Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Parents, children, grandmas and their pets clustered around a Christmas tree in Palo Alto’s Lytton Plaza, where they were dressed in warm clothes for the cold weather and sang joyful songs. But they weren’t carolers preparing for the holidays.

They were gathered for one of more than 650 rallies held nationwide Tuesday night supporting President Donald Trump’s impeachment. The action was partly spearheaded by MoveOn, a progressive public policy advocacy group. About 150-200 people gathered a block away from Rep. Anna Eshoo’s downtown office to sing songs of impeachment.

“Jingle bells, something smells, something in D.C.,” protesters sang, as the social justice activist group, Raging Grannies, led the impeachment music.

The rally, organized by Stephen Rosenblum and the Raging Grannies, came as the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Wednesday. And though the historic vote is a somber moment for the country, the spirit of Tuesday night’s protest was oddly festive.

Menlo Park resident Nancy Wagner held up a sign with the word “impeach” in capital letters and written out with Christmas lights as she yelled “ho, ho, ho” to passing cars on University Avenue. Drivers honked to express support.

Palo Alto resident Emilie Cappella, 41, came with her mother and 4-year-old daughter because she believed the rally was a family event they needed to witness.

“Tomorrow is an important day,” she said. “I want my mother and my daughter to share that moment with me.”

After the songs, a 12-foot balloon of “Chicken Trump” was inflated in the plaza for people to poke at, take pictures with and eventually deflate. The chicken was paid for by people in Palo Alto and Los Altos, according to Vara Ramakrishman, an active member of Vigil for Democracy, who is responsible for storing the chicken.

Join the Conversation

104 Comments

  3. Everyday I support our President a little more. Too bad this “resist” energy couldn’t have been put toward unity and finding a future Dem presidential candidate that is electable. That should have been an easy task. Sigh.

  4. Trump wrote an excellent 6 page letter to Nancy Pelosi.

    Pelosi and all U.S. representatives would benefit, by paying attention to it.

    Anna Eshoo would benefit, by paying attention to what Trump wrote in his letter.

  5. > Trump wrote an excellent 6 page letter to Nancy Pelosi.

    Actually, if you would’ve read the whole thing – your statement would look like…

    Trump, using his excellent impression of a 6 year old having a tantrum, wrote a letter to Nancy Pelosi.

    Typical response from those who have not drunk the trump koolaid:

    “In a rambling six-page letter addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump weaved together a tapestry of lies, self-pity and warped allusions to history, in an effort to craft for himself a mantle of innocence on the eve of his likely impeachment.

    As ever, one wonders whether he believes all the crass nonsense he promotes or whether he’s consciously, brazenly trying to deceive the public on all counts. And that leads to the next question: Which would be worse?

    Above all, and in the most serious claim in a missive that is difficult to take seriously, Trump rejected the legitimacy of the impeachment process, an indispensable element of accountability, the key tool to prevent democracy from drifting into tyranny.”

  7. Very sad day for House of Representatives — especially the Democrats. Looks like the crazy wing won out. They’ve wanted this since Nov 8, 2016 and now they’ve got it. They will be punished at the polls next November.

  8. “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters,” Trump is nothing without his rabid supporters, most of whom are “basket of deplorables”.

  9. #TreasonTrump #DirtyDonald for jail in 2020.
    Democracy lives.
    We WILL overcome the corruption and blatant perversion of our society by the current administration and Putin.

    Trash Trump in 2020.

  10. “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters,” Trump is nothing without his rabid supporters, many of whom are “basket of deplorables”.

  12. @ Freeper:

    I did read Trump’s letter. In fact, I read all 6 pages.

    I was curious what was written, after having seen so many news articles indicating the sentiments you shared in your post.

    I find it best to look to a source itself, instead of relying on what other people think about anything important. It takes a bit of effort, but it’s worth it.

    For instance, I did not appreciate the mocking paraphrase of the July phone call to the Ukraine, finding it best to just read that transcript for myself too, which I did, interpreting that information for myself as well. It’s simple to find.

    There is no need to be swayed by other people’s opinions that may be inaccurate.

  13. > Why was MoveOn created in the first place?

    Move On was created to persuade politicians to Move On from Clinton’s affair to more serious matters.

