Emanuel and Rove

In an op-ed at the Washington Post former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, probably the savviest political tactician around these days, summarizes the situation for Democrats aptly:

What we are about to witness is a balancing act for both parties: Pelosi needs to move the process expeditiously — but the process needs to be seen as fair, not just fast. The charges must be clear, and the evidence needs to prove beyond any doubt that any proposed punishment fits the severity of the crime. Democrats will do themselves no favors if they fail to hold the president accountable; but they should be wary of overstepping as well. Republicans may fear conservative voters will punish them for criticizing Trump. But the GOP could lose everything if their party is seen to be marching in lockstep with a president who violated his oath.

Pelosi has never been keen to explain her strategy in public; you don’t get to be speaker by oversharing. But because this is an impeachment inquiry — not an actual impeachment — the key for Democrats at this stage will be to focus their efforts on fact-finding, not yet making a case for conviction. Particularly in these early days, our posture needs to be about bringing sunlight to a murky reality, not convincing the public that it should support any given outcome. Over time, more facts will come out. And when they do, they could lead investigators in any number of directions.

If by mid-November, the evidence makes a clear case that Trump has used the power of his office to coerce a foreign government and advance his electoral interests, impeachment will undoubtedly be in order. In the unlikely scenario that this is all smoke and no fire, Congress would be wise to set the matter aside. But if investigators determine that the president should be admonished without being evicted from the White House, the House has a third option at its disposal: The House can sanction and censure the president, as the Senate did President Andrew Jackson nearly 200 years ago.

In his corresponding op-ed at the Wall Street Journal Karl Rove, no slouch as a tactician himself, emphasizes Emanuel’s point:

They are moving much too quickly. Democrats toss around the word “urgent” as if speed is the prime imperative—more important than finding the truth or following procedure. After explaining that events “accelerated the pace” for beginning impeachment, Mrs. Pelosi told reporters, “We have to strike while the iron is hot,” repeating the phrase for emphasis. That means House Democrats will likely hold hearings for a few weeks once they return in mid-October, and aim for a floor vote on articles of impeachment by year’s end.

The Democrats’ need for speed has already resulted in unfairness. Consider Friday’s demand by three committee chairmen— Elijah Cummings, Eliot Engel and Adam Schiff—that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provide documents and depositions from five State Department officials starting Oct. 2.

Mr. Pompeo pushed back, arguing that two business days wasn’t enough time for those called to consult private and department lawyers and prepare to answer questions under oath, let alone for the State Department to review the requested documents to decide whether they are privileged or classified, or whether to cooperate at all.

In response, the chairmen threatened Mr. Pompeo, saying delay “is illegal and will constitute evidence of obstruction of the impeachment inquiry.” They’re bluffing, but this is how they operate. Verdict first, trial later. Break the rules. Ignore due process. And fairness be damned.

Adam Schiff is likely to prove counter-productive if Democrats’ strategy is to position themselves initially as neutral fact-finders. An effort coordinated among House Democrats and Washington bureaucrats sounds suspiciously like the “Deep State” some have been fulminating about.