The fortune and futures of many GOP senators will indeed remain tied to those of D.J. Trump; they will go down together by the votes of millions of Americans—‚into the trashcan of history. Dan Bessie
29
The once,
"America the Beautiful”
Under Trump, McConnell and the Republican Party
Has become
America the grotesque ………..
32
So old, white, Southerner, McConnell decides what's good for the Country of which his state resembles nothing like. McConnell from Kentucky with only 4.5 million, rated 26th population size is leading this Country's Agenda? Ludicrous.
35
When Russia alerts the president that it can hack voting machines and get him the votes he needs to win, do you think he is going to say no? And it wouldn’t be impeachable according to these clowns.
30
The Democrats should really follow Obama's lead.
Pile up the money and enjoy life under Trump.
4
Sen. Murkasky betrays country with crucial vote to cover up.
18
Instead of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, we now have Democrat’s, Trumps and Independents.......way to go, Senate Republicans!
Wouldn’t it have been nicer for you to allow a fair trial, censure if you couldn’t muster a 2/3 vote, and then be able to hold your heads a little higher.
12
There is a pandemic that is spreading across our country. Truth is is laying on a gurney with a very weak pulse.
16
Cipollone lied to the senate and misled the American people since it has been reported that he was a fact witness to the entire Ukrainian affair. The US citizens need and deserve to know what happened. Bolton, Mulvaney, Barr and Cipollone all need to testify.
26
Bolton's book also reveals that the President and his aides lied to congress and the American people.
22
More destruction. More chaos. More lies.
14
Shameful. Will never vote for Republican again.
21
First Cavanaugh, now this, Democrats need to roll the Senate and the White House, or we are doomed....
17
Your headline states that "Democrats failed," when in actuality they haven't failed us at all. We can be proud of their defense of the Constitution, and we can show our gratitude by showing up in force at the polls this November.
1564
The Democrats failed. Spin it as you may but failure is failure. They, the Democrats tactically took on a battle with odds of about 0 that they would win. Only the next 9 months will determine if all of this effort will yield positive results in voter perception of the Democrats. Personally I think failure is not viewed positively by Americans.
7
How about this headline...
The US Senate has abdicated....
95
@Tammy
The Democrats didn't act "tactically". They acted morally and ethically. They didn't make their decision to act based on whether they would "win". They made their decision to act on whether it was the morally and ethically correct thing to do. The Democrats listened to unimpeachable testimony from Republicans and non-partisan White House and State Dept. staff who saw Trump's corruption and acted when the Republicans would not.
That is something that Republicans don't understand. Republicans seem to believe that one should not try to stop a crime from being committed unless they are assured of a "victory". They worship "wins", and if an overmatched person stepped in and died trying to protect children from those seeking to harm them, it seems like most Republicans would view that person as a "failure".
Doing what is right never makes you a failure except to Republicans who only worship "winners".
139
Trump is the Republican Party just as the Republican Party is Trump (it does sound better in German)
8
Some important outcomes of the impeachment trial.
It is clear there is a GOP cover up in addition to a Trump cover up and 75% of Americans know this now.
More information is going to come out and the GOP will be accountable. It may come out before the vote. Perhaps we shall see some GOP non Senate leaders just give voice to decency so Americans can see the bipartisan nature of the vote EVEN if the Senators must toe their party line.
Adam Schiff has shown us what it is like to stand up and “do the right thing” - write him in for President!
Dershowitz came across as a pompous jerk and so that was fun watching him try to deny what we all heard!
The really big danger is if Trump wins because he can force foreign and domestic entities to help him cheat the elections AND we have a GOP House and Senate who can also do the same thing as they can claim the President was not impeached and we did the same. So then we become Russia. Did anyone really think the Cold War ended?
14
When the minority outweighs the majority, America's democracy is broken. Our enemies are thrilled with this outcome! Corruption and dictatorship is now acceptable by those holding the highest office in the country. Congrats, Repubs. America is a banana republic! And when the other party gets elected and do the same corrupt actions- remember YOU STARTED THIS, SO YOU OWN THIS!
7
" Let the good times roll "....yep keep up the good economy and world peace.
We are afraid if a Democrat takes the White House the county will fall into a Depression and War.
Let the good times roll.
Thank you
4
Watching the almost total lack of courage in the Senate is sickening!I won’t use the commonly used meaningless words
Unfortunate, discouraging, etc. you know words you use when
You have a flat tire ,or get a ticket for speeding. These men and
Women have allowed Trump and McConnell ,to frighten them into refusing to bring the witnesses and documents which would
Seal Trumps guilt.They are willfully destroying our Republic, and
they will pay a price.Our Senate has openly approved of
A self aggrandizing little tyrant and dictator, showing themselves
To fear trumps vicious attacks, instead of showing AGAIN, how
Ignorant and corrupt he is and he will become worse.
11
One goes low, shouldn't the other side go lower: "We have the 'golden showers' tape."
5
Republicans are running scared that their house of cards is about to tumble down and take them with it. They are terrified of the truth becoming known, that much is clear. An utter sham of a show trial. I can't wait to wipe that sick "smile" off McConnell's face. WE WILL REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER.
16
The Republicans weakened the Senate by abdicating their responsibilities. At least they need to admonish Trump. Even Lamar Alexander said Trump committed a crime. Clinton was acquitted but his law license was suspended. It's not enough for Trump to walk away with a slap on his wrist. Being that he's a braggard he's now emboldened to commit more crimes hopefully not to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue.
4
How can a GOP senator look himself/ herself in the mirror ever again? This is a disgrace for all decent US citizens... and the rest of the world for that matter.
You know what do do come November.
14
DNC is probably really upset there are no witnesses. Now, Bernie and Warren can get back on the campaign trail. Nice timing Pelosi.
2
51 souls recorded their legacy of supporting the destruction of Democracy yesterday.
The victims are the American people and the 51 souls that will go down in history as traitors to a system of checks and balances that our constitution promised.
It is a sad day for America!!
13
Didn’t we know this outcome months and months ago? And now, if Trump actually does something impeachable they will not be able to do anything, and Dems spent all their political capital with the center. A true waste. To go into this process without a single republican was silly.
3
Somehow the press has failed to see the true implications of the impending Senate vote and its refusal to have a fair trial. 75% of voters think the Senate should have had a fair trial and how many of those voters interpret what has happened will likely rock the next election. To wit: I think many of those voters will see what has happened as clear proof that Trump is guilty and in addition, that Trump corrupted the US Senate. I predict Trump will lose the next election in such resounding fashion that no future President will even consider doing what Trump has done out of fear the voters will mercilessly punish him if he does. The US Constitution did its job, even if the US Senate didn't. If the Republican senators are congratulating themselves now, they will be shedding tears next November and rightly so. Trump should simply resign now except he is too stupid to see into the future and see that he has doomed himself.
9
Ms Murkowski should have at least enough courage to say she failed and the Senate failed and that the House did not. And when we see more disasters from climate change and trumpian war mongering she should say it again. And when the idiotic wars this country has indulged in get soldiers killed she should say it again. And when the children raised in the United States and are forced out despite admirable records she should say it again. And when Donald Trump says you must now kneeland kiss my feet when entering my presence she should say "we failed" again.
4
Miscarriage of justice. A travesty.
6
If Hillary Clinton had done she would have been impeached and removed already. Republicans would have scoured the Mueller report for all the evidence that she colluded with Russia (even if not meeting the precise definition of "conspiracy" -- maybe attempted conspiracy) and obstructed justice ten or eleven time s like Trump did, and it would have been about a nanosecond before they impeached and removed her. That's Republican-style politics: find any hint of Democratic wrongdoing and drill down on it until eternity. Any failed business deal. Any affair. Any suicide. Any failed policy. Any conspiracy would suffice. They wouldn't have ignored Bill Barr's and Fox News's fake whitewash; it would have been the Mueller report all day every day until Hillary Clinton was gone. They are the most corrupt, hypocritical, and loathsome political party ever. How dare they complain about a "partisan" impeachment hearing. Trump deserved it. He solicits foreign interference in our election, he's unrepentant, and he'll do it again. All Republicans do is watch Fox News and spin whatever happens in the world as if Republicans are always the good guys and Democrats are all, permanently, evil and treacherous. You should have heard Republicans call into CSpan. Ugh. I hope enough of us are sick and tired of their morally bankruptcy cloaked in the flag and Jesus and holier-than-thou rhetoric and behavior and boot them all out of office and down the street and into the ditch in November.
10
Bolster? There’s enough evidence to remove Trump from office. The Repubs are traitors.
12
Democracy is about taking turns.
The Republican party has demonstrated that holding onto power is an end that justifies the means, to paraphrase Dershowitz. Trump committed high crimes so he and his party could cheat us out of a fair election. They will do it again, only this time, with the blessings of Dershowitz, the Senate and even the American people.
It's our turn now, very now!
They've played out their trump suit and it's halftime that proverbial fat lady we've all come to celebrate, has not yet begun to sing.
4
What a disgrace. The forces of darkness have won. The USA will rue this day for the rest of its existence. The precedent set is so mind boggling dangerous I just can't believe what I am witnessing. The parliamentary system may have its flaws but you are not as vulnerable to having to interpret what was in the minds of the "founders" and all the sophistry that comes out of that. The USA has gone down the wrong road.
5
Like it or not, the Republican senators have endorsed the president's behavior. Unbelievably poor judgment. They had a chance to say we have standards. They refused to do it. So this is the America they want: one where truth means nothing, morality is relative, power is all that counts. To call them cowards is a slight to cowards.
9
The fix is in. Either you see it or you won't.
5
Disgraceful. Simply disgraceful. Republicans, most of them, just chose to abandon their duty and stick their heads in the sand. America deserves better.
What's next? How about testing out Trump's boast to that "I can shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue NYC and not be convicted ".
5
Now, Trump and his sycophants ...and Barr can begin the smear campaign on the Bidens(unless there is another Democratic front-runner they can focus on). Expect hearings and indictments. Trump will claim he has been "exonerated", realizing that he is in fact untouchable and continue to try to cheat his way into office in 2020. Will this come back to haunt the Republicans? Probably not. These are dark and ugly times.
5
What a disgusting sham coming out of "the greatest deliberative body in the world". We cannot hear from Bolton because we've already heard all the evidence, it won't change our minds...unbelievable garbage like this spews from Republican senators afraid to stand up and defend the constitution they swore to uphold.
All 3 divisions of government are explicit in making the Senate trial a mockery of itself by saying so much and stating nothing. The president's lawyers arguing one point for their position then using the same point as flawed from house managers.
McConnell says he's working closely with the white house and will wrap this up in a week.
Chief Justice Roberts does nothing. Afraid as much as any of them receiving an insulting tweet.
House managers not once asking the presiding officer for a ruling on the many improprieties shown for example the conflict of interest with Cippilone and the white house meeting discussing how to proceed with the hold of funds.
This is the deliberative body that we as a nation must endure, what a mess.
And we as good citizens have to settle for it.
7
No State of the Union for Trump.
5
The point of the procedure was to show us who the Republicans really are. Some of us knew that for years - but many, including this paper, feel for whatever reasons to give the crooks, criminals, cheaters and amoral weasels another chance after another chance to .... abuse their voters and their office.
6
Lamar Alexander, Lisa Murkowski and others had a choice: uphold our Constitution and be patriots or Trump sycophants. They are Trump sycophants!
9
Every one of those republicans who voted to not have witnesses are part of this sham trial. They all should be voted out of their positions. Their votes show how they are part of the corruption of this country. Blocking witnesses and evidence from a trial is a farce. They all should be charged with treason.
6
The republican coverup is sickening.
How did America descend into madness? How did we become an oligarchy giving unprecedented power to an unpopular, uneducated, untrustworthy boy man pretending to be president? Was it a Svengali spell cast over racist America? Were republicans just sick and tired of reason and honesty? Is greed and bigotry the new mantras for American citizens?
The cowards that kneel before our unfettered king are grotesque in many ways, but they are still Americans. How do we begin to heal a nation that has become so divergent? Why did the GOP coalesce behind such an obviously deranged corrupt racist who is neither intellectually or psychologically prepared for the most important job on earth?
There are not many answers to this baffling dilemma.
Hopefully Americans will rise to the occasion and correct this monstrosity of a mistake in November. But, I’m a little skeptical that anyone really cares about our country enough to get out and vote.
4
I for one am sickened by the continuing enabling ,abetting and protecting of the worst and singularly most corrupt chief executive in our history.
The Senate has really outdone itself this time in proving how their loyalty to a common syndicate boss has turned this country into a third tier, third world banana republic .
We should first collectively hang our heads in shame and proceed to the November polls and vote these despicable legislators out of office
6
PITIFUL-No Witnesses;No Documents.
SICKENING: Rep. Senator Alexander: “ a merely inappropriate telephone call or action.”
COWARDLY: Republicans terrified of Trump - over our country.
8
The Dems did not "fail" They were run over by a GOP tank that will stop at nothing to remain in power. Not one republican is an America Patriot. Shame will forever be a stain on each and every one of these cowardly clowns who defied the will of the people
5
Add Murkowski to the long list of people whose reputations are soiled due to their proximity to Trump. Shame and more shame.
9
When Trump holds the State of the Confederacy speech next week, the Dems should not attend, and instead, hold a real State of the Union of the USA speech and reveal all of the Trump/Republican lies that are destroying the rule of law, and subverting the will of the majority. You can’t vote fascism out of office, you have to drive it out.
5
The Republican senators are enroute to Amrica's worst cover-up ever -- following this show trial. What makes it a show trail is the complete lack of honest exploration of all the arguments which have been made. This a serious shortcoming -- the willful embrace of oblique, vacuous 'arguments' in order to justify saving Trump once again.
The two reasons Trump commits one sleazy action after another is because [1] he is used to getting away with it, and [2] it's the kind of person he is.
The US Republican Senate is now on record for underwriting the worst of Trump, and the worst of American legislative judicial history. The full meaning of this will be written, and it will look darker and darker as time moves along. Right now, it is merely filthy and shady.
6
Organize, get the vote out, take the issue to the right wing base economically and socially. A full court press. Of course the base will cry out bad names and you folks are evil but when they do simply reply you set the stage and like most bullies when the tables are turned on you the moaning starts.
4
“’Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a president from office,’ he [Rubio] said.”
Rubio’s apology is using Orwellian double-talk & doublethink: Trump’s illegal actions are legal!
4
January 31st, 2020 - Day of Infamy
3
No witnesses and no documents? Really?
So much for a shining city city on a hill.
4
The headline and photo tells the tale: Big Grins and Thumbs up ... Republicans Block Witnesses! Absolutely sickening. Celebrating! If they had any class or sense of grace or pride in their positions, they would be standing with their heads hung down. The was a sad day for the country. Celebrating winning at any cost! Shameful behavior beyond belief!
3
Poor Trump, seems like he can't win anything without cheating!
11
It is a senate version of groundhog day, the Republicans stuck out their heads, and seeing lack republican honor went back into Trump's colon to sleep another five years.
3
Lamar Alexander wanted to spare the country more pain and division if he, Lamar Alexander, voted for witnesses. Really, Lamar? Was that your motivation? Or were you simply afraid, even as a soon to be retired Senator, to do the right thing? It's bad enough to be a coward but to clothe yourself in self-serving piety and pretend to be a patriot? Shame on you.
7
Republicans did what Republicans do best. Lie. Obstruct. Suppress. Whitewater. Iraq Invasion. Benghazi. 3016 election. Trump Presidency. Nothing new. Voter suppression. Gerrymandering. Foreign interference in elections. That’s the Republican brand. Lie. Chest. Steal.
6
Profiles in Cowardice. They'd rather face us than Trump. OKAY
3
It's called Shunning. It must begin in earnest-- Pelosi, cancel the Invite. He can rant a State-of-My-Perfection speech to a rally somewhere. Non-Fox Media-- DO NOT BROADCAST his Nuremberg -style propaganda events. Just note how many lies he told, and which were the worst.
Democrats, get the message out, and make it personal. Very simple: not "He broke the law," but "He's now authorized to commit any crime he wants, to get elected: drive your shares down so he can buy them up cheap; steal your identity, your bank records, your phone data, your land title... His lawyer said so and his Senate upheld the opinion."
3
Poisoned well. Devin Nunes of house intelligence committee was intimately involved with Ukraine pressure probe (ask Kash Patel).
WH lawyer Cipollone was intimately involved in Ukraine pressure probe mission + cover up of call documents witnesses.
This is how poisonous the senate impeachment trial is.
The republicans have NO defense of president so they are yelling the House impeachment process was poisoned. YES it was poisoned infected by Nunes presence! How can someone so involved with the process be himself an investigator!
There is no justice in America because republicans want full authority, they want Trump to become the King the monarch and they will defend his lies his bullying his misconduct to their graves. (Thankfully Americans get to vote them out, every single one of this poisonous complicit Republican).
3
If Obama had called the Ayatollah in 2011 asking him to investigate Mitt Romney, don’t you think all 100 senators would at least have wanted to hear from witnesses?
This isn’t partisanship, there is a sect of the population that has no interest in democracy and rule of law and they are winning every day
6
No such thing as a good Republican in the time of Trump.
One can predict the course of election activity in the months ahead, at least for the Republicans. Trump will blow the racist whistle loudly and often, for without the racist south, he loses.
He will find a woman to mock and aim his DOJ at, for his base loves to denigrate women. He will gin up passions in his base to attack protestors, and some will be hurt or killed.
He will cook up a fake cause to take back the headlines, probably one that, falsely, shows that the Democratic lead vote getter broke the law.
He will help Putin and the two of them will strut about the world state, Putin as he smirks at the joke he has put over on the American People, and Trump because he knows how much money he will make from his foreign entanglements.
Hugh
4
Sad day for our country. Republicans have demonstrated that they are no better than politicians in some third world country being ruled by a dictator.
God help America.
4
Democrats fail? Are you kidding me. How about Republicans sweep the truth under the carpet instead. What happened to reporting the facts and telling the truth.
5
No witnesses, no evidence, defiance toward the law ; it's the kind of justice that was once preserved for blacks in the pre civil rights South. Now we see it as a nation.
2
I think Schumer summed it up pretty nicely with his use of the word perfidy in his reaction to being denied witnesses.
Two things that could have happened that would have made this into a John Grisham novel:
1. Bolton (Sam Elliott), should have called into one of the major news networks and spilled the beans about what he knows before the votes were taken.
2. Chief Justice Roberts (Bryan Cranston) would have overruled McConnell (Donald Sutherland or JK Simmons) and announced that he was going to allow witnesses.
3. Exasperation, Rabble and Harrumphs consume the victimized GOP senators!
4. Schiff (Paul Giamatti or Dustin Hoffman) makes a stirring speech praising the framers and the noble supreme court.
5. Trump (Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton or James Caan) throws tantrum in oval office while his keepers look on shamefully.
~Fin
3
Look! McConnell is so happy as he destroys democracy. Nice. I can barely tolerate the cover of the NYTimes today. Going out for a walk...to breathe.
1
I am ashamed to be an American.
3
Stephen Johnson Field, Roger Taney, James Clark McReynolds, Melville Fuller, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts.
1
I am 77 and during my life this is the 3rd impeachment that I have witnessed. The other two the House of Representatives DID THEIR JOB, they investigated heard all the relevant witnesses and walked into the Senate with an overbearing case (since they did such a good job Nixon resigned before the Senate trial). The problem with this impeachment is the House did not do its job. The Democrats in the House forgot that their is a 3rd branch of government and one of their responsibilities is too settle differences between the other other 2 branches. If the Democrats wanted too get to interview all the witnesses, they should have gone to court to enforce their subpoenas, but they knew that the courts would not agree with them.
Let us be honest if you are a Democrat you hate, yes I said Hate this President, it matters not what he does you hate him. If he found a cure for all Cancers,if he ended the Korean war, if Iran gave up all of its Nuclear material,if he was able to reverse all the effects of Climate Change, you would still hate him. So let us be clear it is not that you do not agree with his policies , you just hate the man.
4
Professional Baseball has more integrity than the Senate.
To my friends in Texas, had the Senate been in the Alamo, and Travis offered the chance to leave, before he drew the line in the sand,
the Republicans would have been shoving women and children out of the way to hit the escape door. Cruz and Cronyn would have been first in line.
God help America.
2
The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.
...Albert Einstein
6
Everyone with a vote in the 23 states with one of the craven 53 up for reelection needs to vote out those abject traitors to the Constitution and perjurers for falsely swearing to an oath to do impartial justice. And DO NOT vote for any "Republican" as a replacement. That brand is dead.
3
The real story, and the actual truth, will come out as John Durham runs down all the ratlines and paints a picture of the network of falsehood that was the foundation of this farce.
The New York Time's complicity in the attempt to undermine the Presidency has failed. Massively.
Did it engage in, have knowledge of, or provide aid or support for illegal activity related to this ?
We'll find out soon enough.
In the meantime, if there are any investigative reporters remaining, they should look into the alleged whistleblower's activities at the NSC and determine, as the NSC advisor on Ukraine, whether or not he was engaged in a setup ploy.
2
Never vote for another Republican candidate—at any level! This political party must become toast. Its members have decided that its “base,” its constituency, consists of those Americans among us who are jingoistic, racist, sexist, bigoted, xenophobic, gullible—need I go on? This is not the Republican Party of an Abraham Lincoln, or even Dwight Eisenhower. This Party has decided that the rule of law applies to neither the Presidency nor the Senate.
In fact, it smells a bit like Weimar in here.
2
This is a horrible disappointment. There is no choice now but to keep fighting. Fight through the House investigations, fight through the courts for the subpoenas, fight for fairness in the November election, and take all of this Republican trash to the curb.
1
"Government is the problem."- Ronald Reagan
Written Law (objective) or Justice (subjective)? That a few past and current gov. officials as well as media persons have found it necessary to either apologize for their lack of or on the other hand tout their legal bonafides; is evidence of why Our Republic a nation governed by laws for We The People is losing its decades long battle to maintain a ‘just’ democracy.
During the Trial not one Senator on either side mentioned this quote from The USC Art. I sec. 3. “Judgement in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than removal of Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgement and Punishment, according to Law.”
Has Trump shown dishonor, untrustworthiness and or private profiteering as President? Art. II sec. 4 states… “high Crimes & Misdemeanors…” or whether specific acts were done legally or illegally as objective standards for removal whereas Art. I sec 3, is subjective. Removal under Art. I is based on Senate judgements of only three ethical and or moral character traits—period.
That is why Constituently a person can be elected President or to Congress without possessing a high school diploma. Common & Moral Sense matter more in justice than in the law, which is apparently the crux of Our Nation’s leadership problems. Enough with the dumb stuff!
