Well, folks, the latest political theater in Washington just took a sharp turn, as a progressive push to impeach President Donald Trump got slapped down harder than a fly at a barbecue.
On Wednesday night, Rep. Al Green (D-TX) rolled out two articles of impeachment against Trump via a privileged resolution, only to see his effort crushed on Thursday when 23 Democrats teamed up with Republicans to table the measure by a vote of 237 to 140, with 47 members opting for a noncommittal “present," as Fox News reports.
Green, ever the persistent thorn in Trump’s side, used a privileged resolution to demand quick action on his impeachment bid within two legislative days. It’s a tactic designed to force the issue, but it seems he underestimated the lack of appetite for this fight among his own party.
By Thursday, Republicans pounced, calling for a vote to table the resolution and effectively slam the door on Green’s crusade. The numbers don’t lie -- 237 to 140 is a resounding rejection.
Interestingly, 23 Democrats crossed the aisle to join the GOP in shutting this down, including notable names like Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) That’s a significant splinter in party unity, showing not everyone’s on board with symbolic gestures that go nowhere.
Even more telling, senior Democrat leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) all voted “present,” essentially sitting this one out. If that’s not a signal of lukewarm support, what is?
Green’s articles of impeachment weren’t light on accusations, charging Trump with abuse of power on two fronts. The first count pointed to Trump’s alleged call for the “execution” of six congressional Democrats over a video urging military members to refuse illegal orders, a statement that sparked an FBI inquiry. The second accused him of fostering a climate of political violence and undermining judicial independence with hostile comments toward federal judges.
Now, let’s be fair -- strong words from a president can stir the pot, but impeachment over rhetoric feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Many Democrats, despite their general opposition to Trump, seemed to agree, dismissing Green’s move as a symbolic stunt with no real traction.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with Clark and Aguilar, issued a statement that practically dripped with reluctance: “Impeachment is a sacred constitutional vehicle designed to hold a corrupt executive accountable for abuse of power, breaking the law and violating the public trust.” That’s a lofty ideal, but it’s hard to take seriously when they follow it up by voting “present.”
Their statement continued, “None of that serious work has been done, with the Republican majority focused solely on rubber stamping Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.” Fair point about GOP priorities, but if Democrats truly believed in this cause, wouldn’t they at least take a stand instead of hiding behind a neutral vote?
Jeffries himself, back on Dec. 1, hinted at the futility of it all, saying, “Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives.” He’s likely right -- Trump’s influence over the GOP is undeniable, and a Senate controlled by Republicans would almost certainly toss any impeachment effort into the shredder.
Green’s track record doesn’t help his case either; he’s filed impeachment articles against Trump multiple times over the past year. Even an incident where he was ejected from a joint address to Congress for interrupting Trump’s speech shows persistence, but perhaps not the kind that wins allies.
Most Democrats, it seems, just aren’t buying what Green is selling. They’ve signaled little interest in pursuing what’s widely seen as a hollow gesture, especially without a comprehensive investigation to back it up.
Jeffries and his leadership team pointed to the lack of serious oversight by the GOP majority as their excuse for stepping back, but let’s call it what it is -- a convenient dodge. If you’re not willing to fight for a principle, don’t dress it up as procedural high ground.
So, here we are, with another impeachment attempt biting the dust, proving once again that political grandstanding often falls flat without the votes to back it. Trump remains unscathed, Green remains undeterred, and the rest of us are left wondering if Washington will ever focus on the bread-and-butter issues that actually matter.