    Note that Trump’s impeachment is for extorting a foreign government to interfere in American elections, not for Trump’s numerous tawdry, cheap sex affairs, paying off porn actresses and models, admitting on tape that he is a sexual abuser, etc..

    Thanks for asking.

  17. > I don’t like corruption.

    Who does (except NY mobsters?)

    question: Why did Trump not mention any other corruption in Ukraine other than the fake story that would personally benefit him and his reelection (along with Rudy making some side money on the extortion?)

    answer: Trump doesn’t care about corruption – he is transactional, only looking at what benefits him or his reelection.

    So many of the above posts are about to go away….

  18. I am anxious to hear what Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, have to say, and after hearing from the ‘whistle-blower’, all in sworn testimony. That will be interesting.

  20. TO: Resident
    a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive

    FYI: Hunter Biden is being deposed in Arkansas this coming Monday (the 23rd) by attorneys for the mother of Hunter’s bastard child. They wish to ascertain Hunter’s ability to provide child support, and will be seeking detailed information about his income over the past seven years. Should be interesting.

  21. @freeper, I think the Many politicians in DC like corruption. It is why they are there! Especially those who knowingly turn a blind eye to the Bidens. Why is Latvia now involved in this mess? You likely don’t care because MSM is telling you not to care. John Solomon is one of the few real investigative journalists left. Also, Katherine Herridge at CBS

  22. Spend your efforts getting out Democrats to vote, and keep voting. Go get ex-felons in Florida registered. Help young people get registered and understand how important it is for each one to vote even if they don’t think they are voting for their personal POTUS. Go make sure absentee ballots are not subject to corruption in the few states that controlled the election in 2016. There are specific things you can do and time’s awastin. What does standing on the street in protest do unless you have millions with you AND they are making sure to vote?

    Until that happens, nothing will change. Democratic voters are notoriously fickle and unreasonable, treating candidates like they have to be their own perfect personal candidate or they aren’t worth voting for. Young people are the worst about talking big but not voting, but there is no infrastructure to help them handle the bureaucratic problems of transferring their state residency, registration, understanding in which state they are even legally supposed to vote, understanding the difference of the local election rules, etc, easily, since they are probably very busy in college or first jobs. There aren’t any like Greta Thunberg willing to make sure that happens for other young people in the country so they flex their power as a group and the future. (That generation can stop yelling about how old people failed them until they actually turn out to vote reliably and change things.)

  23. And the beat goes on in my town with very liberal, very progressive, very overwhelmingly Democrat folks surrounding me and holding sway…but I predict they won’t get their way in the end…certainly not on removal from of office and they and their party are just giving the 2020 election away to Trump IMHO…who BTW I don’t like as a person or a role model, but self immolation isn’t the answer. What he says and how he acts disgusts me. That’s not impeachable. That can be, and should be, taken care of at the ballot box. I didn’t and won’t vote for him, but carry on all you ‘Never Trumpers. Good luck on finding your candidate. My head is swimming around and around from what I’ve seen so far. If I had a billion dollars I’d jump in. Tomorrow’s debate probably won’t add much to any of their campaigns. We already know their positions, and the spectrum from far left progressives to the centrists. It’s a tough time to be a Democrat.

  26. > What he says and how he acts disgusts me. That’s not impeachable.

    When he personally tells you he’s extorting foreign governments to personally benefit himself and his campaign, that’s impeachable.

    Impeachable, and yes, I agree with you – also disgusting.

    Solomon? Not a journalist, just another talking head, but wildly connected with Rudy Guilliani. That Latvia trash he ran with this week is later disproved in HIS OWN ARTICLE.

  27. > Funny no mention of trumps low approval rating

    Because the normal ups and downs in his historically low approval ratings are inconsequential to other polls out this week:

    “70% said “Trump’s actions were wrong.” Fifty-one percent said his acts were wrong and deserved impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate.”

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/18/poll-seventy-percent-trump-ukraine-actions-wrong/4227312002/

  28. How many of these protestors have bothered to call REPUBLICAN members of Congress with their views or to encourage those in other states to do so?

    How many send the Veep a steady stream of Bible verses to remind him of the administration’s anti-Biblical behavior?

    Protests do nothing unless they are backed up by voting. Time’s awasting, get out the vote.

  29. These demonstrators seem oblivious to the fact that Trump’s support has been increasing since impeachment began..

    48% now say he should not be impeached.

