Let’s step back a bit and take stock of what has happened today. First and foremost a battle was won. Specifically that there will be no vote tonight, in fact there will be no vote until Wednesday, on the final disposition of the impeachment of the President. While I’m sure this seems like cold comfort to some, it is a win. When faced with an opponent whose capabilities overwhelm your own, when facing a situation where you are at an asymmetric disadvantage, a key strategy is to play for time. The inability of Senator McConnell to call for a vote to dismiss the impeachment charges against the President this evening creates time. While it doesn’t create time for Senator Schumer to move, it creates time for other events to occur.
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, a lot of events can occur. Ambassador Bolton can continue to leak out and tease what he knows. If he was smart, given that his information’s shelf life is now set to expire on Wednesday, he’d get himself booked on all the Sunday AM news talk shows and get his story out. Because if he doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity, it will close and he will then face whatever consequences the President and his closest advisors have cooked up for him.
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, Joseph Bondy, on behalf of his client Lev Parnas can leak more audio and video and documents that further implicate the President, the Vice President, the Acting Chief of Staff, the Secretary of State, the White House Counsel, the Attorney General, the President’s private attorney Rudy Giuliani, Senator Graham (R-Fainting Couch), Congressman Nunes (R-Mooooooo), his staffer Derek Harvey, and several others. If Bondy was smart, and he is, he’s right now in discussion with the Sunday AM news talk shows to get at least some of this material out. His letter this afternoon to Senator McConnell, which seems to have caused Senator McConnell some dyspepsia, laid down this marker.
Below is the letter Stephanie Schuman @LeafLegal and I sent to Senator McConnell earlier today, (202) 224-2541, summarizing the testimony Lev Parnas would be able to provide, were he called as a witness. #LetLevSpeak #AmericansDemandWitnesses #CallTheWitnesses #LetBoltonTestify pic.twitter.com/WPn7ppz2rG
— Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 31, 2020
Between now and Monday morning when closing arguments begin, let alone Wednesday when the vote to dismiss is currently scheduled to be taken, a lot of events can occur. The President is currently scheduled for an extended sit down interview with his personal sycophant and Fox News media fluffer Sean Hannity to air at half time during the Super Bowl. And he is, of course, currently scheduled to give the State of the Union on Tuesday evening. Senator McConnell, as well as every other Republican senator, a lot of Republican members of the House, and senior members of the President’s staff such as White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Attorney General Barr, and likely anyone and everyone within earshot and arm’s reach is going to face an increasingly unhappy President over the next five days. A President who will not be able to take a victory lap because the impeachment charges against him have been dismissed during his interview with Sean Hannity that airs during half time of the Super Bowl on Sunday. A President who will not be able to take a victory lap because the impeachment charges against him have been dismissed during the State of the Union. A President who has to spend the entire weekend, as well as Monday and Tuesday and part of Wednesday, twisting in the wind while we all wait to see what else leaks out or is openly divulged over the next five days. A President who has exceedingly poor self control at the best of times is now faced with a situation that he cannot stand, a situation that is completely beyond and outside of his control.
Right now, because Senator McConnell’s plan failed, there is an opening, an opportunity. Senator Schumer and his minority Democratic caucus may not have the votes to ultimately stop Senator McConnell. Speaker Pelosi and her lead impeachment manager Congressman Schiff may not be able to force the GOP majority Senate to do anything. But Congressman Schiff has proven to be an effective strategist in his management of this process. As has Speaker Pelosi. And Senator Schumer has done his part. So take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and recognize that today’s small victory provides opportunities for future ones. Both in the short term of the next five days and the longer term.
Live today, fight tomorrow!
Open thread!
Felanius Kootea
I feel like we’re in an episode of Star Wars. I guess the Dem side is full of Skywalkers. The Republicans and Emperor Palpatine have the upper hand for now.
germy
Adam L Silverman
@Felanius Kootea:
Just what we need a bunch of religious fanatics adhering to thousand year old principles who all have PTSD. What could go wrong?
Kent
I wonder if delaying the vote until Weds is a little bit of intentional shade thrown Trumps way by McConnell, a “Fuck you very much for putting us all through this” sort of gift.” to pull the rug out from under his state of the union victory lap.
I know there were procedural issues. But he is pretty good with engineering the procedural stuff to come out how he wants
It also keeps the Dem Senators locked in DC rather than running back for last minute campaigning in Iowa.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Felanius Kootea: Emperor Palpatine main talent seems to be starting fights that he can’t win. begetting children despite being hideously loathsome and surviving falls down bottomless pits.
