Confirmation of Trump’s guilt is looming, only weeks or months away. Bolton’s testimony could be the nail in the coffin if allowed before the public’s eye. The question is, what will GOP leadership see as the best way forward? Quadrupling down on innocence over the “perfect call” isn’t something that will help the 20 GOP Senators running for reelection this fall. There will be too much swamp water under the bridge by then. And according to a Fox News poll, nationally there’s a 20% gap among independent voters favoring removal versus keeping Trump in the White House. Since independents make up about a third of the electorate, the Senate itself is in play if the wrong things happen for the GOP.
Knowing the likely end-game of the Trump presidency, a calculation to minimize the damage must be made. How can they turn on Trump and alienate the fewest voters among his base?Running out the clock won't let the GOP win in November or keep their ship from taking on water.
With the Trump era most likely doomed, they will have to reinvent themselves. And it will have to be believable. Oddly, they may have to look to the land of Oz for guidance.
Remember how in "The Wizard of Oz" the wicked witch's guards were essentially released from her spell when she was liquidated? They were the first to hail Dorothy, and suddenly went from scary automatons to sympathetic individuals enjoying instant freedom once that the mind control had been cut. They handed Dorothy the broom, her ticket home. And as wide-eyed children we saw that as plausible.
For the Wicked Witch’s Guards Gambit to work, things must be, well, “...handled very delicately” to quote the witch in question. They have to make a big deal about this last straw, adding just the right mix of indignation and betrayal while admitting that they’d been played the fool.
The problem is, they can’t go running to Pence as their hero because he’s dirty too. Mitt Romney has positioned himself as the go-to guy, probably playing the long game. He won’t run for President in 2020; he’d get creamed. But in 2024 he just might be the face of a rebranded GOP.
But this incarnation of the GOP has to make this #Trumpectomy quick and surgical. If they all vote to acquit and Bolton’s book, and all that will come out during the book tour, become common knowledge, all those nays will hang like anvils around Senate Republicans’ necks. Crucially, there is preciously little time for the GOP to put primary challengers up against their doomed incumbents.
Actually, the safest thing for McConnell to do is to get as many on board and do a quick voice vote on removal, say the yeas have it, and Trump is done. Have Pence sworn in that evening. Trump will have his vindictive Twitter tirade but he will no longer be able to exercise retribution so thoroughly. The voice vote comes with a promise of anonymity if there are just the right amount of nays.
Once removed from office, Trump would be indictable for all the crimes he’s committed. AG Barr would have zero reason to back off on Trump, since #Dolt45’s Twitter rampage will only hurt the party. And as it is, Barr could be facing impeachment himself in all this.
Dropping the impeachment removal process would also take the heat off of Pence, at least for now. Then all the GOP would have to do is craft a noble facade for their new leader.
But it can’t come with drawing on his charisma. That well is dry.
It may all happen soon, perhaps this week. Then most of America will be ready to sing:
“Ding dong the Donald’s done!
Which ol’ Don?
The orange one!
Ding dong the President is done!
He’ll go where the traitors go
Sing Sing, where the Rosenbergs got the chair
Ol’ Donald Trump soon will rot there...”