    If these demonstrators are serious, they should move to the Midwest and vote there. Demonstrating in Palo Alto is a frivolous and pointless exercise.

  30. Posted by Gale Johnson, a resident of Adobe-Meadow

    >> And the beat goes on in my town with very liberal, very progressive, very overwhelmingly Democrat folks surrounding me and holding sway…but I predict they won’t get their way in the end…certainly not on removal from of office and they and their party are just giving the 2020 election away to Trump IMHO…who BTW I don’t like as a person or a role model, but self immolation isn’t the answer. What he says and how he acts disgusts me. That’s not impeachable.

    Until now, I would have thought that (five or more) felonies would be grounds for impeachment.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/27/here-are-five-felonies-trump-committed-if-cohen-is-telling-truth/

    https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/trump-felony-michael-cohen-paul-manafort-collusion-payment.html

    For those who think Trump’s felonies are not “impeachable” — what on earth would be impeachable?

  31. > 48% now say he should not be impeached

    Link?

    > they should move to the Midwest and vote there

    We’re happy here, thank you for your ‘concern’. After all, how badly did Trump lose in PA? Perhaps the unhappy posters would be happier in Kansas

    “70% said “Trump’s actions were wrong.” Fifty-one percent said his acts were wrong and deserved impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate.” USA Today

  32. > For those who think Trump’s felonies are not “impeachable” — what on earth would be impeachable?

    Trump’s felonies are *only* impeachable if performed by Obama.

    C’mon, you know it’s true.

  33. > Katherine (sic) Herridge at CBS

    Catherine Herridge lied so much while at Fox, particularly the debunked myths and falsehoods re Benghazi, that I have little respect for her reporting. She was part of that recent mass exodus of reporters leaving Fox, however. That told us all we needed to know about Fox, as if we didn’t already know.

  34. @freeper I am sure you self identify as super educated and privileged. Your bias is showing, Jon Solomon’s reporting for the past 2.5 years was actually proven true via Horowitz. He is a rare reporter who sources all of his stories. No “anonymous”. he was reporting what Nunes was warning and Schiff was lazily denying (even tho he had the same security access). Repeating personal Confirmation bias is comforting but not so helpful for the moral of our country.

  36. All these protests!

    I would like to know why they are not demanding answers from Biden Sr. and Hunter Biden for the truth about what was going on in the Ukraine? I would like to know why the country is not more concerned about Biden, particularly as he is running for President? I would also like to know why nobody seems to be concerned by this? I would like to know why Obama is not being asked about this, as well as Biden? I would like to know what is really being hidden here and why nobody seems concerned about it?

  37. > I would like to know why they are not demanding answers from Biden Sr. and Hunter Biden for the truth about what was going on in the Ukraine?

    Because it’s another lie from Trump, about something that hasn’t happened, and there is no evidence except the fabrications of Trump accomplices such as Rudy Guilliani.

    now… Why aren’t you answering the following: when Trump tells you he is extorting a foreign government for personal gain, why don’t you believe him?

    When Trump tells you he sexually assaults women by grabbing their genitals, why don’t you believe him?

  38. “When he personally tells you he’s extorting foreign governments to personally benefit himself and his campaign, that’s impeachable.”

    I believe that was Joe Biden, bragging like a bar room drunk that he was withholding dollars from Ukraine. I t benefited his son and he wasn’t running for office at the time.

    Some people just see things differently freeper.

  41. ~2016, Sen. Lindsey Graham on Donald Trump: “I’m not going to try to get into the mind of Donald Trump because I don’t think there’s a whole lot of space there. I think he’s a kook. I think he’s crazy. I think he’s unfit for office.”

  42. Well at least I didn’t read anything about mask wearing, violent, property damaging protesters in this bunch. Unusual for Trump haters.

  43. It never ceases to amaze me how otherwise intelligent people swallow and repeat the anti-Trump narrative and press regarding this impeachment process,opining their version of the facts which bear no resemblance to the truth. And, also conveniently casting aside the responses of the key government democrat witnesses who appeared before the House when they were point-blank asked if what they think occurred rose to the level of an impeachable offense and their responses under oath were a resounding “No” or just “crickets” as no affirmative answer was possible. This is not what our founding fathers or the Constitution had in mind when putting in place protections for our Republic. This impeachment process is a disgrace and the most flimsy and foolish partisan undertaking I have witnessed in my lifetime as a Democrat. I am ashamed of our party and this democrat House action and the House leadership that manufactured it for our consumption under the guise of protecting us and the Constitution without real thought or care as to the consequences for our Republic or focus on the pressing needs of our nation–except the vote on USMCA that served a convenient timing purpose. I fear that the democrat House will pay a price for this vote, and yet, here we go, right over the cliff.

