But they’re still not calling it an impeachment inquiry.
Is that wise? Or is it silly?
It seems to me that it is wise.
Before the House can open an impeachment hearing, a majority has to vote in favor. Right now, the Democrats don’t have the votes. Last I heard, 118 Democratic representatives were in favor of opening impeachment proceedings.
That isn’t enough.
Imagine the Democrats calling for a vote on whether to open impeachment hearings, and not enough members of the House vote “yes.” The whole thing will be over, and Trump will gloat.
There are rumors that if Pelosi came out in favor of opening an impeachment inquiry, she could persuade others to join her. That may be true. It might not.
At any rate, I can think of good reasons to postpone using the “I” word.
Once there is a formal impeachment hearing, more public attention will be focussed, which will allow the GOP to run their propaganda mill more efficiently.
If it’s called “impeachment inquiry,” by the time the Dems finally have their evidence lined up, which can take a while, the public will be weary and the conclusions will seem anti-climatic.
Waiting until the Dems have the evidence lined up allows for some surprise.
I vividly remember Clinton’s senate trial, and I know how the GOP will take the word “impeachment” and turn it into a national circus.
There’s a reason the GOP used the “I” word more often then the Dems in the Mueller hearings. The Dems used the word cautiously and judiciously at the end of each session in the context of “we will follow the facts where they lead, and if that’s where they lead, we will have no choice.”
Compare Caution to Political Theater and a Three Ring Circus (which the GOP wants)
Quietly assembling the evidence without using the “I” word removes some of the intense focus and prevents public gaffes that can undermine the results.
I think it’s inevitable that the House will formally open impeachment hearings, but there is no point calling for a vote until you know you have enough votes, and lining up the evidence in advance seems wise to me.
