Mega-Thread: Impeachment Proceedings & Inquiry of Trump

[Edge-]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/polit...ble/index.html

Apparently Republicans are warming up to the idea that Trump withheld the aide in return for the announcement of an investigation into a political rival by a foreign country.

Don't get your hopes up though, they still don't think that's impeachable. Despite it literally being against the law.

Because Republicans appear to have never actually cared about "law and order", except when it suits them.

[cubby]

All evidence is inadmissible.
All eye-witness testimony is hearsay.
/s

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

Welcome to the new Impeachment process. No need for truth, we made up our minds before the trial started.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/polit...ble/index.html

Apparently Republicans are warming up to the idea that Trump withheld the aide in return for the announcement of an investigation into a political rival by a foreign country.

Don't get your hopes up though, they still don't think that's impeachable. Despite it literally being against the law.

Because Republicans appear to have never actually cared about "law and order", except when it suits them.

They are going to end this asap. If you read what Majority Whip and others are saying, it's "we already knew this" and "it's not impeachable". They are going to vote today or tomorrow.

[Edge-]

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/...unsourced.html

John Bolton's first-hand account of events he was witness to is "unsourced".

The depths to which the Republican party and Trump's lawyers will go to lie for him know no bottom. This is the modern Republican party - do not question them and just accept the doublespeak.

[cubby]

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/...unsourced.html

John Bolton's first-hand account of events he was witness to is "unsourced".

The depths to which the Republican party and Trump's lawyers will go to lie for him know no bottom. This is the modern Republican party - do not question them and just accept the doublespeak.

And there's their buzzword - "unsourced" - to give their Deplorables the answer to why he wasn't called.

- - - Updated - - -

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/...unsourced.html

John Bolton's first-hand account of events he was witness to is "unsourced".

The depths to which the Republican party and Trump's lawyers will go to lie for him know no bottom. This is the modern Republican party - do not question them and just accept the doublespeak.

Why is Dershowitz on board Team Deplorable? Is he tied to Epstein's legality and is getting blackmailed? I can't figure out his abrupt about face from 2016 when he called Trump corrupt.

[Edge-]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-d..._copyURL_share

Surprisingly not paywalled, but it appears that, in private, McConnell has now admitted he doesn't have the votes to stop witnesses from being called.

Bolton was a curveball that nobody in the Senate expected, and I actually have to give credit to the White House for not sharing the advanced copy of Bolton's book with McConnell and team.

Even though apparently Bolton's legal team now believes the White House has made copies of the book - https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/...ok-77674565729

Edit: If the WSJ link doesn't work, here's pickup from their article - https://lawandcrime.com/impeachment/...nesses-report/

Why is Dershowitz on board Team Deplorable? Is he tied to Epstein's legality and is getting blackmailed? I can't figure out his abrupt about face from 2016 when he called Trump corrupt.

Because he's good on TV. No, really.

https://www.businessinsider.com/trum...-report-2020-1

Which lines up with his constant, "He looks like he comes from central casting." comments.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/...b6ce51a4ec3749

Trump is not pleased with Fox News' "dissent" and "political correctness" by...having a Democratic Senator on to talk about impeachment.

Trump is truly the most dainty, delicate of snowflakes.

[Grapemask]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/polit...ble/index.html

Apparently Republicans are warming up to the idea that Trump withheld the aide in return for the announcement of an investigation into a political rival by a foreign country.

Don't get your hopes up though, they still don't think that's impeachable. Despite it literally being against the law.

Because Republicans appear to have never actually cared about "law and order", except when it suits them.

Yeah, quite a few senators have started saying after today's trial that sure, Trump may have done it, but they don't think it's impeachable.

Which is incredible. Looking for foreign interference in an election is now perfectly fine for a president.

Democrats need to hammer this hard the next time they get the floor, be it during the questioning phase or during the next senate floor action. They need to make clear that if everything that happens in an impeachment proceeding sets precedent as Trump's team argued, then the Senate will be setting the precedent that the next Democrat will be able to do anything it takes to win reelection. And that other Democrats won't be hypocrites if they give it a pass or even strongly support it - they'll just be following precedent. And if Republicans see that as a threat, it should serve as a guide for what they really think about what Trump did.

[cubby]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-d..._copyURL_share

Surprisingly not paywalled, but it appears that, in private, McConnell has now admitted he doesn't have the votes to stop witnesses from being called.

Bolton was a curveball that nobody in the Senate expected, and I actually have to give credit to the White House for not sharing the advanced copy of Bolton's book with McConnell and team.

Even though apparently Bolton's legal team now believes the White House has made copies of the book - https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/...ok-77674565729

Edit: If the WSJ link doesn't work, here's pickup from their article - https://lawandcrime.com/impeachment/...nesses-report/

I'm surprised the GOP Double-Think isn't working across the board. It would be great if they got witnesses approved, but even with that quote, I'm not holding my breath.

Because he's good on TV. No, really.

https://www.businessinsider.com/trum...-report-2020-1

Which lines up with his constant, "He looks like he comes from central casting." comments.

