Does anybody think this is crossing the mind of GOP senators...

[NewJeffCT]

1) If we impeach & convict Trump quickly, I still have time to run for president
2) If we impeach & convict Trump quickly, I can still save me seat

Maybe they won't act on it, but I bet it's crossed the mind of more than a few of them - Romney, Rubio, Sasse and maybe a few others.

[StarfishSaver]

1. And party leadership is thinking

"If we get rid of him now, we'll have time to run Nicky Haley or John Kasich or someone else we think can beat a Democrat."

[cynatnite]

3. Party leadership knows that repubs lose in 2020 top to bottom. n/t

[StarfishSaver]

6. Unless they get Trump out quickly and get a new nominee

Unfortunately, voters have very short memories ...

[cynatnite]

8. Not that short with 2020 a little over a year away...

The Dems won't let it.

Now, 2022 and 2024...all of this will be ancient history.

[Mz Pip]

2. Would not surprise me in the least.

Romney is probably quietly making the rounds putting himself forward as a candidate if Trump goes down.

[MontanaMama]

5. DU's WellstoneRuled said exactly this.

Watch Romney.

[smb]

14. Spread The Word...

...until it gets to the Dotard's big orange ears....

[blm]

4. That definitely is keeping Kasich awake at night

[tavernier]

13. ...

[Jarqui]

7. I think the GOP have known for a long time that Trump

would be thrown to the wolves before 2020 got serious.

The less time the media have to vet the new candidate the better.
The more the Dems work towards coming up with a candidate to beat Trump, the better, because the GOP have known for some time that Trump was going to get his political throat cut. So they can pick a candidate representing change that will poll much better against Biden or whoever.

[herding cats]

9. I read yesterday some 30 R Senators would vote to impeach him secretly

So, yeah, it's there in the back of their minds, but they can't go public and won't vote to impeach him publicly.

They're stuck on this ship while Trump keeps blasting holes in the hull and screaming at them stop it from sinking.

[NewJeffCT]

12. Yes, I saw that

It would not surprise me - they fear the Deplorable Base and a potential Mean Tweet

[herding cats]

15. Their deplorable base will continue to be a factor...

Trump will keep them in his fold. What is in flux is the non-deplorable, mostly disengage average person out there. Will this be something that resonates with them? Possibly it will. Then we might see some cracks appear in the Republican front.

[Xolodno]

10. That and...

...how much of the Senate can we save?

...if we play the long game with Trump, what will it cost us?

...who are we going to ask to fall on their swords?

[Vogon_Glory]

11. Despite the fact that Ted Cruz is safe until 2024

I’m sure that the Calgary Kid is thinking about his presidential prospects next year if Donnie dies or is forced out.

[GusBob]

16. I think, more likely, they are thinking

If foreign nationals are allowed to interfere and influence elections, I may very well be the next target

[redstatebluegirl]

17. Romney

[TomSlick]

18. The question has always been

when Repugnants come to believe that they need to jettison Trump to save their political future. Most Regugnant Representatives and Senators would physically throw their mothers under a bus if necessary to hold their seat.

[BannonsLiver]

20. Outside of Twitler, McTurtle has the most to lose here.

If Trump is defeated soundly (Obama levels) he may well take the senate down with him. I'm not sure if the Turtle has the guts to turn on Donnie in the end, but I would bet he has started the process of making that calculation. And he is probably not alone among the upper echelons of GOP pols. The final word would have to come down from the people with the money, but there may be infighting already underway among the uber wealthy GOP power brokers.