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You are here: Home / Politics / Impeachment Inquiry / Impeachment Hearings / Continuing Impeachment Trial Open Thread

Continuing Impeachment Trial Open Thread

by Cheryl Rofer|  February 10, 20215:11 pm| 151 Comments

This post is in: Impeachment Hearings, Open Threads, Rofer on Nuclear Issues

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The previous thread was getting long. I’m not sure how much more there is to go – I am not watching, just getting snips from Twitter as I get some other stuff done.

I found this interesting – the nuclear football that follows the Vice President around was also at risk. You can see the military aide carrying it at 0:13 in the video.

Truly remarkable footage of Vice President Pence and his family being escorted out of the Senate chamber. President Trump was back at the White House, continuing to trash Pence, according to multiple people. pic.twitter.com/Vr3c5EBwTR

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 10, 2021

Stephen Schwartz follows the nuclear footballs and collects photos of them. I asked him to verify. Here’s his answer –

Correct, although that's a different military aide than was seen carrying it earlier in the afternoon that day from the House to the Senate. https://t.co/rAtaTNMte5

— Stephen Schwartz (@AtomicAnalyst) February 10, 2021

Sorry for the duplication. That seems to be the way this works.

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Previous Post: « Impeachment Trial Open Thread
Next Post: How Did It Get So Broken »

Reader Interactions

151Comments

  1. 1.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    I hope they play the footage of the two goons saying Ted Cruz would want us here

    yup, they’re discussing whether Ted Cruz would sell them out, and decide he’s on their side because he objected to the AZ count

  2. 2.

    Raven

    February 10, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:  They did

  3. 3.

    Cermet

    February 10, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    While no lost if they caught pence but immagine if they captured the “nuclear launch football”!?

  4. 4.

    Starboard Tack

    February 10, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: 
    A normal person would feel shame at that. Cruz? Doubt it.

  5. 5.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    Man, this is beyond appalling.

  6. 6.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:18 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I remember that bit. They first thought he had turned coward on them. Stupid fucks.

  7. 7.

    p.a.

    February 10, 2021 at 5:19 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ???they should have replayed the “Cruz is with us” comments on a loop.

  8. 8.

    Cheryl Rofer

    February 10, 2021 at 5:19 pm

    @Cermet: They couldn’t have launched anything, but it would not have been good.

  9. 9.

    Jeffro

    February 10, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    @debbie: you too?

    I’m getting that red-tinted filter coming down over everything again…

  10. 10.

    Martin

    February 10, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    Josh Hawley still have his feet up?

  11. 11.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 5:27 pm

    (Shows video of police officer suffering horribly)

    “We will now break for dinner. See you in an hour.”

    Kind of a jolting transition there.

  12. 12.

    MagdaInBlack

    February 10, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    @dmsilev: Ya that was kind of weird feeling.

  13. 13.

    Mary G

    February 10, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    As you watch these hard to watch videos of the storming of the Capitol, remember that hours later, Trump released his own video addressing the rioters. "We love you," he said.— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) February 10, 2021

    It’s a shame that these Republican senators aren’t smart enough to know that if they let this behavior go, somewhere down the line the same mob’s going to come for them. The impeachment managers are doing a great job.

  14. 14.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    February 10, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    I’m sure there is a way to deflate the football.

    I mean Tom Brady does it all the time.

  15. 15.

    Ramalama

    February 10, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    I was diagnosed with Covid at that time and so had no ability to follow any news. Too busy freaking out with my own news.

    I later read up about certain aspects but watching this whole excellent presentation by the Impeachment Managers is chilling, terrifying, maddening, and a little heartbreaking.

    I mean Jesus.

  16. 16.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    “I think the President has learned his lesson”, Susan Collins, just about a year ago.

    I’m sure she’ll vote to convict this time. If she had a scrap of decency, she and every fuck who voted to acquit him the first time, would resign in shame.

  17. 17.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    @debbie: this is absolutely who they are and we’re never going to let them forget it. Scarlet fucking T’s for all of them.

  18. 18.

    Martin

    February 10, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    Democrats are pushing Republican senators into a very, very, very tiny box. The presentation here is devastating. I mean, none of it is really new, but presentation really matters to public reaction. Nothing that happened on bloody sunday was new, but the presentation of that day changed public opinion. Same thing happened during Watergate. This is starting to really have that feel to it.

  19. 19.

    guachi

    February 10, 2021 at 5:35 pm

    Republicans and their voters are traitors. Trump is no better than Osama bin Laden. MAGAts are no better than the Taliban.

