Impeachment Megathread Part 3

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Day 2 of Arguments is beginning. Mr. Schiff has 16 hours and 42 minutes remaining.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They say R senators are falling asleep on the proceedings. I can guess its Enzi, Grassley and Lamar Alexander

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/mkraju/status/1220414911416807429

[2016]

Per CNN Susan Collins anticipates to vote YES on Witnesses next week:

Sen. Susan Collins reiterated to CNN today that she anticipates she will vote for witnesses and documents.

“My response is the same as it was Tuesday, I’ve worked very hard to make sure we vote on witnesses and documents at the appropriate stage of the trial. The same as we did during President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the cases have been made by both sides, the questions have been asked. I tend to like information and would anticipate I would vote for more…,” Collins said.

On the flip side of it Murkowkis Statement this morning sounded more likely a NO:

When asked if she had concerns about an executive privilege fight tying up the impeachment trial in the courts, Sen. Lisa Murkowski questioned why the House didn't go to court itself.

"The House made a decision that they didn't want to slow things down by having to go through the courts. And yet now they're basically saying you guys gotta go through the courts. We didn't, but we need you to," Murkowski said.
House Democrats, who launched the impeachment investigation, have said they moved forward with the articles of impeachment without waiting on court orders for additional witnesses because the process could take too long with the looming 2020 presidential election.

Murkowski added that it was still only after day one and wouldn't get into any more details on her thinking.

Agree with Lisa here. This thing didn't needed to be rushed and that also might be the real issue here why most of the GOP Senators won't vote for additional witnesses.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They need Romney and Lamar Alexander,  but the 4 voted in lock step to adopt the partisan rules

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Rather surreal moment when Nadler played a clip of then House Rep. Lindsey Graham speaking before the Senate in 1999, giving his argument that impeachment need not hinge upon a criminal act.

The clip was shot from the exact same angle as Nadler in the present.  

Apparently (and this is just from what I've been reading), Graham was not in the chamber when the clip was played.  

[GeorgiaModerate]

Rather surreal moment when Nadler played a clip of then House Rep. Lindsey Graham speaking before the Senate in 1999, giving his argument that impeachment need not hinge upon a criminal act.

The clip was shot from the exact same angle as Nadler in the present.  

Apparently (and this is just from what I've been reading), Graham was not in the chamber when the clip was played.  

Too bad.  I wonder if he knew that was coming and chose to be absent.

[2016]

The first time Jerry Nadler made a BIG ERROR (False Claim):

Fact check: Nadler claimed all prior impeachments included abuse of power. Not quite.

In arguing the legal basis for the abuse of power article of impeachment against President Trump, House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, one of the House impeachment managers, claimed, “All prior impeachment considered of high office have all included abuse of power."

Facts First: Not quite. While abuse of power was among the articles of impeachment drawn up against Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, it was not part of the 11 articles sent to the Senate for President Andrew Johnson.

This is actually the first time the Senate has considered abuse of power as an article of impeachment against a sitting President. Abuse of power was not among the articles approved by the full House for Clinton. The full House never voted on the articles of impeachment against Nixon, since he resigned beforehand.

The President and his legal team have themselves inaccurately decried abuse of power as “made up.”

While there is precedent for abuse of power as an article of impeachment, it’s not true that all prior impeachments against the high office of President have included it.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Graham is the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and he said that if the Rs stay in charge of Senate and Biden is Prez, he will go after Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden just got sued for child support

[OBD]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/gop-senators-turn-fidget-spinner-toys-during-trump-impeachment-trial-n1121401

Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest deliberative body in the world.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/gop-senators-turn-fidget-spinner-toys-during-trump-impeachment-trial-n1121401

Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest deliberative body in the world.

Video needs to be captured so that ads can be run with it every time any of these moronic oathbreakers ever aspires to public office for the rest of their lives.

