Over the weekend, the New York Times noted the development of this GOP talking point:
As Republican leaders scramble to stave off a Democratic wave or at least mitigate their party's losses in November, a strategy is emerging on the right for how to energize conservatives and drive a wedge between the anti-Trump left and moderate voters: warn that Democrats will immediately move to impeach President Trump if they capture the House.
What began last year as blaring political hyperbole on the right — the stuff of bold-lettered direct mail fund-raising pitches from little-known groups warning of a looming American "coup" — is now steadily drifting into the main currents of the 2018 message for Republicans.
This is worth noting because next Monday, Democratic donor and billionaire Tom Steyer plans a visit to Atlanta to discuss his effort to build support for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The 7 p.m. April 16 event will be at the Georgia Freight Depot near the state Capitol, one of more than two dozen town hall-style gatherings his group, Need to Impeach, is planning across the country. From the website:
"It's past time for lawmakers to put country first. Our president is unhinged and must be removed from office. But too many members of Congress are afraid to take this necessary measure. They need to hear our voices and see the strength of our movement if we want them to do what's right."
The above message is right. In Washington, people like Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York have regularly sought to tamp down talk of impeachment as harmful to Democratic prospects in November.
Even so, if you’re a Democrat running for high office in Georgia, the Steyer event presents a temptation. The hall is likely to be filled with the most ardent voters you’re likely to come across this campaign season. And yet being caught in the same camera frame with Steyer would also allow a general election opponent to accuse you of backing a presidential “coup.” (That exact word has been used by Ralph Reed’s Georgia-based Faith and Freedom Foundation in a fundraising letter, according to the NYT.)
This morning, we put calls into both Democratic candidates for governor, Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans.
Evans is running a more traditional Democratic campaign with an eye toward wooing independents and moderate Republicans. Abrams’ election strategy is based on finding and turning out the most enthusiastic of Democratic voters.
Neither Abrams nor Evans plans to attend the Steyer event.
Possibly, both were taking the advice of David Axelrod, the former Obama operative, who posted this Twitter message on Sunday:
We’re pretty sure Axelrod meant “normalize,” and not “normaiize.”
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If at first you don't secede, try, try again. From The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C.:
A trio of state House Republicans on Thursday quietly introduced a bill that would allow lawmakers to debate seceding from the U.S. "if the federal government confiscates legally purchased firearms in this State."
Rep. Mike Pitts, the measure's chief sponsor, acknowledged Friday in an interview with The Associated Press that the bill has no chance of passage this year but pledged to continue to raise the issue based on what he described as a defense of the Bill of Rights.
The South Carolina legislature’s “crossover day” is Tuesday, which means the measure is unlikely to be going anywhere.
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Republican David Shafer still maintains a hefty fundraising lead in his bid for lieutenant governor, despite being barred from collecting donations during the legislative session -- and a jarring sexual harassment complaint filed against him last month.
The Republican state senator raised roughly $1.6 million and has $1.4 million on hand, according to his latest campaign finance disclosure. His two GOP rivals are gaining ground, though.
Former state senator Rick Jeffares raised nearly $120,000 the last two months and has taken in $825,000 overall. He has about $380,000 on hand.
Former state House member Geoff Duncan has raised about $800,000 and has $500,000 on hand.
Sara Riggs Amico, the top Democrat in the contest, loaned herself $140,000 to push her total take to roughly $700,000. She has about $310,000 left in the tank.
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Further down the ticket, former Georgia congressman John Barrow maintained his fundraising edge over his Democratic rivals in the secretary of state race. He finished with $300,000 on hand.
On the GOP side, state Rep. Brad Raffensperger loaned himself another $80,000 and has about $120,000 on hand while his colleague, state Rep. Buzz Brockway, is down to about $36,000. Ex-Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle has roughly $195,000 in his account and state Sen. Josh McKoon has nearly $125,000.
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Former Georgia Sen. Eric Johnson, still an influential figure in Savannah, has endorsed Republican Josh McKoon's bid for Secretary of State. It could be another sign that McKoon, who represents a Columbus-based district in the state Senate, has continued to repair ties with his party's leadership. He has locked up endorsements of 21 fellow state senators after years of strained relationships.
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U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson wants EPA chief Scott Pruitt fired. The Lithonia congressman was one of more than 60 House Democrats to send a letter to President Donald Trump last Friday urging him to push out the embattled Pruitt. The group cited the EPA administrator's "unethical behavior, wasteful use of taxpayer money, and his efforts to undermine the EPA's core mission to protect our environment and public health."
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Trump has not forgotten about you. That's the message from agriculture chief Sonny Perdue in an op-ed late last week in the Lexington Herald-Leader that assures readers that "this administration remains committed to being a voice for America's farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters."
The op-ed touted the GOP tax bill, the rural task force Perdue chaired and promoting American goods abroad. What it steered clear of addressing directly were the new tariffs being rolled out as part of the escalating trade battle between the U.S. and China. The skirmish is giving the farm community collective heartburn, especially Beijing's 25 percent tariff on American soybeans. Perdue only mentions that "this administration is committed to sending the bounty of American harvest around the globe":
As Vice President Mike Pence said, "President Trump is also working with the USDA and members of our administration to renegotiate existing trade agreements and reach new and better deals … that will bring a bounty into our farms and ranches and forests at every corner of the world."
Through lower taxes and aggressive trade principles, the president is fulfilling his promise to help our economy thrive.
Perdue said last week was confident that Trump would not allow farmers "to bear the brunt" of a possible trade war with China.