3
It now appears Mr. Trump is off limits for any investigation from anywhere. But there remain issues to be investigated with numerous other Trump officials, Barr, Pompeo and last but not least, Rudy Giuliani.
In this article, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/world/europe/giuliani-ukraine-klitschko-trump.html, we learn Mr. Giuliani was working for the current finance administrator and Mayor of Kyiv, and against the wishes of Mr. Zelensky, and Zelensky is weakened as a result.
The article reads“… Mr. Zelensky [has experienced] dwindling political capital amid intense criticism from domestic political opponents that he was too soft on Russia.”
Though Mr. Trump is off limits to House investigators, Mr. Giuliani is not. The House Committee on Foreign Relations should open an investigation into Mr. Giuliani and subpoena him and post daily penalty cost for refusing to comply.
Clearly, Rudy is meddling in U.S. foreign affairs and is working in Mr. Trump’s personal interest but this doesn’t appear to be serving U.S. national security interests.
So, in whose interest is Rudy really working if the effect of supporting the Mayor of Kyiv is to weaken the anti-corruption President Zelensky? As Speaker Pelosi said to President Trump, “with you all roads lead to Mr. Putin.”
Investigate Mr. Giuliani now!
3
Thank you, Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, for your principled stand in the interests of our nation.
6
It is now more important than every that EVERY democrat voter to vote the straight Dem ticket next November. Only we can save this Republic.
1
It's time to start attacking the GOP and Trump on the good, old-fashioned, boring grounds of their lousy record.
Trump policies and GOP legislation have been bad.
The economy is holding up on paper. But it's the gig and Amazon economy -- not great for the working and middle class, no matter how fine Zuck and Jeffrey B. are doing.
And healthcare is still their Achilles heel.
Start highlighting all the bills that the house has passed for the people that are stuck at McConnell's feet.
Back to blocking and tackling, girls and boys.
2
For the GOP, a Republican who used $391,000,000 to EXTORT a foreign country into helping him rig an election does not rise to the same level as a Democrat who lied about an AFFAIR.
6
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."
Albert Eintein
4
A trial without witnesses or evidence is NOT a trial. Not in America, and everyone knows that.
Fake Trial = Fake Acquittal.
I’m not so sure the Senate is doing Trump any favors. The stain of crime and corruption on his Presidency is permanent now. They haven’t lifted “impeachment” from him at all; he’s forever soiled with it. It’s a tattoo on his soul.
6
We, the people, will not forget....
4
The only person who can "save us" at this point is Bolton: he has to publish his book even without the approval of the government: he knows very well what he can or cannot say in his book and he should not let them stop him....
3
This makes Game of Thrones seem like reruns on MeTV! I keep telling myself it’s just a show but I can’t help my stomach from reeling.
At least the Lannisters always paid their debts.
1
"Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, said that “some of the president’s actions in this case...were wrong and inappropriate.”
Let's see..."wrong and inappropriate". Kissing a stranger you pass on the street on the mouth? Wrong and inappropriate. Dumping your plate of food on the restaurant floor to demonstrate your displeasure with the dinner you've just been served? Wrong and inappropriate. Purposely swerving your car into a puddle to splash pedestrians waiting to cross the street? Wrong and inappropriate.
Conspiring with an extended, international cabal of people to illegally withhold almost $400M in aid to coerce an ally at war with an enemy of the U.S. to dig up/manufacture dirt on a political opponent (for which they've already been investigated previously) while threatening and finally removing a duly appointed ambassador to that country because they wouldn't "play ball"? Oh, and trashing the constitution and elevating the individual responsible for all of the above actions to a monarch? Let's see...
4
I've seen more justice in Russian cold war show trials.
How can you have a trial with no witnesses?
Let's be clear what the Senate just told this country.
You know, that Constitution thing and the 27 amendments that came after it?
Just Kidding!
3
The house should now impeach him again with other charges perhaps to do with violation(s) of 41 U.S.C. 8301-8305 - nepotism and violation of 5 CFR § 2635.702 - Use of public office for private gain.
Surely both meet the definition of high crimes or misdemeanors?
Looking into his use of campaign funding to pay his private lawyers ought to reap impeachable offenses galore, as well as criminally charging him for the same violations.
No sufficient? Start on his tax evasive tricks. That ought to put billions into the pockets of his lawyers.
Why aren't regulating offices examining the practices of this
crook in and out of office?
4
The free world will never take The Republic of the United States of America seriously again.
4
We need to let the voters decide but for god's sake never let the voters have proof of what we know.
1
Interesting group personality profile: Cowards; yet taking a high risk gamble on being able to "survive" in every sense of the word, the global social, political, and natural collapses they have unleashed on all of us by using this aggrandizing puppet of a man to further advance their own agendas. Good luck. Won't work. You'll suffer the consequences with rest of us, hermetically sealed bunkers aside.
Incredible hubris, and now, before death, however it comes to you, you will be regarded by a great many as unscrupulous, zealots, traitors to the existing America, the one you were elected to serve, responsibly. So you took a job under false pretenses. Traitors.
2
Corrupt president; corrupt Attorney General; Corrupt Republican Party; and tens of millions of Americans cheering for more of it. We are in big trouble.
3
Murkowski's condemnation of the "partisan" nature of the Senate trial rings hollow. Republicans scurry to find what cover they can for their cowardice and self-interest.
3
I object to the sub-headline in this story. I don't think the Democrats "failed" at anything.
Please run the headline, "democracy is dead." It will more accurately capture the state of the nation.
2
Shameful behavior. I hope Lamar Alexander's spirit dies in retirement. One good moment, Warren's question, that John Roberts read, about the chief justice basically debasing himself in a sham "trial."
3
I was born at night, but I wasn’t born last night. Complicit Republicans should lose at the ballot box.
5
Speech bubbles for the LM & SC photo:
LM: Good we voted opposite ways – it would have put the CJ in a tight spot.
SC: Yeah.... No collusion [chuckle]!
2
Donald Trump will forever be an impeached President, an ignominious footnote that will attach to him for all of time. But he will not be removed from office through the impeachment process. The Senate majority has spoken.
But that does not exonerate Trump of insidious cowardice and corruption. He did it. He is guilty of the allegations charged. He sought to bribe our country’s vulnerable political ally in an attempt to cheat in our American election. And then he got caught. And then he lied to escape the truth. With viciousness and mindless bluster. Over and over again. Let’s not mistake that. The evidence — that which was not suppressed — is manifest and overwhelming. Of that, even Republicans have acknowledged.
And that is a disgrace. No American should countenance so craven a disregard for our Constitution, our political integrity and our safety and wellbeing. He sold us out, ready to leave our foreign ally prone to enemy attack in order to gain a personal political edge over his opponent. That’s cheating. That’s un-American. That’s disgusting. And that must not be forgotten in November.
5
First...I'm really proud of my Senator, Mitt Romney. Also, Susan Collins...it takes real character to stand against people with no character. This whole "banana republic" show trial has made me physically sick. I cannot believe that our Unites States Senate has just allowed Trump to become America's dictator... not answerable to either the law or the people. Our legal system has been the envy of the world. Not any more. No one in American can be assured of a fair trial. Justice Roberts....shame!
4
I'm constantly wondering what do the wives, children
(especially daughters)& grandchildren REALLY think about their Senator Dad or Grandad during all of this???
We are taught, as small children, to know right from wrong and how it is always better to tell the TRUTH rather than telling a LIE. Good should prevail over bad. What kind of role models are these Senators to their next generation? Do they even care? What a disgrace.
5
Good presidents come and go. Bad presidents accumulate.
3
America,
“Senator Roy Blunt”...for this and Hawley, we’re really sorry.
Sincerely, Missouri
3
What ridiculous reasons these senators gave for their votes. Lamar Alexander worried about pouring gasoline on the cultural fires. Part of his job would be to prepare his constituents for the outcome. Making the statement that he did comes really close to shouting fire in a crowded theater. Conflating the electoral process with the impeachment process was another frequently heard cop-out. All of these heroes looking to prepare for their life after the Senate (Alexander and Cory Gardner come to mind). And, please stop calling the call summary a transcript. It is NOT a transcript. We never got a transcript. We got what those inept clowns in the White House would put their best foot forward. Remember in November.
2
The impeachment attempt has done nothing more than solidify and increase Trump's base. If Biden becomes the Democratic candidate, many progressives - who hate the corrupt, corporatist Democrats - will not step in line. The choice in November will be between an entrenched, corrupt elitist and a maniac or a marxist and a maniac.
3
Does the fact that Cipollone was a witness to the May meeting talked about on Bolton's book in any way effect his status as a trial manager?
2
I must disagree with the headline's conclusion. The case was a slam dunk under any circumstances where the Senate Republicans were not beholden to Trump. And actually, they owe him nothing but their quivering, spineless souls which Trump keeps on a "server" of sorts. It's his twitter account that has them all subjugated to his every whim.
Thus, the House managers did not fail. Their's was a convincing argument going in with witness testimony and actual documentation proving Trump's guillt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rather, it was the Senate Republicans who "failed." They fell on their own swords in fealty to their King Donald.
The Senate Republicans have paved the way for the Founders' worst dread: our fragile experiment democracy — the envy of the world — snatched from the American People by a foreign power (Russia) and aided by a president seeking personal economic gain where despotic enemies rule over their people with utmost cruelty.
Past and current Republicans in the House and Senate have planned for one-party rule in perpetuity for decades. Did their plan include a democracy or, total authoritarian rule by white supremacists?
Alan Dershowitz should be disbarred for giving Trump an excuse to invite foreign interference in our elections. Interestingly enough, he has already been blackballed by his neighbors on Martha's Vineyard. I suppose they know more about Dershowitz's lack of character than Trump's senate sycophants.
Think "blue!" Dump Trump in November.
3
Its maddening to know that Trump was never elected by a majority of the American People yet here we are pretending a fraud wasn't perpetrated on ….All Of Us. The Electoral College is seldom even talked about by journalists yet its the most influential object in any Presidential Election. If The People had their rights not walked all over, Hillary would have been President. We were hoodwinked and the result Trump and the whole lot of insanity we all know by now. It should have us up in arms; even the gun owning militias if it actually was tyranny they're after and not their preferences prevailing. The distraction is that the solution is to get numbers to the polls ...suckers. We did that last time and the margin was 3 million stolen like it didn't even happen because some Dictator named The Electoral College came and stole it from us. The kicker is, electors don't have to vote with the majority in their state. We seldom even talk about who these people are as if they're some deep covert op. Its going to be, shame on us, because there's nothing to stop it happening again. They're working on it and again we're in a coma on it.
2
The message this sends to Americans is simple: You can disregard the law and get away with it. You can assault women, even be accused of rape, and get away with it. You can swindle, extort, bribe and steal, and get away with it. The next time you’re picked for jury duty, simply tell the judge, “I don’t need to hear witnesses or see documents. I’ve already made up my mind.” And the nightmare continues.
3
Democrats fail in push?
No, not quite, the Democrats were quite convincing. The problem that you seem to have missed in your headline is that the Republicans are traitors to the nation.
4
I’m perfectly fine with McConnell and every Republican who voted with him being tried for treason.
5
There can't be a Trump acquittal without a trial, and there isn't a trial without witnesses and the documents blocked by the accused. So no acquittal, only senate cowards voting to end the farce.
2
“You don’t apply capital punishment for every offense.” Even if you don’t vote to remove, don’t you apply some punishment if you acknowledge that the prosecution proved its case and the president is guilty of what he’s been charged with? Since when is using the power of the office to extort a foreign government for personal gain so minor as to be ignored? And how can you be certain of the extent of the offense without all the evidence?
Trump has lied about the entire incident every step of the way. He will continue to lie, call it a “perfect call”, and claim complete exoneration unless the Senate does something more than shrug. Far too many will continue to believe him. And 51 U.S. Senators will be fully complicit. What a bunch of cowards.
2
A sad display of the worst form of cowardice, a failure to defend due process, kneeling in fealty to a tyrant. Disgraceful behavior and weasel-wording, thus dis-honoring your own oath to office.
If you have any honor at all you will do the right thing, apologize, and resign, for you have demonstrated fear in place of courage, and failed in your duty to country
3
Putin must be so proud of his best student, Trump. All that's left for Trump to do now is rig the 2020 election, jail and/or kill his enemies and end term limits.
1
Democrats, wear black to the State of the Union, with a white rose or carnation on your left, in solidarity.
We are in mourning for our democracy.
2
Someone shot someone on 5th Ave.
"“But that is not treason, that is not bribery, that is not a high crime and misdemeanor,” he added, listing the criteria enumerated in the Constitution for impeachable offenses."
1
“And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense;
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope.”
-Macbeth, V.viii
1
Only in a Republican American can the defendant in a trial prevent witnesses from testifying against him. Even worse the Republican Party call it a "witch hunt" with no facts once they have refused to allow any facts in. Fascism wins and American Democracy loses.
2
Senator Lamar Alexander says that conviction of Trump would amount to pouring gasoline on cultural fires. I'm surprised he hasn't noticed that Trump has acted as a catalyst for cultural fires since he was sworn in. Assaults on minority groups, including Jews, has risen dramatically and hate groups are more active than ever. When neo-Nazis marched in North Carolina,
Trump defended them as "good people." Where have you been, Senator Alexander?
2
If you find the outcome of these events distressing, then you need to, at the very least, contribute to the Democratic opponents of Collins, Murkowski, et. al. The 10 most vulnerable Senators can be found here. https://www.rollcall.com/news/10-vulnerable-senators-2020-republicans-play-defense
You don't have to spend much, $5 will do, if every concerned Democrat participates. If you don't have $5, volunteer, it's a rewarding experience.
We can wipe out the Trump party. We must.
2
The death of the American experiment.
2
Democrats had to activate the impeachment procedure, whatever would have been the outcome. It was their duty to defend the Constitution, without considering the negative foreseen vote in the Senate, or the influence on 2020 election.
Senator Lisa Murkowski - portraited smiling after Republicans successful have blocked the request for new witnesses – has twisted, with her blurred thoughts, History: umpteen past similar experiences say that History always bounces back from an unnatural given course.
Now, Democrats, have to look forward, and choose the right nominee. From what is my view as democratic European - finally relieved, although a bit sad, for the departure of Great Britain – I suggest Americans in their caucuses to always fully endorse Tom Steyer.
From what I've seen on the many NY Times compared interviews, and hereunder is a link of one example:
https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000006933977/20-questions-with-2020-democrats.html?searchResultPosition=1
Tom, has got all the qualities to beat Mr. Trump and become the next President of the United States of America.
1
“You don’t apply capital punishment for every offense,” Mr. Alexander added
Indeed, apparently you just let the defendant walk free after you’ve admitted his guilt.
3
Having a “trial” without witnesses is like having “apple pie” without apples. What a farce!
3
"...for a merely inappropriate telephone call or action.”
... for a merely inappropriate neglect, traumatization and death of innocent children.
...for a merely inappropriate desecration f the Presidency.
...for a merely inappropriate threatening of elected of elected policy makers.
...for a merely inappropriate stigmatizing of government officials, and members of the armed services; including those who died to protect a divided nation.
...for a merely inappropriate institutionalizing of lying. Shamelessly.
...for a merely inappropriate ravishing of generalizable facts and the TRUTH.
...for a merely inappropriate feeding, and re-empowering, an American legacy, tradition, laws and history of a toxic WE-THEY violating culture which enables the creation, selection and targeting of "the other(s)." People. Groups. Beliefs. Principles. Religions. Human characteristics.
...for a merely inappropriate obfuscation of the Constitution's principles designed to enable a civil society for flawed human beings who could nevertheless achieve sustainable mutual trust. Mutual respect. Mutual caring. Mutual help when, and if, needed.
SHAME on you, Senators, for choosing to be personally unaccountable for the implications and consequences of your harmful words. Judgments. Deeds.
Having raised the memory of the Army-McCarthy hearing, in this faux-trial, during an era which wounded democracy,I ask you to consider Mr. Welch's query:" At long last,have you left no sense of decency?"
1
Well, we have paved the way for any president in the future to be as corrupt as they chose, unless Democrat of course.
4
Kinda wish political parties didn't exist. They feel like crime families ar this point.
2
The Republican Senate has now bestowed four more years of Trump on the country. Please pass the bananas.
2
Republicans know exactly what happened. And we know that. We shall be the jury come November.
1
By electing not to hear witness testimony, the Republicans have elected Trump dictator, possibly for life.
1
I went to see the film 1917 today and it was great to see 2 hours of men with courage. Sorry to have to come back to reality and see the Republicans in the Senate, old men with no courage, who sold us out and for what? For What? Where was justice, where were the heroes, where were the truth seekers?
We asked for a trial with witnesses, that was it. What were they so afraid of? One answer - the truth. Their loyalty was with one man, a total despot. Traitors all of them.
4
In the March primary I will be resigning from the Republican party. I'm sure that many voters will be doing the same. The party has absolutely no principles = a pack of swine at the trough. I was a republican, so I can say it.
2
Whatever you do people, do not buy "No guts, no glory" John Bolton's book.
4
Great article.well written.
All this has done is absolutely insure that socialist bernie sanders will win the presidency, and his goon squad will win at the national, state, and local levels.
Instead of leading—by compromizing even an iota, for example—the republicans lead by mcconnel have insured that liberals fight fire with fire. Regular folks in the rational middle will watch, baffled, as the two extremes burn it down.
1
The democrats have been trying to oust Trump since day number 1.
Stormy, Kavanaugh, Russia, Ukraine - what a waste of time, energy and integrity!
Trump 2020!
3
Sen. Alexander, so very considerate of you to put country first.
/s
I was born at night, but not last night, Senator.
1
Nothing says “He’s innocent” like “No documents or witnesses necessary, thanks.
2
Behold, the fall of the republic.
2
i am sorry americans. it is not the democrats who failed. it is you, the electorate, who failed in giving them the support they would have needed. had the american cities been full of protesting citizens defending their country’s constitution, it might have changed the mind of the republican senators about acquitting a president who acts like a mafia boss and dictator. what’s wrong? why this passivity? why are you just sitting there waiting as if you didn’t care at all?
4
And to prove his point trumpet is going to 5th Avenue with a gun...
1
Since now it’s legal, if I’m Joe Biden I take a copy of the perfect phone transcript, call up Mr. Putin (Xi, Zelensky, etc.), and read it verbatim seeking dirt on Trump.
1
Now the uncontrollable has been released. I sincerely hope the republicans are happy that they are further destroying America. Now the rest of us will have to vote these traitors of The Constitution & Declaration of Independence out of office (if we have the chance). There is still 9 months of their control of the country to do a great deal of damage to the laws of the land.
1
Think of the bright side, all the money the Republicans can save whenever they call for hearings in the future, no need to call for witnesses...
2
What are the chances that Pence could win against any Democratic candidate? Once you have the answer, you then know McConnell's logic. He would have fought to acquit even if the President were Ted Bundy or Charles Manson.
2
Wednesday, February 5, 2020, will present history with the largest case of jury nullification in modern or any time.
3
It’s funny how when illegal immigration is discussed by Republicans the sanctity of the law is unquestionable.
4
Myself, I figure that at least half the postings that yack abot depression, apocalypse, the end of America and surrender come from clever Trump bots.
As for the others, get over yourselves. You have no right to be so fragile. Go watch, “Eyes on the Prize,” think about others enduring far more and staying strong.
1
This whole impeachment was a sham which is why Schiff never released the testimony of the 18th witness, Michael Atkinson.
1
The one thing that keeps me optimistic, is the fact that the Impeachment in the House stands. That will be his legacy. We’ll finally stop hearing about the Clinton impeachment and the “blue dress.” His grandchildren will read all about it in their US History books. He will be listed as one of 4 impeached presidents! He thinks he’s been vindicated of everything. Surprise! That title is NOT disappearing. Hopefully the country will remember this when they vote in November!
1
To the Republican Senators, a message from William Shakespeare:
“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”
3
More light.
House committee(s) should have Bolton tesitify.
Start more investigations. Censure Nunes, who played a role in this.
Start compelling witnesses. Take it to the courts.
Emoluments. Trump’s taxes. Get it out in the open!
Republican senators are cowards. Yes, especially Collins.
2
Flood your republicans senators with phone calls. Tell them our country deserves decency honor truth not Trump’s dictatorship.
Call call call
2
What I saw last night was total abdication and surrender, Trump’s GOP disciples, to the power of money and its deity.
I could recreate in my mind each one of them, walking lugubriously with their hands closely intertwined, kneeling first, then going flat on their whole bodies, face down in a crucifixion mode and saying: “I renounce to my oath I took when I became part of the USA Congress. Now I abhor my moral principles and the Democratic Institutions. From now on, I pledge full loyalty and alliance to dishonesty. Trump and money are my masters.”
USA lost last night its soul as a nation and, hence, it’s most powerful weapon.
China, Europe and Russia will be the key players and you will have to rely more on your military might so your voice could be heard. That’s dangerous.
Last night dismemberment will be extremely difficult to heal.
That’s a fact and the truth. But the latter don’t matter any longer – don’t they?
1
How quaint for Lamar Alexander to refer to the “perfect phone call” as “inappropriate.” And for Murkowski to lament the failure of Congress yet not her own. What is it with republicans and their habit of giving a thumbs up at the most inappropriate moments; DJT and the El Paso orphan; grinning McConnell, with his smiling coffee girls, post dereliction of duty; the stuff of nightmares!
2
Democrats could push more aggressively for red state senate seats in Nov 2020
And they need finally to put more money in social media advertisement. That's how you turn the tide
2
The headline says Democrats failed, but in the end they were successful in that they showed integrity in addressing the fundamental question of illegal and corrupt behavior by the president. They should not hang their heads low thinking they have lost - quite the contrary -they should stand tall and remember this was their finest hour!
1
Apparently, corruption and rigging elections is what Republicans stand for nowadays. Welcome to the Banana Republic formally known as the USA. Nothing like doing the work of our enemies for them!
2
A complete fail by the US political class operating in representative form of government. To answer the question posed to Ben Franklin: “it’s a dictatorship and you can keep it.”
2
At least this might hasten the flipping of the Senate.
1
You say, "It's time we grew up and put away childish notions."
You seem to equate age with wisdom.
Before, I accept your "notion," I would need to know more about the quality of your life experiences.
The party of law and order just surrendered their title.
1
Now, all serious academics, authors, public intellectuals, and historians of Empire -- like Hardt, Negri, Vidal, Arendt, Hedges, Bacevich, Perenti, Johnson, Scahill, Chomsky, Perkins, Zinn, Engelhardt, Turse, Williams, Robinson, et al. -- will be able to pronounce that Emperor Trump has "Crossed the Potomac" -- as America has become this Disguised Global Crony Capitalist Empire, which is only nominally HQed in, and merely 'posing' as, our formerly "promising" and sometimes progressive country (PKA) America.
