It’s the day before Christmas, and the only stirrings in the House are of impeachment.

The noises began in 2016. They were interrupted only briefly last Christmas, when a government shutdown provided federal workers with an extended holiday break. But the echo has finally intensified, arriving at its intended and long-anticipated crescendo. The orchestrated notes were accompanied by claims of solemnity and prayerfulness and most importantly, the need to ensure a maximum audience. The woeful announcement of the articles of impeachment had to be delayed until the morning of Friday the 13th of December, because of the great risk that no one would notice or much care if they did it late on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 12.