Originally Posted by perotista
It still means nothing. Well, it makes Democrats and anti Trumpers feel good. But feel good is the end of it. Nothing more, nothing less. Bottom line, the indictment and the articles of impeachment as long as they sit unused, meaningless.

One shouldn't have even bothered to go to all the trouble.
I think that adding "impeached" to Trump's record might have a teensy bit of political use. Come election time, the large number of easily manipulated voters will have a choice between thinking of Trump as impeached, or having to keep the convoluted and disingenuous string of Trump excuses in mind. The polls, as I'm sure you are noticing, are already beginning to swing back to a significant majority supporting his removal. A quick and dishonest exoneration trial would be much to McConnell and Trump's benefit by reversing the burden of argument, whereas the stink of impeachment now is center stage.

It may be that McConnell will continue to do the political math and decide to give somewhat on the unreasonable constraints he is putting on a Senate trial.

Given a bit more time, the important witnesses that Trump has blocked from testifying (one of the Articles) may come to testify.

And it's clear that Trump is extremely uncomfortable as an impeached president. The psychological pressure may well produce some politically important effects from His Holiness.

So I respectfully disagree with your claim of, "the indictment and the articles of impeachment as long as they sit unused, meaningless."

Last edited by logtroll; 12/21/19 09:48 PM. Reason: clarification
You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.
R. Buckminster Fuller