Looks like they started earlier today. It’s the day that Republican Senators tie themselves to Donald Trump’s corruption for the rest of time.
Impeachment
Impeachment Trial – February 4, 2020
Today is a day for more debate. The wrongly-named Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana is now speaking.
Sorry I’m late with this.
Impeachment Trial – February 3, 2020
Closing arguments today. Ken Starr is speaking of Martin Luther King.
Lamar Alexander Falls Into Line
Lamar Alexander has spoken in more detail of his decision to vote against calling impeachment witnesses and, presumably, to acquit Donald Trump.
“The Senate reflects the country, and the country is as divided as it has been for a long time. For the Senate to tear up the ballots in this election and say President Trump couldn’t be on it, the country probably wouldn’t accept that. It would just pour gasoline on cultural fires that are burning out there.”
So many assumptions in those three sentences.
A great many people can’t be on the ballots for the election. Not having enough money is one of the prime causes. Being under 35. Having been held back by color or gender so that the opportunity never arose. The country accepts all of those. But here is a man who has, as Alexander admits, badly abused his position as President already. Perhaps, yes, we should not allow him to do that again.
But Alexander makes such a decision sound arbitrary, as Trump supporters do. And he says it in a way that conflates the fallacious idea that impeachment is not firing for cause, but rather nullification of the election.
As to pouring gasoline on cultural fires, Alexander obviously hasn’t checked his name and variants trending on Twitter. It is only one sort of cultural fire that he is concerned with.
Alexander denies that Trump’s shaking down of Volodymyr Zelinsky qualifies as “treason, bribery, or a high crime and misdemeanor” as specified for impeachment in the Constitution. But soliciting something of value for money is indeed bribery in the general meaning of the term, inviting foreign influence into an American election is a crime, and it is hard to see how any of this is not a misuse of Presidential power. Unless you’re Lamar Alexander.
The article mentions Alexander’s admiration for Howard Baker, who conducted himself with dignity and honor through impeachment hearings for Richard Nixon. There is neither honor nor dignity in Alexander’s abasing himself to fit the Trumpian mold.
The bottom line:
“Whatever you think of his behavior,” Mr. Alexander said of Mr. Trump, “with the terrific economy, with conservative judges, with fewer regulations, you add in there an inappropriate call with the president of Ukraine, and you decide if your prefer him or Elizabeth Warren.”
The Best Laid Schemes o’ McConnell an’ Men Gang Aft Agley
Let’s step back a bit and take stock of what has happened today. First and foremost a battle was won. Specifically that there will be no vote tonight, in fact there will be no vote until Wednesday, on the final disposition of the impeachment of the President. While I’m sure this seems like cold comfort to some, it is a win. When faced with an opponent whose capabilities overwhelm your own, when facing a situation where you are at an asymmetric disadvantage, a key strategy is to play for time. The inability of Senator McConnell to call for a vote to dismiss the impeachment charges against the President this evening creates time. While it doesn’t create time for Senator Schumer to move, it creates time for other events to occur.
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, a lot of events can occur. Ambassador Bolton can continue to leak out and tease what he knows. If he was smart, given that his information’s shelf life is now set to expire on Wednesday, he’d get himself booked on all the Sunday AM news talk shows and get his story out. Because if he doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity, it will close and he will then face whatever consequences the President and his closest advisors have cooked up for him.
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, Joseph Bondy, on behalf of his client Lev Parnas can leak more audio and video and documents that further implicate the President, the Vice President, the Acting Chief of Staff, the Secretary of State, the White House Counsel, the Attorney General, the President’s private attorney Rudy Giuliani, Senator Graham (R-Fainting Couch), Congressman Nunes (R-Mooooooo), his staffer Derek Harvey, and several others. If Bondy was smart, and he is, he’s right now in discussion with the Sunday AM news talk shows to get at least some of this material out. His letter this afternoon to Senator McConnell, which seems to have caused Senator McConnell some dyspepsia, laid down this marker.
Below is the letter Stephanie Schuman @LeafLegal and I sent to Senator McConnell earlier today, (202) 224-2541, summarizing the testimony Lev Parnas would be able to provide, were he called as a witness. #LetLevSpeak #AmericansDemandWitnesses #CallTheWitnesses #LetBoltonTestify pic.twitter.com/WPn7ppz2rG
— Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 31, 2020
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, a lot of events can occur. The President is currently scheduled for an extended sit down interview with his personal sycophant and Fox News media fluffer Sean Hannity to air at half time during the Super Bowl. And he is, of course, currently scheduled to give the State of the Union on Tuesday evening. Senator McConnell, as well as every other Republican senator, a lot of Republican members of the House, and senior members of the President’s staff such as White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Attorney General Barr, and likely anyone and everyone within earshot and arm’s reach is going to face an increasingly unhappy President over the next five days. A President who will not be able to take a victory lap because the impeachment charges against him have been dismissed during his interview with Sean Hannity that airs during half time of the Super Bowl on Sunday. A President who will not be able to take a victory lap because the impeachment charges against him have been dismissed during the State of the Union. A President who has to spend the entire weekend, as well as Monday and Tuesday and part of Wednesday, twisting in the wind while we all wait to see what else leaks out or is openly divulged over the next five days. A President who has exceedingly poor self control at the best of times is now faced with a situation that he cannot stand, a situation that is completely beyond and outside of his control.
Right now, because Senator McConnell’s plan failed, there is an opening, an opportunity. Senator Schumer and his minority Democratic caucus may not have the votes to ultimately stop Senator McConnell. Speaker Pelosi and her lead impeachment manager Congressman Schiff may not be able to force the GOP majority Senate to do anything. But Congressman Schiff has proven to be an effective strategist in his management of this process. As has Speaker Pelosi. And Senator Schumer has done his part. So take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and recognize that today’s small victory provides opportunities for future ones. Both in the short term of the next five days and the longer term.
Live today, fight tomorrow!
Open thread!
The Best Laid Schemes o’ McConnell an’ Men Gang Aft AgleyPost + Comments (125)
Lisa Murkowski’s Diamond Tears
Here’s her full statement on why she won’t vote for witnesses, but the tl;dr is some nonsense about the trial being too politicized, she’s tearful about how John Roberts has been attacked, etc. Don’t waste your beautiful minds trying to make sense of it. Some words had to be formed into sentences, those sentences formed into paragraphs, all in the form of statement, to keep her sinecure intact.
The only thing left is to take this vote and hammer away at all the senators who were part of it. It’s Democrats’ turn to wrap ourselves in the flag, quote the Constitution, and amp up the traitor rhetoric that Republicans love to use at every convenient occasion.
Also, I realize I’m really leaning on this song but I’m not aware of any better expression of the absurdity of the feigned outrage that we’ve been seeing.
Impeachment Trial – January 31, 2020
Separate rumors are floating that Democrats and Republicans want to delay the vote to enthrone Donald Trump I until next week. I can see why Democrats might want to do this, but not Republicans. The State of the Union is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 4, and I would think they would want King Donald I to take a victory lap. I see Mistermix has already speculated on this.