The Republican Party has become little more than a criminal conspiracy. There is no point in attempting to reason with or understand them, their apologists or their enablers as they argue in utter bad faith at every turn.
1
Did the Democrats make their case in the House? The New York Times doesn't seem to think so. Why else would you need witnesses in the Senate Trial? The House had the responsibility to bring the charges which they did. They also said over and over they had a very strong case. What happened to their case??? Not so strong eh? Or why would they need more witnesses? Wasn't the ones they interviewed enough?
There is such a thing as fair play. Also the Democrats keep talking about a "Fair Trial." Fair Trial for whom? The Democrats? The Fair Trial is for the President or whoever is being accused not the Prosecutors.
Frankly I think they should have had a fail safe time when it would be appropriate to decide if the House made such a strong case or any case at all. If 51 Senators decide they didn't then vote to end this debacle that is roiling the Country. Otherwise call witnesses. But Democrats will howl when the Defense tries to call any witnesses. Mark my words.
And I wouldn't be so sure that John Bolton will go "Commando" on Donald Trump. Obviously the Dems think this will happen but what if he is "playing them?" Wouldn't that be fun to see. Also, call Adam Schiff. He is far from clean in this process having had contact with "The Whistleblower" then deciding "Nothing to see here."
Let the good times roll!
1
@Rozie James
If I recall correctly, the Administration blocked testimony from several individuals and refused requests for documentation.
1
@Rozie James The house held impeachment hearings. Now they are presenting an argument for removal in a trial setting. In a fair trial you ought to be able to present witnesses and evidence. Pretty simple, eh?
1
The House was like the Grand Jury. Dems offered opportunity to Trump defense team, which is unusual for a Grand Jury testimony. Trump declined and calls it denial by Dems. The Emperor has no clothes.
The Senate is supposed to be the Trial.
1
I just want to say that this is a poorly written article. This is an important issue and, for the voter, certainly turns on how this process now differs from the precedents set in the Clinton process. It does not goes far enough in the explanation of the bigger picture--for example the differing forms of investigation for the two presidents, which is only mentioned in passing--and, it is confusing about the intention of the individual senators and some of the details related to how provisioning for witnesses differ from the Clinton event.
It seems apparent that the original 2 day limit proposed by McConnell was to provide a planned item that he could change to let Susan Collins claim a “victory “.
1
McConnell reaches depths of hypocrisy and malice that I didn't even think possible. This is the man who argued passionately, and I quote, "— that the president has engaged in a persistent pattern and practice of obstruction of justice. The allegations are grave, the investigation is legitimate and ascertaining the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the unqualified, unevasive truth is absolutely critical.”
Of course that was 1998 and the case was about a 5-year multi-billion dollar investigation into the President lying about a consensual sexual affair.
Today, when the President obviously extorted a foreign government to meddle in an election and lied about it hundreds of times? It's just "laughable" and he's going to coordinate in "lock-step with the White House." Right. Mitch McConnell, your blatant violation of your oath of office, your oath of affirmation, the Constitution, and just common decency undermines the Government, the Country, the Rule of Law, and all that this Country holds dear. Your treachery will never be forgotten.
32
Facts are stubborn things, and they will come out, whether during the Senate trial or in its aftermath.
Endangered Senate Republicans have a choice to make — vote to facilitate the truth and face Trump’s wrath, or risk defeat in the November elections.
McConnell and the President are overplaying their hands, and the public is on to their games, and fed up with all the corruption and lies.
Prediction: Defending Trump will become a sinkhole in the Senate, and is likely to result in some awful votes for Republicans that will haunt the party for a generation.
Witnesses, and there will be witnesses, can only mean one thing: Republicans will be forced to vote to exonerate the President in the face of overwhelming evidence of guilt.
Two externalities will make this all the more painful and inconvenient for the President’s defenders: the emergence of additional evidence from Parnas, and possibly others, and the President’s own behavior during the trial. The messier it gets, the more Twitter tirades we can expect from our very stable genius.
I look forward to watching the Republicans squirm, and that’s coming from a former Republican!
17
Come on, everybody! When the likes of McConnell says, “What was good enough for President Clinton in an impeachment trial should have been good enough for President Trump,” it is more like what McConnell thinks that Clinton got away with in McConnell's perception, under those rules, that McConnell thinks he can to borrow from and manipulate get Trump ‘off the hook’, underhandedly!
Obviously, Trump’s lying precedence shows that Clinton should have been only censored for lying in the GOP leadership’s Congressional history. Proving that ‘our system worked’ against a past GOP Congress not charging and publicly-convicting Clinton with: ‘treason’; ‘abuse of power’; ‘obstruction of justice’ and all their other over-exaggerated charges against Clinton. They only got Clinton for perjury.
Gee, I can't hardly wait to see if Trump now compares his same charges to Clinton's; where he destroys McConnell's own underhanded protection 'for him'.
Where is Justice Roberts in the proceedings? How can you have a fair trial with no witnesses?
America is perched on the cliff and I am afraid that ignorance, greed, and corruption will prevail. Speak up America or we will only have ourselves to blame for the demise of our democracy. Call your Senators.
An accelerated schedule in order to form lightning rounds between Parties, Buzzer beater testimony, exclusionary proceeding and no guarantee of witnesses..Sounds like McConnell and Trump Inc are trying to make this historic event into more of a Game Show, rather than an Impeachment Trial of a sitting President for "High Crimes and Misdemeanors". Can't help but think we will be treated to,"Your Fired!" from the White House sometime toward the end of the this farce.
No matter how Mitch Mc Connell runs the trial, it will be a sham. The result is a foregone conclusion.
How have we gotten to a place where our most powerful political leaders have become obsessed with the avoidance of truth and justice?
In other words, McConnell intends to turn the impeachment trial into a farce and democracy into a sham. The excuses the Republican senators make for all this are along the line of "the dog ate my homework." Their utter contempt for the American people is on full display. I hope every senator that enables this farce of a trial is voted out of office next November.
The Washington Post's tagline is "Democracy Dies in the Darkness." What is clear to me is that impeachment without secret ballot for each vote in the senate (and the house) is the real problem. Our representatives and senators cannot vote impartially with the constant threat to their livelihood if they don't toe the party line. This is the one instance where I believe our democracy will die in the daylight (or the lights of the senate chamber). I weep for my children's future under an administration that cares nothing about the environment, the rule of law, and equality.
1
@Your Average Voter sad that those who are willing are putting job ahead of duty... anyone who betrays either oath taken isn't deserving of a seat in the Senate.
possibly the guilty/not guilty votes will be taken behind closed doors to make it more honest and protect their all too precious images
Did the Congress vote on who would be witnesses in the Clinton Impeachment Trial as to protect both the President and Ms. Lewinski from being further exploited? Could that be why McConnell wanted those same rules so he could further protect Trump with his not wanting witnesses by borrowing from those same rules?
The more McConnell turns the Impeachment Trial proceedings into a farce -- at the insistence of Trump -- the stronger the Democrats should resolve to launch a new Impeachment Inquiry in the House. Pelosi, Schiff, and the Democratic leadership wisely withheld many of the most plausible charges of Trump's misconduct from being proferred as Official Articles of Impeachment. There are probably more than a Dozen different Articles which could be levied against Trump, a number of them involving behaviors which are unambiguously both illegal and criminal.
Despite the coordinated dilatory tactics on the part of manifestly partisan, biased, Trump appointed Judges, in a few months most, if not all, of the pending cases involving Trump's unconstrained claims of Executive Privilege, the suppression of evidence, and the refusal of material witnesses to testify will be resolved. a lot of new, probably damning, evidence will then be released.
The GOP Senate should be careful of what it wishes for: it may well yet receive it.
3
Time for the Democrats to get ruthless and merciless.
Since the vile GOP will happily storm secret hearing rooms, Democrats must storm the vile-GOP caucus and Situation Room meetings and tell the people any truths told in them.
Since the vile GOP will happily obstruct evidence and appointments, Democrats must obstruct the stolen Senate's proceedings with filibusters, speeches, and outright yelling.
Since the vile GOP will never allow a fair trial or election, the Democrats must follow Guaidó's heroic example and set up a legitimate, parallel government that respects the Constitution and serves Americans, not Republicans.
We may have no right to, but will soon have no choice but to.
1
mitch should be ashamed of himself - casting his lot with the defendant instead of honoring the oath to which he swore. not only do the GOP offer up any sort of defense or exculpatory evidence, but now he and his cronies are going to stage it all in the dead of night!
we pay your salary mitch - do your job - with the dignity and honor and integrity demanded by the oaths to "uphold the Constitution" and to remain impartial
if nothing else have some mercy for Chief Justice Roberts who still has to do his SCOTUS work in the mornings!
2
Sounds like it would require at least three affirmative votes for any witness to testify in public. Correct?
