在《星球大战》原作中，卢克·天行客、韩·索罗、丘巴卡和欧比旺·克诺比在遥远的外部空间遭到帝国TIE战机追击。卢克推测，TIE战机正“朝那颗小卫星飞去”。但欧比旺的脸色渐渐凝重起来。
In the original Star Wars, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan Kenobi find the Millennium Falcon under fire from Imperial TIE fighters in deep outer space. Luke speculates that the TIE fighters are "heading for that small moon." But Obi-Wan’s visage grows grim.
“那不是一颗卫星，”欧比旺沉说道，“那是一座空间站。”韩·索罗并不认同。
"That’s no moon," intones Obi-Wan. "It’s a space station." Han Solo disagrees.
“它太大了，不可能是一座空间站，”韩说。欧比旺随即指示他：“把飞船调头。”然而，索罗几乎立刻就改变了主意。他皱起眉头，意识到这位睿智的绝地武士已经察觉到了什么。
"It’s too big to be a space station," says Han. To which, Obi-Wan instructs him, "Turn the ship around." But as quickly as he dismissed Kenobi’s observation, Solo pivots. He grimaces, realizing that the wise Jedi Knight is on to something.
民主党人阿尔·格林将推动众议院全体表决弹劾特朗普。“是啊，我认为你说得对，”韩答道。“千年 Falcon开始剧烈摇晃。
DEMOCRAT AL GREEN TO FORCE HOUSE-WIDE VOTE ON IMPEACHING TRUMP "Yeah. I think you’re right," Han replies. The Millennium Falcon starts to shake.
“丘伊，接通辅助动力，”韩向同伴下令。“我们为什么还在朝它靠近？”卢克尖声问道。“我们被牵引光束抓住了，它正把我们吸过去！”韩喊道。
"Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power," Han commands his shipmate. "Why are we still moving towards it?" squeaks Luke. "We’re caught in a tractor beam and it’s pulling us in!" shouts Han.
片刻之后，银河系最快的飞船“千年Falcon”被吸入死星的327号机库，牢牢停泊其中，无法逃脱。这群临时拼凑起来的英雄如今被困在了死星上。
And a few moments later, the Millenium Falcon, the fastest ship in the galaxy, is suctioned into Bay 327 of the Death Star, moored, and unable to escape. The band of ragtag heroes are now stuck. On the Death Star.
索龙元帅称死星拥有“宇宙中的终极力量”。国会弹劾总统有点像死星的牵引光束，一旦落入其掌控，便无法挣脱。弹劾决定会把一个政党吸入其中，最终让所有人在政治世界equivalent于机库的地方迷失方向。
Grand Moff Tarkin describes it as "the ultimate power in the universe." Impeachment in Congress is kind of like the Death Star’s tractor beam. You can’t escape once you’re in its clenches. A decision to impeach sucks a political party in, eventually marooning everyone in the political equivalent of a hangar bay.
对民主党人而言，他们无法把注意力放在鸡蛋和牛奶的价格上。汽油价格也几乎没有争论空间，甚至要讨论监督问题都很困难。你可以试着“接通辅助动力”，但为时已晚。
For Democrats, they can’t focus on the price of eggs and milk. There’s little debate about gas prices. It’s a challenge to even address oversight issues.
你可能以为弹劾是“一颗卫星”，但它实际上是政治世界中的死星。它不会成为你的敌人的死星，但策划弹劾的人往往难逃其劫。
You can try to "lock in the auxiliary power." But it’s too late. You might think impeachment is "a moon." But it’s really the political Death Star.
