Jennifer Rubin: "Pelosi was right to wait" [View all]

[StarfishSaver]

I’m not impressed with far-left Democrats claiming they were leaders on impeachment by seeking President Trump’s ouster two years ago. It would have been foolhardy until now to progress to impeachment.

A fact pattern as complicated as the Trump campaign’s solicitation of Russian help and Trump’s attempt to cover it up was destined to lose the public’s attention. It took special counsel Robert S. Mueller III 22 months and 448 pages to explain it. Moreover, in that set of circumstances the Trump-appointed attorney general could get his hands on it first, massage the facts and then instruct executive branch witnesses not to cooperate. Congress did not have the right facts nor the right powers to dislodge the truth in a compelling fashion. The public remained staunchly opposed to impeachment for Russia-related issues.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can read the polls and knows her members. Moreover, she knows a thing or two about public sentiment and how to sway it. Holding off on impeachment until the Ukraine scandal popped up gave her several advantages.
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A skilled leader doesn’t go plunging into the abyss of impeachment without her party, the public and a concise narrative all lined up. She learns from past errors (e.g., don’t rush to court to compel testimony, a process that takes months, and don’t let members conduct factual inquiries at hearings) and adjusts her strategy accordingly. One can see just how skillful Pelosi has been by the lack of a coherent response from Republicans. By picking the right fight at the right time — and withstanding outside pressure to act precipitously — Pelosi has positioned her members to make the best possible case against Trump while defending their majority. In retrospect, it certainly is fortunate her members didn’t push her out of the way in favor of a novice leader.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/25/pelosi-was-right-wait/