House Democrats And Republicans Take Stock As Impeachment Vote Looms

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., addresses the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Friday, June 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Party leaders in the House are keeping eagle eyes on where their members stand on impeachment as the vote next week draws closer.

House Democrats, per Politico, are trying to keep defections in the single digits and seem on track to do so. There is little concern that enough members would turn against impeachment to endanger the vote.

Still, exact figures may be hard to come by until the day of the vote itself, since few swing-district Democrats see any reason to prematurely indicate which way they’ll go.

Republicans, on the other hand, seem somewhat less comfortable with their position. Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) shot off an email Wednesday night informing Republican offices that he’d be talking to their bosses about their impeachment vote intentions.

“Whip Scalise recommends a NO vote,” it reads before detailing Republican talking points about the “sham” articles of impeachment and the “soviet-style” impeachment inquiry.

The Democratic-majority House is expected to pass the articles of impeachment, just as the Republican-majority Senate is expected to ultimately effectively clear the President of the misdeeds they detail either by full acquittal or dismissal of the articles. However, how individual members vote will likely provide insight into how big of a threat or boon lawmakers see their participation in the impeachment process to their reelection chances and political standing.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. I just watched what Gym Jordan said about ‘not liking them’.

    If by ‘them’ he means people who support criminal administrations, then you’re right, we no NOT like you.

    On the other hand, I AM a registered republican. I stopped VOTING republican in 2000 after people like you robbed the democrats of an election and haven’t voted republican since. I have a lot of friends who voted for trump, most are horrified at what he’s doing. They are even more horrified by the actions of the republicans. NOT ONE plans on voting for him OR YOU again, and you know it.

    So do I ‘hate’ you? Yes Gym, I hate YOU! You’re destroying our republic and so help me dog, if you succeed I’ll try to PERSONALLY strangle you if I ever see you in person.

    I can’t imagine that there aren’t MILLIONS of us that feel the same way.

  2. Don’t let the Gloom People dominate this thread. This is a significant time we are in, and one I would not have predicted as late as July 2019.

  3. Republicans, on the other hand, seem somewhat less comfortable with their position. Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) shot off an email Wednesday night informing Republican offices that he’d be talking to their bosses about their impeachment vote intentions.

    Oh please, GOP leaders are sleeping soundly at night knowing there will be zero. ZERO, defections on an impeachment vote, both in committee and the full House. Just as there will be zero conviction votes in the Senate. Why journos have to give credence to the idea there are Republicans with courage and a conscience is a puzzle.

  4. Many of the Founders, Washington among them, were deeply concerned about parties causing great harm to the republic … “factionalism,” they sometimes called it.

    It took a while, but we’re here. Politicians will one day be judged on how they responded. It isn’t looking good for many.

  5. McConnell is talking of absolving trump, not just “not guilty”…
    Fucker needs to be voted OUT. C’mon Kentucky, you can do it.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

66 more replies

Participants

Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for bobatkinson Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for eduardoinohio Avatar for dont Avatar for mike_in_houston Avatar for cd Avatar for darcy Avatar for nemo Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for darrtown Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for tena Avatar for brewhousebob Avatar for kimaanderson Avatar for cgd Avatar for birdford Avatar for john819 Avatar for j_publicus Avatar for seamus42 Avatar for dougsanders Avatar for johnblankenbaker Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: