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senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 02:14 PM Aug 30

Norm Ornstein: Impeach RFK now!!

This morning Ali Velshi let the Dem leadership have it in an extremely blunt and passionate opening to his first hour. But the conversation that followed was also extremely illuminating.

It wasn't just complaining.Ornstein said that the Dems should impeach RFK after the indefensible and dangerous actions he took last week. Nothing is stopping them. In fact, it's part of the power they hold even as the minority party. Of course it would be unlikely to be successful, but who knows? The point would be to grab attention and put the danger to our health and our very lives in front of the American people. FORCE THE Rs TO DEFEND HIS ACTIONS.

Play hardball. Don't back down. Seriously, if not now, when?

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Norm Ornstein: Impeach RFK now!! (Original Post) senseandsensibility Aug 30 OP
Critical we do everything possible within the law, and everything to keep the public aware Passages Aug 30 #1
As a prelude to the midterms at the very least: callous taoboy Aug 30 #2
Yes, it would be a great energizer senseandsensibility Aug 30 #3
I suggested a while back that RFKJ should be the first to be impeached -- he's the low-hanging fruitcake. eppur_se_muova Aug 30 #4
I've been trying to find the two clips from Velshi this morning, to share. yellow dahlia Aug 30 #5
Yes I agree senseandsensibility Aug 30 #6
Right. I am online trying to access them. yellow dahlia Aug 30 #7
dont just stop there !@!!!!!!! AllaN01Bear Aug 30 #8
Doesn't impeachment require a majority vote SocialDemocrat61 Aug 30 #9
And also 2/3 in the senate drray23 Aug 30 #10
This is a quote from Ornstein senseandsensibility Aug 30 #13
What's a privileged resolution? SocialDemocrat61 Aug 30 #20
I understand Dems have limited power... maspaha Aug 30 #11
Yes, it's the ACTION and the reason for the actions senseandsensibility Aug 30 #12
Schumer can write a strongly worded letter maspaha Aug 30 #14
a suggestion. AltairIV Aug 30 #19
He wants him fired LeftInTX Aug 30 #22
The head of the CDC can be impeached by Congress as a "civil officer of the United States" under the Constitution. lostincalifornia Aug 30 #15
In reply 13 above I quoted senseandsensibility Aug 30 #17
Can we send a petition to Jeffries? SleeplessinSoCal Aug 30 #16
Love it! When I was googling Ornstein earlier senseandsensibility Aug 30 #18
Here's one from Moveon SleeplessinSoCal Aug 30 #21
How do I sign the thing? LeftInTX Aug 30 #23
you enter your name, email, and zip code SleeplessinSoCal Aug 31 #25
I didn't see any fields or anything. I found another petition and linked it. LeftInTX Aug 31 #26
Thanks SleeplessinSoCal Aug 31 #27
I couldn't get Move On's to work. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find it. LeftInTX Aug 30 #24
Problem is Kennedy has a 70% approval rating among Republicans womanofthehills Aug 31 #28

Passages

(3,553 posts)
1. Critical we do everything possible within the law, and everything to keep the public aware
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 02:17 PM
Aug 30

of this dangerous lunatic.

RFK Jr. must go.

callous taoboy

(4,741 posts)
2. As a prelude to the midterms at the very least:
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 02:24 PM
Aug 30

Dem. leadership should move to impeach to draw the most attention that they can to the fact that he is a dangerous kook in an off-the-rails administration.

eppur_se_muova

(39,845 posts)
4. I suggested a while back that RFKJ should be the first to be impeached -- he's the low-hanging fruitcake.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 02:42 PM
Aug 30

Not even Uglicans have any real reason to defend him. And even Turnip can say "I shoulda known not to appoint a Democrat!" (not much of a Dem, but I'd let him have that excuse).

