The republicans are unethical cowards who have abandoned their oath of office. If they thought for a second that Trump were innocent and that witnesses and documents would exonerate him, they would break sound barrier voting in favor for that. They are violating their duty to provide a balance of power and hold a corrupt president accountable. They are also guilty! What a sham!
5
This is, simply put, how democracies die.
4
What a weak person Lamar Alexander is.
4
A trial without witnesses is a mock trial. A president without scruples is a dictator. A political party without patriotism or loyalty to its country's constitution is a traitorous junta. A country with a leadership vacuum is doomed.
6
Today the republican senate flushed the constitution down Trump’s golden toilet. The rule of law was buried on the South Lawn of the White House. The United States and the American dream were layed in an unmarked mass grave. Somebody please play taps from the Capitol steps…
3
R.I.P. Democracy.
1776 - 2020
5
Senator who? No need to use names for trump party: if they can't muster the brains or courage to be individuals, let's just call them white male #1, white male #2, white female #3, with a little (t) behind their number to designate both their party and their treasonous value system.
1
So, they are willing to support a man who solicited help from other countries to win one election and hopefully win another in order hold on to their jobs of public service. They lack of integrity is breathtaking. Their only goal in life like Trump’s is self-service. They care not one wit, not one iota for this country or its citizens. They care only for themselves. One can only hope that the democrats flip the senate, win the presidency and launch criminal investigations of Trump, Pence, and every member of his cabinet.
1
It is not the Senate’s or Republicans job to call witnesses. That was the job of the House and Democrats; which they called 18 witnesses.
The Democrats were in such a rush to impeach Trump with nothing that now they want the Senate to save them. Ha ha ha!
Trump 2020
The amazing thing about judges in the US is they don't think the psychopathy they do will ever come back to haunt them, even with a contemporaneous record of what they did.
2
Two Tennesseans………….
Sen. Alexander takes the cowardly way out………
AND
Sgt Alvin York must be crying right now………..
2
There sits Trump's lawyer Cipollone with personal witness of Trump's rant(s) about no aid for Ukraine without a fake investigation lying for Trump. How does one get a co-conspirator as one's counsel in a trial?
3
Lamar Alexander should be ashamed of himself. God certainly is. The vast American public asked for more witnesses and this used to be our country. After all WE ARE THE PUBLIC while he is only one scoundrel.
4
ALL of the so-called senators voting against a fair trial have totally breached the trust of the American people. They are preventing us from hearing relevant testimony, and seeing for ourselves the evidentiary documents. This is a stunning affront.
Throughout this entire process, these"deliberative" people demonstrated nothing but willful ignorance, childish behavior, and a sheep-like towing of their party line -- even as they tried mightily to pass themselves off as thoughtful people. On that latter point they failed mightily as most of their questions were repetitive at best (weren't they supposed to be listening!?), and embarrassingly stupid at worst.
These senators whined at the prospect of a "long, drawn-out trial." They disingenuously whined about the House process, and that "this is an election year." How is that for peat & repeat of the bogus argument that kept Merrick Garland out of the Supreme Court?!).
Yes, it is an election year and so was 2016. Trump won, and then he committed two impeachable acts. That's on him. Who cares, besides our corrupt Senate majority leader & his sheep. No one should. Justice should not be driven by a calendar.
I guess the joke is on us. Travesty.
2
Both Dershowitz and Alexander reference the potential for public unrest presumably by the loyal Base, the tearing apart of the country, should Trump be removed. Well, have they considered the potential for public unrest by the MAJORITY? The line in the sand is drawn, one side is in pursuit of facts while the other buries it. It is that simple. All the constitutional puffery proffered by the WH Defense is disingenuous at best and traitorous at worst. How is it possible for an honest human being to process this information, including the words of the Constitution, and come up with acquittal? Outrage is too tame a word for this criminal power grab. They will all find a haven together while assigning our progeny to feed their insatiable appetites for wealth, power, and privilege. Given contemporary technology, they or others have the ability to make slaves of us all. McConnell is the architect of our demise, Cippilone, Philbin, Sekulow and team are the artillery, and Trump is the Ruler Who Can Do NO Wrong. I am truly happy my life span is limited. Witnessing this slow burning of our political history, cultural value, and future is a weight I cannot bear, a view that blinds my hope. The only quivers left are our votes, and even those are under multiple threats.
3
Despite what we've been hearing in the impeachment trial, it's tragically untrue that the American people have the ability to decide what to do about our president's acknowledged misconduct.
It's no longer true in our country that the people decide.
The reason that this is the case is concisely expressed in a recent piece in the NY Times:
"Why Democrats Still Have to Appeal to the Center, but Republicans Don’t," By Ezra Klein, Jan. 24, 2020.
"Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and a majority of governorships. Only the House is under Democratic control. And yet Democrats haven’t just won more votes in the House elections. They won more votes over the last three Senate elections, too. They won more votes in both the 2016 and 2000 presidential elections. But America’s political system counts states and districts rather than people."
This is why our present president may fully get away with what he did in Ukraine. We all now know, despite 51 Republican senators trying to hide the full horror of it, what Trump did.
But although the majority of Americans are disgusted and dismayed by his actions, and although his actions further corrode our now fragile system of government, he will get away with it unless, as a few Republican senators have done, more Americans wake up to what is really in their own self interest.
Dictatorships occured in countries like Spain, Germany, Italy: what makes us so arrogant to think we're different?
2
I am very proud to be able to say Mitt Romney is a man of conscience.
This proceeding is being referred to as a sham trial in some of the foreign press reports and it is a sham. The Senate has shamed itself and broken trust with those who've put something on the line to take a stand for truth and right. Today, they gave up the mantle of leadership.
It means nothing about America only that we need better people working for us.
3
Mrs. Conway says it’s alternative morality.
3
Maybe it’s time for the Democrats to start playing Trump’s game or would they fear the results in the present Federal environment? The Trump game is that he targets the soft spots in our government, anything which requires interpretation or that is not written down somewhere in A,B,C fashion. Coupled with his vague, often contradictory, speech which is the embodiment of a Rorschach test for the listener and it’s a recipe for disaster when abetted by small minds and even smaller character. Of course, this entire fraud is powered by Trump’s bullying approach to life which asks, “Who’s gonna make me?” and “Who says so?” We have a bad faith POTUS and bad faith GOP.
The Democrats admirably adhere to rules and tradition and fairness, but bring the proverbial knife to a gun fight. Aside from issuing subpoenas and pursuing penalties for those who refuse, maybe expand the current impeachment inquiry or open others, appeal the Senate unjust trial process & likely decision, raise some Constitutional questions about GOP tactics, and more. Use our tax dollars to vigorously defend our nation from these hoodlums!
Are Democrats afraid of the possible answers? Or the possible public opinion effect on 2020? When about 70% polled want witnesses, there will surely be many who will question the Senate’s failure to allow them. Any Democrat will be better than Trump or almost any GOP Senator. The Democrats’ approach hasn’t faired well so maybe it’s time to ramp up.
This is like Birthday, Christmas, Election Day, Arrest the Protesters Day all wrapped up in one for Putin. This is the exact scenario he hoped for— to make the point to the people in Russia, that our govenment is no better than theirs. It is so much more symbolic than McConnell showing his political muscle. However they justify it, these Senate hacks must live with this betrayl for the rest of their lives.
3
The senators will have broken their oath of office with a "no witness" vote. So there can't be an acquittal with no trial, and there can't be a trial without witnesses or documents. Vote all these Republicans cowards out.
2
All the frawn and big lectures as if they are thinking constantly with slespless nights as of SenatorLamar Alexander soon to retire and Senator Lisa Murkowski are for nothing.
Shameful act from both being afraid of trump the accidental liar of President.
3
Alexander's statement reeks of bad faith. He's obviously trying to have it both ways by saying that the House managers proved their case but that Trump's conduct was only "inappropriate" and therefore not bad enough to warrant removal by the Senate. Extorting an ally by withholding military aid to a country at war with an adversary is "inappropriate"???!!! I've long thought that Alexander was highly overrated in the integrity department. Maybe he's trying to salve his own conscience by acknowledging that what Trump did is wrong, but in the end he's doing precisely what his friend McConnell and Trump wanted him to do. I hope that in his heart of hearts Alexander knows what a coward he is and that it haunts him for the rest of his life.
2
Alexander has lost his mind. Shameful, pitiful stance. This is exactly what impeachment is for. Corrupt politicians like Donald Trump. Impeachment was made because people like Donald Trump exist. This is what the founding fathers were guarding against. Scoundrels. I don't have anything against Donald except for his corruption, lying, name-calling and cheating. Mitch does a number of these things. Republicans, time to clean up your act.
2
Party over country. Lies over truth. What happened to our democracy?
3
Withhold TAXES. Can't arrest us all.
No taxation without representation. And this certainly doesn't look anything like "representation!"
2
@chrismosca
thanks for the laugh tonite! Can't arrest us all.......priceless.
1
So much for principles.
2
@petey tonai-and subpoenas can be ignored too.
2
So how does this posture of Alexander's hold up in the forthcoming election campaign? Does the GOP argue that Trump's very bad behavior (but not an impeachable offense) is only a teeny blemish on his otherwise pristine character? And that the Democratic presidential candidate is so very much inferior to Trump?
If the American voters buy into that, they deserve the devil they would get.
"But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and BAN HIM from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate.” Lamar Alexander
. . . . .
My Lord!! Removing Trump from his elected office, which has a 4 year term, only removes him from the final 11 months of this term. It does NOT "ban him" from running in any future election.
Someone please go straighten out this poor old misguided Senator and see if that changes his mind!
1
Senator Alexander, what would Howard Baker say?
Your mentor, who thought the Nixon impeachment was Democratic sour grapes until a hunch there was more to it.
Trump's slush fund was Congressionally appropriated funds, cleared over Trump administration interagency hurdles to certify Ukraine qualified.
A secret plan. Trump lied. Lindsey Graham said on camera a quid pro quo beyond the call would indicate a real problem.
But there was one! Prove it! Subpoena witnesses and documents to calls, IMs and meetings before, during and after the call and learn about push-back or understandings White House principals like Bolton, Pompeo and Mulvaney had on this.
The guy running surveillance on Marie Yovanovich, perhaps contributing to the message her safety was at risk and she must return home. A conspiracy to drive her out because she was onto, and preventing, just the sort of corruption the Trump administration engaged in but claims to be incensed by?
Lev Parnas, where did his money come from, what were his motives in supporting the previous administrations efforts to establish quid pro quo with Trump for dirt on Biden in exchange for firing Yovanovich? Trump did and the dirty Ukranian prosecutor didn't come through. This is why Trump was adamant to force the hand of the next administration, pressuring Zilenskiy to retain the corrupt former administration's prosecutor and announce investigations into the Bidens et al.
Support witnesses, Senator, a once-great America depends on it.
3
This bit of Jim Crow manipulation of that which is meant to be a system of accountability is brought to us by GOP Senators who were meeting in the Strom Thurmond room.
These old reptiles must be warming themselves by the fires of burning our US Constitution.
Our guy Corey Gardner is going to lose anyway because he is running against a popular governor and STILL his cowardice persists. The Senate desperately desperately needs to be flushed.
2
Worrying about re-election turns out to be a valid reason to break the law; and lawful subpoenas can be ignored! This is called being above the law.
Time for a new Article V Convention, like the one used to write our original Constitution, for rationally debating issues and to rebuild our country's ideals in a direction we want to go. NOT a Convention of States - the version that over-conservatives want. But a real Article V Convention as provided for in our Constitution. foavc.org
1
Much hyperventilation, little light from these emails. The president clearly acted inappropriately (so what else is new). However, the republic continues to function. The press continues to report freely (witness The Times’ copious coverage). The president did not give military secrets to our foes or accept bribes -true high crimes. If the people are sick of him, vote him out this November.
1
@50 years is enough
Factually inaccurate. He gave away secrets to Russians in the Oval Office
2
Republican Senators, profiles in courage all. Beyond sad!
1
Whatever good this man has done, it is now erased. No honor, no conscience, no guts. Bye. Said without respect, you spent it.
2
As soon as Susan Collins made her "last minute" decision to vote to hear witnesses, I knew that she had Mitch McConnell's permission to vote for witnesses. And Mitch McConnell only gives Susan Collins permission to pretend that she doesn't follow his orders to the T when he doesn't need her vote.
Susan Collins is the perfect weathervane whenever a vote is in question. She won't say a word about her opinion until Mitch has a chance to count the votes and twist arms, and when he doesn't need her vote, she shows her "independence" because she has his permission.
Susan Collins is up for re-election so she got special permission from Mitch to show "independence" whenever Mitch doesn't need her vote.
4
I remember Republican candidates in 2016 dismissing Trump as completely unfit for the office of president. Every one of those candidates who were senators then are now backing a corrupt Donald Trump in this trial.
What changed their opinion of this man?
Proof of his unfitness has been proven on so many levels not withstanding this trial.
Yet those that dismissed him as unfit, still, want him to remain.
3
For the last year or so, I commented on several NY Times articles that regardless of the foreseen outcome of an impeachment, it should absolutely go forward. Put all the senators (and for that matter, the antecedent House members) on record by making them vote. The point was, let's see if the American public will finally rise up and remove the guilty office holders at the ballot box when they see how gutless and lacking in integrity they are. Obviously that group is nearly 100% in the GOP, and comprises nearly all of it.
We could have a silver lining to all this. In the present instance, it appears we'll get a double dose of their cowardice and mendacity to measure as they vote to deny more evidence and witnesses, and them to acquit. By getting this double dose, we may end up removing even more of the GOP than we would have by the acquittal vote alone.
Allow me to repeat: Let's see if the American public will finally rise up and remove the guilty office holders at the ballot box when they see -- twice in one day no less -- how gutless and lacking in integrity they are.
Of course we have to continue to fight the ruthless and desperate attempts by the GOP to rig the election. They will be looking to Russia and other expert regimes for help.
2
We pray for our neighbours to the south. Democracy took a big hit today. Republicans are afraid of the witnesses. There is nothing more corrupt than the fear of discovery.
4
It must be tough for GOP Senators to check their moral compass and integrity at the door of the Senate. 75% of American voters are asking them to vote for witnesses in a trial (ever heard of a trial w/o witnesses???). But I understand. These witnesses would only confirm what the House Managers have been saying all along: our placeholder POTUS used taxpayer dollars, as if they were his, to shake down the Ukrainian President (who ironically was elected on a non corruption platform) to announce an investigation (not actually conduct one) into his political rival, Joe Biden (days after polls indicated Biden would defeat him by at least 12 points).
To vote against witnesses, no matter the lame excuse (and the POTUS defense had plenty) is a vote against honesty, and being in possession of morals and integrity.
Never mind our national security was put at risk, never mind in 1994 we convinced Ukraine to surrender their nuclear weapons with the assurance we would defend them from attack, which we didn't. We've been really good to Ukraine and they "owed us", as our placeholder would have us believe.
Maybe the "cheating in an election" part was too close to home for the GOPers. The irony and hypocrisy would gag a whale shark.
Since the shakedown occurred the DAY AFTER the release of the Mueller report, we can be assured Trump will engage a foreign power to cheat in the 2020 election. Our Constitution is rendered useless.
2
These so called Republican conservatives are conserving what? Not the Constitution. Not the deficit. They obviously do not care about the environment, about schools or roads, gender equality (goodbye women’s rights) or health care. Forgot about race. So they are conservative insofar as they want to identify with the ultra wealthy -the millionaire class- and the corporations at the expense of the middle and working class. They are selfish and Trumpist. Maybe that’s it. They are conserving Trump.
3
GOP's coup de grace to the American constitution.
Trump can now shoot the democratic primary candidates on 5th avenue and it is not impeachable.
A narcissist has to do what a narcissist has to do to get re-elected. It is best for the country.
3
Time to out all the pseudo-Republicans who would never censure Trump for his transgressions and recklessness, yet privately say he’s unfit to govern, etc, etc.
5
What could justify impeachment if the following doesn't:
Cheating to win a presidential election
Undermining a political opponent with false accusations
Extorting a foreign country to help cheat
Harming our national security by withholding military aid Ukraine needed to resist Russian invasion
Lying to the American people and Congress many times
Preventing Congress from performing its role as a check upon the Executive
Covering up the evidence
Threatening witnesses
Tampering with the jury
Really, Sen. Alexander! Trump has lied to you repeatedly and prevented you from honoring your oath to uphold your most important congressional duty - to serve as a check upon a rogue President. And yet you not only excuse Trump for making a fool of you, but you've now granted him king like power.
3
Jeff Bezos has a real decision to make for America.
Former Director John Bolton has shown cowardice and avarice in dribbling out portions of his upcoming book while the impeachment trial has been ongoing in the Senate. His testimony should have and could have occurred long ago so that all Americans could have accurately weighed the continuous corruption of the Administration with enabling Senators and House members. Instead, his book will be released after the trial in the Senate.
Jeff Bezos - as a business person running Amazon, among other companies - could ensure that the book never appears for sale on Amazon's massive platform. At all.
Mr. Bolton should not profit from a potentially huge title sale. I will not read it, much less think of spending money on it. Bolton has shown no spine and no interest in the greatness of America.
4
Based on comments here, I believe few of those commenting actually watched the House and Senate portions of the impeachment proceedings. I detect mostly repetition of media reports on the proceedings. In these divided times, it is essential that Americans perform their due diligence and get their information directly (C-Span and most networks carried the hearings live; you can watch recordings on C-Span). If you rely only on information filtered by the media you will really be surprised to hear the proceedings first hand. It is eye opening.
@bkd
I watched. The comments accurately reflect the corruption and cowardice of the Republicans.
1
If there is one sign that the Republicans have send to the world this afternoon, it is that America is for sale, corruption is officially sanctioned by the President himself and that the rule of law has ceased to exist in this country.
Our country is now open to crooks, to influence peddling, to pay offs and most important, corporations can do what they want as they now officially own this government.
Democracy, Constitution is something that meant something a long time ago, but is now what Authoritarian government smirks about.
2
Lamar Alexander argues that it is up to the American electorate to remove a corrupt president with their vote. That is cold comfort to me, who voted with the majority in the 2016 election but was nonetheless overruled by the Electoral College, which voted otherwise. That could easily be our fate again. Trump won through a system that allows minority rule for the biggest office in the land. The candidate running against Trump could again win the popular vote by the millions, but to no avail. I am now older and wiser and fully aware that it is not really up to us after all. I will do my patriotic duty and vote in the knowledge that the EC vote in my state is still a factor, but I fear despair has set in knowing that I might make calls, work at voting registration banks, write letters and yet, no matter how successful the efforts of myself and others, we may lose again even though technically we won.
4
The Republicans understand who Trump happens to be and what he is doing to our system of government is making the authority of the law contingent upon political power and not upon the rule of law. Yet, they think that by letting Trump off, they protect their Party, their offices, and his transgressions will mean nothing once he has left office. They have lost perspective on how central the rule of law is to all of our individual liberties as well as the confidence in our liberal democratic form of government.
The issue is not about whether the Democrats or Republicans can have their way if they have majorities but whether a President can use the authority of the office for other than the interests of the country. Trump's act in this situation served himself and compromised the interests of the country. The recipient of foreign military aid after that aid was confirmed and approved was obliged to benefit the President personally before the aid would be provided. This act undermines the trust in our government by introducing a corrupt intent by the President. The Republicans are in a difficult position but the the resolution is to uphold the integrity of the institution not to protect a temporary advantage of themselves politically.
1
It is disappointing, though not surprising, to see Alexander will end his political career as a coward.
9
Then let there be violence and bloodshed. I will not live under authoritarian rule. And, I’ll never bow to a king, especially not Donald Treason Trump.
8
No need for violence and bloodshed. There is a simple and nonviolent way to revolt. National tax strike. Everyone stop paying taxes. Thoreau did the same thing and not only is he the creator of civil disobedience he is also an American hero.
2
@Ben
Fine. I agree. Thank you for your thoughtful response.
Did they find some dirt on Senator Alexander?
Shame.
6
Self-serving cowards. All of them. Trampling the Constitution like this might very well amount to treason. I hope there will be a legal reckoning in the future where they all get done in for breaching their oaths.
7
Like a cheap suit. Folded.
7
I am not sure why anyone is surprised at the gutlessness of Alexander. He is retiring and wouldn't have to concern himself with upsetting the orange buffoon but still can't summon up the courage to vote his conscience. Typical republican, looking for that lucrative lobbying position.
5
Lamar Alexander and any one who supports his twisted logic should be called out for what they are, Cowards.They should share a stage Benedict Arnold for their lack of a spine. Dershowitz needs to vilified until we run out of ink.
4
Cowards. The lot of them.
5
Did Dershowirz show them how to rig a trial?
3
The Republicans are cowards, plain and simple. I will never vote for a Republican again, ever, under any circumstance. They disgust me.
5
“If you are persuaded that he did it, why do you need more witnesses?” he asked.
As a former Secretary of ***Education***, how could Mr. Alexander ask such a question??
Duh, The Importance of Knowing The Full Truth.
But secondly, even setting the obvious (maybe obvious to everybody except a "secretary of education") educational and civic value of the full facts coming out, 3 more reasons.
1) the importance to the country of this trial having integrity and credibility
2) To demonstrate to the public the workings of justice in our system, including the importance of witnesses and evidence
3) ***The obvious fact that many Republicans are not yet convinced (although Mr. Alexander says he himself is, because the basic facts are obvious to him) of the basic facts, as to the "quid pro quo." How can Mr. Alexander accept other Republicans teaming up with him on an acquittal verdict when Mr. Alexander knows they are voting that way (and justifying those votes) based on denial of the "quid pro quo" having occurred? This reeks of bad faith:
How on earth can Mr. Alexander support his colleagues voting to acquit in ignorance of facts that Mr. Alexander considers to be obvious? This means Mr. Alexander does not care about the trial's integrity, legitimacy or fairness, ipso facto confirmation that he oath is being broken, if not by Mr. Alexander himself then certainly by other Republicans.
3
Germany was a democracy in the early 1930's. It was similar conniving to what the Republicans are doing in the impeachment trial that led to Hitler declaring himself Chancellor for life, a dictator. Abetted by Alan Derschowitz whose argument that the President could do anything he wanted to be re-elected if he felt it was in the national interest. Does this extend to other crimes and anyone who feels something is in the national interest? His opinion is bunkum.
3
Democracy is dead! Long live King Trump!
2
So he pulled a Susan Collins... this is horrible. Vote blue.
2
Trump 2020.
