David Brooks has some pretty sharp criticism of Democrats in his latest New York Times column:
This constitutional crisis is just for show. Partly the Democrats want the show because it just feels good to bash the administration. “This has had a cathartic effect on the Democrats because we have finally been able to find a way to fight back at the obstructionism,†Representative Jamie Raskin told my Times colleague Sheryl Gay Stolberg.
Partly they are trying to appease the wing of the party that is calling for impeachment right away. The party leaders generally opposed impeachment for sensible reasons. It would be impossible to win a conviction in the Senate without some Republican cooperation and overwhelming popular support — which doesn’t exist. It’s much better for the Democrats if they focus media attention on their presidential candidates. A Trump vs. Nadler media war is exactly what Trump wants.
The problem with any policy of appeasement is that it rarely appeases; it only emboldens. And that’s what’s happening. You can feel the atmosphere in the Democratic Party changing, getting more passionate, getting more caught up in the back-and-forth combat with Trump, getting more whipped up into impeachment furor.
My advice to Democrats is that if they are going to impeach they should get about it as quickly as possible. It will not accrue to their benefit if this matter remains up in the air through 2020. If they are not going to impeach, they should not raise the expectation that they will.
Best to look at the Congressional calendar.
Summer recess is almost here.
The fall will be consumed with the budget and raising the debt ceiling.
The winter (after new year) is probably when it happens.
For the primary electorate for the majority of Democratic incumbents, voting for impeachment maybe the popular thing those incumbents can do – I doubt they will be campaigning on the budget deal / raising the debt ceiling.