  20. 20.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    @Martin: I’m sure T****’s crack legal team will be able to effectively rebut.

    …I’m sorry, I’m being told it’s an on-crack legal team. That’s more or less the same thing, right?

  21. 21.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:39 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: 72 years of previously not learning a single lesson, but THIS TIME! I don’t think they can be an R without ridding themselves of all shame, decency, and integrity. Ted Lieu and Lindsey Graham are examples of the gaping chasms in exemplifying the Air Force Core Values.

  22. 22.

    Tazj

    February 10, 2021 at 5:39 pm

    The police were overwhelmed and had to fight for hours, while Trump was what, enjoying the show? It’s just disgusting that they were undermanned to begin with and that it took so long to get them help.

  23. 23.

    Mary G

    February 10, 2021 at 5:40 pm

    Romney, sitting in the chamber just now, was stoic and didn't move when the Senate was shown this video showing Officer Goodman saving him from the mob pic.twitter.com/MGG74ulZDF— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 10, 2021

  24. 24.

    Starboard Tack

    February 10, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    @dmsilev:

    …it’s an on-crack legal team.

    I thought it was Xanax.

  25. 25.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    @Mary G:

    Like I said this morning, the managers need to frame the insurrection as if these people were invading the Senators’ homes and then ask if they’d be so nonchalant about that level of violence and those same threats being directed right at them.

  26. 26.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Michael Beschloss@BeschlossDC

    There once was a man from Palm Beach,
    Whose lawyers did nothing but screech,
    Their rap was so shrill
    Now Trump won’t pay their bill
    The House a third time might impeach.

  27. 27.

    stacib

    February 10, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    I’ve been in and out, so I don’t know if this point has been made.  During the presentation by the lady repping the VI, she made it clear, several times, that this was all happening in the area that FACES THE WHITE HOUSE.  My thoughts is she was making it clear that trump** had to know how out-of-hand this was, and he didn’t do a damned thing.

  28. 28.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    @Tazj:

    Michael Beschloss@BeschlossDC

    Remember that after 2020 election, Trump forced out his Secretary of Defense and installed loyalists and sycophants at Pentagon. They were in those jobs on January 6 when requests to defend U.S. Capitol from attack were ignored.

  29. 29.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    @Tazj:

    I hope one of the manager’s focus will be on Trump’s reported behavior during the insurrection.

  30. 30.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 5:45 pm

    @Leto: Beschloss’s descent into becoming, well, someone like us has been one of the stranger, less predictable, yet quite amusing side stories of the last couple of years.

  31. 31.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 10, 2021 at 5:45 pm

    @debbie: What is wrong with what they are doing?

  32. 32.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    February 10, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    @Martin:

    Nothing that happened on bloody sunday was new, but the presentation of that day changed public opinion. Same thing happened during Watergate. This is starting to really have that feel to it.

    That was before Fox and the rightwing echo chamber. They won’t see this. They will see carefully curated slices of this that are considerably less damning or somehow make Democrats look bad.

  33. 33.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    @debbie: I imagine it will be. A big theme of the last few hours was “look just how bad this was”, so it makes sense that they’ll pivot back to T**** both inciting the riots and then spending all afternoon just watching it on TV rather than doing anything to quell them.

  34. 34.

    NotMax

    February 10, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    @dmsilev

    Oh, expect they’ll try going the “cherry picked and selectively edited video” route. Maybe even throw in the reading of a Robert Service poem.

  35. 35.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    @debbie: I think they are. The last two managers effectively laid out just how close everyone was to being either a hostage or having a state funeral. They weren’t talking to Dem reps, because they know. It’s the Rs who continue to think, it won’t happen to me!, that this was aimed at, as well as showing the rest of the populace just how close we came to having our government decapitated. Like Jeffro this has me amped up all over again just like that day, and just how absolutely I loathe these motherfuckers.

  36. 36.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I have no problem with what they are doing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the presentations had an effect on the GOP senators or their intent to absolve Trump.

    Something more in-your-face might get through is all I was saying.

  37. 37.

    Immanentize

    February 10, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    The political future of Michael Pence is over.  The Republican base hates him already.  Democrats calling him a patriot has just doomed his sad aspirations.

  38. 38.

    patrick II

    February 10, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    @Cermet:

    Pence found a line he would not cross and stood up in the end.  I can think of many people on that side who would not have.  Imagine if Trump had picked Cruz for VP.