3
it is incredible that the defense used as an argument all of the "wonderful" accomplishments under this administration, and how it terrible it would be for the American people if he were to be removed him from office. I'm sure Harvey Weinstein was very good at producing films.
The Republicans remind me more and more of the Nazi's of Hitler. They do what they are told without thinking about it, realizing that they will remain in good standing with "der Fuhrer" if they don't think about what he is asking and the overall ramifications concerning the country and the world. I mean, thinking just complicates everything so much!!
7
So it goes when Pelosi ignored her own advice not to start an impeachment that she knew good and well would be a partisan exercise, except of course for the few Democrats in purple States trying to cover their backsides and voting with the Republicans (and they would be wrong they are gone this November anyway). For those of you Democrats who think this charade won't hurt the Democrats this fall I would begin digging your foxhole deep and wide right now.
2
Would you be saying the same thing if it were a Democratic president whose behavior warranted an investigation???
2
It's a sad day for America, not because of what happened in the senate but because of what didn't happen. And, I as an American will never look at our Government with the same eyes.
My own personal belief has been that how you win is just as important as winning. I do not think our elected officials have those values anymore. And that "example" will trickledown and further undermind the ideas that our forefathers fought and died for.
Believe it or not, we are on the same path a Nazi Germany was on, under Hitler. For me I'm in my twilight years I just feel sorry for the current and next generation of people who live here and will one day wake up and say "What the Hell Happened?". History will show that these short-sighted senators will be responsible for the fall of this Constitution because they are caught up in legalizes and coverup.
4
@cynic 2
What if Alan Dershowitz is the one teaching your proposed course on the Constitution?
1
The entire charade indicates how thoroughly the Republican Party leadership has been infiltrated by Russian Moles and how in the toiler our country is with that Nazi racist in the White House.
How can I explain what is happening to my grandchildren whose country is being stolen?
Trumpf has got to go.
I will testify in the person's defense.
1
Grown adults,well educated and experienced are allowing themselves to be intimidated by the likes of Trump. How they hold their heads up is beyond me. They are cowards and not worthy of their role in our government
9
@John Lusk If they're not actively being enriched by this decades old process now about to become bedrock reality, they're scared of being the focus of a psychopath who lives to torment perceived "traitors." Except for watching tv all day and receiving proposals - or marching orders - from despots and corporate miscreants, it's really all he knows how to do.
I defy anyone to cite a single act of integrity, selflessness or kindness this man ever did. He even robbed his own infant nephew, his late brother's child, of insurance to cover critical medical care as punishment over an inheritance dispute. Imagine what he would do to four witness dissenters. Imagine what the rest of their lockstep party would add to it. I would change my name and open a gas station in the Nevada desert.
1
The G.O.P. are showing themselves to be craven cowards.
I would be ashamed if I belonged to that party.
8
@Eric Welch The propaganda machine humming in the background for decades has convinced them that their union/immigrant/female neighbors are to blame for their dwindling opportunities, and not the corporate interests that raid public funds for their own use and enrichment. E.g., charter schools as showcases for branded tech.
1
Republicans just cannot deal with the truth.
7
@Steve Especially the ones who feel their lives are better off because of deregulation and mandate to sell tainted food, pollute, issue ruinous mortgages, erect unsafe structures, unsafe vehicles. What passes for entrepreneurship these days is pathetic and criminal.
1
I have always voted as an independent, for candidates of both parties, occasionally even a third or no party candidate.
I will never vote for another Republican candidate—at any level—no matter how much better a Republican candidate may seem than his or her opponent. Never!
12
Found Lamar Alexander’s Facebook page last night, and wrote,
“Sir, you could have been a patriot upholding your oath of office and holding Trump accountable. But instead you are another Trump sycophant.” Mine was one of of over two thousand comments, most of them very upset with him. What does an old, retiring Republican gain by protecting a criminal president?! Zip.
I’m convinced the entire Republican Party is terrified of Donald! Cowards!
6
@Mari The same thing he's gained throughout his entire career: lucrative seats on boards that would shock Hunter Biden, lucrative concessions to business, properties hidden in his wife's name....A full-time grifter masquerading as a folksy country senator. Oh, please
1
Any senator who thinks that Trump will support them for voting against witnesses, but who says he did something wrong, can think again. Any senator who thinks the house proved its case, but that it's not impeachable is a liar and a scoundrel.
5
Protests did not extricate the US from the Vietnam War. It was the draftees fragging their officers. That's why they switched to enlistees seeking to experience the greatest abrogation of liberty there is: enlisting to be a soldier.
Nice going Dems. You showed a criminal who believes that he is above the law that yes, he is above the law. Thanks GOP for showing that while you claim patriotism is your domain you're the first to shred any of the founding principles of this country that get in the way of your unfettered domination and agenda; even when in only represents a small faction of what the 'regular' (aka, not your rich funders) want.
RIP Democracy.
1
@NBrooke: People wish on dreams. To impress me, propose a rationally-founded plan with a positive objective.
RIP Democracy
2
The Walter Cronkite Republican notes gangsta politics continues its roll. Senator Lindsey Graham got it right the first time: Mr. Trump is destroying the Republican Party.
3
@Gregory West: Lindsey Graham is adrift without male role models. It makes me miss John McCain.
1
For many on the left they are failing to see the veiwpoint of many. Let us say that the Congress impeached the President for eating a ham sandwich. It doesn't matter how many of the cafeteria employees you bring in to testify that they think they saw the President eating the sandwich. They can't be 100% sure it was ham but they know he was eating. But wait!!! We have the Cook who knows for sure he ate the ham sandwich. GUILTY!! Let him testify!!
Has anyone stopped to realize that Clinton was guilty of the majority of charges against him in his impeachment, and they were felony crimes. The Senate still voted to acquit.
2
@GigEm: I think Brett Kavanaugh should be impeached for lying about chasing a 15 year old girl around a Georgetown mansion to rip off her clothing as a drunken jock trying to be a hyper-male to his fellows at a Roman Catholic prep school. So there.
1
Today, the Republican Senate will not "crown a king" it will unleash a dictator on America.
9
The GOP died with McCain.
4
We deserved better.
8
Lamar Alexander’s office information.
Call and tell him how disappointed you are in him and his fellow republican henchmen.
Washington Office
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4944
5
I mean. Two words
Barack Obama .....
The republicans themselves are corrupt
I hate Trump and all GOP. I always will.
None of these individuals are fit to tie my shoes. I can not wait to tongue lash any conservative cultist who steps into my garden.
Again, you broke our democratic republic, prepare to reap the whirlwind.
10
Let the people decide. Okay. But not in rigged elections with masses of disenfranchised voters. Maybe Americans need to borrow a page from the French: Vote with your feet. Walk out of offices and schools and worksites and take to the streets. Show those cowards what you really think!
But as long as you just sit there in your cars during your commute and in your La-Z Boys during Monday Night Football, they can to with you and to you whatever they want. But of course, those two dollars a week you’re now saving on taxes go a long way to your next Happy Meal, so you don’t care.
5
Lamar's Rationale - "It's not really a rape if you're on a date, is it? ...and even if it is, it's not impeachable".
4
Paint the Washington Monument black until this stain and rot of tyranny are eradicated and democracy restored in this darkened city on a hill.
9
We need a new law. The new law should Require Every Person Running for Congress or the Presidency or Any Other Position of Importance (to be determined in that law) to Take a Law School Level Full Course in Constitutional Law, and a corresponding Legal Ethics Class.
I am sick to death of these people who believe they have the right to their own opinions which they hold to be of greater importance than Our American Constitution.
As a last ditch to rectify that situation, Require the Above Further Education which must begin on the day they start campaigning and they should not be allowed to take office -- despite the election or the actual date they think they'll be in office -- until they've received a minimum grade of B+ in those courses. AND the answers they provide on their final exam should be made public in their districts, at minimum,
Do these learned Republican Senators even anticipate that, if he is acquitted and the House impeaches him again, he will plead double jeopardy? Were they just born yesterday? Or are they all-in with Trump's conspiracy?
Why can’t the House just subpoena Bolton either now or after the fact? At least let the public hear him.
5
No witnesses, no GDP - we should strike!
2
And with this the American experiment is over. Trump and the Republicans are on the hook for that, especially Trump. We are a far lessor country today that when Obama was a shining star on the world stage.
Where we go from here, God knows, but now we are totally at the mercy of Trump diabolical schemes. Just appalling where the Republican senators have allowed this to go.
3
It will be a good day for the country, and Tennessee, when good ol' Lamar retires. As Teddy Roosevelt is said to have remarked about William McKinley, "he has the backbone of a chocolate eclair." (Same of course for Collins et al.)
4
Lol you think it was one senator. You are doomed to 4 more years of Trump. This was political from the get go. Both parties failed here. There was never a consensus this was going to fly. Pelosi tried to tell Dems not to go down the impeachment road to nowhere. Now Bernie will be you nominee. You though Trump didn’t play well with Congress. Smh
“Jerry? Jerry?” [Nadler brushing past Schiff to the podium] Even Nadler has had enough of Schiff.
1
Alexander's mentor in politics was Howard Baker, who was the senator who pushed for all the information available, "what did he know and when did he know it" in order to bring justice in the case of Richard Nixon.
"He will go down in history as the Republican senator whose choice at a pivotal moment confirmed the complete and final capitulation of the G.O.P. to the crass New York interloper in the White House."
https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/trump-impeachment-trial-the-senate-can-stop-pretending-now
2
Like all the things (good and Palin bad) one can recall about the late Sen. John McCain, his THUMBS DOWN on the Senate floor is his finest hour.
This will be ALL REPUBLICANS, but especially Alexanders finest hour.
Treason to 'we the people' and the constitution.
4
The USA is turning into a banana republic. Very sad. The GOP has lost its sole and is setting a precedent that will one day make them regret breaking their oaths of office. I guess Biden can ask China with some help!!
2
Lawyers practicing jury nullification in the Senate, shameful.
2
Let'go! I'll meet you there.
Steps of the Capitol Building...
Last night, a foolish idea flooded my overloaded brain; What if all those Republican Senators who have been rumored to intensely dislike, disrespect and fear Trump, had a meeting and decided that they had had enough, that they were tired of being intimidated, threatened and pounded into fearful cowards, and decided that they -- enmasse -- would have the courage and the love of Democracy to rise together, stand up to Trump and his mindless supporters, and find Trump guilty as charged. What would happen? Would such an absolute show of courage suddenly break the fever in our beleagured land? Would it so startle the Trumpies out there into reality? What a wonderful fantasy! OH, if Only!
2
@Johanna Dordick Every single one would get primaried.
1
Lamar Alexander is a living, breathing advertisement for term limits.
3
Senator Lamar will be putting the final nail in America's coffin. Today marks the death of America as we know it.
2
Don't you get it? Lamar Alexander is retiring at the end of the year. It doesn't matter to him which way he votes. He has to vote against calling witnesses so that the evil sisters (Murkowski and Collins) can play both sides (again! Look at how the vote fell to approve DeVos as ED Sec, despite protests and pressure against.)
Party (and moneyed interests) over country. Again. They want Trump in power as long as possible so they can finish their agenda. Everyone thinks they are going along with him. It's the other way around. He is the figurehead they want who will do anything to enrich himself. The GOP in turn made a little progress on getting rid of Obamacare (Price was sacrificed when they lost the vote to overturn it outright); they got their giant tax cut.
If/when Trump is elected again, they will dismantle the safety net--Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Food Stamps (They've already started on that.) Trump couldn't keep his big mouth shut completely--he already mentioned it when he was in Davos. You know it is coming.
3
Thanks to this Republican senate what it once meant to be an American has become a joke.
2
Add Lamar Alexander to the list of shameful Republican senators who in their fear of Donald Trump’s and Mitch McConnell‘s backlash have caved in, betraying their oath of office to the Constitution and rationalizing it a way with words that make them sound somewhat lawyerly but ultimately pathetic . Perhaps it’s a good thing that Senator Alexander is leaving government. The sooner we rid ourselves of cowards and those who betrayed the rules of office to the Constitution, the better.
Contrary to Donald Trump’s clown lawyer Rudy Giuliani, the truth IS true and it DOES matter.
3
Today, Mitch McConnell is the most dangerous and unpatriotic man in Washington.
6
What a complete embarassment Sen. Alexander is. Most days my only comfort is that I'll outlive all these old bags of bones, and I will be celebrating in the streets when Alexander, McConnell, Trump, Pompeo and about 75% of the Republican party eventually drop dead.
5
It looks as though the rule of law will die in America very soon. Democracy is dead.
3
Watching the USA slip into a flagrant dictatorship is sad beyond belief. Trump and the Republicans have rigged an election, will try to rig the next one and even rigged the impeachment trial barring crucial witnesses and documents.
5
It really disgusts me to hear Republican claim Trump is being impeached because of an "inappropriate phone call" as if the details of the call and why it was "inappropriate" are irrelevant. Trump was not impeached because it was "inappropriate phone call." He was impeached because he tried to get another country to interfere with our electoral process and, in that effort, broke the law by withholding aid. When the Republicans pretend it was just an "inappropriate phone call," it reminds me of Democrats who pretend Bill Clinton was impeached because of an affair and not for committing perjury.
Why do we hold our President and other elected officials to a lower standard than we hold our friends, family members, and colleagues to? Why do we hold them to a lesser stand than they hold us to - almost anyone reading this would get dragged into court and tossed into prison for the things our 'leaders' get away with everyday? If we truly have a government of, for, and by the people, why do we allow this? If the goal is a healthy republic and a functioning society, shouldn't a person's character matter more than their politics?
This two-party system is rotten to its core and it is polarizing the country. I'm not looking for answers; I just want people to think about these questions more.
2
@Chris It is a stretch to say that asking for an investigation of what, to many, looks like obvious corruption is "digging up dirt" or "cheating in an election".
If Biden is innocent then how would it help trump at all.
Any neutral observer would see corruption in what the Biden's did. Defenders say that many people get jobs off of their parent's name. This isn't about getting a job. It is true that Trump's kids got a job because their dad is Trump. But they are actually working in that job. It becomes corruption when you receive obscene amounts of many for NO SHOW JOBS! That is tantamount to bribe. Did Burisma get a benefit from their investment? Clearly they did.
If there is any cover-up going on it is the cover-up of the corruption in DC with politicians and their obtaining wealth for influence. That is happening on both sides and Biden has been doing it for centuries.
1
@GigEm, so go ahead and investigate Biden, but do it the right way. If this is really just about finding and rooting out corruption with American officials and their families, we have the FBI and the CIA and our own Justice Department. But if you instead just want to interfere in an election for your own benefit and then try to cover it up, then I guess you could just try to get another country to do it by threatening their national security. Like Trump did.
1
@Chris imputed motive is not evidence
1
Lamar Alexander puts the actions of President Trump in the same category as the actions for which President Clinton was impeached when he uses the word "inappropriate." It boggles the mind that he sees equivalency here.
3
In all likelihood, President Trump will be acquitted. This vote was predicted way before this trial began. This has been a terrible waste of time and taxpayers money. No wonder politicians have a very low rating among the voters. They are despised by many Americans and they need to get back to work. Now.
If Mr. Trump ends up getting acquitted, it is not that he did no wrong. Despite the wrong, the manner in which the wrong has been responded to from the outset. The WH obstructing the subpoenas, the absurd arguments by the WH lawyers. The appalling reasoning by Dershowitz. At the end, the unpatriotic stand by the GOP Senators. Refusing to allow Witnesses to be called in to testify. A trial with no Witnesses and documents. It is all a cover up. That is pretty much we have all seen. It is now time for the constituents and voters to do their duty, where others have failed to do what should have been right, and correct the wrong.
2
The GOP learned the wrong lesson from Watergate.
They thought the cover-up was a good idea—and voters wouldn’t notice.
1
Lamar Alexander asks us to trust the fairness of the next election after swearing an oath pledging to conduct a fair trial.
3
Why are Republicans so proud of blocking evidence from a trial? It's not a good look.
3
With the Super Bowl two days from now, I'm wondering if Mike Bloomberg would be willing to spend $10 million to run a 60 second ad showing every Republican senator who votes against hearing witnesses.
The ad should be entitled "Cowards" or "The Day Democracy Died". It won't win a best-ad-of-the-Super Bowl-award, but if it reaches into the hearts and minds of those who find Trump and his enablers destructive and disgusting--and more important, spurs them into action--it would be money well spent.
5
Trump coerced a young inexperienced politician in a foreign nation to issue a false announcement of an investigation of a fellow American citizen to destroy that person's reputation. He can be enabled to do that to anyone with the assent of what purports to be the greatest deliberative body in the world.
2
A charade from the outset, but the GOP could not even adopt some window dressing to give themselves some cover by allowing witnesses and evidence. It is altogether clear that exposure would risk them nothing at all inasmuch as they are happy to adopt fantasy excuses for Trump and regardless of testimony like Bolton’s would claim Trump was a crook but not an impeachable one.
It is now up to the Dems to flood the airwaves and the web with verbatim examples of GOP blather and paint it into a corner that cannot be escaped from.
2
The criminal Executive Branch has bought itself a judge and a jury. Fifty three Republican Senators, representing the Legislative Branch, will today vote to allow no evidence and to allow no first person witnesses to its leader's crimes. They will be backstopped by a Republican Chief Justice who brings shame and discredit on the Judicial Branch on overseeing this farce.
This sham trial is a complete and total victory for what has become the Trump Autocracy Party. Hopefully, this victory will be Pyrrhic.
Lamar Alexander’s weak excuse to let voters decide has a fatal flaw. The only way we found out about Trump’s corruption and abuse of government funds for personal political gain was the patriotism of one whistleblower. How can voters make an intelligent choice without knowledge? Even if Republicans are willing to acquit Trump of all wrongdoing and crimes, we have a right as voters to know exactly how corrupt he is. Apart from nullifying the impeachment clause of the Constitution, Senate Republicans thus also took our right to knowledge away from us. They have just given the green light to Trump and all future inhabitants of the White House to lean on or solicit any nation, drug cartel, mafia boss, you name it, to ensure victory. What a tragic day in our history.
4
Senate Republicans are about to establish a dangerous precedent by giving Trump a green light to interfere in the 2020 election. Giuliani is still trying to dig up dirt in Ukraine, and Trump publicly asked China to investigate the Bidens. The GOP is saying that okay because he's their guy.
Federal Election Law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money or any "thing of value" to a U.S. election. That was strengthened in 2003 with the McCain-Feingold Act. Perhaps the House should have included violation of Federal Election Law in the articles...
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20
1
Senators represent the public.
Polls show the public wants witnesses.
6
@Baba So the Senate should base there decisions on polls? That seems a bit off don't you think. You do realize many that are asking for witnesses want to see Hunter testify. This is why the polls show high numbers for witnesses. But for both sides they just want more drama. The senate is wise to end this farce.
@GigEm 85% of the public wants to hear from Bolton. 75% of republicans want to hear from Bolton. Senate republicans ignore that at their own peril.
History will not be kind to Lamar Alexander.
3
So the State of the Union looks like it should be renamed: Coronation of King Don. Seriously - what are the senators thinking? They've just opened a pandora's box of "inappropriate" behavior on the part of the president. Literally, for Trump, anything goes. He really could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. After 200 and some odd years we've come full circle, back to a monarchy. This is what spinelessness gives you.
2
Democrats should reconvene hearings in the House and call all of the witnesses they want. But why did they fail to do that before now? What was the rush?
The Republicans are acting like there will only be Republican presidents from now on. That is either naive and short sighted or they know something the rest of us don't.
1
Would the Farmers have viewed foreign interference in our elections as “inappropriate”?
Or as a cause for fighting, and dying in the American Revolution and since, to prevent it?
2
Well goodbye American democracy. The republicans are looking at Americans with fingers in their ears and saying "la, la, la, la." A dictatorship is taking over America.
3
The Republican Senate is about as corrupt of an institution as we've ever had in this country. Its not surprising I guess, Republicans have long flaunted the fact that they are without integrity, honesty, decency or honor but this is the most blatant example. Democracy in this nation has been forever diminished by Trump, Republicans in Congress and the Trump Court (SCOTUS) and we, as a nation, will never recover. By electing these totally power hungry, amoral criminals, we have shown the world the true face of the United States and its people, and it isn't pretty. We should all be ashamed.
2
He made a deal with the devil, aka Mitch McConnell, to allow Collins to vote yes and save her seat. There are no longer any decent Republicans; they should henceforth be known as the Trump Party.
3
Whenever I hear a republican say "partisan impeachment' I realize it's just more gas lighting and projection because it is the republicans who made it partisan. They deny the facts and just blame the investigators, similar to what a criminal does when he is caught by the cops. Anyone who tattles on the crook is a "dirty rat" according to them, which just cements what the investigators are saying; it was a criminal conspiracy and they "all were in the loop" and tried to cover it up. The coverup will continue today when they vote to disallow witnesses to testify. I think most Americans see what's going on and it's disgusting.
2
Republicans have lowered the bar in what is acceptable in America in simply voting for Trump in the first place.
3
Cipollone is complicit. In the pressure campaign against Zelensky to announce investigations.
4
Lemars announcement is telling. The vote for witnesses is not the same as a vote for convict or acquit. Lemar is saying.. if we open to witnesses, Trump will be convicted and removed. This is about as close as you can expect any republican to come out against Trump in this day and age.
1
So what's ole alexander thinking? That's he's writing the last chapter in the memoir of an American hero, that he's going to be lionized as some sage, courageous titan?
Yeah, well I needed something to inform my sad, wan laugh.
Profile in Courage?
Right. Just like Phillipe Pétain, Vidkun Quisling, Benedict Arnold, etc.
Enjoy the company, lamar.
1
It is easy to see Alexander as confused by the arguments Alan Dershowitz made, where he falsely equated maladministration with abuse of power, when maladministration then (and now) means incompetence and dereliction of duties. Basically, the framers laid out that stupid is not impeachable, but crooked is.
Add to that the fact that universally - essentially every con law scholar other than Dershowtiz - it is accepted that the act itself need not be a statutory crime.
But Dershowitz is a classic criminal defense lawyer., adopting an appropirate posture in defending a criminal and saying anything he can get away with to defend President Trump.
Lamar Alexander, comfortable that Dershowtiz gives him the out he needs, concludes that the House proved its case against Trump, but the actions of Trump were not impeachable. If they proved an unimpeachable act, no additional testimony is needed.
Shame on Alan Dershowitz - putting his personal interests (he supports Trump only because he believes Trump has helped advance Dershowtiz's views on pro-Israeli policy and a "peace plan" for the region) ahead of the interests of our nation and our democracy, which is under attack by this President.
This has been a mess from the beginning.
