Where does DU find such confidence in Republicans?

[MrCoffee]

I honestly don't understand the argument that impeachment proceedings would result in Republican Senators voting to convict. I truly don't know where we find such confidence in Republican virtues of honor and support for the laws.

The MCA pretty much laid that to rest, as if we needed any more evidence of their willingness to ignore the laws.

Personally, I believe that we could get signed confessions from the whole criminal gang and Senate Republicans would find a way to spin and wiggle their way out of a vote to convict.

[Fridays Child]

1. I think the idea is that the tide of popular sentiment either has...

...turned or is turning, to the point where even Republicans dare not support the Chimp, if they want to keep their jobs, come the next election. So, confidence in Republicans is cynical, at best. Most DUers don't trust most Republican officeholders to "do the right thing." We just figure they'll do the self-serving and expedient thing.

[MrCoffee]

2. popular sentiment does not equal a conviction by the US Senate

i understand entirely what you're saying, i just don't think popular sentiment is in any way an adequate measure of the political will necessary to impeach the President of the United States.

[Fridays Child]

4. You may be correct and, even though only a simple majority--which we have...

...is needed for the House to impeach, I don't know if we could count on all Democrats to vote for it.

[rinsd]

5. I'll add a few thoughts to this

Popular sentiment didn't stop 45 of them from voting to convict in 1998 after they got their ass kicked in the midterms and Clinton's approval rate climbed into the high 60's.

Popular sentiment isn't converting any of them to anti-war positions.

And lastly districts are so gerrymandered that it may be more dangerous politicially for a Republican to vote FOR impeachment than against.

Those circumstances withstanding go ahead with investigations.

On edit: I realized my last point didn't work with the Senate, just the House.

[Mister Ed]

3. Impeachment proceedings would still be worthwhile

Investigations would expose insurmountable evidence of high crimes, misdemeanors, and outright treason. If some Republican senators want to place their party above their nation, in full public view, by voting against impeachment in the face of such evidence - then let 'em.

[MrCoffee]

7. In a perfect world, you're absolutely right...

but given the Republican party's track record of truthiness, do you really expect fair weight to be given to the evidence in a Senate trial?

It's not like they've never heard of attorneys, or spin, or Fox News.

I freely admit to being a cynical bastard. Maybe that's my problem. I don't know, I just feel in my gut that there's no chance in the world that Chimpy gets a fair trial in the Senate (fair being found guilty as hell, which he almost certainly is).

Impeachment proceedings are nothing like criminal trials. They're pure politics. And if there's one thing Republicans can do, it's politic. Otherwise there wouldn't be a single one of them on the Hill.

[elocs]

6. These same senators who we desperately want to vote to convict

are the same ones who get regularly trashed here. Then if any, any Republican sees the light on what we believe is right gets trashed here as being a hypocrite. Yeah, they'll be lining up in droves to vote for conviction after impeachment.