So that fits Trump.
debbie
The real win is denying Trump the ability to gloat at the SOTU.
germy
Collins just voted “aye” to table a motion just introduced by Schumer.
Ohio Mom
They say, “Where there is life, there is hope.” So, a few more days to hope that something happens that changes the current trajectory.
If I was a Sunday news show producer, I’d be tripping over myself to book Bolton.
Felanius Kootea
@Adam L Silverman: Good one; you made me laugh out loud.
germy
American Conservative Union disinvites Mitt Romney from annual conference
Yutsano
@Adam L Silverman: “Kid, I’ve flown from one side of the galaxy to the other. I’ve seen some strange stuff. But I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful Force controlling everything.”
Villago Delenda Est
The ads they can run against the ten traitors running for reelection (or, in the case of the McSally bitch, an actual election instead of a gift appointment) will be very interesting. Any Senator that votes to acquit is shitting on their oath of office as a juror and a Senator. They will become domestic enemies of the Constitution of the United States.
debbie
Not that it will do any good, but Bondy’s letter is indeed awesome. And providing McConnell’s phone number is the perfect flourish.
At this point, all we can do is get the information out and in public.
JPL
@debbie: There is no win. If trump wanted that, he would have it. I think the delay is to legitimize the process.
Cheryl Rofer
Adam, I know you’re talking about Parnas’s revelations as potential spoilers for McConnell, and they are potentially that, particularly from the Sunday talk shows juxtaposed with a crabby interview with King Donald. I want to emphasize for everyone’s consideration, though, that we don’t know how truthful any of those revelations are, nor do we know Parnas’s motives.
On the surface, it looks like they are about as truthful as anything we’ve heard from the more motley of the witnesses (which is not great) and that Parnas is irritated that his old buddy Donald has forsaken him. But there’s too much we don’t know about Parnas and who’s funding him.
All I’m saying is it’ll be great if Parnas causes more uproar. That’s his value for now, not necessarily the details of what he says.
Martin
Jennifer Williams has asked to leave her job in VP Pence’s office on Monday.
Yovanovitch has retired from the State Department.
If anyone wanted to really fuck over Senate Republicans, drop all of your dirt on Monday.
debbie
@JPL:
Then that tells you McConnell et al. know they’ve wounded themselves. Another win.
Martin
@Cheryl Rofer: To Parnas’s credit, he’s brought and released recordings.
Adam L Silverman
@Felanius Kootea:
Adam L Silverman
@germy: Senator Romney has been Matt Schlapped!
Ken
Anyone making book on whether Fox will have to cut away during the Trump/Hannity interview?
NotMax
FYI (and attention WaterGirl), there is something screwy with the alt text for the Prohias spy image accompanying Adam’s posts on the fly-outs. They each now consistently display the following:
Brett Stephens Was Never a Bedbug, Just an Overprivileged, Mediocre Asshole
when images are turned off, in addition to the text of the post title. Screenshot demonstrating what I mean.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: No argument from me at all. His value is not in being ultimately honest and/or accurate with his information. His value is in creating problems for the President, the President’s co-conspirators, and Senator McConnell.
NotMax
@Felanius Kootea
Guest starring Giuliani as Jar Jar Binks?
Adam L Silverman
@Martin: Jennifer Williams is going to CENTCOM as the Deputy Foreign Policy Advisor. She was scheduled to rotate into that new billet in about 6 to 8 weeks. All she did was have the State Department move up her end date with the VP and her start date with CENTCOM. She’s far safer, career wise, at MacDill. And she’s smart enough to know it.
Ken
Could the House start a new set of impeachment hearings, interview Parnas, Bolton, and anyone else who’s spoken up, and dump a fresh set of charges on the Senate? Preferably attaching a little post-it note “Here’s your witnesses”?
I know about double jeopardy, but as we’re frequently reminded, this is not an ordinary court of law. If nothing else, jurors don’t normally brag how closely they’re coordinating with the defense attorneys…
Mai naem mobile
I am depressed.I just would like to see something go the Dems’ way. Just something. Also fuck Mitch McConnell. He is a motherfucking asshole of the highest degree. I hope the Dems take the Senate in November and throw him into a 3ftx3ft office with a rickety chair and desk. All just to be spiteful. Give him a tiny little plastic made in China pink gavel. And no security. Let Elaine Chao’s family pay for his security.
