Thank Goodness for the Congressional Holiday Recess!
The news media isn't mentioning it hardly at all, but the reason there is no feedback from House members and Senators right now is because they aren't in DC. They took off right after the House's impeachment vote for their annual holiday recess. They will not return until January 7.
Why is that a good thing? Well, it gives everyone some time to think. More importantly, the Senators are back in their home states. They're not talking to individual constituents, of course. That would be too pedestrian for them. They are, however, hearing from the people they actually listen to - their big contributors and influencers.
During the recess, one Senator, from Alaska, has voiced her reservations about Mitch McConnell. That's a good thing. Others, no doubt, are hearing warnings from those who fund their campaigns and influence them, as well. In some cases, what they're hearing isn't what you might think.
Mike Pence. He's there, sitting and waiting. If Trump leaves office for any reason, Mike Pence would become President. That prospect may well be beginning to look pretty good to some Republican donors and Senator-backers. Trump is looking pretty bad these days. His mind is slipping and he's doing really embarrassing things. What would be lost if he were removed from office by the Senate?
That's the question that's in the minds of many these days. Now, Mike Pence is not really presidential material, but he's not Donald Trump. There is value in that for many. Trump gets harder and harder to support for many wealthy and powerful Republicans. Some of them may well be voicing their doubts about Trump to those Senators, now that they're back in their states.
We're not hearing about those conversations, nor will we hear about them.
January 7. Mark that date on your calendar. Things will start ramping up after that date. The Articles of Impeachment will be delivered to the Senate soon after that date. Then, we'll begin to see whether the holiday recess changed any minds. Senators who don't have to run again until 2022 or 2024 can change their minds without risking losing their seats. Will they?
I don't know.
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