Every Republican president since Ronald Reagan has faced Democrat demands for impeachment. Dems called for Reagan’s impeachment multiple times throughout his two terms. In 1991, George H.W. Bush heard impeachment calls due to the Gulf War, and George W. Bush saw Democrats go so far as to introduce 35 articles of impeach centered on the bipartisan war in Iraq. President Donald Trump has faced nonstop calls for impeachment dating back to even before his inauguration. In other words, calls for impeachment from Democrats are standard political practice, no matter how much they claim otherwise.

Now, it appears the constant Democrat drumbeat for impeachment in order to undermine Trump’s successful agenda, has reached a fever pitch as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has long resisted taking any actual action on impeachment, held a meeting with House Democrats this morning. For political veterans like Pelosi, the goal is to push the negative narrative of Trump supposedly obstructing justice in order to keep a cloud over his presidency, while at the same time avoiding too much political fallout from these clearly partisan allegations. Calling Trump a criminal is a lot easier than proving he is one.

As predicted, following the meeting, Pelosi once again trumpeted the narrative while refusing to initiate impeachment proceedings. “We do believe that it’s important to follow the facts,” she bloviated. “We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States. And we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up. And that was the nature of the meeting.”

Pelosi knows that following through on impeachment proceedings without having any obvious and clear illegal action with which to charge the president is a recipe for disaster. Acting on the real reason behind their obstruction allegations — “Trump is a bad guy because we don’t like him, so therefore he must be impeached” — won’t fly with the vast majority of Americans.

Ironically, California Democrat Jackie Speier unwittingly admitted as much, stating, “Let me be clear: I don’t believe that in the end we will do any more than lay out for the American people the articles of impeachment and then, rather than send it to the Senate where he would be tried, I think the trial will be the 2020 election and the American people can convict him.” It’s all about partisan politics. And it’s a cynical political play Democrats have repeatedly used for decades.