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I think one can be in favor of an official impeachment inquiry while also respecting the dilemma Nancy Pelosi faces.
She knows that Donald Trump is a criminal, yet she needs to hold on to the House in the next election.
She knows that Donald Trump is a criminal, yet she needs to hold on to the House in the next election.
Nobody fought harder than Speaker Pelosi to take back the House.
She knows that a Democratic House is all that stands in the way of the right-wing destroying this country for a century in this era of Trump.
With climate change and healthcare these are life-and-death stakes.
She knows that a Democratic House is all that stands in the way of the right-wing destroying this country for a century in this era of Trump.
With climate change and healthcare these are life-and-death stakes.
And right now Speaker Pelosi foresees a plausible future in which the impeachment of Donald Trump backfires on Democrats and results in Donald Trump's re-election, a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and a 6-3 Supreme Court.
It's a frightening thought.
It's a frightening thought.
Remember that Nancy Pelosi isn't Speaker because of folks like @AOC or @RashidaTlaib.
She's Speaker because of Trump-district reps like @RepKendraHorn, @RepMaxRose, and @RepCunningham.
And for the House to remain in D hands, she knows that those members must be protected.
She's Speaker because of Trump-district reps like @RepKendraHorn, @RepMaxRose, and @RepCunningham.
And for the House to remain in D hands, she knows that those members must be protected.
Now that is all predicated on the belief that an impeachment inquiry would automatically backfire on Democrats.
I am not one to question Pelosi's expertise, but I am LESS AND LESS convinced that would be the case.
Yes, it would stir his base. But it would stir ours as well.
I am not one to question Pelosi's expertise, but I am LESS AND LESS convinced that would be the case.
Yes, it would stir his base. But it would stir ours as well.
I think Speaker Pelosi and House Dems could thread the needle here and proceed with an inquiry without it backfiring and without her vulnerable members paying a price.
In fact I'm more convinced that not doing so might stifle Democratic enthusiasm.
In fact I'm more convinced that not doing so might stifle Democratic enthusiasm.
They could be up front about how they are proceeding with an impeachment inquiry, despite knowing that it will fail in the Senate, because they need to follow the House's Constitutional duty.
I think that's a position that a clear majority of Americans would respect.
I think that's a position that a clear majority of Americans would respect.
And please note: If we take that path, we MUST WITHHOLD OUR FIRE on any vulnerable House Democrats who vote "no" on impeachment.
Keep the focus on Republicans.
Keep the focus on Republicans.
But in the end, we have to ask ourselves whether defending the rule of law is worth the real risk of losing our only leverage in a Government otherwise run by Republican crooks.
It's a fair question, and one Speaker Pelosi isn't taking lightly.
But I say start the inquiry.
It's a fair question, and one Speaker Pelosi isn't taking lightly.
But I say start the inquiry.
The reason I say this is that I'm seeing a lot of Progressives (like @peterdaou) excoriating Speaker Pelosi, and I totally get their frustration. But I don't think there's enough understanding of her predicament, and I was hoping this thread would put it in perspective.
