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patriotsnet · 3 years ago

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Who Are The Three Republicans Running Against Trump

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Who Are The Three Republicans Running Against Trump

Republican Party Presidential Primaries

Local GOP Responds To 3 Republicans Running Against President Trump

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First place by first-instance vote

;;Donald Trump

Presidential primaries and caucuses of the Republican Party took place in many U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories from February 3 to August 11, 2020, to elect most of the 2,550 delegates to send to the Republican National Convention. Delegates to the national convention in other states were elected by the respective state party organizations. The delegates to the national convention voted on the first ballot to select Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee for president of the United States in the 2020 election, and selected Mike Pence as the vice-presidential nominee.

President Donald Trump informally launched his bid for reelection on February 18, 2017. He launched his reelection campaign earlier in his presidency than any of his predecessors did. He was followed by former governor of MassachusettsBill Weld, who announced his campaign on April 15, 2019, and former Illinois congressmanJoe Walsh, who declared his candidacy on August 25, 2019. Former governor of South Carolina and U.S. representative launched a primary challenge on September 8, 2019. In addition, businessman Rocky De La Fuente entered the race on May 16, 2019, but was not widely recognized as a major candidate.

Who Are The Republicans Challenging Trump For 2020 Nomination

Only one candidate is now vying to defeat Trump for Republican nomination in the 2020 presidential race.

While the pool of Democrats vying for the partys presidential nomination was among the largest and most diverse in the history of the United States, President Donald Trump faced a much smaller cadre of challengers for the Republican ticket in 2020.

After two Republicans dropped out, only one opponent remains in the race against Trump. Thats in contrast to the three remaining contenders in the Democratic field, which once had more than two dozen candidates.

In a statement in April, the Republican National Convention said the Republican Party is firmly behind Trump and any effort to challenge the presidents nomination is bound to go absolutely nowhere, prompting criticism that Republican leaders are making it;impossible for another candidate to succeed.

Here is a look at the now sole Republican challenging Trump.

Are There Any Prominent Democrats Running

There are nine registered Democrats on the ballot but none well known to the public. Newsom and his allies were successful in keeping prominent Democrats out of the race, allowing them to present a united Democratic front and to continue painting the recall as a GOP power grab to accomplish through a special election what it cant through a regular campaign. That also avoids a repeat of the 2003 recall, when Davis allies believe Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamantes decision to run as an insurance option in case the recall was successful cost the governor Democratic votes.

Among the Democrats who decided not to run is former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

I respect the fact the recall qualified. I also recognize that many people disagree with the governor and some of his decisions including me but Californias facing incredible challenges and the governor deserves a chance to finish the job, Villaraigosa said. Thats why I oppose the recall and support Gov. Newsom in this matter.

No prominent Democrat has stepped up as a potential Newsom alternative. Experts say the party should have a backup for a worst-case scenario but doing so may hurt Newsom.

Don’t Miss: How Do Republicans Feel About The Wall

The 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Wild Cards

The first Democratic debate back in 2019 had 20 TWENTY! candidates, so dont be surprised if the Republican field is just as large or larger. We could have some more governors or representatives run, or even other nontraditional candidates, like a Trump family member, a Fox News host or a celebrity, like Dwayne The Rock Johnson, whos said hes seriously considering a run. Stranger things have happened.

Former President Donald Trump

The biggest question mark for Republicans is if Trump will run for president in 2024. He hasnt exactly frozen the field, since Republicans are already positioning themselves to run, but perhaps hes refrigerated it a bit?

Trump is the 800-pound gorilla, said Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor. Trump has got command of the organs of the party and is going to have an enormous amount of resources and name ID and the ability to throw these rallies in the fall of 2022. I think that sets him up very well to being pole position for 2024 if he wants.

Trump, 74, is currently bettors top candidate on PredictIt, an online prediction market, and hes also led in several early polls, including a February Morning Consult/Politico poll. The poll found 54% of Republican voters would back Trump if the 2024 primary were held today. Those kinds of numbers would mean game over in a primary, but they also suggest many Republicans are eager for a new face.

During a recent podcast interview, Trump said he would make his decision on whether he will run in the 2024 presidential election sometime later, and after being asked which Republicans he thought represented the future of the party, he listed off some of the politicians youll see later on this list, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Read Also: What Republicans Are Saying About Trump Now

No Evidence Election Was Compromised Cybersecurity Agency Says

The dust-up in Wayne County unfolded amid a nationwide effort by Trump and many of his GOP allies to push back on the results of the election. The outgoing president has claimed widespread voting fraud, without evidence, in the several of the states that he lost, including Michigan.

On Wednesday, the president reiterated his claim that a giant scam robbed him of a victory in the state. I win Michigan! .

He and his allies, however, have repeatedly failed to produce evidence supporting their allegations of election fraud.

That failure has spelled trouble in court for his campaign to get the election results overturned. In Michigan, an appeals court on Monday unanimously ruled against a Republican bid to invalidate the vote in Wayne County. The decision backed a lower-court ruling that found the allegations to be simply not credible.

And the legal setbacks for Trump havent been confined to Michigans borders, either. As NPRs Pam Fessler explains, similar efforts challenging the vote in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin have failed to gain traction.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks during a news conference Wednesday in Atlanta.

Georgias secretary of state said Tuesday that some fellow Republicans have tried to pressure him into disqualifying legal ballots that may not have favored President Trump.

Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar but whats new?Raffensperger wrote in a Facebook post.

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Richard Burr North Carolina

Burr, who has said he will not seek re-election, had previously voted to dismiss the impeachment trial on constitutional grounds. Burr’s term expires in 2022.

“I have listened to the arguments presented by both sides and considered the facts. The facts are clear,” explained Burr in a statement.

