There has been a lot of debate over whether Democrats should advocate impeaching President Trump as they run for office in the 2018 congressional elections. I think they should, but the polls suggest that I might be wrong.
So maybe this is a better tactic: run on impeaching EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. Pruitt does not have a loyal following in the electorate like Trump does. In fact, he is even more unpopular than the President. Pruitt has a long list of scandals, not to mention the fact that he just lied to Congress, which give plenty of grounds for impeachment. Because every Republican other than McCain (who missed the vote and isn't running for reelection anyway) voted for Pruitt's confirmation, talking about Pruitt's corruption, which includes stuff he did before he became EPA administrator, is a potential attack against every incumbent Republican in the 2018 Senate races. Plus, talking about Pruitt's conflicts of interest and shady relationship with lobbyist would keep the conversation on the Trump Administration's overall systemic corruption, not to mention Trump's stubborn refusal to fire Pruitt no matter what comes out.
I am now half-convinced that running on impeaching the President might not be the best electoral strategy (even if he deserves it). But that down-side does not apply to a campaign to impeach Pruitt. Every Democrat should be clamoring to impeach the EPA Administrator from now on.
So maybe this is a better tactic: run on impeaching EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. Pruitt does not have a loyal following in the electorate like Trump does. In fact, he is even more unpopular than the President. Pruitt has a long list of scandals, not to mention the fact that he just lied to Congress, which give plenty of grounds for impeachment. Because every Republican other than McCain (who missed the vote and isn't running for reelection anyway) voted for Pruitt's confirmation, talking about Pruitt's corruption, which includes stuff he did before he became EPA administrator, is a potential attack against every incumbent Republican in the 2018 Senate races. Plus, talking about Pruitt's conflicts of interest and shady relationship with lobbyist would keep the conversation on the Trump Administration's overall systemic corruption, not to mention Trump's stubborn refusal to fire Pruitt no matter what comes out.
I am now half-convinced that running on impeaching the President might not be the best electoral strategy (even if he deserves it). But that down-side does not apply to a campaign to impeach Pruitt. Every Democrat should be clamoring to impeach the EPA Administrator from now on.
