For purposes of this post, I am assuming that Democrats take back the House and at best, have a one seat majority in the Senate. Anyway, onto the main event…
One argument I have seen online against Democrats impeaching Trump in 2027 is that it likely will not result in a conviction in the Senate (which would require around twenty Republican senators to vote to convict), so it is not worth doing–in fact, it might backfire and harm Democrats (e.g., “Democrats can’t accomplish anything”). The problem is that can apply to any legislation Democrats get through the House too.
If, as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said yesterday*, Democrats will focus on affordability**, well, Democrats are not going to pass any meaningful legislation there either–which, like a failed impeachment, could be laid at their feet too. And were Democrats to successfully get something significant passed, Trump will plaster his name all over it (even if it were written into the legislation that he could not doso, the notion that he would follow the law is… quaint).
The point is not that Democrats should not attempt to do things, but we need to realize that anything proposed, whether it be impeachment, economic proposals, various ‘good government’ proposals, will be largely performative–and there is nothing wrong with that! But we are not going to see many substantive successes until Democrats take back the House, Senate, and presidency at the same time.
*At least from what I have seen and read, he did not say that Democrats would first launch investigations, and then impeach Trump. There is a lot of make believe that what Jeffries actually meant was a gradual approach to impeachment, but there is nothing to suggest that based on his comments.
**I really hope Jeffries is saying this to help out swing district candidates.
mikethemadbiologist
Unfortunately I think you are right. The Democratic leadership keep showing they don’t really have any convictions. Even if they get a clear majority they would not know what to do with it because they don’t have any vision of the future. Just more the same.
If a president who actively, knowingly breaks the law the cannot be punished, then what good is the law? Impeachment proceedings will put a lot of pressure on Republicans to defend an unpopular, criminal president. Yes, those bozos could hope that 2 years is time enough for voters to forget their cowardice. But it’s also 2 years’ time that JD Vance could back down from threatening Cuba and NATO while ruining domestic agriculture, tourism and transportation.
A failed impeachment would be another anvil Democrats can drop on Republicans at every stupid decision Trump makes: “Collapse of International Trade/Ground Invasion of Iran/Annexation of Cuba/Domestic Energy Shortage/Housing Market Collapse could have been prevented by impeaching Trump but Senate Republicans love what he’s doing for the country and want to bring you more of this.”