Spines are stiffening all over in the Democratic Congress, as blowback to impeachment is definitely not happening and Donald Trump continues his fast downward spiral. Senate Democrats in particular are allowing themselves to hope for a Democratic majority in 2021.
"Voters are going to see this as a stinking fish. I don't think voters are going to want their member of Congress or Senate to be up here defending the president's actions," said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy. "It'll be interesting to see what happens when Republicans come back from this [October] recess." Yes, yes it will. There's been one break, not among the vulnerable 2020 crowd, but from the dean of the Senate, Chuck Grassley. He's strongly defending the whistleblower who unveiled that hidden, corrupt Trump phone call with the Ukraine President.
It's not just a matter of politics, though, Democrats are quick to point out. There's that whole love-of-country, constitutional-obligation part that Republicans have tossed in the bin. "We need to do the right thing regardless of who's benefiting," Michigan's Debbie Stabenow said. Nevertheless, that impeachment conviction vote "will make it very difficult for them to choose," she added. "If I were them in many of the states where people are running, I certainly would, politically, be concerned about taking that vote."
Looking at the polling just on impeachment, yep. Add in polling on guns, Trump's plummeting approval rating, the very real possibility that a highly partisan federal court will try to toss the Affordable Care Act? Democrats have every reason to allow themselves to dream a little.
It's going to be a bitter, bitter year for Republicans. That means you, Susan Collins and Cory Gardner and Martha McSally and Joni Ernst and Thom Tillis and David Perdue and yeah, even you, Mitch McConnell. There's got to be some very nervous stomachs in the Republican cloakroom right about now.
Let's make it the end of this iteration of the GOP. Please give $1 to our nominee fund to help Democrats end McConnell's career as Senate majority leader!