They can change the rules and only require 51 votes. Reid did it with appointments. Why couldn’t it be done with impeachment(and some guts).
2/3 majority 67 votes. Yes the rules changed by Reid, But the Republicans are honorable and will play by established traditional rules. The problem with Republicans is that they will be going against one of their own - former Senator Barack Obama. The club mentality among Senators is strong they will stand up for one another. Here is the problem the Senators are a clique. Senator Cruz is not part of the Old Guard. Rand Paul is part of the old guard now. He wants to run for president and senate, if he runs for president in his state he will not be able to run for senate too. The law needs to be changed and the legislature in his state is democrat, so he cannot irk the democrats.
The constitution stipulates the votes required to convict.
Because the 2/3 impeachment vote requirement is written directly in the Constitution. The filibuster rule was a long established parliamentary operating custom, but not an actual Constitutional law.
No, they can not change the rules on this.
From Article I, Section 3 (the Senate): ..."And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present."...
This would require a Constitutional Amendment to change this clause, which consists of a vote of two thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by 3/4 of the state legislatures.