The Impeachment of President Donald J Trump

[grumbler]

Mitch: Donald Trump is directly responsible for inciting insurrection against Congress and a reprehensible human being.

Mitch: Also I voted to acquit.

I think Mitch's line might be the most dangerous for Trump. It's basically a technicality. The Senate doesn't have jurisdiction to impeach, but there is ample evidence that Trump committed crimes - to me that implies that someone has jurisdiction and Trump should be arrested and prosecuted, no?

I think that McConnell's line is even more dangerous to McConnell.  His take was basically:
1.  The Senate lacks jurisdiction, even though it voted that it had jurisdiction,, because McConnell doesn't respect Senate votes that he doesn't win
2.  Trump is guilty but McConnell will vote to acquit because his loyalty to party outweighs his loyalty to justice.
3.  McConnell will shameless admit all of this because he thinks he is bulletproof.

Today was a new low even for a man who specializes in dwelling underneath whale shit lying at the bottom of the ocean.

[grumbler]

One good thing is that at least this time we had 7 people who held the line.  They may be a minority, but at least it's not just Mitt.  Now that's they're all-in against Trumpism, maybe they'll stick with it.

I think a couple of them are retiring soon, but you are correct that there are some Republicans who are now committed to the anti-Trump camp.

[FunkMonk]

Mitch: Donald Trump is directly responsible for inciting insurrection against Congress and a reprehensible human being.

Mitch: Also I voted to acquit.

I think Mitch's line might be the most dangerous for Trump. It's basically a technicality. The Senate doesn't have jurisdiction to impeach, but there is ample evidence that Trump committed crimes - to me that implies that someone has jurisdiction and Trump should be arrested and prosecuted, no?

Someone on Twitter noted that Mitch might hope the Biden DOJ prosecutes Trump and then the Republicans ride that train into power in 2022/2024.

Unsure of this 11 dimensional chess move idea but who knows.

[celedhring]

So, another attempt in 2026, I presume?

[Monoriu]

Ok, now the bad lawyers part makes more sense.  If you are going to walk free anyway, why pay the lawyers 

[Oexmelin]

If one side gets witnesses, the other side gets witnesses and the other side made it clear they would make a circus out of it.

The Democrats didn't really want or need "witnesses" - the events were televised for all to see.

They wanted to get the McCarthy call into evidence.  Once they got that they didn't need anything else.

That's still a terrible decision. There would have been a lot of other GOP figures to drag in the mud; others to place in a difficult bind. "Moving on" is the GOP's play. It shouldn't have been the Dems.

[Sheilbh]

That's still a terrible decision. There would have been a lot of other GOP figures to drag in the mud; others to place in a difficult bind. "Moving on" is the GOP's play. It shouldn't have been the Dems.

But would they be dragged in the mud? They'd have been uncooperative witnesses who would, at best, probably be economical with the truth, the President's team could cross-examine them and there's probably very little chance of them being prosecuted for perjury even if they lied.

Unless the Democrats know what the witnesses are going to say I feel like it would have been very risky calling them (and politically I think it'd be quite likely they lost control of messaging).

[The Minsky Moment]

It would have taken a very powerful and well-packaged case and turned it into an interminable shit show, sucking up all political oxygen and spiking Biden's presidency for weeks or even months.  It's really a no brainer.

[The Minsky Moment]

The national GOP is now neatly arranging themselves into a circular firing squad and shots are already fired.

It is perfectly legitimate tactics for Democrats to let this play out rather than jump in the middle.

[Razgovory]

I really hope that in a few years we aren't looking at some sort of catastrophe and saying to ourselves "If only Republicans had the guts to stand up to Trump in 2021 none of this would have happened."

[The Minsky Moment]

I really hope that in a few years we aren't looking at some sort of catastrophe and saying to ourselves "If only Republicans had the guts to stand up to Trump in 20210 none of this would have happened."

FYP
The ship sailed last impeachment.  Last clear chance.

[Razgovory]

Yeah, and because they didn't do anything last year we had the attack on Capital this year.  What new horror will be birthed by this shameful display?

[viper37]

The Democrats don't want to sit with this forever.

Then,
a) why bring the matter of impeachment once more?
b) why bring the matter of witnesses, make it a vote and once they win, retract their demand?


and also, I think sitting on this a little longer, as far as they went was their best solution.  A huge part of the GOP is radicalizing right now, and the moderates are slowly pushing back.  Not enough to win, but just enough to, maybe, tip the scales toward the Democrats, or even to create a new center-right party that would divide the GOP.

Seems a good result for the Dems.  What am I missing?

[Valmy]

Glad it is over, our duty has been done. Time to get the rest of this legislative agenda passed. The clock is ticking.

[viper37]

Yeah, and because they didn't do anything last year we had the attack on Capital this year.  What new horror will be birthed by this shameful display?

yeah, also this.
when you get complacent with criminals, they feel emboldened, and Trump certainly fits that pattern.