Is impeachment destined to 'die quickly' in the Senate?

What’s happening

Wednesday’s vote to impeach President Trump marked the end of a painstaking, and at times grinding, investigative process that took place over the course of three months in the House of Representatives. Impeachment now moves to a trial in the Senate, where there are indications things may move at a much more accelerated pace.

The ultimate outcome of the trial is almost certain. Even the most optimistic liberal forecasters find the likelihood that 20 Republicans — the number needed to join Democrats in a vote to convict...