如果民主党明年赢得多数席位，他们可能会陷入弹劾的困境。进步派和左翼势力将在国会中占据主导地位，他们的声音将最为响亮。尽管民主党曾在2019年和2021年两次尝试弹劾特朗普总统，但仍有人坚持要再次这么做；更不用说试图弹劾特朗普政府中的众多官员了——从国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）到卫生与公共服务部长小罗伯特·F·肯尼迪（Robert F. Kennedy Jr.）。
Not for your adversary. But often those orchestrating the impeachment. Democrats might find themselves in an impeachment bind if they capture the majority next year. Progressives and the left will possess one of the loudest voices in Congress. And even though Democrats twice impeached President Trump in 2019 and 2021, some will insist on doing it again. That’s to say nothing of trying to impeach a host of Trump Administration cabinet officials – ranging from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
一些民主党人已经逐渐被弹劾的思潮所影响。德克萨斯州的民主党众议员阿尔·格林（Al Green）在2017年特朗普总统的第一个任期内就带头发起了弹劾行动；早在2019年因乌克兰问题成功弹劾特朗普之前，他就提出了这一主张。然而，由于特朗普推动的选区重新划分，格林今年早些时候失去了他在休斯顿的选区席位。尽管如此，这位德克萨斯州的民主党议员上周仍再次试图推动弹劾特朗普的进程。
Some Democrats are already falling prey to the impeachment tractor beam. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, led the initial effort to impeach President Trump during his first term in 2017 – long before the successful impeachment over Ukraine in 2019. Republican redistricting – engineered by President Trump forced Green out of his Houston-based district earlier this year. But Green engineered yet another effort to impeach the President last week as the Texas Democrat heads for the exit.
中期选举的结果对民主党极为有利，但他们正在犯一个严重的错误：众议院以232票对147票的结果否决了格林提出的弹劾决议。这次投票其实并不是一场简单的“支持或反对”弹劾的表决，而是经过了一番复杂的讨论过程——有47名民主党议员选择了“弃权”。其中包括民主党在众议院的三大领袖：少数党领袖哈基姆·杰弗里斯（Hakeem Jeffries，来自纽约州）、少数党党鞭凯瑟琳·克拉克（Katherine Clark，来自马萨诸塞州）以及民主党党团主席皮特·阿吉拉尔（Pete Aguilar，来自加利福尼亚州）。
MIDTERM HISTORY MASSIVELY FAVORS DEMOCRATS. BUT THEY ARE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE The House voted to sidestep Green’s impeachment resolution, 232-147. So this was not a straight, up or down vote on impeachment. It was one step removed. Forty-seven Democrats voted "present." That includes the party’s top three Democrats: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. In some respects, House Democratic leaders want to shun impeachment. Or at least avoid it for the time being. In 2006, Democrats were on the precipice of flipping control of the House. Democrats largely won the midterms that year because of voter fatigue with President George W. Bush and the calcification of the war in Iraq.
从某些角度来看，民主党领导层希望避免弹劾行动，或者至少暂时推迟这一进程。2006年，民主党曾一度接近掌控众议院的控制权；当年民主党之所以在选举中获胜，主要是因为选民对乔治·W·布什总统感到厌倦，同时伊拉克战争的局势也日益恶化。
Many Democrats wanted to impeach the President. But as she prepared to clasp the gavel, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., famously declared that impeachment was "off the table." House Democrats focused on drawing down the war in Iraq and eventually pivoting to other policy issues like health care and climate change. But Democrats had to get through those midterms first. So once Pelosi said no impeachment, there was no impeachment of the President.
许多民主党人曾希望弹劾总统。然而，当时担任众议院议长的南希·佩洛西（Nancy Pelosi）在准备主持会议时明确表示：“弹劾问题已经不再被考虑。”众议院的民主党人将主要精力放在推动伊拉克战争的结束上，并逐渐将讨论重点转向医疗保健和气候变化等政策议题。不过，他们首先必须赢得2018年中期选举的胜利。因此，在佩洛西明确表示反对弹劾之后，总统弹劾的议题便被搁置了。
Many Democrats wanted to impeach the President. But as she prepared to clasp the gavel, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., famously declared that impeachment was "off the table." House Democrats focused on drawing down the war in Iraq and eventually pivoting to other policy issues like health care and climate change. But Democrats had to get through those midterms first. So once Pelosi said no impeachment, there was no impeachment of the President. Impeachment with President Trump was kind of "off the table" for Pelosi when Democrats reclaimed the House in the 2018 midterms. But there was a shift among moderate Democrats after disclosures about the President and Ukraine in the summer of 2019. A master of the political pulse, the Speaker understood the direction this was going among her Members. That’s when Pelosi got in front of her caucus, pushing for potential impeachment of the President later that year.
当民主党在2018年中期选举中重新掌控众议院后，针对特朗普总统的弹劾议题在佩洛西看来也“不再被考虑”了。然而，2019年夏天，随着有关总统与乌克兰之间关系的丑闻曝光，部分温和派民主党人的态度发生了转变。作为政治风向的敏锐观察者，佩洛西意识到党内成员们的立场正在发生变化，于是她在同年晚些时候开始积极推动对特朗普总统的弹劾进程。
House Democratic leaders are depositing any overt discussion of impeachment on the backburner for now. They don’t want to veer away from their message about affordability. In fact they’ve frequently steered the conversation back to the cost of living when pressed about impeachment.
