Originally Posted by logtroll
It’s now clear that the most damaging course for Trump is to not have the Senate trial, at least not until a bigger shoe drops and a conviction is likely. Mitch gave Pelosi the perfect reason to withhold sending the articles over - his declaration of intent to be dishonest and cheat the process. Until he made that miscalculation - he probably should have risked a fair trial, which was a highly probable win - he was in the catbird seat.

Trump is an impeached president now, with no hope of redemption in the general public’s eye. For the election, that’s a big target on his back that’s all bullseye.

Very well could be. But I doubt it will have much effect on the election. Everyone of us tend to look at an event as a game changer. which it might be for a few days, even a couple of weeks. Then everything returns to normal. Just like it was prior to the event that was suppose to be a game changer happening. Americans have a very short memory. Most Americans aren't political junkies like us on this site.

This impeachment has been a very polarized and very partisan event, happening. You can see that with this, going by RCP averages, not a single poll which can be skewed.

Impeachment hearings began on 13 Nov 2019 vs. 22 Dec 2019
Trump’s approval 13 Nov 43.9%, 22 Dec 44.5%

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html

13 Nov Democrats for impeachment and removal 84%, 22 Dec Democrats for impeachment and removal 84%.
13 Nov Republicans for impeachment and removal 12%, 22 Dec Republicans for impeachment and removal 9%.
13 Nov Independents for impeachment and removal 38%, 22 Dec Independents for impeachment and removal 41%.
13 Nov Democrats against impeachment and removal 6%, 22 Dec Democrats against impeachment and removal 10%.
13 Nov Republicans against impeachment and removal 80%, 22 Dec Republicans against impeachment and removal 88%.
13 Nov Independents against impeachment and removal 39%, 22 Dec Independents against impeachment and removal 46%.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/e...and_removal_of_president_trump-6957.html

What I think that will have much more effect on the upcoming election than impeachment is Trump's obnoxious, bullying persona. He's a very easy man to dislike, usually folks don't vote for someone they dislike. That is unless they dislike the other fellow as much or more than Trump. In 2016 Hillary had all the political baggage, Trump was the new comer, a complete unknown except for his in your face campaign style which turned out to be his real personality. The spoiled brat, the five year old who throws temper tantrums and calls others names like his parents failed to teach him any manners. This time around, it will be Trump with the most baggage depending on who the Democrats nominate.

I'm not saying the democrats shouldn't win, they should. But that impeachment won't play a major part in it, a very minor part if any. It will be Trump very unpresidential behavior that will cause his doom.

It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.