I guess I don't understand the impeachment process

[kytngirl]

If impeachment doesn't come with removal, and it is the senate who has to vote to remove a president, why are the republicans all in an uproar about this? Just let the process continue and don't vote to remove. Is that the way it works?

President Clinton was impeached and stayed in office because of the senate.

So I don't understand all this hand-wringing, and Faux News trashing American heroes who tell the truth. The real future of #45 is in the hands of the republicans, right?

Thanks for any enlightenment you can provide.

[RAB910]

1. The Republicans are worried that the American public will learn that Trump is as guilty as hell

that would make it harder and more costly to let him skate in the Senate

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Yeppers, this is correct.

[hlthe2b]

2. Because the American people get to hear exactly what has been going on and see first hand

how the R's are covering for blatant and abject corruption in this WH. They know it will hurt them in the 2020 elections, possibly cause them to lose the Senate and may well cost Trump reelection (assuming he makes it to the election).

[maxsolomon]

3. Propaganda requires repetition.

If the GOP Reps spend all their time attacking the process and repeating conspiracy theories, it provides the RWNM content, and solidifies the de-legitimization narrative in the minds of their marks/voters.

Just ask my Dad!

[spooky3]

4. A major reason for these hearings is to enlighten the

Public about the truth. If enough people who see these hearings are disgusted and pressure their Senators to vote to convict, then he will be removed.

So, the House Republicans have to try to convince enough of the public that what they are seeing is no biggie, i.e., they are trying to gaslight viewers/voters.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. You're basically right.

The House holds these hearings in order to decide if there's enough evidence to write Articles of Impeachment.

If they do write those articles, the proceedings then go to the Senate for the trial. IF they find the president guilty of the charges in the articles, then he is removed from office. And yes, the republicans have control in the Senate, so it is very unlikely that they will vote to convict him.

I agree--let the process work. But the republicans are trying to derail it; no big surprise there.

[TidalWave46]

7. They are going to be forced to go on record as supporting a traitor.

These people know how history is going to view them. The more we out him as a traitor the more uproar there will be.

[RhodeIslandOne]

8. Impeachment is simply an indictment

That’s the way to look at it.

The Senate doesn’t want this. They know he’s guilty and their going to find him not guilty no matter what.

[unblock]

9. it's all about image for republicans

virtually all republican policy is unpopular at this point. the only way they stay in power is by controlling their image through lies, distractions, controlling the media, in addition to various forms of cheating during elections (money, gerrymandering, voter suppression, etc.).

the only real way for them to fail at this point is for donnie's image to get sooo bad that he's not merely unpopular, so too unpopular for the rest of the party to get away with propping him up.

so, yeah, they know they can vote in the senate to keep him in. but they don't want the bad p.r. that comes with the focus on donnie being corrupt and a crook. that adversely affects the entire republican slate.

[lunatica]

10. You're trying to ascribe logic to politics

Politicians always, and I mean ALWAYS, have one eye on the next elections. Especially as those elections get closer and closer.

The Republicans are fighting hard not to lose to the Democrats. If they don’t fight back against impeachment the voters will vote them out for not defending their president. Perception is everything. This means the voters must see them as fighting every inch of the way.

[Thomas Hurt]

11. This never was and will never be about removal by the Senate.

This is about exposing that amoral pig's abuse of power and crimes for the election.

The Senate GOP never was and never will vote to remove unless their seats are in danger.

The christofascist base is not going to abandon Trump or the GOP.

[NCLefty]

19. This. The Senate is the key. McConnell will flush Trump if his fucking majority is endangered.

[kytngirl]

12. Thanks to all who cleared this up for me.

I understand now that you all have laid it out. This hearing is to expose this man for what he is, a pathological liar and unfit to serve as the leader of the country.

I can see (now) why the repugs are fighting tooth and nail, trying to discredit the witnesses. Should he be impeached and it goes to the senate, and he is not removed, it will be on them that they let them man continue as Commander in Chief knowing he was unfit.

[chriscan64]

13. I agree with all of the above

I would add that trump's true believers follow his lead in never letting any critical word go unchallenged,reality be damned. Sean Spicer could not correct himself and say the inauguration crowd was "one of the biggest" it had to be the biggest ever period. When he said the hurricane was going to hit Alabama, he didn't misspeak, you mis-thought. Plus he has to go over the top. He can't simply be plainly not guilty of crimes, he has to be the greatest president ever, under attack because of his success. He can't just be not racist, he has to be the least racist person ever.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. K&R for lots of truths.

I don't recall knowing of anyone as openly narcissistic and vengeful as DJ Trump in my lifetime.

And, welcome to DU......

KY..........

[malaise]

14. Simple

Don the Con will become the 3rd president impeached and he can't bear the thought

[eleny]

15. One more thing to add - Trump will be the first Republican president impeached

[Brainfodder]

16. GOP fucked up royal, that covers it in a nutshell!

In the end, party system as it is should croak.

You can't have assholes trying to have it their way ALL THE TIME like these troglodytes are obviously doing, WHEN at least half the country doesn't agree.

This cluster hopefully results in changes, drastic ones, so no future Bitch McStopallz are possible.

The selfish evil ways of the 1% finally catching up?

If not, just worse til it is changed, you got those in power fighting it, ridiculously so, and this whole mess is just part of it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. I was sort of wondering the same

but, of course, Impeachment will still leave a mark and a stain on Trump's Presidency (not that it isn't already stained and in tatters). And Republican Senators will be forced to take a vote they'd rather not take. Plus, it's what *might* (will) be uncovered during the Impeachment Inquiry that probably has several Republicans on edge (because some of them may themselves be implicated in some wrongdoing and/or coverups)- and what we ultimately learn throughout this process will probably only be scratching the surface due to the non-compliance of several requested EB witnesses