Whew, that’s some weapons-grade optimism right there. This depends on McConnell believing that politics as usual is still a real thing. I feel like the Republicans are hell-bent on riding the Trump rocket wherever it takes them, even if it’s right into the ground, even if it destroys the country. I hope you’re right but I’m not seeing it.
People who affiliate as Republican have dropped 17% since the 2016 election.
Trump has lost women, including white suburban women, as well as minorities.
He’s upside down in most of the red states he easily won in 2016.
He can’t win, but he can drag down Senate Republicans with him if he runs. All the talk about a “close election” in 2020 is just a way to keep ratings up in the corporate media. It isn’t going to be close. Dems are going to thrash the shit out of them.
McConnell knows this. I loathe Moscow Mitch, but he does know when to fish. And when to cut bait. He’s cutting bait pretty fast just now.
As happy as I am to see Trump finally being held to account, all of this Trump in the past tense, what will they do after Trump bullshit is just a tiny bit premature. I mean, it’s a LOT bit premature.
I will admit I am almost always the most optimistic person in the room. <rueful smile>
ETA: What’s the point of gritting your teeth to install all these Republican-friendly judges if you’re just going to destroy the country, and it doesn’t matter anymore?
That’s the basis of my question. He is most unlikely to go gently and he sure does not want to die in prison. How terrible can his resistance be? I suggested launching as a worst-case nightmare. How about simply declaring martial law on a pretext? Round up dissidents, filter the media, restore order and security, the usual. Cf. Erdogan.
Aspenglow: Maybe. But the electoral college still helps Trump (or any Republican nominee)…and that 41.7% approval has stayed remarkably steady. It’s hard to admit one is wrong, when one has so much emotionally invested in the Orange God.
Actually, that’s the barometer I might watch most closely…Nate Silver’s aggregate, moving-average approval rating. It seems to have just started to reflect the Ukraine developments, with a bit of a down-tick as of this morning.
In what world are senators not members of congress?
Pardon me for pointing this out, but everyone is forgetting something.
I love LegalEagle’s videos. This is a great review and analysis of the whole thing.
They are, but in what world are US Senators referred to as congressmen?
One last point: Moscow Mitch has a pretty tough reelection campaign for his own seat, with Amy McGrath running against him. Many voters in Kentucky have indicated they’re ready for a change.
His change of heart could be inspired by nothing more than that. (But I think it’s more than that.)
I misspoke. This approval measure is actually UP a bit as of today, reflecting three polls — two of them given a “B” grade — conducted over the past two or three days. Not good, and it underscores my point that Aspenglow’s interpretation* of Moscow Mitch’s willingness to consider a Senate trial may be erroneous.
*The one from a few posts ago, not the latest speculation.
We’ll see.
Maybe. But think how much fun you’ll have pointing out that I was full of shit if I’m wrong. Of course… it will mean the end of the country as we know it if I am. 
Thank you for the welcome and I am glad to be here. I raised launching as a hopefully-improbable reaction by Tramp; I won’t mention it again. Less horrific but more likely reactions also terrify me. I urge readers to consider just how desperately he will react to the investigations. His history gives us little optimism.
Support for Trump impeachment rises 12 points in new poll.
For the record, I’m not completely optimistic - but I’m more optimistic than I was last week.
Between what is known so far about the Ukraine mess, the fact that there are more memos on a secure server also covering phone calls with Russia and Saudi Arabia*, and the apparent attempt by Trump to trade NRA funding for stepping back on gun-control measures…well.
Once the dam breaks, it breaks hard. People will be throwing each other under the bus right and left, previously quiet people will decide it’s time to come forward, whether through a belated sense of honour or to save their own skins. My wife expressed the thought that we may be seeing a new president by next month; I think that’s optimistic, but not outside the realm of possibilities.
*moved there because aides were afraid the contents would leak…
I don’t do it like that.
I wasn’t meaning to demean you in any way. More of a gentle tease. Apologies if you took it otherwise.
Speaking of transcripts of calls between Trump & Putin:
emphasis mine
Ah, yes, that faux civility, so beloved by autocrats of all countries…
Many voters have indicated they’re ready for a change, you say? Why does that turn of phrase sound familiar?
Trust me, we’re about 10 steps ahead of you.