There was a massive traffic clusterfuck that delayed a busload of Democrats from returning from an event across town (multiple Republicans also got delayed). This included some of the loudest Democratic supporters of the effort.
The House GOP exploited this by closing the vote as soon as they had the majority; if it had been the other way around, they would have just held it open for hours until they had enough votes to defeat it. The absent Dems didn’t actually change the outcome.
This specific vote was driven by outgoing Republican Thomas Massie, there’s nothing preventing Democrats from introducing their own in January. In fact it’s arguably better – an impeachment now would have managers appointed by Republicans and go before a Republican-controlled Senate. I’d much rather have Democratic managers and 56 Democrats in the Senate. Especially if Hegseth somehow is fired or resigns and Trump is able to appoint a new Defense Secretary with the current Senate.
Even in the case of a 2027 impeachment though, you’d still need 11 Senate Republicans to vote to convict (12 if Fetterman defects), which is extremely unlikely given who’s left in the caucus. This whole effort is ultimately symbolic, not something with a real shot at removing Hegseth.
Acting like this was some nefarious plot by AIPAC to maintain the war is absurd.
This is so dumb.
There was a massive traffic clusterfuck that delayed a busload of Democrats from returning from an event across town (multiple Republicans also got delayed). This included some of the loudest Democratic supporters of the effort.
The House GOP exploited this by closing the vote as soon as they had the majority; if it had been the other way around, they would have just held it open for hours until they had enough votes to defeat it. The absent Dems didn’t actually change the outcome.
This specific vote was driven by outgoing Republican Thomas Massie, there’s nothing preventing Democrats from introducing their own in January. In fact it’s arguably better – an impeachment now would have managers appointed by Republicans and go before a Republican-controlled Senate. I’d much rather have Democratic managers and 56 Democrats in the Senate. Especially if Hegseth somehow is fired or resigns and Trump is able to appoint a new Defense Secretary with the current Senate.
Even in the case of a 2027 impeachment though, you’d still need 11 Senate Republicans to vote to convict (12 if Fetterman defects), which is extremely unlikely given who’s left in the caucus. This whole effort is ultimately symbolic, not something with a real shot at removing Hegseth.
Acting like this was some nefarious plot by AIPAC to maintain the war is absurd.