KRISTEN WELKER:
As you know, Democrats are also calling for investigations into the Trump administration. Do you believe that spending two years investigating President Trump and his top officials could jeopardize the mandate to lower prices, to make life more affordable?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS:
Yes, I do. ...Do we want to hold the Trump administration accountable for their corruption, for their illegal, unconstitutional actions? Absolutely. But...We’ve got to stand up for working-class families, make a real difference in their lives.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, let me ask you, because of course, President Trump said, this week, that he would like to work with Democrats. He also just appointed Stephen Miller to be his new chief of staff. You have been critical of Stephen Miller, in the past. Do you think you can work with Stephen Miller? Is he the right person for the job?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS:
Well, Donald Trump is the president. And I’ve said this before, Kristen. Trump is many things. I personally believe he is mentally unbalanced, erratic, but he’s not stupid, and he is a good politician. And I think, when Trump looks out in the world and he sees millions of people working for starvation wages, he might not be unsympathetic to raising the minimum wage to a living wage. He would love, I think, to take credit for doing what every other major country does, guaranteeing healthcare to all people. So I’m not worried about Miller. Do I think we can work with Trump? Maybe. I’m, by no means, guaranteeing it. But it is certainly worth the effort.
A friend texted me Tuesday night asking "If you were Senate Majority Leader what would your priorities be?" and listed some, including investigations and impeachment. I answered much as Bernie Sanders did there. "Substance over theater" and "keep an eye on the clock." We Blues have two years to show the American people that winning elections is not our goal: passing legislation that eases life's burdens on the American people is. There is a report on Hegseth's impeachment in Axios today. It would the House in a New York minute. But even in the new Senate in January getting two-thirds, 66 votes will be difficult. That was Axios description of the task in the Senate. Getting 66 votes? We have now, will probably have soon, 55 votes. I don't think we can get 66. And is it worth the time? Is it worth the image to the American people of the Democrats' first major move to impeach Hegseth? Different Senators will answer differently but they--and House Democrats who move forward with this--have to answer for the likelihood, for if it is unlikely then the American people will see it as performative theater at their expense.
On the other hand. Chuck Schumer was on The Daily one day last week. He was measured, sober and statesmanlike until he was asked, "What about impeaching Trump?" His voice rising in anger, Schumer answered with my favorite sound in recorded interviews: bleep. "Bleeping corrupt", "Bleeping corruption"--two of them! I had just pulled into my parking space and laughed out loud in the car.
Now, impeaching Trump...Are you serious? Schumer was. Are we going for the hat trick in impeachments? I don't know. The point is, Democrats 1) cannot completely ignore their oversight responsibilities and decline the ultimate oversight 2) in a clear case 3) with strong chance of success. All three of those things. But we cannot spend two years on this as Bernie Sanders said, and we've got to make a real difference in working peoples' lives whatever we do. If we can do both, mazel tov.
Since my friend asked me to put myself in Schumer's position, I don't know what the articles of impeachment would be on corruption, which got Schumer so bleeping angry, but if I knew and if I too got all broke out with bleeping outrage, I would swallow my emotion and assess the likelihood of success as against the substantive priorities for the American people...Always with an eye on the clock.
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