"In this instance, Pelosi's normally acute political judgment is failing her.."

[ehrnst]

120. False dichotomy and a straw man.

The only branch of government in any kind of position to take any kind of meaningful action is the House side of the Legislative branch. If that body doesn't avail itself of the only meaningful remedy available to it, seems to me we're waving a white flag.

Can you tell me what "holding him accountable" means in concrete terms? I ask people who are wringing their hands about it, and they can't say anything other than, "removing him from office!" (will only happen for sure by voting him out) or "impeaching him so that Senate Republicans/his supporters will finally be forced to see how corrupt he is!" (Which we all know won't change any of their minds.) So, what else do you consider to be "holding him accountable."

First off, there are dozens of investigations going on. That's meaningful action, even if you don't see what's going on in them day to day. They are legislating. And before you say, "well that's pointless because the GOP won't let most of them pass" tell it to a Sanders supporter who thinks that bringing up MFA right now will indeed bring health care to everyone starting now.

Yes, there are limits to what Congress can do, because the GOP still has the house. Acknowledgeing that is not = to saying we are "powerless to hold him accountable!!!" Congress cannot remove him from office, or shorten his term by a single minute without the GOP members of the Senate agreeing to it, and these Senators will not even call Trump a racist. You think that they will consider voting "no" on impeachment to be a negative in being re-elected?

However, those Democratic Senators in red or swing states might lose their seats if they vote Yes on impeachment.

Getting back the Senate, and keeping the House is the ONLY way to even start to mitigate, let alone reverse the damage Trump has done. Trump supporters take any move against Trump personally, and will be very motivated to vote and volunteer in 2020 to 'protect' their guy - and that includes House and Senate seats..

If we have to choose between impeachment and retaking the Senate, retaking the Senate is hands down the most effective way to move forward. It's not as validating - and watch parties for elections won't be as cathartic as impeachment parties, but I'll take the future over present catharsis.

I have children and I care about their future more than I do seeing the spectacle of impeachment - temporarily satisfying it may be.

Besides, when the Senate doesn't vote to remove him, it will still be blamed on Pelosi somehow for "not doing something" that "she should have been doing."