I see that Daniel Henninger in his latest Wall Street Journal column has lurched uncontrollably onto the interpretation of events that I have been suggesting:
Mr. McConnell reportedly wanted it all over by the end of the year, but what’s the rush? The Trump trial could run through January—31 priceless campaign days before the Democratic Party’s intensely competitive primaries. The Iowa caucus vote is Feb. 3, then comes New Hampshire’s primary on Feb. 11; Nevada’s caucuses are Feb. 22; and the crucially important South Carolina primary arrives Feb. 29.
Instead of competing for their party’s nomination, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Michael Bennet will spend invaluable campaign time planted on Capitol Hill during the days that the Pelosi-Schiff Trump trial drones on. Sens. Sanders and Harris can’t call Mr. Trump the “most corrupt president†in the history of the country and then skip out on the trial of public enemy No. 1 to campaign in a downstate Iowa diner.
Joe Biden, Mayor Pete, and Hillary’s new friend Rep. Tulsi Gabbard get to romp daily through the primary states, but who’s going to notice with the Trump impeachment trial siphoning away the nation’s media’s attention?
or, alternatively, the Democratic senators bying for their party’s nomination could just elect to skip the trial, casting doubt on the great moral imperative to remove Trump from office for his crimes.
Let’s wait and see.
Congress still has to pass a budget. What’s the chances (a) government shutdown occurs (b) a year long CR is needed?
My bet would be CR.
If it happens…. that will be record Congress will be campaigning on next year. No significant legislation, no budget.
Even a CR will be hard — it means Democrats will have to accept the funder for the border that is the status quo.
You can see why impeachment looks so appealing to so many incumbents.
The Senators running for POTUS would use any impeachment hearings as a campaign event, playing to the public. Other than that they would just show up for votes unless attendance is required.
Steve
There are no enforceable mechanisms for requiring attendance, steve.
piffle.
Hillary has figured it out. It was the flashing videos on the dark web that cost her the election.
Now the only thing to figure out is who put them up, Tulsi Gabbard, Jill Stein or Donald Trump. Russian stooges all……..