  39. 39.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    @dmsilev: I honestly didn’t know who he was, but started seeing him on Maddow and then other MSNBC talking heads shows. He honestly sounds so much of my dad, in the historical context and temperament . (My dad’s a former high school history teacher.) I’d love to get Beschloss to comment here because I think he’d have a hoot and I’m sure it’d be educational. Plus his 3 Stooges meme game is always on point.

  40. 40.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 10, 2021 at 5:54 pm

    @debbie: I doubt anything will change the minds of any Senators who not inclined to convict now.  This is for posterity and the upcoming elections.

  41. 41.

    Betty Cracker

    February 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    @Immanentize: There’s always a silver lining!

  42. 42.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    @Leto:

    He’s been a talking head on PBS for quite a while. Until Trump apparently drove him over the edge, he was calm, measured, and spoke only from a historical perspective.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    February 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    @Immanentize

    political future of Michael Pence

    “Comedy gold, Jerry.”

  44. 44.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Michael Beschloss@BeschlossDC
    Replying to @BeschlossDC

    Having not been invited to join the Pences on vacation in the Virgin Islands, the Fly might now be ready to flip.

    I’ve heard that while the Fly is no longer with us, his great, great, great, great, great grandflies do have his contemporaneous notes and have indicated they’ll turn them over if asked to do so.

  45. 45.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You’re probably right, but I’ll keep hoping for a happy ending to these four years.

  46. 46.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    @debbie:

    Something more in-your-face might get through is all I was saying.

    I think they are doing one better.  With each presentation, they inch closer and closer, making it harder and harder to deny the reality of what happened, the worse things that almost happened, and the still worse things that will happen next time, with them as the target.

    I think this is going to change some votes before we’re through.  I’m not saying we’ll get to 67 votes, but I think we’ll get more than was predicted going in.

    I think the managers are playing this very smart.  These guys don’t just have book smarts.  They have emotional smarts, and I think there might be one or two street fighters in the mix, as well.

    I haven’t gotten to the video yet.  I find that I need to take a break in between each presenter.  As soon as my bread comes out of the oven, i will watch the person that comes after Ted Lieu.  His presentation might have been the shortest so far, but he packed a punch, beginning, middle and end.

  47. 47.

    NotMax

    February 10, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    @dmsilev

    Descent?

  48. 48.

    Ksmiami

    February 10, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    @guachi: I don’t want them as my countrymen- too bad banishment is no longer an option

  49. 49.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    @Ksmiami: I’ve read that Elon Musk thinks that being an indentured servant on the first homesteading trip to Mars is a reasonable thing. Sounds like we’ve found where we can send our assholes. We can even name the project “Mayflower 2.0”.

  50. 50.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    @debbie:   WRT Beschloss:  Living through history:  as in experiencing the worst president in history, the rise of fascism, the 1918 influenza pandemic, the ensuing economic disruption and pain for many, the Nth coming of the white supremacists, an actual insurrection at the US Capitol:  it will wake one up.  And all that in a very short period of time.

    As long as one is not a wholly unempathetic and greedy Republican congressweasel.  Which Beschloss is not.

  51. 51.

    Amir Khalid

    February 10, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    @debbie: ​
     I think that the strategy is to methodically lay out an ironclad case against Trump. Best case scenario, he is convicted in the court of public opinion as well as in the Senate. If they convince the public of his guilt and Republican Senators still refuse to convict, the Democrats have something to hang around the Republicans’ collective neck.

  52. 52.

    different-church-lady

    February 10, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    NYT PITCHBOT PITCHBOT: “What would the insurrectionists have done with the nuclear football? We went to a diner in rural Pennsylvania to find out.”

  53. 53.

    lollipopguild

    February 10, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    There is a part of me that wanted the mob to get close enough to pence that his Secret Service agents would have had to open fire.

  54. 54.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    @Immanentize: I think the field is wide open for a new show:

    Pussy or Patriot?

  55. 55.

    tokyokie

    February 10, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    @patrick II:

    Imagine if Trump had picked Cruz for VP.

    Cruz would have opened the doors for them and taken their drink orders.

  56. 56.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    @WaterGirl: My guess is that there will be at most half a dozen or so votes to convict from Republicans. And I think that’s more likely to be an overestimate than an under.

    I wish I could convince myself otherwise, that there are likely to be more, but after years and years of Republicans being, well, Republicans I just can’t.

  57. 57.

    NotMax

    February 10, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    @Leto

    Three ships, like Columbus. Only this time they’ll be the NIña, the Pinta and the Mongo.

