Why Impeach?

For John, BLUF:  The Democrats are in a pickle over Impeachment.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Impeaching Trump now = conceding the 2020 election.

From The Althouse Blog, by Professor Ann Althouse, 23 September 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

That's my working theory. I don't know if the Democrats in Congress will go so far as to impeach Trump, but I tend to think that if they do, it will be because they think they're going to lose the election and they need another route toward defeating Trump.

Of course, if Trump is impeached by the Democrats who have a majority in the House, he will not be removed from office, because the Republicans control the Senate.  We'll be subjected to a horrific blend of legal mystification and political advantage seeking.

So why would the Democrats predict that it will advantage them?  My answer is:  because they feel sure they're losing the actual election, the straightforward political fight.

The timing is important.  They could wait for the actual election, the normal process of American democracy, or — if they think that won't work — they can start delegitimatizing it now, while they think they have a decent shot at making us believe they're doing something righteous and noble.  If they wait too long, the con will become more obvious.

I tend to agree.  The Democrats are inwardly worried they can't win the 2020 Run for the White House.  Worse, they might not even pick up any Senate seats.  Then where are they?

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff