Nancy Pelosi is not to blame for the impasse in the impeachment discussion.

[kentuck]

There are 235 Democrats in the House of Representatives. At present, 134 Democrats have come out for impeachment. That means that 101 Democrats do not feel that Donald Trump should be impeached, at least, not at this time.

Since it only takes 218 votes to vote out Articles of Impeachment, that means that the Democrats only need 84 votes out of the remaining 101 Democrats.

Actually, they do not need the rest of the House Democrats at this time. They only need a majority vote on the House Judiciary Committee to begin the investigation, which they have done. It is in the rules of the House.

However, the Democrats would look much stronger if they could get 218 votes to officially open the Impeachment Investigation. It would not be a vote for Articles of Impeachment. But, to show that the Democratic Party has the power to impeach the Executive, if necessary. It would send a strong message to the criminals at the White House.

Again, a vote to officially open the investigation would not be the same as a vote on Articles of Impeachment. But it would show that the Congress is not as weak-kneed or chicken-legged as some might think. They would be operating from a position of strength, instead of where they are now.

But it all is dependent on the 101 Democrats that have not taken a position on Donald Trump yet. Supposedly, many of them got elected from red districts and do not want to lose their seats. Many others got elected to hold Donald Trump accountable. It would make sense for the Democrats to unite on this issue. They should show their support for their 134 comrades that have come out for impeachment already. It's really not that big of a deal to vote for an impeachment investigation. It would reflect the Democratic Party from a more powerful position.

[Snackshack]

1. Speaker of the House.

Leader of the House of Representatives majority Democratic Party. A majority of the fellow Reps have come out for impeachment. We do not know where the rest stand. They could very well be for it but are hedging their bets because of her lukewarm attitude on it. If she wants to be in a leadership position she needs to lead.

We are watching the most corrupt/stonewalling administration in our history eviscerate a foundation of our Democracy. At this time checks and balance does not exist / rule of law does not exist because what is supposed to be a co-equal branch of government is not being properly or effectively operated and that falls squarely on leadership.

[Nevermypresident]

2. This.

[gldstwmn]

3. +1000. If she were for it,

It would be happening. What happened yesterday can not and should not happen again. Also I'm truly frightened by the information that the intelligence community whistleblower has but is not being revealed. What the hell is that?

[JI7]

4. many of these people were reluctant to support her for speaker.

these people's biggest concern is the people in their district. if one is serious about impeachment you would try to find out where individual members stand and convince the people in those districts to support it.

[JI7]

5. you need a majority of the ENTIRE house for impeachment. not just the majority of those

in one party.

[ehrnst]

10. The House Whip

A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. This usually means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology or the will of their constituents. Whips are the party's "enforcers". They ensure that their fellow legislators attend voting sessions and vote according to official party policy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_(politics)

https://www.majoritywhip.gov/

[Snackshack]

13. Both.

The Majority Leader and Majority Whip follow the guidance of the Speaker of the House for the party that holds the majority in the House of Representatives.

[ehrnst]

16. The Speaker who is elected by the Democrats in the House to do the job

of Speaker - multiple times if they prove themselves to be really good at the job.

[DemocraticSocialist8]

14. Exactly. I'm tired of the excuses.

[FBaggins]

6. Not at ALL!

The reason for the impasse is that the party is split on where to go next... and she's doing what she can to keep that split from having devastating consequences.

As an illustration... look at Senator McConnell. Most of what you read here about how he destroyed the Senate while blocking the Garland nomination is just plain nonsense. Garland wasn't going anywhere... but a few Republican senators preferred not to have a recorded vote rejecting him just before an election... so McConnell just kept it from coming to a vote or even a hearing. Reid did exactly the same thing a few years earlier at the appellate level.

In all three cases, the leader takes the heat for the caucus. It's part of their job.

[DemocraticSocialist8]

15. Why is the party split though? Why are we pretending this isn't a major threat to the country?

Democrats can't expect to turn people out in 2020 when they refuse to lead on something so obvious. I also think the fear of Trump's polling going up over impeachment is overblown. His numbers go up whenever he does/says something racist period. Public sentiment should have nothing to do with accountability.

[colsohlibgal]

7. What Are Those 111 Thinking?

If this Orange Disaster isn’t impeachable who then?

[ehrnst]

11. But not removable. So they are thinking of the consequences of their vote in

terms of the 2020 elections.

If they are in a swing district, this vote would put their seat at risk - and they are considering what would be gained by doing that, which does not include his removal.


It will also polarize people into camps, and bring out Trump supporters in waves.

[GeorgeGist]

8. Leadership

[kentuck]

9. It doesn't make sense that the Democrats do not unite on this one thing....

...an investigation.

Nobody is asking them to vote for impeachment at this time. But it would show a Congress that is capable and willing to get 218 votes for impeachment if necessary. There is much value in that message being sent to this White House.

I don't understand why they do not move from a position of strength?

[ehrnst]

12. Tell that to those Dems in Congress who attack other Dems on Twitter

that unity doesn't = tyranny, it can send a message of strength.

[Hortensis]

17. When and if Pelosi calls for impeachment, she'll have majority support.

Many congressmen do not represent safe districts and so aren't exactly rushing to leap over a cliff on this. No need to cut their own throats before the leadership blows the horn, and not even a sensible thing to do before our case is made and while a majority of registered Democrats still do not support impeachment, much less those in their districts.

Some people here have gotten badly carried away by whatever their personal hair was and stopped paying attention to the rest of the party long ago. Most would like the Trump problem solved, though. So that's actually not as clueless as imagining the other half of the electorate will simply sit on their fingers while we act without their agreement, though.