As several commenters note, these "rules" are an obvious sham,
designed to expedite a heavy-handed cover-up of blatant high crimes & misdemeanors
That McConnell had this in mind from the start has been apparent for months
What's ridiculous is that anyone should have anticipated any other outcome
Given this, one has to question why Pelosi foolishly gave away, for nothing, the one advantage Dems have had in this farce:
Delay submission to the Senate until she could get a clear / detailed / specific statement from McConnell about what the rules were going to be,
not just about witnesses / documents / admission of the House materials as evidence,
but also the rules by which the media would be "allowed" to cover this pathetic imitation of a Stalin-style show trial
What's happening now is not just completely predictable -- IT WAS PREDICTED
There was absolutely ZERO reason for the Dems to submit articles UNTIL they had secured this from McConnell,
whose contempt for them and any notion of democratic process has been blatantly clear since even before the Merrick Garland fiasco
Instead, in their usual Stockholm Syndrome way, Dems acted as if none of these prior outrages had ever occurred,
and are now "shocked, shocked" at what is happening
When this travesty finally results in Trump's acquittal,
which he & his minions will call "exoneration",
Pelosi, Schumer & the entire DC Dem "leadership" should be FORCED TO RESIGN,
in the shame they have brought on themselves
2
Once again, Democrats will get rolled by McConnell. Remember Merrick Garland?
The accelerated schedule for opening arguments benefits Mr. Trump's defense because there is neither exculpatory evidence to be presented nor a complicated theory to expound. All that's needed is to provide cover for the Republican Senators by proclaiming insufficient evidence, faulty charges or the failure to rise to the level of an impeachable offense. The defense team will spend their time repeating the same mantra, which can be delivered in a few minutes at most.
1
The fact that they could dismiss the case outright should be taken very seriously, and we should all be scared. They can break the law, violate the Constitution, and oppress the voices of the people and they will get away with it. As sure as my hand is at one end of my arm and my shoulder is at the other, they'll get away with it.
And if, in November, he should be re-elected, then we are truly lost. I've argued in favor of voting, sometimes to the point of shouting at my friends. If he wins re-election, there's no point anymore.
1
Well, Clinton, at one point, didn’t want any witnesses in his Impeachment Trial, either, however, most undoubtedly for two different reasons. Clinton’s Lawyers probably didn’t want Clinton and Ms. Lewinsky any further exploited by what John Kerry, then, called a ‘zoo of witnesses.’ Did that Congress adopt the rules to be able to meet those concerns of the Clinton White House? Might McConnell now be taking advantage of such same trial rules, meant to somehow, regulate witnesses, as a way for McConnell to further protect Trump not wanting witnesses even before this Impeachment Trial?
Senator McConnell's proposal for Donald's fair trial is no admitted evidence, no admitted witnesses, and debate in the dead of night. A cynical gambit, but a weak hand, well played. Is this what we have come to? The Statue of Liberty is weeping.
23
Why have Democrats not put forward their own draft set(s) of rules that are either the same as the Clinton impeachment trial (as McConnell claimed Republicans wanted) or in other ways more fair than McConnell's current proposal?
The Senate has been reconstituted, and my understanding is that after being reconstituted, Mr. McConnell is no longer the Senate Majority leader. He has no formal power above and beyond any other Senator. Why are other Senators not proposing alternative rules that can be voted on?
1
How is it not a crime for a president, ANY president, to take taxpayer monies to use for their own political campaigns objectives? As an Independent, I do not donate to any political party, and I resent my tax dollars being stolen and used for that purpose! Trump and his Republicans officials are the fake state swamp dwellers running the country with absolutely no ethics or integrity whatsoever. Abuse of power? YES! Obstruction? YES! Impeach? YES! Corruption by any elected official is unacceptable, period!
34
@An Independent American
What do you do when half of the government is riddled with subversives like Barr, Pompeo, Mulvaney, McConnell, 5-4 Supreme Court, and all other complicit Republicans in the Senate?
These are the people who have it within their reach to end the Constitution and the rule of law, and are determined to do so.
Midnight Mitch is pulling a “Merrick Garland” again.
He is very comfortable doing what he wants. He doesn’t care what the American people want.
It can happen here.
5
@An Independent American
Yes, and now the Trump defense team is not even denying that Trump abused his power. They are just saying that he can't be impeached for it!???
1
This one sided exercise in futility of an impeachment controlled by the GOP clearly illustrates how broken, corrupt, partisan and undemocratic our government is. America does not deserve the withholding of evidence, witnesses, introduction of alternative facts in addition to twisted interpretations of the constitution in favor of Trump by McConnell, the GOP and corrupt lawyers. We all know what transpired July 25, 2019 in the Trump call to Ukraine…..yet it’s like it never happened and taken out of context according the GOP. Americans need to pay close attention to what is transpiring with this impeachment and in the country. Procedures and laws are being circumvented and twisted by the GOP, legal scholars, supported by FOX News and others while Americans lay defenseless. I have never felt so powerless in my life witnessing how the corruption and lies before our very eyes continue and have run amok. Sure, I will continue to vote but I feel the damage to our democracy and country has already taken place and my greatest fear is irreparable damage.
8
There is no bottom to the depths of corruption that this administration and the GOP will go to protect their power, even it destroys what is left of democracy in this country. I am sickened by the level of depravity exhibited by the president and his enablers in the GOP.
7
Is there any chance Roberts can make changes in the McConnell agenda?
2
Roberts was appointed by and for the vile GOP. Good luck.
If I just woke up this weekend after a really long sleep, I would see the militias marching in Virginia, and an indignant white Kentucky senator hobbling the government, and I would swear the South is rising again.
7
Cover up. What else can one expect from the party of Trump
11
I fear that the Republicans are at least partly right, to the ruination of our form of bipartisan governance. I fear that the next president who finds himself/herself with an opposition party in the House, will again be subjected to impeachment for political purposes. And I fear that, as a consequence, impeachment will become seen as nothing more than political payback. I hope I'm wrong.
Simon says, take one giant step toward totalitarianism.
It is astonishing that not even the Congressional investigation record is admitted into the Senate record until after the trial opens and a majority vote to allow it in. What on earth does McConnell expect senators to base their I'm decision on? No witnesses, no investigation record, nothing. What American will accept this as sufficiently honoring the Senate's constitutional duty? Oh, right; the Base.
McConnell sets forth a rule package that could be subtitled "a trial in name only." The Republican brand is further tarnished by this disingenuous and obvious ploy to hide the ball and refuse to conduct an actual trial. In doing so he sets a precedent that forever eviscerated the impeachment clauses. Count me a never Republican voter from now on. It's a matter of principal now, not policy.
9
I hope as many of these Republican senators as possible are ousted this fall. It's incumbent upon us, the people, to send them a resounding message. This sort of corrupt coverup is unacceptable behavior. So was the blatant refusal to consider Merrick Garland. Same goes for the way McConnell treats his post as a dictatorship and prevents any bills from even being discussed unless he personally likes them. I'm disgusted with the whole lot of them. Kick them all out!
9
I have to believe Putin has something on Mitch.
5
If McConnell thinks his show trial tactics and acquittal will help trump, he is really, really dumb.
The truth will out as the trial is dissected and discredited, and new evidence comes out that will, in turn, generate more new evidence to be laid before the public - the real jury.
trump - your troubles won't end with the trial - that's when they really begin.
5
McConnell cares for nothing but retaining his power and will make a pact with the devil to do it. McConnell is so thick skinned appeals to his better nature means nothing to him.There should be a full court press to retake the Senate. Can any one imagine how it will be if we go into 2021 like this?
2
"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" John Emerich Dalberg Acton.
We are all witnesses to this in real time. Sickening.
.
6
' ...and to the (banana) republic for which it (now) stands'
4
Funny. Never saw any pieces in the NYT about the rules that the House set for impeachment. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
What a surprise, a Republican saying he was going to do one thing and then do something else. Lies. lies and more lies.
8
This is what corruption looks like
I weep for America
6
Well, nothing else has changed in our society since 1999, so why would an impeachment trial? ...Oh, wait...
This trial is being conducted under fascist rules and makes a mockery of the rule of law.
Trump, McConnell and Barr could care less about justice and seeking the truth. Barr ensured that Trump could not be charged with any crime while in office and McConnell and the GOP enablers make sure that no impeachment can be prosecuted due to lack of indictment for a crime. We now have at least one Supreme Court Justice (Kavanaugh) and probably four more who stated and believes the President is above the law (unless he is a Democrat and has an extra marital affair). Roberts should speak out but probably will not despite dislike of Trump. After all the GOP is remaking the Courts in McConnell's plan for totally biased political hacks sitting on every Federal bench.
Putin is smiling.He Kim Jung and the Iranians want this President to stay in office as long as possible. This trial is truly a battle of good vs. evil.
4
The Republican strategy is essentially, if we all stick to our nothing to see here talking points and prevent the devastating evidence against Trump from being fully disclosed, we can keep this unfit person in office long enough to retain our senate seats. After all he’s our unfit person so to heck with national security, to heck with our sovereignty, to heck with the constitution.
54
@Robert O.
No, it's actually bigger than that. If Republicans were only interested in keeping their Senate seats, they wouldn't be helping a rogue president attack the basic principles of our Constitution.
The Right is trying to end the Constitution, and Trump is their point man.
The Right is against political equality for all citizens. Ask a Republican about equality, and listen to what they say. The Right would rather be slightly more important subjects under a white King than be politically equal to minorities, LGBTQs, or "liberals." Trump is trying to be that King.
