The GOP's 'nutjob squad' is crippling Donald Trump's chances of re-election: analysis
Echoing the Republican Party's attempt to impeach former President Bill Clinton, which led to bolstering his popularity, the drive by current GOP House members to impeach President Joe Biden and various members of his cabinet may help to seal his re-election prospects.
According to the New Republic's Walter Shapiro, the obsession by what he called the "nutjob squad" in the House, which is obsessed with retaliating for Donald Trump's two impeachments, will likely solidify support for the current president and hurt Donald Trump who is already behind in the polls.
As Shapiro wrote, the divisions over going after Biden are already apparent among House Republicans, particularly those representing swing districts, to say nothing of the widely-publicized squabbles between Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) over whose impeachment motion should get priority. That type of turmoil is not helpful going into the 2024 election.
"Rather than quaking in terror, Democrats should be shouting, 'Bring it on.' Impeachment fever may be emotionally satisfying for the Republicans, but the frenzy comes with political costs for the GOP in 2024 and beyond," Shapiro wrote. "In general election terms, impeachment is a boon for the Democrats, which is why [House Speaker Kevin] McCarthy is desperately trying to slow walk these simpleminded drives for vengeance."
READ MORE: 'This is not normal': Legal expert calls out Trump for 'crowdsourcing' threats against prosecutors
The New Republic columnist added that impeachments on "flimsy" charges will do nothing to bring back the independent voters the GOP badly needs for Trump, the presumptive nominee.
Add to that, impeachment proceedings against Biden would once again put the House Republicans under the spotlight after a series of hearings under Chairs James Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) that have flopped so far.
"Since taking over the House in January, the Republicans have provided scant evidence that they know how to run a compelling congressional hearing. So it strains credulity that the so-called evidentiary hearings leading up to a House vote on impeachment of Biden or a Cabinet member would sway anyone who doesn’t already live in the right-wing fever swamps," he wrote before adding, "When Elise Stefanik, who is supposed to be the telegenic voice of the House Republican leadership, routinely talks of 'the Biden crime family,' you get a sense of how over-the-top GOP rhetoric would be during an impeachment hearing (especially one led by Jim Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who is known for intemperate antics and a disdain for suit jackets)."
You can read more here.