The problem is that A14 (3) cuts both ways. A vindictive Republican-majority Congress to bar future Democratic hopefuls. It is unlikely they'll hold a majority in the Reps for a while, so unlikely to be used.
The hope might be that A14(3), if activated, is the final warning line the whatever is left of the GOP. Come back from the brink!
You are right that lawmakers will rightly be loath to use a weapon that could in future be used against them. I note now that the article of impeachment has been published that it includes reference to the 14th amendment, perhaps on the view that if the impeachable action is seen as sufficiently grave and exceptional, the 14th amendment might still be useable. But the priority is evidently to do so in connection with conviction, not as a substitute
The problem is that A14 (3) cuts both ways. A vindictive Republican-majority Congress to bar future Democratic hopefuls. It is unlikely they'll hold a majority in the Reps for a while, so unlikely to be used.
The hope might be that A14(3), if activated, is the final warning line the whatever is left of the GOP. Come back from the brink!
You are right that lawmakers will rightly be loath to use a weapon that could in future be used against them. I note now that the article of impeachment has been published that it includes reference to the 14th amendment, perhaps on the view that if the impeachable action is seen as sufficiently grave and exceptional, the 14th amendment might still be useable. But the priority is evidently to do so in connection with conviction, not as a substitute