“By what he did and by what he did not do, President Trump violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” he explained, adding that he didn’t come to “this decision lightly.”

Also Check: What Republicans Are Running For President

These Republicans Are Running 2020 Primary Campaigns Against President Donald Trump

Three big-name Republicans have launched campaigns in the 2020 presidential race. While GOP incumbent president Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee, these candidates are hoping the party will open up a primary process despitereportsthat Republicans in a handful of states will not hold primary elections as a show of support for Trump.

Where that leaves these GOP candidates is unclear, but of the more than 100 people who have officially declared Republican candidacies with the Federal Elections Commission, these three are running the most high-profile campaigns to try and take the Republican nomination away from Trump.

Bill Weld, who was the Republican governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997, announced on April 15 that he was entering the Republican primary.

In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their win at all cost battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering, Weld said in a statement at the time of his announcement, according to CNN. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great.

Twitter content

The president has taken notice of his challengers, though. In response to the news that Sanford had entered the race , Trump wrote, The Three Stooges, all badly failed candidates, will give it a go!

Twitter content

Cpac And The Broader Republican Party Agree: Its Trumps Party For Now

Is There Any Republican That Would Actually Run Against Trump?

alex: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. We know hes a rising star in GOP circles and I think the CPAC straw poll pointed out his popularity among the Trump wing of the Republican Party. Another poll, too, after Trump.

Plus, being from Florida gives him an edge in a competitive state. To me, it appears that at this point, people like DeSantis because his policy priorities are similar to Trumps, but he lacks the former presidents ego and baggage.;

sarah: Stole my first round pick!!;;

geoffrey.skelley: DeSantis isnt terribly well known, but I suspect well see him try to correct for that in the coming months. He may be coy for a while about his plans, though, because he needs to win reelection in 2022, and we know that would-be candidates want to take care of the home front first.

nrakich: Yeah, I think DeSantis is a smart pick. Hes doing all the right things picking fights with Democrats, going on Fox News a lot

sarah: Could not agree more. There is no autopsy report yet of the 2020 election from the GOP side , but one thing that stands out to me is something Echelon Insights pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson wrote for the Washington Examiner in February, Trumps legacy in the party isnt policy, and it isnt a person. Its a posture a fighting posture in a moment where Republicans think the fight is what matters most.;

I bring that up because something Anderson and her organization have found is that many GOP voters want someone who will fight for them.

Also Check: Why Republicans Want To Repeal Aca

How Biden Won: Ramping Up The Base And Expanding Margins In The Suburbs

It brings the number of states Biden flipped from Trumps 2016 column to five, including Arizona, which last voted Democratic in a presidential race when it backed Clinton in 1996.

Biden also flipped Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, three key northern industrial states that ultimately delivered the White House to Trump four years ago. Biden also won a single electoral vote in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, which last voted Democratic for former President Barack Obama in 2008.

Electors from each state and the District of Columbia are expected to vote on Dec. 14. The new Congress will then count the votes and certify Bidens victory on Jan. 6, two weeks before the inauguration.

But Georgias political activity is far from over. The state will hold two runoff elections on Jan. 5 for both its U.S. Senate seats, which are currently held by Republicans.

Georgias Republican Us Senators Call On Gop State Election Chief To Resign

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, himself a Republican, called the claims laughable and refused to step aside.

The early rancor and fighting over the presidential election results, which are headed for a recount despite Bidens growing lead, is a preview of the intense fight to come over the fate of the two Senate seats. Vice President Pence told GOP senators that he plans to campaign in the state, and national Democrats are already pouring money and support to their challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

The Georgia runoffs are slated for Jan. 5, after the Senate is scheduled to begin a new session. That uncertainty means the Senate will be unable to officially organize until the results of that election are finalized.

A Marine stands outside the entrance to the West Wing of the White House on Tuesday, signifying that President Trump is in the Oval Office. Evan Vucci/APhide caption

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A Marine stands outside the entrance to the West Wing of the White House on Tuesday, signifying that President Trump is in the Oval Office.

President Trump is set to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday to mark Veterans Day and lay a wreath. Trump will be joined by Vice President Pence. This is one of the more traditional ceremonial duties of a president. .

Asked what the president has been up to, White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump has been working behind the scenes.

Read Also: How Many Republicans Are In The United States

Trumps False Election Fraud Claims Fuel Michigan Gop Meltdown

The ex-presidents refusal to accept defeat is taking a toll on the party in a key battleground state.

Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel a former Michigan GOP chair herself speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee in Washington. | AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by more than 150,000 votes in Michigan last November.

Trump and the Michigan Republican Party still arent over it.

The outcome and the former presidents obsessive efforts to dispute it has left the state party in disarray, raising questions about the GOPs focus as it looks to unseat Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a top battleground state next year.

From a staff and leadership perspective, I dont know that top-notch professionals would want to go into this quagmire, said Jeff Timmer, a former Michigan GOP executive director who opposed Trump. Unless youre going to talk crazy talk, they dont want you there.

Much of the trouble can be traced to the 2020 presidential election results, which Trump and his allies have alleged were marked by fraud without providing evidence.

But some party officials and conservative activists continue to press for a forensic audit of the election results, encouraged by Trump, who has called on American Republican Patriots to run primary challenges against RINO State Senators in Michigan who refuse to properly look into the election irregularities and fraud.

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Also Check: How Many Republicans Are In The 116th Congress

Georgia And Arizona Senators Show Progressive

Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and a Wrightsville, Ga., native, has long lived in Texas after a professional football career that ended in Dallas, but he changed his voter registration last week to an Atlanta house owned by his wife, Julie Blanchard. Blanchard is under investigation by the Georgia secretary of state’s office over potential illegal voting after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported she voted in Georgia despite living in Texas.

