I said I didn't want Trump impeached, and that turns out not to be quite true. I don't want him removed from office through an impeachment process. As much as he personally deserves it, I think the result would be a huge stink about nullifying election results (which we're already seeing the beginnings of). Somebody worse than Trump (yes, such things are possible) could ride that wave of resentment into office and do a lot more damage.
But there's a lot to be said for the impeachment process, which has the potential to lay bare a lot of Trump's malfeasance in some specific areas. Not nearly all of it - there's way too much for that - but enough to do him a lot of damage. And because the GOP seems determined to sink or swim with Trump, that damage will be inflicted on them as well.
That has the potential to cause the best outcome, which is a massive election defeat for the GOP. Angry Democrats, disgusted Republicans, horrified independents; a wave of these could cause the sort of losses that would make the GOP pull back from Trump-like candidates for a long time to come.
And it is vital that the sort of conduct Trump is being impeached for have consequences - even if they are not removal from office. Massive political damage from exposure of crimes is a punishment on its own, even if your tame senators are able to save you from conviction. If there is no impeachment for extorting a foreign government to interfere in US elections, it will become routine. There must be risk, at the very least.
I have said before that "The purpose of having parties like the Democrats and the Republicans is to stand for something - smaller government, or social justice or whatever - but also to find competent people to stand for office." Parties that fail to do this deserve to lose heavily at elections - not just that one race, but at all the surrounding races. If the impeachment process can enhance that effect I am all for it.
So I hope it is in the electoral interest of senate Republicans to convict, and I don't want them to do so for that very reason.
