Those undecided Republicans had to make some tough political calculations last week. House Republicans say they voted for impeachment knowing there's little chance the Senate will convict Clinton. In fact, it's the only form of censure specified in the Constitution. Once a trial starts in the Senate, it may be impossible to control. Like what happened in the House last week.
Republicans point out that there's no election for two years.
That's an eternity in politics. Clinton was dead meat in 1994 and the comeback kid in 1996. And, anyway, the wench is dead. Passions aroused by such a bitter, protracted experience won't cool so quickly. A lot of people oppose impeachment because they don't believe the country should have to go through that ordeal.