The Resistance is is really ramping up the “impeachment” talk, but so far, it doesn’t seem to be having the desired effect Nancy Pelosi. Despite their efforts, Pelosi hasn’t really budged.
Does she know something the rest of the Resistance doesn’t? New York Magazine business columnist Josh Barro thinks that might very well be the case. In a thread today, Barro explains why the impeachment route might not be in the Democrats’ best interests.
Read the whole thing https://t.co/af6NfwJV5n
— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) May 23, 2019
You really should:
I think it's odd that the onus had been placed on Pelosi to argue the negative on impeachment when the affirmative has not been argued like its proponents think it has. An impeachable offense is a necessary condition for deciding to impeach, not a sufficient condition.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
In my view, the key purpose of impeachment is removal. It would not achieve that here. Maybe a purpose of impeachment is to express condemnation of the president's acts. I am skeptical that it would be a particularly effective or useful way to do so.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
I think a lot of people are yearning for a clear and loud declaration that what the president did was wrong. Partly because they hope that would convince others (unlikely) and partly because it would make them feel good (likely, but not important.)
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
What I go back to is that the president's poll numbers don't move on Russia news — positive or negative. That I think is our best indicator of what an impeachment inquiry would be likely to do to public views on the president's actions. I really don't think it would matter.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
But without moving the headline approval numbers, it could matter in different ways. I think there are larger opportunities for it to improve Republican intensity than Democratic intensity. It would crowd out other messages. The president would fundraise off it like crazy.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
I also think Nancy Pelosi is a very smart political strategist — I wasn't alone in underestimating how savvy her handling of other aspects of the speakership would be — and I think it's worth pausing to wonder if she sees something you don't.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
But broadly I think a lot of liberals have a framework looking at this: that the president's behavior is so manifestly bad, that people would change their views if they Only Paid Attention. This framework is incorrect and can cause you to misjudge the impeachment question.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 23, 2019
Donald Trump’s got a buttload of baggage. But the thing is, we knew about most of it when he was running for president the last time around and it didn’t really seem to dissuade his future voters from voting for him. The Resistance’s constant hysterical shrieking and rending of garments over every little thing he does only seem to make him stronger and more appealing to his base.
As ever, the left blew it by demanding impeachment on November 9, 2016. That ensured it would always be seen as sour grapes attempt to undo the election. They can't erase that now.
— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) May 23, 2019
They may very well have overplayed their hands. Nancy Pelosi is terrible for many reasons, but she does excel at playing political games. Could she just be trying to spare the Democrats from completely destroying themselves?
Join the conversation as a VIP Member