Walker has also repeated false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election despite elections officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud that affected the outcome.

It’s unclear when Walker will make a formal Senate announcement. The campaign paperwork filed Tuesday ends months of speculation about his political plans, including a prediction in June from Trump that the former football star would soon suit up for the Republican primary.

“He told me he’s going to, and I think he will,” Trump said on the conservative talk radio Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. “He’s a great guy. He’s a patriot. And he’s a very loyal person, he’s a very strong person. They love him in Georgia, I’ll tell you.”

Some national Republicans have been wary of Walker’s candidacy, though. The first-time candidate comes with potential baggage that could harm his chances in both the primary and general elections, including his Texas residency.

Former Us Ambassador To The United Nations Nikki Haley

Haley, 49, stands out in the potential pool of 2024 Republican candidates by her resume. She has experience as an executive as the former governor of South Carolina and foreign policy experience from her time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley was a member of the Republican Partys 2010 tea party class. A former South Carolina state representative, her long shot gubernatorial campaign saw its fortunes improve after she was endorsed by Sarah Palin. Haley rocketed from fourth to first just days after the endorsement, and she went on to clinch the nomination and become her states first female and first Indian-American governor.

As governor, she signed a bill removing the Confederate flag from the state Capitol following the white supremacist attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston. She left office in 2017 to join the Trump administration as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Quinnipiac poll found she was at one point the most popular member of Trumps foreign policy team.

I think that shes done a pretty masterful job in filling out her resume, said Robert Oldendick, a professor and director of graduate studies at the University of South Carolinas department of political science.

Haley criticized Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by his supporters, saying she was disgusted by his conduct. Oldendick said he thought her pretty pointed criticism of the president will potentially cause some problems.

Also Check: How Many House Seats Were Won By Republicans

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yesweweresoldiers · 5 years ago

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How the Framers Understood Impeachment—And How Party Politics Altered Their Intent

[caption id="attachment_36091" align="alignleft" width="401"] Professor Jeremy Bailey[/caption]

With current news focusing on the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry, we asked Jeremy D. Bailey, Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, to explain the presidential impeachment process from a constitutional and historical perspective. Bailey, a visiting faculty member in the Master of Arts in American History and Government program at Ashland University, focuses his research on the executive power, constitutionalism, and American political thought and development. Author of James Madison and Constitutional Imperfection (Cambridge University Press, 2015) and Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power (Cambridge University Press 2007), Bailey also co-authored (with David Alvis and Flagg Taylor) a study of the president’s removal power. He edited Teaching American History’s core document collection, The American Presidency, a volume that gathers excerpts of several of the texts Bailey refers to in the following interview.

1. The House is conducting an “impeachment inquiry.” How does this differ from an actual impeachment?

An impeachment is the first of a two-step process aimed at removing a public official. To impeach a president is to accuse him of an offense rendering him unfit for office. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the House the authority to impeach federal officials, and Section 3 of Article I gives the Senate the power to remove them. We often use the word impeach to refer to both the accusation and the removal, but that’s incorrect. At present, no discussion of an official impeachment has begun.

There is no Constitutional rulebook for this. Everything is a creation of the chambers that have Constitutional responsibilities. Traditionally, the House Judiciary Committee considers the question, then votes on whether to refer the matter to the whole House for debate and vote. If the whole house votes to impeach, the Senate conducts the actual trial. So far, the House Judiciary Committee has not addressed the issue. The House Intelligence Committee is holding hearings, presumably because the whistle-blower conveyed his concerns to them after speaking with intelligence officials.

2. How does the Constitution define an impeachable offense?

Article II, Section 4 says a president can be removed from office if convicted of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The meaning of the word “Bribery” is relatively clear. What constitutes treason is less clear, as the Burr conspiracy demonstrated. But the phrase “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” is the most ambiguous. As university of Texas political scientist Jeffrey Tulis has shown, the Constitution invites two plausible interpretations of that clause, one political, and the other legal. Historically, the legal interpretation has prevailed.

Gerald Ford, speaking as a representative to Congress in the 1950s or 60s, applied the political interpretation when he said impeachment is “whatever the House says it is.” There is no way to define it; it’s just a matter of judgment by the chambers of Congress. But the legal interpretation insists that some sort of indictable offense is the necessary condition for impeachment, and this offense must be sufficiently serious and relevant to the office to suggest removal is warranted.

We’ve seen three presidential impeachments and fifteen of other federal officials (most of them federal judges). In the most recent case, that of President Bill Clinton, everybody agreed he had committed a crime—perjury under oath—but the question was whether perjury about sex was a grave enough crime and involved the president in his public capacity.

Clinton’s example demonstrates the partial victory of the legal understanding over time. That is, we have emphasized the legal interpretation because the accused have leaned on it in their defense. Two other important precedents are the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in 1804 and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868.

The Jeffersonian Congress believed that the Federalist Chase had abused his authority as a judge while doing federal circuit court duty Chase was very aggressive in enforcing the Sedition Act. He got on horseback and put Republican newspaper editors in jail. Then, during their trials, Chase, from the Republican perspective, made partisan decisions on the evidence admitted and witnesses allowed to testify. Most important, during his charge to a jury in Baltimore, Chase advised them that a spirit of mobocracy was sweeping across the land and it was their job to stop it. He implied that the Jeffersonians were threatening law and order.

