It seems the "never Trumpers" like Romney are all about wanting to impeach Trump.
I predict that Lindsey Graham, an old impeachment House leader from the Xlinton era, will open a full Senate Judiciary investigation into Obama/Biden and Ukraine if the House files articles of impeachment on Trump. Imagine him calling Obama to testify. And Biden. And Biden's son. Just think of all the fun Lindsey Graham could have with that. Biden's son traveled on Air Force 2 to China to close a very large deal. More fodder for Lindsey.
The Dems and libmedia can talk impeachment all they want, they can open an "inquiry" (which is a complete nothing other than PR). Unless they vote articles of impeachment and send them to the Senate, it's all just talk. And Pelosi knows it.
Her key calculation has been whether it will hurt House Dems more in 2020 than it will help them. I'm not sure she ever was convinced that it wouldn't hurt House Dems but she came under so much pressure from the radical House Dems to start impeachment that she finally flipped a coin and caved in. I'd be surprised if she actually thinks it's a good idea.
She no doubt recalls that the Dems gained 5 seats in the '98 election, foiling Newt's promises that the GOP would gain seats. And the House GOP gave Newt his walking papers for that. Pelosi won't forget about that, no doubt she celebrated his downfall over those five Dem House victories and relished that for years. Now she has to be wondering if the end of her career could happen over an impeachment as well.
I predict that Lindsey Graham, an old impeachment House leader from the Xlinton era, will open a full Senate Judiciary investigation into Obama/Biden and Ukraine if the House files articles of impeachment on Trump. Imagine him calling Obama to testify. And Biden. And Biden's son. Just think of all the fun Lindsey Graham could have with that.
Kimberley Strassel G @KimStrassel 1) Having read DOJ's Trump-Ukraine release, here's the real story: This is another internal attempt to take out a president, on the basis of another nonsmoking-gun.
7:24 AM-25 Sep 2019 11,939 Retweets 30,670 Likes
2) As to call transcript itself: Trump's actual "favor" is that Ukraine look backward, to what happened in the 2016 election. This is a legitimate ask, since election meddling looks to have come from both Russia and Ukraine.
3) (lndeed, this is a big enough issue that we find out this morning that U.S. Attorney John Durham is looking at what role the Ukraine played in the FBI investigation.)
4) lt is actually Zelensky who brings up Rudy Giuliani—saying they can't wait to "meet him." And it is Zelensky who references "that investigation," as he goes on to promise that "all investigations will be done openly and candidly."
5) Trump says "good" and expresses worries that a "good" prosecutor was "shut down." Mentions "Biden's son" and that Biden bragged he "stopped the prosecution." Ends that bit with "It sounds horrible to me."
6) Trump's several references to Giuliani are mostly to say what a great guy he is. He says he will have Giuliani and AG Barr call. He asks Zelensky to speak/work with both.
7) And, never mind, because: DOJ in statement says the President has not spoken to AG about investigating Biden and has not asked the AG to contact the Ukraine. Also, Barr has not communicated with Ukraine—"on this or any subject."
8) Meanwhile, the IG back in August referred this to DOJ as potential violation of campaign finance law, based on whistleblower complaint. Criminal Division evaluated and determined no violation: "All relevant components of the Department agreed with this legal conclusion."
9) Whistleblower? Look at this nugget, referenced in the OLC opinion. The IG's review found “some indicia of an arguable political bias on the part of the Complainant in favor of a rival political candidate."
10) Media got all this so wrong. And Democrats look all the more partisan and radical to have moved toward impeachment.