Trump literally governs like a king, demanding Fealty (personal political loyalty) from pubic servants, calling his critics "treasonous," calling for VIOLENCE against citizens without due process, claiming he can take away birthright citizenship, calling the Press "the enemy of the people," and calling for violence against journalists, etc.
Trump contradicts, threatens to violate, and sometimes violates the Constitution ON TELEVISION!
Trump is attacking the Constitution on TV, regularly, and so it's the Senate majority leader. McConnell promised to put this hand on the Bible and swear an oath to be impartial and then be partial. He is not even pretending to care about his own oath. Republicans say nothing.
This is not just about Trump and Republicans unwilling to oppose him. This is about an entire political party attacking the Constitution to end all limits on presidential power (for Republicans).
4
Trump's character is evil and corrupt. Clinton wasn't. The trial in the Senate is a test of will and character. Senators character. History, we’re told, shows that, as Edmund Burke supposedly said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Blocking witnesses and documents and otherwise diluting the impeachment process to assure an acquittal may be a politically expedient maneuver for Republicans and Americans should expect more. We're watching.
7
It is official ladies and gentlemen, the United States of America is no longer a democratic republic, it is a banana republic where the will of the people is barely an afterthought. One of our two political parties has abdicated all of their responsibilities and violated the oath they swore as members of Congress. Many, if not all of them, are about to once again swear an oath they have no intention of honoring. They bow down before a false idol, and live in fear of his cult of followers. It was a grand experiment, indeed, but its time has passed. May history remember those who brought about its demise.
6
This Republican cover-up, called "Impeachment trial" is the last nail in the coffin of the Unied States Senate. It really all started with Justice Thomas. Thomas, at his defense for his getting onto the Supreme court sat in the Senate Well, on national television, and lied to the Senators, to the American people, and to all of history. Thomas said he did not sexually harass Ms. Hill. And he had, by all the evidence. The Senate voted to put a liar, a liar who lied in public, in front of god and everybody else, and the Senate voted him into the Supreme court. At that point in time the Senate showed that partisanship was more import to them than truth. And the Senate, as a respectable place, as a body making laws for the people of the United States, gave up its integrity, its honor, and its respect, for the greater good, the good of lying to get what you want. Since then, it's gone down hill. And so has truth, justice, and American Democracy. Today is the last straw. Today the Republican Senators, against the will of their constituents, begins letting Donald Trump get any help, from any country, to win the 2020 election. And empowers him to "do whatever he wants" equal to King George at the time of the American Revolution. Pity..
5
Well, it looks like another hello GOP, good-bye democracy moment has come again. Is this happening in Beijing or Washington? Without witnesses, it's not a trial - it's a meeting. Barring journalists from attending the trial is the sort of thing they do in Iran. Maybe they are just afraid of the fallout from a man who allegedly owns a lot of skyscrapers.
But any trial involving Dershowitz - the man who is innocent of having had sexual contact with girls from Epstein because, as he said, he kept his underwear on the whole time - will be nothing short of a legal travesty.
For Clinton, he stated there didn't have to be a crime for an impeachment to proceed and now he's saying the opposite - I'm guessing his legal dictionary starts and ends with "M".
Americans need to take back their democracy and oust these usurpers freedom - the GOP will gladly destroy the country before they destroy themselves.
6
Weeks of boring testimony repeating the same facts and (mostly) conjecture, 17 witnesses, selected leaks and spin, secretive hearings and a deliberaltly rushed investigation guided by a political calendar, and now Democrats lament about the injustice of it all now that it's reached the Senate. Well cry me a river. The entire nation deserves to be relieved from misery by speedily acquitting the president and ending this disgraceful sham.
Yes, because that is exactly how you get a king. He refused to send documents. He refused to send witnesses. He just said it was all fine, but blocked any attempt to prove that it was a perfect call. He is now a king. He picked the judges, and the jury, and the cops, and refused to hand over literally anything. And he wants us all to believe it was perfect. I want proof. I want him under oath, telling the American people that it is okay to bribe a country to announce an investigation into your political opponent. I want it on the record. When he is let off (because they already said they will do that, which is how you know they are dedicated to justice, when before evidence is presented, you decide how you vote), I want the Democratic nominee to stand up and say to the world: "Are you done with this circus? Send us everything you have. We have been given permission." No accountability means he is a king. No trial, no witnesses, no evidence presented, is what a king gets. It is how democracy dies.
1
The next Congress should develop and pass a binding procedure for impeachment and then trial in the Senate. Let’s be done with making it up as we go along to please politicians.
2
Republicans are going to pay an enormous price for their malfeasance, coddling, protecting, and enabling of a bad man, come November. Other than the racist, flag waving, gun toting, bible thumping base, the entire world will watch with shock and dismay when McConnell and his toady, enabling buddies,Graham, and the southern contingent of white senators scared to death of losing their grip on power, shut down the trial. These people are ignoring the will of the people - directly against anything they ever stood for. We want the truth. Don't tell us that we can't handle the truth.
6
It doesn't matter what rules they follow. The Democrats are just plain ridiculous on this one. It would be a different matter if Trump had sold military secrets or technology to a foreign power for a price. Let the voters decide. Even one of the Democrats running for president advocated this point of view. it's not up to the Senate or the House to undo an election. Let the people vote. The Democrats need to stop whining and complaining. Hillary Clinton was Box Office Poison. Unlike her husband, Bill who ran on "It's the economy stupid!" Hillary Clinton chose to run on her program of tree hugging or whatever. She needs to learn to speak from the heart. Agree or disagree with them you know that Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders always speak from their heart. Hillary Clinton lost the last election because she was box office poison, just like Mitt Romney lost in 2012 because he was Box Office Poison, too. It's time that the Republicans and Democrats learn to work together instead of trying to constantly undermind each other.
@Louis you lost me at Trump had a heart.A person with a heart doesn't lock children up in cages.
This is a cover up not a trial. The real trial will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
4
The republicans were beside themselves when the Clintons were in office. Yes, both of them which is part and parcel why the republicans went biserk. They hated Hillary more than Bill which they hated a lot. So they came up with a strategy to impeach him at any infraction. In Clintons case it was sex that did him in. Sure he lied about it but most democrats thought it was a cheap shot and hardly rose to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. More like reckless and tawdry behavior. Twenty some years later the republicans line up behind a person who makes the Clinton years seem quaint and almost genteel. Trump IS THE definition of high crimes and misdemeanors. Almost everything trump represents is corrupt, mean spirited, sexist and most importantly, racist. Yet the republicans fall right into line behind him. So what gives? Our country is not just divided by it’s politics but also by its morality and culture. We are at a place in our history that we have been at before. Every now and then demigods arise in our society and play it for all they can get out of their moment in the spotlight always abetted by our politics and politicians. Hearst,McCarthy, Cohn, Calhoun, Wallace, Long, Capone. Etc etc etc.
McConnell will be remembered for his legacy as well. Stealing a Supreme Court pick from our first African American president and now a rubber stamp political process. The king is dead. Long live the king.
6
And when will Americans take to the streets?
3
~ ...push the 1999 precedent toward President Trump’s preferences." ~
They won't accept the record from the House, including testimony
They won't accept new witnesses
They won't accept documents
They start each day a Noon and have only 24 hours of presentations but it must be accomplished in (2) days
What a joke.
13
Ah, the Trumpian modality. Say one thing, then backtrack and claim you didn't say it. Why does anyone believe anything Trump and his cronies say? Or, in the vein of the 'So What?' defense, maybe they just don't care.
2
The press in a pen. This abomination is what the GOP has devolved into: treating competent professionals like animals. We are truly living a nightmare. Vote the GOP out in 2020. Our democracy is in danger otherwise.
6
And the optics of the Supreme Court Chief Justice sitting there like a plotted plant effectively endorsing this sham, Soviet style "trial" is downright horrifying.
He must speak up. It only takes good people being silent.
11
I'll be donating to McConnell's opponent in KY today and hoping this is his McConnell's last year in public office.
17
@ Mford
It looks like McConnell, Graham, McSally, and many other Republicans, 23 in all, I believe, are up for re-election this fall.
Those who show they are against our Constitution and who go against the oaths they have sworn should be aware.
Americans have eyes to see. And money in their pockets.
4
I am of the feeling this is what will end the Republican Party as we know it or the beginning of what Putin sees as the perfect opportunity to advance his plan of becoming the new world power. Cheaters only prosper until the awareness of the players throw them out of the game. Trump is only being what he has always been, a liar and a manipulator, but the Senate has completely lost what it means to watch out for the all the people. The time has come for term limits and the removal of Corporations financial power to stack the deck in their favor. If Corporations are people too they need to be taxed accordingly along with doing the time for their crimes.
10
Of course Midnight russian mitch will bend the rules to advantage his party. This is not about justice it is about cover up. Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote against mitch.
9
This is shaping up to be the Senate GOP equivalent of a child murdering his parents and then begging the court's mercy because he's an orphan.
The White House was given every opportunity to participate in the multiple House committee hearings, but demurred. They don't now get to claim that they were abused by the process because they "couldn't" present their side of the argument.
9
"If we refuse to allow any evidence or witnesses then there's no evidence that Trump is guilty!" -- Republicans
9
Dear Ben,
We managed to keep it for 232 years. Sadly, it was trashed and discarded by a small group who should have known better.