    ;)

  58. 58.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    @NotMax: It’s a matter of perspective.

  59. 59.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    @debbie: have you seen his twitter bio?

    Michael Beschloss @BeschlossDC
    PRESIDENTS OF WAR and nine other books. @NBCNews
    Presidential Historian. PBS @NewsHour. Opinions my own. Called “normally sober” by Financial Times.

  60. 60.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    @debbie:  Isn’t he also the religious guy, or am I confusing him with someone else?

  61. 61.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 10, 2021 at 6:10 pm

    @Mary G: You’d think they’d notice how he underbussed Pence and draw the logical conclusion about themselves

  62. 62.

    Mary G

    February 10, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    Key nugget today: Trump reviewed the permit for the rally at the Ellipse, which originally did not include marching to the US Capitol – and had it revised to allow that.— Amy Siskind ?️‍? (@Amy_Siskind) February 10, 2021

  63. 63.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    February 10, 2021 at 6:15 pm

    @Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony: Let’s recall the dynamic of the Kavanaugh hearings and be cautious. After Ford testified, it looked certain he wouldn’t be confirmed

  64. 64.

    Sure Lurkalot

    February 10, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    I find it hard to believe that none of the Republican representatives feared for their lives that day. Many of the insurrectionists wouldn’t recognize those whose faces are not well-known and the videos seem to show that had the opportunity presented itself, they would have assaulted any one they got to.

    They must think they have more to fear from Trump and whomever he prompts to exact revenge.  I wonder how many of them have had credible threats to themselves and their families.

  65. 65.

    different-church-lady

    February 10, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    So let’s have a little think about this: a mob was bent on killing the Vice President, and his own President is like, “Hey, that’s cool, love you guys!”

  66. 66.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:21 pm

    Have C-Span on.  A few minutes ago, a young woman Trump supporter.  She does not condone that riot. Well, all right.

    She was whingeing that people are thinking she is a racist, since she’s such a strong Trump supporter.  The horror!  She thinks the Democrats should have just made a video and they can air it on MSNBC (she tripped over its name), because MSNBC would do that.

    Unrepentant moron.  Articulate, though.  Maybe she can join the Trump legal team.

  67. 67.

    Brachiator

    February 10, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:

    They must think they have more to fear from Trump and whomever he prompts to exact revenge.

    They think this is all just a political game. Trump has no power to threaten anyone.

  68. 68.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    Tim Miller @Timodc 1h
    Thinking about the timeline. That first “officer down” call was 6 hours before Trump tweeted “these are the things that happen.” 6 hours!
    His attack on pence happened after these guys used a stolen police shield to breach the capitol. He knew it had all happened.

  69. 69.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    @different-church-lady: it was worse than that.  T**** was tweeting about how Pence betrayed him.  T**** put a target on the back of Mike Pence.

    T**** is like an evil 5-year-old.  Pence betrayed him, so Pence was dead to him anyway

  70. 70.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:25 pm

    @Leto:

    We can even name the project “Mayflower 2.0”.

    How about “Ark B”.

  71. 71.

    Argiope

    February 10, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    @Elizabelle: yes, lots of “not all Trump supporters” vibes with that one and lots of personal grievance and whining about how people think she’s terrible because of who she voted for.  Won’t someone think about the poor benighted non-violent Trumpsters? And don’t forget how convenient she thought the riot was because it took attention away from the REAL problem: election fraud.  The self-licking ice cream cone of Republican logic at its finest.

  72. 72.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    @Elizabelle: articulate, but is she blond and resemble Jarvanka? In the mold of Pam Bondi, but you know, more bangable. Does she make Rudy want to lay down? (Barkeep, another round of brain bleach please)

  73. 73.

    Jeffro

    February 10, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    @Martin:Democrats are pushing Republican senators into a very, very, very tiny box. The presentation here is devastating. I mean, none of it is really new, but presentation really matters to public reaction. Nothing that happened on bloody sunday was new, but the presentation of that day changed public opinion. Same thing happened during Watergate. This is starting to really have that feel to it.

    Have to agree

  74. 74.

    Haydnseek

    February 10, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    @David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: This was the subject of a famous opera.  A small rodent on the Patriots side of the field reduced the pressure in the footballs that were to be used in the game.  Surely everyone remembers……Die Fledermaus…..

    I’ll see myself out…….

  75. 75.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    OK, we’re back. Now focussing on what T**** did and didn’t do during the attacks.

  76. 76.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    @Roger Moore: “Plan B” maybe?

  77. 77.