I don’t understand how supposed impartial jurors from both sides are routinely running to microphones to announce what the votes will or won’t be. How does any trial proceed fairly when jurors are freely sharing their thoughts before hearing all the evidence?
Jurors are sequestered in private criminal matters, yet this seems like a free-for-all in a trial of national interest with the most high profile defendant.
There are rules for no cellphones, only milk and water and questions to be delivered on small cards. Yet no rule about ongoing press conferences? Maybe there should be/should have been.
1
When we voted in 2016 we had a choice between two people that each party felt had horrible baggage that disqualified them from becoming President. Let us choose more wisely this year. Let us vote for character, experience, and ideas that seek to bring out the best vs. the worst in all of U.S. - - - Please let us choose our neighbors, sister, daughters, brother, teachers, police officers, homeless man, gardener, the aide that helps our aging parents over our stock portfolios. Please God give us the strength to know our power and use it wisely.
3
Senator Lamar Alexander, along with most of his Republican colleagues, presents a fiction: “The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did."
Yes, it's pretty much universally conceded that Trump did what he's accused of.
But it's false to claim that the American people have ability to decide what to do about it. This is no longer true in our country.
The reason that the is the case is concisely expressed in this recent piece from the NY Times:
"Why Democrats Still Have to Appeal to the Center, but Republicans Don’t," By Ezra Klein, Jan. 24, 2020.
Please read the whole article, but definitely this:
"Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and a majority of governorships. Only the House is under Democratic control. And yet Democrats haven’t just won more votes in the House elections. They won more votes over the last three Senate elections, too. They won more votes in both the 2016 and 2000 presidential elections. But America’s political system counts states and districts rather than people."
Any system can be played, and the fact is that the people do NOT get to decide in the America of today. A minority has exploited the cracks in the system, and we need our Senators, if we are not to be lost, to save us.
Trump, knowingly or not, is a dictator in the making, and our Senators are not yet protecting us. I humbly beg them to do so.
3
Lamar Alexander has done the right thing by agreeing to not call witnesses to the senate trial. He is about to retire and he did not want to damage his legacy among Republicans. He may not have agreed with the president’s actions, but it did not amount to impeachable behavior. This has been a partisan trial and the outcome was predicted from the start. President Trump will not be removed from office. Americans want to move on.
1
So, first it was “there’s not enough evidence” and “you can’t make that case”. The evidence is now on the table and the case has been made. Even Republican Senators have admitted as much. Now it’s “yes, but this is not impeachable”. You’re just regurgitating the views of Trump’s defense team. Let’s flip this around, shall we? Where does it say that abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by the president is okay? And what kind of moral bearing is this con show imprinting on our children and adolescents, who are watching this in their formative years? Are we trying to raise a generation of self-serving mobsters? America has grabbed a shotgun and it’s shooting itself into both feet. Genius!
2
@KMW - Of course, to Republicans it's all about a "legacy among Republicans". Forget about country first. Forget about the Constitution. It's all about party above all else. You bet it has been a partisan trial. The Republican apologists have bent over backwards to come up with bizarre and legally dubious arguments to support the unsupportable. If you think this administration has done nothing unethical, immoral or legally questionable, then I think it says a lot about you.
4
@KMW You've missed the point. Hang on, more to come.
3
Ok guys we get the message loud and clear. Corruption is ok. Bribery is ok. Extortion is ok. Got it! 👍🏽
11
@petey tonei: Prosecutions will be accelerated for failure to pay tribute.
5
This is what the republican party has become, the party of abject cowards. I am afraid that our democracy is finished, as we don't have enough voters or leaders left who believe in the ideals that we once embraced, if imperfectly at times. I'm glad I don't have children, but I mourn for the innocent children growing up today, who will live in this shallow, reactionary and utterly amoral country.
For all the intelligence human supposedly possess, we certainly don't think very rationally.
2
@Loyd Collins: Gun-dependency is just another addiction in the US.
Democrats and ‘progressives’ herein screaming ‘coverup’ were more than OK with Adam Schiff denying Republicans the opportunity to call their witnesses in the House.
@EGD: I think Adam Schiff is not afraid of any truth about himself.
2
We knew the republicans, as a block, would not side with Americans ... now we know how they plan to justify siding with the Russians.
6
@Bob: Even the Russians don't have an incumbency rollover scheme like subjecting only one third of the Senate to the 2020 election. I think the whole lot of them should have to stand for their conduct and judgment of this trial.
4
When Senator Alexander says let the people decide, it means let Russia decide. Trump will get Russian help in hacking Democrats and so undermine their campaigns, just like Trump did to Clinton: “Hey Russia, if you’re listening ...”.
Trump is an unrepentant repeat offender. I guess Alexander hopes Russia will help Trump win.
6
I hear Alexander is some kind of iconic hero. That he’s done do much as a public servant. I don’t know if that’s true but I do know he wiped that all away with his cheap, cowardly, ignorant and anti American decision.
The Framers would have labeled him a traitor. Which is exactly who he is now.
3
I will admit that I agree with Trump on one thing-
I am tired of him winning...
And lying
And cheating
And bullying
The list goes on
Sigh-
Please vote this person out of office
6
It may sound reasonable to let the public decide but someone should tell this brainiac senator that Trump is accused, and he agrees, of cheating on the election. How do you say decide it at the ballot box when the guy is rigging the election! Definitely the world's "greatest deliberative body" with these Einsteins. I think all these "loyal" GOP senators need to be honest, take off their flag pins, and put on MAGA hats! Embarrassing bunch of crooks.
7
Trump has been enabled his whole life by others failing to hold him to account - even by his own father who handed him millions. Banks have consistently bailed him out, despite numerous bankruptcies, state prosecutors have consistency failed to investigate his corruption, and now politicians, in typical, country-divisive, hypocritical partisanship, are enabling him one again. This time, however, Trump will take this to mean that he is, in fact, a king who can do no wrong.
And this, Republicans think is a good thing? Craven cowardice is not a phrase that well-describes such an insult tossed to the founders of this country. I mean, how dumb must they have been to think that extorting foreign help in a election was bad? /s
One hopes that Americans, too, have long memories. History surely does.
2
Human nature:
Choose that which is in your own best self interest (money, job, sex, extortion, anything), back fill the rationalizations later. Any rationalization will do.
Supporting evidence:
Trump and every GOP senator.
What a total lack of moral courage; Lamar Alexander may be retiring but he shall be remembered..in ignominy.
1
We have soldiers, in harms way, all over the world, fighting for our "way of life" and these Republican cowards won't fulfill their oath of office and won't even pretend to hold a fair trail!
3
Senator Alexander gave the game away. The purpose of new witnesses is to determine if Trump did something that is impeachable. His blanket obstruction of Congress certainly should be. And his refusal to send military aid to Ukraine was not his only abuse of power.
In my view, Senator Alexander is a coward. He is also Republican to the core, and American not at all.
2
America is not stupid.
We all knew that Lamar was just playing to the press when he dropped hints that he was on the fence.
And the whole world knows Trump's Republican slaves have always planned vote to shame themselves by acquitting their Liar in Chief, Donald Trump.
So the real question is when will John Bolton start his speaking tour to spill the beans and get his book published.
Bolton is not the type to cower in the face of Trump's threats.
And if ANYone should know what constitutes "classified information" it should be Bolton, a former Presidential National Security Advisor, UN Ambassador and two time Assistant Secretary of State under two previous presidents.
As one pundit said, Bolton could write the book on what's classified information and what isn't.
75% of America wanted witness testimony in this trial.
Cowardly republicants will pay dearly at the polls in November.
3
If we lose Trump who would make fun of war heros and Gold Star Families?
3
The Putin White House has had Russia to the White House twice, bit still denies Zelensky from Ukraine a visit. Why? Because Republican “businessmen” are unhappy that an anti-corruption leader was elected there. They wanted to bribe their way into gas and oil contracts. Republicans are a bunch of crooks, and all roads lead to Putin.
4
And he thus joins the National Disgrace Team, bent on sending the country down the path to autocracy, shame and degradation.
3
Our souless, valueless GOP Congress asks-
Why allow witnesses?
Why have facts, truth, or justice for that matter?
Why bother with a trial at all, it's clear nothing will ever make these sycophants stand up to Trump
These spineless self serving Trump enablers , and their GOP base, all sold their souls to the devil for Trump.
If they Devil gave a penny for the whole lot , he overpaid.
It's clear the only we we save American democracy is by voting out all Republicans currently in office.
Make them pay dearly for this farce.
4
Trump pleaded: "Where's my Roy Cohn!?"
Roy Cohn, who has been described by people who knew him as “a snake,” “a scoundrel” and “a new strain of son of a 8itch,” is the subject of a new documentary. It’s an occasion to once again look at Cohn and ask how much of him and his “savage,” “abrasive” and “amoral” behavior is visible in the behavior of the current president. Trump, as has been well-established, learned so much from the truculent, unrepentant Cohn about how to get what he wants, and he pines for Cohn and his notorious capabilities still.
Roy Cohn was also the Attorney for McCarthy in the 1950's, another disgraced Republican who was confronted with, "-have you no shame Sir?"
Trump got his Roy Cohn, he actually got 53 of them - 53 Senate Republicans...
2
By his actions and conduct, Impeached President Trump has forever tarnished, damaged and undermined the office of the president.
And the Senate - if it fails to call witnesses and review and consider additional evidence - will have failed to fulfill its constitutional duties to hold a fair and complete trial to consider all of the facts presented for the American people to witness and judge. The Senate will be forever tarnished and damaged.
And, if the Senate votes to acquit Impeach Trump without calling witnesses and reviewing additional evidence, their verdict will carry no weight - it will be an an imperfect and incomplete exoneration of Trump forever marked by an asterisk.
If the Senate does not act in accordance with its constitutional duties, I call upon the American people to take action and mobilize against Trump and those Senators who have shirked their constitutional responsibilities, especially those who are running for re-election in 2020 - through vocal, written, financial and voting support of those running against them - and do everything possible to remove them from office so they can do no more harm to our constitution and democratic institutions.
The time for action has come.
2
The Kangaroo process now playing out on the floor of the U.S. Senate should come as a 3 p.m., Fire Alarm, Red Alert (all in a single packet) to any American citizen valuing democracy. Trump with his constant assault on the rule of law is an indication that the guard rails we believed were in place to protect the nation from the rise of a demagogue was simply an allusion, perhaps a hope.
The expected acquittal of Trump by Republicans will come as a disappointment, but not a surprise. The same is true of the decision by Senator Alexander, not to support the call for testimony from Bolton or others with direct knowledge of the intentions of Trump relative to the Ukraine affair.
However, there is a silver lining to the current dismal situation in which the nation finds itself. First time in many generations, citizens are faced with the challenge of rescuing the Republic if we want to keep it.
No longer can we depend on politicians elected to the U.S. House and Senate to protect us. We the people have to constantly monitor the politicians we elect and not simply hope that they will not betray us in the service of those with wealth and foreign interest. The imposition of term limits,as well as repairing the damages caused by Citizens United will be a step in the right direction.
1
Impeachment was settled in the House The argument now is weather or not he committed a crime, which the GOP (and the world) know he did. Framing this as a debate about an "impeachable offense" is maddening and I wish the House managers and press would push back on it more fiercely.
The vote will not stop further evidence from coming out from FOIA requests and judicial findings, as well as from Parnas, Bolton, and others.
When he is out of office Trump will face prosecution from the State of New York and for the federal criminal offenses outlined in Part II of the Mueller Report.
Do the Republicans really think he will not face justice?
When every single bank and banker escaped cleanly with their fortunes after the 2008 meltdown, it was a terrible blow to democracy, and I think it was a factor in ushering the Trump era. Had even one banker gone to jail for fraud, rather than banks being bailed out and then fined without admitting wrongdoing, it would have sent the message that government looks out for its citizens.
I fear this sham trial is more of the same. It strikes at the legitimacy of the Government. However, when you’re the anti-government party, that’s a win.
Wish it was different, but I don’t think it will change as long as their propaganda machine is intact. That is their source of power.
If Senator Lamar Alexander believes that the Presidents actions were inappropriate - in other words wrong...then he has no excuse for allowing his party to whitewash his wrongdoing with an acquittal that did not examine all the evidence as it continues to come in. If he expects the voters to be the final jury on the President's actions, how can they do that with only some of the facts? How can any member of the GOP acquit this President and not expect his next abuse/misuse of power to be even more egregious? He will only continue to get worse, and they will have themselves to blame. The WH counsel and other defenders have enabled this serial offender of laws and norms to break every last protection from autocracy we have.
1
Their job is too hard to do properly and it will take too much time? Is that the argument?!?!!
2
What will Bolton do next?
Trump has the publication of his book tied up in the review process, surely that will take until the day after the election to complete. Will Bolton zip his lip until then? I doubt it. I predict a big October Surprise from Bolton.
Some swing state Trumpublicans may want to hedge that bet. A vote for more witness testimony would let the stream out now, giving them a fighting chance in the fall.
Or they can just go down on Trump's ship. His base is big and very loud, but they're also mean spirited and toxic with racists, bigots, and separatists of various stripe. Not very attractive to those liking for solutions to the nation's problems. MATH.
1
Protest, now! Continue tomorrow. Get up. Put one foot in front of the other and head to the Capitol Building.
Not after they vote on witnesses. It's Friday. Take a walk to the Capitol building and start chanting.
Facebook & twitter can't fix this.
3
I spent yesterday trying in vain to call Senator Alexander’s office. I am 65 years old and I’ve spent my entire life telling my 4 children and grandchildren that no one is above the law in this country. That is why we are exceptional.
This decision by a bunch of mostly old white men is heartbreaking. What kind of country are we? Are we pretending that Trump and his entire circle of family and thugs are not immoral criminals?
They are all holding onto power at any cost. I cannot wait to vote every single one of these traitors and opportunists out of office. If we still even can.
5
The whole world is watching
3
It didn't likely matter much, but I called and wrote my senators urging them to put country ahead of party. Precious little chance of that at this point.
A sad and terrible day for our country.
4
Almost obscured by the fetid heap of refuse in his party, Mitt Romney seems to have concluded that the country needs its democratic institutions more than it needs the party. “I feel a sense of deep responsibility to abide by the Constitution, to determine — absent the pulls from the right and the pulls from the left — what is the right thing to do?” What a breath of fresh air! It ranks up there with the ‘thumbs down’ vote of John McCain. In ordinary times, both would be unremarkable acts, not even courageous. But obviously we don’t live in ordinary times.
2
Political donors, let's practice democracy -- defeat Lamar Alexander.
He isn’t seeking re-election. Which is why he was the delivery boy for the ‘Trump Rebuke Lite’. Senator McConnell will go down in history as the Joe McCarthy of our times - but right now he is a powerful political adversary and enabler of the President. Look no further than the Super PAC money he controls and thank Citizens United for a crumbling democracy.
2
@Geoff Lewis Your argument makes no sense. McCarthy was the accuser. If anything, Schiff is McCarthy in this scenario. And if he is enabling the President to do all the great things he has accomplished then I say 4 more years of this great economy and maybe I can retire.
Fundamental moment for our democracy, yet there is zero public action. Some calls to Senators, I guess, and 5-10 protesters at the capital. Less than a dozen in a country of 325 million.
Meanwhile over 500 people have been killed during anti-corruption protests across Iraq that have attracted tens of thousands daily for months. See also: Lebanon and other failed states where people still insist on making their voices heard. Plus Hong Kong.
Where is Indivisible? Where are the rule-of-law or good governance or pro-democracy groups? Impromptu grassroots action took place during the Muslim ban, the marches have attracted hundreds of thousands.
Yet at this pivotal moment, when the only tool we have left is some form of public pressure ... crickets.
The House Managers have explicitly and compellingly explained the obvious to people who need the obvious explained. Time to get rid of the latter.
1
The Democrats will likely not be able to put forward their most compelling candidate in 2020 because of the President’s unsubstantiated allegations against Biden. He used his office to create this smear.
How can this charge not warrant further investigation in an election year? How can we trust that the government will investigate election fraud in the future when they do not want to now?
1
@Michael Brown If people think what Biden did smells it isn't because the President brought it to light (actually the whistleblower did), it is because it stinks. Lets all get behind ending corruption in DC from all parties.
Watching every minute of the trial, it seemed like the Democrats were arguing the facts and Republicans were airing past grievances.
More like a national therapy session rather than a trial.
1
I think we will see fewer demonstrations abroad where people hold signs that say "Death to America."
No need for that now. The Senate Republicans have taken care of that.
4
Lamar Alexander had a chance to be a profile in courage. Instead he sealed the fate of the most destructive cover up in the history of our republic.
4
"Hey Russia, if you're listening ... "
Trump may not have technically conspired with Russia, but he definitely solicited Russia's, and China's, and in this case Ukraine's interference in our election. Russia hacked Democrats' computers the day after Trump asked them to. He is an unrepentant repeat offender.
When Senators say, "Let the voters decide", what they really mean is, "Let Russia interfere in our election and hack Democratic computers to swing the election to Trump."
It's treachery.
8
Looking forward to using the blank check of presidential power when Democrats regain White House. No rules. No bumpers. No regrets
Well played, Republicans. What goes around will come around
2
This is not only a Constitutional crisis, it is the killing of our Constitution. We are no longer a democracy.
Last night I cried.
7
Americans won’t go on the march to correct this travesty. I can see it in my own gated community, where the vast majority of my neighbors go into hiding instead of confronting the succession of bad actors who would run our place into the ground. If they won’t even emerge to save their own community, why would they do it for their country?
So, we have a president who defies the law and the Constitution, and a party of Republicans who support him in his unpatriotic beliefs. Voters, do not forget that the GOP and Trump have broken their oaths of office, and there is every reason, based on their record, to expect they will continue to work for their own benefit, regardless of what the country needs. Trump's history is a long record of evading the law and cheating business associates, and not caring if he harmed other people along the way. You who voted for and supported Trump have encouraged him and the GOP to do whatever they like. Remember that, when he and his minions decide to do something to you, like cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, or interfere with elections in 2020.
Who are you going to call then, to save you from their greedy and corrupt agenda?
691
@Bonnie
How can they do anything you say they might
do if the House in Strongly Democratic and
Speaker Pelosi is in Control ?
1
John Brown stop drinking the Kool Aid. Fox is using propaganda techniques for mind control. Fox is not American, it is under foreign control. If you're an individualist welcome, the authoritarian state the Republicans are building is not for you.
28
@Bonnie
There is a anti-patriotic coup, just as the Republicans have said. They should know. They are its instigators and combatants.
And what of the so-called "2nd Amendment people" who said they need their weapons of war to defend us against just that sort of tyranny? What happened to them? Where are they when our democracy is being defeated before their eyes?
Well, they've been coopted into the coup. It is a brilliant strategy on the part of the Republicans. Hold your friends close, hold your enemies closer. Get those who pledged to fight for freedom to believe that their freedom was threatened and only tyranny can save it.
23
Alexander's legacy is one of treason. His name will go into the history books right after Benedict Arnold, and his family can live in shame for generations to come.
McConnell and Trump as well.
265
But in a fascist regime, like we have now, the fascists write the history books.
Where is the public outrage? Where is our MLK?
1
Partisan impeachment has been a dead end from day one. If bipartisan support is not present from the beginning, you get a circus, as we have all just witnessed.
Hopefully, the lesson has been learned, and we can avoid future partisan impeachment attempts by either party.
112
@Tom
What was the option, let Trump do whatever he wanted? This was a partisan impeachment because the Republicans had no intention of ever stopping Trump since the first time he retaliated against anyone that disagreed with him. The House has oversight responsibility and Trump has show continually over the past three years that he needs oversight more than any other previous president. The Republican party and some of Trump's past and present cabinet members have let this country down, but at least the Democrats have shown that it's not ok.
362
@Tom Partisan impeachment will become the new norm. It achieves two great goals for the impeaching party. It satisfies a very disgruntled party base, and it is great free negative advertising against the opposition President and Party. It is remarkable that it has so rarely been used in the past. It is now unleashed as a stable in the future. Indeed, if the current President and House situation remain the same after the next election, expect Trump to be impeached at least one, but more likely two, times.
17
@Tom Disagree. Just because one party is biased against holding the President accountable is no reason to not bring facts to light. Facts which would remain hidden without the investigation. This should be a transparent government.
156
The three branches of the US Government have become one, consolidating into the Executive Branch - much like the Parliamentary system in the UK.
Couple this with the fact that this particularly executive lost the popular vote and we have witnessed a power grab of staggering proportions.
16
He added: "... I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday."
The decision of the people can only be achieved when the electoral college is removed. The "people" decided in 2016 - they did not want Trump. How can Alexander or any intelligent person resort to that reasoning.
10
@Disappointed Ugh, yeah, sure. Get a constitutional amendment going to abolish the electoral college. Then, send a delegation of Californians and New Yorkers to places like North Dakota to persuade them to give up power for absolutely nothing in return. Then we can govern the entire country from two bright-blue coastal rims and let the rest of it be flyover territory in the most absolute sense. Sounds like a winner to me.
1
Imagine this - Trump can be impeached again. There are no limits on that. Hopefully Sen Lamar Alexander's seat will go to someone more worthy of it, someone who will uphold the constitution.
15
I had a small hope that Lamar Alexander would have some honor. I was wrong.
14
New standard: oaths do not matter.
The Senate swore an oath to find the whole truth. How is refusing to call witnesses at a trial the whole truth?
11
It's sad that Sen. Lamar Alexander is making this political decision the closing chapter of a positive career. He's retiring and could have been his own man, doing the right thing. I remember pulling for (Lamar!) back when he running for president in his iconic flannel shirt. Still have a bumper sticker. He was a common sense outsider ready to change Washington, but alas Washington changed him. He lost the independence of thought of his early years. He could have been forever remembered for a vote to seek truth wherever it led. Instead he chose cronyism. There's no excuse for not allowing the Senate (and the American people) to hear from a former NSA director who says the president lied about the core issue in this trial. Way to end your career on a downbeat nadir instead of a crescendo of character Lamar.
8
So there's enough evidence to prove the case, but Sen. Alexander doesn't want to bring in witnesses or vote to convict. Good to know jury nullification has moved from Confederate county courthouses to the United States Senate.
8
Lamar Alexander says that the president’s actions, though “inappropriate” are “not impeachable.” That may be the case as of now. But there is a clear possibility of their rising to the level of impeachability once the new stunning revelations are fully explored. Yes, I am referring to the revelations about the emails that went out from the White House to the Pentagon and those in the manuscript of Bolton’s soon-to-be-published book. It is to get to the bottom of these revelations that Democratic senators are insisting that more witnesses and documents be subpoenaed before the Senate votes on whether to remove the president from office.
