The force of events – the Ukraine “quid pro quo” and everything surrounding it – and the political wisdom and moral integrity of House Democrats explain to a large degree yesterday’s impeachment vote. Popular opposition had a hand in impeaching Trump too, but we shouldn’t suggest that it was the only (or the main) factor. Such an explanation doesn’t conform with how things rolled out over the past 3 months, not least the role of Trump’s own outrageous and self-incriminating behavior in strong arming Ukraine and the principled role of Democrats in prosecuting Trump’s violations of elementary constitutional and democratic norms.
If anything beyond the halls of Congress figured in an outsized clash of competing political coalitions, it was the results of the midterm elections.
