Here we go again: The media is dangling the possibility that a meaningful number of Republican senators might seriously go against Donald Trump and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in this case to force a real impeachment trial. With the Senate at 53-47, it wouldn’t take many defections to give Democrats some procedural wins to, for instance, call witnesses, and CNN reports that this is “a concern to the White House and GOP leaders.” But we’ve been through this before, and with the one (admittedly important) exception of the Affordable Care Act repeal, it never seems to happen.
As with the vote for Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and so many other times, there’s speculation about what Maine’s Susan Collins might do. She’s up for reelection in 2020 and Trump's approval rating in Maine is low. But, again, we’ve been through this. It ends in disappointment.
Also facing tough 2020 elections are Colorado’s Cory Gardner and Arizona’s Martha McSally. But neither of them has shown any real inclination to break with Trump and McConnell.
So, too, what CNN characterizes as “seasoned veterans, like Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who are retiring and who may not feel politically bound to support the President.” Also, “there are concerns about Sens. Pat Roberts of Kansas and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, both of whom are retiring committee chairman from the establishment wing of their party with rank and influence.” Uh-huh. There are concerns? Whose concerns? Based on what evidence?
The two Republican senators who might seriously be considered a threat here are Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, who has broken with her party on not just the Affordable Care Act but on Kavanaugh; and Mitt Romney, who has been more outspokenly critical of Trump during the impeachment process than any other congressional Republican. But any time you find yourself relying on Mitt Romney’s spine and principles is a very scary time indeed.
It’s a nice thought, that a small but critical number of Republicans would get together and at least ensure an honest Senate trial not conducted in “total coordination” with the White House. Unfortunately, given today’s Republican Party, even that small thing is unlikely to happen, and the media needs to wrestle with what that says and how it should influence coverage of Congress.