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: That’s because I originally uploaded it into the media library for that. Let me go in and see if I can fix it from my end.
rachel
@Cheryl Rofer: Lev Parnas is slightly more credible than Boss Tweet, but only because he has receipts.
Gin & Tonic
And maybe the horse will sing.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Gin & Tonic: Mr. Ed sang?
Mai naem mobile
@Adam L Silverman: I think CPAC is pretty evangelical christian so they probably don’t care for mormons there anyway.
Mallard Filmore
What is the impediment for Trump and Barr to start beating on Bolton before the vote? I am sure they could take some significant steps before McConnell loses control of the impeachment votes.
Ken
Trump nickname, or typo for the 19th century political crook?
Martin
@Adam L Silverman: No question. But why the late decision to move her last day to Monday?
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: Try it now.
Adam L Silverman
@Mallard Filmore: Appearances. AG Barr may be willing to twist the DOJ into an action arm of the President, but he wants to do it in a way so the DOJ still looks legit.
JPL
@debbie: Hope springs eternal. ?
Adam L Silverman
@Martin: We don’t know if it is a late decision or if she’s been working behind the scenes with her supervisory officer at State and the person she’ll be working for at CENTCOM to move the date up. I suspect the latter is the case. But all we know from now is that it was reported yesterday that this was happening.
Another Scott
They’re voting on Schumer’s amendments, at least 2 of which have had to do with subpoenaing Bolton.
Moscow Mitch is killing them by 51:49 votes so far.
“Please oh please don’t throw me in that briar patch!!11…”
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: I think you will likely have to take down that image, rename the file, and upload it again.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Now it is duplicating the text of this post’s title. If you can do it, suggest leaving any alt text for the image (as it is a recurring one) blank in this case.
Gvg
I have to think Mitch and Trump’s experienced allies have been leaning hard all along on Murkowski, Collins and the usual possible swing votes so now they have indicated they will vote as Mitch wants, BUT the vote has been postponed. To me that implies at least a few others we don’t expect are saying nope. I wonder who they are.? GOP Senators who don’t feel like running their mouths, but aren’t all in, are kind of surprising.
zhena gogolia
Thanks for cheering me up!
Cheryl Rofer
@Martin: Yes. I would want to do a lot of checking before I used any of Parnas’s material in court proceedings. I think there’s a good chance there’s something to it, but until I know more about him and his motives, I’m going to advise caution.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: I did. I uploaded a clean version into the media library separate from any post. I named it Silverman on Security. Then I went into my post, removed the image I’d been using which was originally uploaded for that Stephens post I did, replaced it with the newly updated clean version, and hit update.
Let me know if that works/fixes it.
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: Not on my MacBook Pro or my iPad. Haven’t checked on my iPhone. I can’t fix what I can’t see.
Adam L Silverman
@zhena gogolia: They don’t call me little Mary Sunshine for nothing!
Ella in New Mexico
Great post and this sums it up nicely: losing a battle is not losing the war.
And the way this giant dirt snowball is rolling downhill right now it’s only likely to get worse and then we’ll be witnessing massive avalanches coming out in the coming weeks and months. This is not going to go well for Donald Trump and the Republicans.
I do worry that Trump, as desperate as he is right now, is going to demand Barr abuse his power and get the Justice Department to start targeting people as kind of a hostage retaliation or to simply shut them up.
Anyone here know what protections the House could offer, aka, absolute immunity in exchange for testimony from people like Bolton that would prevent their being retaliated against?
Adam L Silverman
Ruh Roh!
Kent
Yes they can. They don’t even have to call it impeachment hearings. They can be hearings on the Ukraine Coverup. Or anything they want. The GOP did that endlessly when they held the house. They had something like 10 separate Benghazi hearings over several year’s time.
Ken
Running the not-so-slight risk that Trump will go nuts and start threatening the two Republican “traitors”. Could be more than two, if they’re sharing the, um, privilege of looking like the thoughtful, reasonable ones.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: search for “spy” in the media library, and use the one that i put up in sept 2019. then delete the one you put up in december.
Adam L Silverman
@Ella in New Mexico: I don’t know what protection the House could provide. Technically the House could both defund the position of attorney general in specific, as well as those for other senior DOJ officials, and the DOJ in general to try to force Barr to behave. I don’t know if they have the stomach for that fight.
germy
@Adam L Silverman:
But wait. That money was supposed to go towards making homosexuality punishable by death in Africa.