Interesting. So he's just doing this for the fame?

[Edge-]

Interesting. So he's just doing this for the fame?

No, this is his measure for quality/success - if you look/act well on TV.

[Shadowferal]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-d..._copyURL_share

Surprisingly not paywalled, but it appears that, in private, McConnell has now admitted he doesn't have the votes to stop witnesses from being called.

That's got to sting!
If that's the case, (grain of salt), he might not bother with holding a vote and just have Bolton come up. (So he does not reveal his position on votes)

[Poopymonster]

No, this is his measure for quality/success - if you look/act well on TV.

Resume fluff?

I defended the President when he was impeached.
Which one?
The President. Of the United States.
Yes, but which one?
I. Defended. The President. When he was Impeached. That's impressive enough without getting into the fine details...
But only 3 have been impeached, one is too old for you to have defended, you weren't at Clinton's, so it's gotta be-
GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR!

[Breccia]

John Bolton's first-hand account of events he was witness to is "unsourced".

Again, at this point, they can put him on the stand, or admit Bolton knows something and la la la la I can't hear you.

[D Luniz]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/polit...ble/index.html

Apparently Republicans are warming up to the idea that Trump withheld the aide in return for the announcement of an investigation into a political rival by a foreign country.

Don't get your hopes up though, they still don't think that's impeachable. Despite it literally being against the law.

Because Republicans appear to have never actually cared about "law and order", except when it suits them.

I keep telling you all "law and order" isnt the same as "fairness and justice"
There has always been "law and order"

[Zan15]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...cid=spartanntp

oh I hope this is trueeeeeee
WASHINGTON—Republican leaders said they don’t currently have enough votes to block witnesses in President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, after his legal team concluded its efforts to counter Democrats’ charges that the president abused power and obstructed Congress.

[Dontrike]

Why? We already had a Democrat President go through the same thing? 2 wrongs don't make a right.

Getting a blow job and bribing/extorting a country of Congressionally approved money to look into a political rival (and asking on television) are not the fucking same.

- - - Updated - - -

Moscow Mitch is pissed...(that amuses me)
How can I be totally coordinated with the WH when they have Bolton's shit without telling me?

A McConnell spokesman told The Courier Journal on Monday that the Senate majority leader "did not have any advance notice" that the National Security Council reportedly had a copy of Bolton's manuscript for weeks.

McConnell was among the Senate Republicans who were "angry at the White House" over the revelations about Bolton's manuscript, according to The Times.

Mere hours before the impeachment trial was set to resume Monday, The Times reported, McConnell and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., privately pressed the president's advisers to explain Bolton's account, which undermines a White House defense of the president and which blindsided several GOP senators, according to people familiar with their thinking.

"I can't bias-ely defend Trump if you're not giving me all the evidence before hand!" - Moscow Mitch

[Edge-]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...cid=spartanntp

oh I hope this is trueeeeeee
WASHINGTON—Republican leaders said they don’t currently have enough votes to block witnesses in President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, after his legal team concluded its efforts to counter Democrats’ charges that the president abused power and obstructed Congress.

WSJ and AP independently confirmed with their own contacts, so unless this is a sophisticated misdirection from Republicans (doesn't look like it), this seems legit.

[Orbitus]

I feel like having the next Democrat Vice President withhold aid until the Ukraine stops investigating his son would be good enough.

Well, it is a good fucking thing, THIS ISN'T WHAT FUCKING HAPPENED. Considering Joe Biden had the backing of the US Government, the EU, the IMF, 3 Democratic Senators and 3 Republican Senators.

And it wasn't to stop Ukraine from investigating his son, it was because they WEREN'T investigating Burisma like they should have.

We now know what circle of sources you get your information from and who you support with this type of statement that is wrong.

[cubby]

I suspect there are some senators who are waffling on their side, but when it comes down to it they'll vote against witnesses just like they did on day 2.

Plus, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter - because we know how the Convict vote will go, no matter what.

Not that getting witnesses and new evidence into the open wouldn't be worth it - it definitely would.

[Orbitus]

Rather telling that Republican senator Ron Johnson was the one that pushed Bolton to talk.

He was also one of the morons that signed the letter that Biden sent to Ukraine to fire Shokin. So he should know that Biden is clean.

[cubby]

It'll be worth it just for the twitter meltdown from Donnie Dumbass.

Lol, agreed. Plus, it would be nice for this to be going on while he does the SOTU address - although that is unlikely.

[Edge-]

I suspect there are some senators who are waffling on their side, but when it comes down to it they'll vote against witnesses just like they did on day 2.

We'll see. Polling was already against stonewalling on witnesses (nationally, not sure on the state level), and Bolton threw a fucking molotov on the chalkboard to erase the existing calculus. There's actually a legit chance that there may be witnesses, but I fully expect them to negotiate for a "witness trade" and try to force something like Hunter Biden in the hopes they can use that as an excuse to say, "SEE! THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WANT WITNESSES AFTER ALL BECAUSE THE REFUSED TO CALL OUR UNRELATED WITNESS!"