OK, Attorney General Barr just released the long-anticipated Mueller Report. We already know that Special Council Robert Mueller has concluded that there is not enough evidence to prove that Trump or his campaign coordinated efforts with Russian government operatives to help his election.
I am not surprised at all that the Mueller investigation could not prove that Donald Trump colluded with the Russian government. I never thought the inquiry would. I did think other things would be uncovered, and they have. But, despite the circumstantial evidence of coordination, I never believed enough evidence to conclude Trump worked with the Russian government to help him get elected would be found. Not that he didn’t. But circumstantial evidence is not enough for a definitive conclusion.
Now what? Yes, the Democrats should read the Mueller Report, review the underlying documents and question both Mueller and Attorney General Barr, but that should not be the priority for them as a party. Until Trump does something or something is uncovered that drives enough Republicans – especially in the Senate – to call for impeachment too, making impeachment a central issue is a distraction. Instead, good governance should be the utmost priority.
Of course, it is Congress’ job to hold the person in the White House accountable. It has been clear for two years that Republicans will not hold Trump responsible for anything. They nearly let him do whatever he wants. Democrats must take their Congressional oversight duties seriously. But Trump should not be the leading effort or story. Democrats must:
- Develop and articulate a clear legislative agenda that benefits ordinary people.
- Work to move forward this people’s agenda to build trust with the electorate so that people can see the party is working for them.
- Build party infrastructure in all fifty states to help grassroots party activists move forward a local community centered agenda.
The Democrats must focus on issues and solutions that impact the lives of all Americans. One of the reasons we have Trump is because people are tired of policies that help the rich and leave the working class and poor in the cold. The extreme divide between the rich and the poor did not start with the Trump Administration.
Democrats must control the policy narrative and find ways to keep the media focused on the policy needs and debates, not the soap opera that has become the Trump administration starring The Don and his Democrat nemesis. Donald Trump is an obstacle to real solutions and a sideshow to distract us from the policies being enacted by his corrupt administration. Removing him as an obstacle is vital to moving forward a people’s agenda. It is not a legitimate end unto itself.
Should Trump be impeached? Yes, he should be, and it could probably happen because the Democrats control the House. But unless there is Republican support in the Senate to find him guilty of the impeachment charges, like Bill Clinton, he will be impeached but remain President. I think that would be a much worse political situation than we have now. Impeachment without a successful prosecution would be a complete failure of our system. Trump’s lieutenants – such as his cabinet members, surrogates and supporters would feel free to act crazier than ever. Trump, without the possibility of impeachment, would feel free of all constraints. He would be a totally unleashed monster with the Democrats and Republicans being Dr. Frankenstein, his creator. Our democracy would continue to be his greatest victim.
If Democrats choose impeachment over substance, it will be apparent to me that they have not learned the lesson of the 2016 lose and the 2018 win. Russia did not loss the Democrats the election. A bad candidate, a bad campaign strategy and years of going along with policies that benefit the rich is why they lose. Democrats, do not participate in the Trump Show. Address the issues, work on passing good and effective policy and nominate a good candidate. That’s what it will take to beat Trump. That is what we need to defeat hate and for democracy to have a chance.