Still, Congress knew Chase’s partisan actions did not violate any law. So, to lay the groundwork to impeach Chase, Congress first impeached and removed Federal Judge John Pickering. He was a notorious alcoholic who showed up in court drunk. There was nothing criminal about being a drunk, yet the Constitution presumably allows Congress to remove judges who are not doing their job. Having thus flexed their muscles, Congress next went after Chase. There’s some speculation that, had they succeeded in removing Chase, they would have gone after Chief Justice John Marshall next. Yet, even though the Republicans controlled over two thirds of the Senate, they did not get the necessary two-thirds vote to remove Chase. He retained his job, and that has largely been seen as a victory for the presumption that there has to be an indictable offense as the minimal condition for impeachment. Nevertheless, Chase’s impeachment chastened the Court. Justices learned they could not overtly mix political activities with their jurisprudence.

[caption id="attachment_23070" align="alignleft" width="308"] Matthew Brandy. Andrew Johnson, 1855-1865. Public domain, from the Library of Congress. Digital ID cph.3a53290.[/caption]

In 1868, Republicans, angered that President Andrew Johnson was obstructing their plan for Reconstruction, tried to impeach him. When the initial effort failed to get a majority in the House, Republicans set a trap. They passed the Tenure of Office Act, knowing that Johnson wanted to remove War Secretary Edwin Stanton, with whom he frequently argued. During his Senate trial, Johnson argued that appointing and firing cabinet members was part of his Constitutional function. Even though Republicans held more than two thirds of the Senate seats, the effort to remove Johnson failed by one vote.

Thanks to the Chase and Johnson examples, the legalist understanding has triumphed. But there is something incomplete about that understanding. The political understanding has its virtues too, and I think there’s a reason why the Constitution is not perfectly clear on that.

3. What can be said for the political understanding?

[caption id="attachment_36098" align="alignright" width="313"] Alexander Hamilton. Photo, 1896, of painting by John Trumbull. Library of Congress, USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print.[/caption]

There are two pieces of evidence for it. In Federalist 65, Hamilton clearly describes an impeachable offense as a kind of political violation. He points out that the Constitution explicitly says that the loss of office is the only punishment that follows an impeachment, which suggests that a criminal trial will occur once the official no longer holds office. Hence the impeachment process provides a political, not a legal means of redress for the president’s violation. Second, Madison, in a speech before the House in 1789, defended the president’s power to remove cabinet officials, contending that a president who abused this power would be subject to impeachment. This would be a political check on a Constitutionally granted power.

[caption id="attachment_36096" align="alignleft" width="302"] James Madison, fourth President of the United States. Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1828. Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ppmsca-19166[/caption]

The chief argument for the legal understanding rests on the framers’ revision of the original draft of the Constitution that had defined impeachable offenses as only “treason or bribery.” Late in the Constitutional Convention, a delegate proposed adding the word "maladministration.” But Madison objected that the word “maladministration” was too vague and elastic. It would make the president too dependent on the will of Congress. So they substituted the phrase “high crimes and misdemeanors” in place of “maladministration.”

However, as Raoul Berger argues in Impeachment: The Constitutional Problems, the phrase “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” was a term of art that the Americans would have been familiar with from English practice, especially from the impeachment of Warren Hastings over colonial affairs in India. In that case, “high crimes and misdemeanors” had a political ring to it.

But, to return to the way Tulis explains it, the Constitution invites two understandings for a reason. We can see why we would not want simply a legal understanding. Imagine a president who says he will appoint no Catholics to his cabinet. It’s not a crime, but it’s certainly a matter of deep concern. Or imagine a president with acknowledged alcoholism who starts to consume heavily during the second year of his term. Or imagine a president who lies in order to take the country to war. None of these things are criminal, but they are certainly impeachable. But if impeachments were simply political, you’d worry about having a de facto parliamentary system in which the president would not have his own independence.

4. Although you say political considerations have a place in impeachments, those who impeached Clinton in 1998, like those targeting Trump today, were accused of abusing the impeachment power to overturn the result of a presidential election.

The impeachment process was created before anybody realized we were going to have a two-party system. This system makes any political impeachment a partisan political process. It also makes impeachment really hard, because both parties know that no party will be able to muster a two-thirds vote in the Senate. The Johnson impeachment came close to removal, but in the case of Clinton, only 50 Senators voted for removal.

Arguably, the Founders assumed we would have had more impeachments than we have had and, certainly, more successful removals. One reason the president became so powerful in the 20th century is that impeachment had been taken off the table.Library of

5. Do you think that the current impeachment inquiry was begun in the hope that, although there will never be a removal, the process might persuade voters not to reelect President Trump in 2020?

It’s not clear Democrats are sure impeachment would help them in the election. That’s why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been reluctant to move forward with impeachment. Trump’s refusal to cooperate with the inquiry seems calculated to force the Democrats to impeach him. He may well believe that impeachment will improve his chances of reelection. The Democratic Party is divided between those who consider impeachment good for their party and those who believe it risky. Those in favor of impeachment have a slight edge, but not enough to convince Pelosi to go full bore. Yet it seems inevitable she will, given the pressure from the louder element in the party.

Part of the Democrats’ strategy must be to get people on oath so that either they will start coming clean, or other stories will come out. Witness the Clinton impeachment—he was testifying under oath about whether he had sexually harassed Paula Jones prior to becoming president (presidents are not immune from prosecution for actions they took before assuming office) when the story of his relationship with Lewinsky came out. This led to his perjury.

6. Can Congress compel witnesses to testify?

As I see it, we have three equal branches. Each has its own Constitutional function. But it’s not clear how much power each branch has to compel another branch to do its will. Some claims of executive privilege are sensible, and some not so sensible. No bright line distinguishes between the two. The clearly sensible ones stay privileged, and the not so sensible ones do not, and these things are decided in negotiation between the two departments. The departments don’t want a zero-sum conflict resulting in one department reigning supreme.