  44. @ chris…. IMO, generally, if you have a conservative viewpoint that differs with a liberal one your post is reported as Objectionable Content and removed. I have suspected it goes the other way as well, but not as often. The publishers of Palo Alto Online are very liberal in their reportage.

  45. I truly believe that in the future, when history judges Donald Trump, the first words to describe him will not be ‘impeached President’, but ‘traitor President’.

  46. @Carlisle –

    You know, it never ceases to amaze me as well. How intelligent people can look at the same thing and see… something entirely different.

    I have watched the witness testimony. Every single one of them. I probably missed some here and there.
    I have not seen a single, to quote you directly

    “ key government democrat witnesses who appeared before the House when they were point-blank asked if what they think occurred rose to the level of an impeachable offense and their responses under oath were a resounding “No” or just “crickets” as no affirmative answer was possible.”

    Can you please post a link to the actual testimony where this happened? I am sure there is video of that somewhere.
    Just one?

  47. The same Democrats who’ve contrived arguments to remove President Trump slobbered all over Obama when he used the IRS against the Tea Party, refused to provide Congress information about Fast & Furious, circumvented Congress with illegal fiats like DACA, armed Iran with nearly $2 billion in secretly delivered funds; when Obama’s FBI interfered in the 2016 election and lied to a FISA court they sought to cover it up, when he refused to enforce immigration laws they supported him; and the list goes on. Lawless hypocrites.

  48. Statistically, anti-Trump protests are far less violent then any white nationalist rally that are also know as Trump rallies.

    Why are you lying?

  49. ~2016 Sen. Ted Cruz on Donald Trump “This man is a pathological liar. He doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth, and in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology text book, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying,”

  50. Pelosi said evidence to impeach must be compelling, overwhelming and Bipartisan.
    Not one of these things have been met.
    President Trump will still be President tomorrow and in 2020.

  51. “Well at least I didn’t read anything about mask wearing, violent, property damaging protesters in this bunch. Unusual for Trump haters.”

    Well that deserves an answer. Rightwing terrorism and violence eclipses anything from the left.

    “Right-Wingers Are America’s Deadliest Terrorists
    After this weekend, right-wing terrorists have killed more people on U.S. soil than jihadis have since 9/11.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/08/right-wing-terrorist-killings-government-focus-jihadis-islamic-radicalism.html

    In fact, calling legitimate protest “hate” is an insult, given the actual hate coming from the right and from Tmp. Just because someone disagrees with you and has hard facts that dispute your carefully crafted but false rightwing framing, does not mean it’s “hate” or “discrimination.” Too often I see rightwingers claim their civil rights are being violated simply because someone isn’t making it easy for the rightwinger to continue to believe delusional and false things, not because there’s anything like the kind of hatred, bullying, and lies the right has heaped on the left (simply over power) even til today.

  52. ~2005 Donald Trump talks about women to Billy Bush
    “You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. .. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

  53. Yeah Pelosi knows full well that they don’t have a case, but she got coerced into doing this by Schiff and now they’re too committed to turn back.
    It’s quite the debacle to witness. I guess they are only doing it to appease the rabid mob of unproductive sign-holders like the Grannies on Lytton. Or maybe they’re doing it so CNN can get higher ratings. Who knows.
    People see the cynicism and negativity in all this and its incredibly ironic that even if Trump is so imperfect and may have such a spotty, sleazy past as a swindler/womanizer or whatnot, the behavior of the Democrats has turned him into a sympathetic victim and a saint. He is celebratory rally right now while they are voting to impeach. While I guess there’s a Democrat debate or something going on? But no one cares about that!

  54. MEANWHILE, IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF MICHIGAN: ‘Impeach this’: Long line forms for Trump rally in Battle Creek. Impeachment is a reality show. They’ve chosen to fight on Trump’s home ground.