[HisGrace]

I've been watching this off and on and there seems to be to much emphasis on Trump doing something "wrong". Most of the country probably agrees with that already. There should be more emphasis that he took numerous actions that are unambiguously illegal and thus should be impeached.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

https://twitter.com/manlnthehoody/status/1220190924291969024?s=21

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/matthewamiller/status/1220071438411075584

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Marsha Blackburn is more Sarah Palin than Sarah Palin herself. I feel bad for the people of Nashville and Memphis who have to be represented by such an airhead.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

https://twitter.com/SenatorBraun/status/1220152773808918529

Adding this, because of course there's one:

[2016]

Here is something that some of our Atlas Democrats need to understand:

Yes, the Senate can call witnesses and documents but just because you issue a subpoena doesn't mean you get one.

President Trump could still invoke Executive Priv. meaning after all this Senate Trail the Courts would have the last word and such a prolonged Court Fight isn't going to get done in 5 weeks like the Clinton Impeachment. I could drag on well into the Spring and that's the last thing McConnell wants in an Election Year.

Senate GOP uses Trump's executive privilege threat as rallying cry against subpoenas

A growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Trump's threat to invoke executive privilege to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, a development that could bolster Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's goal for a swift end to the impeachment trial.

GOP senators are privately and publicly raising concerns that issuing subpoenas — to top officials like acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton and for documents blocked by the White House — will only serve to drag out the proceedings. Plus, many say there's little appetite for such a time-consuming fight, given that legal battles may ultimately not be successful and could force the courts to rule on hugely consequential constitutional issues about the separation of powers between the branches of government.

Remember: McConnell has little margin for error since it would take just four Republican defections to join with 47 Democrats in order to issue a subpoena. But his increased warnings that subpoenas could prompt an "indefinite" delay in the trial and get tied up in the courts has been gaining traction within his conference, GOP senators and aides told CNN.

And Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said again why did House Democrats not go to the Courts:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a key GOP swing vote, says she's undecided about backing a subpoena for key witness testimony or to force the White House to produce documents.

But when asked today if she had concerns about an executive privilege fight tying up the impeachment trial, Murkowski questioned the House Democrats' decision to skip the courts because they wanted to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

"The House made a decision that they didn't want to slow things down by having to go through the courts," Murkowski told CNN. "And yet now they're basically saying you guys gotta go through the courts. We didn't, but we need you to."

More on this: CNN reports that a growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Trump's threat to invoke executive privilege to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, a development that could bolster Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's goal for a swift end to the impeachment trial.

I agree with Senate Republicans.

[Hindsight was 2020]

Here is something that some of our Atlas Democrats need to understand:

Yes, the Senate can call witnesses and documents but just because you issue a subpoena doesn't mean you get one.

President Trump could still invoke Executive Priv. meaning after all this Senate Trail the Courts would have the last word and such a prolonged Court Fight isn't going to get done in 5 weeks like the Clinton Impeachment. I could drag on well into the Spring and that's the last thing McConnell wants in an Election Year.

Senate GOP uses Trump's executive privilege threat as rallying cry against subpoenas

A growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Trump's threat to invoke executive privilege to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, a development that could bolster Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's goal for a swift end to the impeachment trial.

GOP senators are privately and publicly raising concerns that issuing subpoenas — to top officials like acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton and for documents blocked by the White House — will only serve to drag out the proceedings. Plus, many say there's little appetite for such a time-consuming fight, given that legal battles may ultimately not be successful and could force the courts to rule on hugely consequential constitutional issues about the separation of powers between the branches of government.

Remember: McConnell has little margin for error since it would take just four Republican defections to join with 47 Democrats in order to issue a subpoena. But his increased warnings that subpoenas could prompt an "indefinite" delay in the trial and get tied up in the courts has been gaining traction within his conference, GOP senators and aides told CNN.

And Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said again why did House Democrats not go to the Courts:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a key GOP swing vote, says she's undecided about backing a subpoena for key witness testimony or to force the White House to produce documents.

But when asked today if she had concerns about an executive privilege fight tying up the impeachment trial, Murkowski questioned the House Democrats' decision to skip the courts because they wanted to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

"The House made a decision that they didn't want to slow things down by having to go through the courts," Murkowski told CNN. "And yet now they're basically saying you guys gotta go through the courts. We didn't, but we need you to."

More on this: CNN reports that a growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Trump's threat to invoke executive privilege to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, a development that could bolster Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's goal for a swift end to the impeachment trial.

I agree with Senate Republicans.

You can just say “I’m a Republican hack” and get the same point across without the wall of text.