Or as Oppenheimer famously said:
"Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
And as Prof. Robinson diagnosed and 'exposed':
“The U.S. state is a key point of condensation for pressures from dominant groups around the world to resolve problems of global capitalism and to secure the legitimacy of the system overall. In this regard, “U.S.” imperialism refers to the use by transnational elites of the U.S. state apparatus (hard & soft powers) to continue to attempt to expand, defend, and stabilize the global capitalist system. We are witness less to a “U.S.” imperialism per se than to a global capitalist imperialism. We face an EMPIRE OF GLOBAL CAPITAL, headquartered, for evident historical reasons, in Washington.” [Caps added]
Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Humanity, 2014 Robinson, William, Cambridge University Press
1
American democracy has been set adrift in a storm of dishonesty, immortality and greed without an anchor of truth. How can these leaders of the people be swayed by fear and not act as their own common sense and conscience leads them. Stop following like sheep. Stand up and lead your people to the promised land of life liberty and happiness. Consequences should not stop you from dethroning the king. Thomas More gave his head, How could a senator not even give a vote for fair trail. Your justice system is now dead and a monarch is drapped in your flag as the world stands aghast
2
Trump did try to make a "deal" with Ukrain in order to try tio ruin Biden candidacy.No quetion about it have bragged the republican senators
So what?
Indeed,for them, if Trump had a chance to shoot Bidden on Fith Avenue, it would be his duty to do it
And not only should he not be prosecuted, but he should be congratulated and commended for his heroic action because any one endangering Trump is ipso facto an ennemy of the Nation.
Our most honest, and dedicated Republican senators got this right, never mind simple decency or that stupid old valueless piece of paper that is call the Constitution
1
Democratic campaign slogan for November - "The GOP - they let Trump get away!"
1
Not one! Not a single Republican senator mentions the second and equal article of impeachment: obstruction of Congress in relation to their rationalizing of their decisions. Are they not required to consider both articles? Why is this not all over the headlines?! (My comment is in addition to support of most of the other remarks from commenters.)
1
Seems to me that if there is to be no witness testimony, the Democratic presidential candidates would be justified in skipping the closing bloviation from Sekulow, Dershowitz et al and go back to campaigning in Iowa until the final vote.
1
This is jury nullification, not acquittal.
2
One step closer to the Dictatorship, if we’re not there already.
1
Remember: The whole world sees this. It is not a dirty little secret. Half of the world scratches their head in wonder, the other half is sending lobbyists to the White House now that they know anything goes.
1
Extra Extra Read All About It:
“Republicans Fail The American People, The American People Vote Them Off The Island.”
3
The greatest democracy in the world? It died in the Senate yesterday.
3
“It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed,” Ms. Murkowski added.
No, Ms. Murkowski, YOU are the Congress and YOU failed your institution and the entire country. What a lame excuse for passing on your duty. I hope you and your see-nothing, hear-nothing, do-nothing Republican colleagues are content to go down in history as mere strings in McConnel’s disgusting puppet show.
3
After suffering through the interminable impeachment trial in the senate, I can say with every confidence that it was not the Democrats that failed.
The Republicans' position was kabuki theater:
Will you, won't you,
will you, won't you,
will you join the dance?
McConnell had the votes sewn up when this began. But before November, we will know the truth about how much the Republicans hid from the public.
10
Senator Lamar Alexander's reason that conviction would "pour gasoline on cultural fires."
Do you mean the GOP's DECONSTRUCTION of the meaning of our Constitution and the fabric of American society to fit some notion of THEOCRACY?
Cultural fires?
It is the GOP that wants to behave any way they want in public meaning they want to treat you any way they want if they do not like your lifestyle choices of whatever because the Lord Jesus is telling to do it.
What utter nonsense.
If a Democrat get elected president in 2020 you will get your CULTURAL WAR because of the evil people within the GOP will not stand for a Democratic president.
Senator Lamar Alexander is kicking HIS CULTURAL WAR CAN down the road.
Get ready for the GOP CULTURAL WARS if they do not get what they want.
8
What other countries don’t have witnesses at trials?
North Korea, Russia, Saudia Arabia. . .
The list goes on.
The Senate has betrayed America in favor of Trumpism.
17
The Democrats ...did NOT fail; they proved that the GOP in
the Senate have ruined The Republican Party's ideals.
How many will regret their votes to a fair trial...: how many
Republicans at this point are disgusted and revolted by them.
Who will denounce them now ???
8
It will be interesting to see if the Republicans who believe Trump was wrong, but that his actions do not warrant his removal, do a “Dershowitz” and change their minds when it is a Democratic President seeking foreign help to dig up dirt on a political foe.
3
The sight of “impartial juror” McConnell chortling and giving a thumbs-up in reaction to this disgraceful outcome is enough to make one lose all hope for this country-along with one’s lunch.
8
Guess I'm waiting to see the first 'common' criminal attempt to have witness testimony suppressed during their trial. Right. Guess the president really IS above the law. Sad to see my country turn into a 'banana republic'.
6
The Republican members of the House and Senate have officially annointed their king. I wonder when the King of the US will declare himself head of a church and outlaw all others, since he is the sovereign. Maybe His Royal Highness will do so at the State of the Union? Should I start referring to the Republicans on Capitol Hill as the King's courtiers? I'm new to this whole monarchy thing.
9
Everyone knew that this would be the outcome. So why did the Democrats initiate and continue this? Perhaps they wanted to increase their political capital. Anyway, the voters will decide in November whether President Trump will continue to remain in office. I know many in this forum have their favorite potential candidates but the Democrats need to focus on only one criteria at this point – Who can beat Trump! If you do not win, nothing else matters! Right now, the prospective candidates appear to have only strong regional appeal (Klobuchar) or liked primarily by specific groups (Sanders appeal to younger voters). There may be only two individuals with the broad based appeal to win. Joe Biden, but age (“Sleepy Joe”) and some possible negative baggage (Ukraine) could hurt. And there is Michael Bloomberg. Yes, he is very wealthy. But he is financing his own campaign and will not owe any favors to any big donors at this point. Democrats – Do better this time! You picked a lousy candidate in 2016 and lost an election you should have easily won (No more whining about the Russians, the Electoral College , Blah, Blah Blah). And then you added to your cry baby looser image by picking a fight everyone knew you could not win. I repeat - Do better this time. Let’s not hear “Three strikes and you’re out”.
4
Lamar Alexander citing ‘cultural fires” and a polarized electorate as a rationale to acquit justifies unconstitutional actions. This pathetic rationale is compounded by Alexander saying the House Managers had proved their case. I hope journalists get comments from Alexander every time Trump runs around saying he was exonerated in this “hoax”.
5
The Senate has failed to protect due process. They have failed to uphold their oath. They have failed to adhere to the basic function of a democratic republic. Why I wonder, are the American people still paying federal taxes?
Why are we so willing to pay for countless golf outings? How have we become so ignorant to be willing to give money to a man whose so clearly unfit for office?
Say what you will about Richard Nixon, but at least he had enough respect towards his oath of office and the Union to step down. The America I have been taught to believe in has died, and it was ignorance and greed that killed her.
5
Yes, no witnesses. The GOP has no choice. When more revelations surface, that Pence, Mulvaney, Pompeo, Barr, Nunes and Cipollone are all complicit, Republicans will be facing the complete destruction of the Trump administration.
Republicans are determined to fight the truth at all costs.
9
McConnell’s smiles while obliterating our democracy.
8
Democrats should boycott trumps campaign event once known as " The State of the Union."
Show it for what it is.
3
Send no soldiers to foreign lands to protect our Constitution, it was defeated by the Republicans in our own capitol last night.
2
Cippolone was in on discussions of the Ukraine extortion and then defended Trump at the Senate.
Putin is impressed and has asked for his resume.
5
Now that the republic is over, can we please hasten the invasion by the Visigoths of Canada?They may be our only hope for a bright future! After all, we are being sacked and pillaged from the inside already.
3
Now, speaking for the rest of America. Most people believe that Trump was pressuring Ukraine to investigate the Biden’s. The motivation could range from the perception that he is a corruption fighter to purely doing it to undermine a political opponent. It does not matter. The Biden’s should have never taken advantage of Joe’s governmental role to enhance themselves financially, especially in such a corrupt and troubled country. If the House wanted to wait for the courts to give them a smoking gun, then OK, but until then you have two politicians making a mockery of our country and the Biden’s opened the door wide open to this mess and Trump kicked it in. Technical foul of both and let’s let the voters sort it out.
3
The Democrats didn’t “fail in their attempt to bolster their case,” which is largely open and shut.
The Republicans have decided that the case doesn’t matter, because they are going to vote to acquit their Dear Leader regardless of truth, evidence, his criminality or the Constitution. This sham of a trial was prejudged by the majority of jurors, and we know, because they’ve said so in public!
We used to have a conservative party and a liberal party. We now have an authoritarian party and a pro-democracy party. Our last chance at continuing this 244-year experiment comes in November.
5
They have freed him to rug his own election.
It brings into focus the rightist tee shirts that proclaim they would rather be Russian than a Democrat.
Remember 2000 when the Dems won and Gore gave up for the sake of peace?
Then there is 2016 when The Dems got 3 million more votes and could not assume power.
Now the senate trial was announced to be a foregone conclusion beforehand. No witnesses or documents.
They would rather have a totalitarians state than one wherein Democrats can have power whatsoever.
- Barr reframing the Mueller Report before release
- Obama not being allowed to appoint a SC justice
Does anybody really think Trump is leaving in 2020
whatever the result? Is Trump worth losing your democracy for?
3
The Republican senators view seems like the famous quote from the movie A Few Good Men (pretty ironic title, under the circumstances): “Truth? You can’t handle the truth.” Well, they can’t anyway.
1
Trump and these Republican's have nothing to crow about in a "trial" where witnesses were not allowed. This should shock every American, and carry through to the elections. What a travesty of justice where everyone who has been found guilty of any minor offense and ended up in a jail cell for even a night has had to pay a price for violating our laws, but a lawless President rampages on in a world desperately in need of honesty and goodness.
2
Here's what is so deeply troubling about the republican senators reasons for not hearing witnessess. Those republicans are terrified of what trump will do to them in the election year? Terrified they will loose the election? You know who is truly terrified, every single soldier you have knowingly put in harms way when you ask them to defend the constitution and our country with their life. When these republicans cannot defend the constitution because they may loose their election? That is criminal and they should have blood on their hands if one soldier dies because of trump's self serving decisions that will trigger retaliations against our troops
2
At last the farce is over! The Democrats conduct Impeaching the verdict of the Senate-which was not even close-67 votes needed for conviction-is shameless. We have a tradition in America-honoring the verdict of a jury, and the Dens now ditch that. Schiff needs to be impeached. I hope that The Republicans obtain sufficient control of Congress to impeach Schiff and Pelosi, forever!
3
The world's so-called greatest deliberative body is pathetically allergic to deliberation. Everything in Washington has an oxymoronic label as a result.
3
Republicans have now appointed Trump as dictator. Not only will they live in ignomy; they will also be remembered as the unethical politicians who tore up the Constitution for personal gain and aided and abetted Russia in its drive to destroy our republic.
5
One of the darkest days in American history. If anyone has the slightest notion that we live in a democracy, that idea should now be put to death.
4
It was a Soviet style proceeding where the outcome was determined in advance by those in power. Sadly in this proceeding Trump and McConnell's Senate were in collusion. All those Senators who voted not to allow documents or witnesses violated their oath of impartiality. They should be ashamed but sadly They are beyond shame. The Senate is no longer a deliberative body but really an extension and captive of Trump. We reap what we sow and I belive we will regret what thse Republicsns sowed. The title of 'Honorable' should be removed from each of these Senators.
4
So the left criticizes the Senate Repubs for voting for Trump but it was ok when all the Dems voted for Clinton. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
3
Wake up America. Now you know what we have to do. We have to vote this man and everyone associated with him out of office...I want to be able to sleep at night without worrying about what is going to happen next. This administration is a nightmare.
7
Interesting, and immaculately consistent, that everything that has gone wrong with these combined efforts (now three years and counting) has been someone else’s fault.
It’s like a middle-aged person lamenting that his half-dozen failed relationships were due to his ability to find “the right one.”
High time for the Democrats to pause and look inward. This one was on you.
2
Memo to Lamar Alexander: you are not a culture warrior or the nation's co-dependent.
You are elected to represent the public interest and obey the constitution.
Yes, even from Tennessee.
5
The Democrats in no way “failed” by impeaching this president. The proof that this process was absolutely necessary is made clear in comments of the few Republican senators who were so conflicted that they had to admit Trump was guilty-as-charged but that they were too scared to remove him, deferring instead to the election process.
So the public now knows three very important things as they take on their duty as citizens to vote in 2020:
1) Donald Trump is a proven corrupt liar and abuser of his presidential power, who serves only himself, not the American public — even his own cult members.
2) The Republican party takes the position that his corrupt behavior is okay, has ceded the power of congress to the executive branch, and has given Trump permission to rule as a monarch.
3) The 2020 election is now being corruptly rigged in favor of Republicans right under our noses.
Impeachment has irrefutably brought these facts into the light. If this truth doesn’t motivate responsible citizens to get out there and vote this disgraced regime out of office, then nothing will. We’ll know whether the USA is still a democratic republic in November.
5
There are moments when history pivots on singular events. I hope this is not one of them - G. Princep.
2
The impeachment cloud over Trump will never disappear even if he is acquitted by the Senate because everybody knows that the Senate trial was a sham.
5
The Banality of Evil. We are soaking in it.
4
The Democrats didn't fail to make their case, the Republicans failed to care. The GOP has put party before country- they are truly deplorable.
7
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about how the lawyers lied
Something touched me deep inside
The day the Senate died
So
Bye, bye Our American Dream
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was a polluted stream
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this is the day that Democracy died
This is the day that it died
3
The voters of the United States of America are going to wipe that smile off your face in November, Mr. McConnell.
9
"Democrats failed to win...."
This is a false formulation, since the senate Republicans were never open to
convincing. Romney was irrelevant and Collins was given a pass for the folks back home.
I doubt any Republican will vote for Trump's removal.
The Democrats were always talking to a wall, but the GOP would be foolish to rest easy.
1
I never expected the Senate to remove Trump. But I did expect them to do better than this. Frankly, the GOP Senators are traitors to democracy.
75% of Americans want witnesses. I can’t remember the last time that 75% of Americans agreed on anything. And the GOP ignored them. More evidence of the corruption will come out. And they chose not to see it. Pathetic excuses for leaders.
5
The Republican Senate has just written impeachment out of the Constitution. I wonder what will be jettisoned next.
3
Trump's criminality has been proven beyond any doubts. The democrats made their case conclusively. The one's that failed to uphold justice were clearly the republicans, sold out in the name of expedience...and preservation of their miserable seats in Congress. And fully complicit in this farce of a trial. Trump shall remain guilty as charge...however much his staying in power (to abuse it) is so dangerous (ignorance and capriciousness and cruelty and self-interest, combined) for these United States.
1
As an article published by The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/opinion/john-roberts-impeachment-witnesses.html?searchResultPosition=2 makes clear:
“The rules further empower the chief justice to enforce the subpoena rule. Rule V says: “The presiding officer shall have power to make and issue, by himself or by the Secretary of the Senate, all orders, mandates, writs, and precepts authorized by these rules, or by the Senate, and to make and enforce such other regulations and orders in the premises as the Senate may authorize or provide.” The presiding officer, under our Constitution, is the chief justice. As such, the chief justice, as presiding officer, has the “power to make and issue, by himself,” subpoenas.”
The trial mangers should call on Chief Justice John G. Roberts to issue subpoenas. The Chief Justice must not be seen to preside over a kangaroo court, with no witnesses and no testimony.
4
2016: "No one is above the law."
2020: "No one is above the law, except."
1
We need a nationwide boycott of all organizations and businesses that support Trump and the GOP criminals. Spread the word and save the Constitution.
4
I'm glad the impeachment is almost over, and glad Trump won’t be impeached. Trump is a loathsome human being (I have never understood his appeal) and an incompetent and criminally corrupt President, but It would be far better for the country for the people to soundly reject Trumpism, and Republicans, at the polls. We are a democracy, aren't we? Democrats can win despite the advantages in money and foreign i.e. Russian assistance Trump and his cronies will have. Hopefully the Democrats’ focus going forward will be on winning something they can win. If they don't let the Left take over the party, it should be easy.
The Democrats' quest to impeach Trump was always a fool’s errand; the Republicans are not the only party that panders to its base. And frankly the anti-Trump rhetoric by TV talking heads and newspaper scribblers is getting to be too much. Trump is terrible but he is not the apocalypse. Our Democracy will survive even if he wins a second term. The hysterical hyperbole of the media is way over the top.
Leftists today would rather thunder self-righteously and piously tell others what to think. They would rather display their virtue like peacocks than change anything. They see no reason to appeal to Trump’s voters, who are hopelessly racist in their eyes, irredeemable, and untouchable by ‘good’ people. Nothing will change until the Left realizes most Trump supporters are not racist and are not irredeemable, and they must find a way to appeal to them.
2
The scariest thing about this is that now Trump will feel empowered to do anything he wants to, making him the most dangerous man on this planet.
4
The framers of the Constitution placed it in politics by having the Senate as judge and jury. As a life longed Democrat, I will be there with morality and no pathetic excuses when it's the Democrats turn. I am so angry how all Republicans have poisoned this country that used to stand for something.
1
Now that the Republicans decided they did not want to hear the truth, they have unleashed a monster. This man has no moral compass. Trump will be on steroids and no one will stop him. God help us all.
4
@michjas
How naive. The senate just handed him a blank check - by any means necessary, legal or illegal - to get reelected.
Campaign finance law? Too bad. My reelection is in the public interest.
Cyber-theft? Pound it. My reelection is in the public interest.
Slander? Libel? Hate speech? Incitement to riot? Sorry, first amendment, My reelection is in the public interest.
Does this now obviate the express terms in the constitution's impeachment clause? Do bribery and treason now become the small corrupt act that does not corrupt the whole?
You do realize he's going to do everything short of having Dershowitz's quote stenciled on the side of Air Force One.
The GOP Senate has no foresight, no margins, no predictive abilities, and no spine.
2
No matter the outcome, this trial is now illegitimate. And it's obvious what the outcome will be.
Donald Trump is a cancer in this nation. Even if he'd accomplished anything of value in his term as president (which he has not), the means would not justify the ends. His divisiveness and toxic personality are one problem, but the bigger issue is his blatant disregard for the important customs of the office and his willingness to act outside the law. (Let's not forget, the GAO labelled his coercion of Ukraine an illegal action). The gravitas and solemn duties of the president are utterly lost on him. He has turned the position into something weak, petty, and ultimately ineffective at governing. While he sits on the sidelines plotting how best to undermine his political opponents, the country stumbles along, plagued by underemployment, wealth inequality, white collar lawlessness, a laughably outdated immigration system, and unequal access to important services, such as healthcare. When Trump does attempt to tackle one of these issues, cruelty, ineptitude, and ultimately failure ensue because he does not possess the knowledge or wisdom to make good decisions.
In his wake, Trump leaves nothing but a weak, divided country and a long list of scapegoats for his base to blame for all their woes. Fixing America's problems will be the job of the next president, whenever that person is elected, because Trump won't solve any of them no matter how long he serves.
4
To put an even finer point on their despicable refusal to have anything resembling a trial, the Republicans (McConnel) now vilify the only two among them who put country over party. Shame on them, shame on that institution that is now a mere cinder of what it once was. A sad day for the country.
2
I find the Republican argument that convicting Trump would "pour gasoline on cultural fires" ridiculous. Trump is the number one reason those cultural fires are burning in the first place. I am deeply disgusted with the Republican senators and deeply determined to evict them from our government.
3
I am donating to the Democratic candidates running against the following
McConnell, Susan Collins, Cory Gardener, Martha McSally, and I am exploring the rest of the races to see who has the best chance of knocking off other GOP seats.
There is no choice other than going all in on trying to take the Senate.
Trump is a nightmare of epic proportions, but McConnell may well be the most destructive non POTUS and devious politician/liar/cheat in modern political history.
2
Republicans will forever be remembered for their cowardice and betrayal of this country’s core ideals. No witnesses = no trial. No trial = no acquittal. Justice has not been served today. No justice, no peace.
1
Republicans and Trump will consider blocking witnesses a victory and Trump will certainly feel vindicated after he's acquitted like a kid that gets a high grade on a test that he cheated on. Something tells me that Trump could have also been that kid.
This will be remembered in history as the time when Britain left the European Union, and when Republicans left the United States of America.
1
When Trump got elected, there was a feeling of dread hanging even over the small Bavarian village, where I live, people silent and dumbfounded.
Power is all there is, the biggest liar takes it all. I see the forests burning worldwide and a Government of the most powerful nation refusing to lead. Money is all there is.
I am a forester. And I see your constitution and the planet going up in smoke. We all felt it coming.
1
All a big farce. No chance to kick him out. No big crime or quid pro quo occurred.
So why waste all this energy ?
The election is a few months away. Let’s all try to let go and focus on our lives and not the news
1
“If you are persuaded that he did it, why do you need more witnesses?” said Senator Lamar Alexander.
Could George Orwell have written a better line?
2
I'd love to think that Republicans in office won't be able to come back from this, especially if Trump gets in a 2nd time. But the Republican fan base is who these Trump-i-teers are performing (badly) for.
I hold out hope for 2020. Obama lifted this nation so high! Can it happen again? Time will tell.
Well, so much for witnesses and documentation. Wonder how many "trials" will now follow in this one's footsteps? Pay Mr. Bolton enough and he just might give a lengthy interview to MSNBC/CNN/Sixty Minutes??? The American public wants to know the truth and this may be the only way to get it. Money counts. Afterall, this is the GOP we're dealing with, n'est ce pas?
1
The Constitution is reduced to dust. RIP America, you had a good run,
3
The new birth of freedom Lincoln spoke of at Gettysburg died yesterday as the Republican Party formally endorsed despotic rule.
1
Republican creed: Trump over the Constitution, party politics over national interest
2
The Democrats push for impeachment has been pure tripe from the beginning until the end. The voters will remember this farce this fall and vote them out of office. Vote for America--Vote Republican.
1
"If you want that money, you're going to have to give half of it to my re-election campaign" - ALL LEGAL NOW
1
If they were still alive, I would yield my comment time to Mark Twain or Will Rogers.
Authoritarians don’t call witnesses unless they are under arrest.