Please take some solace in knowing that your ideas and efforts did not go for naught. Your intuition regarding the fragility of our republic has proven to be quite prophetic.
10
We no longer can say that we live in a democracy. I can’t wait for Election Day. Vote blue
13
@Cliff R
But, but . . . The Economy! The Market! Who needs a democracy when we are doing so well!
Sadly, at least 40% believe it.
3
The Senate is abdicating to trump. Selling out our country.
Moscow mitch is nothing more than a shoeshine boy for trump.
The trump apocalypse wil begin, in earnest, the moment the senate acquits.
The worst is yet to come and will be remembered as our second civil war.
7
It is possible that the GOP will win this “battle” in the senate, but lose the “war” for votes in November 2020. Here’s hoping.
10
More like McConnell's rules *nullify* any Clinton impeachment precedent. This is SOP for the GOP these days, to go where no Congress has gone before to support and protect their ongoing criminal enterprise.
3
Face it: This is no longer a democracy.
8
Will every senator and Chief Justice Roberts be required to stay in the senate chamber for the full 12 hours?
4
Good question. And if Chief Justice Roberts has to stay for the full 12 hours - has anyone asked him if this is OK with him? Or is Roberts just judicial window dressing.
Next, what is Roberts decided to "adjourn" at 6pm? What happens
@Finnie Yes. At the very least, there will have to be “restroom breaks” for all the middle aged and elderly male senators. 12 hours in a row seems preposterous.
We may wonder: what will McConnell feel in 10, 20 years when his legacy becomes etched in history? Will he look on fondly as his grandchildren struggle under the yoke he has largely created, one of a judiciary who only favors one view, one economic reality? Or when one of his grandkids comes out as not heterosexual or heteronormative and is fired or denied housing? What will McConnell say when his own kin must push back against a morality borne of pure intolerance and hatred?
1
To understand the reason for the rules one must realize that Trump's hard core supporters have never been exposed to the real facts surrounding his behavior. Fox News just flat doesn't report them. And Fox News is all they watch. McConnell is concerned that these voters will hear the true facts while watching the impeachment proceedings. This cannot be permitterd.
10
@Don Feferman
Correct all the way around. In watching Laura Ingraham, I was struck at what fact free presentation her intro was. She's for dismissal from the opening gavel. In other words, she doesn't want any trial!
After the depressing opening segments, she did have comic relief in the form of Rudy Giuliani. When talking about his, repeat, HIS associate Lev Parnas, he kept talking about what a towering liar he is.
1
The worst part of this exercise is the absolute broken state of justice it leaves behind.
If the president can break the law, coerce his appointees (including the Attorney General), obstruct Congress, flagrantly lie, distort the court, and escape conviction, what does that say to the rest of us?
Why do any of us have to obey civil authorities? Abide the law? Cede to court orders? Pay tax? Follow the rules?
If the president is above the law, there is no law. The whole system of justice and civil order will come tumbling down; chaos and anarchy will take its place.
Should this come about, the president and the Republican party will have no one to blame but themselves. This is a powder keg waiting to explode.
7
McConnell has already violated his most recent oath but we expect nothing less. It is one thing to have an opinion, it is another to subvert the rules to tip the scales of justice. The expectations of this sham impeachment trial could not have been set lower, yet still McConnell finds a way to denigrate the process, befoul the constitution and insult the American people.
5
The republicans don’t care about the evidence. They know that the House’s evidence of Trump’s conduct is irrefutable. What Trump’s legal team are saying is “even if Trump did squeeze Zelensky for his own political purposes, that is not a legal basis for impeachment under the Constitution”. Because only two Presidents have been tried for impeachment in the senate, there is little legal precedent on what conduct constitutes “other high crimes and misdemeanors”. This is a question of law, which is determined by the judge in a trial.
So, Trump has retained a rag bag of lawyers, none of which have any credentials as experts in Constitutional law. Of course, Justice Roberts is more than qualified to answer this question, but the Constitution is vague about the role of the Chief Justice in an Impeachment trial. So, who will decide the legal question of whether Trump’s abuse of power and contempt of Congress are grounds for impeachment under the Constitution? By default It would be the 100 Senators, not one of which is a Constitutional scholar.
As a result, the third impeachment trial in our nation’s history will be determined without any facts (McConnell will not admit the House’s evidence and will not allow new evidence) and without competent legal analysis of whether Trump’s admitted acts are impeachable offenses. A trial with no facts and no law. Horrible precedent.
6
Hmmmm... let’s think: No network or cable channel tv cameras allowed in the Senate hearing room. The press sequestered so that access to key players is greatly reduced. Proceedings scheduled so that they will be marathons that run late into the night, rather than at times most of the American public will be likely to tune in.
Why, one is forced to ask, is Mitch McConnell going to such herculean lengths to keep the impeachment trial secret, or at least, very difficult to observe? Clearly, he wants to hide the ugly truth: that this entire exercise is a sham, a travesty of justice, something to be ashamed of.
I trust that the journalists, our Fourth Estate, will find a way to make this trial as public as humanly and technologically possible. We, the nation, turn our lonely eyes to you. Woo woo woo.
3
The House stacked its deck and now the Senate is stacking theirs (feel free to substitute party affiliation for the houses of Congress). So, whats the difference, the belly aching is reciprocal.
1
@TED338 I think the equivalence is false. Trump's Orwellian double speak/think was evidenced in his first news briefing, when he claimed he had the largest inauguration crowd in history. Trump communication has been consistently following this pattern ever since, and when the media asked to many hard questions ... no more daily briefings. American's need to see all the facts. Ask yourself: why hasn't the President himself testified under oath (as Clinton did?)--his handlers knew he would lie. Republicans need to untie themselves from Trump's wagon, or they will go off the cliff with him.
2
@TED338 The President stacked the deck in the House hearings by refusing to allow his "people" to answer any questions at all Obviously he had no answer to the questions that would help his case. He still cannot defend his actions, so his captive Senators will cover up his behavior to the detriment of constitutional government.
@Paul Too late for that!We have to push All of them off the cliff! We need the Facts,all of them so we the people can decide, not your opinion of the facts.
Democratic Senators need to stay on message:
Why does Mitch McConnell want to keep the evidence hidden?
What are Mitch McConnell and the Republicans trying to hide?
Why is Donald Trump cowering in fear that witnesses and evidence will be permitted in the impeachment trial?
Why has Trump hired Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers?
Why are Republicans defending Trump's cheating in the 2020 election?
Why are Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers arguing cheating in an election is not impeachable?
Why are Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers arguing that trading military aid for smears on political opponents is not impeachable?
5
And Chief Justice Roberts will sit there with a polite smile on his face while McConnell’s “farce” trial takes place? Roberts and the Supreme Court will be tainted forever.
5
Oh! So if I ever end up in court, do I get to say I’m innocent until proven guilty AND get to say that no evidence or witnesses can be brought forward to prove my guilt?
America, oh my beloved country, my heart is breaking for the land of the free and the home of the brave. There is no freedom or bravery on display in the Senate Republicans today.
4
Let me get this right: a majority of the Senate can (and will) vote not to make the House evidence part of the official record. Then they can turn around and contend that "based on the evidence in the record," there is no basis to impeach.
Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the system of justice in a third world dictatorship.
11
Mitch, the man behind the porcelain Throne.
Seriously.
2
History will be unkind to people like Moscow Mitch. It’s too bad no one bothers to read it anymore. As a society, we cannot tolerate or have our children tolerate this behavior by our leaders. Time for action on so many fronts.
What precedent is there for something that has only been done two times in our nations history? I think it is a cope out. There is no cookie cutter labeled impeachment that they can pull off the shelf.
1
If I were innocent, I would want a full trial including a public review of evidence that confirms my innocence.
5
McConnell deny's a vote on witnesses "because there was no vote in Clinton trial" and then changes all the rules of not admitting evidence from the impeachment and giving the managers and lawyers less days to argue the case. He is a dishonorable man and any GOP senator who votes to join him in these unreasonable unjust rules has abandoned justice and the American people to help Trump cover up his crimes.
5
The Democrats should have subpoenaed key witnesses in the House hearings and sought enforcement in court. As impeachment hearings were pending, they would have been granted expedited Supreme Court consideration. Instead they used the electoral calendar to set an artificial time line to complete the process. Developing the facts should have been the primary concern.
The Democrats should have anticipated the Republicans’ partisanship; after all they are the complicit Party of Trump. It seems like the Dems were more interested in going on cable and crying “cover-up” than in preparing the case for trial. Furthermore, the hearings should have looked into the dirty dealings of Giuliani and his henchmen. Their forcing Ambassador Yovanovich out of her post was the equivalent of the Watergate burglary, opening up the door to multiple opportunities for bribery and corruption. Ukrainegate is Trump’s Reign of Error in a microcosm. A thorough investigation would have exposed the depth of Trump’s corrupt breach of public trust. It was never possible that the Senate would convict Trump, but by rushing the House proceedings the a Democrats lost the opportunity to prove their case to the voters.
1
@Asher Fried
They had to rush because it was an effort to interfere with the 2020 election. Republicans in Congress will never focus on facts, only process, because they know the facts support impeachment and removal.
