To me it now looks as though impeachment is a foregone conclusion. That is not to say that Trump’s removal from office is assured. If I were to place bets today I would wager that the House passes their articles of impeachment and that the Senate would acquit. With Trump commanding 85% to 90% support within the Republican Party I doubt that there are very many GOP officials willing to publicly cross their party’s popular leader. While I believe that evidence is high and continue to grow that Trump has abused the office of the Presidency for personal political ends I do not think that GOP member are willing to risk getting a mini-trump primary opponent and will take their chances in the general election. At this time and with the current electorate that is the safe political decision, it only sacrifices honor, ethics, and rule of law.

There are many Republicans that feel that Trump is an aberration, a violation of their party’s political norms, a bolt of lightening that makes a loud noise but lives only a brief life and is soon nothing but a memory. This is wrong.

Trump did not spring to head of the party defeating established and hardline conservatives without the battlefield’s terrain well-prepared ahead of his advance. For decades as the GOP pursued power they surrendered again and again their principles. Placing victory as the only goal they advanced lies over truth, they celebrated coarse and degrading slanders of their opponents, and donned an impenetrable cloak of hypocrisy. With decades of such actions it is not surprising that Trump stole their party only that someone like Trump didn’t do it earlier. When Trump is gone, either in defeat in 2020, 2024 (shudder), or by impeachment, the party will not revert to some imagined norm Trump has changed the party without a war to drive his influence from the party it will continue with his imprint.