The first member of this maladministration to be impeached could break the aura of invincibility that Uglicans have handed them through their spineless inaction.

yellow dahlia

(2,845 posts)
5. I've been trying to find the two clips from Velshi this morning, to share.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 02:53 PM
Aug 30

The lead in monologue, and the segment with Ornstein and Jason Stanley, were some of the best analysis I have seen.

senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
6. Yes I agree
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:10 PM
Aug 30

Velshi really let loose. He made some personal comments and said he wasn't a Democrat. He was a journalist. Like many Dems, I don't like to hear criticism of our leadership but this was necessary and timely. However, if you don't see the discussion that followed you are missing a huge part of it.

SocialDemocrat61

(5,565 posts)
9. Doesn't impeachment require a majority vote
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:19 PM
Aug 30

in the House? So I'm curious as to how the minority party would be able to call a vote or even get it to pass.

drray23

(8,372 posts)
10. And also 2/3 in the senate
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:27 PM
Aug 30

Its the same requirements to remove any official than it is to impeach and convict a president. In short, it will never happen.

senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
13. This is a quote from Ornstein
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:52 PM
Aug 30

"I think we need to use impeachment now to impeach RFK, Jr. You can have a privileged resolution on the floor of the House. They can't block it, it supersedes all other work. You get a debate, and we can talk about the outrageous things that this monster is doing to damage lives and end up with people being killed."

SocialDemocrat61

(5,565 posts)
20. What's a privileged resolution?
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:58 PM
Aug 30

I never heard of that before. And what are the requirements to make a resolution privileged? And wouldn’t it still require a majority vote to pass?

maspaha

(647 posts)
11. I understand Dems have limited power...
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:33 PM
Aug 30

…but at least TRY something…and be vocal about it. It’s the difference between fighting and folding…just sayin’

senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
12. Yes, it's the ACTION and the reason for the actions
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 03:36 PM
Aug 30

that we need to publicize and get in front of the American people. No one is saying that this is a straight shot to removing the jerk. It's a way of grabbing the spotlight. The other choice? Politely voice disagreement with RFK's policies. How's that been working so far?

lostincalifornia

(4,342 posts)
15. The head of the CDC can be impeached by Congress as a "civil officer of the United States" under the Constitution.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:29 PM
Aug 30

Except is mikey in House going to let that happen?

I doubt it.


senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
17. In reply 13 above I quoted
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:32 PM
Aug 30

Ornstein to explain exactly what he is suggesting and how it would be enacted. The main point is to grab the spotlight, make R's defend this dangerous weirdo, and publicize what is at stake. Who knows what may happen after that? Although unlikely, some R's could get enough heat from their constituents to co-operate.

SleeplessinSoCal

(10,266 posts)
16. Can we send a petition to Jeffries?
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:30 PM
Aug 30

As a group, we may have some sway.

IMPEACH RFK, JR NOW, signed the Democratic Underground.

senseandsensibility

(23,669 posts)
18. Love it! When I was googling Ornstein earlier
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:39 PM
Aug 30

I saw that there is an online petition to impeach RFK going around.

LeftInTX

(33,581 posts)
26. I didn't see any fields or anything. I found another petition and linked it.
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 05:30 PM
Aug 31

Only a small number had signed the move on petition, but a much larger number has signed the other one. (Move on had 216 of 300
signatures, and the other one has SIGNERS TO DATE: 13,654)

Maybe the petitions will be merged or they both link to the same petition. The move on article talked about the petition, but I couldn't find it. So I googled and found another petition.

Update: Today the Move On petition appears to be there and is on the right side of the page. Last night, it wasn't there.

Here is the other petition:
https://www.standupforscience.net/rfk-impeachment-citizens-petition

LeftInTX

(33,581 posts)
24. I couldn't get Move On's to work. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find it.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 10:31 PM
Aug 30
https://www.standupforscience.net/rfk-impeachment-citizens-petition


Keep in mind, expect texts and emails...........

(Sorry, it's my pet peeve when people complain about texts and emails from Democrats. If they want to get Democrats elected, it goes with the territory. )

womanofthehills

(10,336 posts)
28. Problem is Kennedy has a 70% approval rating among Republicans
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 05:59 PM
Aug 31

MAGA love him so Trump must defend Kennedy big time or Trump’s followers will be pissed.

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