General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'll be blunt. Democrats help "normalize" Trump if we wait for an election to hold him accountable [View all]Tom Rinaldo
(22,924 posts)than could possibly win or retain them for that reason. The only thing Democrats can measurably do to undermine Trump's perceived authority in solid red states would be to hold high profile impeachment hearings that forced all of the dirt on him through the filters that currently protect his standing with them. Even with that Trump's core base and supporters are safe. Not impeaching Trump won't win Democrats any Senate seats we would not have won anyway. But in key races Republicans can be attacked for how they handle impeachment in the Senate. And Democrats will be super energized to win each and every competitive race involving a Republican Senator who voted not to convict and remove Trump from office. AFTER impeachment poll numbers will not look anything like pre-impeachment polls. That was true of Nixon as you know (support for him slipped after the hearings began)
The game board changes after 2020. If Trump is reelected Democrats THEN will be in a relatively weak position to impact Trump. But refusing to impeach him now does not strengthen our ability to impact him now. To the contrary.
Not being impeached is a major political victory for Trump.