Daily Yopp! 5.11.17 Ask Your City to Impeach Trump

I was eight years old when the Watergate scandal erupted, and I have very distinct memories of that time...albeit from a child's perspective. Things got particularly crazy in the summer of 1974. I have two distinct memories from that summer. First, my mom was so obsessed with the Congressional hearings that she'd taken over the TV and I couldn't watch my afternoon cartoons. (Boo, Nixon!!) Second, we spent a lot of time with our friends at their pool while our moms would slather themselves with Ban de Soleil, bake in the hot sun, and listen to the hearing on their transistor radio. We kids would be splashing in the pool, and every so often one of us would cannonball into the pool while yelling, "Impeach Nixon!" It being the glorious 70s, we were all wearing our super cool stars and stripes Speedo swimsuits a la Mark Spitz. Good times!

On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned and I was able to resume my media diet of Bugs Bunny cartoons and Green Acres reruns.

Representative Karen Bass recently tweeted, "To the young people wondering what it was like under Nixon -- This is it. You're living it." Well, I was only eight, but I can assure you that it definitely feels similar. I can almost see the headlines.

According to the U.S. Constitution: "The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors."

There's not a lot in the Constitution about that process, but in the four times that the Articles of Impeachment have been brought against an acting President, they have been initiated by the House of Representatives (charges) and investigated by the Senate (trial). Only two presidents have actually been fully impeached by the House and both were acquitted by the Senate (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton). Suffice to say, our nation does not have a lot of experience with these matters, and given that both house of Congress are controlled by the GOP, it's unlikely that they will be rushing to start this process.

But there is a movement afoot to put some pressure on the House. Several cities have passed resolutions demanding that impeachment proceedings start. Here are some articles with details.

Common Dreams article about Cambridge, MA and several other cities

Article about Richmond, CA resolution

Newsweek article about possible impeachment over Comey scandal

Common Dreams article

Thoughtco article about the impeachment process

Today's Yopp! Send an email or letter to your city council asking them to draft a resolution demanding that the House initiate the impeachment process. For extra credit, write a letter to the editor asking the same.

As cities join this movement, there will be more and more pressure on the House to take action. We'll talk more about this impeachment thing later. For now, contact your local city council member.

Yours in Solidarity!