Mr. Alexander, you are being silly when you say, “The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did.” If what he did is impeachable, then the Senate has a responsibility to conduct a trial on it and decide whether he should be removed from office or not. The founding fathers inserted the impeachability clause in the Constitution because they realized the danger of keeping him in office until the next election, when, of course, it will be the electorate that will decide his fate. Removing a president through impeachment and voting him out through an election are two entirely different kettles of fish.
You may vote as you please when the Senate puts the issue to vote. But don’t apply puerile logic to justify your vote.
4
Late last night I thoroughly enjoyed watching a tired and defeated Schiff. Hopefully he’ll take a long unearned vacation.
2
@John S
It takes a lot out of a person when they have to watch our democracy crumble under the corrupt Trump regime.
4
If Senator Alexander has determined that there is conclusive evidence of a corrupt intent by the President then he should introduce a motion to censure the President in the Senate. This will allow all senators to express their position on the President's behavior regardless of whether or not they consider it to be impeachable.
3
In a way, I feel sorry for Joey.
The Democrats’ fiasco sunk his ship, and if by some miracle he remains in the race, the investigation into his corruption should be wrapped up before the election - given the stacks of evidence.
The more people look at the Biden crime family, the more money they seem to have ended up with.
1
I mean, I agree with you insofar as the Dems would be insane to put Biden on the ballot.
That fact is the crime here. Donald Trump did that with taxpayer money.
@Ken There is no evidence the Bidens did anything illegal. Why do you keep spreading lies?
1
Senator Alexander, should have just kept quite. His reasoning is absurd. Either you agree, or disagree. Not to have it both ways.
5
November will be the moment of truth for American democracy.
3
The impeachment fiasco was never about throwing Trump out of office; the Democrats knew they couldn't accomplish that. What they really wanted was to beat him up as much as possible to weaken him and other Republican candidates for the next election. And the mainstream media was happy to oblige.
All this noble talk about "holding the president accountable" and "no one is above the law" is a sham.
What Trump did was no worse than when Obama spent money on the ACA that was not allocated by Congress; when he refused to cooperate with Congress on Fast and Furious investigations; and when Lois Lerner took the 5th and the Obama Justice Department did nothing. These were all political shenanigans but only the Democrats hated a president enough to throw away their integrity in order to mollify their base who clamored for impeachment.
@G
Care to put up links to these supposed stacks of evidence?
2
Impeaching Trump was always a very long shot but there two lessons/benefits.
1) You can look your kids in the eye and say we tried. The office of US Senator is just another enrichment scheme for Repubs.
2) Repubs hunted Clinton for far more trivial matter that had nothing to do with governance. Maybe Repubs learned that what goes around, comes around.
4
Why has there not been a call to march on Washington? We are witnessing the destruction of our Republic. The shining light on the hill and the Statue of Freedom are now empty symbols of what once was.
I will never forgive the now Authoritarian Greedy Old Party for what they have done. NEVER...
4
Senator Alexander, There is NO question about whether the Senate or the voters should decide what to do about what you concluded that the President did. Your job is to represent us as a Senator. Do your job, don’t play Pontius Pilate.
If you feel the case has been proven, that means the President is guilty. What you are essentially saying is “so what, not a big deal, move on.”
My question for you is this: If this is not impeachable, what in God’s name is? Trump is the arsonist with the gasoline can. He will burn us all again and again.
5
“The question then is not whether the president did it . . . .”
Fealty to a liar is a really, really bad look for a U.S. Senator, even one who’s retiring.
7
Lamar: If this isn’t impeachable, what is?
10
@Baba: What that is impeachable can't run faster than this broken system?
One of it not the last of the Barbershop Quartet Republicans from the 1990s Clinton trial chooses to amble off to retirement leaving a lasting impression on his years in the U.S. Senate, can you say "spineless, enabling, coward"?
Sorry, Lamar, but when you had the chance to stand for what used to be one of the bedrock principals of the Republican Party, that no man, woman, work in progress or gender to be named later is above the law.
Instead, you've hitched your reputation to an abomination, a dark presence not only devoid of any semblance of ethical standards, common decency and respect for sacrifices made by millions in defense of what you must now think are sentiments for losers, treating those in greatest need with the same dignity and respect we afford the richest and most powerful.
Take one last look around your former workplace. You may not recognize it after another four years, just as an honest examination of your final days may cause you to wonder what you were thinking. The answer, like the man you're protecting from having to answer for his behavior is you had forgotten the meaning of the word.
5
Used to live in Tennessee. Thought Lamar Alexander had more character than this. Shame. Keep praying.
10
So sad to see the senator end his career under such a cloud of shame, having enabled the rigged trial acquittal of the president. That will be his legacy
12
@doug mclaren
Not sad, a TYPICAL REPUBLICAN.
1
Republican senators have finally passed the Rubicon. See no truth. Hear no truth. Speak no truth.
18
I was a relatively new resident of Tennessee when Lamar Alexander infamously took the oath of office, to be Governor of Tennessee, in the middle of the night. Why did he do that? Supposedly to prevent further "corruption" by then Governor Ray Blanton who obviously had been selling pardons.
Well, I thought then that Lamar Alexander may be a man of high integrity. How wrong I was. Here he is, admitting the president "broke the law", but making some wimpy excuse as to why he won't vote either for witnesses or to convict. Never mind that he is pushing the door wide open for further, and very possibly, abuse of office by President Trump.
I don't know if Alexander is maybe getting senile, but that's about the only excuse I can think of that doesn't reflect on his character.
God help us!!!
12
@T. D. Yarnes: That man is a lamb sacrificing himself. This really is the land of the brave because they're too dumb to see what they're blundering into.
Can it get much more partisan than that?
How can Lamar Alexander say that the House Managers have proven their case but that a president should not be impeached on a partisan basis? His declaration is a condemnation of the House Republicans for their partisanship in fighting against and turning a blind eye to all the evidence uncovered in the House. The proof was there to be seen. But in the end, he is agreeing to hold Trump unaccountable BECAUSE he is willing to hold the House Republican unaccountable for their deriliction of duty. It can't get much more partisan than that. Senator Alexander should hide his face in shame.
13
You can’t impeach somebody for a hangnail.
@Charles Pape Simple. What the house alleges isn't impeachable in the opinion of many. Abuse of Power is just policy disagreement and Obstruction of Congress is bunk.
House managers simply were not able to conflate the abuse of powers up to an impeachable act. The bottom line is many think what Biden did by bringing in Hunter to China and Ukraine to enrich himself was DC corruption defined. The fact that uncovering it also helps Trump is irrelevant to the Senators so that is why they are saying that Yes, he is guilty of trying to investigate corruption but it is not grounds for removal.
Lets not forget Clinton was GUILTY of FELONIES and still not removed.
As a Southerner I am embarrassed and saddened by Lamar Alexander's intellectual frailty. More shame derived from more ill considered, irrational choices continues to be painful throughout our history.
14
His synapses are not firing appropriately or synchronously.
8
Lamar Alexander thinks defying the legislative branch and hijacking then holding for ransom $400 million of military aide from a country desperately in need because it is under attack and being invaded by Russia is merely inappropriate behavior.
10
@David Binko Or maybe they just think arguments such as yours are hyperbole to the maximum.
The most disturbing thing I am hearing is that this evidence or any further evidence is not impeachable and not to the point of removal either ( e.g. Alexander). So this means a president can used the powers and prestige of his office, including funds appropriated by Congress to gain advantage over his opponent in the next election.
8
“I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday.”
Senator, you are telling us to put our faith in the very thing Trump attacked when he held up vital military aid and a meeting with the Ukrainian president in return for an announcement of investigations. Trump only released the money after he got caught (the meeting still has not happened). If not held accountable, what’s to keep Trump from repeating this behavior and how can the voters have faith in the election itself?
9
As long as some senators, Trump’s defense team, and Trump himself deny there was a quid pro quo for investigating Biden, Bolton’s testimony before the senate is vital.
5
@Greg Phillips
As is the testimony of both Bidens, the ‘whistleblower,’ and the duplicitous Adam Schiff himself.
Lamar's rationale is odd and needs some analysis.
He believes the House managers proved that Trump did something terrible but not impeachable, so there's no point in bringing more witnesses. Voters should decide Trump's fate.
But the vast majority of Republicans in Congress are saying Trump did nothing wrong, and many voters believe them. Soliciting documents and witnesses at the trial would further clarify the facts, which would likely bring public opinion closer to Lamar's opinion, and it might influence at least the rationale that some of his fellow Republican Senators give for voting to acquit, if not also how they vote. Even more importantly, some Republican senators have indicated that the offenses alleged provide good grounds for removal but the facts haven't been proven. Because they disagree with Lamar on the facts but not the legal theory of the case, Lamar is voting to deprive those senators of information that, by his own lights, should change their votes. That is just so strange.
7
Like everything else with the Trump/McConnell Cabal its all smoke and mirrors. This trial is proving once again that it is anything but fair. Unless something very unexpected happens the President will remain in office, despite numerous misdemeanors (as defined by the use of the word in late 18th century English), and our American Constitution will be retired with honors. This is what a dictatorship looks like folks and after an acquittal Pandora will open the box and an unfettered dictatorship will be the law of the land. I wonder how long it will take for our would be emperor to disarm the population and put his picture on our currency, stamps, and banners. Its amazing the amount of foresight that Benjamin Franklin had. Too bad it was wasted on us.
5
Apparently only Mitch McConnell and the elected members of the Republican Party have managed to reach a level of venality where bribery and corruption are viewed as acceptable practices in this Country, while those who serve our Country with integrity and refuse to engage in corruption (Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindmann, Fiona Hill) are contemptible.
8
Alexander is saying two things: 1) his "president" violated our Constitution, abusing his power and obstructing justice; 2) witnesses will only prove this, making it harder for his party to subvert our democracy and the rule of law. That must be the new trump party courage on display.
5
Unlike any other trial, the jury (in this case the Senate) will vote not based on evidence, but instead based on their own self interest.
Unfortunately many Senators are playing what will be a "short game". More information will come out, they can't stop it, and the Senate's quick whitewashing of the impeachment will go down in history not as an act of law, but as an act of politics.
10
The only reason the republicans have to not allow witnesses or other evidence, is the fear that it is true, and the result would lose their current power.
7
@Expat Abroad
That's not fear, it's knowledge and the defense(s) proffered illustrates it clearly.
2
@Expat Abroad That's exactly what Alexander is saying.
2
Lamar Alexanders comment reminds me of Nixon's comment: "Mistakes were made but nobody did anything wrong".
Paraphrasing: So the conduct was inappropriate, but it was not wrong.
I found it interesting to see the obituaries of some of the congressman and senators who defended Nixon during the impeachment hearings. History did not judge them well because of their conduct during the Nixon impeachment proceedings. I think the same might happen to Lamar Alexander also.
9
"the people should make that decision in the presidential election" -- the people can't subpoena witnesses or get sworn testimony. Most people (in polls) said they want to hear from witnesses. I get the "let people decide" part, but not the "no witnesses" part.
7
The overwhelming popular support for hearing witnesses suggests that the vote on whether to hear witnesses is more important than the vote to dismiss or acquit.
A vote to bring the down the impeachment effort that did not permit the most important witnesses to speak is going to lack legitimacy. It is going to affirm the executive branch's new supremacy over the legislative branch.
A tie vote would lessen the damage, since it would open the option for a true constitutional lawyer and philosopher -- the Chief Justice -- to express a disinterested and scholarly viewpoint. Even if overruled by the Senate, the Chief Justice would endow the vote with a measure of credibility.
3
Why anyone thinks Lamar Alexander is a friend of democracy escapes me. He's a soulless right-winger, always has been, and always will be.
If asked, I could have told y'all that he has no integrity or spine, and that he'd decline to vote for justice.
8
When my future grandchildren attend school, they will learn that America once had a democratic government with a system of checks and balances between its three branches.
11
@MAR
Right.
But then Democrats and ‘progressives’ thought they could weaponize the FBI and our intelligence agencies to take down a candidate and then president from an opposing party.
And when that didn’t work, they cooked up an impeachment in spite of the corruption on video of their VP grifting a job for his unqualified son.
If the President can pervert the electoral process so the people can only elect Republicans, then Lamar Alexander's comments make sense. As Senator McConnell shifts the courts Republican and the President uses Robert Moses strategy of bending the law and then pushing everything to the courts, with appeals and eventual reduced penalties this seems likely.
It will all hinge on how the next election in swing states operates. The founders kept a lot of power with the wealthy (them) limiting the potential for a tyranny of the majority.
1
People naturally focus on the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, but there is another trial concurrent with that: the integrity of the Senate.
If the Senate votes not to call witnesses, then they will lose their integrity, and what was once thought of as the greatest deliberative body will further sink into the polluted waters of crass partisanship.
5
ACQUIT is the wrong word.
If the Senate votes as appears likely, the outcome is that the Senate voted to NOT REMOVE FROM OFFICE.
A definition of "Acquittal" is to declare not guilty.
But we already know Trump did it - he is guilty of the charges of shaking down a foreign government for corrupt political purposes.
Even some Republicans admit that he did what he was accused of -- but they just don't think he should be removed from office.
7
If Sen. Alexander believes the case presented by the House Managers and believes that the president acted "inappropriately", but also believes that his inappropriate acts do not rise to the level warranting impeachment, then what does he think the appropriate punishment should be?
Should the president act "inappropriately" again, what will the GOP case be then, for Trump will have show himself to be a serial "inappropriate" act offender?
3
@Paul R
The impeachment rules say in substance: "There shall be no punishment for a sitting president if his behaviour is neither "high crime" nor "misdemeanor"."
The underlying legal basis is the decision of the founding fathers that the result of an election may not be undercut by partisan attacks of the unsuccessful party only in case of qualified reasons, and, even more important, that the capacity of USA to act as a state thru the president as the highest representative is an higher value then a need to sanction lesser misconduct and may not be endangered by a threat of "permanent impeachment".
This is a not explicitely but unambigously written limitation of the "No one is above the law" narrative in this special case also. The president is still not above the law but as long there is no sufficient reason for impeachment there is no sanction for such minor violation of the law. A quite simple legal interpretation not exceeding a fifth-grade law student level.
Mr. Alexander has assumed all allegations as completely true without any dispute no matter if the managers are able to give evidence in trial or not. He assessed this misconduct assumed as true as "inappropriate" but not as "high crime" or "misdemeanor" according to the rules of the Constitution. For facts assumed as true (regarded as proven) no hearing of witnesses is required anymore and even not allowed. Then the case is cold. A trial is no reality-TV show. Procedural legal work on 5-grader level also.
@Paul R Lets remember that Clinton was guilty (confessed) to FELONY crimes and they were alleged in the articles. He was still acquitted by the Senate. No crimes were even alleged in Trump's case and even if found guilty he too can be acquitted as was Clinton.
Voters found the Republicans guilty of abuse of power in Clinton's impeachment and the next election went against them. I suspect the same will happen this time to Dems. Maybe these politicians will finally learn to stop playing politics with impeachment. I doubt it but we can continue to punish them when they do.
Republicans may find themselves in the position of Br'er Fox, stuck tightly to a growing tar baby of adverse information dribbling out of the Trump machine.
Trump rules over a fear factory. The loyalty he demands must surely table rankle the few remaining serious people there. That is a tough environment to maintain secrets in. So while believe they are burying Trump's dirt, the Truth will out. Voting against outing the truth now Wil not be supportable in the fullness of time.
1
The Senate won't uphold their oath. The Supreme Court probably won't either. That will pass the buck to the senior military to uphold it, when the moment comes that they have to choose, and Trump will surely force that moment on them sooner or later. And unlike the House and the Senate, they won't have any clear process by which to respond. Not they I expect much from them. I don't. Retired military have had plenty of chance to speak up, and with few exceptions, they haven't spoken up, and even the exceptions have barely murmured. So much for the land of the free. What a joke.
2
No matter what happens today's votes, The demagogue Trump's Ukraine Affair will play itself out on the international stage. His adventure in bare-knuckled diplomacy has already caused our respect and influence will suffer.
Why did he take such an interest in that particular nation?
If you want to understand your opponents (or anyone that matters), walk a mile in their shoes. See the situation as they do.
Let's start with the primary opponent. Putin attacked Ukraine on its soil. He is laying siege to Ukraine. He intends to crush its independence, break the government and take away the territory his army and local warlords control.
Ukraine has supporters and allies. But citizens have been sending sons and daughters to face tanks and rockets for years. It is pinned down.
To tighten the siege, he opened a new front. Got his friend Trump to hold back life-or-death money and arms from the new president, Volodymyr Zelensky: force him to recognize and obey: let his country become a pawn in the great powers' game.
As for Trump? His ally Putin is the wild beast waiting to rip the country to pieces; unless President Zelensky gets his government to spread lies and corruptly inflame our US election.
This is the sickening spectacle the rest of the world has been forced to watch. The thing our chosen one and his blessed minions so convincingly say is perfect, ordinary, business as usual.
2
The Democrats have the strategy right. As long as Trump is intent on obstructing a thorough investigation, making the Republicans choose whether to hear witnesses means that the steady drip and dribble of leaks from the Trump camp will continue to election day and increasingly make their refusal to hear witnesses look like a cover up.
Even if the true story here is Trump’s incompetent, they are making it into Trump’s covering up.
Had the Trump camp played the Hunter Biden-Barisma angle like Benghazi 2.0 or Swiftboat 2.0, even if not factually correct (like these two precedents), it would have been perfectly legal. By playing it the way he did, Trump exposed himself to impeachment and the Republicans by letting him get away with it have exposed themselves to being implicated.
Add to this the bizarre Dershowitz “public interest” defence and the Republicans look surprisingly close to backing dictatorship. I live in Africa and find it alarming; Americans should be very, very worried.
2
What would Republican Rectitude predict they would do?
That’s what they did.
1
This just shows that Republican party cannot make difficult decisions about our country, for our country- it is all about staying in power.
3
...as expected. Of course he wouldn't announce until the last minute his disrespect to our constitution, why go through a whole week trying to justify the unjustifiable.
2
This is not so much about them having "to get out on the campaign trail" as it is about suppressing evidence that they don't want the American public to hear and see. Even with new evidence we know how the vote will go, but now we won't have a clue as to just how incriminating - or otherwise? - the evidence is.
61
@Bernard Speaker Pelosi will call Bolton and Parnas for Open House hearings; Trump's crimes in full view. Republicans do not care now; will care on election day when they get flattened. Ray Sipe
6
@Bernard
Republicans have made a grave mistake to ignore the will of the American people and blocking witnesses and evidence in this impeachment trial.
In response, the American people will certainly make sure to "block" all republicans from winning their elections in November.
We tried to tell you...
NO ONE is above the law in America.
But you Republicans didn't listen.
@JM There is no bigger bubble then the one in San Francisco. When the next elections don't go your way please don't cry foul. Instead maybe admit you were wrong. If you think this impeachment has hurt Trump you are in for a shock.
E.M. Forster famously said that if he were forced to choose between betraying a friend and betraying his country, he hoped that he would have "the guts" to betray his country. Foster did not face that test, but Alexander did, and he betrayed his country to please McConnell--a man without a country, merely a party.
Alexander now joins Susan Collins in the pretense of conscience without the actual difficulty of acting on its dictates. Since he acknowledges the House managers have proven Trump's guilt, perhaps he should suggest censure? Or maybe just proclaim Trump king of dis-Graceland?
3
“Inappropriate”—it’s a darn good thing it wasn’t “unwarranted”.
That would have been mighty unreasonable and imprudent.
Perhaps Senator Alexander, our “Orator” and “Moral Compass”, will be remembered as “Mr. Unfathomable”.
7
@Banjol Or perhaps he won't be remembered at all.
@Banjol: It takes years of practice pinning Jello to walls to pin down politicians.
To the great relief of McConnell lap dog Susan Collins,who now has political cover. Her vote will be for naught, but she can claim she wanted to actually have a trial. I'm contributing to her opponent anyway. And I don't even live in Maine.
9
@Charles Martin: At least there is no bar from politics to people with speech impediments.
Forlorn Hope 2020… “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth cannot be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society—the farmers, mechanics, and laborers—who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.” Andrew Jackson 1829
2
I honestly thought there would be enough Patriotic Americans to stop a tyrant in this country. I am being proven wrong every day we march towards the end of our Republic and every principle we hold dear.
23
@Cyclopsina: The shroud has come off the narcissism of "Manifest Destiny". Trump has a plan for world domination while the US still leads the arms race.
1
To all those exhorting everyone here to remember this day come November, I have some bad news for you my friends — there will be no elections this November.
The GOP has appointed Trump as a dictator — and dictators only need to win one election.
Trump already won his last 2016 courtesy of the racist and antiquated electoral college and Russian interference facilitated by Facebook.
The State of Nation will be very short and very sweet — Trump will place the US under Martial Law. Lawmakers, journalists, and activists will be dead and disappeared. Cronies and co-conspirators will be pardoned and freed.
The Trump dictatorship will be the longest and most beautiful of all dictatorships in history.
19
I urge all to read the Indictments section of the Declaration of Independence. These indictments look, to me, to be abuse of power and obstruction.
The Indictments end with "A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
Donald Trump is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
23
@Finnie
And there is NO ONE who can stop him.
1
The logic now seems to be that the President did hold up aid in order to try and have an investigation opened up into Joe Biden, but that is not impeachable. The President has also publicly stated on Twitter, at rallies, and to the media that he did not do this at all - that the acquisitions are lies and those who have accused him of such are liars. In other words, Republican Senators are admitting that the President lied. So the only reason that he should not be impeached and removed from office is because he never said any of those things under oath. Wow...
16
Letting the people decide is all well and good except that the Constitution doesn't allow for it. Of course, one can vote for a president's opponent and thus vote the president out of office. But that is far different than impeachment. There is no mechanism in place for voters to remove a sitting president. We can vote against Trump in November but we are still stuck with him until January 2021. So the defense hacks, including Senator Alexander, can say let the people decide. But they know we can't. I want Trump out of office now.
12
Me too! I’m convinced Trump will do even worse as the elections ramp up. Republicans have proven they are cowards.
I agree with Senator Alexander. He has come to the correct conclusion, for exactly the right reasons. He acknowledges that Trump committed wrongs, but he says this is not a case for impeachment, that under the circumstances the voters should decide the matter.
He is an honest man, unlike democrats who say he must be impeached for what he has done, and republicans who say he cant be impeached because he has done nothing wrong.