1
Remember in November..."Right Matters." Thank you, Adam Schiff. This is but a battle; the war is still going on. And right always wins if we make it happen. Final words: Look closely at the Republican Senators up for reelection. If they have failed you, even though it is a red, purple, or blue state, please fight hard for your principles. Do not become discouraged or resigned to an unacceptable "status quo."
17
Depending on the next election to rectify this situation assumes that it will be fair and untainted. The decision to hold Trump unaccountable means that it almost certainly will not be. We can only hope that in the long run this caving of the Senate will work against the Republicans by showing just how compromised they are. The House must resume hearings and investigation of Trump’s abuse of power and obstruction including subpoenas of Bolton, Mulvaney, Cipollone and others involved in the Ukraine scandal so that voters have the facts before November 2020.
8
It is a sad day in America, not because Trump or his supporters won in despite of severe wrongdoing, but because the Constitution has effectively changed. Presidential power has been consolidated. For the next one or two generations, at least, there will be no need to comply with subpoenas, and it will be ok to ask foreign governments for favors. True, neither of these are explicitly stated in the text of the Constitution itself, but bribery and obstruction of justice are both crimes. God help us.
9
The GOP Senators' rationale that to convict Trump would be to thwart the will of the American people rings very hollow when 75 percent of the American people wanted the Senate to call witnesses. It seems the Senate uses the will of the people as motivation when it is convenient and ignores it when it is not.
5
Yesterday the greatest deliberative body the world has ever known showed us that it is willing to squander the soul of our nation by choosing spite and ignorance over certainty and truth. Red, blue or purple, what we saw was a shameful display of make-believe leadership at a moment that begged for clear-headedness and moral fortitude. The courage to lead always comes with a price. For some, any price at all is deemed too high or too risky a toll to pay. Only the true leaders among us are ever willing to bear the full weight that leadership demands. There is no context in which leadership is a role to be played with. Pretend leadership is not only shallow and self-indulgent, but it’s also reckless. Though even the best leaders—those whom we admire for their courage and character—will leave behind them a lifetime of mistakes and more than a few regrets, they, at the very least, are compelled to demand the best of themselves and accept the responsibility of serving the greater good. As important, we can count on them not to be tempted by indolence, but instead, choose the importance of right rather than the convenience of wrong.
2
The House managers conducted themselves with dignity and integrity. The contrast with the defense team could not be more stark. We owe a debt of gratitude to the house managers.
9
I understand why politicians will do almost anything to gain re election, although hopefully it would be something morally and ethically correct. However after having watched the sham impeachment trial I now have had two thoughts confirmed as follows: 1) Shakespeare was correct as stated in Henry VI as to what should be done with the lawyers and 2) As suspected most politicians (legislators) are not only lawyers but are members of the oldest profession!
Very sad for outcome of impeachment “trial” although it was a forgone conclusion. Nothing in previous Senate actions indicated anything different would happen. If this last action doesn’t indicate to the American voter how the Union will continue under Trump and his very complicit Senate Republicans, nothing will.
The choice in November is not for better health care or economic equality, although those will be outcomes if Democrats win both branches and the executive races; the choice is between chaos and progress. If Trump wins he will continue idolizing dictators and throwing allies under the bus, especially Ukraine and portions of the Middle East that Putin wants to control. He will continue his bizarre trade wars and the economy will not support that type of erratic behavior. He will do away with as much health and other coverage that he can, leaving many Americans without the medical and social help they need. Upshot, more homeless, more disease, more failed businesses, more international turmoil and cynicism. Immigration will be stopped, unless you’re Norwegian - who are happier where they are, not coming (can I go?).
Throughout it all, if Democrats retain the house, they will continue passing bills to correct national problems, but those bills will be stalled by McConnell in the Senate, as many now are. Not a lot will happen except Trump will continue his rallies and tweet rants. Glad I’m not on Twitter and don’t go to those wonderful gatherings. Not good.
5
Most Americans, including myself, cannot fathom how any senator can simply ignore the wishes of their constituents whether they are Democrats or Republicans. Insofar as Republicans are concerned, they would not earn my vote as they did not listen to the voices of Americans who asked for witnesses; 75% of Americans.
We might not be savvy in the ways of politics, but we know what a trial is, witnesses, the defense asks questions, the prosecution asks questions, documents are presented, and there are closing arguments based on that evidence. Duh?
7
Not to excuse their lack of moral clarity, but some Republican senators such as Lamar Alexander seem to be boxed in by the fact that a conviction is locked into the automatic sentence of removal. To take them at their word, they know he's guilty but concerned that a guilty verdict provides no flexibility for something like a suspended sentence -- guilty but without the harshest consequences.
These senators should exercise a third option when voting on Wednesday -- Abstain. Up to 19 GOP senators could vote this way for each count -- not changing the outcome but diminishing any claim of "full exoneration" etc.
1
Senator Alexander said that removing trump would be like pouring gasoline on partisan fires. Senator, this country not only survived abolishing slavery, we survived the civil war that followed. Surely we can survive holding a corrupt and dangerous so-called president accountable for his actions?
What's sad is that every Republican in the House and Senate knows that Trump is no good and a threat to the country. They know that had Obama done even a fraction of what trump has done, in the Ukrainian incident alone, they would've had him removed already. But Republicans care more about their wallets and their own power than they do about the country. They've made that abundantly clear.
Impeachment was a political risk for Democrats. Nonetheless, House and Senate Democrats are the only ones doing their jobs of keeping a check on an out-of-control executive branch. They're the only ones fighting to minimize and limit Trump's damage to our Constitution and rule of law. We, the people, need to give Democrats the leverage they need to continue that fight.
So protest, march, donate, boycott, write letters, make phone calls, knock on doors, participate in voter outreach & registration drives, drive folks to the polls ... do whatever you have to do to make your voice heard. And VOTE blue, up and down the ticket, in numbers too large to manipulate.
6
How I would love to have enough financial resources to oust some of these Senators the blocked a due process . If someone is not guilty then witnesses and evidence should support their innocence . By not allowing the evidence and witnesses, the senate has essentially voted that Trump is guilty by default, and that they are complicit in protecting a guilty defendant. Let’s hope they are accountable at some point....vote them out...it is the only recourse left that is legal.
1
A presidential impeachment is not like a criminal trial in which the prosecution makes allegations and then calls witnesses to prove its allegations. During the impeachment inquiry phase, the House takes witness testimony and gather documentary evidence. It then presents the witnesses testimony and documentary evidence to the Senate.
The president’s defense could have called witness to refute the witnesses testimony provided by the House managers because it had no chance to call witnesses during the inquiry. But the defense team did not need to call witnesses. The witness testimony provided by the House managers contradicted the articles of impeachment and gave the defense team all it needed for acquittal.
The House approved articles of impeachment it knew it could not prove for the sole purpose of “stigmatizing” or “tainting” the president. But the tactic may backfire. Impeachments are no longer taken seriously as they once were. Two of the last four presidents have been impeached. Impeachment now signifies only that the oppositional party has taken control of the House of Representatives.
4
“Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.”
Some rationale for hiding the truth. An impeachment proceeding is a public event. All of the evidence should be laid out for the public to clearly see, no matter how corrupt the Senate is.
2
If I was Trump, if there is precedent for it, I put off the State of the Union Address for a few days until the impeachment proceedings are finally over and he is acquitted, and then I'd go into The House and, in my speech, I'd really stick it to the Democrats.
2
An impeachment is not like a criminal trial in which the prosecution makes allegations and then calls witnesses to prove its allegations. During the impeachment inquiry phase, the House calls witnesses, takes witness testimony and gathers documentary evidence. It then presents the witnesses testimony and documentary evidence to the Senate.
The president’s defense could have called witness to refute the witnesses testimony provided by the House managers because it had no chance to call witnesses during the inquiry. But the defense team did not need to call witnesses. The witness testimony provided by the House managers contradicted the articles of impeachment and gave the defense team all it needed for acquittal.
The House approved articles of impeachment it knew it could not prove for the sole purpose of “stigmatizing” or “tainting” the president. But the tactic may backfire. Impeachments are no longer taken seriously as they once were. Two of the last four presidents have been impeached. Impeachment now signifies only that the oppositional party has taken control of the House of Representatives.
4
If the GOP continues through to its witness-less, partisan "acquittal," Pelosi and the rest of the Dems should boycott the State of the Union speech.
1
Since the Republicans aren't interested in impeaching Trump I wonder if they plan to get behind Trump's 2020 Budget with 25 Billion in cuts to Social Security over the next 10 years?
3
It's most depressing to see the bad guys continually win. Will there ever be a turn of fortune?
6
I wish the US Senate Republicans would give the people of the United States a break and remove Donald J. Trump from office.
I am tired tired of hearing Trump making erroneously statements day after day after day. I am tired of Trump taking orders from V. Putin day after day after day. I am tired of Trump attacking Republicans and Democrats. I am tried of Trump following Putin's orders to destroy the Intelligence Community.
Trump and his wife did not want to be President of the United States. Why not give Trump a break and let him try again in four year. By then Trump might figure out the fact there is a difference between the House of Representative and the Senate.
Will Donald J. Trump follow orders from Putin to lay down the arms of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Will Trump follow Putin's orders to have Russian soldiers on every street in the United States.
2
Given the shame the Republicans are feeling right now, they can still vote to remove Trump from office. Actually it is the ideal vote for those who would choose to do so--it would be totally meaningless (see for example Ms. Collins' vote to hear witnesses) but give them the ability to claim a moral high ground. 2020.
No one really thinks he is innocent. Most of DC is disgusted, but only on Deep Background. It has been interesting watching intelligent and educated GOP reps lie, lie, lie on national TV defending him, with varying levels of discomfort and sometimes literally running away from reporters.
There are two constituencies the GOP answers to-the base, who despite very minority opinions, comes out and votes, and the corporate world, who has received every Christmas present they ever wanted, under the tree and neatly wrapped. The GOP reps are afraid of the base, but they are mortified that the money tap from the corporate world will shut off.
At this point, only a Blue Wave will save the USA as a Republic. Otherwise, enjoy Gilead.....
2
So much for a non-political Supreme Court Justice who allowed a sham trial with no witnesses or documents but we already knew the Supreme Court was filled with partisans who could care less about the Constitution.
1
To the lovers of freedom and justice: the war is not over.
Okay. So no witnesses. Convict without witnesses. You have enough information to convict Trump. Just do it.
1
Here in Texas we have two senators who have escaped defeat at the polls.
Cronyn is up again this November but it appears he will have an easy path to 6 more years of lame excuses to common decency in not only this issue.
Until the Democratic Party develops better opposition to the old guard of Alexander,Graham,McConnell and on and on..this will continue to destroy our country!
2
Today I have leapfrogged to the fourth stage of grief.
1
Can we just here it now? Trump will rag and rail about being abused by Democrats. Then for an hour he will tell us everything he has done for “us”, next will be everything he has yet to do. Finally he’ll tell us once more over and over again how he is the best we ever had. What kind of thinking process is going on to come to such misguided conclusions? Just know we didn’t swallow it last time we are not going to this time.
1
I will be taking a knee during the singing of the Super Bowl's National Anthem. I will remember and honor all those who have fought for our country.
I will be in a bar deep in Trump country, near Wildwood, New Jersey.
I hope I don't get physically hurt.
2
Trial witnesses are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The Republican Senators were confronted with overwhelming circumstantial evidence of the TRUTH: Trump tried to withhold duly authorized military aid from an ally at war until their newly elected President agreed to investigate Trump’s political opponent. To the Republicans, the TRUTH reveals inappropriate behavior, but not an impeachable high crime.
By refusing further documentary and testimonial evidence of credible witnesses actually in the Oval Office, the Republicans proved they could not handle the WHOLE TRUTH. The testimony of those witnesses would reveal the full extent of Trump’s abuse of the power of his office for personal gain; his eschewing of policy experts and their advice; his willful ignoring of the law and its constraints; defying the will of Congress; the misappropriation of the government’s funds and resources, financial, personnel and military, for his personal quest for power. It is not that the Republicans were ignorant of the WHOLE TRUTH, it is that they could not handle its revelation to the voting public. The WHOLE TRUTH is that they are the beneficiaries of his unconstitutional, relentless quest for power.
The final verdict is that instead of NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH the Republican Senate ensured that we shall hearing NOTHING OF THE WHOLE TRUTH, but only the gripes of their leader who spews everything but the truth.
2
Imagine going into this election not knowing this. Only that Biden was being investigated by Ukraine. The GOP is saying that would be ok.
2
The People of the United States just lost the battle, but we win the war against corruption in our federal government and eventually our state governments where it runs rampant. Senators who protect themselves and violate their oath to this country, to our laws and to our elections by turning their backs on our long fought path to equality and justice for all, have let their true colors of "wealth" and discrimination and loyalty to their corporate bedfellows,show. and have shoved this country on its fast track over the cliff.
Its especially shameful of women senators who turned their backs when women have lost many battles for equality and justice for their children, their families and who have lost families on the battlefields at home and abroad trying to uphold our Constitutional government.
Back in the 1800s a "Greenbacks Labor Party" was formed to fight against the grab of powerful lobbying groups to own the currency and legislative representatives of this country...that needs to happen again..to take back our Government...for the people, by the people away from the multi-rich conglomerates who own this country now.
Justice Roberts needs to call this a mistrial of justice to the American People and not be silent. History will remember it and record our Republic's demise.
W need a new path out of the Bogpile of Slime that Republicans themselves have created over the last 20 years proclaiming freedom, but meant for only the rich oligarchs of our country.
Another article in today's paper is titled, "'Conviction Would Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires,' Senator Says". That's Lamar Alexander and the essence of other Senators' arguments yesterday as well.
Make no mistake: What they are really saying is that Trump has driven division in this country so deep and wide by stoking anger, fear and unbounded paranoia among his supporters that these Senators are afraid of civil war breaking out, on our streets if not on actual battlefields, with "traitors" in their crosshairs. They are afraid of the extremists who dressed themselves in weapons in Charlottesville, and of the lunatics who level death threats from the shroud of social media -- all of whom feel righteous and empowered in Trump's embrace.
This is what we have come to. And now there will be no constraints on any of it going forward -- certainly not with regard to our upcoming "election" and perhaps not for a very long time to come.
3
Lamar Alexander got it wrong. He and his Senate Republican colleagues have just poured gasoline on the Constitution. And, as we’ve seen, Donald Trump will be more than happy to put a match to it now that his impending acquittal will put him on a par with all the autocrats he so admires—above the law. With “fear and loathing “ now the ruling ethos in Washington who will dare to restrain him as he viciously and vindictively retaliates against all his perceived enemies, continues unabated in his attempts to rig the November election in his favor, and further erodes the “rule of law” replacing it with the unchecked rule of Trump.
5
If it is in the national interest, POTUS may violate the law. That will be the most searing and confounding memory of this impeachment trial. Trump could effectively declare that because he is responsible for the economy and because of the witch hunts, he will suspend the next election in the interest of national security. When I think of what Professor Dershowitz had the audacity to say without being thrown out of the senate chamber on his ear, it makes me think this was the Putin argument for Trump. We've come full circle and I have vertiginous nausea for my Country.
The impeachment just showed one thing: the USA is a failed state now.
Run by a corrupt administration, the glorified constitution turns out to be old fashioned, outdated and not prepared for an attack from inside. An omnipotent President and an even more outdated political system with only two parties can not heal the wounds of a deeply divided country.
Good luck America!
2
There should be a remake of the movie “A few good men”, with any of GOP senators who voted no on witnesses being told “You can’t handle the truth”.
This is not just about an inappropriate call, Sen. Alexander - if only it were so. This is a months-long scheme to extract a favor from Ukraine.
What Sen. Alexander and Sen. Rubio are echoing is Dershowitz’s argument. No senators, the ends do not justify the means. We Americans have survived a major depression and another recession and have bounced back. What we can not recover from is a loss of our moral fiber.
It would be interesting what Sen. Alexander and Rubio would propose for “inappropriate” behavior. A slap on the wrist? Censure?
1
To all those who predict another four years of this corrupt and dishonest presidency I want to say the following. I believe the majority of voters are people who have a conscience, who try to be good, who have an ethical compass. The Republican Party has clearly given up on the Truth and everything it stands for. I hope Democratic voters will focus less on whether a candidate is "moderate", "progressive", or (God forbid!) "socialist", but on whether the person is ethical and trustworthy.
2
It's so easy to be found innocent if the prosecution can't introduce evidence of your crime. And, if you are the king, they can't introduce evidence.
5
So the Republican party in the senate is legally allowed to obstruct the admittance of witnesses and documents to try the Republican president .
Then the Republican senate is allowed to acquit the Republican president.
Is their any solution for their obstruction of justice?
1
Some of you know nothing about dealing with narcissists/manipulators. Calling for them to be fair? Just stop. They laugh in your face.
Asking for more evidence? What more do you need? You have enough to convict Trump, so just get after it. Bringing in more evidence and more witnesses will get more bad people in trouble. Save that trial for another day, and content yourself with holding Trump accountable.
The war is not lost, only a battle. No witnesses? So what, you don't need them anyway. Next steps, between now and Wednesday afternoon's vote (to convict and evict): thank Schiff and Nadler for their good work, and ask them kindly to sit down and let the other Impeachment Managers speak/lead.
It's high time we had the essential wisdom, expertise, and insight of our women and minorities. Let the women and minorities from the Impeachment Manager's team handle the trial from here on out, and justice will prevail.
No biggie.
Lazy Americans need to get out and vote their conscience instead of waiting for Washington to make decisions for them.
The Senate decided that the Electoral College or the Supreme Court more qualified to decide who's going to be president, which of course are both Republican and more small Red states have more votes than populated Blue ones. No time for the blues. It's our turn to throw the bums out of office.
2
Not sure even witnesses "telling the Truth" could have swayed dishonest republicans from releasing their hold on Power in favor of Truth. But, removing even the possibility of honesty playing a part in this sham of a trial, in the McConnell's Senate, where so much tyranny happens daily with disallowing even debates and voting on issues he cherry picks happens . The Gingrich school of government maintains its lie of representing the majority of Americans. It reminds me of how a witness might just get snuffed out by the leader of criminal organization ending their problem. There was Taminy Hall and there's McConnell's Senate to be put right up there with it when the history books are written. The bottom line folks is ….Republicans exist for the next time they can get close to the treasury to LAUNDER it disproportionately to fat cats who Boomerang it back into their laps as campaign donations. Happened every time. Trying to think of an issue they're not hostile to abortion and guns ...that's it. They're hostile to consumers, that's everybody, they're hostile to Unions, our Health Care, they're Pro Pollution giving big oil and mining everything they want, the list goes on. What they do is design ways to get reelected from gerrymandering which they rely on to threatening elderly and people of color at the voting booth. They still hide behind Supply Side scams which have been debunked by more than one Nobel Prize winning Economist. Demand Side plans would be the honest way!
Cipollpone should be made to testify under oath about his participation in the May meeting with Trump. That should happen BEFORE the vote.
1
Somewhere up there, the Founding Fathers, looking down upon today's Senate, are collectively shaking their heads in utter disbelieve. I imagine Adams looking at Jefferson and saying, "Look what they've done to our House, Thomas, look what they've done to our House!" Jefferson: "Yes, John, they sure have made a mockery out of it, haven't they?"
2
After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto reportedly said “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant”. I’m sorry, but come November an energized 38 percent does not beat an energized 62 percent. The outrage over this latest US Senate farce is powerful and will, I predict, end in a rout for republicans. Democrats have behaved as honorable statesmen and patriots, the opposition as corrupt......I cannot even think of an appropriate noun to describe them.
4
The United States' democracy has been demolished brick by brick not by foreign power but within, i.e., GOP enablers, McConnell, Lindsey, et al. January 31, 2020 was indeed a good day for Putin, Xi, MBS and all other dictators as Putin's conspiracy theories are echoed by the GOP senate and house.
3
Personally, I can’t understand folks who watch fictional dystopian shows when you can watch Congress.
1
The GOP has proven conclusively they are in fact the party that will support a corrupt administration.
2
Lamar Alexander's reasoning to vote against new witnesses & documentation so as not to inflame the deep divides in this country, followed immediately by appealing to Republicans to overlook an 'inappropriate call' in light of conservative judges, loosening regulations, and the booming economy - is the depths of hypocrisy.
Sanctimonious GOP senators will rue the day they unleashed Donald Trump. And any harboring thoughts of running for President in the future will bear that scarlet T on their forehead forever.
1
I tend to agree with Mr. Alexander. We need to avoid pouring gasoline on the culture wars. They are not winnable.
Republicans know that Trump is a bad boy. They know that we know that they are using him to advance their agendas, without compromise. If Democrats were concerned that impeaching Trump would work against them, then Republicans also know that their choice to acquit him is politically risky.
All this said, the side that behaves in the most adult manner will prevail during the next election. It is time for Americans to grow up. It is now or never!
105
@Christopher Colt: Now - but just not right now. That's always the argument for postponing unappetizing actions. No doubt this will be an equally compelling argument in the future.
50
@Christopher Colt Donald Trump and Fox News are the two largest drivers of the culture wars. Imagine our politics without either of those two things?
Sen. Alexander’s logic is faulty at best and a great argument for term limits.
72
@Christopher Colt
It is wishful thinking to say that the most adult person will win. I'm afraid that is the "old America" that we loved. There are levers that are being pulled that have great influence beyond the votes we can muster.
42
In watching this woefully flawed impeachment process in which the, Republican jurors in the Impeachment "Trial" disallowed witnesses to be called to testify and documents to be reviewed that could establish the guilt or innocence of the accused, make clear that changes need to be made. First, that we are even debating the matter of witnesses and documentation, let alone disallowing them reveals that the entire impeachment process needs to be removed in part from Congress. First, the Supreme Court, presided over by the Chief Justice should become the jury. The origins of impeachment can begin in the House of Representatives but must be ratified by a newly formed Judicial College of independent, non partisan (not active in any political party or activity) legal scholars, justices, journalists and judges selected and appointed for a specific term by the Supreme Court. During any Impeachment trial the Supreme Court would be sequestered and a unanimous verdict on either guilt or acquitall would be required to bring the trial to a conclusion. Witnesses and documentation would be subject to subpoenas by the House of Representatives would serve as the prosecutors.
Nothing is perfect, there is no formula or process that can insure an honorable outcome and this approach still leaves us with personal, ideological and political interests having considerable influence. But I for one believe it is a start.
5
I've heard this never ending call for witnesses, to be heard in the Senate. I watched an hour or two of the trial and I saw several people testifying in the House. Weren't these people witnesses? Didn't they testify under oath?