  55. > They’ve chosen to fight on Trump’s home ground

    They’re traveling to Manhattan? Or Queens? The place with the gold-plated toilet he likes to show off?

    One notes that today, not a single republican defended Trump, the man, or said Trump won’t extort another country for his personal gain.

    Hey look, everyone! at 5:59pm…

    Trump’s IMPEACHED.

    (cue the twitter temper tantrums)

  59. “Democrats have never accepted the will of the American people. Nancy Pelosi made that clear four weeks ago when she called the president of the United States an impostor. The will of, ‘We the people,’ the 63 million folks who voted for this guy, made him president in an Electoral College landslide. They’ve never accepted that fact. We are less than 11 months away from the election. Let the American people decide who should be president. Let the American people decide.”

    -Jim Jordan

  61. resident – thanks for the quote from Gym Jordon, noted enabler of the Ohio State sexual abuser.

    Here’s a couple more quotes from Republicans who can’t defend with facts, just hyperbole, rhetoric and lies:

    “Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this president.” – republican Barry Loudermilk

    Yes, he said that. Really, look it up – he did.

    republican Mike Kelly said it was like Pearl Harbor, this day will live in infamy.

    Yes, he said that. Really, look it up – he did.

    Amaziing – hysterical and overly emotional men making crazy statements just to avoid trying to defend Trump’s extortion.

    They can’t get over this fact:
    Clinton: 65,844,954 (48.2%)
    Trump: 62,979,879 (46.1%)

    One of the few republican women, Debbie Lesko from Arizona, accused Democrats of “tearing families apart”

    Yet down on the border, families are truly being TORN APART. Way to go, Debbie.

    And my favorite, the dumbest one in congress – Louie Gohmert saisd that “this country’s end is now in sight, I hope I don’t live to see it.”

    Sure Lou-lou, noted without comment.

    A couple things:

    Abigail Adams – “A people may let a President fall, yet still remain a people, but if a President lets his people slip from him, he is no longer a President.”

    Alexander Hamilton – warned of a man “unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune” and “bold in his temper.”

    Maya Angelou – “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

    Trump, the impeached president, told us he was extorting Ukraine. He told us he sexually abuses women. He showed us he cheats on his wives. He paid millions in fines for running a fraudulent charity, cheating for his own benefit,

    Believe the impeached grifter.

  62. Sorry, oddest for last: Devin Nunes, the guy who is suing a cow and a satirist for almost a billion bucks…

    Somehow always works in this phrase, and did so again today: “nude pictures of Trump”

    (sorry, try some brain bleach)

    To repeat: Yes, he said that. Really, look it up – he did.

    That’s how they defend Trump the Impeached.

  63. @freeper, you write “Note that Trump’s impeachment is for extorting a foreign government to interfere in American elections, not for Trump’s numerous tawdry, cheap sex affairs, paying off porn actresses and models, admitting on tape that he is a sexual abuser, etc..”

    You can’t impeach a president for things he did/does as a private citizen, so I’m not sure of your point.

  64. > You can’t impeach a president for things he did/does as a private citizen, so I’m not sure of your point.

    a:) I’m unsure of this part of your point: can’t impeach a president for things he *does* as a private citizen

    The tense doesn’t work.

    b:) my point was to differentiate the posters comment about Move On, the Clinton impeachment and Trump the Impeached being impeached for extorting Ukraine for his personal gain.

    Not for numerous tawdry, cheap sex affairs, paying off porn actresses and models, admitting on tape that he is a sexual abuser, etc..

  65. Trump the Impeached.

    Has a certain ring to it. Perhaps it’s better with the immigrant family name they arrived with:

    Drumpf the Impeached.

    Which do you prefer?

  68. @freeper –
    Even my use of the present tense is incorrect. He is not currently a private citizen. The actions you describe are past tense. If he is continuing them, then he is doing so as an elected official and not a private citizen.

    If he is doing them currently and lies about them under oath, then he can be brought up on impeachment charges as was the case with Bill Clinton when he denied having extra-marital sexual relations with his intern while being questioned under oath about an unrelated sexual harassment lawsuit.

  69. > can’t impeach a president for things he *does* as a private citizen

    You certainly can if they were illegal campaign contributions or colluding with a foreign government.

