Thread by @whstancil

@jacklerner They should have:
-focused heavily on corruption, which is deeply unpopular
-aggressively investigated executive branch wrongdoing
-been willing to hyperventilate more on camera about Trump's awfulness instead of taking the high road
-used funding to exact concessions/leverage

@jacklerner -just acted FASTER - e.g., the initial request and subpoenas for his tax returns took months, could have been done on day one. The handful of hearings they did conduct generally took place months after the misconduct they were allegedly responding to

@jacklerner -on impeachment, they should have either impeached more broadly or multiple times, dragging it out to keep his misconduct in the news permanently
-more fully investigated the whistleblower claims (e.g., they never attempted to get the server allegedly hiding other conversations)

@jacklerner -the scope of these impeachment proceedings should obviously have included conduct like emoluments violations, which are more run-of-the-mill corruption that don't require understanding of East European geopolitics
-they should have followed up on the Mueller report

@jacklerner -during covid-19 they should have used the must-pass economic stimulus bills as vehicles for critical electoral protections, like mail voting (at the time they said they'd use the Phase Four bill, which never came)

@jacklerner -they should have explored creative use of procedural and constitutional authorities to make spectacles, oppose Trump, and affect outcomes. Stuff like inherent contempt may not work but they were scared of trying and failing, didn't think about the opportunity cost of not trying

@jacklerner None of this is a panacea, of course. The House is still only one part of the government. But that doesn't mean they can't actively probe for ways to conduct real (urgently needed) oversight, and look for political fights with the unpopular president.

@jacklerner And there are a lot of potential benefits, even when you fail:
-you might dig up scandals that grow much bigger (a la Benghazi/Clinton's emails)
-you keep the admin on its back foot, use their time and resources
-you provide transparency
-you help keep voters and media focused