Jeffrey C. Isaac

Jeffrey C. Isaac

Jeffrey C. Isaac is James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His books include: Democracy in Dark Times (1998); The Poverty of Progressivism: The Future of American Democracy in a Time of Liberal Decline; and Arendt, Camus, and Modern Rebellion.

Articles by this author

Hundreds of activists attend a rally in New York City on October 13, 2019 demanding that Congress fulfill its constitutional duty and impeach President Donald Trump. "Broadening the impeachment makes constitutional sense," writes Isaac, "and it makes political sense, too." (Photo: Gabriele Holtermann-Gorden/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Views
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Watergate Teaches Us That Democrats Should Broaden the Impeachment Charges
The Washington Post reports that as House Democrats prepare to move the impeachment process to the Judiciary Committee, they are now quietly debating the possible expansion of impeachment articles beyond Ukraine . That is a very welcome development for two reasons: because Trump’s record of...
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Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Some Midday Thoughts About Sondland Testimony and Impeachment
I’ve watched every minute of the public impeachment hearings. I’m watching the Sondland testimony now, as I write. And I’d like to start this brief comment with an observation: anyone who cares about the future of democracy in the U.S. ought to do two things: read today’s Washington Post op-ed by...
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Saturday, November 09, 2019
Impeachment Must Be More Than Impeachment
If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If an avalanche felled the tree, does it make sense to focus only on the fallen tree and to ignore the broader and more terrifying cataclysm that caused it? House Democrats, apparently buoyed by last Tuesday’s...
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), joined by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday October 2, 2019. (Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Views
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Is It Really Smart to Narrow the Impeachment to Just Ukraine?
It was reported this week that Nancy Pelosi has “zeroed in” on a focused impeachment strategy “that will center on a simple ‘abuse of power’ narrative involving the president’s actions regarding Ukraine.” Apparently there remain some wise House Democratic leaders reluctant to narrow the impeachment...
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) joins fellow House Democrats to mark 200 days since they passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act with a news conference at the U.S. Capitol September 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. Following the release of a whistle-blower complaint about abuse of power, the House Democratic leadership announced this week that it is launching a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Views
Friday, September 27, 2019
Slow Down. The Case for a Deliberate and Focused Impeachment Inquiry
In most aspects of life it is good to be expeditious. Not all. Think of making love. Or relishing a fine wine or meal. Or enjoying a conversation. There are experiences that ought to be savored. But much of what we do is goal directed, and it typically makes sense to be as efficient as possible in...
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US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, announces a formal impeachment inquiry of US President Donald Trump on September 24, 2019, in Washington, DC. - Amid mounting allegations of abuse of power by the US president, Pelosi announced the start of the inquiry in the House of Representatives, the first step in a process that could ultimately lead to Trump's removal from office. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images) Views
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Two Cheers—Not Three—for Pelosi's Speech on Impeachment
Nancy Pelosi announced late Tuesday afternoon that an official "impeachment inquiry" is under way. It is a sign of how depressing is our politics and how terrifying is Trump that so many commentators and pundits are now beside themselves with glee. "Finally, she has done it!" Yes, finally. After...
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President Donald J. Trump leaves after speaking to supporters at the Atlantic Aviation Hanger on March 10, 2018 in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The president made a visit in a bid to gain support for Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone who is running for 18th Congressional District in a seat vacated by Tim Murphy. (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) Views
Monday, September 23, 2019
The Trump "Whistleblower" Situation Is Very Dangerous for Democracy (and for the Democrats)
I have been writing about Donald Trump’s dictatorial personality and political authoritarianism for over three years now. The list of crimes against democracy, high and low, legal and merely political, is too long and too obvious to require recitation. Everyone in the broad political elite —...
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Antifa is not a threat to U.S. democracy. White supremacists are. And a President who offers them inspiration and encouragement is an even greater threat. But neither is Antifa an appropriate or representative form of democratic response to these threats. (Photo: Alexandros Michailidis | Shutterstock.com) Views
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Antifa Is Not a 'Terrorist Organization,' But That Doesn’t Make It Good
Racism and white supremacism have been part of the history of the U.S. since before there was a U.S. This is made very clear by the current and perfectly-timed New York Times “ The 1619 Project .” At the same time, racism and white supremacism have assumed a new importance with the Presidency of...
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He is responsible for the violence. And he must go. Period. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc) Views
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Some Banal Thoughts About the Mutuality of Evil in our Midst
Another weekend, another two mass shootings, and murders. El Paso, Texas: 20 dead, 26 injured. Dayton, Ohio: 9 dead and 16 injured. The mind reels. The stomach wretches. According to the Gun Violence Archive , these episodes are the 250 th and 251 st mass shootings of the year. It defines a mass...
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The real political enemy is the Republican party, and nothing is more important than a resounding Republican defeat in 2020. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Views
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
We Must Defeat Trump
It has long been obvious that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to constitutional democracy, participatory democracy, individual freedom, social and economic justice, and basic human decency. A wide range of people, ranging from Never Trump Republicans to Democrats right, center, and left...
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