It’s clear that many, if not most, pundits and members of Daily KOS are hoping to acquit Donald Trump when articles of impeachment reach the Senate.
(And no, that’s not a typo.)
Why would I posit such a hypothesis?
The GOP’s best defense for Trump at this point is ‘inevitability’.
GOP Senators will be faced with the choice to convict or acquit Donald Trump on the most heinous set of articles of impeachment ever faced by a U.S. President. That choice will — as likely intended — come down to a measure of political risk.
If GOP Senators are able to live in a political world made comfortable by a narrative that dismissal of the charges is an ‘inevitable’ act, they are insulated from the political risk of that choice. If the media response to the Senate failing to convict Trump of these charges is, ‘so what, we all knew that was coming’, what risk is there in going that path for GOP senators? And compare that risk to how their primary voters and base will feel if they are ‘surprised’ by an impeachment conviction in the midst of a media narrative that Trump is safe?
That narrative is now pervasive. Don’t believe me? Here’s an example. And another. And another.
And admit it … it’s the fear you probably feel in your heart. That the Senate is going to host a sham trial.
Our best weapon at this stage is to drive the narrative, the perception, and the fear that a vote by GOP senators to acquit Trump of these charges is the ‘unexpected’ outcome, not the inevitable one.
The best narrative we can achieve is the truth: no American President should expect to perform in this manner and get a pass. Anything BUT conviction is unacceptable and unexpected.
Otherwise, we’re helping the GOP win before the trial even begins.