Andy Rowell – Page 36 – Church Leadership Conversations

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.

2

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.

5

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.

Uncategorized

Sept 23-25, 2019: As story emerges that Trump asked for political favors from Ukraine, calls for courage abound

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 25, 2019

You Retweeted

Ashley Parker

@AshleyRParker

Sep 25

Among the invited Republican lawmakers: Representatives Liz Cheney, Doug Collins, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Meadows, Devin Nunes + Steve Scalise. And Senators Capito, Cramer, Johnson, Perdue + Risch

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Ashley Parker

@AshleyRParker

· Sep 25

This morning, the White House invited a dozen Republican lawmakers to the White House to review the transcript before it was released to the public — and to discuss among themselves and ask questions of White house officials. At one point, Trump called in from New York. (1/2)

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Ed O'Keefe

@edokeefe

Sep 25

On Capitol Hill,

@MittRomney

tells

@alanhe

, “I did read the transcript, it remains troubling in the extreme, it’s deeply troubling.”

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George Conway

@gtconway3d

Sep 25

I agree with this. There may be Republican senators who won’t say a word until the moment they say “guilty” when the roll is called at the end of an impeachment trial.

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Tony Schwartz

@tonyschwartz

· Sep 24

Oddsmakers say Trump Republicans senators won't vote to impeach Trump. I believe all bets are off. Most Republican senators privately hate him & his power over them. If they believe, by banding together, they can push him out, I think there is a very reasonable chance they will.

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Benjamin Wittes

@benjaminwittes

Sep 24

Ok so Congress now wants to impeach Trump. But what should members include in articles of impeachment? And—harder question—what should they not include. An initial stab…

So You Want to Impeach the President

What to include—and what not to include—in articles of impeachment.

lawfareblog.com

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Jon Meacham

@jmeacham

Sep 23

“Shall any man be above justice? Above all, shall that man be above it who can commit the most extensive injustice?” –George Mason on impeachment, 1787

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Joanne Freeman

@jbf1755

Sep 23

John Adams (1798) In virtuous republics, the will of the majority is the will of the whole. But in "Republicks vicious and criminal, the Minority always resorts to <foreign> Influence for <Aid and> support, and for assistance [to] overthrow and take Vengeance on the Majority."

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Justin Amash

@justinamash

Sep 23

Just do what is right. Stop waiting for others to act first. Take responsibility for yourself and set an example.

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Shane Claiborne

@ShaneClaiborne

Sep 23

This is a very unhealthy man… in need of Jesus & in need of repentance. Thousands of people are feeding into his narcissistic madness. Shame on any Christian who defends him. The next generation will judge this one, and God will judge every nation on earth.

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Aaron Rupar

@atrupar

· Sep 23

Trump ends his bilateral media availability with the Polish president by claiming that "if a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did … they'd be getting the electric chair right now," before calling the assembled journalists "crooked as hell."

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Jon Meacham

@jmeacham

Sep 23

For Republicans, this is a Margaret Chase Smith moment: Stand up for country over party. History will reward you.

Franklin Graham Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is not effective and enables enrichment of Franklin Graham and his family

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 23, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

Dear Church Board,
I would like our church to consider not doing Operation Christmas Child. Franklin Graham made $636,451 from Samaritan's Purse, and hundreds of thousands from BGEA, and he is one of President Trump's most vocal defenders, and the shoeboxes are not effective. Also 2 of Board of Directors of Samaritan's Purse are his children.
– Jane Cissie Lynch, Ministry Spokesperson and Special Projects Producer, Samaritan’s Purse.
$48,617 (+ BGEA $?)
– Roy Graham, Director of Donor Relations, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Also paid by dad. His son Will also works for him as Vice President, BGEA. Last disclosure was $98,698 in 2014.

"the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham"

4th child Edward (Army) seems not to be paid by dad.

On Operation Christmas Child:

Quotes in thread below from:

"Except in response to emergencies, this form of charity suppresses local markets, creates feelings of dependency, and does not address systemic problems or empower local leadership." (washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-f…)

"Because each box is filled by individual donors, there inevitably will be inequitable loot among the kids opening them …
Moreover, it leaves those selling gifts and other products in their own country undercut by the freebies showing up."

"imagine how parents feel watching their children open these boxes …
children [sending the boxes] certainly learn a lesson through these giveaway programs, but it’s the wrong one …
it’s a … 'solution' that does nothing to expose the underlying conditions behind the need."

"Americans can do the most good when they give to organizations that do development work in specific places and respond to the need that will bring long-term change."

"The Bible instructs Christians not only to be generous, but also to be smart. For anyone who values effective charity and wants to see their generosity make the biggest impact, sending shoeboxes of little gifts is just not smart."

Quotes above from: "Filling millions of shoe boxes of toys for poor kids seems like a great idea. Here’s why it’s not."
Brian M. Howell
@BrianHowell
Washington Post
December 20, 2017 (washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-f…)

And on Franklin Graham's salary:

Franklin Graham

@Franklin_Graham

I wish President

@realDonaldTrump

’s enemies would give it a rest. For 2 years all the American people heard was collusion. Not true. Then accusations seemed to come out of the woodwork by various women. Then all we heard was impeachment. Now it’s a whistleblower claim.

7:22 AM · Sep 23, 2019Twitter Web App

A thread by Andy Rowell

True:

Collusion is not a legal term. The Trump campaign welcomed assistance from Russia and Trump has repeatedly acted to assist Russia since.

"At least 24 women have accused President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct since the 1970s."

Trump bullied Ukraine for his gain. This tweet by Franklin Graham demonstrates ignorance, moral callousness, and a perverted partisan loyalty to an immoral person.

A person with this poor judgment should not lead a Christian disaster relief organization or an evangelism association. @realDonaldTrump

Franklin Graham made $636,451 from Samaritan's Purse (Operation Christmas Child) in 2018.

BGEA "exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham." In 2015 it became a "an association of churches" so salaries not disclosed. 2014 was $205,999.

In 2014, the last time Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association both disclosed salaries, they reported that Franklin Graham worked 40 hours a week at both organizations.