Could be. With all the shenanigans going on for months now I am not sure what to think anymore. On the one hand we saw McConnell so easily go against Trump. Now I see him fighting Chucky over giving up nuclear option going forward. And McConnell seems eager to get to trial, pointing out that you may be right and he's just playing a role knowing full well there are no GOPe votes to convict Trump, all the while egging Chucky and rats on to get this over with. Not only will Trump be the first POTUS to stand 2 impeachment trials, one even as a civilian now (which is more than dicey under the Constitution from what I read), but first POTUS not to be convicted in the process.

I am still trying to understand what it is that Chucky is trying to achieve when he doesn't know there are no GOPe votes there. Unless, and again, as you say, McConnell somehow has convinced Chucky that he'll whip enough GOPe votes in due time. While GOPe resolve seems to be growing by day.

Like I said, I call kabuki theater right now with difficult to read tea leaves. None of it makes any sense. For any normie, that is.