The decision to remove a president from office is political. There is no duty to vote to remove a president from office even if high crimes and misdemeanors are proven. A decision to remove or not to remove in any situation has no precedent value in other situations.
Contrary to what many of the comments to this article say, this is a great day for American democracy.
2
You do realize that the Republicans who are blocking call for witnesses represent 15 million fewer people than Democrats who voted yes?
And 75 percent of voters think the Senate should allow witness testimony in the ongoing impeachment trial.
Also, remember, he did not win the popular vote.
Why do we want trump to be held accountable for his action here? Because Trump exists in a different realm. He thinks he is the law, an untouchable and all-knowing sovereign. Reality bends to his will. He stands in front of the American people and tells them to believe the opposite of what they see and hear, tells them that he alone can fix what’s broken in American politics.
This is the behavior of a president who believes he’s a king.
If you want to live under a King, or an Oligarchy, or authoritarianism, there are places you can go.
7
@gbc1
I want to get a pass to your very unusual parallel universe - and it is clear that you do not understand the English of the Constitution.
5
Please READ, Article 2, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution! Our Constitutional republic is at risk!
4
Party politics has outlived its usefulness and is merely used as a fortress from behind which to maintain toxic power. Parties aren’t even in the Constitution. Abolish parties and restore democracy.
4
Translation of Senator Alexander's statement:
"I realize Trump is guilty but I don't have the moral courage to vote against him. Party and power over country and Constitution."
22
@BP: Watch Trump make certain that Bolton never makes a penny on his book.
The real shame will be that the dems can win by 10 million votes but those states that hold the most important electoral college votes decide the election.
9
That’s right why is there not outrage... popular vote now!
So we should wait until the elections and not expect a real trial? So we excuse the president’s behavior which is blatant bribery and obstruction of congress and justice? So we should consider all this misbehavior and nothing more? I honestly thought Americans were better than this! No more preaching to the world that’s for sure!
10
@Paola Sensi-Isolani
No more dying for promoting democracy either.
1
I remember Sophie Scholl’s final words, before she was executed in a secret Nazi prison for disseminating information against their regime in her high school, “the Law does not change my conscience.”
We know the witnesses are relevant. We know that the Constitution is very vague with regard to impeachment. We know that the House followed the law and 200 years of precedent.
They swore an oath to get the whole truth and nothing but the truth. No witnesses is not the whole truth.
15
What else is on that secret server? This is absolutely merely the tip of the corruption iceberg, don’t y’all think?
9
That is not the subject of this investigation. Yes, I support that a case is tried. The email servers are not this case. This case is specifically about the President’s attempt to cheat in the election and his stonewalling of the House and his blatant threats to the Senate.
2
@Lilly yes, and that’s the most frightening thing of all, because it means we won’t have fair elections in 2020- that secret server info is the rest of the iceberg below the waterline which will sink democracy, the rule of law, and the will of the majority.
1
So, it took 250 years but now we know the experiment in democracy was a failure. It would be easy to lay the blame at the gutless, sycophant, weak Senators who aren’t even willing to show an ounce of a presence that they care about the constitution or democracy and to do so would in large part be correct. But there’s plenty of blame pie to go around.
The moment of truth, in truth, happened back when Citizens United became law. That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Because what actually brought this abortion of sham trial to its prominence was BIG MONEY. Dark money, dirty anonymous money. It’s all in the shadows now which is exactly how everyone wants it.
But that isn’t the source, the root of the blame. It is - for many people easily found looking at them in the morning mirror. The Vox Populi (what a cruelly ironic name) has been silent and complicit. This is especially for those in the electorate in the Red states (ironically the same color as the Russian flag?). Their selfishness and corrupt motivations have become manifest. However as they used to say on late night TV ads “but wait, there’s more!”
We can also look at Americans who have entirely abdicated their responsibility as citizens. People are so busy screaming about their Rights they don’t stop to consider their RESPONSIBILITIES.
It’s not a durable democracy and perhaps never was. Just a myth and a dream. To Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi and the House managers - kudos. You did what you could.
9
Sen. Alexander — You, sir, are no Howard Baker. Please don’t kid yourself that you ever came close.
19
World's greatest deliberative body, eh? If you say so.
11
I hate the weasel word “inappropriate.”
12
@Mark when Lamar wet his bed as a child his mom scolded him its inappropriate. That’s where he learned it.
Not “wrong” or “right”, just inappropriate.
1
Nice to know our elected officials are hard at work for us. I'm sure Lamar A. got a promise of a bucket of money or favors for his "opposition". Pathetic.
14
The Grand old polluters /GOP gave us a cover up and fake trial. Make them pay back for 276 days of nonsense. Our constitutional scholars said he was guilty of treason. Disgraceful.
14
And Obama ignored the tribal rights to clean water from a superfluous and devastating KXL (?) pipeline, remember? If we don’t have the honesty to look at facts, how can we change for the better?
1
@Lilly
But Obama. But Obama isn't President now. Maybe you have a time machine you'd like to share.
So remind me please, why do you have a senate?
12
@Ron To vote-in fake Christian judges who work for the oligarchs.
14
Suppose you do not vote against Trump. That means you are giving him a green light to do anything he wants, which includes thumbing his nose at Congress and every other agent of democracy. Try to imagine the power you are handing this despicable, mean, vindicative person.
In addition, you empower him to milk that base even more than he does now. You increase that base because you are telling the nation that he is above the law.
You will have made Trump invincible. Just so you can stack the courts even more.
10
@Feldman: It is the land of God's pet goldfish and the home of slaves.
The House is the people’s house. We impeached Trump because he invites foreign interference in our election, and he’s an unrepentant and repeat offender and liar. Denying witnesses is a denial of the People’s due process rights. How dare they?
8
@Sherry: The Senate is the House of Corporations within the public corporation with coercive powers over all of us.
3
Let's just move beyond thinking about these morally bankrupt Trumpers decrying how impeachment will exacerbate cultural fissures; let's move beyond contemplating the sorry legacies these senators will leave behind; let's stop wasting time about how they sold their shrinking souls to MAGA.
This is clarion call for us to out-think and out-play GOP. I am close to being convinced that political leaning is largely socio-political nature and only partly 'nurture' and there is no hope for any kind of conversion-therapy. GOPers are not making a strategic choice to back Trump, rather he has just catalyzed pre-existing conditions to surface.
A national map of red vs. blue masks clear divisions along educational attainment, occupational preferences, demographics religiosity et al. It is unsettling to see that a disproportionate quantum of right-wing political thrust comes from elected men from regions that are sub-par in terms of contribution to not just material well-being (GDP, growth, etc.) but also with respect to cultural and intellectual progress. (Of course, redness closely aligns with both attitudes and economic structures with strong carbon-orientation and climate change denial).
4
@SJ
It's really ironic that the "sub-par," as you put it, have the power to make life miserable for those of us whose output and productivity make their lives bearable -- via welfare, disability payments, wealth transfer from contributing blue to non-contributing red states, and so on. Pretty galling, as a matter of fact, that some semi-literate non-working racist lump's vote counts for a lot more than mine, just because the lump lives in a rural state.
3
@SJ: I only get two message from the Democrats: "Send money or abandon all hope." and "All hope is lost."
Where does the putative matching money come from?
Senator Lamar Alexander’s argument that what Trump did was inappropriate but not impeachable gives Trump the green light to continue to do inappropriate things. Trump’s behavior is not a “one off”. He will do similar things and probably worse. Even if Republicans believe Trump’s actions were inappropriate, they are doing absolutely nothing to prevent further abuse.
11
@AW how are the senators going to punish president for inappropriate conduct?
He’s gotten away so far with: inappropriate tax and finance (conman according to Michael Cohen);
Inappropriate touching, multiple complaints by women;
Inappropriate bullying of subordinates and colleagues...
And much much more.
Zero punishment. Not even a dollar fine.
Republicans like to claim the mantle of patriotism. Love of country and its ideals sounds pretty darn hollow now coming from them. They have made themselves in the image of Trump: no lie is too outlandish, no attempt to retain power too venal.
Most Americans can tell the difference between the calm but passionate demeanor of Adam Schiff, and others who make the case for truth and the rule of law, and the distorted efforts of the GOP to defend what is indefensible.
13
Shame on Senator Rand Paul for insulting the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Shame on Rand Paul for breaking US law and announcing the purported name of the Ukrainegate whistle blower. What a vile and disturbed man he is.
19
We, the Americans are politically naive, ignorant , lazy and uninterested. We are unable to be outraged at the audacity of the senators. McConnell to Lamar Alexander, all of them have no shame or loyalty to the constitution. This is total cover up of crime of the POTUS. Good bye to democracy in America. We are no better than Russia, China or North Korea.
5
@ASHRAF CHOWDHURY
just wait until barr calls of the 2020 election because its not in the best interest of the nation if donnie is challenged.
2
@ASHRAF CHOWDHURY
just wait until barr calls OFF the 2020 election because its not in the best interest of the nation if donnie is challenged.
1
Shame on Senator Senator Lamar Alexander !
We lived in the Music City for years and what has become to that wonderful State ?
He could have made a history but he was too much of a coward to defy the wrath of donald trump.
Everyone knows trump is for the moment , and shall go down in History as the third impeached, totally corrupt President.
7
I'm looking out my window at the Lamar Alexander building on the Pellissippi State Community College campus and am profoundly let down by Mr. Alexander. I have a sinking pit in my stomach at the thought of what comes next from Trump, now that the Republicans have become middle management for Trump.
12
The republicans will pay a huge price in November. Outrageous, shameful, embarrassing, corrupt. Republicans break the mold for treason, corruption, illegitimacy. Memo to any and all republicans - enjoy your moment for now.
10
As a social liberal, fiscal moderate who has voted for multiple fiscally-conservative Republican governors in my day, if these short-sighted, sycophantic Republicans allow another gimme to this despotic, dementing fool of a so-called president to stay in office, I for one pledge to never again vote GOP. Period. #Coverup #Disgrace
8
How shameful and cowardly. Didn’t the American people vote these senators into office so they would uphold the law, not a shady wanna-be mobster who is systematically destroying the Constitution? I never want to hear how these cowards and sycophants secretly can’t stand Trump, they’re just going along with him so they can “be the adults in the room”.
5
We as taxpayers need to demand the Grand old Polluters party must pay us tax payers back for the 276 days they refused to convict or evict our profoundly immoral Trump. This was a fake cover up for the world to see. Disgraceful
2
I surely hope every Republican will rue the day when they’re up in arms over the run amok behavior of a Democratic president! Shameful.
5
Soon it will be obvious to America and the world, that the "greatest deliberative body" is no more. With the liar's acquittal, the United States of America, as we know it, is no more.
Now we know exactly where the GOP stands, every single one of them.
Now we know what the GOP stands for.
We now only have one last gasp of hope left - the November 2020 election. If the impeached liar is reelected, that will be the final nail in our coffin.
America will never be the same after this. I feel sorry for my kids.
#TakeAmericaBack #VoteDemocrat
6
Tragic that you, Sen. Alexander, would turn away & vote against a fair impeachment trial in the Senate, especially since you're retiring. I do know how the late Sen. H. John Heinz would have voted--and so do you. I wonder what you'll be thinking when you cast your infamous vote.
7
A reporter should ask Senator Alexander where it is written in the Constitution that an election trumps impeachment, or that you cannot have one without also having the other. They will open the flood gates to more and more of what they call "misbehavior" that is not impeachable. Stay tuned for the next breach of duty by this President, because we can bet that there will be something coming our way that will hopefully shame these GOP Senators into doing the right thing next time.
6
Senator Alexander, who has been described as a close personal friend of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, allowed himself to be used as a cat's paw to direct other senators as to which way the vote is going to go. This should not be a surprise to anyone. So why did anybody even have any sort of dreams that Alexander was some sort of swing vote? Or was this just a way to vboost circulation?
3
The destruction of this democratic Republic has started sometime ago, however slowly. Now more recently this process accelerated with characters like Mitch Mc Connell, Trump and Congressional Republican Senators. With Republican Senators accepting and condoning whatever Trump does, including violating laws and the constitution, this destruction is almost complete.
Trump will now go out and declare himself a big time winner and shout, from the top of his lungs "you see I am the choosen one, I am the stable genius". Therefore, if the majority of Americans buy into Trump's and Republicans' rhetoric and vote Trump back in, this destruction is a "fait accompli" and this democratic Republic will be history.
3
Sen. Alexander did say the House Democrats proved their case.
6
One day, years from now, an astute researcher will ask:
Who caused this travesty? Besides Russia, did Americans play a critical role in helping trump become president?
Likely answers: James Comey and Bernie Sanders.
3
"Inappropriate" is an odd understatement about abuse of power.
“If this shallow, hurried and wholly partisan impeachment were to succeed, it would rip the country apart, pouring gasoline on the fire of cultural divisions that already exist,” he said.
Trump and his actions are wholly partisan, ripping the country apart and pouring gasoline on the cultural divisions. There. That's the logical conclusion.
You can't have it both ways, Mr. Alexander. And America will have to the live with the ramifications of acquittal. We now have a president empowered to do whatever he wants per the United States Senate.
5
Looks like Lamar Alexander was told by the lobbying group he was planning to work for after retirement at the end of this year that if he voted for witnesses he would not get the job.
4
As Trump spews his usual blather, lies through his teeth, and keep with the corruption, the Trump faction, never being ethical since, at least Trump's impeachable phone call, did what they were going to do, deny additional evidence and squelch the proceedings. If this was so innocent, the call transcript wouldn't have been moved and hushed, and buried. So, the general and global population knows just how Trump and his faction are corrupt and Trumplicans, going forward, will never be ethical nor for the people. Now, it's time to go after Don the Con to see if he did launder money, did profit by mixing his Presidency and his business interests. Of course, he's corrupt so ya gotta check up on the rogue.
4
Profiles in Cowardice.
The G.O.P. is now the Banana Republican Party.
8
“Inappropriate”? Like in the violation of Emily Post’s rules of proper etiquette to follow in polite society? Senator, you had your “John McCain moment” to put partisanship aside for the good of the country. Instead, you blew it big time. History will not be kind to your violation of your oaths as a Senatorial impeachment juror and as a U.S. Senator. Thankfully, you are retiring. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
7
Now the esteemed Alexander can retire and have more time for his first love, running a shell game behind a Stuckey's on I75.
4
Everyone knew how this would end the moment the call transcript was made public. No rational person could ever look at the actual words which were said and derive “abuse of power,” or anything else Adam Schiff has said the President said.
In watching both sides deliver their cases, Schiff and his cohorts delivered soaring hysterics and continually made more of what was there than what was there. The media aided and abetted them by calling their theatrical deliveries “masterful” and “a virtuoso performance,” when in fact they were hysterical temper tantrums raised to the highest level of our society because they were given the venue of the United States Senate.
The White House defense demolished the Articles and the Democratic house managers in two hours. Pam Bondi destroyed the Biden’s in thirty minutes. Alan Dershowitz taught us all what the Constitution says about impeachment in an hour.
After their time, what could Bolton say that would give the Democrats a case? Nothing.
This vote today isn’t just a loss- it’s a whipping. It’s not a coverup, it’s ripping the mask off. It’s a revelation of how pathetic the Democrats are in general and how pathetic Pelosi’s leadership has been in particular, as she has allowed and encouraged this farce from the beginning. She. Has. No. Judgement.
2
"and this was the day the United States became a Banana Republic" Chapter 25 of "Rise and demise of the USA" 2034
1
Republican senators are now cloaked in the same apparel as their emperor.
6
It is definitely time for a revolution. The entire Republican Congress is as corrupt and morally bankrupt as their master. If we allow this travesty to stand without taking strong action, the US will cease to exist as a republic but will become a dictatorship. It is already well in its way
7
I guess we now wait to see what he (and Tennessee) get in return for collaborating with all the henchmen.
5
I fear rioting by partisan Democrats after the Senate votes to acquit.
1
So having sex in the White House is an impeachable offence?! The Republicans were crying foul, outraged at Bill Clinton's behaviour...ready to bring him down, apparently at all costs!
But betraying your oath of office, betraying the Constitution, and most importantly, betraying the people and country you supposedly represent, are not impeachable offences worthy of removal from office?!
I guess it must be nice and practical to have such a selective moral compass as the Republicans do...
8
Well, shame on Bolton for not stepping up and testifying.
1
Let every single republican senator hear it from now on. Drown out their words, never let them eat in public again without chants of "traitors" ringing in their ears. No violence. But we need to let them realize that they just messed up and we will not stand for it.
In addition...have their paychecks frozen until witnesses are heard.
May the House send more impeachment articles over once a week. Tie up the Senate until election.
2
@Scott Franklin: Their oaths are worth the same as their putative insight to the mind of God.
1
I hope this terrible decision is the main stain on this coward’s resume the rest of his life. He has shredded the Constitution and deserves scorn along with the rest of the GOP
4
@Kevin: Trump will only speed up. He never looks back to see what might be catching up on him.
@Steve Bolger I meant Alexander
I have stopped watching MSNBC's coverage of this farce. It will be up to the American people to vote Trump out of office and, hopefully, every single Senator and House representative who refused to do their jobs.
You people don't deserve to work in government. You are supposed to serve the people and honor your oath of office. You are failing miserably.
3
What a waste of time and taxpayer money. Shame on everyone.
@kz: Trump is all rested up and rarin' to go. Check your seat belt.
Lamar Alexander wants to take in lobbyist cash after retirement in a few months. If he votes against Trump he thinks it will hurt his earning potential. Simple as that. Just another greedy politician selling out our country. Shameful.
7
To vote to exclude all witnesses from a trial is roll call of shame for Republican Senators. People who put themselves forward for office on the basis of integrity and law and order have reduced themselves to malleable puppets of hypocrisy!
3
so the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is dead.
can't wait till jury duty the next time.
5
Republicans in defending Trump have brazenly demonstrated they are willing to trample over the constitution and morality to protect an entity with a blood-lust thirst for power and money.
6
I am constantly grateful to the whistle blower every single day! What if that person had been silent? We would have a smear campaign, we would not know how dastardly the Senate is or how greedy for power. We would not know any of what we do now.
Now voters have a better idea of what kind of person they are voting for and those who might have shrugged, whatever, he's only a coarse, racist bigot, but other than that so what? Now they cannot say they didn't know how, to what degree, 45's autocratic tendencies will go.
Thank you whistle blower. Your country will be eternally grateful!
7
Democrats blew it by not impeaching him for bribery which is one of the crimes listed in the Constitution.
1
@Jon Q Bribery/extortion were included in the Abuse of Power Article. Read it.
Whoever votes for a gutless, selling-out Republican senator in near future further endangers this country.
3
His decision is despicable.
4
Coverup plain and simple. Shame on you GOP.
6
Any chance Democrats could make a motion asking the Chief Justice to consider whether the avowedly partial jurors McConnell and Graham ought to recuse themselves from voting - on witnesses or altogether?
Seems fair to me.
2
Senator Elizabeth Warren asked the most poignant question of this sham "trial": what happens to the credibility of the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution where the Chief Justice presides over a trial without witnesses and evidence? Small comfort that Chief Justice Roberts was forced to read it himself before the entire world.
A century from today historians will remember that while the great republic died slowly by a thousand small cuts, this trial was perhaps the most fatal blow dealt to it.
9
Now, on to the exoneration and back to making America great again. I look forward to President Trump's re-election. Too bad he can't be re-elected again and again and again. I would hate to see a Democrat ever occupy the White House again. Thank you.
2
@Southern Boy considering what has happened since he became president and the state of the Republican Party, I wouldn't be so sure that he can't be re-elected again and again and again, esp. since he's just been given free rein to do whatever he has to do to win, including cheat, put our national security at risk, cost people their lives, extort desperate foreign countries, use our taxes to that end...and that he has a completely corrupt administration and a base which has, like the GOP, thrown the Constitution over for Donald Trump. You may get your wish.
5
@Southern Boy
All hail the king!
Our Founders are rolling over in their graves right about now.
6
@Southern Boy
I can make a good guess, but I would hate to see what your vision for America looks like.
1
Trump is anti-America -- if you believe in the inherent fairness within the ideology of democracy. If you refuse that idea, what do you actually believe in? That a president is above the law, can be corrupt, can threaten opponents via thugs from another nation, can incite violence through hate speech, can take up with call girls, can "beat" others via an army of attorneys? Supporting Trump is too far beyond anything a decent person or fair-minded citizen could do. It's not about the left taking over your towns and churches, however deep that fear might be. It's about rejecting the blatant disrespect for all Americans that comes from Trump.
My only consolation is that this will mobilize people to get this evil (yep, it's that word) out of office.
7
World powers rise and fall. The Greek city-states. The Roman Empire. The Ottoman Empire. The sun never set on the British Empire. Over the past two weeks, this nation has witnessed the beginning of the decline and fall of democracy in America and America as a world power.
Lamar Alexander: Yes, the House has proved its case: the president was very naughty, engaged in bribery for his personal political benefit (which, by the way is a federal crime) but, gosh, that doesn’t mean he should be removed from office.
Alan Dershowitz: If the president does it – so long as he [in his sole opinion] believes such action is in the best interest of the nation, it can not be illegal. (OK, there seems to be one exception: an action designed to enhance the personal finances of the president.)
Congress has abrogated it constitution prerogatives. American is now on the precipice of an American dictatorship,
So much for the “Great American Experiment.
6
Democrats and ‘progressives’ think impartial justice is letting the likes of Adam Schiff railroad a president out of office.
Witnesses? Sure. Just makes sure the Bidens, the whistleblower, and Schiff are at the top of the list.
Oh, and Democrats selfishly have opened up a can of worms. Payback on the next Democrat president that, say, uses the IRS to intimidate political opponents, runs guns to Mexican cartels, or uses the FBI and intelligence agencies to target a political campaign will make this farce child’s play in comparison.
1
And this in a nutshell (!) is the new Republican mindset: Senator Alexander could have exited as hero of the Constitution. Instead he chose to trample the constitution and exit as a hero of Trumplicans only. I thought he was better than Marsha Blackburn. I don't see the difference now.
I am from Tennessee btw.
4
Senate Republicans refusal to examine additional evidence and ultimately acquit Trump have abandoned their oath to the Constitution and pledged allegiance to Trump. Trump will be emboldened to make more dirty deals and take more dictatorial actions. He is by far the most disruptive and dangerous man alive today and will be unstoppable unless he's voted out of office.
3
How much more punishment can we take from this administration. The republican party has been taken over by trump and they are all so afraid of him they won't even do the right thing...impeach and remove him from office, because it'a a kangaroo court. His supporters are very naive or have their heads on the sand. Sadly, when they wake up it will be too late.
