Impeachment

[oldno7]

[oldno7]

[oldno7]

https://twitter.com/pragmatometer/st...rc=twsrc%5Etfw



MIKE DROP

[dougrz]

Waiting to hear Lamar Alexander's decision on witnesses or not. As we sit, Collins announced she is for more witnesses. You'd have to assume Murkowski and Romney will go with her. So we're at 50-49 with Alexander deciding it.

[dougrz]

Alexander announces vote for no more witnesses, and with a good statement on overall acquital. Romney announces he wants more witnesses, specifically Bolton.

We're likely at 50-50 if Murkowski goes with Collins and Romney.

Dems will move to have Roberts vote to break the tie, he might abstain, he might vote. No telling.

50-50 means no more witnesses and case is over tomorrow.

I would expect the vote for/against witnesses to likely mirror the final acquittal vote. 50-50 in the cards? Would Manchin or Jones go for acquittal? That's important for the narrative.

[dougrz]

Best case: Romney, Collins, Murkowski vote to acquit even though they don't get more witnesses. Manchin and Jones vote to acquit being in heavy R states. Not realistic that Feinstein or Sinema vote to acquit, but say that happens. 57-43 for acquital.

Worst case: Romney, Collins, Murkowski vote to convict. Manchin and Jones stay home. 50-50 final.

[BasinCruiser]

BREAKING NEWS: SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN) SAYS HE WILL NOT VOTE FOR MORE WITNESSES, MEANING ACQUITTAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHOUT ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IS ALL BUT ASSURED
by Kevin Ryan


Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) says he has heard enough, and does not believe additional witnesses would change the fact that the articles of impeachment do not warrant removal of the president.


"I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution's high bar for an impeachable offense," Alexander said in a statement.


Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) says she will vote for additional witnesses. Collins is in a competitive race for re-election this fall. She says each side should be able to call the same number of witnesses. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) also says he would like to hear from John Bolton.


Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has not yet decided on witnesses. But, since Senate Democrats need four Republicans to join them to prevail on the witness vote, and since it seems the most they can get is three (if Murkowski votes yes), it now appears all but certain that there will be no further witnesses, and President Trump will be acquitted.


The Senate will hold the vote on witnesses Friday afternoon and could move to acquit Trump from the impeachment charges later that night.


SOURCE: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...e-trial-109603

[BasinCruiser]

POLITICO HAS UNCOVERED 1999 LETTER FROM THEN SEN. JOE BIDEN TO FELLOW DEMOCRATS SAYING SENATE SHOULD NOT CALL WITNESSES DURING CLINTON IMPEACHMENT
by Kevin Ryan


Politico has obtained a letter written by then-Sen. Joe Biden arguing strongly against the need for witnesses or evidence in President Clinton’s Senate impeachment trial. Biden sent the four-page document to fellow Democrats on Jan. 5, 1999.


“The Senate may dismiss articles of impeachment without holding a full trial or taking new evidence. Put another way, the Constitution does not impose on the Senate the duty to hold a trial,” Biden wrote at the time.


“In a number of previous impeachment trials, the Senate has reached the judgment that its constitutional role as a sole trier of impeachments does not require it to take new evidence or hear live witness testimony.”


Biden also said senators should take into account the impact that prolonging the impeachment proceedings would have on the country.


“In light of the extensive record already compiled, it may be that the benefit of receiving additional evidence or live testimony is not great enough to outweigh the public costs (in terms of national prestige, faith in public institutions, etc.) of such a proceeding,” Biden said. “While a judge may not take such considerations into account, the Senate is uniquely competent to make such a balance.”


He cites historical precedents from impeachment cases going back to the establishment of the Senate.


Biden’s comments from 1999 are at odds with current Democratic talking points that additional witnesses must be called to get to the bottom of Trump’s actions in the Ukraine saga. Seventeen witnesses testified in the House impeachment inquiry, but Democrats say they need more, and want the Republican-controlled Senate to subpoena former national security advisor John Bolton and others.


SOURCES: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...witness-109730
https://static.politico.com/1e/c3/c1...a/0247-001.pdf

[oldno7]

[oldno7]

[dougrz]

Wow, Murkowski came out against witnesses. Really surprising to me. Making it 51-49 was, I think, critically important. Roberts potentially could have voted to break the tie. No guarantee he would have abstained.

So Collins, who could easily lose re-election this year, and Romney are the only 2 skunks.

How will those two vote on acquital?

[oldno7]

That is amazing.

We have so many traitors/swamp dwellers on the right.

Side question.................

What percent of congressmen have been compromised in any fashion?

I'd seriously guess very close to 100%

[dougrz]

Several lines from Murkowski's statement on her vote are interesting and could be read both ways. "Congress has failed," "this trial can't be impartial," "one institution has been degraded and I won't let another [the Supreme Court] be as well."

Then this: "We are sadly at a low point of division in this country."

Yes we are at a low point. But not why, I bet, you think. We're divided because for the first time the sides fundamentally disagree on basic values. We agree on nothing. Not how to raise children, not on religion, not on national identity, not on the role of govt, not on the definition of life, not on whether citizens are subjects or free people, nothing. It's a cold war, yes, literally. Understand that and you'll understand the need to defeat these people at every turn. It's not the old liberal vs conservative issues, it's leftists vs normal people.

[oldno7]

[oldno7]

From the mike drop video

[oldno7]

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