1
@Asher Fried
Mulvaney was subpoenaed back in April to answer questions concerning the Muller report... it is still in court today 10 months later, with the current ruling on it not due until sometime in March, which will likely be appealed again for another round of adjudication. Best guess start to finish (ie-supreme court) is 18-20 months... at which point only then will Trump assert actual executive privilege (as opposed to the bogus “absolute immunity” he’s claiming now) and we start all over again.
This same dance is being done with every single witness and every scrap of paper subpoenaed by the House.
The Dems aren’t “crying coverup”, this is an actual coverup.
3
Another whitewash, a repeat of the injustice done to the American people during the Mueller investigation.
It is so obvious that Trump and his crime family have been obstructing justice from day one yet he continues to "game the system".
2
The trial takes place into the night under the cover of darkness to avoid being viewed by the American public. This is a page out of Wisconsin's history under Scott Walker - passing unjust policies in darkness. Such are the ways of the children of darkness. May the nation that now sits in darkness see a great light. May this president and the GOP be expelled in great number come November. Let there be light!
5
What if, and I'm serious, McConnell is already past "this" United States of America. He showed it before Trump with his Merrick Garland shenanigans. He has no respect for the Constitution or the Norms and Rules that run the country. He and his wife have profited greatly from his "service" in the Senate. In Trump, he has found the Grifter King, and he is ready to move on to the next stage, where he is among the elites running the "new" United States, one that has no need for pesky elections or Constitutional Rules.
Madness you say? Maya Angelou famously warned us: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." How many times are we going to ignore this?
4
Interesting and very scary thoughts that are worthy of serious consideration.
Why doesn't McConnell bring a shredder ,copies of the Constitution , and of the various oaths which he and his fellow Senators have sworn to uphold to the start of the mock impeachment trial mock trial, put the Constitution through the shredder, and hand a copy to every Republican Senator who has made a partisan decision to choose Trump over Constitution and country to shred, along with shredding copies of the oaths they have sworn, and be done with it ?!
8
Didn't Mitch McConnell just swear an oath to administer impartial justice before the Supreme Court chief justice and his fellow senators? Apparently, he has a pretty loose interpretation of his sworn oath.
4
@Steve-- Yeah, but he's been violating his oath of office for as long as he's been there. One more time means nothing, to any of them. If voters don't like it, they should boot him, and them, OUT. If they don't care, they should let him stay. Charles Booker would be my choice.
Come November we need the equivalent of a class action lawsuit against Trump and the entire republican party and vote them out of office. They have betrayed the Constitution.
5
70% of the American public wants witnesses and evidence.
They understand perfectly that Trump has prevented dozens of people from giving testimony to the House, that material evidence was withheld or even hidden.
70% of the American Public understood McConnell perfectly when he said, I will say or do anything the president wants.
Americans understand "rigged games", even legal ones that have cost them their home or their pension or their health care.
We have it.
And so does every crook in this country.
I think the technical name for this coming trial, is "show trial".
10
Considering that the rules came out on MLK day, perhaps it would be good for all of those appalled by what the Republicans are doing to remember one of his more famous quotes: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Yes, Trump will be aquitted and yes, the GOP may succeed in making the trial a sham. But they will never succeed in erasing the totality of Donald Trump's corruption and those who have enabled it. History will not be kind, and if we are lucky neither will the voters be next November.
8
Mitch McConnell is up for election in a few years. It is common knowledge that his wife Elaine Chao’s family owns and her sister runs the Foremost shipping company. It has had most of its ships built by China State Shipbuilding, some of them financed by loans from the state-owned Export-Import Bank of China. In 2015 it began construction of the first freighter jointly financed by banks in both the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.
Since there is known to be corruption in China, by Republican standards the next Dem president should tell them that trade sanctions will be reduced if they announce investigations of the Chao family.
3
@ Larry Feig
McConnell is up for re-election this year. Amy McGrath, a former military pilot, is running against him.
1
It will be interesting to see how Roberts projects his authority in this sham, either he goes along with it or enforces the law. There is a definite conflict of realities ahead. Will the SC justice be a rubber stamp to Moscow Mitch and the GOP posse, too? I am hoping he pits principles over personalities.
4
After the block of the Garland nomination, we know McConnell invents rules as needed. As do other Republicans in Congress who now set the bar for the presidency at not-a-crime. And since people’s 401s are doing well, many voters put up wIth this outrage. Few think that one day “they may come for me”.
1
The Trump Party's successful attempt to turn our country into a third-world banana republic is pretty much guaranteeing that over the next few election cycles, Democrats will gain and hold the House, the Senate, and the presidency.
That will be the legacy of Mitch McConnell.
6
The drafters of the US Constitution incorporated multiple checks among the different branches of government; and the Constitution implicitly and explicitly incorporates multiple checks on the government as a whole by those who are governed - the citizens. The impeachment and removal of a President is a check on the Executive by the the Legislative and Judicial branches, but the proceedings themselves afford an additional check on the entire government by the people of the America.
The rules as advanced by Sen. McConnell, wedging opening arguments into two 24 hour segments over two days, denies citizens their ability to provide the ultimate check on the government as a whole through the ballot box in November. The conduct of all parties in the Senate trial needs to be freely and easily available - in its entirety - for public scrutiny. By forcing opening proceedings into the night and early morning hours leaves sleeping American citizens - when they turn on their TV’s and radios, and read their newspapers the morning after - to view the proceedings through the lenses of today’s polarized media.
When the opposition cries that the the President was denied “due process” in the House (not so), the procedural rules advanced by McConnell are denying Americans due process - a constitutional guarantee that prevents governments from impacting citizens in an abusive way. These rules are just that - abusive to the citizens.
6
What about the rules regarding broadcasting the deliberations?
Will the press have unfettered access so that individual politicians will be held accountable for their words and actions during the trial?
5
The Republicans will ram this thing through and brush it under the rug as as quickly as they can without any regard for due process or anything remotely resembling a trial, fair or not. If we want the truth to come out, the House is going to have to reopen an official inquiry again, and have the entire House vote to start it.
This will not be an impeachment inquiry, but a standard congressional inquiry looking into possible criminal violations including extortion, bribery, campaign finance violations and obstruction.
The Republicans investigated Benghazi for years, and Hillary for decades. They found nothing. There is plenty here to find. If fact, all of it has never been disputed by Trump. Now let's prove it.
10
There is a strong case against Trump the man. There is a weaker case against his actions as president. And the case for the actual articles of impeachment is weaker still.
The Democrats have presented a weak case against Trump and are prepared to accuse the Republicans of dishonesty if they do not vote to convict Trump.
But it is not going to sell with those who are not Democrats.
And an early end to the trial (followed by acquittal) might actually help the Democrats. They need to let go of their anti-Trump hysteria and focus on what THEY can do to foster the well being of the nation.
There is no way that the two thirds of the Senate will vote to convict Trump. Why are the Democrats going after a pipe dream? Keep your eyes on the ball and that ball is November.
1
@ludwig - the sham impeachment trial is a major affront to the checks and balances in our constitution and you happily turn a blind eye to the indiscretions of a corrupt president. Trump used mine and your taxpayer dollars to extort a foreign country to help him in the 2020 presidential election. If there is another explanation for his actions then why won’t he allow those with first hand knowledge testify under oath? Wake up!
2
@Ludwig if that is so (and it’s not) why the need to rush this through in the midnight hours? Why not have the exact same rules that were used in the impeachment of Clinton? We know why. The evidence is damning.
This trick of trying to hide witnesses and evidence and then saying there is no evidence is as old as the sky is blue. It works on people who don’t care about the facts or the rule of law. Right now that’s the Republican Party. It’s a shame to see the party of Lincoln and teddy Roosevelt come to this. But it is now acting like low level thugs trying to do a shady midnight coverup.
2
@Ludwig If the case is weak it is because there has been a coverup. Whereas the timing of the withdrawal and eventual release of military aid is damning, the evidence of Trump's "perfect" phone call has been vetted or destroyed and those who listened in, except for one brave man, silenced. It was reported that voice recognition software was used to aid the transcriptors and one would think that record has been destroyed. If produced the bribery charge would probably have weight. Just think, if Nixon's secretary had erased a couple of more tapes he would have been in the clear.
Has anyone else noticed this -- even if witnesses are allowed, McConnell's proposed rules appear to allow no time for debate or argument between the appearance of witnesses and the final vote on removal?
6
This is how we lose our constitutional democracy, by allowing an impeached President to dictate the terms of his Senate trial.
Trump continues to behave as an autocrat, not as the President of a democracy.
There must be consequences for legislators who violate their oaths to abide by our Constitution.
20
@Richard Waugaman, M.D. Indeed. The Constitution allows for the impeachment of the Vice-President and other Civil Officers. The New Yorker ran an article in Oct 2019 reviewing some of the history. I wonder what today's understanding of Civil Officers is.
2
@Richard Waugaman, M.D.
Trump is the first president to actually accomplish something. You can't govern by committee. Democracy is an illusion anyway. Just look at the current political situation in New York State. The Democrats and their political machine have a stranglehold on the operation of the state. You can talk about Democracy in New York State all you want, but the fact is, the Democrat political machine under Governor Cuomo, controls the state with a dictatorial iron fist. The California Wine Snobs or the Liberal section of the Democrat Party just can't accept the fact that they lost in 2016 and have been having a temper tantrum ever since.