    Jeffro

    February 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    @WaterGirl:I think this is going to change some votes before we’re through.  I’m not saying we’ll get to 67 votes, but I think we’ll get more than was predicted going in.

    I think you’re right.

    I think we’re either going to get something like 58-42, or 90-10.  They will break one way or the other after all this.

  78. 78.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I can’t say I’ve heard every single thing he’s said, but he’s never seemed particularly religious to me.

  79. 79.

    Jeffro

    February 10, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    @patrick II:

     

    @tokyokie: it’s still kind of mind-boggling that at the end, the only alternative to trumpov for the GQP was…Ted Cruz.

    If that isn’t evidence of system failure, I don’t know WHAT is

  80. 80.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    @Haydnseek: The classical music radio station in Chicago used to play the overture from that every baseball Opening Day, on the grounds that it was the only opera that featured both a bat and a ball…

  81. 81.

    guachi

    February 10, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    @WaterGirl: I think you’re thinking of the guy who spoke at the convention. His name escapes me now, though

    EDIT: John Meacham

  82. 82.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Heh. I wonder when he updated that? I don’t recall how long it’s been since he “changed his focus,” but he is rivaling @dick_nixon in the level of his snark.

  83. 83.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: ​
     

    You’d think they’d notice how he underbussed Pence and draw the logical conclusion about themselves

    Drawing logical conclusions is not in their behavioral repertoire.

  84. 84.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    @Leto:   No clue.  Bitch  Woman was on the call in show.

    And:  she got some pushback from the host.  Since it was apparent she either hadn’t seen or ignored the morning’s testimony.  Her whole point was Trump didn’t incite them; these people were already there.

    Geniuses. All the way down.

  85. 85.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:

    The insurrectionists were too amped to care who they tore limb from limb. The GQPers are fooling themselves if they think otherwise.

  86. 86.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    I wonder if they’ll play that video from the Trump kids in the tent on January 6.  LOL.

  87. 87.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    @guachi: Parson Meacham, as the left blogosphere used to call him, in the pre-twitter old days

  88. 88.

    Subsole

    February 10, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    @Leto: I would prefer we call it the Hydra.

  89. 89.

    Patricia Kayden

    February 10, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    Mike Pence could completely overturn and improve his place in history if he offered to testify and came out in favor of conviction. I mean he's not going to be president anyway. Might as well fight back. Of course, this will not happen.— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) February 10, 2021

  90. 90.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    a minor point, but am I the only one who, when hearing that clip of trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the… CAPitOL!”, hears the Jerry Lewis voice the Simpsons gave to Professor Frink?

  91. 91.

    guachi

    February 10, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yup. I had to head to Wikipedia to look at the lineup of speakers for the Convention. Spoke on the fourth day.

  92. 92.

    Cam

    February 10, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    @Immanentize: I find it pathetic that he’ll think he lost his chance to be president because he did the right thing, never realizing that he was only as close as he was to the presidency because of how horrible his party had already become.

  93. 93.

    Sloane Ranger

    February 10, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    According to CNN just now, Senator Cassidy, has already been “chastised” by the Louisiana Republican party after changing his vote last night. These Repub Senators are members of a very exclusive club,  they don’t want to lose their membership by being successfully primaried, especially as they would also likely lose their post Senatorial gravy train and friends/peer group.

  94. 94.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    @Leto: ​
     

    Nope. I meant Ark B.

  95. 95.

    TS (the original)

    February 10, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    @Jeffro:

    I find it even more mind boggling that Ted Cruz became the No 1 (or No 2 ) trump fan. Did he see himself as the heir apparent?

  96. 96.

    Subsole

    February 10, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    @Jeffro:

    It will be a small miracle if we get three conviction votes.

  97. 97.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    It’s funny to see the exhibits with the trump tweets and realize:  he been kicked off twitter.  No more tweeting for that twat.

    I wonder if that occurs to trump as he watches this.  Because he probably is. It is not going well for him.

    I can see him watching, thinking “I miss twitter” and the rest of the stuff is just …. noise.

  98. 98.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: ​
     
    What is the world coming too, when Doughy Pantload is being quoted approvingly on Balloon-Juice?

  99. 99.

    debbie

    February 10, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    But it’s not his fault. //

  100. 100.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    @Roger Moore: Ha!

     

    @Elizabelle: Only the best people. She’d fit right in on counsel.

  101. 101.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    @Elizabelle: I forget who said it, but “Losing his Twitter account was like when Gollum lost his Precious.”