[2016]

The polls keep moving in the wrong direction for Trump:

https://twitter.com/ameliatd/status/1220348769931317249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctw...

Wait, nearly 20% of Republicans now support the conviction and removal of Donald Trump?   

We're getting there... 

This is hilarious! The Polls are a bit scewed right now because over the last Week and particularly over the last 2 Days everything is played on the Democrats turf with the House Managers making their case.
I expect Public Opinion to shift a bit once Trumps Legal Team can make their case

CNN is saying the same thing:

Republicans encouraged during lunch to be more available to press

Republicans have been much more visible over the last few breaks, and there is a reason for that.

According to two sources, during the Senate GOP lunch, Republican leaders encouraged their conference to be make themselves available during the breaks to the press in an effort to more publicly defend President Trump during a time when the entire public is focused on three days of Democratic arguments. According to one aide familiar with the discussion, constituents back home are calling lawmakers and expressing concern that no one on the Republican side is getting a chance to step in to defend Trump live on TV during the trial.

Remember: The rules will give the President a chance to defend himself, but right now, it’s the Democrats. The President’s defense team will start their presentations on Saturday and have 24 hours of their own to make their case. However, GOP lawmakers are hearing from constituents back home now who are watching and are surprised to see this playing out in a one-sided format at the moment.

What do you expect from Public Opinion when it's totally one-sided the last 48 Hours.

[emailking]

However, GOP lawmakers are hearing from constituents back home now who are watching and are surprised to see this playing out in a one-sided format at the moment.

What do you expect from Public Opinion when it's totally one-sided the last 48 Hours.

I expect the constituents who are expressing those concerns do not overlap with the pollees who only recently have concluded Trump should be removed.

[emailking]

https://twitter.com/manlnthehoody/status/1220190924291969024?s=21

Actually, if the Republican survived I'm pretty sure s/he would vote to acquit.

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/manlnthehoody/status/1220190924291969024?s=21

Actually, if the Republican survived I'm pretty sure s/he would vote to acquit.

"It was my fault for getting in the way of his bullet."

[Crumpets]

https://twitter.com/manlnthehoody/status/1220190924291969024?s=21

Actually, if the Republican survived I'm pretty sure s/he would vote to acquit.

"It was my fault for getting in the way of his bullet."

We joke, but the Harry Whittington incident was just 14 years ago.

[Nyvin]

The polls keep moving in the wrong direction for Trump:

https://twitter.com/ameliatd/status/1220348769931317249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctw...

Wait, nearly 20% of Republicans now support the conviction and removal of Donald Trump?   

We're getting there... 

This is hilarious! The Polls are a bit scewed right now because over the last Week and particularly over the last 2 Days everything is played on the Democrats turf with the House Managers making their case.
I expect Public Opinion to shift a bit once Trumps Legal Team can make their case

CNN is saying the same thing:

Republicans encouraged during lunch to be more available to press

Republicans have been much more visible over the last few breaks, and there is a reason for that.

According to two sources, during the Senate GOP lunch, Republican leaders encouraged their conference to be make themselves available during the breaks to the press in an effort to more publicly defend President Trump during a time when the entire public is focused on three days of Democratic arguments. According to one aide familiar with the discussion, constituents back home are calling lawmakers and expressing concern that no one on the Republican side is getting a chance to step in to defend Trump live on TV during the trial.

Remember: The rules will give the President a chance to defend himself, but right now, it’s the Democrats. The President’s defense team will start their presentations on Saturday and have 24 hours of their own to make their case. However, GOP lawmakers are hearing from constituents back home now who are watching and are surprised to see this playing out in a one-sided format at the moment.

What do you expect from Public Opinion when it's totally one-sided the last 48 Hours.

What exactly does Trump have for Defense?   What is their actual story going to be here?  So far all they do is complain about the process and don't address the actual issues whatsoever.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

https://twitter.com/manlnthehoody/status/1220190924291969024?s=21

Actually, if the Republican survived I'm pretty sure s/he would vote to acquit.

"It was my fault for getting in the way of his bullet."

"I apologize to the President for moving. It was a perfect shot, and if I'd just stood still it would have killed me easily. President Trump may be the best shot in American history."