9
Pretty sure that witnesses don’t come by the pound, by which I mean to say nice try on blocking Bolton et al from testifying, then tur ing around and saying that hey, you had your witnesses.
Especially wince you lot have alao been saying that Trump wasn’t allowed any witnesses, which doesn’t happen to be true.
4
@Mike ,
These were witnesses without direct firsthand knowledge...such as Bolton and Mulvaney ( Mulvaney defied subpeona).
Bolton essentially asked to testify. Republicans did not want to be exposed.
2
@Mike Read or listen to some of Schiff's explanation of why the Senate trial requires witnesses and why the House investigation was not the "witness phase" of the Senate trial. He also argues beautifully that in every courthouse in America, a trial requires witnesses. The House investigation was not a trial.
2
The metaphorical use of the phrase 'drug deal' by Bolton to describe Trump's unlawful act of holding back congressional approved military aid, involved many willing accomplices in the WH, cabinet, and legal counsel. That is, there is a list of officials who were willing participants in the aiding and abetting in the commission of Trump's with holding of military aid and the obstruction of justice. We now leaned that there are 51 Republican senators who have become willing accessories to the cover-up of Trump's 'above the law' misdeeds.
24
There was another way that would favor the American people. Vote for witnesses and documents, let US see and hear what is there, and then Senators could vote as they saw fit. At least it would be transparent to voters and then WE could make our decisions in November as we saw fit.
As it is, I will not be voting for Mr. Tillis because, in part, he blocked my ability to hear and see what else there was to this 'trial'.
25
Thank you. Seventy five percent of Americans wanted witnesses to testify.
1
This “trial” in the Senate clearly displayed the difference between today’s Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats believe that it isn’t about winning or losing, it’s how you play the game.
For Republicans it is only about winning the game.
23
No, more like the Democrats play by the rules and lose then blame the rules for the loss....then try to convince the impressionable that it was at least a moral crusade.
What happened to co-equal branches of government?
The takeover of the Judiciary and the Senate by the Executive branch is nearly complete. As expected, the Senate rallied to the cry for the defense of God, King, and Country.
The Republicans have shown how effective their messaging can be. Their campaign of disinformation has gone viral.
People of the United States, wake up. The war on information may be unwinnable. Unfiltered broadcasting of information without fact-checking assures that wrong ideas live forever in the internet. A democracy is possible only when there is a well-informed electorate.
What is truth? Are opinions based on four of the founding fathers still relevant? The universe doesn't really give a hoot for the laws of men.
The real point is, who can we trust? No political party is immune to corruption when oligarchs are richer than God. We need to revisit divine rights, the age of reason, and the arc of the universe.
14
@chuck Yes we are in such a perilous moment, you state the danger so well. Please keep speaking out.
2
"Profiles in Cowardice" the only way to describe the gop senate and the WH. He violated his oath of office. He tried to extort a foreign power for his own personal interests. The trial, if you can call it that, was right out of the Stalin years. Collins and Romney included. They only voted for witnesses after it was safe that it would fail, not exactly putting on the line. There now exists no behavior that is impeachable or a senate that will not do its most basic tasks without an OK from Trump. We are witnessing the end of our democracy.
31
We all used to wonder how in 1932 the German people could elect a tyrant into power. We wonder no more. Last night began our slide into dictatorship. When Trump starts locking up journalists and political opponents with impunity, we'll see the first consequences of the Senate's vote.
38
What you see today should not be surprising. The reaction to the election of Barack Obama continues. Let's face it. The fix was in long ago. Did you see his tax returns? We never will.
For internal peace, those familiar with the poem, "Desiderata," may focus on its ending:
"With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful! Strive to be happy!
Keep the faith!
8
I never believed it could happen in the U. S, but this is how democracies become dictatorships. It will only get worse.
37
If anyone is surprised by this vote they have not been paying attention.
10
January 31, 2020 is a date that will live in “Infamy” (thank you FDR). This date marks the beginning of the end of our democratic experiment. The spineless Republicans in the Senate were too blinded by their own selfish concerns to realize that they have taken the first steps to vote themselves out of existence. The actual end will occur if Trump is re-elected. The refrain, should this final disaster happen, will be Trump Uber Alles.
20
Democrats didn't fail, Republicans did. The smile on McConnell's face says it all, a sad day for America. The world is watching.
34
@Steve
"The world is watching...."
Thier phones. Playing games....taking selfies. Sending pictures of today's lunch to thier bestest friends and photos of themselves with cartoon lips and cat noses.
That's what the world is watching.
You know. The important stuff.
1
So the Senate has had its disgraceful sham trial. The absence of protests and marches by Americans (like the people of Hong Kong) makes me seriously wonder if you Americans have lost all self-respect or willingness to fight for your democracy.
16
This can't stop here. Democrats must fight back against those who are making a mockery of our Constitution. The House should open hearings again, this time calling Bolton and subpoenaing those who refuse to testify.
13
All roads lead to Russia. The President lied to the American voters about doing business in Russia. He willfully used their propaganda and denied their interfearance. His comments and decisions benefit Russia. The direct and circumstantial evidence makes it clear. Why aren't the elected Republican officials dealing with it?
10
I won’t repeat what others have already said more eloquently than I. But I do think Dems in the Senate must immediately move to censure Trump.
First, don’t let GOP Senators get away with pithy statements of “regret” the Senate process is broken (looking at you, Murkowski), “inappropriate” behavior (that’s for you, Lamar Alexander), and lots of other excuses (lying Lindsey Graham and friends). If they’ve said they can’t impeach Trump for “inappropriate” behavior, then surely they can censure him. Force them to take a stand!
Then, let the House subpoena Bolton and other fact witnesses. It makes no difference that the election is in ten months. Trump will lie daily and rile up his base at his rallies regardless. But it’s important to get the truth out, from witnesses who are under oath. (Dems can use the footage in ads.)
Also House Dems should immediately start an ethics investigation into Devin Nunes and other Trump allies’ role in (allegedly) assisting Trump in pushing bogus Ukraine investigations into the Bidens. Expose corruption at every level of the GOP party.
Finally, remember how Trump said that if Clinton was elected, she’d be mired in investigations from Day 1? That’s exactly what the GOP would have done.
It’s time to take a page from the GOP playbook.
Persist.
20
The reason not to call witnesses is to hide evidence and bury the truth. We knew the GOP senators were intent on acquittal. They had already spun their alternate defense regarding the president's guilt. "So, okay, he did it, but c'mon, it's not really that bad. It's got to be a "real crime," like a "big crime," to convict him. And let’s not forget that if a president thinks his crime is in the National Interest, it's not a crime. That's a hot one.
11
its okay it will a democratic sweep in November.
4
Did anyone really need to hear from more witnesses? Doesn’t everyone already know what happened here? The Democrats desperately attempted to shame the Republicans, and it didn’t work. What a surprise.
8
@Jack Kaufman ,
Did you not hear Republicans admit to bad behavior by Trump? They just did not have the courage to remove Trump. Trump is an impeached President. Always will be.
1
What a delightful result! Difficult to imagine a Democrat president in the near or far future. What do they have to offer? Breadlines and enforced pronoun usage.
7
@Matt I was happy about the results too. Thanks to all the Republican senators!
Trump will no doubt win by a landslide in November.
2
I read Lamar Alexander’s statement about why he decided not to vote for additional witnesses in the Senate trial of the President.
Yes, ‘The People’ decide on our elected leaders. What ‘The People’ are deciding on isn’t merely a factor of ideology, policy or personality. We elect our leaders largely because we trust their judgement to do the things in Washington that we are not privy to. We vote not just for the things that you have done. We also vote for the things that you will do. Our elected leaders are our proxies, and, with roughly half of the electorate actually voting, we understand that there is a tonnage of decisions that get made, or not made, in the Senate that will be decided for the majority of us.
Way I hear it, there are a stack of bills that the legislature has sent to the Senate floor that aren’t being decided on. Not by ‘The People’, or the people who we elected to make such decisions. We have the donation class. Lobbyists for all manner of specific interests. We have Citizens United that the Supreme Court (who the Senate elected, not ‘The People’) says their money is their de facto speech.
The ‘People’ are not deciding, Senator Alexander. To offer such a lame duck explanation in the wake of what you admit is wrongdoing at the highest level of our government is naïve at best, and willfully, defiantly ignorant at worst.
And, as history will confirm, Senator, that is what’s unimpeachable.
6
Lisa Murkowski: “It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed."
No Senator, it's you, and others like you, who have failed the Congress ... and the American people.
26
When Senator Murkowski essentially says she won't allow a fair trial because the trial is unfair, you know it's over. From Gingrich to Trump, the corruption of the Republican party is now complete. The party is no more. It's now a cult of personality.
18
Now we can see clearly that the right is not conservative - it is radical, corrupt and deeply unpatriotic. We are entering a fight not only for our democracy, but our survival. The radical right will take your Social Security, Medicare, right to an abortion and give you guns, Jesus, substandard charter schools, pre-existing conditions, low wages, pollution, big military, and a King President in return. Their vision is authoritarian, money-driven minority rule and our quality of life is going to deteriorate substantially.
14
"Let the voters decide," they say.
If they really meant it, they should have allowed the witnesses to be heard.
6
Look at McConnell in the photo at the top of this article, smiling menacingly.
People who support Trump and his minions may feel delighted now at having avoided well-deserved repercussions for their countless illegal and immoral acts, but they will not be viewed well by history.
Shame on them.
8
Is anyone really surprised? A high-drama scenario was never going to unfold. This story was written down ages ago.
1
Democracy: June 21, 1788 - January 31, 2020. It was nice while it lasted.
8
Do any politicians recall the word unity? Could someone please fight to unite this divided country!
4
Every Republican lawyer in the Senate should be charged with violation their State Bar's cannon ethics or unethical behavior, lying under oath. Every lawyer in the Senate knows the requirement of witnesses and evidence in a trial. They were prepared to vote acquittal on Sen.McConnell's say-so. Their loyalty was to him not the Constitution All while the Chief Justice sat moot while this travesty went on. Shameless outlaws, all.
8
The Republicans failed to grasp the gravity of the situation and instead allowed this country’s storied system of checks and balances to become a laughing stock. In a time when people are losing faith in all variety of formerly respected institutions this was really the absolute rock-bottom. And the chief justice presided over this farce allowing a gross injustice to be delivered with his stamp of legitimacy.
2020 is the year where the USA will look at itself and decide whether its ideals are worth fighting for or if it is willing to descend completely into a state of failure and join Russia as a home of oligarchy.
It shocks me that so many Americans are willing to look on while our country is hollowed out. I now seriously believe there is a rabid core of white nationalism running through the heart of this country. It is the only thing that could cause so many people to so thoroughly abandon ideals they pretend to otherwise uphold.
9
You are not going to change the minds of the republican senators who voted against witnesses. But I do wish democrats would step up to call them on their hypocrisy, their lack of moral reasoning, and their complete negation of what would be the normal rules of law. You need to appeal to the electorate that voted them in. And you need to use the tactics Trump and the republicans use to smear people. It is the only hope for winning the next election.
6
This is a sad day for justice and democracy. The GOP will be sorry when Trump commits a serious and egregious act that threatens our country's safety, which is only a matter of time. And who will be to blame? The Republican enablers who are now gloating, but that won't last long. Their smug grins will turn to frowns soon enough.
1
Shame on the Republican senators, but then they haven't had any or integrity and decency for a long time. I just hope voters will not forget until November.
3
What is going to happen when Trump wins a second term?
Are the Democrats going to have a complete breakdown?
3
Donald Trump will get his acquittal; it's only fair, Republicans paid top dollar for it. But he's going to be severely disappointed when he pushes it across the counter, to pawn it, at the State of the Union Address and Pelosi tells he'll get nothing for it because it's a "Fake"!
1
Dershowitz: President does not commit an impeachable offense when he chooses to engage a foreign power to meddle with free and democratic elections, because voters can vote for another candidate at election time -- even if it prevents a party candidate from becoming a presidential candidate!
Sounds like Russia, North Korea or Zimbabwe. Next thing that is coming is a THIRD term for Trump, as the Republican Senate will ratify a change the to constitution to allow for no term limits on Republican Sentaors.
6
Title should be Republicans fail to look at evidence that should change their minds.
5
It looks like we have become the country of manipulation. The biggest manipulator wins.
2
"I don't know that there are any shortcuts to doing a good job."
Sandra Day O'Connor
1930- American Supreme Court Justice
3
The House should reopen its investigations and call more witnesses, including Bolton. I don't want the election to arrive in November without every voter in this country knowing exactly what Trump and his gang of criminal advisors conspired to do -- with the Senate's approval. We need to vote them all out, every cowardly Republican senator who betrayed his or her country yesterday.
8
On November 8, 2016 I lost faith in the presidency.
Why? Because I knew he was already guilty of five crimes before running and that he had already pledged to break the Emoluments Clause, an impeachable offense. I am flexible and work with the opposing party whenever possibly. I have supported many presidents I had fundamental philosophical disagreements with. I will NOT support a known criminal, especially one who targets women and girls. To do so is to enable criminality. Won't do it now or ever, regardless of the party in office.
On September 5th, 2018, I lost my faith and trust in the Supreme Court when it swore in Brett Kavanaugh, a man profoundly unfit to serve this nation.
The GOP ran a sham hearing which foreshadowed this one. Many of the men in attendance displayed such flagrant and violent misogyny that had they been in any other office or job in the land, they would have been fired on the spot. On the spot. Those who work in academic intuitions and businesses (or anywhere) are not allowed such flagrant displays of unhinged sexism. I cannot see Graham's face without seeing that grotesque, violent snarl as he attacked a woman who was there for having been attacked; it is the face that history will remember him by.
On January 31,2020, I lost my faith in our system. Checks and balances no longer hold and we no longer have three functioning branches.
I am, on a philosophical level, a woman without a country.
13
After all the effort that the Democratic team has put in, and after years of loathsome and illegal behavior by the president, what is difficult to say now is that the Democratic strategy in this impeachment was lousy. But it was lousy.
Instead of sticking to unassailable facts and principles, Democrats sabotaged their own case by constantly bringing up legal red herrings that should not have been uttered a single time, and which Republican lawyers latched onto and rode to what is, now, all but certain acquittal. "Debunked theories, propagated by the Russians themselves, about Ukrainian intervention..." - irrelevant. "Undermining both current and long-established principles and goals of foreign policy..." - irrelevant. "Pressure on Ukrainian leader to investigate, or have aid delayed..." - irrelevant, except as a simple matter of fact.
All of those things, and much more, are all irrelevant exactly for the reasons that Dershowitz explained - motive. The only thing that mattered, in terms of conviction, were the president's motives.
Of course his motives were obvious, so Democrats thought they did not need to make the case. Wrong! That was the case!
By repeating over and over that they had proven their case against the president, they freed the Senate jury from what their true responsibility should have been - to judge, under oath, the president's motives.
4
DO NOT BLAME THE DEMOCRATS for this sham farcical impeachment trial. The impeachment managers headed by Schiff and Nadler did an extraordinary job of painstakingly laying out the case against Donald J Trump. They did a superb job and put in thousands of hours of hard diligent detailed work to make their case.
The defense team made a mockery of the Constitution blurring and obfuscating right from wrong, making up law, and creating outlandish assertions of innocence.
As the wise Senate Chaplain admonished, the architects of this dog and pony clown show will reap what they sew.
9
Pay close attention - the good guys have lost. We’re watching our country be strangled. What next? Unrestrained cheating in the election by the republicans and their Russian overlords, cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and social security. Taxing the value of your health care. Withdrawing from foreign affairs. And yes, locking up their enemies, starting with journalists. I know you think it can’t happen, but it’s happening already. Very sad.
8
This is nothing short of a national disgrace. Every citizen in a state with a Republican senator should be at that senator’s office and front door and every public place where s/he appears and protest long and loud. Then, in November every single Republican should be voted out of office. We’re left with the Trump crime family running the country, a family so feared that we as a nation are afraid to touch them. How did we sink so low?
6
Wouldn't you love to see all of the Democrats at the State of the Union address on Tuesday, House and Senate, turn their backs on Donald Trump and just walk right out of the chamber?
3
Cipollone THE LAW is coming for you, there are ethics rules that prohibit a lawyer from handling matters in which they may be called as a witness.
3
I’m sure those senators feel so much lighter today, now that they no longer have souls to sell.
8
"Democrats fail to win support ..."? Democrats did everything they possibly could. It's not Democrats' failure that Senate Republicans are corrupt. The current composition of our government amounts to taxation without representation since the majority of us are NOT represented by this government.
1
I look forward to the day that demographers tell us is coming around the 2040's, when the white majority in America is eclipsed by a non-white majority. Given the disgraceful way that the white majority has ruled America lately, that time can't come soon enough.
1
Exactly how does allowing a leader that is a racist, demagogue and the consummate culture warrior remain in office reduce the polarization and culture wars that now grip America?
If America is a burning building and Republicans are the fire department, they would argue against putting out the fire because water would damage the building.
Arguing against removal on the grounds that doing so would inflame the culture wars is acceding to extortion from Trump and far-right: If Trump is impeached and removed, it is treason and we will revolt. That is not democracy. Those are the tactics of organized crime.
When did we become a nation of cowards, manipulators, and followers?
A nation in which elected leaders - sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States - value party, politics, and election cycles...over the well-being and will of its people and the fidelity of our democracy?
We are witnessing the death of the once great "American Spirit."
I wonder when - or if - we will rise up to alter our course and determine our future?
Senator Mitt Romney showed us he has much more courage than 49 other Republican senators and president Trump. Romney showed he has respect for the office of the presidency, whoever occupies it, be there a Republican or a Democrat.
Now, perhaps, it’s time to show this courage once more and run for President as an independent. He may not win the election but he will garner enough votes from Trump to most certainly assure that whoever is the Democratic candidate becomes the next president of the United States.
7
@BWCA
I am a staunch liberal and I would vote for him to thank him for his courage and integrity. He is truly a decent man. Except he's a Republican who would cut Medicare and give tax breaks to the rich and so I'm confused.
Respecting principles, are they moral or constitutional, is the basis of political legitimacy. From a compromised political legitimacy to political instability to to social unrest, the path is short. The US Senate has made the country walk that path. Let's hope that walk will soon stop.
3
Personally think it’s a good thing to happen to the Dems as far as the presidential elections are concerned. He would have been exonerated after the witnesses and claimed a bigger victory. Now there is this sense that he got away - and it will help the Dems come November as more of the Bolton story comes out. I respect Romney for standing up. Collins did it just to get re-elected.
9
It all went exactly as everyone knew it would. The hearings attracting so little public interest was really the only surprise.
4
Make no mistake, Republicans are protecting a criminal administration, and they know it.
The reason that no witnesses were allowed in the trial was that, that would likely open a Pandora’s Box of criminality exposing a long list of Republicans.
How do Nunes, Barr, Pompeo, Graham and the rest of the cabal know, and what part do they play?
It certainly appears that the little that we know is just the tip of the iceberg.
It is still likely to come out.
And hopefully, there will be real justice.
19
My wife was sworn in as a US citizen yesterday. She comes from Kazakhstan where people are dubiously elected with 99% approval. She is sad about what she sees in our congress and says, with a touch of sarcasm, here in the US, it's already starting to feel a bit like home now.
To wit, the most cogent explanation for GOP opposition to a real trial has also been the most exasperating: Sen. L. Murkowski (R-ME) explains that
"I have concluded that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, Congress has failed".
While it is true that congress as a whole has failed, the President's obstruction has ensured its failure. The president's offences are ongoing and cannot reasonably be challenged via courts before even more egregious offences are perpetrated upon the people in 2020.
No, the GOP Senate has failed with a sham trial. It is complicit in a crime of extensive cover-up along with the President. Lisa Murkowski - notably, someone who could have forestalled the cover-up - has cried "uncle" and claims that things are so far "gone" that she's not even going to fight it. Her reasoning is akin to a battle-field medic pumping a wounded soldier full of morphine, because in her opinion, this soldier - our democracy - is certain to die anyway, so it is best to do so painlessly.
Senator, some of us are fighters and you don't get to decide when we've had enough.
14
Two things i would like to say to Lamar Alexander:
1. If your argument is, let the voters decide in the upcoming election, then how can you vote against summoning witnesses and documents so the people can make an informed decision?
2. Saying that voting to remove trump would be pouring gasoline over the culture war flames, how then can you say in the same breath you intend to vote for his re-election? Isn’t he himself the real gasoline on the fire?
Thank you for retiring.
16
Given the case presented by the House majority and absent any Senate GOP willingness to bring critical testimony to bare, the very least the Senate could have done was a vote to censure the President for his actions regarding Ukraine and the blanket stonewalling of documents and testimony during the House investigation.
No such alternative was ever openly debated or considered.
5
@G. Sears I believe the House managers included witness testimony as part of their presentation.
Am I wrong?
Nope.
1
As Democratic voters, we now need to put all our focus and energy into ensuring the 2020 election is a blue wave. For that we need one single mantra, Defeat Trump. No and, if, buts, other agendas. All the other issues dilute focus, make the message to the public distracted, diffuse and confusing. I suggest, Warren (my respect for her has blossomed overnight at the question she put to the rather useless John Roberts) needs to have clarity to her message and keep it simple. No more wallowing in change please. Sanders is simply putting out patently unworkable mantras that will will him kudos momentarily but he will not be able to sustain it in the general elections. We are not France. He should stop now and instead support any other nominee. Klobuchar and Buttigieg, need to emphasise the love they bring for the working, ignored folks. They already carry the right message. And Yang, so precise and clear, not yet, but I love to hear his ideas. Bloomberg, the secret hope of an entire base, we are waiting to hear your views in the forthcoming debate. You need Stacey Abrams as your second in command.
Biden, he needs to step down, like yesterday. He has, like the republican senators, put himself and his ego above country and party. He may not have erred legally, but nonetheless his choice was shadowy and whether he accepts it or not, his son is a huge liability we do not need. If he has any dignity and honor, he should listen to the heart of the American people.
4
Senator McConnell and his minions really have made their jobs much easier than those of their predecessors. They didn't consider the qualifications of a highly qualified judge for the Supreme Court nor did they consider the evidence of a very unqualified president to remain the Oval Office.
I wonder what they won't do next.
5
Will the Republicans who voted to suppress relevant testimony, supposedly on principle or out of concern for national unity, suddenly find courage to do the right thing if Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat this November, or if he refuses to leave office in January 2025? Or will they find another tortured rationale for denying the obvious and keeping this existential threat to our democracy as the standard-bearer for their party? If yesterday is any indication we are in deep trouble.
