So let's say Trump is impeached...

[Trueblue Texan]

Who do we get if Trump is impeached? Mike Pence. The Republicans in the Senate might actually vote to impeach Trump if they can put Pence at the head of their party and assure him as their nominee for 2020. Does Pelosi want to risk this? Do we?

[hlthe2b]

1. Pence would not be competitive in 2020 imo. So, bring it on.

[StarfishSaver]

3. Lots of people didn't think Trump was competitive in 2016

We underestimate these people at our peril.

[hlthe2b]

5. Surely you don't compare Pence with Trump

He was hated in Indiana and not competitive for a second gubernatorial term (due to be thrown out) when Manafort picked him for Trump. He's a dead fish without the charm or the good "scent"...

And if women hate Trump, this election cycle will have more pro-choice and even equivocal women (and men, for that matter) voting who are absolutely incited to vote against Pence style anti-abortion laws.

[StarfishSaver]

6. And in 2015-16 people thought there was no way Trump would win

In fact, some Democrats were thrilled that he was the candidate because they thought it was an impossibility.

Be careful what you wish for - it could come out very differently than you expect.

[hlthe2b]

7. I said not to underestimate Trump in '16 . You adopt my usual caution, but Pence is not Trump.

Pence could only win if the election is hijacked (and yes, THAT could happen)

[Trueblue Texan]

18. I agree, Pence is not Trump...

Last edited Sat May 25, 2019, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

...but the Rs are desperate for one of their own who is not Trump. And voting for Pence will mean they don't have to admit they were wrong about Trump.

[Control-Z]

15. Trump didn't really win

unless you believe that a win by cheating is really a win. I do get your point, though.

I also believe there will be cheating again so we must have huge majorities in order to win.

[The Genealogist]

2. I don't think Pence would have a very good chance to win

I've heard dial tones with more sparkling personalities than Mr Vanilla. We'd have to put up with him for a while tho.

[Pachamama]

4. So, lets say Trump is impeached by the House of Representatives after extensive public impeachment

...hearings broadcast to the American People and is discussed and reported on for months and is forever memorialized in the public record....

Then it moves on to the Senate where the Repukes refuse to remove him....

What has Pelosi risked exactly?

[redstateblues]

10. Then Trump parades claiming victory.

[emmaverybo]

11. Nothing. You lay it out perfectly. The American public needs to "see," as an unfolding saga, what

Mueller found and more. Otherwise, with a rush to impeach, it’s all Dems vs. Republicans, a partisan effort based on testimonies given in some building somewhere behind closed doors. possibly an effort conducted by Trump and cons’ enemies, a bunch of legalese spanning hundreds of pages, with no investment or engagement on the people’s part.
We can not underestimate the medium through which House hearings will be conducted. Television speaks in a national, familiar, understood, and gripping language.
Viewing is a collective experience and leaves powerful impressions.
For the moment in time, and for posterity, nothing will beat televised hearings.
Premature impeachment throws the electorate into division; attitudes gel, sides line up, and we might learn less.

[honest.abe]

8. Pence is a loser without the rabid supporters that Trump has.

Im sure that is why the GOP keeps trying to protect Trump. They think he's is their best hope of retaining the WH.

[StarfishSaver]

9. But could bring back the moderate Republicans who are mortified by Trump

And don't forget that Republicans, the media - and even some Democrats - will be so exhausted and relieved to have Trump gone, that Pence will have a honeymoon (just for not being completely batsh*t crazy every hour of the day) that could last well into November.

I can't believe, after the debacle that is Trump, anyone would sleep on Pence or claim that "oh, he won't be so bad."

[honest.abe]

19. Maybe but they will lose their hardcore base.

Who will likely freak out if Trump is removed from office and its not clear to me what they might do but for sure they wont be happy with Pence.

[rustydog]

12. YES Damn it, the President has committed impeachable offenses

By the Constitution, he must be removed form office.

If Pence becomes prez, he will know that his Jesus won't be able to protect him from Pelosi if he tries to continue Trump's Anti-America agenda.

[Gothmog]

13. How are you going to get 20 GOP senators to vote for removal?

It takes the vote of 67 Senators to remove trump. There is no way that you can get 20 GOP senators to vote to remove trump

[NanceGreggs]

14. Pence wouldn't have a chance.

The biggest reason being that if Trump is removed from office, his "base" will turn on the GOP for not protecting their messiah. A lot of them would simply sit out the election as a result.

[mcar]

16. Impeachment doesn't equal removal from office

The Senate will never vote to remove him.

[ooky]

17. I think in such event Pence would only be a placeholder, primaried by someone more popular,

like Haley.

I'm not even convinced Trump will get re-nominated at this point, as it seems his baggage can only grow and multiply between now and the 2020 election. If Republicans start to sense that he is becoming toxic enough to impact the down ballot races they could still elect to primary him without impeachment/conviction. I believe that's more likely anyway than any chance he'd be convicted in a Senate trial. Not without something more compelling than anything we think we know about now.

[Gothmog]

20. Senate GOP vows to quickly quash any impeachment charges

Link to tweet

GOP senators say that if the House passes articles of impeachment against President Trump they will quickly quash them in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has broad authority to set the parameters of a trial.

While McConnell is required to act on articles of impeachment, which require 67 votes — or a two-thirds majority — to convict the president, he and his Republican colleagues have the power to set the rules and ensure the briefest of trials.

“I think it would be disposed of very quickly,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)....

“Why on earth would we give a platform to something that I judge as a purely political exercise?” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another member of the Judiciary Committee. “We have to perform our constitutional duty, but if people think that we’re going to try and create a theater that could give you the perception that this is a matter that rises to the level of Watergate, that’s nonsense.”

Tillis said he would support McConnell bringing the impeachment process to a quick close, and that any kind of extended trial would be “rewarding what I view as bad behavior on the part of the House.”