A modest prediction

For at least 40 years conservatives have called Republicans "the stupid party," cuz despite having far better ideas than Dems, the Dems manage to out-fox the Republicans at the last minute.

"Managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory."  Every time.

And now I think that as the House votes articles of impeachment, which must then go to the senate for trial, the Repubs are about to shoot themselves in the foot yet again.  Here's how:

The media are reporting that both Lindsay Graham and majority leader Mitch McConnell have said they don't want a long trial with full witnesses, but are instead considering the idea of simply taking a fast vote to acquit, without hearing evidence.

That's a huge mistake, for several reasons.  First, by taking a quick vote before testimony the senate would be missing a HUGE opportunity to put the Democrats on trial, by showing unequivocal evidence that Trump was investigating total, ghastly corruption by Biden and other members of the Obama administration.  Make the Dems stand on the theory that no one who contemplates running for president can be investigated for corruption or any other crime.  Let them try to convince voters that that's how Dems demand our country operate.

But the second point is even more devastating:  If the senate votes for a quick, no-testimony acquittal, I predict the public will view this as a coverup, and will give the Democrats control of the senate.

If that happens, I predict that if Trump is re-elected in 2020, the Dems will vote to impeach him a second time--and this time will have enough votes in the senate--thanks to new Dem senators elected by an outaged public--to remove him from office.

Given the cunning of the Dems, I think there's a chance this was the Dem plan from the outset.