2
I like to stay ahead of the game, and I grow weary of fighting the good fight.
To wit, I am excited to announce I'll he hosting a Book Burning Party!, and I'll set flame to book upon the last vote to shudder the eyes and mute the ears of the good citizens and denizens of the Shining City on The Hill.
I'll begin the conflagration with my stack of Alan Morton Dershowitz hornbooks.
See you all tonight!!
I'm a little worried though. The water is clearly rising on the City on the Hill, and unfortunately there is 'partisan' debate about whether that is in fact occurring.
2
A big congratulations to Vladimir Putin. Yet another huge win for him, courtesy of the Republican Party - Now officially the Trump Party and the US president.
4
@Virginia
The GOP's secret plan is to have Trump refuse to vacate his office, declare the election invalid once he loses, & start a full fledged constitutional crisis unlike anything ever seen in the nation's history. Then Pence resigns, Putin is appointed Veep, & when Trump resigns or dies, Putin becomes POTUS.
Such a scenario might seem more like a story in The Onion, but it's not inconceivable after GOP Senators give Trump the right to do whatever he pleases without any accountability.
2
This will be a Pyrrhic victory for Republicans.
1
Who needs the Russians to wreck our democracy and the rule of law? Refusing witness testimony and covering up President's crime, the GOP Senate led by Mitch McConnell has has done the Russians the favor. God save America!
2
If Senator Alexander really believes what he says about the President’s conduct, why hasn’t he also said he will introduce a motion to censure the President immediately after the conclusion of the trial?
2
Now that Bolton put the cherry on top, spineless Republicans deem Trumps actions "inappropriate" but not "impeachable". Then what in God's name is impeachable? Meanwhile Garth Brooks entertains an electrified Trump rally and I am shocked and discouraged by the non-critical thinking masses.
1
John Roberts (thankfully, no relation) is clearly a collaborator with the Trumpists. By doing nothing, he's placed himself firmly in Trump's corner. Senators leave their seats to go give press conferences and he doesn't say one word. So much for that "pain of imprisonment" nonsense.
We're not represented. We're ruled. The laws don't apply to the powerful. Wealthy, powerful people get the full protection of the law and the benefit of the doubt, but the rest of us see through it. "Equal justice under the law" is a lie they've told us so we accept their rule, but it has never been true.
What are we going to do? There's no leadership to organize us.
3
Folks on the Red side of the isle seem to be persuaded that impeachment can't be for anything other than matters not subject to the investigative charge (like oral sex) and that matters like oral sex would be okay so long as it's believed to be in the public interest allowing for the candidate to be re-elected.
Undocumented workers are bad unless they ... saved a few bucks allowing a bigger war chest for the candidate to campaign with even when the candidate is sitting in office.
Nepotism is good for America so long as it enables the candidate to finger wave at his opponents.
Frauds committed through the family foundation are fine when it involves the whole family and positions the candidate well in some electoral intestinal twist.
Well done GOPee.
1
Lamar Alexander retires. The Senate will not miss him. His impact as a public servant is at best a stain on the fabric of America. Go home Lamar, eat, drink and make merry. Ready yourself to become a footnote in the history of cowards.
1
Trump is going to be acquitted without having to provide a shred of exculpatory evidence. Not a single document or witness shows that Trump withheld aid and a White House visit for burden sharing and to fight corruption. Republican Senators are hiding behind rationalizing deception of White House lawyers. Disgusting.
2
@Galfrido Innocence is the right of all citizens. One need not prove it. Only guilt must be proved. Even that doesn't mean a judgement of removal. Clinton was guilty of felony crimes and not removed. He even admitted to the crimes. Its not just about proving your case. The case also has to warrant the punishment.
Dare I suggest the reading of history in Germany in 1933. We have only one right we can use before our democracy is destroyed. That is the right to vote. The GOP has made is official. They are in favor of a dictator in the White House.
4
The hope for America lies in the hands of the voters. In November 2020 if we re elect Donald Trump then that says a lot about who we are. But if we change the majority leader in the Senate, now we’re talking progress.
4
The Republicans since Reagan have made a mockery of democracy and religion, and a majority of Americans see and know that. The under age 50 and diverse demographic of Americans (the majority) is moving in the opposite direction in their values from those of the Republicans and their increasingly undemocratic and autocratic approach to government and religion, and I don't see anything short of a police state like that of Iran being able to force the American majority into conforming to Republican "values."
3
Forget about any more whistleblowers. The US Senate will shove their whistles down their naive throats.
3
Mr. Alexander’s decision and the conduct of this “trial” are beyond disgraceful. The managers have done a heroic job. I appreciate that Mitt Romney and Susan Collins have called for witnesses and documents. I don’t know why I still have faith in the American people come November, but I do.
3
@MP I have faith in the American people, the majority of whom voted Trump down in 2016. But I no longer have faith in our electoral system, from its wacky inconsistent and incongruous state-by-state various voting methods, to gerrymandering, voter suppression, Election Day being a work day for most Americans unlike with other democracies, let alone the wholly undemocratic Electoral College. The .001% run this country and their lapdogs the Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court are going to hold-on as long as they can. It won't last forever.
2
For all their bluster about manhood and roughneck grit and the rest, when the Republican congress actually faced a tyrant they behaved like cowards.
9
Well said
1
Our democracy has taken a blow this week and I am unsure we will have the conviction to recover from it before this president does further harm.
4
Amazing that such an important decision will come down to one or two Senators. There is no better lesson just how important our civic responsibility is to get out and vote in elections. My question is: are there enough informed Americans that care? We’ll find out in November.
6
Republican senators calculated that they did want to be subjects of a backroom conversation where Donald asks to 'get rid of you' or 'take you out' in the presence of connected sleazebags. The morphing of the US senate into the Mafia brought to you by Trump's party.
4
So this is how our democracy ends. This republic is done. To Hamilton, Madison, Paine, nice try, but you couldn’t think of everything. Lamar, do you have children, grandchildren? Alaska, you voted for the write in, Ms. Murkowski? How’s that working out for you?
4
Dershowitz and Roberts are the William Jennings Bryan and Roger B. Taney of the 21st Century. Both are actually throw-backs to the 16th century.
4
@Dave in A2
EXACTLY!!!! But add McConnell.
This IS the 21st century Monkey Trial.
The question is, who will suddenly kick off?
Bryan billed the trial as a "duel to the death" and died five days after the end of the trial.
3
Thank God! If I have to watch Rep. Jeffries poke the air one more time for every “the,” “and” and “uh,” I’ll vomit. This sham impeachment was a hot mess from the moment Pelosi announced it at a press conference instead of as a result of a full House vote. The House Democrats didn’t prepare properly, expecting to leverage partisanship into having the Senate do their work. The House Managers were repetitive, shrill, and extremely disrespectful of everyone not aligned with their narrative, including many of the Senators, themselves. Good job, Jerry Nadler, accusing Senators of treason! That got you right where you are, and right where you deserve to be.
2
Trump and the Congressional Republican treasonous Senators will pay.
3
A game changer and very ugly.
James Comey will be America's first political prisoner. The White House will be infiltrated completely by Russian moles. The US military will be the most expensive paper tiger in world history.
Maybe even the Senate will eventually become appointees serving at the pleasure of the new dictator. And Congress will exist only as a debating society.
2
@Teddy
Well, I won't lose any sleep over Comey. He deserves it.
Remember November and Vote each one of these lawmkers up for reelection out.
6
So he can shoot someone and get away with it, no doubt.
4
The democracy is dead, long live the king.
6
Behold cowardice and dereliction of duty. Shame!
5
Depressing! It remains to be seen whether enough voters will help make Trump a one-term president in November, as Lamar Alexander suggested.
Perhaps more revelations might emerge in the coming weeks and months that could hurt his bid for his re-election.
Even if the impeachment trial ends with no further evidence and testimony from key witnesses, Trump has no reason to rejoice at his acquittal.
He and the spineless Republicans will be judged by history. Sadly they don’t seem care about their legacy.
Chris Van Hollen said he planned to present a motion that would call for John Roberts to rule on subpoenas for additional documents and witnesses if he thinks they are relevant to the trial.
It would unlikely happen, but the vote could be used against Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst and other Republicans facing reelection.
7
Roberts should do his duty as the Presiding Justice and have witnesses called.
Otherwise he will go down in history as a Judge who did not uphold is duty to the Constitution.
He will have presided over a Kangaroo Curt in which the Republican Senators, especially McConnell and Graham colluded with the White House to have a coverup of Trump's crimes and corruption.
9
@Jose Pieste
Because much more evidence has surfaced. Emails, tapes of Trump meeting with Lev Parnas and Fruman, John Boltons excerpts that clearly are first hand knowledge that the Republicans stated was missing. They cannot have it both ways.
4
Drain the swamp indeed. The voters will get the chance in November.
4
I think how I felt, as a high school student, when President Kennedy ran and was elected—his studious interest in the issues, his military service, his approach to Russia as an adversary, the esteem in which he and we and our Word were held in the world, and his charisma, grace and wit which charmed through understatement.
Public service was an honor, not a cynical gateway to the public trough. His appeal to conscience and competence, and his instinctively positive outlook and respect, were a spark that inspired me to want to do good, and be good. I hope I have been.
I reflected last night that many young people do not feel the spark that cannot be ignited through reading about it. Instead, young people now are surrounded by leaders and apologists who view deceit not as shameful dishonor—but an opportunity to exploit the suckers who would believe it.
I turned off the television, and went to sleep. I am hesitant to turn it back on, to witness journalists slurred, character gratuitously besmirched, and other betrayals of the public trust too painful to articulate.
As President Kennedy said, it is time for me and my friends “to pass the Torch to a new generation”, and hope they can restore a shredded American credibility we could not then imagine.
4
America, has become one big Banana Plantation of America under Trump. Partisan politics or politics of moneyed politicians? Incredulous that an outside conman like Trump owns the GOP - can't be anything to do with ideas and principle ideology but rather an absence of them.
3
"Senator Lamar Alexander said that although he believed that Democrats had proved their case that President Trump acted “inappropriately” in his dealings with Ukraine, he did not think the president’s actions were impeachable"
This is what Jay Sekulow was referring to when he said the President would be using an "affirmative defense". It means "Yes, I did it, but so what? It doesn't rise to the level of impeachment."
But my warning to Alexander and the rest of the gutless GOP Senators is that this only deals with the first article of impeachment, and completely ignores the second one. And it's the second one which is the most dangerous for America.
By denying Trump's obstruction, the Republicans are removing all Constitutional constraints on him, and are unleashing him to do whatever he wants. Do they understand the impact of this? They think they'll be able to keep their seats in Congress by avoiding Trump's wrath. This is an incredibly narrow view of what their oaths of office mean. They were not elected to serve themselves, or a fully incompetent President. They were elected to serve their constituents and their country. They have failed miserably and historically in this.
What will their home states think about the worsening economy, the continued bigotry, the loss of our global stature, and the erosion of their American values that an uncontrolled Trump will bring? Future Trump will be even more disastrous than Past Trump. And the Republicans will pay dearly for it.
7
@jaco The Democrats DID go to court. But just because the courts are inefficient in addressing their subpoenas doesn't make the second article specious. Trump declared that the entire Executive branch would defy all subpoenas, for both supplying documents and personal testimony. How can the nation let that stand? If we want to continue having our Constitutional democracy, we can't. And yet, the Republicans are willing to do exactly that. You have to ask yourself why they do this. What is specious is their reasoning, which really amounts to a lack of fidelity to their oaths of office, and their fear of an out of control President.
3
Without any Republican votes condemning him—either in the house or in the senate—this so-called “impeachment” has been more like a conventional election than any kind of trial, criminal or otherwise.
Inappropriate?
Bribery?
Attempting to fix an upcoming election?
Inappropriate, no just more cheap thuggery.
5
His logic is convoluted. If he did it the election is being rigged. If it's not bipartisan it's because he knows he did it and is choosing his party of abuse and obstruction.
If Alexander voted for witnesses and removal it would be bi-partisan. Alexander is a Republican.
3
What a missed opportunity by
Republicans! A vote to convict would have gotten the Trump mess out of
their hair and off the nation’s back.
Now they will lose both houses of
Congress and the presidency this year. Good going McConnell! You
overplayed.
3
Now we know how history will remember Lamar Alexander. Congratulations, sir.
2
So if senators vote to block witnesses and “acquit” trump, then they will have 1) defended a charge of abuse of power by arguing that when in power if YOU believe that YOU are best for the country, then you may do anything to get re-elected - even solicit help from a foreign government and 2) defended a charge of obstruction of congress by obstructing congress.
Am I right?
3
It is absolutely shameful that this discussion is even taking place! We have to VOTE whether or not to have witnesses? It's okay that Trump did what has been proved - but it's not impeachable?? (Actually, I think it's bribery - What's the difference between bribery and quid pro quo?) Of course it's impeachable, of course Mr. Alexander is playing politics - just like most of the rest of the GOP. I"d like to shake them and say "Don't you see how serious this is! Stop playing politics!" but of course they aren't able to hear and evaluate anything that they need to disagree with. They will go down in the history books as the gang that brought down America. The whole thing makes me glad I'm old.
3
GOP senators know Trump committed a crime, but it’s too much trouble for them to do anything about it. Alexander is a lazy hypocrite, and we all know it.
2
So I guess Trump was right, he could murder someone in the middle of 5th avenue and get away with it. He just did.
5
He could shoot Video on 5th Avenue and get away with it. Fixed it for you
Message to Lamar Alexander. There’s no shortage of spineless Republicans in the US Senate. You can add your name to the list.
4
Integrity matters to me. I think that I, as an American citizen, deserve to hear all the facts on this matter. Have they been overblown? Or are they even worse than they appear? And the fact that our elected officials are champing at the bit to get back out on the campaign trail - ignoring their responsibilities to the electorate, ignoring their responsibility to parse out all the facts in this matter, ignoring their responsibility to do their jobs - shows great dereliction of duty. From where I sit right now, it looks like the president misbehaved and the Republicans are backing him up. They had the chance to call witnesses and really get to the bottom of things.
As it is, apparently nothing matters to them but their re-election. Stop the hearing; they have to get out on the campaign trail. Let the constitution crumble, as long as they're re-elected.
Lamar Alexander had a chance to do the right thing here. As did all his colleagues, but he was the one who opened his mouth and said he was open to it. He caved. He is no profile in courage; he is a very sad and enabling footnote to a very sad and scary time in the country's history.
207
@Tom Gerosolina Tom, it isn't about hating Trump. That's the spin from Republican operators and handlers. Trump is unfit for office. He's an unethical character and has shown us, again and again, the ugliness of his nature. I don't hate him, but I can see clear as day that he is unfit for office. I think you can, too.
37
@Cathleen It is obvious that Lamar Alexander was told by whatever org he was planning to work for after retirement at the end of the year that if he voted for live testimony in the senate that he would not get the cushy job he was planning on. Yes. They are worse than they appear
25
@Tom Gerosolina The Democrats never had a chance of getting a conviction, regardless of the case presented.
Witnesses could bolster the case, but few would expect that to gain a conviction.
What the process has done is reveal the workings of the Trump Administration and its surrogates. It will be up to American voters to decide whether or not they endorse or reject such actions. In doing so, they also signal to future Administrations what they will or will not tolerate.
Witness testimony might complicate things for senators up for re-election. Again, American voters will decide whether or not they find their actions appropriate.
3
An acquittal of Trump's lawless behavior if rendered by the Republican-controlled Senate without the presentation of witnesses and documents, will not only taint the Senate trial with the label of a Kangaroo trial but will also raise questions about the integrity of Mitch McConnell and Republican Senate members. In the minds of all of us who believe in the principle of justice for all and the rule of law, there can be no justification given by Republican senators to allay the suspicion and rumors that their majority vote of acquittal was planned before the trial commenced along with their refusal to call witnesses and insist on the presentation of documents. Historians will record the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump as a failure of Republican members to adhere to their pretrial sworn oath to render an impartial judgment. This is not the American way of justice and will be a reminder to all of us, that Justice and the rule of law is a tenuous belief, that at any moment can be undermined and trampled upon by those who lack the courage and moral compass to do the right thing.
4
Even before the impeachment started it was a foregone conclusion the Republican Senate would acquit Trump.
The Democrats knew this, and went into the impeachment as underdogs to get the Independent vote & those that are sitting on the fence. The public watched as the Republicans committed political suincide,as they tried to defend the President who is obviously guilty.This will energize the Democrat vote, and they will win in November.
4
The Senate has officially been absorbed into the Executive branch. They just handed Trump carte blanche to commit any offense he pleases. You will be able to count in days if not hours the next thing he will lay waste to. While we were watching the impeachment, he had rallies in NJ and IA that included messages that would make a mob boss blush.
He has alienated every decent person who might have been able to show him how to make the country better, instead he has pulled the pin on multiple grenades - economic, social, legal, environmental, all of which will blow us back to ages where the earth was more poisoned, people less healthy, wealth gap increasing, civil war on the lips of his supporters, a toothless senate and a complicit judiciary.
He will learn nothing of value from this process. Aquittal will embolden him to a level you didn't think was possible.
Organizations with this sort of flawed leadership usually dissolve mercifully. The USA cannot, and we will have to find a way to restore it.
I pray we're up to the task.
5
Like me, and like most of you reading this, John Bolton is a private citizen. He holds no political office. He is not only familiar with, but very much at home with the press. While I applaud him for writing what appears to be a factual account of the realities of this charade, I am struck by the undeniably obvious fact that because he is beholding to no one, not even overlord McConnell, he is free to simply call a press conference and make public some of the more pertinent information contained in his book. If he is indeed the patriot he claims to be, then I really wish he would consider the needs of the American people over his need for personal financial gain. Yes, Mr Bolton's early release of this information may harm his book sales numbers, but at what point does one's duty and honor cause him to put country over personal gain? Lives are being lost on the front lines of Ukraine every day Mr Bolton. If you truly believe your own rhetoric, then do your civic duty.
2
So, Justice Roberts’ role is only that of a ceremonial disinterested watcher to the disintegration of our democracy?
4
Conclusion 1: The presidency is indeed beyond the law. There is no line that a president can cross. He is monarch more than servant of the people governed by the Constitution. Conclusion 2: In a Congress which is dominated by party not principle, power is the only concern. Service to nation is secondary to achieving re-election. Conclusion 3: As a nation we have no unifying moral cause nor moral framework against which we hold ourselves accountable. Conclusion 4: Our Armed Services despite the outdated mantra of serving freedom, are simply tools of exerting power and dominating others as we have no other practical principle against which we operate as a people. We are no better than any other Banana republic. At least in no discernible manner.
2
If the Framers felt elections were the way to deal with a corrupt president they wouldn't have added impeachment to the Constitution. Alexander's argument is an excuse for avoiding his duty. In fact, the entire Republican defense was nothing but a long list of excuses for not doing what every single Republican knows is right.
The good thing about this trial is that it has exposed the Republican Party as a party lacking in principle and integrity and devoted only to extending its power.
2
The Supreme Court is still sitting on Trump's tax returns, in spite of clear black letter law that the Congress can request the returns of ANY American and they SHALL be turned over. The GOP, Executive and Supreme Court are all conspiring to hide the fact that the whole Republican party, especially Trump, is funded by a Citizens United fount of dark foreign money - probably Putin and Sheldon Adelson, but throw in oligarchs from everywhere in this descent into lawlessness.
2
It's a sad day for the USA when a president who believes he can do whatever he wants has that view endorsed by the Senate and when the default position of the Senate majority puts party before truth and country.
This is not about policy differences. It is a reckless course that jeopardizes our nation, our constitution, and our democracy.
2
The Republican Party does not like the idea of witnesses. Yet WE are all witnesses to this attempted destruction of our democracy and our Republic. We must make them respect our bearing witness in the upcoming election.
3
Thank God for Alexander a truely wise and bipartisan-minded senator!
I would like to ask Mr. Alexander how it is that the American people can decide this in the upcoming election when he has just given Donald Trump a free pass to do whatever he has to by whatever means necessary, including sending public servants around the world to work on his behalf at corrupting and cheating to win in that election?
4
The position of Senator Alexander is like a defence lawyer whom acknowledge the guilt of his client but asks the Court to acquit his client anyway. The big winner: John Bolton. You will have to open your wallet and buy his book if you want to know his version of what happens.
1
Well the country is completely divided. Equal numbers support the President and oppose him. He has effectively augmented the tribalism that has been brewing for some time. We are a divided nation. There is but one rational solution. We must form two nations with separate governments: The Blue States of America and the Red States of America, we can negotiate trade and travel agreements like we do with all other nations, new constitutions and treaties, and then hopefully live in peace with each other, since we won't be trying to push our beliefs on each other any longer, we will all live happily in our silos.
Turns out John Bolton is just a money grabbing ex official who could have come forward much earlier, and even at the 11 th hour, rather than hold a public press conference and say what he knows, he hides in a closed door event and simply says he agrees with the courage of those witnesses that came forward, rather than be one of those brave witnesses. To him it is not about the Country and Constitution, but about the money he will make from his book!
2
If the Democrats can make most American voters understand that witnesses are necessary for a fair impeachment trial, it's a big win for them - and the polling indicating that upwards of 75% of us want to see witnesses suggests that this is the case. Regardless of an acquittal on partisan grounds.
If the Democrats have convinced most Americans that what Trump has done is seriously wrong, convicted by the Senate or not, it's another big win. I'm not sure about this one; polls I can find ask if Trump should have been impeached, or impeached and removed from office. Nuances are important here. For example, there may be a large number of people who think Trump did bad, bad things, but, with the election coming up in November, attempting to fight the Trump cult over impeachment is a waste of time.
Given the partisan divide in today's America, and all the sociopolitical complications fraying how we are governed, the important question is: Do Americans understand how much our democracy is in danger, and are they willing to fight for it in November 2020 at the ballot box? Donald Trump, once acquitted by the craven Senate Republicans, will continue to ignore the law; and, as we've seen, every time he gets away with it, he ups the ante.
In the fight for our democracy, we have to stop bringing Marquis of Queensbury rules to a gutter knife fight. And the solution is not to jump into the gutter with both feet and bigger knives. The solution is to force the fight out of the gutter.
2
Does any Republican Senator have integrity? Alexander's ability to ignore blanket obstruction. Rand Paul's independent streak squashed, prompting him to carry water for the President. Collins beautiful wishy washiness. Is Romney really the only one who may vote to remove the most corrupt President ever? Is this the end of the Republic?
2
Alexander calls the Obstruction charge “ frivolous “.
The next time he’s looking for answers in making such an important decision, I hope he’s told to “ pound sand”.