3
Two weeks ago I helped my 7th grade daughter to study for a test on the US Constitution. The test she took last week included a matching section. One of the terms was "Rule of Law" with the correct match being, "Everyone in the country must follow the nation's laws." Thanks to the actions of the Republican Senate this week, either the term, "Rule of Law", needs to be eliminated from the Social Studies curriculum or the definition needs to be changed to, "Some in the country must follow the nation's laws. Republican presidents don't need to follow any of these laws. They can do as they wish." Thanks to the Republican Senate, the Rule of Law, as the concept middle school children throughout the country have been taught, no longer exists
17
In rejecting calling witnesses in the Senate trial of an impeached president, republican senators have driven a long stake through the heart of democracy. From now on, a president may act as a tyrant if he has the majority of the senate in his pocket. Authoritarianism is a risk we run, having only two parties and a gullible electorate. It is our duty, even if we agree with their political platform, to vote against Republicans for president, senator, and representative until the party has cleaned itself from the corruption of its elite.
6
I would like to echo the call of the poster who suggested that the Democratic side should not show up to the State of the Union. We don't have a union thanks to this GOP. So let's stop pretending.
There's also already speculation that the uncouth hack will use the podium to go after Bernie and other candidates. If that should happen, the room should empty immediately and the press should turn off the mics and cameras.
The liberal epitaph will read: Too fair-minded, well-intentioned and, yet, ineffectual and anemic by half. It's time we took control of the narrative.
It's time to start playing hard ball. While the Democrats boycott the State of the Union, the rest of us should be in the streets protesting. We DO have power; our tragedy is that we never use it.
8
It's reprehensible but not surprising that the Republicans in Congress appear happy that they just declared the U.S. a government of men, not laws.
5
No doubt the “head on a pike” factor (whether stated or just assumed) played a major part in their deliberations. Let’s hope they’re rewarded in November.
2
Wait until the Democrat Primary selects the exact one candidate that could lose to T this November, and also not win over the Senate. The despair will be total.
5
This is not about whether or not Trump should be convicted and removed. This is about the republicans holding on to the three branches of our government which they have finally captured after 50 years of trying so they can finally enact constitutional amendments that end the possibility of self government like we had under the New Deal before de-regulation for the rest of us. It is about making minority rule permanent and the use of bigotry and exploitation officially legal so no one can get courts to see the truth and rule against it again.
7
The only thing that matters at this point is that the Senate did not take into account the 75 percent of us who wanted to have witnesses at the impeachment. This should become a constant “talking point” for anyone running for office this year.
7
The impeachment trial was Kabuki theatre from the start. It was necessary and now some more Americans understand that the Trump regime is so corrupt and dishonest that expecting anything but more criminal behavior is like believing in fairy tales. But now is not the time for sadness. Trump campaign, fueled by mountains of "dark money" will engage in more criminal acts in voter suppression,and coercion, including suppressing whistleblowers. It's the time for us to double our efforts against Trumpism. None of us can simply stand by. Join protests against Trump's personal corruption, and Republican corruption of democracy. Donate. Talk to our neighbors about getting involved now in resisting Trump's criminal rule. The only force that can save democracy in the US is "we the people".
7
I urge all Democratic Senators and Representatives to boycott the President's state of the union address except for Speaker Pelosi because she has to be there. The next Democratic president now knows the new rules. President can do anything he wants, like banning all assault rifles by executive order and using the AG to investigate the Trump organization and its allies and all other conservative extremists.
7
Louis XIV ruled for 72 years. He believed in the Divine Right of Kings. Today we have a stable genius leading us down a similar path. As so many of our constitutional safeguards are being abandoned, (Including the emoluments clause, as noted on today's front page of The Times) it feels like we our precious United States are evolving into a Kingdom. Each day more folks are clamoring to be accepted at Court (The Trump International Hotel). Will this Republican Senate find a way to abolish the Twenty Second Amendment making a monarchy official?
3
Our fears have now come true; our country needs an answer to our predicament. What about a nice, juicy scandal? With our democracy cornered, no light at the end of the tunnel,what could possibly make this nightmare presidency end? Huge protests, riots? These might take much too long for their intended purpose. But, a "true" scandal, ala National Enquirer, may provide immediate answers. Surely not hard to find. Truth be told, our only real way out is the upcoming presidential election. Is it possible to make amends by voting the evil out? I know I will try and hope others do the same.
Party and personal profit before Country. Again. Best deficit in thinking yet.
3
How is Republican refusal to allow witnesses and documentary evidence in a trial Democratic failure and not Republican obstruction?
5
How strange and sad.
A lawful trial without allowing credible witnesses. Have we just witnessed a doctrine of enlightenment values set back several hundred years?
This should be one of the most riveting State of the Unions ever.
I see and hear the outrage--perhaps the death of democracy in America. So why weren't we the people out there in D.C. surrounding the Senate building in support of the Democratic House Managers in a tour de force protest demanding a fair trial to ensure justice is done?
2
“Democrats Fail in Push to Bolster Case”? The case was so clear even the defense admitted he did this. The only failure was in Republicans to honor their oaths and the Constitution, and the Media in describing it as anything other than a coup. The American experiment ended last night.
3
Our only consolation is that we won't have to watch him strutting and bragging about his "total exoneration" during the State of the Union address since his acquittal won't come until Wednesday.
Actually, I never watch the guy anyway. I simply cannot stand him.
4
Sorry Dems but the Bidens are legitimate targets for corruption investigations. The Ukranians paid the Bidens $3.1 million. What did the Ukranians expect and did the Bidens provide?
That fact that it killed two birds with one stone (corruption in Ukraine AND potentially helpful politically for Trump) does not make it impeachable.
9
Impeachment requires the president committed a punishable crime, as also Profressor Alan Dershowitz finds. Mere "abuse of power" - whatever this means - is not sufficient. So the Senate's decision not to hear witnesses was right.
By the way: Mr. Bolton is a very dubious witness. He was fired by Trump and now seeks revenge.
7
@Mr. Newman Sorry Mr. Newman, but you are just plain wrong. The one Constitutional scholar that Dershowitz cited to support his empty premise wrote a rebuttal to the NYT explaining that Dershowitz completely misunderstood the law review article he referenced.
"American legal treatises and judicial opinions have long recognized the criminal offense of “abuse of power,” sometimes called “misconduct in office.” In 1846, the first edition of the pre-eminent treatise on American criminal law defined this common-law offense as when “a public officer, entrusted with definite powers to be exercised for the benefit of the community, wickedly abuses or fraudulently exceeds them.” The treatise noted that such an officer “is punishable by indictment, though no injurious effects result to any individual from his misconduct.”
"Common-law crimes are no harder to define with precision than crimes written down in a statute. ... If someone is accused of burglary in a state where the crime isn’t defined by statute, no defense lawyer would respond by announcing that burglary is vague or made up. Burglary is an established crime, even where its definition exists only in legal treatises and judicial opinions."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/opinion/impeachment-defense-trump.html
1
Corruption in plain view, cloaked in governing and the rule of law.
I think the coastal blue states should start to consider an exit from the "union".
Maybe start conversing with the country above us, and uniting with them.
5
So much for principals !! Out the door with what prestige we use to command around the world. We will be laugh at if trump is reelected.
I know this message will be subsumed in the cascade of "negative" comments I have seen so far. Revenge and sadness dominate.
I'm immersed in Nature at my home: mountains, forest, and sage prairie surround me. A flock of turkeys just ambled by on the road, deer paw at the snow finding new grass underneath, the red tail hawk circles above , a rabbit scrambles for cover under some rabbit-bush.
I, like so many here, am dismayed at the outcome of this so-called "trial" that really wasn't. Let me turn the conversation for just a moment. I know it won't be long.
What I see in these "negative" comments as well as my own dismay is:
LOVE OF COUNTRY!!!
That's what is really behind it. We so love this place, with all its warts, that the hint of the possibility that we will lose the precious gift of the "Enlightened" men and the women behind them gave us centuries ago, strikes at our heart and soul.
So, don't turn that Love to Anger or Revenge. Turn it to ACTION, determined action. Act as if your Life and the Life of your progeny depend upon it.
I've been in life threatening situations where action meant life. I acted because I loved life and wanted it to continue. It was single-minded; nothing, absolutely nothing else mattered. It was "swim or die". I swam.
That is what you need to concentrate upon.
Only now it is ACT so that the Country we LOVE continues to enjoy another day, as I am now.
4
What a sad situation. It appears that perhaps a majority of Republican senators believe Trump committed unforgivable steps but don't have the courage to call them impeachable acts. Apparently they are willing to dismiss the charges against Trump on hearsay their cry against the House's case. Without witnesses the nation will forever hold this pretend trial in eternal suspicion and its defendant.
What do we do now when it is patently clear the entire government is wholly corrupt. When checks and balances has been reduced to a novel notion.
"A day that will live in infamy. "
Be clear about this. There is no Republican Party. It was the subject of a reverse buyout. We now have the Trumpistas. A gang of syncophants, vagabonds and hangers-on.
Steve Bannon warned us. He told us the strategy. The deconstruction of the administrative state.
Taking back the Presidency alone is not enough.
1
Anyone who doesn't believe that McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, doesn't factor into this Impeachment Hearing equation is naive. Chao is Trump's Secretary of Transportation, and she would lose her job if McConnell decided to allow witnesses and follow the Constitution.
Chao would be out of a job because Trump would find a reason to boot her out of office. Chao and her business/company along with her relatives have personally gained from Chao's position.
This Republican Cancer and its enablers must be cut from the American political landscape at the ballot box for the sake of American Democracy.
5
When Congress next adjourns. constituents need to ask their representative what she/he has done for their district in the last year?
8
Trump’s cover-up and false acquittal constitutes a massive transfer of power from the legislative to the executive. No longer do we have three co-equal branches of government. Yet to be tested is the residual power of the judicial. The legislative branch now a minority stockholder in the governmental enterprise.
Five proofs: The executive branch may ignore subpoenas to testify before Congress. It no longer needs produce documents requested by the Congress. GAO reports may be ignored. The Impoundment Control Act is a nullity. The impeachment clause is a nullity.
Without the power to compel witnesses and documents, Congressional oversight power is toothless. Congress’s power to appropriate funds does not suffice. Without fear of penalty, the President now may impound funds appropriated for purposes contrary to his interests or divert funds to non-appropriated purposes.
I am skeptical that there is a remedy. Congress might restore expenditure control by legislating the transfer of OMB powers to the Congressional Budget Office. The President would veto that legislation. If passed over his veto, it would go to the Supreme Court. The outcome before the partisan Supreme Court is untested, but may be inferred. Even if the Court ordered the law executed, the President could simply defy the order. I am deeply afraid that we have failed Franklin’s challenge and lost our democratic republic.
17
@thomas briggs
Please correct me if I have any of these points wrong:
1. The executive did not refuse to honor any subpoenas contested in court and found to be valid under applicable law.
2. Presidents since George Washington, Republican Whig, Democrat, left right and center, have refused to turn over documents to Congress based on executive privilege, i.e., the right of the executive as independent constitutionally created branch of government to govern its own affairs within the powers delegated by the Constitution.
3. GAO reports are recommendations and have no binding force. Presidents other than this one have ignored the Impound Control Act.
4. The impeachment clause was invoked and the process proceeded exactly as specified in the Constitution: a vote in the House followed by a trial in the Senate under rules that the Senate crafts in its absolute unfettered discretion.
10
@thomas briggs
Your comment correctly identifies the repercussions of this travesty that I don't think have yet been fully appreciated. Your suggested remedy is only one of many we should consider to repair the damage the Senate has done. Most immediately, the House has to pursue its legal challenges to the president's obstruction. It's astounding that 230 years into our democratic experiment the (il)legitimacy and scope of "executive privilege" and "absolute immunity" are not settled matters of constitutional law.
Nice try on weasel words with the “Found to be applicable under existing law,” but no, the defendant doesn’t get to pick and choose which subpoenas they obey.
At the very least, you have to show up in court and explain your reasoning. Trump didn’t even do that.
And Trump never claimed executive privilege, far as I know.
And yes, other Prezzes have witheld from Congress...but the only one who tried that for reasons of covering up was Nixon. How’d that go?
And Trump isn’t impeached over the ICA: he’s impeached for what boils down to extortion for personal gain.
And there is no detailed, real “process outlined in the Constitution,” and following the rules means jack if the rules are clearly bogus.
And just so’s ya know, the House ALSO followed rules...rules laid down in 2015 by, wait for it, Paul Ryan’s House.
So let’s polish up our weaseling, shall we?
1
I'm afraid that the worst case scenario is what is going to happen. The Senate will acquit Trump on simple party lines.
When that happens, legitimacy for Trump and the Senate become illusions. The facts and the arguments for and against removal don't matter, and they never did.
The house is not off the hook either: they voted to impeach along party lines too.
The only things that matters anymore is which party wins and how much loyalty they can command. At some point, one will gain enough power to prevent the other from being a contender, and the game will be over.
6
@mlbex
I'm afraid that the worst case scenario happended. The House impeached Trump on simple party lines.
Senator Alexander’s rationale rings hollow since the vote was neither to convict nor remove, but merely to present evidence to support an informed decision either way. Even going into retirement, he lacked the integrity to honor his pledge to defend the Constitution. History will remember this day.
14
There are really two very obvious conclusions here:
1. The majority of a Republican senators know that Trump is guilty
2. They are afraid of him and more importantly his supporters and they have good reason. Look behind a Trump at his supporters at his rallies and you would be afraid too.
Hard to see how this ends well. At a minimum, I’d suggest that the NYT does not risk harm to its employees by exposing them to Trump’s rallies, and make a statement to that effect.
9
@John
No this is about holding on to control of the three branches so they can make the changes they want to make their perverse version of the US real.
1
I won't be listening to remainder of the trial. I don't want to even hear the reasons the Republican senators voted the way they did. They made their bed, and now they have to lie in it. I'm an independent voter and will never again vote for a Republican. I now understand why people don't bother to vote because of lack of faith in the government and judicial system.
Looking ahead to November 2020.
14
@Beth Ann
Wrong! In 2020, AOC. Omar, and the other one will be gone. Hopefully, Pelosi, Shifft, & Nadler. Trump will receive more popular votes than in 2016. It will be a landslide plus. November 2020 will be great & historic!
The problem is we’re all in bed together and the Republicans are hogging the blankets.
1
We can officially acknowledge that the Senate is not the world's greatest deliberative body. In fact that statement can be fairly said to be an oxymoron.
I foresee new slang entering the vocabulary. When culpability and responsibility is suppressed, the short cut slang will be "McConnell'd" despite irrefutable evidence. Many more I can think of.
8
A lot of changes will need to be put into law after Trump’s reign. This presidency and Congress are showing us what constitutional failure looks like. This is it. We are here. I do think good things will come of this, though, starting with a blue wave in the Senate in 2020. God help us until then.
12
@Cat
Just as long as we the people stay focused on those 4 swing states who’s electoral college votes are the ones that count.
We can win the popular vote by 10 million, and lose to the electoral college.
Anyone who can go and help resister and help democrats in those 4 critical states vote.
I will be in PA.,doing my part
3
Senator Alexander says he was worried about the division a yes vote on more witnesses would cause when 75% of population wanted more witnesses? What about the division a no vote will cause?
15
It is disingenuous to claim that it is not necessary to hear from witnesses because the voters will decide in November. Trump's acquittal has never been in doubt. However, by hearing from all witnesses, the voters in November would have a fuller understanding of what transpired. Why withhold such testimony? Because it would be very damaging to Trump.
12
@Roger G. And because the very last thing the GOP want is a fully informed Republican electorate making well-reasoned voting choices. That would be damaging to the majority of them. Thus their disenfranchisement and voter suppression efforts, and their opposition to election day holiday.
1
What goes around, comes around. The Democrats blocked every Republican attempt at introducing their own witnesses in the House impeachment hearings. 18 (yes 18) Democrat friendly witnesses testified, yet not a single Republican friendly witness was allowed to speak. When Trump exerted his right to executive privilege to prevent administration officials from being called to testify, Pelosi and Schiff decided not to ask for subpoenas to force them to do so, knowing that a federal judge would likely reject their appeal. So they delayed for 33 days in the hopes of a smoking gun, which never appeared. They failed to provide substantial evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors by Trump, yet decided to issue two partisan articles of impeachment for Senate consideration. It was not the job of the Senate to make the case which the Democrat controlled House failed to make. The House impeachment inquisitors failed to do their job. They can now pound sand and watch Trump be re-elected.
15
Your claims about Republican witnesses and the House hearings, are, of course and to be charitable, wrong. Among other things, a) there was at least one such witness, ON TV, b) Republicans attended/questioned during all hearings, c) Trump et al were invited and refused to show up, and d) the prelim results of court hearings went the Democrats’ way, and then it became clear that Trump would simply drag things out by demanding endless judicial reviews.
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/01/false-and-misleading-claims-at-impeachment-trial
And in my view, the abuse-of-power case was clearly made, as was that of obstruction. So if you want to pound sand, lemme know, and I’ll drive the dumptruck over.
Seriously, it’s fine that you disagree. But at least TRY to notice the facts, which are easily available to you.
1
The Senators have voted to obstruct the very same evidence the president is charged with obstructing access to. Doesn't that make them co-conspirators?
Lamar Alexander just poured nitroglycerin on the culture wars he was part of starting and keeping going to include this partisan act in spite of his oath to be nonpartisan. Yes that is what impartial means.
3
Have any of these Republican senators mentioned their oath of office, to defend and uphold the Constitution? How can a senator's acknowledgement that Trump's actions "were wrong and inappropriate" not conclude they were unconstitutional as well?
Does Senator Alexander not understand that producing witnesses and documents are part of conducting an impeachment trial, for which he took an oath to act impartially? Does he not care that a vast majority of Americans see great value in creating and preserving a full record of account?
How can Senator Rubio not realize that the "irreparable damage" to our nation will come as a result of abandoning the rule of law in favor of protecting the interests of a political party?
I suspect these senators take their positions not out of the absurd concern that the country may suffer further damage if a guilty president is removed, but out of concern for the damage their party will suffer from a real trial, which would continue to expose the full extent of Republican complicity in Trump's scheme.
Their constitutional duties do not include kicking the can down the road.
4
and so it has turned out one of the ways I thought it might..... the republicans claiming that we should not remove a president so close to an election and tear up "the people's" ballots. well that's fine except that republicans try to do that all of the time through voter suppression and gerrymandering. beyond that they might as well admit that they are truly afraid of what trump voters might do to them and their families..... oh yeah, and Hillary won by 3 million votes.... they had no problem with those votes being torn up.
7
Republicans are blaming the House Democrats for rushing the impeachment process. They claim that all witnesses, including Bolton and Mulvaney, could have testified if the Democrats had taken their cases to the courts.
Republicans also clearly understand that if Democrats had taken their cases to the courts, the impeachment trial in Senate may have not gotten underway by March or even April and may have lasted until June or July.
At the same time - as we heard it many times during the impeachment trial - a key Republican argument was that it is an election year and American voters - not Democrats - should decide the faith of the president.
This is truly the pinnacle of deceit and hypocrisy. First, imagine how more reasonable Republicans would have sounded if "American people should decide" argument was made just a few months before the election. Second, by their votes in Senate trial, it was in fact the Senate Republicans who decided "the faith of the president" and not the voters.
So, one has to conclude it is alright for Republicans to make such a decision but Democrats apparently lack the necessary qualifications for doing the same.
6
A sham trial, by definition, is designed to protect an individual by hiding evidence. A strong argument could be made that an acquittal as a result of a sham trial sounds more like a conviction. In other words, the sham trial was necessary in order to obtain the acquittal making the acquittal meaningless and without merit.
6
Hooray for Trump, whose policies I largely support.
IMHO, he has been a much better President than Hillary would have been.
Hillary, and Barack before her, would have relegated me to the back of the bus as a relic of America's demographic past.
Well, I'm no relic; I'm an active, working, contributing citizen whose views happen to be different from theirs.
That's called diversity, isn't it?
11
@ProfStewart Schiff should be behind bars for wasting so much taxpayers' money on these fiascos/circuses (Russia/Ukraine). Trump will now win by a landslide in November. I don't worry about our country only about the sanity of most of the New York Time's commenters.
1
“Democrats fail in push to bolster case”. This sub-heading is inaccurate. The Democrats succeeded in presenting a very convincing case. Apparently so convincing that the Republicans are terrified of what facts would be revealed by witnesses and documents. The only failure of the Democrats was not succeeding in persuading Republicans to rise to the occasion and do the right thing.
5
Let's rewind a little bit.
Did anyone, politician or pundit, predict that Mueller was going to cop out and say that he would refuse to make any judgement call or even suggestion regarding trump?
I think Mueller could have told us when he was appointed by Comey that he had zero intention of making ANY recommendations.
It was only pure luck that trump turned right around and handed the Ukraine thing to the Democrats on a silver platter.
Mueller was a huge waste of time when other lines of investigation could have been pursued!
How long before poor Zelensky announces his "investigations?"
2
Nancy Pelosi and the House Managers have consistently taken the high road and have conducted themselves with integrity throughout this impeachment process (except for that one parody of the phone call by Schiff - he should have known better). In the face of such willful blindness the Democratic leaders have behaved with grace and dignity. One cannot say the same of the current GOP leadership. I continue to remain hopeful for a vote to remove the POTUS even while I brace for the onslaught of imperious, incessant gloating that will follow like the blitzkrieg if he is not removed. In my mind, the American Flag is flying upside down until sanity returns to the U.S. Senate.
3
The President was saved from being removed from office by Senators who failed to uphold their oaths of office. Reading the loathsome responses of Republicans twisting themselves into incongruous pretzels to come up with a defense for their dereliction of duty, I was yet again astonished at their cowardly support for a president who has clearly used his office for personal gain and broken the law in doing so. Dershowitz's argument that a "President could do what he or she considered appropriate to get re-elected because he or she deemed it was in the public interest" (to paraphrase) has left us with an authoritarian. Who draws the line between what is in the public interest vs what is purely in a President's private interest? Clearly one will not be drawn by the Senate. Yes, the President was saved, but the Republic wasn't.
We now have an authoritarian government. Subpoenas do not have to be answered, the Constitution does not have to be upheld, and no one except those whom the President decides should be, will be punished for any wrongdoing.
Yesterday marked the twilight of democracy for this country. I do not think we can have fair elections now. The Republicans plan to secure power has triumphed. I hope with all my heart that I am absolutely wrong.
3
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all those Republicans who say he did it but voted against more witnesses suddenly voted to remove him? Why is such an outcome impossible? Because they have collectively given over their free will and most of their minds to this lawbreaking president.
2
A lost opportunity to defend democracy, the Constitution, and corruption of power.