Since the decision to impeach is the key bargaining chip held by Congress during this negotiation, what leverage do they retain after they use that chip? Perhaps they could vote on more articles of impeachment, but would that exert enough pressure? I’d guess that if there is a formal vote to refer the matter to the House Judiciary Committee, as is traditional, and if Republicans on that committee are involved in the process in the usual and traditional way, then there will be pressure on Trump to cooperate with the House Judiciary Committee’s actions. If he does not cooperate, moderate Republican Senators may turn against him when a vote on removal occurs. They may feel Trump’s refusal to act fairly justifies removal.

7. At what point might the Supreme Court get involved?

Historically, the Court has not wanted to get involved. The impeachment process itself, even though it may hinge on the presumption of a crime, is clearly a political process. However, if a trial of one of the president’s subordinates takes place during the process, the Supreme Court might have to rule on any claim of executive privilege. That’s what happened in the Nixon case; tapes of his conversations were subpoenaed in the trial of a former aide. Nixon claimed the tapes involved national security, but the Court said that the presiding judge had the right to review the tapes in the privacy of his chambers and determine whether national security really was at stake.

[caption id="attachment_36101" align="alignnone" width="486"] Minority counsel Fred D. Thompson (left), Senator Howard Baker (center), and Senator Sam Ervin during Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. The hearings led the House Judiciary Committee to draft impeachment resolutions, but Nixon resigned before the full House voted on them. U. S. Senate Historical Office.[/caption]

8. What possible risks to the nation do impeachments bring? When, in your view, is an impeachment worth these risks?

I’m sympathetic to the argument that we need a more muscular impeachment power. This could help re-balance the powers of the legislative and executive branches, perhaps chastening presidents. In 2016, I said that I thought it likely that whoever won the election would face impeachment, and that this wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’m also on record as saying we ought to have an impeachment about every 19 years or so (that’s of course a flippant allusion to Jefferson). Yet impeachment imposes risks and costs. Foreign governments may take advantage of us during the process. Domestic legislation will stall. With Congress more polarized than it has ever been, we’ll be unable during the impeachment process to pass any sensible legislation.

9. Do you expect the House will impeach the president?

At present, everything is distorted by partisan lenses. It will take a while for the facts to emerge. Then each party will reassess what serves its advantage.

Republicans may want to get the matter referred to the Senate as soon as possible, so that the Senate can kill it. Democrats may decide to keep the investigation alive yet not move to impeach.

If you want to test for partisan bias on the part of those currently arguing for or against impeaching President Trump, pull up what they said about the impeachment proceedings in 1998. If their current view of what constitutes an impeachable offense is inconsistent with what they argued at that time, you can conclude their views reflect partisanship. Citizens should remain sober, trying to understand what the Constitution allows, instead of leaping to a position that serves a temporary partisan advantage.

The post How the Framers Understood Impeachment—And How Party Politics Altered Their Intent appeared first on Teaching American History.

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thephotopitmagazine · 5 years ago

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John Compton of Paizo holding Starfinder Special Edition (left) and Aaron Shanks of Paizo holding Pathfinder Second Edition Special Edition (right). Photo by Talon Kane Photography

Thursday, August 1st was the opening of Gen Con 2019. And at 10 AM ET was the tradition of Opening Ceremonies at the Gen Con Exhibit Hall. The crowd was massive has the doors opened and people poured into the hall looking for the latest and greatest RPGs, board games, card games, and art to purchase. At Booth 103, Gen Con co-sponsor Paizo Inc. had a huge release with Pathfinder Second Edition. The line wrapped around the booth and then some for people to get the chance to pick up their copy. Paizo even had a grab and go booth on the second floor by the Sagamore Ballroom so people didn’t have to go into the Exhibit Hall to pick up their copy. And even that line was huge, stretching down the corridor in front of the Sagamore Ballroom.

Fortunately, I was able to snag some time with John Compton, the Organized Play Lead Developer, at Paizo to talk about the products they had at the booth during Gen Con. From the moment we began talking, I could see how passionate and knowledgeable John is about Paizo’s products. First up was Pathfinder Second Edition. It had been over 10 years since Pathfinder hit the role-playing game market, which was Paizo’s take of the well-known Dungeons and Dragons. And after all this time, Paizo received feedback from their fans and decided it was time to make Pathfinder a better game. John described it as “640 pages of new RPG content.” Players will have the “opportunity of playing new wonderful classes”, John said, “one of the big things about Pathfinder from the beginning has been the customizability of it. There are always so many wonderful options so you can build exactly the character you want to”. Besides the standard race and class and feats to build your character, Pathfinder Second Edition has now included Class Feats to customize your character even further. John stressed two major focuses on Pathfinder Second Edition was “ease of play and ease of learning.” They wanted to ensure the new version was much easier for people to pick up and play while still keeping what people loved about Pathfinder still intact. One of the other pieces Pathfinder Second Edition streamlined is the combat turn. John said, “Instead of having all sorts of different set of action types, the core idea here is you have three actions period per turn. And if it’s a verb, it’s probably an action!” He went on, “It makes it a lot easier to process how long is this action going to take because it’s probably one action.”

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Photo by Talon Kane Photography

For those who have never played Pathfinder, they had opportunities to play it during Gen Con through demos at the Paizo booth and in scheduled registered events. Also, you could learn about it through play podcasts. One of their most famous ones runs every Thursday at 12 PM PST called Oblivion Oath and run by Jason Bulmahn, the Design Lead for Pathfinder. You can find episodes on Paizo’s Official Twitch Channel. Older episodes can also be found on Paizo’s YouTube Channel. Player’s other option is through the Paizo’s Organized Play. This is where people can find events in their own area. And players can opt-in as often as they want so they are not committed to being there every week like some campaigns might require. You can find more about it on Paizo’s Organized Play Page.

