Prof who predicted Trump win also predicts his impeachment

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
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Very interesting. The follow-up prediction isn't based on any model or anything beyond the guy's hunch but it certainly seems plausible. Which I guess also begs the question, if you're a progressive Democrat who wants to see a Democrat win the presidency in 2020, do you hope for this prediction to come true or not?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ade-another-forecast-trump-will-be-impeached/

<snip>

Few prognosticators predicted a Donald Trump victory ahead of Tuesday night. Polls showed Hillary Clinton comfortably ahead, and much of America (chiefly the media) failed to anticipate the wave of pro-Trump support that propelled him to victory. But a Washington, D.C.-based professor insisted that Trump was lined up for a win — based on the idea that elections are “primarily a reflection on the performance of the party in power.

Allan Lichtman uses a historically based system of what he calls “keys” to predict election results ahead of time. The keys are explained in-depth in Lichtman’s book, “Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House 2016.” In our conversations in September and October, he outlined how President Obama's second term set the Democrats up for a tight race, and his keys tipped the balance in Trump's favor, even if just barely.

At the end of our September conversation, Lichtman made another call: that if elected, Trump would eventually be impeached by a Republican Congress that would prefer a President Mike Pence — someone whom establishment Republicans know and trust.

“I'm going to make another prediction,” he said. “This one is not based on a system; it's just my gut. They don't want Trump as president, because they can't control him. He's unpredictable. They'd love to have Pence — an absolutely down-the-line, conservative, controllable Republican. And I'm quite certain Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment, either by doing something that endangers national security or because it helps his pocketbook.

</snip>
 

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,915
4,958
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The only way I see this happening is if Kim Jung Un or somebody shoots his mouth off at the Donald and he pushes the red button. With the Senate expected to put an end to the filibuster the GoP will be kids in a candy store. There's no way they would give up on that gravy train unless something catastrophic happened.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
Any republican who even thinks about impeaching or even uttering something negative about Trump right now is simply going to be tarred and feathered by the republican base. Right now, the overwhelming majority of republicans are absolutely over the moon that Trump kept Hillary out of the white house. He pretty much owns the gop establishment right now, and you could see it yesterday in the way Paul Ryan sheepishly obeyed Trump and used his slogan. Make no mistake about it, Trump owns the gop establishment right now, especially those that didn't support him. Over time the balance of power will shift again as Trump needs them to get things done on the hill, but not right now. At the moment, Trump says "jump", and people like Ryan, McConnel etc say "how high".
 

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,915
4,958
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Yep. Trump has a tidal wave of support from angry voters whipped into a frenzy. Anyone from the GoP old guard that gives Trump any trouble will have to explain it to those voters in two years. Right now they're celebrating. But his winning was a rebuke against their establishment as much as it was against the dem's establishment and it's clobbering time.

I find it cute some in congress are all "That's swell Trump, but maybe next year. Here's what's on the Republican's agenda this year". ha ha ha. As if the Republican old guard in Congress could dictate any terms at this point. They have no fucking clue of the kind of beast heading their way.
 

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
Any republican who even thinks about impeaching or even uttering something negative about Trump right now is simply going to be tarred and feathered by the republican base.

Yep. I think a lot of Republicans don't like Trump, but I do think they fear him and his supporters who are challenging them from the tea party right. Which is pretty remarkable, considering that Trump himself is more liberal than his VP, Pence.

Which reminds that most liberals shouldn't hope for impeachment. Mike Pence as a president is not an upgrade over Donald on a lot issues that Democrats care about.
 

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
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I doubt it. If Trump actually were the fruitcake most people think he is then yes, but he isn't. Most people listening to the echo chambers of misinformed loud mouths haven't a clue about who Donald Trump is or what he is capable of.

Admittedly, I didn't know until recently either, but I've learned a lot in the last few days.

It's a pity some people choose embarrassing emotional outbursts over learning about each other these days.
 
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pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,409
5,012
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He predicted a Trump win and now he is predicting an impeachment.

Wow. Even a blind squirrel will find an acorn every now and again.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,667
15,063
146
Even if the Republicans were silly enough to attempt this...I think that if Trump is doing THAT badly...the Dems will do everything in their power to block such an impeachment...there's no way they would give up the opportunity to rub their noses in such a pile of crap.
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,407
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Even if the Republicans were silly enough to attempt this...I think that if Trump is doing THAT badly...the Dems will do everything in their power to block such an impeachment...there's no way they would give up the opportunity to rub their noses in such a pile of crap.