8
I have been reading what some of the GOP Senators are saying after their vote on the Witnesses issue. It is pure and clear absurdity to read what they are all saying. Like, it is a partisan attack on the president. Others saying- the country is divided, and therefore, do not want to make it anymore worse. To those spineless GOP Senators what we want to say is that, it sure looks partisan, because they did not come forward to accept the truth. Secondly the country has long been divided. What has anyone of them done to correct or address the problem? They little realize they have all contributed to all the problems we are all facing.
5
The Republicans have once again shirked their responsibility to the American people as U.S. senators. It's no wonder people no longer have faith in our institutions. How much lower can this country sink?
6
OK, so thanks to the Republican Senators in their infinite wisdom, trump will not be removed from office.
Next up (are you listening, Senator Schumer?): a motion of censure, which would probably get the 51 votes it needs to pass the Senate, with a few to spare, and permanently add an asterisk to trump's name in the history books. It will not go down well with someone who has been spoiled his whole life and never accepted criticism or dissent in his entire shady business career.
11:05 EST, 2/01
8
The simple if only somewhat satisfying remedy is to pass an amendment preventing presidents from being re-elected. Part of justice is avoiding the repetition of past injustices.
People might complain that a presidential agenda can require more than four years to implement, but we are already very frequently terrible at building things that take more than four years and there is little reason to think that will change in a society pathologically tolerant of the exploitation of intrinsic power.
Incremental progress and unbiased re-evaluation is often a better formula for avoiding process and policy disasters, and this includes our elections. This episode, and these past 3 years, are a textbook use case for the cliche "this is why we can't have nice things ".
4
@Alan
It’s more likely that Trump will be made president for life.
2
Really a lot like restricting the witnesses in the Kavanaugh hearing. This was an inevitability Democrats should have seen from the start. The timing by the Democrats depriving Sanders and Warren of campaigning in Iowa seems odd, if not fixed. The impeachment was not and should not have been based on John Bolton's anticipated testimony and could have been brought sooner. The current strong economy and stock market are largely based on low interest rates and deficit spending, and continue to benefit the rich at the expense of the middle and lower income classes. Ultimately voters will have their say.
2
@AF
The economy is what factories and long term jobs we have in the US whose taxes support the communities they are in. What is being bandied about as "the economy" is the paper trading and deliberate destruction of those US based factories.
@AF
It is entirely possible Democrats expected this and will profit from it.
Republicans put an unfit Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. This may have been partly a result of a misguided or paranoid mindset that this is conservatism's desperate last stand, a mentality they have pretended to adopt in protecting Trump.
Their reward for the Kavanaugh decision was getting their clocks cleaned in the next election. Senators seem to be fairly terrible at learning from experience, which may be a consequence of an enormous reluctance to admit mistakes. Either way, voters have now witnessed a massive dereliction of duty by Republicans in Congress nominally excused by a fear of a candidate running in 4th place on the Democratic side and the bizarre idea that any other Republican candidate would do worse than Trump.
The price the Democrats paid for acqutting Bill Clinton may have been three presidential elections. No doubt they are looking forward to reaping a similar windfall.
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska: “Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.”
HOW exactly can this be a "partisan" impeachment if a former GOP presidential nominee publicly urges the GOP to at least have a fair trial, whereas many GOP Senators openly admit that indeed, what Democrats claim has been proven during the House impeachment procedure, IS true, AND impeachable material ... ?
Conclusion: the only reason why the trial itself is partisan is because those who are conducting it, the GOP, unilaterally decided to refuse to hear crucial witnesses and instead prematurely end the trial almost immediately after they started it.
It's enough that ONE major political party is utterly partisan for DC to become "partisan". That in itself doesn't mean that the other political party is "partisan" too, contrary to what Senator Murkowski and so many MSM journalists and pundits so often assume.
29
@Ana Luisa The push for impeachment from the very start was a one-party effort. That is, by its very definition, a partisan effort. Same if Republicans led an effort against a future Dem President. If it's not supported by Democrats and only Republicans, it's a partisan effort. You're underlying assumption is that it isn't partisan, because the House effort is a righteous one and correct one. Millions of Americans disagree.
Schiff and the House had complete control over the procedures. They could've gone to the courts to compel these witnesses to testify; they didn't. Now they cry foul for not doing so and want to Senate to clean up their shoddy work. No.
9
The republicans keep saying that voters should be making the decisions about Trump at the ballot box. But, by voting against witnesses and documents, they voted to deny the American public access to the information we need to make informed decisions as voters. American citizens cannot compel testimony or subpoena documents; we rely on our representatives in Congress to do that for us. By denying witnesses, they are denying the people the right to hear the full story and make up our own minds. This is an outrage.
45
exactly. every argument coming from Republicans is in bad faith.
1
My question to the GOP senators is this: How are Americans going to believe the results of the 2020 election if Trump wins, knowing that he is aggressively cheating the system?
52
@Pam
Easy. Biden will not receive the nomination. A moot point concerning Trump fearing him running against him. Then; who do the Dems have? NO ONE!
4
@Pam
How, precisely, is he cheating the system?
1
The senate is acting as if their disregard for the rule of law will have no consequence beyond them holding onto power. They are wrong. They are pouring gasoline on the fire of a cynical population that has been growing out of control for decades. How does a cynical citizen behave? They act in pure self interest. They justify this by claiming that since the system has imperfect and dysfunctional elements it is a lost cause. They revert to hyper-partisan, tribal, positions and put their energy into attacking the other side rather than acting constructively and respectfully improve the areas they see as problematic. They also conveniently use the dysfunction as an excuse to be a poor citizen in other ways such as finding ways to not pay their full taxes. Once a critical mass of the population has given over to cynicism it is no longer possible to work towards a "more perfect union" as the founders intended. All that can be done is slow the decay and wait for a new generation to do better. But behavior like congress displayed just move a new chunk of the population to the cynical category. It truly seems as though we are entering a period of "cold civil war" and realistically the best we can hope for is that it stays cold.
13
The Walter Cronkite Republican notes the irony of the prescribed Old and New Testament lessons to be read in denominations that use the Revised Common Lectionary. The Old Testament reading is a passage from Isaiah 58:1-12, concerning the false piety of religious devotion that ignores justice. The Gospel is from Matthew 5:13-20, "I have not come to abolish the law..." The Republicans have made their choice.
4
Democrats need to unify with one and only one message - trump and republicans don’t want the truth to be known. That’s all that can and need be done. Then let the voters decide.
23
The more you report these foregone conclusions as news, the more it will seem to the casual observer that the Republicans are managing some sort of legitimate process.
7
At this sad moment, I recall lines from the Bob Dylan song, "Hurricane":
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game
Lyrics credit to Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy
15
By now there is little doubt that Mr. Trump, his cadre, McConnell and members of the Republican Party (with counted exceptions) have become little more than honorary members of the Russian Duma. Putin’s mints must be working overtime striking Order of Lenin medals to be bestowed on this entire group so compliant with his indirect wishes to undermine our institutions.
16
The headline should say clearing the path for Trump to avoid accountability. It cannot be acquittal, since relevant evidence was suppressed.
23
Not an “acquittal”! If I as a prosecutor—the closest analogy here— am prevented from offering any evidence, there is a sham and a miscarriage, not an acquittal.
19
We have credible evidence that Pence, Pompeo, Barr, Perry, Nunes, Graham, Sekulow, Cipolone, Giuliani and others were all in the loop.
The legal term for "in the loop" is conspiracy. The trial may end, but the investigation will not go away.
I expect the election will turn on the elements of impeachment and economic downturn.
Thereafter, Donald will have two months to discover how little regard the people he's corrupted have for him when he's no longer in power.
15
They had one job -- one sworn Constitutional duty -- and they failed. That was to permit a full and complete investigation and hearing of the evidence against the President, not necessarily to acquit. If the trial, as they admit, was not impartial, it was because of them, not the Democrats. The excuses that the Republicans are spinning are weak, patronizing, self-serving rationalizations.
23
How will they feel when they realize Trump has no use for them either and that we now have a fake Congress?
1
Maybe if the House had done their work thoroughly and fairly, more Republicans would have supported the effort. It was flawed and that began the big schism. As for the players, Schiff, Nadler, Pelosi, and Schumer will go down in history books as footnotes. Can anyone name important members of Congress in 1865? Or what major event occurred that year? Even many presidents are not known by most of the country. So as we watched the bloviating go on and on, the country has become even more divided. Thankfully in about eight months voters will choose their politicians. No matter what happens, there will be multi-millions of voters who will not support the next president. 'He's not my POTUS' will be the chant of the day. So much for "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". What an awful way for the early 21st century to be recorded in history.
10
@Boat52 If my memory serves me correctly, it was Trump, with the help of the Russians, not the democrats who divided the country. He could have won and quietly done his thing without pouring gasoline on everything. A divided country is exactly what Putin wanted, and now he has it, because Trump invited the wolf into the henhouse.
Frankly, he probably would have gotten more done had he never learned of twitter.
4
If the White House hadn’t actively obstructed justice during the House investigation, by denying all requests and subpoenas, then the House’s investigation would’ve been more substantiated. But it hardly needed to be: as several gutless Republican senators pointed out, they know Trump did it. They just don’t think that illegal misappropriation of public funds to further a personal political aim rises to the level of impeachment. For them, only really, really serious infractions do, like having a consensual affair with a willing White House intern....
2
@Boat52 The House did do its job. Ask Lamar!
On his way in, Alexander tried to destroy the Department of Education. On his way out, he tried to destroy Democracy. Paul
13
Now maybe, just maybe, out esteemed political leaders can get around to dealing with the multitude of problems facing Americans...nah, not likely. Politicians want power first, and we citizens are not second.
8
Please don't call their vote an "acquittal". That would imply a trial was held, with actual witnesses and evidence, to determine guilt or innocence. None of that occurred. U.S. senators took an oath to do impartial justice, then did everything but. This was a farce and a sham. Many senators knew what Trump did was wrong and chose to ignore it. There will be no stopping him now.
19
@Christine Healey
U.S. REPUBLICAN Senators.
The Democratic Senators did their job and upheld their oath.
2
In the midst of this sham of an impeachment trial, we have Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. And so what are the Democrats planning? What is their strategy? How do they bring attention on Tuesday to their concerns about this Presidency? The Democratic rebuttal after the SOTU is not enough. One year they wore black, nobody cared. Another year they wore white, nobody cared. What they should really do this year is not attend. If every single Democrat did not show up and spoke on their local media stations about this Presidency, Democrats would get a huge amount of attention to the issues that matter.
12
Sen. Lamar Alexander: “ Americans would not tolerate the Senate stepping in to substitute its own judgment for that of the voters fewer than 10 months before the next election.”
Yet that’s exactly what Republicans did when refusing to consider President Obama’s pick to fill the Supreme Court vacancy after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia - even nearer to the 2016 election.
Hypocrisy through and through.
20
@NotGivingUpOnOhio
That's a silly comparison. In a Presidential election, every citizen gets a vote, and so in an impeachment, yes, the Senate substitutes its judgment for the judgement of the voters. And that's fine, because that's what impeachment is for.
But confirmation of SCOTUS judges is different. Citizens never get to vote on those, only the Senate does. The Senate's judgment doesn't "substitute" for the voters' judgment; rather, it's the only judgment that matters. And the Dems never had the votes for Garland; that's just math.
So what. Witnesses would have not changed anything about outcome of the Trump impeachment trial in the Senate. Acquittal has never been other than a foregone conclusion. And that is because of the dangerous and unseemly political polarization we now suffer. Vested interests have blinded us from truthful reasoning. Maybe on both sides, which Senator Murkowski seemed disgusted by. In fact, the legitimate option for impeachment as provided for in the Constitution has now been nullified by the context of polarization that plagues us. And don’t think for a minute this hasn’t been an outcome of insidious ways of Trump and his mob. What Americans want and hope for may be revealed in the General Election in November, though the fixed adversarial ways of our political divide do not encourage this. MLK said ... and I think it’s true ... we’ll either learn to live together like brothers or we’ll die together like fools.
So Democrats block GOP witnesses in the house, and the Republicans block witnesses in the Senate.
They only thing I find surprising is that people are surprised. Maybe we will wise up and elect an inanimate object for president 2020. I really like the traffic cone and the used broom. I think they could really force both houses of Congress to start doing their jobs again instead of continually deferring power to the president.
2
@Silly republicans picked 1/3 of the witnesses who testified in the House Hearings and they got equal time to ask questions of all witnesses. I think you should stop listening to rnc talking points and start reading the real news instead.
1
Does Alexander really thing we are on the eve of anarchy?
Isn't that what Trump ran on, abolishing the administrative state?
Nobody's pouring gas on anything, unfortunately.
5
The Democrats failed at nothing. The Republican Senators failed to do their sworn duty to uphold the rules of the Senate and the Constitution. The Republican Senators failed the American people.
16
This perverted outcome comes largely from having a majority of senators elected by just 17% of the population (that's right, just 17% in largely red states). Trump's base resides in those states. So long as these low-populaton red states dominate the Senate, the House is our only hope, aside from electing a Democratic president.
So let's give the House credit for bringing Trump's abuses of power to light and impeaching him for them. And let's get out and elect a Democrat to the presidency in 2020. It's our only hope for something resembling a Republic.
14
History will not look kindly on Trump or his Republican enablers. Donald Trump may feel as if he has gotten away with something but his presidency will be remember as the most corrupt and immoral in our country's great history. The Senate has decided to give Trump a pass but I pray Americans will show their displeasure in November by voting them all our of office.
9
The headline suggesting the democrats “failed” I don’t believe to be correct. The democrats succeeded in proving guilt; the republicans failed to do their duty and acknowledge the truth.
18
You have to admire Donald Trump. His hijack of the Republican Party is now complete. No Republican officeholder will stop him or even embarrass him. Now, that's political power beyond anything that has ever been seen.
Only the American people can stop him. I wish I could be confident that they will, or that they will have a fair shot at doing so.
7
Sen. Murkowski is correct, the congress has failed the people and it is the so-called Republic-ans who have failed most grievously by refusing to rein in the criminal in the White House and his minions. In the face of convicting evidence they couldn’t even muster up the courage to call witnesses and demand the documents. They are unworthy of their offices and criminals in themselves by failing to uphold the constitution and their oaths of office by hiding behind the the flimsy ruinous arguments of Cipilione, et al. I would not want to be in the same room with any of them, and I have no sympathy for the cravenness.
8
We must redouble, or -triple our efforts to take back our country by winning the White House, reclaiming a Democratic majority in the Senate (wouldn’t 55 seats be grand?) and increasing the blue majority in the House.
We can do this!!
8
Alternative headlines:
"Republicans failed to present a defense to acquit President"
"Republicans failed American people by not calling Bolton as witness"
"Republicans failed to uphold their oath to be impartial and fair"
"Republicans failed the majority of Americans who want witnesses"
"Republicans embolden first unchecked president in US History"
One could go on, but NYT I think you get the point.
Democrats succeeded in presenting evidence, substantive witnesses, bringing the president's substantial corruption to light. Thanks to all in Dems in the House and Senate who tried valiantly to save our country.
19
Please, time to get real here….did any of us really believe there would be a different outcome?
What is most mind boggling to me, what has been and has continued to be, the funnel-like focus on trying to make us concentrate only on four GOP senators to turn anything around in the High Chamber. OK, this is not a " hind-sight´s 20/20" moment because I am sure the media and press all considered this and tossed it aside for what was thought the easier targets. Is it not a losing battle from the get-go when you place your "hopes" on four flimsy numbers while you have the other forty-nine (never placed on a to-do name list for everyone to view) free to lobby against your goal?
As in most of the passed Senate voting, these "usual suspects" play the coy game, then, invariably vote with their party. Notice that when they "seemingly" vote with the opposing side it is simply because they already knew that the outcome would be in pro-party, GOP favour.
It was no different this time. Susan Collins, knew she could safely play the " valiant patriot" show and cast her vote pro-witnesses because her Party Boss had already informed them that they had the votes to win this last "little nuisance".
No witnesses, no trial, thus there is no path to acquittal, period.
My layman´s conundrum: If it is declared incomplete or a non-trial, could this action allow for an extension to continue and achieve witnesses and a valid trial?
2
the proofs were there to begin with. The question is, does the conduct merit removal from office? It is clear that the world's greatest deliberative body, is not that at all. Facts and law mean little. Fear for the Republic.
5
Headlines in newspapers all over the world (liberal and conservative) couldn't be more clear: the country that likes to call itself the "leader of the free world" just showed the entire planet that it now accepts to hold fake trials - including at the highest level.
What this teaches us all is that "democracy" is a combination of both a democratic constitution (separation of the three branches of power, free elections, access to information for all, freedom to organize), AND the extent to which citizens and lawmakers decide to enforce the constitution.
This fake trial obviously means a blatant breach of the three branches of government, with the Senate basically acknowledging crimes and high misdemeanor on the part of the head of the Executive, to then, astonishingly, claim that IF within a year the American people still vote for a criminal president, then the Senate should NOT remove such a president now, and rather, instead of protecting the constitution, allow him to govern anyhow for another year anyhow.
Can you imagine that a governor would be on the verge of being convicted for a crime, and then have the judge end the trial instead of hearing crucial witnesses, using the argument that now that his crimes are proven anyhow, we better let him control the government for one more year instead of removing him, because hey, it's only one year, and maybe people will even want to reelect him .. ?
The free world is watching, dear US, and shaking its head in disbelief ...
12
@Ana Luisa
No need to worry about any failings of the US. Our many "allies" e.g. DEPENDENTS will continue to accept billions of dollars in aid from the US taxpayer.
1
Fight fire with fire and money with money. Bloomberg for president, to restore faith in the Constitution and the law, and be president of and for all Americans!
3
All of the Republicans who voted against witness should be ashamed, but those who claimed to be on the fence like Murkowski and Alexander should be most ashamed. How could you be "on the fence" and come down on the side of no witnesses? If you're going to err, you err on the side of more information, not less.
And for Alexander to characterize Trump's phone call and actions as "merely inappropriate" -- no. This was not a mistake in judgement or policy, this was a violation of morals and ethics. This was not a foul, for which you get a red flag, this was cheating, for which you get thrown out of the game. In a sane world, that is.
10
Mr Chief Justice: If Citizens United effectively holds that money is speech, then no money is no speech. That leaves the majority of Americans with no voice. In addition, money in politics effectively obscures the true voice of a politician, drowns out the free press, and replaces it with propaganda. It has brought us division based on hate, which Republican stratagist Roger Stone has adopted as his montra, "Hate works". If you have a legacy, this is it. Congratulations.
9
Predicated on the GOP’s behavior is a core belief that humanity is fundamentally bad, dangerous, and needs to be controlled by brute force. They fail to see how the prosperity and advancement of all benefits everyone, themselves included. Instead, their paranoid delusions guide us toward a dog eat dog style dictatorship.
I wonder if they see that the dystopian society they fear is, in fact, being created by the very actions they take.
3
“Still, those Republicans said, they were unwilling to remove a president fewer than 10 months before he is to face voters.”
So, it’s like a lame duck impeachment? Awesome. Thank God everyone is fully aware of the stakes involved if Donald Trump should find himself re-elected; or otherwise unwilling to leave the White House.
“‘You don’t apply capital punishment for every offense,’ Mr. Alexander added.”
Very true, Senator Alexander, though I seem to recall the Constitution making an exception for certain offenses.
“‘It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed,’ Ms. Murkowski added”
Then resign. No one’s forcing any Senator to cling to power, like they’re Donald Trump confronting a cheeseburger.
9
From another article: Alexander Says Convicting Trump Would ‘Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires’
Alexander is admitting, de facto, that the Trump Cult has overthrown our republic.
10
" . . . though some conceded he was guilty of the central allegations against him". [Abuse of power and Obstruction of Congress]
They cannot by law say 'Oh, but the charges do not rise to the level of Impeachment'.
On another point: they voted to refuse witnesses and documents. For weeks they claim there was no first hand witness. Well Bolton was in the room - and heard it all - specifically the quid pro quo. Why would they block Bolton?
This is a sham trial that shall go down in history as the greatest ignominy committed in the U.S. Senate
8
Democrats have used every single breathing hour of the past three years to build their numerous cases and have plain and simply clearly failed. Curse whatever Constitutional weakness or depraved Senator you choose, but the flaws are in the allegations, not the procedures. When the wind from your own party is blowing in your face, pause might be wise. Instead, House Democrats dashed through their responsibilities (only to sit on the articles) and then argued that their bombproof case required additional testimony. Sorry, but the exam is not the time to brush up on your studies.
11
I respectfully disagree. Pelosi was not keen to go down the impeachment path but correctly recognized that the President was seeking to cheat US voters out of a free and fair 2020 election. The Democrats in the House made their case, despite the WH withholding witnesses and documentation. Pelosi withheld the articles of impeachment, allowing time for trial preparation and it clearly showed in their polished presentations to the Senate. Additional, big-name witnesses who would have further confirmed the facts at the Senate trial were needed to make it more clear to the population (who willfully ignored the House investigations) what transpired as well as difficult for Republican Senators to publicly ignore the facts.
2
When I was a kid, we used to various pick-up games...baseball, basketball, football, etc.,.with the other kids in the neighborhood. Only one or two of us could afford a ball. Therefore, it was with forthright pride that the one who brought the ball, made the rules. We didn’t vote on that, we merely took it for granted. It was an unwritten rule that superseded all of the other rules.
Now, I’m all grown up and it’s apparent that we continue to behave the same way. In this case, the ball is America, and we somehow treat it as though these pompous egomaniacs in all three branches of government own the ball.
It’s time we grew up and put away childish notions.
141
@comengedit
I love your analogy. Remember, too, that there are people who own the playing field. What to do next?
"The forces of injustice do not take vacations." Ralph Nader
23
@comengedit
Yes, I remember those days as I enter my seventh decade. But in those days, if the rules were inconsistent with sport and one sided, we'd abandon him and find something else to do... Alas, there is no other game now. And some of those who would have walked away have been pressured to continue playing because rules and conventions have been weakened by apathy and a loss of camaraderie.
18
@comengedit
However, it is possible that the egomaniac in the White House has been dealt a stinging rebuke ... even though he will be acquitted ... but not until Wednesday and that's one day after he gives his State of the Union on Tuesday.
Could it be that McConnell showed some spine and gave Trump a slap on the hand by postponing the acquittal vote until Wednesday? Maybe he told Trump that he'd better not crow about his eventual acquittal while on center stage for the SoU ... because "if you do we might censure you as we acquit."
Probably too much to hope for.
However, each senator will get a chance to explain her or his vote. Republicans will be able to voice their reasons and if they're anything like Alexander's "inappropriate" assessment of Trump's shenanigans with Ukraine, Trump will be somewhat chastened ... and in front of the entire country. Fingers crossed.