@Louis
"Democracy is an illusion anyway."
Another Trump supporter plainly saying that they don't believe in democracy, while they try to make Trump their King.
The Constitution is the theory that you are an equal Citizen, not a subject under a king.
The Party of Trump thinks America was great when it was a colony under a king. They want to:
Make America Grovel Again.
1
By crafting these rules, McConnell has delivered exactly what he promised: a trial that moves in lockstep with the President's defense. Faithless from the beginning to the oath they swore on Friday, a Senate majority that votes to uphold these rules and not to admit automatically evidence brought by the House has also violated their oath to the Constitution.
9
I would think that Sanders, Klobuchar, and Warren would welcome a quick trial, whatever the outcome. Given that Trump is unlikely to be removed from office, the Dems' focus should be on the primaries. Those who support one of the Senators who is still running should think along those same lines. Play the long game.
1
@Steve there is a world of difference between a speedy and fair trial and a rigged outcome from the beginning. The rules are created to prevent any mention of any evidence. That’s not a trial that’s a scam.
1
@steve - it’s not a game, Steve. It’s out system of checks and balances at risk.
Voting to censure Mitch McConnell for blocking the Merrick Garland nomination needs to be the very first act of business whenever Democrats retake the senate. Anything less would be a surrender to the Republican idea that the rules do not apply to them.
The Republicans had to learn the hard way from the Tea Party how disenfranchised those on the right felt. Given that the majority of this country does not hold sway in any branch of government means it is time for a similar uprising on the left.
I sometimes sadly wonder if it is time to consider a two state solution to the US.
8
To a "T", this package is off side and not what the Clinton model was touted to be. We could have bet on the outcome given that the President was an author and coach in some meaningful form and with McConnell bragging about his role to ensure that they would be in lock-step. That alone craters any surprise, and, to a layman, breaches the rules too.
Supplementing this with an unbroken record of 15,000+ lies on the record there are likely to be many more to come, hardly the gold standard for credibility going forward.
Orwell of 1984 fame dealt with tyrants who relied on laying out their "truth" and hammering it home until all submitted, ignoring any other version.
To add some depth to this:
"Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it", George Santayana
and:
John Acton writing to Bishop Creighton in 1887: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely".
1
Much impeachment angst is over the Republican efforts to prevent witness testimony, especially that of John Bolton. Of course that is a coverup. What else might you call it?
But here's what I've not read or heard from the commentariat:
What prevents John Bolton, if he indeed he has bombshell information, from calling a press conference today? He is not legally inhibited from telling the truth, anywhere and anytime he wants. No, it would not be under oath, but he could accompany his statement with, "I am ready, willing and able to provide this testimony under oath in the Senate trial of Donald Trump." What would Moscow Mitch do then, if the information was compelling and credible? At that point a coverup would be obvious enough that Republican moderates would be compelled to vote to allow his testimony.
Where's your courage, Mr. Bolton? If you can save the republic, is it not more important than making money from a book deal? Besides, I suspect the value of a book deal would be exponentially higher after such a brave and patriotic act.
10
The impeachment charges against Clinton would certainly not merit his removal from office.
The ones facing Trump do.
If McConnell didn't realize the greater relative seriousness of the matter, he wouldn't have wanted to ease things for his guy.
They know Trump is guiltier than sin or they wouldn't be trying to rig the outcome in their favor, before the jurors are polled. It's McConnell's admission that he's getting nervous. Very nervous.
10
I need an explanation on why for the Mueller Report the premise was the President could not be charged with a crime but the defense by the White House for Ukraine is that the President cannot be impeached because he did not commit a crime? What about the felony crime that he directed Cohen to commit a felony that supposedly he may be charged with after he is no longer President? How do each of these acts operate independently???
5
@James Hamje
The notion that the President can't be indicted is an opinion letter of the DOJ that's never been challenged or tested. It needs to be. It's dangerous to leave it hanging out there, as if the President ever did "shoot someone on 5th avenue" there would be no recourse. Ditto cheating on his taxes, or any other criminal infringement that would trigger an arrest in the case of a private citizen.
3
@James Hamje They operate independently because it's OK if you're a republican. That's it. Not so much if you're a Democrat.
1
If the senate refuses to call witnesses this should be the final trigger to protest in the streets. It is completely unacceptable that these craven sycophants should be able to hijack the rule of law to protect Trump! Where is the backbone of the United States!?
16
@Mike_F no it should trigger revolution
1
@MB
We don't need to overthrow the government. We need to stop corrupting the Constitution.
When Bernie talks about a peaceful political revolution, he is talking about getting more Americans to vote, and to vote for those that believe in investing in America and following the Constitution.
If that is what you are talking about, I'm in. If you are talking about overthrowing the Constitution in the hope that the the violence that followed will result in something better, you need to read some more history.
Mitch knows that “sunlight is the best disinfectant”, which is why he wants the facts to remain hidden. So no witnesses, and a rushed trial conducted while America sleeps. This is starting to feel like a banana republic.
Write your Senators.
The truth shall set us free.
8
Whenever I think that the President and Mitch McConnell have gone as far into the cess as it is humanly possible to go they find a way to dig an even deeper cess pit and dive right in. So Mitch wants to limit the factual record because the Justice Department wasn’t involved in the House impeachment action like with Clinton, but ignores the fact that Trump and Barr are complicit in Trump’ s actions to keep Justice out of the House action. Now Mitch is complicit in the cover up too.
175
@GlennC
Well, like it or not, let's face it, this administration (with the complicity of Justice Dept.) is conducting a Revolution.
It's over!
America is broken, and will never be the same.
Good luck!
8
@Ray Chalifoux
It is not a revolution. It is a coup. The Party of Trump is trying to usurp the Sovereign Authority of We the People. They are literally trying to make Trump King. instead of We the People.
4
Fair trial? No, a whitewash of corruption, criminality and abuse of office. Having hypocritically lambasted the House Democrats for not providing Trump with the opportunity to present potentially exculpatory witnesses, none whom Trump allowed to testify; now the Senate Republicans want no witnesses at all.
If the American people do not understand the magnitude of the Republican efforts to undermine the Constitution and make them pay in November, the American people do not deserve a representative democracy.
194
@D. Smith
The proposed rules permits senators to vote on whether to call witnesses just as they did in the Clinton impeachment trial. By delaying the vote until after opening arguments, the senators can make informed decisions.
4
@William Case That could work. But if the Senate uses these procedures to refuse hearing any witnesses or even admit the House evidence, it will effectively be a mistrial or even form of jury nullification.
33
@William Case We will see. I have no expectation that the vast majority of Republican Senators, based on their public comments, are interested in making “informed” decisions unless by informed you mean undertaking the political calculus to determine if they can get away with their sham of a rush to “exonerate” Trump. Perhaps if there is enough public pressure witnesses, like Bolton, will testify. I would not hold my breath.
42
We live in historic times folks. This could be the first time we've ever seen a charge of Obstruction of Congress by Congress.
185
@Rick Gage
Did you mean a charge of obstruction of Congress against Congress?
1
Full disclosure: Independent and not a Trump supporter.
I am angry with the Administration and disappointed with the leadership of the Senate.
The Administration should not have pressured the Ukraine for information on domestic political opponents. It is generally believed they did but I feel more information is required. If you don’t believe there is a probability the Administration did this, you then probably also believe the moon is made of green cheese.
The Senate, particularly McConnell, is making a sham of impeachment with respect to these rules. The American people deserve to hear a full accounting combined with additional information provided by both documents and witnesses. Does it need to be lengthy? No. In fact it should be done speedily as we are in an election year. But what McConnell has done is make a sham of impeachment. Will the next President that has clearly committed terrible crimes and impeached by one party be given a trial in the Senate where a different party has control? One ohour to present their case?
This whole trial process is basically un-American.
245
@Paul
"It is generally believed they did but I feel more information is required. "
What is it about the available of the information, including the transcript of the phone call between President Trump and the President of the Ukraine, the transcript having been moved onto a special server where it did not belong, in an effort to cover up, the withholding of needed aid to the Ukraine , the detailed whistleblower complaint , the sudden removal of a very experienced career diplomat from her position U.S. ambassador to the Ukraine , the smear campaign and threats towards the ambassador, the extremely credible testimony of non-partisan witnesses,
the withholding of meeting from President Zelensky,
Giuliani and others going being the back of career diplomats , the release of the aid right after the Whistleblower complaint, and more, that you find wanting ?
It's not "probability" that the administration pressured the Ukraine to smear a political rival in an effort to further Trump's personal political interests and interfere with the outcome of the 2020 U.S. election.
That's a fact.
What would it take to convince you ?
A transcript of a phone call of Trump asking the President of the Ukraine to "do us a favor ,though ?"
18
@Paul
Exactly correct. The GOP does not even bother anymore to conceal their outrageous double standards, and this is apparently OK with millions of American know-nothing voters.
18
@Paul
They did so much more than pressure Ukraine for information on political opponents…
Makes perfect sense to me. The way I read it.
