Trump will never be impeached

I think it's pretty safe to predict that Donald Trump, former president of the United States, will never be convicted on impeachment charges. He may be well away from the Washington swamp, playing golf at his resort in Florida, but his towering influence on the Republican party remains as strong as ever. No Republican senator - well may be a handful - is going to risk his/her career by voting in favour of impeachment. It just ain't going to happen. A few days ago it looked different. There was talk of Republicans wrestling with their conscience and thinking seriously about joining the Democrats in the Senate and finally getting rid of Trump, convicting him and preventing him ever again from standing for public office. It was going to be a mighty swipe at Trumpism, cleaning out the stables to allow a new lot of hopeful presidents to have their turn. But there was so much vitriol aimed at senators considering such a bold move that that scenario has all but vanished. The Democrats need 17 Republicans in the Senate to side with them to get Trump convicted to ensure the two-thirds majority required. Absolutely not going to happen. The Republicans, probably all of them, will vote against impeachment claiming that it's unconstitutional to impeach someone who is no longer the president. Many lawyers disagree but that's the stance the Republicans are taking and they will stick with it. Will any Republicans dare to go against their colleagues? I doubt it. A few might but their careers will be over if they do. Trump in Florida has cast his huge shadow over the party and they are frightened, yes frightened, to go against him.