  102. 102.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    @TS (the original): ​
     
    Cruz is showing he’s just another suckup like Graham. If he can’t have the power, he’ll happily debase himself to stay as close to it as possible.

  103. 103.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    @Roger Moore: Bill Kristol has been a voice of sanity recently. Bill Fucking Kristol.

    Strange days.

  104. 104.

    RaflW

    February 10, 2021 at 6:46 pm

    @Starboard Tack: Do people do Quaaludes any more? I guess the the FDA has determined that they’re too addictive and that they aren’t medically necessary.
    But it sure seems like most of the GQP are totally checked out and unable to track, so maybe there’s a Quiet, undercover supply line for them?

  105. 105.

    Roger Moore

    February 10, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    @dmsilev: ​
     
    As I like to say, it’s not a surprise that there were some Republicans who had strong enough principles to stand up to Donald Trump, but it’s continually surprising which ones and what their principles were.

  106. 106.

    Immanentize

    February 10, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    The most chilling/revealing part of today — for me! — was the call of the Metro Police officer calling in an emergency — officer in need of help — and saying about the crowd’s many weapons :. they are using them on us!

  107. 107.

    Poe Larity

    February 10, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said on Wednesday that she couldn’t imagine that President Trump would be elected again after voters see the details and new footage of the Capitol attack.

    “I don’t see how after the American public sees the full story laid out here … I don’t see how Donald Trump could be re-elected to the presidency again,” Murkowski told reporters.

    Oh, ok, no need to make sure of that by doing your f’ing job then!

  108. 108.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    @TS (the original): the mob’s first thought was: HE SOLD US OUT! Yes Ted Cruz, these are your people.

  109. 109.

    Anya

    February 10, 2021 at 6:48 pm

    I am going to admit that when the names of the Impeachment Managers was announced, I thought they would not measure up to Adam Schiff’s team (minus my Rep, Jerry Nadler), but honestly, these Impeachment Managers are so good. They are making a case for the history books.

    ETA — I didn’t love giving Javanka undeserved credit.

  110. 110.

    patrick II

    February 10, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ​

    No, I heard that too and thought it was something he made fun of years ago, and stuff just pops up in his head without him being aware.

  111. 111.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    @guachi: Yes, that is exactly who I am thinking of!  Thank you.

  112. 112.

    tinare

    February 10, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    I like how they’re citing what Republican Senators said on the day and who trump was calling at the capitol.

  113. 113.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    @Immanentize: But these are the blue flag people! Blue lives matter! (No, not those lives. No, not those either.) Did you see where they put into the record the article of the black police officers who, after the attempted insurrection, sat in the Rotunda and cried for 15 mins, asking, “WTF was that? Is this America?” Guy said he was called the N word at least 20 times.

    I hated the blue lives fucks already, but now I never want to hear that phrase or see that fucking flag ever again. Yet another albatross to hang around their fucking necks.

  114. 114.

    The Moar You Know

    February 10, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    According to CNN just now, Senator Cassidy, has already been “chastised” by the Louisiana Republican party after changing his vote last night.

    @Sloane Ranger: state-level GOPs will insure that anyone who votes for conviction gets primaried and every damn GOP Senator knows it.  I don’t see votes for conviction cracking 60.  Frankly will be floored if we get 55.  Would love, love, love to be wrong.

  115. 115.

    Anya

    February 10, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    @Ramalama: Oh no. I am so sorry. Hopefully, you’d be one of the folks who get mild symptoms. Sending positive thoughts.

  116. 116.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Avalune and I parrot that line every time we hear it, in the voice of the Professor from the Simpsons. “Freud-LAY-Venn!” His speech patterns are such a hot fucking mess.

  117. 117.

    Elizabelle

    February 10, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    @Poe Larity:   What a dumbass comment by Murkowski, whom I generally like.

    Issue is:  a presidential campaign is one of Trump’s planned financial lifelines.  He does not give a fuck about public service.  He wants to grift off the cash that flows in politics.

    Cut that off.  Make him ineligible to run again, and thus ineligible to control his own presidential campaign, and fundraise off it.

    It’s not that hard to understand, Lisa.

