Push to impeach Trump stalls amid Democrats' deference to -- and fear of -- Pelosi

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. I'm not clear on her reasoning here

I guess her argument is, basically, that the Republicans are "hanging" themselves? Are they really, though? Making the calculus that voters will hang the albatross around the necks of every Republican in 2020? That seems like a huge risk. If Republicans survived George W. Bush and spent 8 years of trashing Obama, stealing a Supreme Court seat, and winning the Presidency and both chambers of Congress (keeping in mind Russian interference) in 2016 against a way more qualified candidate, I'm a little less than certain that 2020 is a shoo-in for us. Once the right-wing smear machine cranks up to a fever pitch next year and (probable) Russian interference starts in earnest without any additional protections, our candidate may find themselves running neck-and-neck with Trump again. This may come off as alarmist to some but I'm pretty certain that it's entirely probable. Maybe attempting to impeach Trump may change this calculus and maybe it won't but, frankly, if any President needs to have an inquiry it's Trump, even if for no other reason than gross incompetence and corruption. If the Republicans in the Senate want to ignore everything and vote to acquit in the Senate, that's on them, but, aside from a single Republican in the House, it's hard to count on the Republicans really ruining things for themselves.