目前，众议院的民主党领导人暂时将任何关于弹劾的公开讨论都搁置一旁。他们不想偏离自己关于“提高民众生活水平”的核心主张；每当被问及弹劾问题时，他们总是将话题引导回“生活成本”这一议题上。
Consider this response from Jeffries when questioned about impeachment on April 9.
以下是杰弗里斯（Jeffries）在4月9日被问及弹劾问题时的回应：“明天，我们将由马里兰州民主党籍司法委员会成员杰米·拉斯金（Jamie Raskin）、前司法委员会主席杰里·纳德勒（Jerry Nadler）以及纽约州民主党籍议员丹·戈德曼（Dan Goldman）共同主持一场讨论，讨论特朗普政府的责任问题。”
"We'll have a conversation led by (Rep.) Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, and (Rep.) Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a former Judiciary Committee Chairman and Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., and Judiciary Committee Democrats tomorrow about Trump administration accountability," replied Jeffries. But, unlike completely mimicking Pelosi’s posture years ago, Jeffries signaled he was open to the impeachment question. "I don't want to get out ahead of that discussion. But we've also been very clear. House Democrats are going to focus on making life more affordable for the American people," said Jeffries.
不过，与几年前完全遵循佩洛西的立场不同，杰弗里斯表示自己对弹劾问题持开放态度：“我不想过早地讨论这个问题。但我们已经非常明确：众议院的民主党人将致力于让美国人民的生活变得更加负担得起。”
On June 14, Kristen Welker of NBC asked Jeffries if his party could "move to impeach President Trump" if Democrats reclaimed the House.
6月14日，NBC的克里斯滕·韦尔克（Kristen Welker）询问杰弗里斯（Jeffries），如果民主党重新掌控众议院，他的政党是否会推动对特朗普总统的弹劾程序。
"We haven't ruled anything in or ruled anything out in terms of accountability. What we have said is that our focus is going to be to make life more affordable for the American people," answered Jeffries. On August 25 on CNN, Jeffries deflected a similar impeachment inquiry.
杰弗里斯回答说：“我们尚未对任何可能性做出明确表态；我们的重点是将美国人民的生活成本降下来。”
"We haven't ruled anything in and we haven t ruled anything out," stated Jeffries. Impeachment interrogatives continued for Jeffries during a September 13 interview on ABC.
8月25日，在CNN的节目中，杰弗里斯再次回避了类似的弹劾问题，重申：“我们尚未对任何可能性做出明确表态。”
"We haven't ruled anything in and we haven't ruled anything out in terms of impeachment," said Jeffries.
9月13日，在ABC的采访中，杰弗里斯再次表示：“我们尚未对弹劾问题做出任何决定。”
That’s smart politics for Jeffries. He’s trying to keep his hand on the helm before the midterms – and essentially deferring to the political climate of next year and where rank-and-file Democrats might fall next year should Democrats capture the majority. But there are indications that many Democrats are already ready for impeachment. The progressive base will demand action. And it extends well beyond Al Green.
对杰弗里斯来说，这种策略在政治上非常明智——他试图在中期选举之前保持自己的主导地位，同时将决策权留给明年的政治局势以及民主党若赢得多数席位后的动向。不过有迹象表明，许多民主党人已经支持弹劾行动；尤其是那些立场较为激进的民主党成员。
That’s smart politics for Jeffries. He’s trying to keep his hand on the helm before the midterms – and essentially deferring to the political climate of next year and where rank-and-file Democrats might fall next year should Democrats capture the majority. But there are indications that many Democrats are already ready for impeachment. The progressive base will demand action. And it extends well beyond Al Green.