    The truth is that if the vote in the Senate was done anonymously Trump would be out on his ear and facing prison in NY, but Trump and the Republican party hold the election money and extort existing Republicans ( who are quitting en masse if you haven’t noticed ) to support him. There is really nothing more “swamp-like” than extorting a whole branch of the government. This guy has been bad news since before he ran. Remember all the stupid things he said. Did not know what the nuclear triad was. His daft comments about “cyber”. His constant flip-flopping on pretty much every issue.

    If Trump was sincere about Biden being corrupt, why didn’t he ask AG Barr to open an investigation into the matter?

    In all the talk shows Republicans keep calling in and asking what is going on, while they push their own ridiculous narratives about Trump. When it gets uncomfortable or they are caught in lies they shift and say “what about Biden”, or “Obama did this and that”.

    The kicker was comparing Trump to Jesus. Trump whips up the crowds a hell of a lot more like Pilate if we are getting Biblical. And, speaking of Biblical, remember when Trump was asked about his favorite part of the Bible and could not and would not say anything about it. It was too personal for him.

    Republicans, come to your senses please.

  71. New USA Today poll. Trump leading all democrat potential presidential candidates for 2020. Expect the numbers to go up even higher by the end of the week.

  73. @Online name,

    You can neither win nor lose something that was not contested. All of the candidates in the 2016 presidential election were competing to win the electoral college vote. Nobody was running to win the popular vote.

  78. So what we know now is that this whole dragged on event was started with a phony Steele Dossier to get a phony court order. Now the FISA people are angry that they were lied to. Comey lied – You are still going to see a repercussion concerning that.
    So no one is above the law? Comey and Schiff think they are. And you are continually harassing the Pres concerning money earned before he was President – but don’t dare explore how Biden gets his money. He got his money while an employee of the government. That is what needs to be explored. Every one’s background is being torn apart – is Biden sacrosanct and untouchable? Reality is Ms. Pelosi wants to be President by default – that is her goal. Not going to happen. Trump wo;; win in 2020.

  79. > whole dragged on event was started with a phony Steele Dossier

    Not true. You are a liar. Read the Mueller report, and the Inspector General’s report.

    > Comey and Schiff think they are

    Even if they did *think* ‘they are’, they have not broken the law or their oath to the Constitution. Such a feeble attempt to deflect.

    Trump the Impeached did violate his oath to the Constitution.

    The rest of your drivel is also filled with similar lies. Then you run out and go to some strange fever-swamp fantasies about Biden and Pelosi, again without facts,

    Why can no one defend Trump the Impeached based on facts?

    (hint: because he’s GUILTY)

  81. Sam: No. Were you? Are you comparing a lie about an affair, to Extortion of a foreign country to interfere in American elections for the personal gain of Trump the Impeached?

    Sure, jaywalking is illegal.

    Trump’s Murder of Democracy far exceeds Clinton’s illegal jaywalking. Clinton lost his law license for the lie. What do you think Trump should get for destroying democratic processes?

    Just curious, how do you compare the two?

    Further: why do you defend a politician subverting democratic elections?

  83. 100k voters in 3 states decided 2016. Not the 3 million more that she got.

    Peel off a slice of those evangelicals and it’s ballgame.

  85. Actually freeper, you were the one that brought up Trump’s sexual history…

    “Move On was created to persuade politicians to Move On from Clinton’s affair to more serious matters.

    Note that Trump’s impeachment is for extorting a foreign government to interfere in American elections, not for Trump’s numerous tawdry, cheap sex affairs, paying off porn actresses and models, admitting on tape that he is a sexual abuser, etc..”

    So, you’re saying that lying under oath is ok for a president?

  86. > So, you’re saying that lying under oath is ok for a president?

    Your powers of deflection are first rate!

    I believe my example already answered your question. I also believe you will deflect to anything in order to avoid admitting Trump the Impeached has extorted a foreign government to interfere in American elections for his personal gain.

    Again: why do you defend a politician subverting democratic elections?

  87. I was a moderate Democrat until they became so unhinged. And the Clintons are the biggest criminals in politics. The liberal media leaves the Democrats alone. The far left wants to take all my hard earned money for slacker drug addicts and snowflakes who refuse to work. No, I don’t subscribe to all the Republican values but I didn’t agree with all the left values either. The Dems are the biggest hypocrites and I don’t want to be one.