On top of the Pathfinder Second Edition, Paizo also has available the Pathfinder Second Edition Special Edition, which is bound in a stunning red faux leatherette cover and includes navigation ribbons. We also got a look at the Pathfinder Second Edition Bestiary, which is an updated version of monsters to battle. And for those who need pre-written adventures to play, Paizo has four playable modules as part of the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild (see Paizo’s Organized Play) available for Second Edition. But, the Pathfinder Adventure Path, will provide pre-written modules for people to play. There are 6 being done for 2019 starting with Age of Ashes: Hellknight Hill and you can get these as an ongoing subscription. Within those is the Adventure Toolbox, which is being expanded in Second Edition. John explains, “This is a new feature we’ve been really expanding in Second Edition. This is going to give you all of the preview of what’s coming up for plot line information for the subsequent adventures. Because this is leading up to showdown with a big, bad evil guy, of course! Why not know what’s coming up so you can start to drop seeds as you run your game.” John also gave us a glimpse of the standalone module The Fall of Plaguestone. You can also purchase with it the dry erasable The Fall of Plaguestone maps so you don’t have to draw out everything for your players. And we can’t forget the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game that released back in May 2019. John said the one thing that drew him into Pathfinder the most was the setting and I could absolutely see why. Paizo has outdone themselves with what they brought to the table with Pathfinder Second Edition.

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Photo by Talon Kane Photography

Pathfinder isn’t the only game Paizo has available. There is a sci-fi fantasy game called Starfinder. “This is sci-fi fantasy,” John explained. “Not only is there the whole sci-fi aspect, there’s a mystical element of it. You might almost think of it like Star Wars and Star Trek have their psychics or their Jedi, and what have you. But, there’s a magical element. So Starfinder brings more of that magical side of things to sci-fi.” The Starfinder Core Rulebook gives you 7 playable ancestries along with 7 playable classes. In relation from Starfinder to Pathfinder John says, “If you know Pathfinder First Edition, you are really close to knowing everything about Starfinder. They’re very, very similar. Pathfinder Second Edition is a bit more of a departure from First Edition in Starfinder, but it’s still a very approachable and familiar feeling. If you know Pathfinder 1, you’re about 90% of the way to start.” John gave us a look at the Starfinder Beginner Box, which is a self-contained version of the game that comes with a playable module, pre-generated characters, players and GM’s book, dice, and punch out pawns for your maps.

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Photo by Talon Kane Photography

One of the biggest things I loved that Paizo did this year at Gen Con was the Starfinder Adventure Society events. These were specifically geared for children to get them at the table for their first look at Starfinder. John also showed us the Starfinder Pact Worlds which is worlds players can visit, the Armory, which provides more weapons and technology, and the Alien Archive books (2 released and a third coming in August) that acts as the bestiary to Starfinder. But, John pointed out, “Some of these guys are aliens, sure. But, they also have playable statistics. Alien Archive, really Starfinder in general, is all about what we call ‘Cantina Effect’. Where, you know, for Pathfinder you may be like ‘I want my humans, my elves, and my dwarfs’…But, with Starfinder ‘No, I want to play weird aliens! Can I play a blob of ooze in a spacesuit?’ Yes, you can!” The Alien Archive books become great player resources as each book has around 15 playable species, which will make 45 in total when the third book is released. And then John also called out that Starfinder has their own set of Adventure Path books they release monthly. There is currently over 2 years of content for Starfinder. John said what he liked about Starfinder is the ability to tackle tropes from modern times that they can’t do in fantasy. For example, one adventure from the Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild is about playing on a reality TV show.

John also told us he will be moving on from his role as the Organized Play Lead Developer to being a Senior Developer for the Starfinder product line. You can see the full 25-minute interview below.

If you’re new to the RPG world, Paizo’s products of Pathfinder and Starfinder provide great opportunities to get started and play with your friends. And if you don’t know anyone who plays RPGs, Paizo’s Organized Play provides you ability to meet new players through the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild or the Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild. All of Paizo’s products can be purchased directly on their website or at your local gaming retailer.

Gen Con 2019: Interview with John Compton of Paizo Thursday, August 1st was the opening of Gen Con 2019. And at 10 AM ET was the tradition of Opening Ceremonies at the Gen Con Exhibit Hall.

#Gen Con #Gen Con 2019 #Paizo #Paizo Inc.#Pathfinder #Pathfinder Second Edition #Starfinder

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fatumasvoice · 6 years ago

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Mashujaa Day: Meaning, History and Why it was changed from Kenyatta day

Have you ever wondered about the genuine reason why Kenyatta Day was changed to Mashujaa Day?. I decided to dig out the real history and reasons why Mashujaa day celebrations happen in Kenya, and what that means for the common Mwananchi:

I started this quest with questions: What is the significance of other holidays like Moi Day, Madaraka Day and Jamuhuri Day to the common mwananchi? Are some holidays in Kenya irrelevance? This is a brief history of Mashujaa Day and A Look Into the Future: What Mashujaa Day will Look Like in 10 Years…

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The Genuine Meaning behind Mashujaa Day and it’s Significance to the common Mwanaichi?

The Date today is 20th October 2018 also known as Mashujaa Day: A day set aside to celebrate and pay respect to the heroes who fought for Kenya’s independence.

The word Mashujaa is a heavy Swahili word that directly translates to Heroes. There was a trail of blood, betrayal, and suffering of innocent people and selfless heroes before we could claim our freedom as a nation. That is why we celebrate Mashujaa Day every year.