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: Safari doesn’t seem to show alt-text.
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: What about the one I just put up?
Jeffro
@germy: Diamond & Silk: in
Dan Bongino: in
Mitt Romney: OUT
Way to go CPAC! I wonder if I can talk my RWNJ dad and brother into going now?
Adam L Silverman
@WaterGirl: I deleted the one from December. There are two left, the one I uploaded ten minutes ago an am now using for this post and the one you uploaded.
Ella in New Mexico
@Adam L Silverman: can they do that unilaterally? Wouldn’t it have to be voted on by the Senate and signed by the President
PS just read that a House or Senate committee can grant immunity for testimony if 2/3’s of it’s members vote to grant it.
Probably not gonna happen…
A Ghost To Most
Montgomery Burns: “I see Project Blitz is full steam ahead. Excellent!”.
Ready for a boogaloo?
WaterGirl
@Adam L Silverman: Good. I just changed the alt-text for your new one to “spy v. spy flyouts.
edit: looks good now. let’s see if NotMax agrees.
Adam L Silverman
@germy: Oopsie!
Adam L Silverman
@Ella in New Mexico: Of course. But if they hold the funding up, even if they fund the rest of the government, then those positions or the entire agency is functionally defunded until the issues are resolved.
Jeffro
Did not realize that earlier this afternoon, Stacey Abrams predicted she would be president within the next 20 years.
Um more like within the next two elections, Ms. Abrams ;)
joel hanes
@Yutsano:
Who’s scruffy-looking ?
WaterGirl
@Jeffro: My thoughts exactly! But she couldn’t say that; much better for her to let other people think it.
Ken
@Ella in New Mexico: @Adam L Silverman:
Well, that’s how it used to work, before Trump discovered the little-known provision of Article 9 that lets the President spend whatever money he wants on whatever he wants, regardless of what Congress said.
moonbat
Thank you for this, Mr. Silverman. It came at just the right time.
Barbara
Thank you Adam.
Cacti
Then Trump just declares an emergency, and pilfers the appropriated funds of another agency.
Constitutional democracy has been checkmated, Adam. Checks and balances and separation of powers are dead. The era of the Imperial Presidency has formally begun.
Another Scott
So, they passed the final rules 53:47. The final vote process begins on Wednesday at 4 PM.
Donnie is furious, of course.
Cheers,
Scott.
JoyceH
You know what? The left really needs to up their protest game. No GOP Senator ought to be able to show their face in public without hearing shouts of “Resign, traitor!” And as for Trump, hit him where he lives, where he’ll really feel it – his pocket book. There should be protesters at Trump properties every day, not just when Trump is in residence. Like ‘sidewalk counselors’ at clinics, their aim should be to keep people from entering, or at least not enjoy it. “Don’t pay the traitor” on the signs. Someone taking pictures of licenses plates. Not to use them for anything, just to take the pictures, make them wonder.
The Trump Hotel in DC has become the main clubhouse for Trumpsters, hanging out in the lobby and the bar, so let’s make that unpleasant too. See a bunch of guys who look fat-catty, go up to them and say, “Hey, is this where the shady deals are being made? Which of you guys has the Russian money?”
And just generally, anywhere and everywhere, make being a Trumpy an unpleasant experience! But it’s lowering the revenue of the Trump Org that’s the real goal – that will either push Trump to resign or drive him out of what’s left of his mind, so he has to be carried out in restraints.
Poptartacus
Star Wars?
Black Riders rode like a gale to the North-gate. Let the little people blow! Sauron would deal with them later.
sauron has the ring
your doom is at hand
joel hanes
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Mr. Ed sang?
At the end of the theme song
You never heard of a talking horse? Well listen to this:
ED [sings] I am Mr. Ed
[musical flourish]
DAVID ANDERSON
Also each day of Senate floor time burned is one less day to confirm 53-47 38 year old Federalist Society hacks to the bench
NotMax
@WaterGirl
Yup, agree. Although including the word flyouts seems unnecessary.
Barbara
@moonbat: I meant to leave the comment I made below here, but two glasses of wine and a mobile device seem to have intervened — I just want to say how grateful I am for this site.
Jeffro
@Another Scott: It is no stretch at all to say that his SOTU on Tuesday will likely be one for the ages…just not for the reasons he thinks.
