Pelosi won't hold a vote on Impeachment inquiry. Most think that's to protect her "moderate" dems. However, if Pelosi wants to impeach she will have to get those "moderates" to vote for Impeachment. This at first seems stupid. Why protect them on one hand and then throw them....
...to the wolves on the other hand? It would be better strategically to force them to vote on the inquiry so it appears to be a normal "impeachment process" instead of the kangaroo court it looks like without that vote.
There could be a couple reasons. Pelosi might have been hoping that the fake "inquiry" would cause a "groundswell" of support to make the "moderates" somewhat protected when they vote for impeachment.
Or
Pelosi was counting on at least 18-40 GOP reps to vote for Impeachment.
Or
Pelosi was counting on at least 18-40 GOP reps to vote for Impeachment.
She would then allow the 18-40 most vulnerable Dems "moderates" to vote no/present/yes depending on internal polling.
Both of those hopes have been dashed. After transcript release the GOP or moderates can't pretend that the call was bad and get away with it. No groundswell.
Both of those hopes have been dashed. After transcript release the GOP or moderates can't pretend that the call was bad and get away with it. No groundswell.
To further box Pelosi in, Trump sent a letter telling Pelosi and the dems to GFT. With that letter, Trump made this fight a purely partisan fight. He boxed the GOP uniparty in at the same time. So unless something changes Pelosi will be forced to have her moderates vote Yes.
This puts her majority at great risk from the right. If she doesn't force a vote, the Dems look weak which also puts her majority at risk from the left.
By his actions, Trump has set this fight into a lose-lose for Pelosi before the majority of the fight has started.
By his actions, Trump has set this fight into a lose-lose for Pelosi before the majority of the fight has started.
I'm not even sure the Dems understand this yet. They might think their media and fake polls can still get them that groundswell/cover. Anything is possible, I suppose, but at this time Pelosi's entire strategy is being torn asunder piece by piece by Trump.
Trump has played this very well so far. If Pelosi comes to the conclusion that she lost she will most likely impeach and hope for the best. The trick for Trump is to create a path for Pelosi to retreat and make it seem to her that she can get away without major damage.
He tried to offer her an escape path with his call for Schiff to be removed. She didn't take it. Of course that's if Trump doesn't want to be impeached. He may just want a purely partisan impeachment vote at this point and then bring the pain once it hits the Senate.
