likely to decline even further now It undermines the administration's admirable rhetoric about international religious freedom newspressnow.com/ap/national/re

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Impeachment Trump

Sept 20 and 25, 2019. On impeachment

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 25, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

It would take 20 of 53 Republican Senators to convict Trump of impeachment charges. 22 voted against his wrongdoing at least once (of 3 instances) in 2019. Recall Jeff Sessions was the only Republican senator who endorsed Trump in the 2016 Republican primary. They know he's bad.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Sep 10, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

March 2019

"National emergency Senate vote count: Twelve Republicans joined Democrats to vote against the president's unilateral move to fund his border wall."

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

22:
Lamar Alexander
Roy Blunt
John Boozman
Susan Collins
Tom Cotton
Steve Daines
Cory Gardner
Lindsey Graham
Josh Hawley
John Kennedy
Mike Lee
Martha McSally
Jerry Moran
Lisa Murkowski
Rand Paul
Rob Portman
Mitt Romney
Marco Rubio
Ben Sasse
Pat Toomey
Roger Wicker
Todd Young

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4:48 PM – Sep 10, 2019

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Impeachment is first a technical or legal issue.
Constitution: "The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

But there is also the political calculation whether 1/2 the House AND 2/3 of the Senate would consider voting for impeachment. This counting votes and building support and revision is similar to the interpersonal process that occurs when Congress considers any legislation. The House could vote to impeach many times and have numerous Senate trials (with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding) if the Senate did not convict the first time. Technical / legal reasons for impeachment to explore:
1. Treason
Thread:
2. Bribery
Thread:

3. High Crimes and Misdemeanors
Using presidential power to impede (obstruct) investigation of himself and offering pardons as bribes.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Sep 10, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

22:
Lamar Alexander
Roy Blunt
John Boozman
Susan Collins
Tom Cotton
Steve Daines
Cory Gardner
Lindsey Graham
Josh Hawley
John Kennedy
Mike Lee
Martha McSally
Jerry Moran
Lisa Murkowski
Rand Paul
Rob Portman
Mitt Romney
Marco Rubio
Ben Sasse
Pat Toomey
Roger Wicker
Todd Young

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

Data point for whether there would be 20 Republican Senators who would convict to impeach for "treason," after Helsinki, @EKamarck on July 19, 2018:
"14 Republican Senators condemned Trump specifically . . . . Another 24 condemned Putin." https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/07/19/after-helsinki-can-trump-count-on-protection-from-the-gop-senate/ …

After Helsinki, can Trump count on protection from the GOP Senate?

A Republican-supported vote to convict Trump in the Senate if articles of impeachment pass the House wouldn't be out of the question in the next Congress.

brookings.edu

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3:48 PM – Sep 20, 2019

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Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Jul 26, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

Investigative journalists should not have to uncover every instance of bribery and foreign emoluments, then Congress investigates, then public pressure mounts for the politician to resign.
If you don't want to be transparent about your finances, you can't serve in federal office.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

In summary, it is unconstitutional and impeachable for President Trump to not be transparent with Congress about any financial records he has that may have to do with bribery or foreign emoluments. Congress should subpoena and fight for all current and relevant past records.

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12:48 PM – Jul 26, 2019

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And again, impeachment is not necessarily partisan.

If a Republican president is impeached, the Republican vice-president would replace him.

Republicans could decide this is best for them as a party.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Sep 10, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

22 Republican Senators who opposed Trump on big votes in 2019. With damning financial evidence, 20 might convict Trump and promote Pence to president. Maybe the momentum would shift the vote to 100-0.

But only Collins and Moran voted against Trump on all three of these issues.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

I continue to try to emphasize that conviction and impeachment of a president is not a partisan move in that a person of the same party remains president. Republicans might do this in their own self-interest.

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5:19 PM – Sep 10, 2019

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September 25

If you're not following the news, as of tonight, it is somewhat likely President Trump will be impeached by the House by the end of the year. Speaker Pelosi announced yesterday that articles of impeachment would be drafted. A majority of the House as of today have said they approve of the impeachment investigation. A majority of the House is needed to impeach. But that in itself is just a symbolic denunciation.

It is unlikely that 20 Republican Senators will join the 47 Democrats and Independents to convict him and remove him from office (2/3 vote needed) and elevate Vice-President Pence to the presidency. Twenty-two Republican Senators have opposed Trump on major constitutional or national security votes in 2019. Four of those (Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Susan Collins, and Pat Toomey) have today expressed their concern with Trump's asking for investigations into his political opponents. Eleven Republican Senators voted today against the emergency declaration at the border. But it is still very unlikely there will be 20 who would vote to remove him.

A thread by Andy Rowell

Ukraine is just one typical high crime. The habit of using presidential power to pressure people to do illegal favors for his personal benefit rather than the nation's benefit by threatening or bribing them is the common thread with Ukraine, Comey, Cohen, McGahn, and Lewandowski. Impeachment is the only way to restrain a president, who uses illegal means to become president (campaign finance law), has presidential exemption from being indicted, uses presidential power to control staff, presidential pardon to bribe, and presidential privilege to be secret.

Previous comments on Facebook about impeachment:

Andy Rowell

Mar 3, 2018 · · Americans need to get more used to the concept of impeachment. It is not execution. It is a check and balance. The Republicans will still have a Republican president to appoint Supreme Court Justices, etc. Republicans are going to wish they did it for their reelection (and for the country and the world).

Andy Rowell

Jul 16, 2018 · · Impeach. Wake up.

Andy Rowell

Jul 17, 2018 · · It is not Republican or Democratic, it is not conservative or liberal, it is not political, and it should not be controversial to say that this is the most dishonest and incompetent president in the history of the United States.

Andy Rowell

Dec 10, 2018 · · Grandma and Grandpa, what did you do when Trump was president? Well honey, we kind of knew that he was incompetent and immoral but we were busy with work and kids (and watching Netflix and ESPN). Respectable people didn't speak up about politics back then.

Andy Rowell

Dec 20, 2018 · · I think tonight there is a majority in the House and two thirds of the Senate that think he should not be president.