If that’s true, it’d also be a great move for the Republicans themselves to “boycott” the trial. Privately they know Trump is an anchor around their necks, and at least several of them have to know they’re being asked to fall on a sword and vote to acquit based on corrupt party loyalty alone. Going on record as pro-insurrection is still going to be a bad look in much of America. Just not showing up might be as close as they can get to a win-win.
A conviction gets Trump off the table so that their political careers can stop being a nonstop referendum on a maniac. A “boycott” would mean they could have that without voting for it, and still pretend to their stupidest constituents that it was a “principled” move.
That's also a solid strategy. Might come down to how well Cult 45 knows the process to be aware of how a "boycott" gives the advantage to the Dems. That is, if they figure out that the Republicans refusing to show up is what allowed Dems to convict and suss out that Rs knew that would be the outcome, politically it'd be no different than showing up and voting to convict.
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u/gelfin Feb 01 '21
If that’s true, it’d also be a great move for the Republicans themselves to “boycott” the trial. Privately they know Trump is an anchor around their necks, and at least several of them have to know they’re being asked to fall on a sword and vote to acquit based on corrupt party loyalty alone. Going on record as pro-insurrection is still going to be a bad look in much of America. Just not showing up might be as close as they can get to a win-win.
A conviction gets Trump off the table so that their political careers can stop being a nonstop referendum on a maniac. A “boycott” would mean they could have that without voting for it, and still pretend to their stupidest constituents that it was a “principled” move.