  88. Amazing – my comment was deleted saying that the info was inaccurate. Someone at the weekly needs to start reading the New York Times and Wall Street journal. If you are proposing to be journalist then be journalist – not opinion makers. You will note that everyone here has an opinion and they are not going to change. Every one is keeping up with the unfolding of the FBI agents who went rogue. And got caught. As to the Ukraine it is the government’s job to correct any previous skimming of US funds. That is going to stop.

  89. A letter to extreme leftist Palo Altans:

    How has anything gotten worse since Trump became president? Our country’s fine. Your lives are fine. You still drive your Tesla. You still eat amazing organic food. We’re not at war.
    The fake moral outrage vs. Trump in the news, that’s been going on DAILY since 2015 and which was the very reason he was elected, is a complete fabrication designed to at best, make money for journalists and at worst sow fake division and fake chaos in our society because maybe indeed its because of “Russian hackers” so the more insane and divisive the left behaves, the more Russia wins. Get it?
    People crave schadenfreude, it seems. It’s unbridled hated from people who have nothing better to do (e.g. “freeper”) than pile onto one person, knowing that the protesting hordes and the legacy publications like USAToday or what-have-you agree with you so your opinion is safe from criticism. There is no individuality, no independent analysis of anything. Just go along with the massive, raging leftist groupthink. Hold your signs, scream at the sky, cry in 2020, whatever suits you. Whatever satisfies your bizarre need for moral preening and your indignant obsession with “social justice” as you and your collective judges it.
    I have great admiration for Tulsi Gabbard for standing alone as an individual true to herself who’s willing to call out her own party on the sheer futility and mindlessness of this “impeachment” stunt. THAT is how you might peel off some people from Trump’s base of support.

    And don’t start crying “Stormy Daniels” (LoL) or “muh child separations” because suffering at the border has been going on during Obama’s term and long before the media monoliths sent people down there with cameras to mold your brains and form your opinions about things.

  90. It’s amazing how different the demographics of Town Square commenters are from the actual population of Palo Alto. Clinton beat Trump by a whopping 73%-21% margin in Santa Clara County in 2016. The margin in Palo Alto was very likely similar or even wider.

    Reading some the comments here, you’d think that we live in Idaho.

  91. > It’s unbridled hated (sic) from people who have nothing better to do (e.g. “freeper”) than pile onto one person, knowing that the protesting hordes and the legacy publications like USAToday or what-have-you agree with you so your opinion is safe from criticism.

    haha, that’s great, thanks!

    Here’s some more of your so-called unbridled ‘hated’…. from another legacy pub, yesterday:

    “But the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents”

    “That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.”

    “ (Trump’s) Twitter feed alone—with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders—is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.”

    Christianity Today – founded by Rev Billy Graham

  92. Christianity Today – Trump is morally lost and confused

    Christianity Today is on the side of Santa Clara County voters. Let that sink in. I’m not a bit surprised, but the guy with all the posts under different names needs to let that percolate.

    Trump lost 73%-21%

    Trump lost Christianity Today.

    They don’t call him Trump the Impeached for nuthin’!!

    Have a great day, Santa Clara County!!

  93. @Anon,

    We live in a republic, which unlike a democracy, protects minorities from the tyranny of the majority. The electoral college is one small way our republic protects political minorities from the tyranny of the majority.

    Do you believe the government should protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority?

    (still waiting for you to explain how Hillary Clinton could win a race that nobody ran)

  95. Posted by Ref, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood

    >> @Anon, We live in a republic, which unlike a democracy, protects minorities from the tyranny of the majority. The electoral college is one small way our republic protects political minorities from the tyranny of the majority.
    >> Do you believe the government should protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority?
    >> (still waiting for you to explain how Hillary Clinton could win a race that nobody ran)

    Answered in the other thread. But, you obviously know that we all know that we live in a republic. What you are not willing to admit, but, which all the election data show, is that Trump won because of (actually a technical term), “racial resentment”. And, since we all know that we live in a republic governed by the Constitution, let’s talk about why those same Trump voters are very unsupportive of the rule of law and generally prefer authoritarianism. Speaking for myself, I much prefer the rule of law, despite the current situation where large corporations are very over-represented. As long as we can vote, we have some hope.

  96. > I would vote for Duv Mom in a second it’s so refreshing to have someone debate with facts and not insults.