2
Once again the state of the union has been laid bare.
3
It appears the Democrats were never going to accept any verdict other than guilty as a final outcome. Pelosi claimed “the President cannot be acquitted” and that his defense attorneys should be disbarred. Really? She obviously thinks a House impeachment should automatically result in conviction. Except when Clinton was impeached. As for witnesses, there have already been 17, most chosen by the Democrats. And in Clinton’s impeachment trial not one new witness was called. If the Democrats had solid proof with 17 witnesses there should be no need for any additional witnesses. And if they didn’t have enough evidence with 17 witnesses why did they impeach him in the first place?
I contacted Senator Alexander days ago to urge him to do the right thing, and vote to convict. Last night at midnight, after reading Times updates, I emailed him to tell him that his place in history as being on the wrong side in the fight to protect our country and the constitution is assured, and that he is choosing to end his career in government in disgrace.
4
Donald "I can do anything I want" Trump has exhibited impeachable behavior since the day he took office. Blatant lying, violating the emoluments clause, refusing to cooperate with investigations, playing way too much golf and watching way too much TV, campaigning incessantly, mismanaging his staff. I thought the Democrats showed remarkable restraint in waiting to proceed with impeachment until he pressured a foreign government to investigate a political rival to influence the upcoming election and used congressionally approved funds as leverage. QUID PRO QUO. Alexander admits this was wrong, but refuses to admit it's impeachable. Well, then, as the question has been asked many times, what is?
2
It is MORE than obvious that the GOP is a party of obstruction willing to selll their souls to the devil to protect the Grifter in Chief while he profits off the presidency for his own personal gain. These are NOT good times for the world, nor for our nation.
2
"Mr. Paul’s move reflected how Mr. Trump’s conservative allies have sought to turn the tables on the entire inquiry, shifting the focus away from the president’s conduct and toward what they suggest was a conspiracy by his opponents to manufacture a basis for removing him"
I'm sure that's how the Leftist press wants to position the conservatives - because it's meant to steer narrative away from the heart of this nonsense - which is - because of their deep hatred of our President, the Dems believe everything our President does is wrong and is an impeachable offense - so they decided to pass these ridiculous articles of impeachment - however, the actions listed in these articles of impeachment do not rise to the level to impeach and remove a sitting President.
And the Dems know this.
But, c'mon - they knew they would never get enough votes in the Senate.
So this is all about the Dems controlling the narrative through their bought and sold Leftist press, as long as possible in a desperate, sad attempt to win in November. It was NEVER about "abuse of power" or "constitutional justice"
So, WAY TO GO, Lamar!! Let's now move on to a vote, acquittal and then to the reelection of our President!!
1
Lamar Alexander has shown us, once and for all, that Republicans no longer have any sense of right and wrong. He had nothing to worry about. Why, since he's leaving the Senate, should he care if Trump will shower him with ridicule or worse? It's mind boggling. He could have strode off into the sunset with his head held high. And Susan Collins? Mitch McConnell has thrown her a bone, allowing her to be perhaps the only senator (such risk! such courage!) to vote for witnesses. I can imagine the backroom deals, the electoral number crunching, the "who here is most at risk?" questions, "who can we allow to vote for witnesses so they won't suffer at the polls?", the cold, calculated decisions that Republicans made to ensure that some at-risk senators would retain their seats, without nary a consideration of the corrupt thug who heads their party. Meanwhile, Democrats, in closed door meetings, are not even being asked which way they will vote. And several will probably vote to acquit.
1
It's time to boycott Tennessee. Don't buy anything made there, don't visit there, don't move your family or your company there, and don't ever mention the place again. When residents wonder why business is so dreadful, they can ask Lamar Alexander.
1
By that standard, other countries should boycott the United States because it elected Trump. Or Long Island because it elected Peter King (who, thankfully, is on his way out). Lamar Alexander may speak for some Tennesseans but certainly not all of them. Visit Nashville, the state’s forward-thinking capital (and my hometown), and you’ll find plenty of people protesting the politics of their home state. Instead of boycotting an entire state, we should support and encourage those Tennesseans who are committed to changing their state for the better.
1
Is senate and most senators proving themselves redundant in modern American democracy by promoting corruption, crime, and even treason?
1
The coronation of King Trump and the funeral for America will happen in the Senate Chamber tonight.
3
And to think, all these crimes against the Constitution by all these Republican Senators, all these crimes against the will of the very People who voted them in.
All this for some guy who was conning our own Veterans before he was elected, Trump U., was convicted of stealing Veterans donations to charity in New York while President of the United States of America, said nothing when a reporter working for the WP was butchered more inhumanely than one would butcher a pig and to top it off lost the popular vote by over 3 million votes and these Senators are falling over themselves to commit crimes that spit in the face of the hundreds of thousands of the very Americans who gave their lives thinking they were defending the thing these Senatorial clowns are spitting on the words of.
Pardon me, I think I'm going to be sick, again.
3
Our Constitution appears to have been written with a Sharpie.
5
You just gave a thief the combination to the vault.
2
The rationale for withholding the lethal military aid to Ukraine to do the due diligence by the justified which was later released within the designated time frame was totally justified and the president acted in the best interest of the nation and we should all be grateful for that.
What Sr Sen.Alexendar calls "inappropriate action" but no means an impeachable crime is also correct if he is referring to the official call of Trump and the president of Ukraine in Late July 2019 when he mentioned Biden and favor in the same sentence. The perceptions that led to the allegation of wrong doing by the president are somewhat understandable.
Considering that there was a serious undeniable conflict of interest which should have been investigated by all means in which the Biden family profited was not just apparent but clearly malicious of the Bidens maybe should not have been central to the request for investigation of the well known deep rooted corruption in Ukraine.
I have no problem with the president being QUEASY about tax payer supported FOREIGN AID approved by congress when he will be held responsible for being unable to balance the annual budget. But since this aid was linked to the national security of the US, just maybe the aid should have been more expeditiously released. But no harm done and Ukraine still is surviving and achieved cease fire with Russia through strength. The US Ukraine saga has a happy ending. Ukraine president emphatically said "no pressure". Finito.
1
I heard yesterday that the Trump administration plans to open an investigation on the Joe and Hunter Biden. It's not farfetched to think the DOJ will probably do a sweep of other Democratic candidates to see what be weaponized for the campaign.
So, if you are a Trump supporter through and through, this ends-justifies-the-means is probably no big deal. But if you are anyone else, I can imagine the distinction between Trump and Putin is narrowing in terms of tactics and demeanor. That should be alarming. What you do with that concern will define the next stage of this experiment in democracy.
4
The majority who are upset about Trump's rise are continually waiting for something to happen -- the Mueller Report will save the day, or the midterms, or the impeachment, or the 2020 election. As we see, though, the 2020 election has already been corrupted. Now the Senate has green lighted even more corruption, some of which we will probably never know about. The reasonable expectation of free and fair elections is a thing of the past, people. With hackable machines scattered across the country, and actual resistance to replacing them with better equipment, I am not confident that the votes will be counted properly in any event. The solution, if there is to be one, will have to be a lot more dramatic than just voting. Actually protecting democracy -- or, in this case, bringing it back -- is a lot more expensive than that. People have died for it. Showing up at the polls and asking others to do so is easy and costs nothing -- kind of like showing up for church and encouraging others to do so, versus, say, being nailed to a cross for one's beliefs. What are you prepared to do now that you've lost your vote?
Senator Alexander says, "the people should make that decision", but
Trump got fewer votes than Clinton,
more people want him removed than not,
Trump is being judged by a Senate where half the senators are elected by 20% of the country,
in a proceeding where an unelected lifetime appointee presides.
That's even before we get to the part where the "inappropriate but not impeachable" behavior is using the current power to cheat the next election.
When it's convenient, Republicans tell us that this is a republic, not a democracy where majority rules. When it's convenient, Republicans use the platitudes about "the people". In either case the sole idea is to cement the rule of the minority over the majority.
8
Senator Alexander is right. trump is guilty as charged, he's seen enough evidence to conclude that, no need to hear Bolton, (and we will shortly anyway). In the final analysis trump needs to be voted out of office as well as the Senators that acted only to protect their jobs. It's up to us to save our representative democracy, clearly these people aren't interested. Vote, work your precinct, support Dem candidates at every level and let's take our Country back.
1
Trump did this. Everyone knows that Trump did this. We don't need testimony from John Bolton or anyone else to show that Trump did this.
Alexander is correct in moving beyond that narrow question and concluding, "yes, he did it, but it doesn't rise to the level of impeachment." Let the voters decide whether this kind of conduct should cause the president to lose his job.
Slogan for the democrats...
Will we still have the 2020 election? According to the republicans in the senate unless donnie can win, it’s not in the best interest of the nation.
Don’t worry Putin has it fixed already.
No fair REAL trial, no witnesses, no documents, no constitutional protections, no separation of 3 equal branches of government, no election.
The end.
2
It's all the same, a billion and a half for Trump while in office, a billion and a half for Biden while in office.
Except that for Trump it's a billion and a half LOST while in office, while for Biden's family it's a billion and a half MADE from foreign countries while Biden was in charge of those countries in office.
We'll see in November what voters prefer.
I think what this “trial” has revealed is enough for Democrats to ask the UN for observers in the 2020 election, especially in swing states.
I’m no longer confident that there will be no election fraud attempt by Republicans to stay in power.
Remember, what seemed like a crazy conspiracy theory 6 months ago is the new normal today...
3
The entire GOP wants to cover-up Trump’s illegal acts.
The moderate voters are nauseated.
The GOP will lose the Senate and the White House.
Sanders and a Democratic Congress will pass Medicare for All and an annual wealth tax of 2 percent per year on the upper 10 percent and raise Medicare taxes to 10 percent of annual income.
2
The 4 possible Republican votes for witnesses have been carefully designed to manipulate the American public. Republicans always planned to dispense with a real trial and acquit Trump. The fix was in before it started. In the Trump universe, truth is an illusion and deceit reigns supreme. American leadership has never been so pathetically transparent.
3
I kind of knew it was a long shot, but still held out hope that enough Republicans would do the right thing. How does one justify withholding witnesses and documents (evidence) in such an important trial? It truly feels like we’ve crossed the Rubicon. Democracy has been thrown under the bus. If we can’t count on elected officials in the highest deliberative body to protect the Constitution, to protect America, to do what’s right for the country, we really are lost. This is sad and frightening. Trump will be emboldened, and anyone that comes after him now has a blueprint for tyranny and corruption. My worst fears about Trump from the beginning have become a reality. I fear the election will be tainted. Our votes won’t matter. Foreign countries who wish to see us fall and falter will do their best to make sure Trump is re-elected since his administration has not only failed to address the problem but encourages it. And according to Dershowitz it’s okay because Trump thinks his re-election is in the best interest of the country. I feel like I’m living in upside down land, a place that’s becoming increasingly unrecognizable, where truth and justice used to matter, and even if we didn’t always hit the mark, we aspired to it. Maybe we should start wearing black bands on our arms as a symbol of mourning.
3
It's all the same, a billion and a half for Trump while in office, a billion and a half for Biden while in office.
Except that for Trump it's a billion and a half LOST while in office, while for Biden's family it's a billion and a half MADE while Biden was in office.
We'll see in November what voters prefer.
Actually a proud Tennessean and proud of my Senator today.
1
@Nature Howard Baker was a Republican Senator from TN worth being proud of.
Native of TN here mourning what's happened to the Volunteer State. We used to elect persons of integrity from both parties who went on to national office, were true leaders and served the country's interests.
I'm a fourth generation TN native and couldn't be more dismayed.
If you know nothing of Howard Baker, please learn something about him and what a Senator worth being proud of used to look like.
3
In other countries, as we have seen repeatedly in the past few years, people would be flooding the capital city to protest, and shut-down all other functions. It has to be done to get the change we need, and restore order.
Where is the organization? Are we all sheep who exist at the whim of corrupt politicians? C'mon folks, we need to stop whatever we're doing and right the ship. Nothing is more important.
1
Unprecedented collusion between Repubs in Congress and the whole of the WH to cover up corruption.
Failure of Constitutional balance of power constructs.
Twisted pseudo-law being accepted as rational and legit.
New precedents established of the likes we never thought possible in this country.
Gangrene has deeply set in.
The world knows this and foreign autocracies cheer this serious wound to the nation that was supposed to be the example of republican democracy -- that so-called "shining city on a hill", words from a (former?) Republican idol who, by any measure today, would be imputed as a RHINO or liberal; pick-a-label.
I never thought I'd give serious thought to this: I'm hoping that someone will leak the entire Bolton manuscript, and more, since Trump is trying to claim content is classified. We know that's false, as with nearly 16k other lies that easily fall from his foul mouth.
As one who has had the honor to execute and uphold Constitutional Oath several times in my lifetime, to great personal peril, I cannot fathom what we are witnessing -- in what passes as Republicans who have unabashedly failed their duty to the elected office they are unworthy to hold.
1
We should all be in the streets marching in protest.
There should be a general strike.
There should be palpable political unrest.
That silence?.. proof the American spirit had been strangled long before the President's "perfect" phone call.
1
Words escape me. I feel as though a dearly loved one died a terrible death.
1
If it’s left to the American people to decide Trump’s fate, we can only dread the tsunami of Trumpist republicanism to batter the public over the coming months. What new outrages await? What new precedents are stirring?
Perhaps the strategy of Nadler and other House Managers to attack the integrity of Republican Senators who they hoped to convince was not such a good idea. Who would have thought?
I can sort of understand why the other GOP Senators are bending the knee: their very rewarding jobs are on the line. I don't approve of their cowardice, but I am not sure that if I were in their spot I would be strong enough to give up on my career. But Alexander is retiring, he has no excuse. It's a shameful end to his career.
His statement also does not make any sense: He admits that Trump tried to cheat on the election, but he thinks that the election is the way to decide what to do with Trump. If Trump had been impeached because he lied to Congress, or because he cheated on his taxes, or for any other reason unrelated to the election, Alexander's argument would make some sense. But Trump is impeached because he tried to cheat on the election, so how can you hope that the election will resolve the issue? This is completely absurd.
The other Senators who say that Trump should be acquitted because he did nothing wrong are pure evil, but at least they are not illogical.
2
Trump himself stated he could shoot someone and no one would care. Dershowitz argues that would be legal and unimpeachable if Trump believed it was in the national interest. Putin has made a career of doing things he thinks promotes the national interest and his presidency. Putin can tutor Trump. Perhaps he already has.
3
Exonerate the president after witness testimonies, or exonerate the president after blocking witness testimonies.
The only solace I take from this disgraceful trial is that the republicans have chosen the latter, which makes them look even worse to voters in November.
3
Welcome to the banana republic of the United States, be sure to show loyalty to one man, regardless of laws or common decency, be sure to praise him too , for Donald Trump is the best president ever, just ask him.
4
@Bill
Just imagine if we get Brexit and acquittal on the same day.... the bonus' will be big around Red Square!
2
A sad day for the Senate of the United States. The Republicans have once again failed the Republic. They are no longer worthy of their name. Craven is their name.
1
If the Senate won't call Bolton, the House better do it! There is another article of impeachment that he is a witness to. Bribery and extortion.
What does a president have to do to be convicted, steal the White House china?
With acquittal, the Executive Branch is about to gain an astronomical amount of power. Nothing will be able to stop Trump; he might as well be a dictator or a king. Had his supporters lived in 1775, they would be wearing red coats instead of red hats. This is a sad day for our republic...what's left of it.
2
I for one will never vote for a grown man who wears a sweater under his suit coat jacket.
2
As a Tennessean, I can say with confidence that Howard Baker is currently turning over in his grave.
3
@DO TN native here who agrees. How sad that in my lifetime TN has gone from a place that elected honorable people from both parties to this.
Both of my parents in TN called Alexander's office to remind him of Howard Baker.
He cares more about not being ostracized in whatever country club or hunting club he'll be hanging out at in retirement than the good of his country. Shameful.
Gore, Sr. opposed the Vietnam War but sent his son to Vietnam anyway.
TN used to produce elected officials of integrity and national stature. Just sad.
2
Not impeachable! This is an open invitation to Trump to increase his efforts to undermine the essence of our democratic process.
1
I'm done with the faux teasers that try to portray the Senate as a body that is comprised of leaders with courage. When in reality, they are in lock step with the racist, misogynist, authoritarian regime masquerading as a legitimate governing body.
3
I wonder what they offered him that he couldn't refuse.
1
Finally, we reach the end point---now the admission, yes, Trump did it---the proverbial shooting someone on main street--but, it's not a felony---go figure.
1
Words cannot express how disappointed I am in Sen. Lamar Alexander's decision. His labeling of Trump's blatant power abuse as "inappropriate" just astounds me.
And once again Donald Trump skates away from the abyss. How does he keep on doing that? He is redefining what it means to lead a charmed life. He has hit the life lottery, and somehow gains political strength with each occurrence that would have sunk any other politician.
145
@Len To answer to your question. Donald Trump transformed the Republican from a Conservative Party to a quasi fascist party. And one of the element is the cult of the leader. A stable genius whom can not do no wrong is now the party line..
29
@Wilbray Thiffault
No, he didn't.
The party was already well past Fascist-Lite, although subdued. Then his triumphant arrival made it possible to not pretend any more and expose themselves in all their pure authoritarian, Fascist glory.
24
@Wilbray Thiffault
I completely agree with your assessment.
12
Senator Alexander has my vote for 2020 Gelding of the Year.
3
In an increasingly polarised and tribal America, the dream of a broad bipartisan support for any, just any, Impeachment is long over. In fact, it was never there to start with after political parties emerged in US presidential form of democracy. Not a single President has even been tried successfully in the Senate and removed from the office.
Probably, impeachment trial need to be done by a court of law and in a time bound manner if we like to save the Senate and dignity of our bicameral parliamentary system under, (yes under and not equal) the president.
1
In 1868, Andrew Johnson was impeached, charged with breaching the Tenure of Office Act, but the Senate narrowly acquitted him by one vote. In 1974, Richard Nixon faced an impeachment inquiry, but he resigned before the House could impeach him. In 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached, but he was acquitted by the Senate.
@Bonku
The notion that the jurors decide what - if any - evidence and witnesses are allowed is the downfall here.
I can live with John Bolton the chickenhawk, since there are several levels of deliberation between him and an actual weapon.
But John Bolton the sanctimonious prevaricator is beyond redemption. You want to make things right? Hold a press conference. Or better yet, honor a legal subpoena in the first place. If he really wanted this out, he would have foregone the force to judiciary which would have taken six months to arrive at the same conclusion as in Nixon. Appear.
If he wanted it out, why hit a legal snooze button that guaranteed it would not come out in time to maka a difference.
@JP Those proposed solutions you suggested would not achieve just anything- neither an impartial trial in the Senate (to remove him from the office) nor would that affect election much, if any. Simply because most Americans lost the ability to even understand, forget acknowledging it, fact and truth. Their perception of truth has been distorted by religion and political allegiance, which is shown to be mostly hereditary. previously education used to be do the transformative job. But increasingly for-profit corporate education in the US (mainly since early 1980s of Reagan era) ruined that option as well.
I hate to say this, but having live witnesses and actual documents as evidence doesn't matter: The Republican Senators have declared that they don't care because they want to hold onto their jobs. The threat of being "primaried" by Trump was too great for them to actually conduct a trial, review the evidence, and render an impartial verdict.
We are in an extreme of the dialectic, which will swing back. We had a blue wave in 2016, and we'll have another, involving not just the House but the Presidency and Senate as well this time. Our work reversing Trump's wrongheadedness, misdeeds, and imcompetence will be difficult but not impossible. For now, the House has to be the resistance and hold the fort until November, 2020.
4
There will be many discouraged by the certain forthcoming Senate vote to block witnesses in the Trump impeachment trial (insofar as a trial is a trial without witnesses). The question though for those so affected is whether their discouragement is primarily due to mindset political-party passion, or the implication of this as formal congressional insult to the Constitution. The Senate has been described as the greatest deliberative body in the world. Regrettably, the basis and meaning of this is unclear, at least to me.
2
"...American people should decide what to do about what he did,” Mr. Alexander said..."
I think Trump should be removed from office. If you present more than one Republican candidate for President that's a somewhat more rational idea. But most people are not going to vote for a Democratic if they're a Republican and having numerous people sitting out a vote for President because they don't approve of the one candidate for their party is just bad for our country.
2
Extreme partisan gerrymandering. Check.
Unlimited corporate money. Check.
Voter suppression. Check.
Foreign influence. Check.
The Republicans are in the minority in America, so their every action is dedicated to preserving minority rule forever, by any means necessary. They no longer even pretend it's otherwise.
They have broken faith with We The People. The only question now is, What are We The People going to do?
11/3/2020. All in. Everywhere. Now or never.
8
If this is what your checks and balances are about, then you have to accept the Senate’s decision. It still smells of partisan politics to me.
5
I thought at one time when Alexander was considered a possible president that I would support him. I can’t believe that he has changed that much so I guess it just took his imminent retirement to allow him to actually show his true colors.
2
As a typical American totally tuned in to the events that matter to all of us regular Americans, I have to ask, and it is not comfortable for me to do so, but... can anyone tell me what the over/under is on the Super Bowl ?
2
@steve
There you have it! You have hit on the heart of the matter. Best watched over helpings of steak and apple pie, eh?
I think the Democrats need to immediately roll out ads featuring Parnas and Bolton spilling the beans (pay these men millions if it will get them to talk), as well as highlighting the hypocrisy of Republicans. Use video to contrast what they said constituted an impeachable offense when Clinton was on trial with what they're saying now. Use video to show what they said about Donald Trump in 2015, and what they say about him now. Run these ads again, and again, and again on via social media and prime-time television. Come on Steyer, Bloomberg, Gates, Oprah… Hollywood: Constitutional remedies have failed, Democracy is at stake, and I think our only hope now is to massively outspend the Republican and Russian messaging machines between now and November. This will be the only way to reach the bulk of the electorate – people who don’t pay close attention to politics, don’t understand political basics, don’t know history (and therefore don’t recognize the danger Trump poses), and lack critical thinking abilities.
7
@Aaron those you mention could also find out where the emperor plans to have his rallies for the next 10 months and rent the venue before he can.
2
Since removal of Trump by the Senate was never going to happen, Democrats should move for a censure vote after the acquittal. Dems would get something out of it, possibly a lot, and Republicans could say they didn't ignore Trump's admitted abuse of power.
4
@birdiesboy
And a vote for censure will pass the Senate?
Dream On!
1
Did we not learn from the mistakes of the Galactic Senate in Star Wars Episode III? Consolidation of power precipitates oppression. Not even the Jedi could stop it.