Why was Kenyatta Day changed to Mashujaa day in 2010?

Mashujaa Day was initially called Kenyatta Day. It was supposed to be a day to celebrate all heroes but with his name on it, it quickly became a special day set aside for Kenya’s 1st President Jomo Kenyatta.

When people talk of Mashujaa Day, Moi Day, Jamhuri Day, and Madaraka Day almost always also come in mind. Maybe it’s because of one thing that shares in common: Time to rest, party, drink, spend time with family… whatever you do to celebrate.

Mashujaa Day Explained in a Tweet – 220 Characters:

[bctt tweet=”#MashujaaDay2018 There was a trail of blood, betrayal, and suffering of innocent people and selfless heroes before we could claim our freedom as a nation. Mashujaa Day celebrates heroes who fought for Kenya’s independence:” username=”fatumasvoice”]

History: A Trip Back in Time: How People Talked About Mashujaa Day 20 Years Ago

This day is connected to the arrest and detainment of 6 independence movement leaders. The Kapenguria Six: Kung’u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, Bildad Kaggia, and Achieng’ Oneko.

Their charge was the holding of membership in the outlawed Mau Mau Movement. They are famously known as the Kapenguria Six because they were supposedly detained in Kapenguria. Arresting the Kapenguria Six fuelled the struggle for freedom and catalyzed the fight to send the white settlers back home…

[bctt tweet=”This day is connected to the arrest and detainment of 6 independence movement leaders. The Kapenguria Six: Kung’u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, Bildad Kaggia, and Achieng’ Oneko.” username=”fatumasvoice”]

However, there is a huge disconnect between what happened in the hideouts of the freedom fighters and the reality told today. With several conflicting stories, what we study in our history is a biased trunk of a much bigger elephant.

As much as we talk about the Shujaa’s, it is sad that most of them did not live to see the fruits of freedom. Not because of the white man’s gun but our very own. Even after independence, the struggle seemed to continue a little differently as much as it does today.

With heroes dying as poor people and their families living in not so good conditions, the common Mwananchi is left confused. Is this what a hero looks like? Did we get what they fought for? If they would resurrect right now, would they be proud of what their struggle has achieved?

[bctt tweet=”#MashujaaDay2018 History: A Trip Back in Time: How People Talked About Mashujaa Day 20 Years Ago” username=”fatumasvoice”]

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MauMau: Did they Fight or Negotiate for Independence?

It is largely know that the Man Mau fought for Kenya’s freedom. However, scholars and critics have always shared one question:

Did the Mau Mau Fight or Negotiate for Independence?

Was Man Man a Treacherous cult based on the oaths administered and sworn secrecy to death? Or was it a well-organized liberation unit? Was it an ethnic rebellion outfit or a national effort towards independence.

Did Kenya finally gain independence due to the great guerrilla warfare, or was there a secret negotiation deal reached through diplomatic agreements?

[bctt tweet=”#MashujaaDay2018 It is largely known that the Man Mau fought for Kenya’s freedom. However, scholars and critics have always shared one question: Did the Mau Mau Fight or Negotiate for Independence?” username=”fatumasvoice”]

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – Tom Mboya Statue with Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga – Tom Mboya Avenue Nairobi

What is the meaning of the name: Mau Mau?

School History Textbooks, make this even more complicated. They give almost outrageous and widely varied definitions of the meaning and origin of the name Mau Mau.

One source says it means: Mzungu Arudi Ulaya Mwafrika Apate Uhuru (Swahili for The white man should go back abroad for the African to gain freedom).

Another says it is a reverse wordplay of the Kikuyu word Uma (meaning: get out) this would be said to warn the fighters of a threat.

All this suggests that the name came from the Kenyan people. However, Ngugi Wa Thiongo suggests that the name Mau Mau was coined by the white man. It was named so because they (white settles) considered it meaningless and weak.

According to Ngugi Wa Thongo, the white settlers called them ‘Mau’ was because the did not want to refer to them as they truly were: Land and Freedom Army. Calling them that (Land and Freedom Army) would add to the Mau Mau clout and indirectly endorse their (Mau Mau) agenda. (I will not even question this logic right now, that’s an entire article for another day)

Uhuru Gardens Freedom Statue National Monument – Mashujaa Day Celebrations

The Beginning of the Mau Mau Rebellion and Fight for Independence:

It is said to have started in the early 50’s in 1952 when the white settlers took away land form the people in Central Kenya, mostly Kikuyu.

By the time Kenya was getting independence, the trail of blood left thousands of Innocent Africans dead. The cost of the rebellion was over Ksh 8 billion in current rates.

Although some people, including Ngugi Wa Thion’go, are quoted describing Mau Mau as an African Movement that aimed to drive out the white settlers and give the land back to the people, not all people agree. Jomo “Johnstone Kamau” Kenyatta is one of the people who disagreed with the Mau Mau.

He was openly an advocate for non-violent negotiation with the white settlers. It is said that Kenyatta thought violence like what Mau Mau advocated for, would slow down the process of independence.

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – The Kapenguria Six were- Kung’u Karumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, Bildad Kaggia, and Achieng’ Oneko

He thus decided to take the infamous choice to hold negotiations in a string of conferences that saw him travel abroad to the Lancaster House in London. This is where the constitution of Kenya was forged.

In 1964 after Kenya Gained independence, Jomo Kenyatta referred to Mau Mau as a disease that had been eradicated and should never be remembered. Kenyatta was clearly not a core member of the Mau Mau.

However, the plot gets twisted when he was arrested by the white settlers and found guilty. His crime was the management of the Mau Mau rebellion. This was overseen by a Judge named Thacker in a court proceeding that did not have any jury.

