Tom Steyer’s organization, NeedToImpeach.com, has published a candidates guide to impeachment that is well worth reading.
A president caught shoplifting might cause a stir — but the crime committed would not amount to a misuse or abuse of presidential authority, and would therefore not be grounds for impeachment.
On the other hand, taking a six-month vacation in the middle of one’s term in office may not be a criminal act — but it would warrant impeachment.
This points toward a nice distinction that is worth bearing in mind: The President does not have to commit a criminal act to be impeached and convicted; he has to abuse the prerogatives of office in a way injurious to the United States.
Trump is corrupt and has used the office to enrich himself; he has only grudgingly acknowledged that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, and refuses to do anything about it; he has acted to obstruct justice; he has defamed and demoralized the FBI and Justice Department; he is a serial liar. And that’s just for starters.
My decision is simply put: I will not vote for any Republican who has whored himself to Trump, and I will vote for only those Democrats who explicitly and publicly commit to defending their country against the Buffoon-in-Chief by removing him from office.
Enough.