Thread by @alexthechick

🧵
If opening an impeachment investigation into whether the President, while he was Vice President, participated in, at least, influence peddling, based on authenticated documents, bank records, and statements from named people is not the hill to die on, then there is no hill.

For those in the GOP Establishment, from elected officials to those running the party to members of the commentariat, this is it. This is your final chance to prove that there is, in fact, an actual hill upon which to die figuratively. Because this is as serious as it gets.

I will repeat, there are already bank records, corporate documents, testimony from sources named publicly as well as sources known to Congress, emails authenticated by at least one person, authenticated text messages, admission of attendance at dinners and on calls. This exists.

Additionally, these are allegations of specific wrong doing, namely bribery and influence peddling. These are specific allegations for which there is already evidence. The hill is hilling. Absent a check to Joe Biden saying re: bribe, what else do you need as a predicate?

Nearly all of the base does not live in the Eternal Now. We have memories that are capable of reaching back into the far away and long ago days of 2017-2019 when Trump was accused of being an agent of Russia going back to the 1980s based on evidence that we were assured existed.

We know how this story ends. Claims that an impeachment investigation is pointless because there is no chance of conviction in the Senate and, hey, don't you care about the 2024 election results, come on, be an adult, Move On Dot Org are just another this isn't the hill to die on

It has been nearly 30 years now that each and every time there is something that is a matter of actual importance, the base is told that this isn't the hill to die on. Pick what drives your blood pressure up most, I'll go first. The power of the purse has been de facto repealed.

For nearly 30 years now, whenever the GOP has control of the House, the base is told that, nope, can't use the power of the purse, that would risk the GOP majority and then the Dems will do so much worse and is that what you want, the Dems to ram through whatever they want?

A power not used is a power that does not exist. How about the "debt limit" and I can't even type that without laughing. 31 USC 3101 has been repealed, it's just that Congress doesn't have the nerve to do so directly, that would look bad, after all. It's just done de facto.

Since the debt limit will always be raised, there is, in practical effect, no debt limit. Can't die on that hill though, you simpletons. That would result in the military not getting paid. DO YOU WANT SOLDIERS TO STARVE? YOU WANT SOLDIERS TO STARVE! Not that hill either.

Then there's the Obamacare repeal debacle and I can spike my blood pressure only so high. For nearly 30 years now, each and every time there is a matter which requires even a modest amount of fortitude by the GOP Establishment, the response is not this hill, but totes the next.

There is never the next hill. Not The Hill To Die On has been the mocking response for well over two decades. And now here we are. The greatest hill of them all. There is beyond ample circumstantial evidence from identifiable sources and authenticated documents of corruption.

If it is not worth risking, and it is a risk, not a certainty, the GOP's electoral chances in 2024 over this, there is nothing worth that risk. Next to declaring war, an obligation which Congress utterly refuses to do, impeachment is as serious as it gets.

If this is not the hill on which to die, then there are no hills. Now, my position on this has been consistent since, say, the early 2000s. The GOP Establishment does not think there are hills and therefore there is nothing upon which to die. So at least this is consistent.

I just want honesty. I want statements, direct and forthright, that all that matters is staying in power, not the use of that power for anything remotely resembling actual results. Be honest. Because what's happening now and has been happening for decades is anything but that.

The Dems will be worse stopped being an effective bit of emotional blackmail last century. If what is going on with Biden and corruption is not worthy of risking a majority, then nothing is. Just be honest. That's it. Be honest and accept the consequences. Have a red panda. /fin