Changes..
1. Democrats will not be allowed to drag the impeachment until Election Day.
2. Any findings that are purely partisan will not be admitted as evidence until vetted by the entire Senate through Democratic voting.
3. A vote to see if additional voting on new evidence/ witnesses is needed. Meaning if a majority of the Senate wants witnesses, they will agree to vote to do so.
4. Not allowing outright dismissal is somehow still in Trump's favor? This is funny right.
7
@Kumar
No one has commented on this part: even if witnesses are called, McConnell's proposed rules appear to allow no time for debate or argument between the appearance of witnesses and the final vote on removal?
1
@Kumar
Not sure how 48 hours of opening statements could “drag the impeachment until Election Day,” but partisans will certainly exaggerate.
The biggest takeaway from all this is that Trump’s stonewalling has been largely successful, and the Republican Senate has proved itself utterly partisan and supine.
The Republicans understand that Trump will stop at nothing to rig the election in their favor, and that pretty much fits in with their strategy over the past decades.
How long do you think the poll lines will be in predominantly Democratic precincts this November?
1
@Kumar how did you determine that findings are “partisan”. What’s partisan is working with the. Trump team to plan the trial and deciding on the articles before hearing from witnesses or reviewing the case. It’s a dismissal before trial by jurors who have proven to be incapable of being partial.
The rules discussed here will be interpreted and applied by Roberts. The presiding judge is the ultimate arbiter of fairness. And if McConnell’s rules serve injustice, Roberts can refuse to enforce them. The notion that Roberts will blindly follow McConnell and ignore fundamental fairness is all naked prejudice. If you are convinced that Roberts will be McConnell’s tool, tell us why you are so certain that he is a partisan hack.
9
@michjas
Shelby County v. Holder demonstrated that Roberts will substitute his own judgement for that of Congress when necessary to further Republican interests. It’s virtually a textbook case of legislating from the bench. And it’s had its intended effect.
14
Michjas, any ruling Roberts makes can be over ruled by Senate vote and it is highly unlikely he will risk that.
1
@kkseattle
Yes that is true but I think this time Roberts will perform in the manner that he should of done with Shelby. The stakes are to high and his name will always be associated with a draft dodger. Since he is a blueblood I think he wouldn't want to stain his family legacy , because he wont be remembered for anything else but being a hack for Trump.
Well there’s a surprise. Moscow Mitch not acting impartially.
45
It's so transparently obvious in every move, every document, every statement, that Trump and his GOP majority in the Senate are running from and preventing the full truth getting out to the American public. This evidence is what, at the same time, they complain they lack. It seems more and more evident that Trump himself was at the head of this high crime to betray us for his personal needs. These are not the moves of an innocent man eager to prove his innocence. Nor does the GOP show itself to be a party that holds the interests of the country primary. Again, they will move to make this a wholly partisan impeachment and run with that. We can only watch and hope that this does not work ultimately with the American people.
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@Potter Joe Biden is NOT the nominee of the Democrats. Let me repeat that he is NOT the nominee of the Democrats.
It follows that the claim that Trump was trying to damage a "political opponent" is a bit weak.
And frankly, Trump's worst action was pulling out of the Paris accord. And that action is not in the articles of impeachment.
Democrats, keep your eyes open. Your case against Trump, AS IN the articles of impeachment, is weak.
Keep your eyes focused on November!
@Potter
We can only hope that voters will remember this on Election Day.
Maybe destroy the present day Republican Party!
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@Ludwig No Biden was not the nominee but he was the LIKELY nominee and certainly a political opponent in the race. The polls had him way ahead from the beginning, right out of the gate. What matters too is that Trump FELT he was his formidable opponent. Now, the state of things today, Biden is STILL way ahead of the others.
The issue is this is an offense against the American people, our elections, compounding it by using our tax money to threaten, bribe, the Ukraine. Of itself this is what the impeachment is about. Not Biden.
1
Without witnesses, new and old, without full admission and consideration of evidence, newly discovered or previously illuminated in the House, this is a sham and a cover-up.
All those complicit in the cover-up should pay the most severe political price for their avoidance of constitutional responsibility.
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@sandgk
Does the accused even have to make an appearance, he should, maybe midnight mitch will serve Big Macs and Fries.
Republicans behave badly and get rewarded by their voters. Don't let that happen again. Vote them out. There are more of us than there are of them but we have to vote.
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@Curious
AMEN, AMEN ! VOTE them ALL out every position they hold in the entire country.
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"The measure is expected to pass on Tuesday along party lines, over strenuous Democratic objections."
I'm not sure this statement is true. There is still the question of whether McConnell's resolution alters the existing Senate rules regarding impeachments. 67 votes are required to change Senate rules. This wasn't an issue with Clinton because the rules were passed unanimously.
McConnell however only has 51 votes. Democrats can make a point of order if amendments fail. That would punt the issue to Chief Justice Roberts to decide. Is the resolution changing the rules? The answer is clearly yes. However, Roberts could determine whether the Senate accepts the changes or not.
It's a test for Roberts and a difficult one.
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@Andy
Senate "rules" DO NOT APPLY. This is an impeachment trial, not the usual Senate deliberations.
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@Andy In impeachment hearings, it's only a simple majority vote. Thus the Majority holds all the cards if they block vote in lockstep. It's not looking good for a "fair" airing of all evidence but there isn't much the Democratic minority can do. Just hope the voters see this as a sham.
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I often wonder what Mitch will tell his grand kids when they ask: who is responsible for killing American democracy. I’m sure he’ll blame the Democrats, or even Trump. But both would be incorrect. As bad as Trump is, he would never have been able to pull this off if Mitch were not in charge of the Senate. So, my fellow Americans: We can blame Trunp until the cows come home but in reality we knew exactly what Trunp was yet so many of you still voted for him. The real culprit for the loss of our democracy lies in the hands of but one person: Mitch McConnell. I do hope those in his district remember this next time he is up for office — that is if there are even elections by then.
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@Jax " As bad as Trump is, he would never have been able to pull this off if Mitch were not in charge of the Senate." Indeed, Trump would not even be president if McConnell had not blocked Merrick Garland's nomination to the the Supreme Court and dangled Scalia's vacant seat as incentive for Republicans to vote for a much-compromised candidate like Trump.
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@Jax
No, it is not just Trump or McConnell. It is the whole Right third of the country, which actively opposes democracy, because they refuse to be politically equal to all citizens.
2
@Jax Mitch is the political toady with a thorough working knowledge of the gears and levers of the legislative process. He is doing his 'job.' The destruction of democracy is the doing of many hands, most of them Republican.
What? Mitch McConnell is shifting impeachment procedures to favor President Trump? I’m shocked! The next thing you’ll tell us is that there is gambling going on at Rick’s Cafe.
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@John C
Will you should be shocked. You shouldn't be surprised, but you should be shocked.
Americans are supposed to put the Constitution above all. McConnell put this hands on a Bible and swore to be impartial, after promising that he would violate that oath.
Just acting like the things that the Party of Trump does is normal because they keep doing it is helping them shred the Constitution by normalizing corruption.
@McGloin My comment was facetious. Of course I am neither shocked nor surprised at what Mitch McConnell is doing.
Of course he did.
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And people actually believe a play nice centrist Democrat for President will solve our problems? That a Biden can somehow stop this rush to oligarchy?
2020 is our last best hope to reverse oligarchy. Wake up America.
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If McConnell and the Senate GOP refuses to call witnesses, it will be a mistrial. The House should then reopen the Impeachment inquiry, use Inherent Contempt proceedings to compel Trump Administration officials illegally stonewalling Congressional subpoenas, and then send new impeachment articles to the Senate.
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@Elrod Great suggestion. This corruption of the due and proper processes has gone on long enough.
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Excellent idea!
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The anodyne headline for this article is truly disappointing. McConnell is not just modifying the rules that were operative in the Clinton impeachment, but by these new rules is actively interfering in the public's right to know what is transpiring in the Senate re Trump.
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@DocDave Do ask Joe Biden if he wants his son to be subpoenaed. The sooner we forget about Ukraine the earlier we will be able to focus on America.
@Ludwig
This is not about Ukraine. This is about the President of the USA asking Ukraine, China, Russia, and any other country to interfere in our elections. This is about the most fundamental principles of our Republic.
This is about whether America will have a Constitution or a king.
One highly partisan body of Congress criticizing another for being highly partisan! NYT and we readers certainly dislike Republicans ( obviously ), but we should be honest and admit politics leaves no one clean and pure. The process on the House side was flawed and purposely stacked against Trump. We knew it but since we dislike Trump we cheered it on. Now the situation is flipped and rules are stacked, unfairly, in his favor. This seems like a political fail on Democrats side. I hope not.
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@PersimmonJam
Sorry, but there is no equivalence to Republican Partisanship, especially in the right-wing leaning government of the US for the past 40 years. Even many Democrats today would be considered Republicans over 40 years ago.
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@PersimmonJam
The process in the House was not falwed. It was an INVESTIGATION, and investigations are never "fair" to the accused. Otherwise they wouldn't be an investigation. It would be a slap on the wrist.