  118. 118.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    February 10, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    Something needs to be done about these state-level GOP parties. They’re rapidly becoming terrorist organizations

  119. 119.

    zhena gogolia

    February 10, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    This is lazy and unAmerican. There are people in countries who literally put their lives on the line to fight for justice despite the fact that it may be a losing battle — because it's right. Cynicism and apathy are anathema to democracy. Accountability *is* important. https://t.co/Pm9HFCikBn— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) February 10, 2021

  120. 120.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    @Sloane Ranger: Funny thing is, if he’d had any type of legislative accomplishments he might be able to run on that. Instead it’s just how much do you luv u some Trumpov? How long can you hold your lips to his ass? Didn’t bring jobs to your state, didn’t bring investment, didn’t improve their lives in any way. Nope, just Trumpov.

  121. 121.

    WaterGirl

    February 10, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    @Anya: Not sure if Ramalama is still here, but she and partner (I believe) both had COVID early and in January.  I’m sure she will appreciate the positive thoughts, anyway, but I didn’t want you to be worrying about Ramalama.

  122. 122.

    The Moar You Know

    February 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    Something needs to be done about these state-level GOP parties.

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Nothing to be done.  They’re very accurately reflecting the will of the people who vote for them.

  123. 123.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    February 10, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    @Leto:

    This has got me to wondering. Will the return of earmarks have any effect on how much Republicans vote for Democratic bills, etc?

  124. 124.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    February 10, 2021 at 7:03 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    Of course there’s something to be done. We can try to sow discord among them and encourage infighting. If the last 4 years have demonstrated anything, conservatives are very vulnerable to propaganda and disinformation

  125. 125.

    Geoboy

    February 10, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    @Haydnseek: Damn, that’s harsh!

  126. 126.

    RaflW

    February 10, 2021 at 7:05 pm

    I’m gonna completely agree with this from Beutler

    @brianbeutler 6:58 pm
    Don’t let them psych you out by saying the conclusion is foregone. Push and push and push anyhow. Make them prove it under the most damning possible presentation of the facts. Call witnesses.

    I really, really don’t understand not calling witnesses.

  127. 127.

    Amir Khalid

    February 10, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    @Leto: ​
     I am always mystified when I hear or read of Trump supporters extolling his greatness and his accomplishments in office. They describe an idealised POTUS who is nothing like the real Trump, they never list anything he actually did. I’m like, WTF is this person talking about?

  128. 128.

    Fair Economist

    February 10, 2021 at 7:11 pm

    I think the House managers are simply doing their best to get Trump convicted. It is their official job, and I think they’re focusing on that over the most likely political benefit of embarrassing the Republican Senators. It’s going to help us politically to some extent, perhaps not much; but in the end they can say they did their best.

  129. 129.

    Martin

    February 10, 2021 at 7:15 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: Wait, we have Jonah ‘liberal fascism’ Goldberg on our side on this one?

  130. 130.

    geg6

    February 10, 2021 at 7:16 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    You are thinking of Jon “Pastor” Meacham.  Who is writing speeches for President Biden these days.

  131. 131.

    Martin

    February 10, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    @RaflW: The vote took place before the Georgia Election. Romney and Collins voted with Dems but came up one vote short. Every D voted for witnesses.

  132. 132.

    Leto

    February 10, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): It would def help, because right now what motivation do they have to vote for something? Nada. It was foolish to get rid of them. Did it need reform? Sure. More oversight? Ok. But getting rid of them entirely took away the only tool the R leadership side had to wrangle their dumbasses.

  133. 133.

    TS (the original)

    February 10, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    He wants to grift off the cash that flows in politics.

    As does his extended family members (Mary excluded). From what I have read they achieved their 4 year goals and just wanted another 4 years to do the same.

  134. 134.

    Nutmeg again

    February 10, 2021 at 7:23 pm

  135. 135.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    @Martin: There’s potentially another vote to hear witnesses, per the procedures agreed upon for the trial. After the House Managers finish tomorrow and then after T****’s “lawyers” have their 16 hours, then either side has the option to request witnesses, at which point the Senate will vote on whether or not to accede to the request.

    Whether that will happen or not, no clue.

  136. 136.

    Nutmeg again

    February 10, 2021 at 7:26 pm

    @dmsilev: Waiting for him to pitch himself head first into a lake of fire, though

  137. 137.

    prostratedragon

    February 10, 2021 at 7:29 pm

    @Elizabelle: As of now at least, Twitter says that’s permanent, praise be.

  138. 138.

    dmsilev

    February 10, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    Pat Leahy seems kind of lost here.

  139. 139.

