HMM: Trump Report Card: Zogby says Trump’s no Nixon, removal impossible with good approvals..
This week’s White House Report Card finds President Trump closer to facing House impeachment hearings, a nightmare for West Wing war room staffers and a dream for Democrats who have sought his removal since before his inauguration.
Pollster John Zogby said that while the latest affair, Trump’s phone request to Ukraine’s president for a “favor” involving former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, puts him on a path to impeachment, there is “no way” the Senate convicts.
Like with former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, Zogby said that the Senate won’t remove a president with a growing approval rating like Trump’s. He’s not former President Richard Nixon, who at 23% approval, stepped down.
I AM DRAINING THE SWAMP! pic.twitter.com/U7WxKrO6Kx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2019
And conservative grader Jed Babbin dismissed the impeachment drive as a lot about nothing. “This is going to be a Seinfeld impeachment. Remember the running joke in Seinfeld that the sitcom was about nothing?” he said.
John Zogby
Grade D-
There is no way to spin this week for President Trump. Yes, his polling numbers are actually up in most polls — some of his highest approval ratings and averages yet.
But he painted his way into an impeachment corner, and there appears to be real evidence, real witnesses, and a White House staff who must be vomiting around the clock. He went to the United Nations to give a speech about foreign policy. No one listened, no one cared, no one will remember.
You engaged in a shakedown to get election dirt from a foreign country.
And then you tried to cover it up.
But you’re right about one thing — your words need no mockery. Your own words and deeds mock themselves.
But most importantly here, they endanger our country. pic.twitter.com/Qha74pwW8m
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) September 27, 2019
But everyone will remember that he is now close to being impeached. This will have to play out. The House of Representatives will probably present articles of impeachment in October (one month) so as not to drag this out.
But no way does Trump get convicted in the Senate. Not unless his polling numbers plummet. So again each side gets to make its point, not policy. Remember Nixon was at 23% when he left office in the face of certain impeachment. Hard to remove a president who is polling at 46%. The GOP tried that once with Bill Clinton, remember? Can Trump handle this pressure?”
Jed Babbin
Grade B
You’d never know it if you read the Washington Post or the New York Times, but this week was actually a pretty good one for President Trump.
Trump’s “Howdy, Modi” rally in Houston with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped boost relations with the world’s largest democracy. The two leaders spoke before a crowd of about 50,000, many or most of whom are Indian Americans. Modi spoke witheringly about Pakistan, which both America and India accuse of sponsoring and harboring a variety of terrorist networks.
Trump also gave a good speech at the United Nations General Assembly and led a meeting on religious freedom there.