Nope, not now, not ever.
Yeah, yeah, the GOP’s best course here is to send a delegation of Senators and Reps to the White House to urge Cheeto Mussolini to resign. That, however, isn’t going to happen. Unless he slips out the back door in the middle of the night and hops on a private jet to Moscow or Riyadh, he is going to leave the White House in handcuffs.Deep down, he knows this. Ditto for Pence.
The right-wing media is repeating the “Democrats in disarray” mantra and parroting the idiotic line that impeachment will backlash on the Democrats. McConnell can read polls and see that this is bullshit. In addition to Trump, there are a lot of Republicans in office who will believe whatever Fox News tells them. As long as Hannity et al have Trump’s ear, he will not listen to reason.
Furthermore, Trump is surrounded by yes men (and women) whose jobs and security will evaporate when the orange one is gone. They will keep telling him what he wants to hear. All the professionals with future careers to look after have resigned. There is nobody left but apple-polishers in the West Wing. It makes sense to say that people will act in their own best interest, looking at the long term. Nevertheless, emotion and self delusion are better indicators of how this crowd will be stampeded into going over the cliff. They created their own reality and they will not break out of it.
The fact that Trump ended up in the Oval Office is a result of the GOP herd mentality. Staying in office as long as possible is the only option Trump will consider and he is surrounded by people who will support this.
The Republicans are paralyzed. They will never move against Trump. After decades of hating and bad faith, any Democrat who expects any cooperation from the GOP is just as delusional as Trump.* Witnesses and documents notwithstanding, there will not be enough Senate votes to convict. Yes, the trial needs to go forward and the Democrats must drag this out for weeks, even months if possible. We will not get a guilty verdict, but we need to show the voters what a filthy sham the GOP is trying to sell them. Make it as painful and ugly as possible for McConnell and friends. If some fool cries out for collegiality, let them tell that to Merrick Garland.
It is on the Democrats to win in November and start arresting people in January. That’s the only way we can save our Constitution and Country.
GOTV.
* — Somebody inscribe this on a nail and pound it into Joe Biden’s skull.