    How funny – I can’t tell if you are being ironic or not, because this blog does not have a snark font.

    Her insult was removed by the moderator (see above ‘portion removed’.)

    She also has not resented *any* facts, just claims and opinions. Worse, her viewpoint is highly influenced by Rudy Guilliani apologists – John Solomon, who’s contradictory claims are sometimes refuted in his own posts, and (fired from Fox ‘reporter’) Katherine Herridge, she of the famed debunked Benghazi myths and falsehoods.

    But please, by all means, vote for her.

  97. @Freeper

    Duv Mom is the third comment above and her comment contains no insults and no portion deleted. The comment has 49 likes.

    I do agree with Robert above.

    The art of discussion and debate is lost as soon as someone starts insults. In fact, any candidate who appears angry and starts insulting other candidates or the President or anyone else is lost on me. Whenever an insult appears I stop reading.

    If you have a good point then make it. If you have some real facts then make it. If you want to share your opinion then share it. Otherwise insults and anger have nothing to do with civilized discussion. It sounds more like a playground of children arguing who is going to be “it” which is kind of cute for 6 year olds, not so much for adults.

    Have some sensible debate and perhaps more people will listen Tulsi Gabbard is a candidate who can talk about issues without insults. She would be someone I would pay attention to.

  98. Posted by Resident, a resident of Midtown

    >> How has anything gotten worse since Trump became president?

    Read this and weep: “The Senate Is About to Abolish Impeachment”. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/senate-about-neuter-impeachment/603940/

    “In short, history is throwing a one-two punch at the legislature’s power to impeach a president. Crimes are not enough without abuse of office, and abuse of office is not enough without crimes.”

    Without impeachment, we have an elected king. Until elections are abolished.

  99. > Duv Mom is the third comment above and her comment contains no insults and no portion deleted

    uhhhhh…. no portion deleted?!? Really? Perhaps you should scroll down a bit instead of just counting phantom ‘likes’ on an anonymous comment section.

    “Posted by DuvMom
    a resident of Crescent Park
    on Dec 18, 2019 at 2:39 pm
    [Portion removed.] … “

    Just saying…

    Suddenly the party of “Obama is a Kenyen” and Trump the Impeached disparaging disabled reporters and 16 year-olds is now seeing phantom insults everywhere?

    Okay – where?

  100. Trouble is, there are so many comments that it is hard to start at the beginning each time and see which comment has been deleted where. Scrolling down is of course possible but usually the first comment by any particular commenter shows where they stand. I am not one for counting likes, but when the number gets that high it does show at least that it is being read by more than perhaps those stuck in the middle of the thread.

    @Freeper. You still think that being rude is the way to debate. Not a healthy attitude in my opinion. What you say carries less weight because of the attitude and arrogance. None of us commenting here are stupid. We are all thoughtful human beings, unless of course we start being rude to make up for lack of substance. As thoughtful people, we can communicate better without insults. Unless of course you want to resort to Shakespearean insults which are highly amusing in the right context.

    “His wit’s as thick as a Tewkesbury mustard.”

  101. @resident – you made several erroneous claims:

    – that duvmom didn’t have part of her posts deleted

    You were wrong, instead of admitting a simple oversight, you pull a Trump and bloviate on with lame excuses.

    – you claimed I’ve been insulting (a rather high bar in these days of Trump the Impeached and what he says to women, Mexicans, 16 yr old girls and mocking the disabled)

    When asked “Okay – where?” you deflect, to Shakespearean insults, no less.

    – The comment has 49 likes.

    You insist on ‘likes’ as a measurement of post quality. When it’s pointed out that is a poor metric in this environment, you continue to waffle about.

    Despite your demonstrated errors, you, sir, imply I’m rude, insensitive, with attitude, arrogance and of ‘playground arguing’ as a 6 yr old. And that’s just in your last two posts.

    You sir, are wrong.

    Since you brought up ol’ Bill Shakespeare, I would in other times be forced to defend myself (note: here’s where a sarcasm font would be handy…) To paraphrase A dot Burr in a somewhat more recent musical:

    You would need to cite a more specific grievance
    Here’s an itemized list of (several posts) of disagreements

    I can’t apologize because it’s true
    Then stand, @resident
    Weehawken, dawn

    I have the honor to be your obedient servant
    A dot Freeper

    😉

Leave a comment