Per Wiki:
Censure is a formal, and public, group condemnation of an individual, often a group member, whose actions run counter to the group's acceptable standards for individual behavior.[1] In the United States, governmental censure is done when a body's members wish to publicly reprimand the President of the United States, a member of Congress, a judge or a cabinet member. It is a formal statement of disapproval
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Following upon his Tweetstorm calling on four American members of the House of Representatives to “go back where they came from,” Trump did as only he can do. He went lower.
In case it is important to you, Representative Omar has never said anything remotely supportive of Al Qaeda.
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This must get done, and it should be done swiftly, with no room for Republicans to maneuver at all.
There have been four cases in U.S. history where the House of Representatives or the Senate adopted a resolution that, in its original form, would censure the president.
I will save you the trip over to Wiki, and simply note that Trump can join his hero, President Andrew Jackson, in something besides being a vile, uneducated, and hated man.
The power to censure springs from Art. I, Sec. 5, per the Congressional Research Service:
The term “censure,” unlike the term “expel,” does not appear in the Constitution, although the authority is derived from the same clause—Article I, Section 5, clause 2, concerning the authority of each house of Congress to “punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour.” Censure, reprimand, or admonition are traditional ways in which parliamentary bodies have disciplined their members and maintained order and dignity in their proceedings.53 In the House of Representatives, a “censure” is a formal vote by the majority of Members present and voting on a resolution disapproving a Member’s conduct, generally with the additional requirement that the Member stand at the “well” of the House chamber to receive a verbal rebuke and reading of the censure resolution by the Speaker of the House.
Yes, it references “Members,” but history has shown it can be used against the executive branch. It is not an attempt to remove the president. It requires no more than a majority vote, and I would be calling for it even if it required a two-thirds vote.
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A censure should not be taken lightly. As noted, it has only been used four times. Nor should it be used in place of an impeachment inquiry, that should occur, too — though separately, and involve Trump’s crimes. But, a censure does need to issue, and happen as soon as possible.
Why?
Because Trump is clearly out of control. Not only did the man invite four United States Representatives to “go back where they came from,” he followed it up with a deeply offensive press conference in which he lied about a U.S. Congresswoman sympathizing with an enemy of the United States, Al Qaeda.
In case anyone has forgotten, we are currently at war with Al Qaeda, in Afghanistan.
A U.S. President lied about a congressperson sympathizing with an enemy, on TV, and did it knowingly, without regard to obvious facts to the contrary, and without regard to the danger placed on Rep. Omar’s life.
Or it’s worse, he did it knowing of the danger to her life, and did it in part to increase that risk.
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What more could one possibly need?
I have read here on this site that Pelosi and leadership were considering a reprimand, a less serious vote of disapproval. I have no idea whether they seriously considered such, but that was before Trump’s afternoon press conference.
I would put to you that the original Tweets are less serious than the later attack on Representative Omar. If we know anything about Trump’s followers, we know that her life is in more danger tonight, than it already was, just this morning.
I would prefer that Trump’s followers learn of the “truth” regarding Representative Omar’s statements through the Censure process, and not in the aftermath of an attack on the congresswoman.
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No, there is no redeeming Trump. No, it will not “teach him” in any way. No, it will not remove Trump. But perhaps it will help “control” his actions, at least temper them in matters involving the personal safety of U.S. Congresspersons.
Something more, something more than the usual grim faces, is needed, and it is needed fast, for no other reason than to protect the lives of people who serve us. Rep. Omar can withstand a process by which the truth is forced out, and we cannot afford risking anything less.
A formal censure, by the full House, no investigation, none needed. Do it, as soon as procedure allows, get it on record, and do not even pay attention to the response from the Senate.
Unity, now, is needed, in defense of what is right, and American.
It is on you, Madam Speaker.
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Peace, y’all.
Link to my novels.