Explanation: let's say the GOP impeaches Trump. Pence becomes president. The GOP likes Pence - he's a generic conservative Republican, with no significant achievements or heresies. (Matt Yglesias thought he was a serious presidential dark horse option back in 2014.) Everyone would be happier if Pence were elected president.
But this isn't an option. Impeachment is an admission that Trump is wrong. It's an invitation for every elected Republican to exercise personal judgment rather than follow the party line. It empowers the opposition, which is still the Democrats. It sends swing voters a signal, "there's been a mistake, vote for the Democrats next time." And it tells working-class racists that Trump really is out of line, whereas today they're happy with the Muslim ban and think the only opponents are darkies and arugula eaters rather than Real Americans.
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Explanation: let's say the GOP impeaches Trump. Pence becomes president. The GOP likes Pence - he's a generic conservative Republican, with no significant achievements or heresies. (Matt Yglesias thought he was a serious presidential dark horse option back in 2014.) Everyone would be happier if Pence were elected president.
But this isn't an option. Impeachment is an admission that Trump is wrong. It's an invitation for every elected Republican to exercise personal judgment rather than follow the party line. It empowers the opposition, which is still the Democrats. It sends swing voters a signal, "there's been a mistake, vote for the Democrats next time." And it tells working-class racists that Trump really is out of line, whereas today they're happy with the Muslim ban and think the only opponents are darkies and arugula eaters rather than Real Americans.
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