Reply #32: It won't tie up government because it will never get to first base right now [View All]

There is a process for impeachment. And that process starts with the full House of Representatives voting to authorize and direct the Judiciary Committee to undertake an impeachment inquiry and report back as to whether the adoption of articles of impeachment is warranted.

The problem is that, notwithstanding the fact that the Democrats numerically have a majority in the House, a vote on commencing an impeachment inquiry that doesn't enjoy some measure of bipartisan support will never pass. Too many Democrats will not support it because of the historical precedent: the resolution authorizing the Judiciary inquiry in the Nixon impeachment was overwhelmingly bipartisan (something like 404 -10) and even the resolution to start the Clinton impeachment inquiry picked up around 30 Democrats. Unless and until some repubs indicate that they'd jump ship and support an impeachment inquiry, any effort to start the process will be stillborn.