The Democrats can let it rip, but in the end they should take the high road and while pleading their case to voters also place their complete trust in the American people to get it right in November.
Witnesses or not, the result would have ultimately been the same -- an acquittal, b/c Trump has been effectively carrying water for the Republicans' goals and they'd be foolish to dump him now, so close to the election.
9
So Ms. Murkowski issues a statement that because of the partisan nature of the proceedings, she will not be in favour of calling witnesses, which would, of course, make the trial less partisan and more legitimate. And Mr. Alexander said that because of the 'cultural fires' burning in the country he also supports not calling witnesses, obviously not understanding that he could hear witness testimony and still vote for acquittal. I guess basic common sense is not a prerequisite to become a Senator.
37
They have common sense. Common sense says go along with the King to avoid a decapitating tweet. What they don't have is any integrity, sense of Justice, or will to preserve democracy. Just will to preserve themselves.
In addition to Bolton, the House should also subpoena the alleged, seriously conflicted and unethical lead Senate trial counsel / White House Office of Legal Counsel head Cipollone. Although an audacious step, any claim by Cipollone of attorney-client privilege could be vitiated by clear waiver claims, including his participation in furthering a criminal conspiracy. Remember the crucial testimony that John Dean, Nixon’s former White House counsel, provided to Congress in the Watergate proceedings.
19
@John Grillo,
Correct.
The lead counsel should be made
accountable plus Barr, Nuñes, and Pompeo who all participated in this extortion scheme and continue to lie to the public.
1
@John Grillo Yes. Because according to Bolton’s book, Cipollone was a witness to at least one of Trump’s conversations about getting Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Should C even have been among the impeachment lawyers?
1
It’s clear that most Senators agree that what he did was wrong, maybe not riding the the level of impeachment but wrong. There is a middle path that sets precedent, it’s censure. Delineate what was wrong and vote that this is unacceptable.
10
@Ryan Don’t hold your breath waiting for censure. That would also enrage the base.
With unaware irony-- the short-term political calculus of the GOP may have unintentionally created talking points for a progressive revolution.
Authors-- such as Faris ('It's Time to Fight Dirty') have pointed out multiple possible structural changes to reorient a country dominated by a minority party. Certainly it would be in the 'public interest' to have more states, voters and Supreme Court Justices? In any case, what future Democratic President could be challenged for anything more than concern for the country since there is no possible way to glean their true motives.
Things such as a 'Green New Deal,' Medicare for All and other social changes--- which all arguably have to do with 'public interest' in some way-- could be instituted by executive order. Significant GOP questioning could be flatly obstructed and individuals leading the Republican opposition could be investigated or personally attacked? (Trump has set the standard).
In the same way that FDR built upon a progressive instantiation of power in the executive set by predecessors-- the Democratic have had their roadmap graciously donated by Trump, Alan Dershowitz et al.
10
@Mark Thomason
Would respectfully disagree-- in part based upon polling regarding issues nationally (impeachment, healthcare, etc) as well as known GOP strategic long-term planning via the Federalist Society-- as to the diagnosis for current minoritarian rule. There are further examples-- analysts have highlighted the role of active Constitutionally questionable GOP intra-party collaboration in an impeachment trial contra a more democratically representative body in the House.
Your point would still serve to reinforce a program for a less widely supported Democratic Party-- per your argument-- to advance their agenda in a similar fashion. Blaming Democrat disunity does nothing to exculpate poor precedent setting.
Some trial (and I use that term extremely loosely).
After last night's vote, I think the scales of justice have permanently tipped to the right.
8
@Marge Keller -- "Justice" in American has been tipped far to the right for a very long time, maybe it always has been. This incident just makes us look at it, and feel it for what it is.
2
I can understand why the Senate as a body could believe that Trump was investigating a political rival in return for aid. What I have trouble understanding is why at least one Democrat couldn’t consider that Trump was actually investigating potential political corruption in the Ukraine, Why all the focus on the four Republican senators who considered calling witnesses and little or no focus on the 45 Democratic senators and two independents?
Is that balanced reporting for all the media involved?
8
Because the testimony and documentary evidence we have been allowed to see makes clear that he did not care about corruption. He was pursuing a pilitically useful announcement of an investigation of a thoroughly debunked story about a political rival, and he was selling out the country to do it.
1
No intelligent person could possibly believe Trump was looking to root out corruption anywhere. Period. It’s simply not an explanation.
1
@JTM Because there was no evidence that Trump was interested in corruption. He did not ask Ukraine to tackle corruption. He asked them to look into the Bidens. And he removed our ambassador, who had a track record of fighting corruption in Ukraine. And he approved aid in previous years, despite known corruption. Finally, it’s the Justice Department, not Trump, not any ambassador, and certainly not Giuliani, who should be calling for an investigation into an American citizen. There’s no legitimate defense of Trump’s actions, which is why his lawyers offered lies, distortions, distractions, and bogus legal arguments.
1
The democrats are now focusing on Possibly subpoenaing Bolton, even tho the President will be ultimately acquitted. But Lindsey Graham, has already said, he will begin investigations on Joe Biden and his son. Why don’t Both parties chill out and let the voters decide in November who will be our next president and who will control the house and the senate? We’ve had three years of partisan divisive politics in this country, beginning and ending with the Democrats. It’s time For all members of Congress to start acting like adults, and get on with the business of our country. After all, they have a 15% approval rate which bodes none of them well.
5
@Pvbeachbum Joe Biden should refuse to honor any Senate subpoena as a witch hunt. Why should he participate in something clearly partisan. If Trump is above the law in not honoring subpoenas shouldn't we all have the right to do so?
@Pvbeachbum -- Go after Hillary. Trump promised, told her so to her face. That would really shake things up like nothing else could.
“Alexander Says Convicting Trump Would ‘Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires”. So what? It is more important that we do not have a president breaking any and every law he sees fit to sideline. Who has established his own autocracy by flouting these laws and the Constitution. Why have a Constitution if Trump sees fit to ignore it along with the Senate? We no longer have clearly distinct divisions of power and authority. These are our worries, not some tribal outbreak speculated on by a Senator out of his league.
16
@NOTATE REDMOND -- There has been plenty of gasoline sloshed around for several election cycles now. It is a standard tactic.
2
@NOTATE REDMOND
Alexander's comment was ludicrous. Trump pours gas on the culture fires every day with his tweets and his rallies. That is his motif.
The majority of our Republican Senators have just shown us their true colors. Party alliance over American democracy. In one fell swoop they minimized their own importance to. Not bright. So now I see the Senate is just seceding their investigative and other powers to the House of Representatives. Real smart to stand by a president who will go down in history as the root of when America took an irreversible wrong turn. And I voted for him, but at least this commoner can admit its mistakes. Our elite Senator class forgot that doing the right thing matters. Way to go.
Aside from the two that showed reason to at least hear what witnesses had to say, we need a whole fresh batch of Republican Senators. Some that haven’t forgotten the idea of protecting the American people’s interest by hearing all sides.
10
I fear that this will prove to be a pyrrhic victory for the Republicans. Only the 2020 election will prove I'm right, and I pray that I am right.
Senator McConnell would have been better to look to his home state's legendary senator, Henry Clay, as his model rather than the one he chose, Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis, to guide his actions. You cannot love America if your only goal is to score a political victory, which he certainly did.
America is great for the liberal, democratic ideals it exported during its nearly 250 years of existence. It can remain great only if this continues. Sadly, I fear the Republican Party's soul is too corrupt so it can no longer speak for American democracy. Unless, the Democratic Party cleans its own house, it does not either.
1
@Brian -- It is unclear who will suffer, but somebody will. Either the acquittal in the Senate will be Pyrrhic, or the original impeachment in the House will be seen that way.
Voters will now decide, all of the voters, not just those of some places.
5
I never thought I would live long enough to see the death of America as we knew it. Assuming the Senate does what is tragically predicted and I make it through Wednesday, I will have.
Assuming Emperor Donald allows elections, I will never vote for another Republican above the local level - and it's doubtful there, too.
If I seem to be exaggerating, it is not by very much at all.
9
I can only think of one reason to keep witnesses from testifying and that's the fear that they will present evidence of Trump's guilt. There could be no more eloquent confession than this.
9
@Marty
Or that it your absolute right not to, as has been exercised every single day in accordance with the laws of this nation.
Democrats could have enlisted the Judiciary, but clearly calculated it was not in the best interest of their case—one, because they’d have likely been denied and two, because their desire to influence this year’s election would have appeared more foolish with each passing month.
They assembled a case with faulty parts and were duly informed as such. I mean, when two of your own members vote against their own motion, the answer isn’t full-steam ahead.
The Impeachment Managers still have sway in the Impeachment Hearings. Schiff and Nadler have both done a great job, now they can take a rest, and let the others lead/speak: the women, the African-Americans, and others of diversity. This diversity is their strength. Our country desperately needs the wisdom and power provided by minorities.
2
@NotKidding -- They lost. They lost badly. On this early key vote they showed themselves about 20 Senators short of removal.
That is not a great job.
3
The Democrats had weeks and more weeks to call witnesses. Every Trump hater they could find, especially from the Sate Department, was given a microphone. Their vote for impeachment would have been the same before the witnesses as it was after the hearings. They also knew he would not be convicted. Even so, they want more and more witnesses. According to at least one report, all this did was solidify opinions for or against that was there at the beginning. In the meantime, they have been part of only one significant passed legislation, Trumps trade deal. They were able to get some post offices named. They have been obsessed to wreck revenge on Trump for winning the election and taking both houses of Congress with him. Their problem has shifted from revenge to fear that they have no one who can beat Trump. If they thought they did, they wouldn't need to use impeachment to get rid of him. But, as one of their rank said, they don't want to give the people the chance to vote on him. He might just win again. It is time to finish this and move on to the campaign. Give the people the power. That is going to be one of Trump's campaign messages. "I told you I would give you the power but they tried then and are trying now to take it away. Don't let them."
6
Make no mistake, this is the expected result of our old-fashioned Constitution and laws. Founding Fathers wanted it this way.
1
"Alexander Says Convicting Trump Would ‘Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires’"
The vote was on witnesses - not guilt or innocence.
The vote was on evidence - to convict or not to convict.
How does allowing witnesses and new evidence equate with convicting this president.
He was going to prevail - fair hearing or not. But to say they don't want witnesses because that might convict him - they are admitting he was wrong?
What will the history books (that aren't censored) say about their lack of leadership and integrity on this one?
4
Mixed emotions on this. On the one hand, I believe the Republicans have foolishly ceded power to the Executive Branch, with very serious long term implications for our democracy. On the other hand, removing Trump via impeachment on this issue would cause an even greater rift in our country. The stories from Bolton and others will come out. We just need to work as hard as possible to defeat Trump in the 2020 election. It will be a close one.
3
@TC -- Democrats too for decades played a big part in creating the current Imperial Presidency.
It is a mistake. Nobody stood against it when it mattered, when they could have, save for a few lone voices that only served to highlight the failure of the rest.
2
The impeachment trial against President Trump was doomed from the start because it lacked bipartisan support. The underlying fact is that Democrats failed to convince the public that Trump’s actions constituted an impeachable offense. On top of that, Democrats and the media did not project an image of objectivity. You conviene people by being objective and fair, and this process was perceived, at least by half of Americans, of being highly partisan and political theater. Nobody knows what will happen in November, but Mr. Trump, irrespective of his character flaws, is in a good position politically. Machiavelli once remarked that you don’t have to like your leaders, you just need them to be effective.
5
The Senate is most definitely not "The People". If any legislative body is representative, that is the House. The People (per capita) were most definitely closer to removal than you seem to be.
The Long Game -
There are three days left, counting Tuesday and that night's State of the Union message, before the Senate will vote aye/nay for acquittal/removal. That gives the tweeting president ample opportunity to create more chaos and confusion. His tendency to over brag about 'winning' will be extremely difficult for him to avoid. Unless his handlers literally tie his hands until Tuesday night he may go public with just how much power he now has. He will have one last opportunity to ignore the teleprompter and let the whole world know how wonderful he is.
A long shot - perhaps - but that could put the Republican Senators back on the hot seat.
An historical irony would be if Judge Roberts would have to make the final vote.
It's not over 'till it's over. Sounds like the vote to impeach or acquit is Wednesday at 4pm or so. That means there are several days in which additional evidence may surface. Recall the the GOP backed Nixon up until the 11th hour. Thing is, sometimes, rarely, but sometimes, the Hail Mary pass actually works. Never, ever, surrender while a chance, no matter how remote, remains.
5
Those here who think the Republicans simply circled the wagons to protect their own conveniently do so without regard to the truth and the lack of constitutional rights afforded the president. The moment Schiff decided it was a good idea to lie about the phone transcript, speaking officially on the record as House Intelligence Committee Chairman, this hot mess of a case was toast... and then it went south from there. Any party who could honestly believe that Strzok and Page weren’t biased against the president while conducting their FBI investigation of the Russia Hoax would have absolutely no problem not seeing the trampling of The Constitution going on from Day One of the House impeachment proceedings. The Republicans saw that, with all things considered, no case is worth winning if you have to trample The Constitution to pull it off. They, in effect, saved the country from a future of endless low-bar political Impeachments-R-Us House proceedings that the Founders were fearful of. The Democrats are not fearful. They know better than the American people what’s good for them. Just ask them. I’m very proud of the Republicans, and for good reason.
6
The Republicans must have a bad case of amnesia. After all their Benghazi hearings, thousands of pages of documents, dozens of witnesses, and even the Secretary of State appearing at hearing, they have the audacity to suggest that Democrats use the ways and means of government against political opponents. It’s that type of ignorance that’s getting us in trouble.
And dare I mention Obama and how Republicans did everything they could to impede his tenure (cf: his supreme court nominee) If the Democrats oppose a president in ways you disapprove it’s because they learned how to do it from Republicans.
Murkowski, Alexander and others complain that the House impeachment process was partisan. The implication is that there was no basis to impeach - the "witch hunt" narrative. But in fact, the vote to impeach was partisan because the republicans chose to ignore the evidence. This is a sad day.
12
So, despite their oath, the senate decides to ignore the evidence and defer to voters. This effectively means that any president is now above the law, a sad indictment on the state of democracy in the US.
Are there ways to sanction the majority of Senators for perjury as they’ve effectively lied under oath? Would the prospect of jail time persuade them to do their job and uphold the law?
2
@Andrew Personally, I can't wait for when a Dem attains the office again.
I hope the GOP remembers.
@Ignatz
With luck a good number of the guilty GOP senators will be kicked out in November, along with the Capo Crimini himself and the rest of his crooked crew. Ideally this will be followed by a full, honest criminal investigation under the auspices of a proper Attorney General, hopefully leading to extensive jail time for Trump and Co.
After all, there are plenty of offences to investigate, starting with fraud, tax evasion, corruption and possibly treason, so a good prospect of an extended sentence without parole.
1
Unfortunately, little surprise with the outcome.
The GOP senators commitment to make the trial a farce was well known from the onset.
Their ability to ignore the evidence did not need the additional challenge of having additional witness on camera with first hand knowledge saying Trump did pressure the Ukrainians to secure Illegal support for his campaign. So they just said no thanks.
It was that easy, those GOP senator decided the cost of being corrupt would be lower politically than the cost of being brave defender of the rule of law and democratic principles.
Lets prove them wrong by putting them out of a job.
6
Since many Republican Senators apparently (finally) believe President Trump is guilty but that the crime doesn’t warrant removal, how about censure of the President instead ? Then at least the President can’t claim total exoneration and the Senate can reclaim some dignity while sending the message that there are limits to what future abuses it will accept from this President.
4
The impeachment should not have been brought to the Senate with the evidence that the House had collected. They didn't have solid evidence, and they knew it. I'm disgusted with this whole show. But the title of this article shows the bias and divide between the far left and right. "While Republicans Block Impeachment, Clearing Path for Trump Acquittal" (which we knew would happen given the inquiry results) we must also say that "Democrats hope to Impeach Trump for anything they can find has pretty much dissolved."
If the power machine in DC that is over paid and pampered cannot sit down and do their job (revise poorly written legislation and create regulations and laws that enable this country to function for the majority of people), then we should vote them all out. Or at least eliminate the raise they gave themselves.
4
So much for the fanciful drumbeat of stories about GOP defections. Every outcome throughout the process has been a perfectly predictable outcome, from impeachment to acquittal. Move on.
5
Only one side lives and breathes in bad faith. That side refuses to concede the universality of what constitutes a bad act. Without objective agreement on that, constitutional republics go into dormancy, if not die outright.
3
America has been here before. This democracy - part Athenian, part Roman, Part Iroquois, had it's share of major disrupters. At the heart of it it's always a person that divides the nation, not unites. It's divide and conquer every time: the Indian wars, the Trail of Tears (and the genocide of natives), civil war, Jim Crow, and more recently the McCarthy era, Vietnam war, and the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Part of it is miseducation and perceived promise that the future will get better for those individuals. But at the heart of all of this is wealth redistribution. We are not talking about how during the Trump administration the resources of the people of USA are "given away" to the very few that are loyal to the president. Land, use rights, resources, access to raw materials for pennies. The republican machine has been built and maintained since the sixties, and each 4 years fine tunes it so it continues to rely on dumb down public that cares too much for insignificant and trivial propaganda, but misses the important details (like democracy). The debate about abortion is insignificant if most people live in a polluted environment and are 10 times more likely to get cancer than people that live 100 miles down the road in a different state. But yet most of the poor communities that seem to vote for repressive leaders are in some of the most polluted places in US. Democrats should move to Florida, Pennsylvania and Kentucky and vote these dangerous men out.
8
On the very same day that the UK leaves the European Union, the US Senate votes to give Trump a free pass. W.B. Yeates had it correct:
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
6
Rubio--RUBIO!--might be right:
Best for the country to let them block witnesses, let them acquit him, and just keep hammering him and all of his enablers for it from now until the elections.
If Emanuel is right it might not only defeat him and increase the Democratic majority in the House but even flip the Senate.
1
I would never vote for Mitt Romney or Susan Collins - but my respect for voting your conscience + the truth.
Any interest in challenging Trump in November?
2
@MSF I think Collins only voted yes after she realized Alexander would vote no, thus giving her cover.
@MSF I could see Mitt take a swipe at him. That would be interesting.
1
If Republicans believe what he did was inappropriate and wrong, but does not rise to the level of removal, they should vote to censure the President for his actions.
3
If they had followed the process used in the Clinton trial only the 17 witnesses that testified in the House impeachment would be allowed to testify in the Trump trial. No new witnesses testified in Clinton’s. That’s because the Republicans did a thorough job in Clinton’s impeachment. The Democrats did not in Trump’s. Don’t blame the Republican Senators for the results. Blame the House Democrats for their lousy job in the impeachment. All necessary witnesses, including Bolton and Mulvaney should have testified there. But the Democrats either didn’t think they enough of a case or were to lazy to take the issue to the courts. They rushed the process, then sat on it for 33 days, so time was not an issue. If they didn’t get sufficient evidence to convict they are to blame.
3
Senator Lamar Alexander: "Conviction would pour gasoline on cultural fires. "
Sen. Alexander is using threat of violence by Mr. Trump's supporters to justify the way he has voted. In other words, he is claiming that he has been bullied.
Make no mistake; this is serious. This is a potent weapon that will be used again and again, if it is not firmly confronted by Democrats. Come November, if Mr. Trump and his Republican supporters feel that his re-election chances are slim, they will use it to intimidate everyone to vote for Trump.
5
Impeachment has been a fever dream of the left which began while the tears were still wet on the floor of the Javits Center in 2016. Used in this manner, it is nothing more than the “no confidence“ vote in a parliamentary democracy. The long game continues.
Deregulation.
Federal judicial appointments.
Scotus.
Presidents come and go. The long game endures.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Might be better if the people wailing on these pages got after it.
2
I have only one question.
When do we bring this GOP to trial? It is guilty of breaking its sworn oath to protect and defend us from enemies foreign and domestic. It has obstructed justice. It has aided and abetted criminal acts.
I am entirely serious about this. When do we investigate them? We are where we are because we refuse to uphold the rule of law. There is no gray area here. These are actual crimes.
So when are we going to have the courage of our convictions and act? And please don't trot out the nostrum that the "solution" is November of 2020. I say this as a member of an Indivisible group that is working tirelessly for that: Voting is NOT accountability. Let's stop pretending it is.
If the GOP is allowed to get away with this criminal stunt, we have truly opened Pandora's Box, except this time, "hope" will be the first thing to flutter out, not the only thing left remaining.
I have no knowledge of how to legally go about this, but I will contribute to and promote any organization that can launch a legal attack on this traitorous body.
1
Does anyone else think the Chief Justice May step in and call out the farce he is presiding over? I don’t think he will but ... isn’t that itself just more the same political nonsense we have witnessed?
1
The Senate presided over by the head justice of the Supreme Court just legitimized dictatorship. The only possible positive outcome is that enough people will vote and transfer power from the right wing to the left and we will have the courage to elect a President and party willing to dictate a progressive
2
GOP Senators admit that they know Trump pressured a foreign government to get information that would help him be re-elected. Do they think this action is impeachable? They don't want to decide, even though they were elected specifically to make these tough decisions. They want to let the voters decide. So..uh...yeah Trump can use his authority over foreign leaders to help him with his election bid, maybe he can even pressure them to donate to his campaign. And yeah voters get to decide whether he should stay in office in November.
2
What is stopping the House from reopening the inquiry, and accounting for all the “shortcomings” Republicans have been complaining about? I know it’s an election year, but maybe this is the year to do some campaigning from the House floor.
1
Trump is destroying the country, and on occasion, the planet. However, Lamar Alexander speaks the truth to this Democrat. The impeachment of Trump was and remains bad for all of us. Let's be honest: the House "investigation" was also a joke and invited the Senate travesty. Voters need to show up and defeat Trump. But Republican Congressmen and women need to start showing up as well. Trump's base, created through decades of neglect by both parties, deserves support and leadership. The President they admire is not doing anything to improve their lot in life. He is leading them down a path to economic suicide - and economic suicide is just the beginning. We need the Republican members of Congress to engage in the fight of their lives to bring sustainable opportunity to their constituents. Tariffs don't accomplish this. Anti-immigration policies don't accomplish this. Pretending that climate change is not real is accelerating the demise of communities that are dependent on water. We've all witnessed the Kansas experiment. Cutting taxes is not going to attract 21st century businesses and higher paying wages. Teaching children what to think instead of how to think is not a sustainable solution. Republican elected officials need to preserve what is great about rural America (character, love of community among them), stop being a slave to Twitter, and get to work.