We have not yet brought in the rest of Kenya and the plot is already thick. With even more twists and turns, the accuracy of Kenyan history recorded in textbooks and learned in school is subject to question.

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – Jomo Kenyatta at a rally after which he was arrested and detained

The First Handshake: Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (video)

Fast forward, and there’s a political divide between the two political dynasties: Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta and his Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

It is said that arrangements to settle the scores were in the pipes but ended up being nipped at the bud when Kenyatta died: Watch this:

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Enough Already! Things About Mashujaa Day We’re Tired of Hearing

During Mashujaa Day and other public holidays, Kenya has a tradition of a majestic show of the might and security we have. This is usually an air show with the fighter jets, a procession of the army and navy.

The jets usually fly from the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki to Nairobi for the showcase. Today, 20th October 2018, Mashujaa Day will be hosted at Bukhungu Stadium in Western Kenya’s Kakamega County.

Kakamega County is the 5th county, after Nakuru, Nyeri, Machakos and Meru County, to hold this annual event. This came after Uhuru Kenyatta suggested that every county should be a host on a rotational basis with the aim of sharing the experience to all Kenyans.

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Hosting in Western is a sign of equity to the ethnically diverse Kenya. Different people get to host the celebrations which have in the past been restricted to Nairobi and her outskirts.

Of course, the roads have been fixed and street lights erected but you already know that always happened when the president visits.

He is expected to be joined by Namibian President Hago Geingob. Right now, people across the world are complaining about the rate of poaching in Namibia after a video of white hunters gunning down an elephant on camera surfaced online.

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – Namibian President Hago Geingob Inspects the Guard at State House

Why almost Nobody Cares About National Holidays like Madaraka Day

One common misconceptions about National Holidays in Kenya is that people actually take time to do what the holiday suggests. I think the same heroes we are celebrating would want us to celebrate tangible things like Affordable healthcare for all or Accessible education.

For example, how do you remember and celebrate heroes with a history so complex and classified, that you don’t really know them? How many heroes can you name and tell their story? Which source did you read about them from? Was it reliable?

Again, one of the demands for leaders as Uhuru Kenyatta goes to Western is that he should address the poor economic state of affairs. The people clearly seem to know their priorities. The leaders are interested t know the progress Uhuru Kenyatta made for the region during his campaigns.

Even our own constitution did not clearly define national holidays until the promulgation in 2010. Eve with that aside, there’s a general loss of nationalism and people are focussing on the present and future prospects.

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – Dedan Kimathi Statue Kimathi Street Nairobi

Then let’s talk about the cost! How much money is spent on these holidays? Well, I doubt you have that answer. The sad thing is that it comes from your own pocket through taxes. I still wonder what the people we are celebrating would say about this?

With the current economy, many businesses still open and operate as usual. The unemployment rates leave people with wage based jobs where time directly translates to money so people decide to make a few extra shillings.

For the salaried workers, this is a time off. Since the holiday system in Kenya is not well planned, whenever there is a special day like this, people take it as time off work to rest or party.

The sense of Nationalism has been reduced by reacting to circumstances. These National Holidays pass with automated text messages from corporate institutions offering lower interest loans and a series of speeches that the common Mwananchi may not even understand.

Ooh, and any airtime you buy for one of the local communication companies will be refunded as long as you use it all the next day. Haha, not sure if that’s a genuine patriotic donation or an undercover up-sale.

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What is the difference between Madaraka Day and Jamhuri Day?

Jamhuri day is set aside to commemorate then day Kenya gained independence. Jamhuri is a Swahili word that means Republic. We celebrate Jamhuri Day in Kenya on the 12 December every year. Madaraka Day is celebrated on the 1st June of every year to honor the day Kenya attained internal self-rule.

There has been a constant evolution of holidays in Kenya. Some of which are irrelevant. The two are basically celebrating the same thing but hey, we need a distinct day for each feat.

For example, very few people care to know the difference or similarity between Madaraka Day and Jamhuri Day. Why? Because the only thing that matters is the free time to rest from the daily toil. The two are basically celebrating the same thing but hey, Kenya needs a distinct day for each feat.

That would be perfectly okay if the common Mwananchi understood all this perfectly. Having one major celebration for independence will save funds and clear some dust on understanding.

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – A Demonstrator Stands off with a police truck spraying itchy water

A Look Into the Future: What Will the Mashujaa Day Industry Look Like in 10 Years?

Where Will Mashujaa Day Be 1 Year From Now? It will be 2019 and political alliances will be a little clearer. There will still be time so uncertain will be looming.

1 year from now, the people, on the other hand, will still be paying more taxes and struggling to support the expensive lifestyle of the leaders who are meant to be making their lives easier.

In 10 years time, Mashujaa Day will either be totally ignored or will commemorate new crop of heroes. The state of the nation is clearly ripe for change right now and you can feel it boiling within Kenya’s tummy like lava in a volcano.

In 10 years time, if we let it flow out, we will have new leaders standing up for the genuine independence of Kenya and her people. This time not from white settlers for us to gain land.

We will be seeking freedom from our very own brothers and sisters with the aim to get back our voices, gain mental independence and courage to stir progressive action.

We won’t have to have two different days to celebrate the same thing like we do with Jamhuri Day and Madaraka Day. Instead, we will be sure of when we became free because it will be clear to all and not subject to what a few people decided to write down.

What Will Mashujaa Day Be Like in 100 Years? I would like to know but it heavily depends on what we want it to be next year…

Mashujaa Day Celebrations – Freedom Fighter Dedan Kimathi is handed his leopard-gazelle hide regalia

Know more about Mashujaa Day and Kenya’s History by Watching These 3 Videos:

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