4月份，特朗普在社交媒体上称“今晚整个文明将会灭亡”（指伊朗局势），随后宾夕法尼亚州的民主党众议员玛德琳·迪恩（Madeleine Dean）表示：“如果这都不算严重的罪行或疯狂行为，那我真不知道什么才算。”加州民主党众议员萨拉·雅各布斯（Sara Jacobs）则认为特朗普的言论属于“种族灭绝的威胁”。新泽西州的民主党参议员安迪·金（Andy Kim）则呼吁民主党推动弹劾程序，称特朗普“不适合担任国家元首”，应当被罢免。
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., made her case after the President posted to social media in April that "a whole civilization will die tonight" in reference to Iran. "If that's not high crimes and misdemeanors - and if it's not madness - I don't know what is," said Dean. Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said that the President was "threatening genocide." Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said the party should "push for impeachment" and that the President "is unfit to be the Commander in Chief" and "should be removed." So Jeffries has a decision to make. The hard left will demand impeachment – for someone. Be it the President or Hegseth. But if Democrats flip the House, their "majority makers" might represent battleground districts. Those prospective lawmakers will be moderates. Impeachment could be politically toxic for them.
因此，杰弗里斯必须做出抉择：要么推动对特朗普的弹劾，要么对其他相关人士采取行动。不过如果民主党在众议院中占据多数席位，那些新当选的议员很可能是中间派人士；对他们来说，弹劾行动可能会带来政治上的巨大风险。
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said the party should "push for impeachment" and that the President "is unfit to be the Commander in Chief" and "should be removed." So Jeffries has a decision to make. The hard left will demand impeachment – for someone. Be it the President or Hegseth. But if Democrats flip the House, their "majority makers" might represent battleground districts. Those prospective lawmakers will be moderates. Impeachment could be politically toxic for them.
如果民主党拿下众议院多数席位，特朗普可能面临弹劾，共和党领袖警告2019年夏天，佩洛西的处境发生了变化。拥有国家安全领域资历、来自摇摆选区的温和派民主党人开始倾向于支持弹劾。于是，她扣下了弹劾的扳机。佩洛西知道党内同僚支持的方向。
TRUMP COULD FACE IMPEACHMENT IF DEMOCRATS SEIZE HOUSE MAJORITY, GOP LEADER WARNS Pelosi’s circumstances evolved in the summer of 2019. Moderate Democrats with national security credentials from swing districts edged toward impeachment. So, she pulled the impeachment trigger. Pelosi knew the direction of her caucus. In September 2026, it’s not as clear for Jeffries. And it’s not a done deal that Democrats will seize the majority.
2026年9月，杰弗里斯的处境就没有那么明朗了。民主党能否夺取多数席位也并非板上钉钉。
That’s why the New York Democrat expressed caution during his conversation on ABC.
正因如此，这位纽约民主党人在接受美国广播公司采访时表现得很谨慎。
"We've got to follow the facts. Apply the law. Be guided by the Constitution and then let the chips fall where they may, in the best interest of the American people," said Jeffries.
杰弗里斯说：“我们必须遵循事实，依法行事，以宪法为准绳，然后顺其自然，一切以美国人民的最大利益为准。”当年在死星号上，汉·索罗就对此并不乐观。索罗说：“即使我能起飞，也永远无法摆脱牵引光束。”欧比旺·克诺比承诺道：“交给我吧。”
Han Solo was skeptical back on the Death Star. "Even if I could take off, I’d never get past the tractor beam," said Solo. "Leave that to me," promised Obi-Wan Kenobi.
随后，这位绝地大师关闭了牵引光束，成功避开了死星号的侦测，也放走了“千年隼”号。但最终，克诺比为使命献出了生命。
The Jedi Master then eluded detection on the Death Star, manually shutting off the tractor beam. That disgorged the Millenium Falcon. But in the end, Kenobi sacrificed himself for the mission.
在国会山，弹劾就是一道牵引光束。一旦被它吸进去，就无法摆脱它的控制。政策之争。开支之争。医疗保健之争。战争之争。牵引光束掌控着一切。除非将它关闭。
On Capitol Hill, impeachment is a tractor beam. Once you’re siphoned in, nothing can escape its grasp. Debates about policy. Spending. Health care. War. The tractor beam controls all. Until it’s switched off.
并非每个因弹劾而陷入瘫痪的政党，都能找到一位像欧比旺·克诺比那样知道如何找到关闭开关的人。说到弹劾，最好的建议或许是提前“调转船头”。但如果已有许多议员大声要求弹劾，可能一切都已经太迟了。
Not every party which is incapacitated by impeachment has an Obi-Wan Kenobi who can find the off switch. When it comes to impeachment best advice might be to "turn the ship around" beforehand. But if lots of Members are clamoring for impeachment, it may already be too late.