Nice summation.
Thanks, one other factor may be at work too, beyond softening up the Republican base to accept the impeachment of Trump (i.e., by the Republican leaders showing Trump to be ineffective and a nutcase).
Remember the articles regarding the 2020 election and how Republicans are making plans to Primary Trump. Well, for them to have any chance of defeating Trump, the base, again, will have to be softened up.
So it’s probably both at work for the Republican leadership...Impeach Trump as soon as possible, if at all politically possible - barring that, then Primary him out in 2020.
In any case it’s now the Republican leadership fighting for their political lives, not Trump.
Whoops.