# At least 20 Senate Vichy Republicans needed to vote guilty on impeachment **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-20-senate-vichy-republicans-needed-to-vote-guilty-on-impeachment/825751 "2018-12-07T15:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-20-senate-vichy-republicans-needed-to-vote-guilty-on-impeachment/825751/41 "2018-12-10T09:53:06Z")
If jettisoning the America-hating fuckstick early could mitigate GOP losses in 2020, the Dems’ smartest move might be to just pass a resolution of censure and force the Pubbies to play out the hand. The thought of the Senate _wanting_ an opportunity to convict on impeachment charges and the House refusing to deliver them tickles me a little. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-20-senate-vichy-republicans-needed-to-vote-guilty-on-impeachment/825751/42 "2018-12-10T14:22:22Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > How I see that playing out: Articles of impeachment are brought up in the House. Nowhere near 2/3 of the Senate will vote in favor of declaring him guilty of anything. Trump skates by with no immediate consequences and the Dems now have a potentially embarrassing circus on their hands in which nothing of substance happens. We’re gonna party like it’s 1999. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-20-senate-vichy-republicans-needed-to-vote-guilty-on-impeachment/825751/43 "2018-12-10T23:30:06Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Why not? The Constitution does not require they impeach. It certainly allows them to, but they are not compelled to. > > The idea that checks and balances requires impeachment is ridiculous. Checks and balances means each branch has some kind of checks on the other branches in order to have a balanced government. It does not mean particular checks are compelled. What is does mean is that Congress has impeachment in its back pocket and should use it in the case it judges impeachment is the most effective and proper way to keep the Executive (or Judiciary) in check. If the legislature decides there are more effective (or at least less ineffective) ways to check the other branches, those should be employed instead. > > I have no clue where this asinine idea even comes from. From the beginning, it was clear that Constitutional powers were meant to give flexibility to response, not act as a straitjacket on how government officials were to behave. It’s not a straitjacket and they’re not forced to impeach. I understand that it’s up to the House if they want to impeach and it’s up to the Senate if they want to convict. But if there’s enough high crimes & misdemeanors, it’s their duty. The Republicans didn’t suffer in 2000 from their impeachment of Clinton. And I don’t think the Dems will get any traction with the Republicans on any issues no matter what they do. So, holding back on impeachment due to political considerations is a loser. Regardless, they should probably wait for Mueller’s report before they proceed. If they jump the gun, I doubt there will be an appetite to impeach. I think they need to move ahead based on what Mueller finds. And if there’s enough “there” there, they should impeach and then force the Senate to go on record as to whether they will attempt to convict. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-20-senate-vichy-republicans-needed-to-vote-guilty-on-impeachment/825751.md?page=2)