@Bret: Conservatism and liberalism have been at odds since the beginning of modern history. In America, the liberals have held sway since the days of FDR, and that period has seen seven men from each party hold the presidency. Only one Democrat came from a conservative background, and he quickly switched to a liberal agenda after assuming office. Only one Republican was a dyed in the wool conservative. We tend to tolerate the platform of one political party for short intervals and then to switch to the other party's platform.
A sham trial; a mockery of justice. With little attempt to hide it by the Republican Party. And why would they? Trump’s cult of supporters have not been moved by any of the revelations and the Republicans would rather sink what’s left of the country’s ideals than “lose.”
And you know what? The recordings of history won’t matter much either. People love to insist that “history won’t be kind” but many of those responsible for this sham will be long dead before that. And why will it matter to them then? Legacy are concerns for the living.
Moreover, how has history, for example, treated former slave-holders, segregationists, those who are anti-women’s rights and anti-LGBTQ rights? Mostly with kiddy gloves and understanding them as “people of their time.”
And many historians, not far from those with power, documenting the affairs, won’t challenge the narrative as much as we think. (See: the reactions to the 1619 project.) History might say the Republicans were left with “no choice” because of the partisan nature of the time. I can see it already. Sure, those at the margins will dispute and contest as they always have. But per usual, the common narratives will be reduced to “mistakes were made.”
Ah, so goes what was once considered the greatest democracy the earth ever saw. Perhaps it never deserved that name given all who were denied justice since the Republic formed. I know one thing: we don’t deserve the name now.
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The rules that McConnell and Senate Republicans seek to impose with respect to the House managers' presentation of their case and evidence against Trump are designed to make that presentation as difficult as possible. Republicans may as well require that the managers present their case from memory, while standing on one foot and in Swahili.
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I don't recall the NYT pointing out the differences in the House procedures from Clinton to Trump?
Why now ?
6
@JFW
Because they weren't any different.
This is about SENATE procedures.
Because the House never claimed to emulate Clinton proceedings, while punting the question of allowing witnesses until after the trial began. You’re talking apples and oranges.
@JFW Because this is where the true impact on the Presidency will occur...the House indicts, the Senate tries.
So, another "comparison" to the Clinton impeachment trials to get a soundbite for Fox News? Looking forward to hearing this parroted around for the next year.
2
If at all, a select minimum of witnesses will testify behind closed doors and the public will only hear the summary redacted by Chuck Grassputin with a liddle' behind-the-scenes help from Team Barr & Starr Tripe because when you're on Team Barr & Starr they let you do it?
7
Rules must be exactly the same, but different.
Do Republicans ever listen to their illogic?
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@Lizardo
To be most candid, I believe the word "Republicans" and "logic" are a contradiction, especially when used in the same sentence.
3
@Lizardo
Republicans actively reject facts, logic, math, and science. They are against the Enlightenment, which is why they are against the Constitution.
Moderates need to choose a side, not keeping demanding that the Left compromise with enemies, internal.
90% of Republicans love Trump because he attacks the Constitution on TV. The Left was correct that "unfeterred free trade" with China would be bad for Americans, that tax cuts for the rich would never raise revenue or create more than a short bubble in growth, that Iraq was based on lies, that deregulating banks would cause economic disaster, etc.
The Left keeps demanding that we invest in Americans. The Right keeps demanding that we invest in global billionaires. The center keeps giving the Right what they want, and things keep getting worse.
Moderates need to choose a side.
McConnell's strategy is not about fairness and transparency, but what's best to keep a Republican majority in the Senate and himself as Majority Leader. All paths lead to power and money.
Don't fool yourself, once in the majority, Democrats and Republicans walk the same road.
8
When I was young my grandmother's house was located a short walk from a swamp. It was easy, when the swamp was full after the spring rains, to mistake it for a small pond. As a boy I would poke around the edges, look at the beautiful grasses, capture tadpoles and watch the schools of tiny fish as they darted about. It was perfect. But as summer came, the water began to dry up, the pond would drain. And, as it did, a rusted shopping cart appeared, as did a smashed bike, some old tires and dented cans that once held God knows what. And after most of the water was gone, but before the hot summer sun cracked the mud, all the slithering creatures that lived on the bottom were revealed. There was one catfish who continued to thrive in a puddle barely large enough to contain him. He had outlasted all the others, the king of the bottom dwellers, master of a shrinking universe. I often wondered if he knew the inevitability of his fate. Trump promised to drain the swamp, another promise kept. And in the boggy mud the truth is revealed and no one will ever mistake it for a pond again. Thank you, Mr. President,
35
Under such circumstances, doesn't the Chief Justice have the moral or legal duty to make a statement about a fair process? It isn't just McConnell and his fellow senators whom history will judge harshly.
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@Massachusetts
As presiding office over the trail, the chief justice can make rulings just as he would during a normal trial. However, Senate rules provide provide the senators can overrule hi rulings by a simple majority vote. I think this rule unconstitutional. Since the Constitution says the chief justice is the presiding officer, it clearly intended him to exercise judicial powers. The Senate rule permits the jury to override the judge.
28
When it's over, Trump will refer to McConnell's coverup as being "perfect".
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It is hard to believe the McConnell cares about our country. These proposed rules for the Senate are not fair to the American public. Witnesses should be called to testify under oath, subpoenaed documents should be produced, all sessions should be done during normal business hours.
New evidence must be admitted. Giuliani, Parnas, Nunes and others should be subpoenaed also.
Republicans, please PUT YOUR COUNTRY FIRST!
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The rules for the trial were written by Trump and his advisers. McConnell told us he would coordinate with the President on every aspect of the trial. McConnell has already made it clear that oaths and promises mean nothing unless, of course, it’s his oath of fealty to Trump.
Talk about rigged. No conscience, no truth, no loyalty to the Constitution or the American people only to Trump and the graft for which he stands.
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". . . President Trump’s legal team called on the Senate on Monday to “swiftly reject” the impeachment charges and acquit him. . . "
Good grief, the only aspect missing from this brief is for this "swift" acquittal to be held in the middle of the night, under a shroud of darkness.
Why the rush fellas? What's your hurry?
For weeks, almost months, the Republicans have been yapping that the Democrats were dragging their feet about presenting the articles of impeachment against the president. Now that these documents have been delivered and Trump's legal team had all of, what, maybe two or three days top to review all of the material, now suddenly they want a "swift acquittal" decision from the Senate?
If ever there was a moment in time when a Republican Senator is at a crossroads, this is it - they can either allow themselves to be influenced and herded like sheep, or actually stand up and say, "Wait a moment. We should hear and see what the Democrats have" rather than be hustled along as if one's in line to see the circus.
If that's what this legal team is aiming for, then I have to wonder why bring in big names from the past to represent Trump? How much is their bill going to cost the American tax payer?
Talk about a farce and a charade.
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@Marge Keller
Trump's defense team has already said that Trump abused his power. They are now claiming that abuse of power is not Impeachable, even though abuse of power (especially by asking foreign countries to interfere in our Elections) is exactly why the Founders wrote the impeachment Clause.
The Trump Party Senators and their leader have already perjured themselves by swearing they will be fair when in fact their votes have already been decided to exonerate the defendant regardless of anything that takes place.
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@Ellwood Nonnemacher
*when in fact their votes have already been decided to exonerate the defendant regardless of anything that takes place.*
...Trump's famous line about being able to shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it was no exaggeration. Even then he knew he was above the law - despite the solemn declarations that he wasn't.
5
@Ellwood Nonnemacher - And how many Democrat Senators are impartial? Didn't you read of their calls for impeachment, starting shortly after the 2016 election?
@Donna Gray
It's ridiculous to bring that up. Democrats wanted to impeach the President, but that didn't force the President to commit impeachable acts. I don't argue that anymore because Trumpists can't follow along with simple listening, let alone reasoning.
Did any of the Democratic Senators promise to impeach regardless of the evidence? NO! Was it Democratic Senator-jurors who proudly announced their intention to work with the defendant-President? NO! This both-sides nonsense is normalizing an oligarchy that is tearing apart the people in this country.
3
It's all theater, mostly farce. The Senate has been on a path of auto-acquit since before impeachment, which is why Democratic leadership was never all that hot to impeach, until the President forced them to.
So McConnell has to set the stage to look like there was a genuine Senate trial, rather than the dogs playing poker velvet painting version, which we will get. This gives his moderates a pretense of fairness with no real thinking required.
The narrative has never shifted. Impeachment is political based on loathing Trump and not on actual malfeasance. The idea is they don't have to be fair because the House is biased. The real reasoning - that they need to get through an election year and are willing to undercut the power of congress to check an irrational President to do it, undermine the Constitution to do it, is moot.
A pox on both our houses.
19
@Cathy
I have loathed, not Mr. Trump, but his presidency, since Day 1. I did not favor impeachment until after the Mueller report, and even then, I recognized that it would not fly and did not call for impeachment.
Ukraine changed that. Illegally using congressionally mandated expenditures of the US Government to attempt to extort a foreign government for his personal benefit is actual malfeasance. His efforts to cover-up that behavior is actual malfeasance. A blanket refusal to cooperate in any degree with congressional investigation of that conduct is actual malfeasance.
Impeachment was—is—based on actual and criminal malfeasance by the president.
4