When you’ve lost the Liberal Sherpa, maybe it’s time to quit. Journalist Cathy Areu, known as the “Liberal Sherpa,” appears every now and then on Tucker Carlson’s program. Although she calls herself a moderate Democrat, her opinions always strike me as pretty far left.
That said, she apparently has the sense to tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a kind and respectful way, that impeachment isn’t playing well with voters and it’s time to end it. The letter can be viewed here.
Areu writes that she has interviewed Pelosi on three occasions and tells her that she has sensed her passion and her dedication. But, “right now it’s very important for me to beg for you to sway your fellow Democrats and jump off the “Let’s Impeach President Trump” bandwagon. It’s just not in the best interest of the Democratic Party or our entire country, actually.”
She cites several polls and tells Pelosi she knows she has good intentions, but that “numbers and so many people protesting on the streets don’t lie.”
So, given all of these mixed emotions and anger toward the government, my sources, who have served in the last three administrations and other government, believe that the Democrats are taking a really big gamble here with this impeachment process.
I understand you have to deal with “the Squad,” and all, and, sure, every political party is guilty of over-reaching. But it’s gotten so obvious that both the Republicans and the Democrats are simply trying to appease the extremes in their parties. It’s exactly what the Democrats are doing right now by trying to impeach Trump.
You’re are “getting the friendly vibration of the extreme side of your party,” one of my government sources eloquently told me. These “vibrations,” he said, is what makes you, Speaker Pelosi, start to think you’re on the right track.
Don’t be fooled by that vibe, warns my source, who has advised presidents on both sides of the aisle (sometimes on Air Force One).
The truth is that you’re risking the loss of trust from moderates and those in the center-left, like me.
She points out how close we are to the next election and asks, “Why now? Why do this so close to the election where the voters can finally speak up for themselves?”
If the president cannot be impeached, Speaker Pelosi, you will lose the respect of the members of your party and Democrats will risk losing the 2020 election.
These polls I mentioned earlier in my letter here to you indicate, to many of us in journalism and government, that people are not seeing the impeachment hearings like a court of justice.
They are seeing impeachment as a court of politics. Dirty swampy politics at that.
As a moderate Democrat, this all worries me. It keeps me up at night. Like it did just last night…
But, now, at this moment in our nation’s history, I beg of you to now please let the American people decide whether President Trump should have another 4 years.
It’s their turn to decide, not yours or Congress.
The 2020 election is so close. They’ve been waiting for so long…
I promise you that the American people will thank you for giving them their right as American citizens, as voters, to finally have their say on that fateful day in 2020.
The public and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Your friend and a concerned Democrat,
Cathy Areu
What an extraordinary letter from a far-left Democrat! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I think Pelosi is aware of the position she currently finds herself in, but at this point, she faces three problems.
First, how does Pelosi gracefully extract herself from this travesty she has thrust upon the country? She has left herself an escape route of sorts by saying this is merely an inquiry. She appeared on “Face the Nation” today. The show’s host, Margaret Brennan, asked her if bribery, their newest charge, will be an article of impeachment. Pelosi replied, “I have no idea. There’s not even a decision made to impeach the President.”
Technically, it is merely an impeachment inquiry, but most Americans don’t view it that way. She may be at the point of no return. The only way through it might be through it – a partisan vote to impeach the President.
Second, the damage may have already been done. Even if Pelosi were to say, okay, we don’t want to impeach the President on a purely partisan vote. Or, after investigating, we don’t believe his wrongdoing rises to the level of an impeachable offense. She and her colleagues have inflicted such irreparable harm to the country by their three year, non-stop assault on President Trump. It may be too late.
Finally, she alone is responsible for what’s happened. She had a decision to make. She had the choice to either stand strong against the pressure from the Party’s far-left base (and the Squad) or to pursue this madness. She chose the madness.
Some think Pelosi’s decision to go ahead with impeachment may actually be more about retaining her speakership if Democrats keep the majority in the House in 2020. This is a pretty drastic step to take to keep the top job. But, who knows what goes through her head?
At the end of the day, Pelosi took this path because she knows that it’s highly unlikely any Democrat can defeat Trump.
.@margbrennan asks @SpeakerPelosi if bribery will be an article of impeachment. Speaker Pelosi’s response: “I have no idea.” Adds, “There's not even a decision made to impeach the president.” https://t.co/tYNHhfa4sM pic.twitter.com/AHoK7R4cn9
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 17, 2019