May the Force be with us All.
4
@Eric
what are you talking about?
1
I am a Canadian-American. John McCain made me proud to be an American. So does Mitt Romney over these past few months. I have rarely been embarrassed to be a Canadian. I have often been embarrassed to be an American. This impeachment trial is one of the reasons I'm embarrassed to be an American. Canadians watch this and shake their heads, unbelievable. Never in our country would we disrespect justice, truth and democracy like this. Senator Alexander, please make me proud to be an American and call witnesses. I want to hear the truth, the full truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.
3
Is the United States of America stumbling toward an oligarchy, or worse? The presidency is broken, the Senate is broken, the electoral system is broken and at least one third of the country is OK with that.
8
Excellent! This wonderful news. Senator Alexander has come through for Tennessee and for America. Some of us in Tennessee were afraid that since he is not running for re-election that he would decide to go along with the impeachment but he's not. Alexander is not a huge supporter of President Trump, which for many of us in Tennessee and America is very disappointing, but he is as his decision makes clear is a supporter of the Constitution. I hope his decision facilitates an end to this nonsense, hastens a vote to exonerate President Trump, who has done nothing wrong. I look forward to his re-election in November, as do most other Americans who believe in the mission of this beloved nation. Thank you.
4
@Southern Boy Howard Baker was a true patriot from TN. And Republican. But he recognized the danger posed by a president from his own party who abused executive authority.
Gore Sr. opposed the Vietnam War and sent his son to fight anyway.
I'm from TN. There are some true profiles in courage from the past in TN. Alexander isn't on that list. And you likely know nothing of modern history of TN's role in national politics. It's all partisan GOP support for you. No real concern for the overall country.
My family in TN is appalled by Alexander. Howard Baker would be too.
1
This was an enormous waste of time and will be catastrophic for the Democrats come November. An acquital is an acquital and all the spin from Pelosi and Schumer won't change that. In medical school, students are asked to think about what they will do with the results of a diagnostic test before reflexively ordering one. The Dems should've done the same. What will they do when the Senate finds the President not guilty? It's an answer that still eludes them, other than whining about supposed unfairness that was always baked into the process before it started. The fundamental problem with this case is that it’s very hard to articulate the offense in a way that’s narrow enough not to implicate virtually all presidential foreign policy. Obama’s DOJ investigated Trump (although now we know they actually broke the law in their FISA application). Obviously, what Trump did was dirty, but there is no way to articulate his offense without making all foreign policy impeachable. “Withholding money until foreign power investigates corruption” isn’t impeachable. It never was and never will be.
4
A sobering thought is that Lama Alexander, misguided as he is, is among a small group of republican senators who considered calling witnesses. With that thought in mind, the rest are zombies and we may as well prepare for King Donald's coronation. Perhaps the coronation could be held on Fifth Avenue in New York and Trump can celebrate by shooting a random pedestrian.
5
"Oppose new evidence?" What evidence was there in the first place?
Dershowitz completely destroyed any argument the prosecutors ever had by showing Trump was asking about the Biden's crooked deals. He is allowed to ask these questions.
Schiff was on the news saying adding witnesses to a circus that has wasted so much time and money will "only take another week."
The Russian collusion and now this impeachment scam is just an attempt by a handful of bitter Democrats to overturn the 2016 election. The time and money wasted will surely turn more voters against them in upcoming elections.
I certainly hope that none of the Democrats involved in these 2 great wastes of time and money are not reelected.
1
@mrmeat
I too hope that none are not reelected--your double negative makes a positive call for the reelection of the staunch and right-minded people who fought for justice. In the miserable dirty affairs of a corrupt king and his greed-rotted court the democrats have acted like stretcher bearers under fire making their way to a wounded comrade--the constitution.
Count me among those who once believed that enough GOP Senators would "do the right thing," but I was wary after the Kavanaugh confirmation.
The decision to reject witnesses should put to rest that notion once and for all.
It is laughably pathetic to think we believed Susan Collins, or Mitt Romney, or Lamar Alexander would be our salvation.
This should be a wakeup call for Democrats who believe they have the luxury of sitting out the election, or casting a vote of spite or "conscience" if they don't get their chosen nominee for November.
7
The President says he 'can do anything I want' and Dershowitz backs this up with his defense before Congress. Now the GOP is about to approve that position by not allowing testimony and steam rolling an acquittal of the President.
Trump in his megalomania will now assume the power of a
dictatorial king with no restraints on his power. He may even assume that he can disregard a loss at the ballot box. And to Republicans this is no big day, just another moment in their destruction of democracy. Trump says
Venezuela is corrupt but we are about to join them in spades.
5
The proofs of Trump's unfitness for office abound: his charity, university, failure to follow national security rules, nepotism, violation of the emoluments clause, bragging about assaulting women, vile social behavior, the list is endless. They tried to make it streamlined and irrefutable, and they did. The Republicans just couldn't convict because they are all complicit, in that they are beholden to the same stream of C.U. generated dark foreign money as Trump.
2
You know the tune folks. Sing along with Lamar …
How can it be permissible?
Trump compromised my principles, yeah yeah
That kind of fear is mythical
He's anything but typical
Trump's a craze I endorsed, he's a powerful force
You're obliged to conform when there's no other course
He used to look good to me, but now I find him
Simply inappropriate. Simply inappropriate
Simply inappropriate (He did the crime, there's no tellin' where the money went)
Simply inappropriate (It’s already in the bag, there's no other way to go)
He's unavoidable, I'm backed against the wall
He gives me creepy feelings like I never felt before
I'm breaking promises, he's breaking every law
He used to look good to me, but now I find him
Simply inappropriate. Simply inappropriate.
He's above the law, and he leaves me in awe
He deserves the applause, I surrender because
He used to look good to me, but now I find him
Simply inappropriate, Simply inappropriate.
Simply inappropriate. (He did the crime, there's no tellin' where the money went)
Simply inappropriate. (It’s already in the bag, there's no other way to go)
1
Well - file this next to the Mueller report.
Best line to date was a Manager talking about the Steel Dossier => "Democrats approve of foreign interference in the elections if it is bought."
1
To be perfectly honest, I have never been a fan of Mitt Romney. I don't know, he just always came across questionable, at best. But then, wouldn't you know, he turns around and is the lone wolf and probably the only Republican willing to take a stand and not budge an inch. The fact that he at least wanted to hear other testimony tells me that he was true to his oath of being impartial. It will be interesting if he goes the extra mile and votes against Trump's exoneration.
What really makes me want to spit are those other Republican Senators who keep flirting with the notion of wanting to hear from the witnesses but will probably not vote for it to happen. I refuse to print their names because I think either they never intended on voting for additional witnesses to testify but did so for the spotlight and publicity they received OR McConnell promised them stuff in return for their "rank and file" demeanor and support. Maybe it will be both in the end.
Bottom line for me is that while I always held deep contempt for Republicans, the fact that probably less than 4 will vote against their comrades, I am at a loss, emotionally. I feel as if those knuckleheads played with the heads and minds of the Democrats, leading them on, letting them think and hope there would be some semblance of justice today.
But there will not be any justice, just them, those Republican traitors, who can justify anything as long as it's in the "national interest for the public."
1
@Marge Keller
Mitt Romney is a Mormon, a senator of Utah, a majority Mormon state. He never has to worry about being primaried and that is the only reason that explains his vote on calling for witnesses. That is all you need to know. Romney is home free.
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Thanks, GOP, you have started us on the road to the end of our Democracy.
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If the president commits an impeachable act why does it matter whether he/she is impeached by partizan impeachment or not?
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You are absolutely right, doing the right thing is not partisan, going against the whole truth, denying justice, is partisan.
The republicans are the ones acting partisan.
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We do know why they don't want Bolton to testify. Just like we do know why they don't want the "whistleblower" and the Bidens to testify. If Democrats insist we hear the "whole truth", then they can't maneuver to let us hear only their part of the truth. It's both or nothing.
But at the end of the day, this impeachment has dangerously lowered the bar for future presidents. Now, any otherwise legitimate exercise of presidential power is impeachable if the president can be accused of a political motive. Which all presidents always do have. Obama did many times. It's certain the next Democrat president will also.
Democrats have burned the village because they hate one rat.
@geezer117 Tell that to Howard Baker. From a native TN here.
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Time for an American Spring. It is what Putin wanted, it is what the Kochs wanted. It is what the GOP has been paid to do. Destroy this country from the inside.
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I witnessed the Senate deliberations on the Impeachment of Richard Nixon-Howard Baker, your mentor, Mr.Alexander asked tough questions which were dispositive in his removal from office.You revere Mr Baker, but you are no Howard Baker!You are casting a vote of convenience-not one of conscience.Howard Baker had a conscience-he is well respected -he made a difference and honored the Senate in which he served.
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Unbelievable. This concept of let the voters decide is so ridiculous. The whole point is he is election cheating and using the power of his office to do so. These senators are giving him a green light to continue this behavior. Barr's interpretation of the Mueller report allowed him to immediately try same tactic for 2020. Now GOP says go ahead, continue, we'll look the other way. The will of the voters no longer matters. More than 70% want a real trial but they aren't listening. They are allowing him to be a corrupt King, at the expense of our country and Democracy.
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Note well the names all of those senators who have voted against additional witnesses. They will go down in history as accomplices to the treason of Donald John Trump, impeached 45th president of the United States. They have, along with him, failed to protect and defend the constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. This, if it is over today, will go down as one of the saddest and perhaps last days of the republic.
Russia, if you are listening you are now free to send as much money to the RNC and Trump as you want.
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Fellow Americans, the transition period is finally over. From a beacon of hope for the world to a wholly owned criminal enterprise. In God We Trust? It would appear he has a wicked sense of humor after all.
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No shame in the senate. What a dark, dark day.
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World's greatest deliberative body? Not any more.
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@Sky Pilot
World's greatest manipulative body.
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Lamar Alexander said, “what Trump did was inappropriate”.
Trump does inappropriate things everyday. He lies, bullies, and uses foul language. Those behaviors are clearly inappropriate.
We are lost as a nation if shaking down another country for your own personal gain is simply inappropriate.
Senator Alexander should never have put out his statement. He should have just said I don’t want to hear anymore witnesses. That would have been awful enough but his complete statement is truly a death blow to democracy.
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Alexander is just another craven Republican. We knew how this was going to end, didn't we?
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@Mike C. Republicans have been waiting for Lamar Alexander to blink and the sigh of relief can be heard across the country as a few crocodile tears Republicans like Susan Collins i and mitt Romney can submit a 'protest' vote that they will assume will save them from loss in the next election. But these Senators in their hypocrisy are no different than the rest of their head in the sand colleagues and must be voted out in the next purge of the Senate. But will this purge ever happen with tiny Republican states controlling the balance of power?
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It is time for the Decent Folk to take back America.
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Lyndsey, Mitch, no matter how hard you spin it, it's a COVER UP.
You're afraid to allow the American people to see the truth, we will be coming for you in November.
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@Capt'n
Let’s hope that we can vote in November.
It might not be in the best interest of the nation if donnie can’t win according the the senate republicans.
Keep your energy on the swing states that count the electoral college votes more than the popular vote.
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@Jose Pieste Jose, you're using Fox "news" spin. This is not a game, it's about the TRUTH. You need to ask yourself, "Why am I afraid to hear witnesses? Why am I afraid to hear the truth?" Jose, you can't watch Fox without abetting your own brainwashing. I'm sorry that you've lost your basic reasoning.
@Jose Pieste
OK, let's take a look at your reasoning. You quoted Adam Schiff. Then you attributed an implication to "overwhelming and uncontested." That is your implication, not one offered by the Democrats. The Democrats have wanted witnesses from the beginning. The White House has blocked them. That itself is prima facie evidence of obstruction. Because there are people who were in the room with the President at the time of the call, they need to be called. They have also refused to release the official transcript of the call. This is another obstruction. So, choose your own word, obstruction, cover up, or whatever. The prima facie evidence is clear, there has a massive cover up and it has resulted in the American people from knowing the truth. Because I suspect if they knew the truth, they wouldn't like it. The Republican majority is doing everything they can to obfuscate, distract, and dissemble. Can you really be proud of not wanting to know the truth?
I understand it’s the New York Times’ duty to stay positive and express hope that some Senators, or the Chief Justice, will do the right thing.
But most of us readers have come to expect nothing of Republicans but full allegiance to their president. Roberts will continue to hand the GOP large victories while throwing the occasional bone to Democrats to keep up appearances.
I hope the people from Maine don’t fall for the Collins-McConnell play where she gets a free pass when her vote is not needed.
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Does anyone know if Lamar read the classified document that shows that the VP was in on the corrupt scheme?
He was willing to punt it to the voters, but not willing to let voters see Bolton's evidence.
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I can't begin to tell you how sick I am about Sen. Alexander's decision. He's retiring this year, so it's not like he is worried about his next election. We learned in school about checks and balances, and we believed it. Little did we know how easily one party would lie about their oath to protect the constitution.
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We should get in Alexander’s own words why he thought Trump’s pressure/extortion/bribery was inappropriate. Was it inappropriate because it was an abuse of power? It only ended because Trump was caught! Also, why is in his words impeaching for obstruction of Congress, a blanket obstruction as it was, to be frivolous?
Alexander and the corrupt GOP are giving away Congress’s powers of oversight and impeachment.
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They clearly don’t want the American people to hear more. If the President barged into the chamber screaming “I did it”, McConnell would move to have it stricken. He has more power with a willing signature in office. Sad
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DJT has admitted yo many of his wrong, immoral, illegal and “inappropriate” actions.
This “trial” was lije the scene in The Untouchables when Costner (as Ness) can’t understand why DeNiro (as Capone) us so calm and confident in court when all the evidence shows he’s guilty...until, he learns Capone has bought the jury
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I dont know if it matters whether the senate votes to hear from more witnesses or not. If Republicans are openly admitting the case against the president has been proven but they will not remove him from office, what is there left to do but wait for our dear leader to commit his next bigger crime?
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When a country is governed by those who lack moral courage, then the end result is decadence.
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@Geo, A country led by those who lack moral courage does not end in decadence. It ends in disaster. It simply... ends. The great experiment has failed. We are all implicated. We will all suffer the consequences.
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Sen. Alexander made the right call as that one Republican senator who voted NOT to remove Johnson (the first POTUS to be impeached and tried.)
Mr. Dershowitz made the right point that to impute a corrupt motive in every action of a POTUS is easy - but does it rise to level of a removal.
Folks forget that Nixon resigned not just because of the one smoking gun - but a litany of abuses including Oval Office meetings to discuss payoffs.
The country was ready to remove him.
Not so this time.
What I find amazing is all this focus on Republicans to detect.
Where are the "profiles in courage" on Democrat side (like that Republican senator) who defy the party to draw the same conclusion as this Tennessean?
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@Neil Yeah. It's a real profile in courage here. Read about Howard Baker, please, and then get back to us.
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@Neil
There is significant evidence that suggests that the one senator, Edmond Gibson Ross, Senator from Kansas who voted not to impeach Andrew Johnson had been bribed to vote no impeachment.
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They are as dishonest as the President whom they so slavishly serve. They refused to face reality in order to preserve their power, but in the long run they have diminished the power of the Senate and our Constitution. We will all pay dearly.
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The Senate’s whitewash of a trial will be turned into fundraising millions of dollars by the Democrats for the upcoming elections. And then they can flood the airwaves and all media platforms with the sham of a political party the Republicans have become.
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Wow...remember when the position of “senator” conferred a great amount of respect? I guess those days are gone!
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Shame on them all, they will all have to live with themselves and what is written about them in history books for hundreds of years.
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You would think that just for the sake of history and the dignity of the Senate Lamar Alexander would have signaled a vote for witnesses and documents. He cannot take comfort and hide behind his verdict that Trump's behavior was 'inappropriate' and vote to acquit...that is hypocracy...and that will be his final legacy.
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Today, Donald Trump officially becomes the dictator he's wanted to be. He is free to do whatever he wants, including with our tax money, and it is now safe to say with certainty that he will, starting this evening, get back to coercing foreign help with cheating in November to be re-elected, knowing his party will excuse it, and McConnell will even help him with hit. But those of us saying democracy is dead, well it is...for now, but it goes w/o saying that, the next time a Democratic president jaywalks, or oh, say, lies about a private, consensual affair, or perhaps uses taxpayer money to extort foreign help with corrupting our elections and targeting private American citizens overseas, Republicans will once again do their 180s and will explain how he has degraded the office of the president, has threatened the Constitution, how dastardly and dangerous it all is, how there cannot be a trial w/o witnesses and evidence....and their base will once again ignore it all and go right along.
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A pre-Senate Lamar Alexander was a voice of reason and rectitude as a Vanderbilt undergraduate. He provided key student leadership as that old plantation-minded institution integrated the campus and began moving toward today’s role as a ranking university of the New South.
On the other hand, the current GOP, especially in a Tennessee that has yet to move much beyond the Scopes trial, has a way of bending one’s ethical and moral sensibilities into its current mindset of disdain for the unwashed masses, cover-up, fix, and corruption. I do not believe the Senator is happy about that, but he appears to feel he has other admirable work to do—always watching his back for these of mobster mentality with their purity tests.
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We're all exhausted and feeling hopeless. It's all down to the election. It's our last chance. We're desperate to pick a candidate who will defeat this corrupt tyrant, but who? Never have I been as pessimistic about this country.
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You’re wrong. The House can still investigate Trump’s dealings with Avanatti and Stephanie Clifford. Surely things Trump did a decade before he was elected are important news today, just as they were in 2017.
Lamar Alexander spoke for millions of Americans, including me, that this particular President when hounded for three years with calls for a Constitutional Convention and recounts, marches, millions wearing Resist! buttons (incidentally gone now), two years of Mueller, preceded by an investigation ordered by Obama in his last 6 weeks in office, congressional investigations into Mueller's findings, then an impeachment for wrongdoing not rising to a high crime (in my opinion and millions of others) succumbed to anger and acted wrongly in Ukraine, should not be convicted and thrown out of office. Let the American people decide his fate. Nominate Bloomberg and my vote for him is assured. Nominate any of the others and my fury at what Democrats have put us through will force me to cast a vote and donate money to Trump.
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@alan brown He's been hounded for years because he's been unfit, incompetent and flouting the law since well before he was elected. It is now clear that he is a tool, and digging deeper into his affairs would expose many in power.
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@SaveOurConstitution He was hounded from the instant the A.P. declared him the president-elect. The next day people began marching and donned shirts saying " Not my President". This began before anyone could judge his competence. My recommendation would be, if Bloomberg is not nominated, don't throw away those shirts and Resist! buttons.
If today plays out like it appears it will, Trump will be handed the opportunity to shout "Acquitted! On a bipartisan basis!!" non-stop from now until the election. And that's all that most voters will take from this ludicrous, partisan process.
Nancy Pelosi and Charles Schumer went big and are about to fail. They more than anyone will bear the responsibility for four more years of this administration.
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@Steve They had to try. Being afraid to try is how we got here. And, the electorate is not as insensate as you suppose.
The real question is why 50 people will vote along with Alexander?
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"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove, that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government." —President George Washington
Lamar Alexander and the Republican Senators have betrayed George Washington and all those who died fighting the Revolutionary War. Shame on them forever.
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What was the term Samantha Bee used? She apologized for it back then but it fits perfectly here. Feckless. Yes, that about sums up the entire GOP.
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Now Speaker Pelosi is calling for disbarment of the president's attorneys. Is there no bottom to how low democrats will sink? Even those with a basic knowledge of civics understands that a person charged is entitled to a defense. This after lecturing the country about "fairness". Pitiful.
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@AACNY It is against legal ethics and certainly subject to disbarment to participate in a coverup or commission of a crime. I've been wondering why Guliani isn't disbarred.
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Senators like Alexander are arguing their position on trumps behavior along these lines:
Yes, we know the card player cheats. It has been overwhelmingly proved that he has stacked the deck, manipulated the hands to his advantage, and we have seen how he has hid extra cards up his sleeve. So, that he cheats is undeniable. We are powerless to stop him from this behavior, though. We feel, instead, that the only way to remove him from the game is to win the next hand...
Vote blue no matter who come November. End this madness.
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Bloomberg and Steyer should offer Lamar Alexander $100 million to vote for witnesses. That's a decent chunk of change in Tennessee. If the Republicans can play dirty, so can the Democrats.
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The GOP is now as corrupt as Trump, that is very clear. Every American who is sickened by this corruption and by Trump's lies and abuse of power must make voting his or her priority; nothing matters more. Register to vote NOW or check your voter registration NOW-you must make sure that nothing will interfere with your being able to vote. Arrange to take Election Day off from work-everyone gets sick days or personal time-arrange it now. Line up your babysitters, your transportation, and anything else that will enable you to vote. If you move between now and November, your first task in your new town is to register to vote! On Election Day I get up by 5am and I am usually one of the first people in line at my polling station. I take nothing for granted and I let nothing get in the way-it is my first priority of the day, before anything else. We MUST defeat Trump, McConnell and take back the White House and the Senate. We can win if each and every one of us votes and lets nothing deter us. Lastly, make sure every anti-Trump person you know is also registered and will be voting; our freedom, our democracy are at stake.
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@CJ
Dream On!
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Surely acquittal will embolden this president who does whatever he wants, including whatever he thinks will benefit him personally. With a strong possibility of a second term, maybe Trump will be the first president to be impeached multiple times. I understand that the Republicans cling tenaciously to power, but I don't understand why they want to keep being put in this position, want to keep supporting this particular narcissistic despot. Wouldn't they all be happier rallying behind someone who doesn't wreck this much havoc?
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@Melanie Avids They are dependent upon the same dark money- and subject to the same threats of prosecution. It is mob mentality.
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The warnings against "partisan impeachment" are upside-down, of course. Congress--and the country--were already starkly divided on partisan lines before this impeachment began. Republicans had already decided they'd accept anything Donald did. When he won election after boasting about sexually assaulting women, it was abundantly clear that his supporters would go along with anything. When Republicans declared he needn't reveal his tax returns, they signaled their blind obedience. And as they have shrugged off, laughed about or saluted his non-stop lies and vilification of the press, any hope that they'd suddenly decide to put their country above their party was vaporized. Holding Donald accountable fell then to the Democrats, who had not chained themselves to this autocratic fool. When members of one party pledge their allegiance to their president, any scrutiny of that president can be dismissed as "partisan." The fact that this impeachment has been pursued by the members of only one party reflects the sickening dereliction of duty and abandonment of honor by the other. Republicans are claiming the impeachment is unfair or invalid because of their own actions.
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