Nancy plays a new card - impeachment delay

Nancy Pelosi has been pretty sure-footed ever since being appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives and now she has taken what will turn out to be a smart move. The House has voted to impeach Donald Trump on two charges, abuse of office and obstruction of Congress. Next stage is to hand the two articles of impeachment over to managers who pass them formally to the Senate for the Republican-controlled body to lay out the plans for a trial. But, as Pelosi has increasingly become aware, handing over the articles of impeachment to the Republican hierarchy of the Senate is a bit like asking a robber to deposit your gold bullion into your bank safe on your behalf. Mitch McConnell, the cunning Senate Majority Leader, has already made clear in public that he is not going to be an honest broker and deal with the Democrat-controlled House's request in the most honourable and responsible manner. He is opposed to a trial, he is opposed to impeachment, so he will orchestrate a trial that will no doubt best suit Trump and the Republicans, and suddenly those precious articles will just disappear into nothingness. Just like those gold bars faithfully handed over to the robber! So Pelosi has listened to Democrats worried about a trial stitch-up and caused a storm when she said she was in no hurry to hand over the articles of impeachment until she was good and ready. A masterful stroke. The White House blew up in righteous anger. Trump and co who have always said the impeachment process was a witch hunt and thought they had got it all sorted after Mitch McConnell had pronounced his determination to make sure Trump ended up being found NOT GUILTY. Now with Pelosi's delaying tactics it means the Democrats and Republicans will have to do some horse-trading before those fragile-do-not-drop articles are passed to the Senate. As a result we are now talking aout a trial that may be in January but probably more likely February or even later. Trump will be steaming mad throughout that time. Pelosi has to get her timing right but whatever is decided about the rules and guidelines for a trial, Trump will still escape conviction unless Pelosi can encourage some of the Republicans to put country before career. But not rushing into a Senate trial looks to me like a clever move.