With impeachment, Democrats strike at the king -- and miss

SAN DIEGO -- In the march up to impeachment -- the first steps of which began this past January after Democrats seized control of the House and set out to, as newly sworn-in Rep. Rashida Tlaib put it, "impeach the [blankity-blank]" -- I've had a movie scene playing in my head.

In "A Few Good Men," the iconic character of Marine Col. Nathan Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson) taunts Navy lawyer Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) about the circumstantial evidence presented to exonerate two Marines being court martialed. The evidence includes the fact that the fellow Marine that they're accused of killing hadn't called his family to tell them he was coming home, suggesting that he was never going to leave the base.

"Please tell me you've got something more, Lieutenant," Jessep says sarcastically. "These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me that their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill."

Democrats pinned their impeachment hopes on a phone call -- between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Now, as a Never Trump'er, I'm sad that my Christmas stocking is empty.

I never thought Trump was fit for the office in the first place -- and, time and again over the last three years, he has proved me right. I want him out, done, gone.

But the Scrooges on the left remind us there is no Santa Claus. Democrats promised to get rid of Trump, but they didn't deliver. They went after the dragon with pea shooters, so they could brag about going to war.

They approved two articles of impeachment against Trump -- for alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The second one makes sense, but the first one will make your head spin.

Political observers point out that impeachment isn't a legal process but a political one.

True. But Americans can be excused for being confused -- given that the process is provided for in the Constitution, it is supposedly triggered by "high crimes and misdemeanors," evidence is presented, and the Senate holds a "trial" presided over by the chief justice of the United States.

It's a good thing that the impeachment of Trump is not a formal legal proceeding, because Democrats have built such a flimsy case for abuse of power that a rookie public defender could beat this rap.

Trump is accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden -- whom the media generously calls his "chief rival" -- because he was supposedly afraid to run against the former vice president.

You don't say? Trump may be the only person, in either party, who fears Biden. Maybe the president should have talked to Ukraine about Elizabeth Warren.

Democrats say that Trump committed a crime. Fine. Under the criminal standard, there is "reasonable doubt" as to Trump's motives. It's possible that he just wanted Biden, and his son Hunter, to get a taste of the scrutiny that he and his family have gotten since entering the political arena.

Trump is probably thinking: If Barron isn't off-limits, why should Hunter be?

The point is, there is wiggle room for Trump to get loose -- and Democrats were dumb to provide it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi probably knows she's holding a pair of deuces, which could explain why she doesn't seem eager to take the next step in the impeachment process.

After all, Pelosi has done her part. She led Democrats to approve articles of impeachment and thus put a stain, an asterisk, a qualifier before the name "Donald Trump" in the history books. If there is mud on Trump at the moment, she put it there.

For whatever that's worth. And I would argue that if impeachment energizes Trump voters to the point where one of the worst presidents in my lifetime gets re-elected -- it's not worth much.

Pelosi now seems reluctant to send the articles of impeachment to the GOP-controlled Senate, where they will go to die. She'd obviously rather end this story on an indictment by the House than on an acquittal by the Senate.

So much scheming. Imagine if Democratic leaders put this much time, thought, energy and skill into developing a high-quality presidential candidate who could defeat Trump at the polls next November. That makes too much sense.

Meanwhile, Trump tweeted about the impeachment vote: "This is an assault on America."

The blankity-blank ought to know. When it comes to assaulting America -- her character, her values, her traditions and her dignity -- he's a repeat offender.

========

Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.