The theory is Trump gets into trouble from a lawsuit or two, congress turns but Democrats save Trump to avoid Pence. Normally I'd say this is madness but today I'm not going to say anything.
 

blankslate

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2008
8,797
572
126
Good luck with that... considering that there won't be enough votes in the Senate for a conviction unless people in his party really reall really hate him and want to give up repealing "Obummercare"


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DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
32,416
33,397
146
Any republican who even thinks about impeaching or even uttering something negative about Trump right now is simply going to be tarred and feathered by the republican base. Right now, the overwhelming majority of republicans are absolutely over the moon that Trump kept Hillary out of the white house. He pretty much owns the gop establishment right now, and you could see it yesterday in the way Paul Ryan sheepishly obeyed Trump and used his slogan. Make no mistake about it, Trump owns the gop establishment right now, especially those that didn't support him. Over time the balance of power will shift again as Trump needs them to get things done on the hill, but not right now. At the moment, Trump says "jump", and people like Ryan, McConnel etc say "how high".
I am like minded, and have wrote as much. And unless we have badly misread the situation, it is going to be extremely risky to turn on Trump, unless his legions of supporters lead the way.

It will be surprising if any of the law suits bring him down; I expect Teflon Don to be the result.

Pence is atavism incarnate, and I hope he never holds the office.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,198
126
GOP establishment will throw Trump under the bus as soon as he is no longer useful to them. They don't want to be forever branded as the party of Trump, so they'll try their best to wash that stain off themselves.
 

Uhtrinity

Platinum Member
Dec 21, 2003
2,263
202
106
I see this going one of three (or four) ways, none of which result in him finishing a term. First of all I never believed he wanted to be president. Just to get close enough to say the system is rigged and to let him start his next business venture, ie. Trump News Network or something similar. He won not only the primary, but the main election, so now he is in a bind.

First, he is impeached by the Republicans, but I doubt that will happen at least until the GOP can flip his base in their favor. The backlash would be too great. But it could happen if they can show he is corrupt and is found guilty in one of his many lawsuits, or if he breaks the law as president. He is already doing things that could lead in that direction, like having his kids in a 'blind trust', but also having them on his transition team.

Second, he will resign. This could happen Sarah Palin style. If the GOP fights him on his promises he could have an excuse to quit saying the system is rigged and the GOP is stuck in its ways. He gets to keep most of his base and start TNN.

Third, he gets assassinated .. .I am in no way condoning this. Some members of his base have been vocal in that if he fails to deliver they will take matters into their own hands. He also has the other half of the country against him based on his previous actions.

There is a fourth, but it is barely worth mentioning as it is such a long shot. The electoral college revolts and hands the votes to Hillary. He gets to claim the system is rigged and starts TNN. This would actually be a win win for him.

I could be wrong, but I don't see him finishing. He has played his base plus some, made too many vague promises with little to no details on how he would do it. His bluff has been called and he is now president elect Trump.
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
6,821
136
The problem with the "at least it keeps Pence out of the presidency" argument: Pence is likely to be running daily operations and dictating some policy as it is, so the damage is already done. Impeaching Trump would just get the incompetent, petty, anti-free speech asshole out of office. That and Pence just doesn't have the cult of personality that Trump does, so it could be easier to defeat the Republicans in 2018 or 2020... especially if he's seen as complicit in Trump's failures.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,198
126
Trump will be easier to defeat than Pence in 2020. Democrats are not going to impeach Trump, Republicans might though.
 

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
126
Trump will be easier to defeat than Pence in 2020. Democrats are not going to impeach Trump, Republicans might though.

That's probably what you thought about 2016 too. You only think he is easy to defeat because you don't know how he operates.
 

blankslate

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2008
8,797
572
126
GOP establishment will throw Trump under the bus as soon as he is no longer useful to them

Probably but the GOP establishment whether by accident (more likely) or plan they put up a "winning" candidate for this election cycle in which the voters were decidedly anti-trade deal and anti-establishment...

The DNC actively chose their pro-trade deal more establishment candidate....

But hey what do I know... I'm just a "bernie-Bro" according to some here.

Good luck with getting a republican held Senate to convict him... much less a republican House to bring charges....


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