    Geminid

    February 10, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    @Sloane Ranger: Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy just won reelection, and doesn’t have to worry about a primary until 2026. Murkowski of Alaska will face a primary next year. Even if she voted to convict she can probably win renomination though. Murkowski has strong support from labor unions and Alaska Native Corporations, which swing a lot of weight in that state. With their backing she won reelection as a write in candidate in 2010, which is a rarity. She had narrowly lost the Republican primary to a tea party type. She won reelection as a Republican in 2016. Murkowski “brings home the bacon,” as they say, and Alaskans like that.                                  This is not to say that these two Senators will vote to convict, just that they might not care so much about what their state party organizations tell them to do.

  140. 140.

    BC in Illinois

    February 10, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    Okay, so I’ve finished my binge watching for today:

    “Trump Impeachment”    Season Two, Episode Two.

    (This is probably the final season.)

  141. 141.

    different-church-lady

    February 10, 2021 at 7:57 pm

    @Haydnseek: ​
      …and don’t see yourself back in.

  142. 142.

    Uncle Cosmo

    February 10, 2021 at 7:59 pm

    @dmsilev: ​…I’m sorry, I’m being told it’s an on-crack legal team. That’s more or less the same thing, right?

    Castor and Poleax, the Zodiac b’hoys…

  143. 143.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 10, 2021 at 8:00 pm

    @Geminid: also, Alaska just adopted a ranked-choice system that people see to think make her pretty damn safe

  144. 144.

    Uncle Cosmo

    February 10, 2021 at 8:03 pm

    @NotMax: Maybe even throw in the reading of a Robert Service poem.​

    My money’s on “The Ballad of Eskimo Nell.”

  145. 145.

    Geminid

    February 10, 2021 at 8:06 pm

    @Jeffro: I think 55-45, or 70-30. The former seems much more likely. But Mitch McConnell is one ruthless sonofabitch, and if he thought conviction was in the best long term interests of his party I could see him bringing along enough Republican Senators.

  146. 146.

    Miss Bianca

    February 10, 2021 at 8:37 pm

    @Martin:  IKR? That’s even more shocking than Bill fucking Kristol. I’ve sort of gotten used to *that* blind hog having stumbled over a trove of truth-nuts lately.

  147. 147.

    Anya

    February 10, 2021 at 11:08 pm

    @WaterGirl: Oh, thanks. I am so glad they have recovered.

  148. 148.

    Ramalama

    February 11, 2021 at 5:28 am

    @Anya: Thank you. We seem to be out of the woods. Still experiencing some things. For instance, we have a bar of Ivory soap in the bathroom for dog arse purposes. The smell of Ivory used to bother me – bad. But since Covid, I don’t smell it. And have actually amused myself by washing my hands with it. Ha ha ha, I’d say like a dunce. Now that I’m ‘recovered’ (not sure if my small other symptoms will dissipate), I can smell things. For example this roll on lavender scent enters my nose bigly when I apply it to my pulse points at night. I smell Earl Grey tea before putting it in my cup and adding hot water. I can smell things, yes. But not 100%. The Ivory soap still doesn’t bother me. Same with flavors. I can taste things if I concentrate and inhale a lot while eating.

    The bad thing for me aside from any possibly long-term deals is that after 10 years of being a long-term visitor and now resident of Canada, I only now realize that Milky Way bars are sold in Canada, but they’re called Mars bars. Mars bars in the US are completely different. Mars bars in America are just wrong. I learned this in November? And Mars bars are a little fresher and a little better than Milky Ways.  As if they used better ingredients. So I’ve only had a short time to experience the Mars bar in its native habitat before the hammer of Covid came down and messed with my tastebuds.

    That is my experience. Partner had it worse than me, but did not need to go to the hospital. We consider ourselves to be so lucky. I mean, we are. But for a while it was plain old terrifying, wondering if the thing was going to kill us. Waiting it out.

    Which is why I had no ability to watch the news.

    Which is why the hearings are jaw dropping.

  149. 149.

    Ramalama

    February 11, 2021 at 5:32 am

    @WaterGirl: Thanks for that. Also if anyone else in other threads want what limited advice we took (mostly anecdotal from previous survivors) that helped us, please don’t hesitate to pass along my email address to them.

  150. 150.

    HMF

    February 11, 2021 at 10:30 am

    Hi, Lurker from Germany here. Here, Mars bars and Milky Way bars are two different things. The former are darker and filled with caramel, and the latter a lighter brown and fillings is some sort of chocolate cream/mousse.

    @Ramalama:

  151. 151.

    No One You Know

    February 11, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    @Amir Khalid: If they survive the retribution from a freshly enabled Trump and a charged-up MAGAT mass that can’t be excised if their leader is free

    I hate that I’m thinking about this.

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