January 1, Dems Prep Two Articles of Impeachment

This Day in History | 1967

Soul legend Ottis Redding dies in a plane crash near Madison Wisconsin 

Good Morning Middle Americans, 

Here we go. For only the fourth time in our nation’s history, Congress is drafting articles of impeachment.  And like the other three times, there are going to be lots of unintended consequences for the majority party in Congress.  In 1998, Republicans thought they had President Clinton dead to rights when they filed their articles of impeachment.  Bill Clinton’s popularity ultimately rose, and the Republicans lost seats in the House of representatives in the 2000 election.  Even though George W. Bush, won the White House, Republicans lost the impeachment battle of 1998 in the long run.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to avoid the same fate. But she’s failing. New polling data in battle ground states shows that impeachment is hurting Democrats and helping President Trump.

Also today, a familiar face has emerged as a favorite in a new poll gaging Democrats’ favorites in the 2020 race.  We also have a review of the much talked about Inspector General’s report and President Trump’s reaction. 

Read all about it!

– Fraser Dixon 

Democrats Unveil Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, Focusing on Abuse of Power, Obstruction of Congress

(Washington Post) – Democrats are expected to unveil two articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday that will focus on abuse of power and obstructing Congress, and would be voted on by the full House next week, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) met with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and other committee chairmen Monday night after a nine-hour hearing in which a Democratic counsel laid out the party’s case against Trump. The three officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks, cautioned that the plan had not been finalized.

Read more from the Washington Post here

Hillary Clinton Emerges as Top Choice of Democratic Voters

(Washington Examiner) – She’s not running for president — yet — but Hillary Clinton was the top choice for Democratic voters in the Harvard-Harris national poll released last week.

Mrs. Clinton drew 21%, followed by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden with 20%, when registered Democrats were asked whom they would support for the 2020 party presidential nod if she and former Secretary of State John Kerry were added to the mix.

Placing third in the hypothetical race was Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders at 12%, followed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 9% and ex-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 7%.

See the complete poll here

FBI was Justified in Probing Trump-Russia, Fed Watchdog Says

(AP) — The FBI was justified in opening its investigation into ties between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia and did not act with political bias, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog declared Monday, undercutting President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he has been the target of a “witch hunt.”

The long-awaited report rejected theories and criticism spread by Trump and his supporters, though it also found “serious performance failures” up the bureau’s chain of command that Republicans are citing as evidence that Trump was targeted by an unfair investigation.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s take is that the Russia probe was an attempt to overthrow the government. 

Read about the report here, and watch the president’s response here