Short-circuit?
Stroke?
Admit he ordered the Code Red?
Whirl around every 20 seconds to glare at Nancy Smash?
I wonder if the Dems will have it in them to announce, just before he enters, that they’ll be walking out the first time he lies?
Jeffro
@JoyceH: Agreed. Anywhere and everywhere.
The ‘right’ likes to carry their guns around…maybe we should all learn to carry a bucket of tar and a bag of feathers?
germy
@Jeffro: I predict he will be subdued and will stick to the script, with some slurred words and sniffles here and there.
JDM
Second time in a row Pelosi has screwed with Trump’s attempt at self-aggrandizement via SOTU address. And the best part is that what she’s done each time wouldn’t give pause to someone sane and controlled, but when placed in these situations Trump does it to himself..
HumboldtBlue
Sorry, Adam, but if this is what winning looks like we’re more fucked than a Biden candidacy. I’m tired of being told getting your ass handed to you by outright criminals and traitors is a fucking win.
The Democratic party has proven to be an impotent, useless, ineffectual political body for more than two decades and even when they had a glimmer of strength they got fucked over by corporate interests yet again whether it was the fucking ultimate shitshow that was mandated fees for healthcare or Wall Street bailouts.
Now we get to watch Joe Fucking Biden, a man so beholden to financial interests he makes Clinton look like a commie, mumble and stumble his way through 10 months of political shit that will result in nothing more than another corporate whore in the White House.
That’s winning, folks.
Another Scott
@Jeffro: I wonder if Nancy SMASH will change the introduction, or just let the Sargent at Arms do it:
It will be interesting, but maybe not enough to watch…
Cheers,
Scott.
rikyrah
Silverman,
I have appreciated all your posts on this subject.??
smintheus
Bottom line is that Trump is damaged by all the revelations as well as the fact he was impeached, and the Republicans are on video behaving like lickspittles who lack even a shred of integrity.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Quasi-obligatory? Or, from the same show, this spy number?
:)
Full disclosure: had a real ball directing this wafer-thin cartoony musical once many moons ago.
Jeffro
@germy: I’ll take that bet ;)
HRA
Thank you Adam for this post and many others you have sent to us.
Duane
@Jeffro: Democrats should stand motionless, arms folded, with eyes fixed on Trumpov for the entire SOTU address. When it’s over, bow their heads and raise their fists. Let the protests begin.
Jeffro
@Duane: Or have a member yell “YOU LIE!” then walk out after every lie…shouldn’t take too long to empty half the chamber.
Or just all walk out en masse and hold an impromptu press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill WHILE Mr. Innocent is still talking. trumpov would stroke the F out every hour on the hour for days.
Kent
I expect he will have a shitload of conservative Trump heroes scattered about the audience to call out so he can bask in their applause, not his own.
Chris Johnson
Someday the whole story will be out. For now:
There is no victory for Republicans. They are dancing on a griddle heated by Vladimir Putin, made to defend a traitor and fool.
I’m not convinced McConnell is making mistakes. I wonder if this is their cover for getting rid of Trump themselves and trying to put in somebody who’s supposed to be less of a problem. Mainly what the Republicans are trying to do is survive: the Dems do not have the spine to go and shoot ’em all by firing squad, but they are afraid Putin will come murder them in their beds. They are personally frightened and don’t see any way out for themselves, so they’re burning the country down just by flailing and trying to fight off apparent justice approaching.
They know what they’ve done… and guys like Bolton now know what they’ve done and don’t like it… and clearly the House Dems know everything as well, so this is all kabuki theater in a sense. The masks are being torn off: this democracy didn’t magically disappear today, it got nibbled away over years of corruption and crime, and then traded away for apparent Republican power, with the support of the fourth estate, itself completely compromised.
It’s just that it’s now obvious.
A lot of Dems seem really old and not equal to all this. But some of ’em seem to be on fire. They know way more than we do: who would have believed Pelosi would move to impeach, and not only carry it off but have an ironclad case for it?
The question is, what the heck even happens next. If we do hold tons of ranking Republicans responsible for obvious treason, how do we govern? If we have to operate as a puppet state, what do we do behind the scenes to revolt? I don’t know the answers to that, but I don’t think this new obviousness is the Republicans’ friend. I think it’s deadly dangerous to rip off the masks this way, and it’s not going to get any better over the weekend.
Odds of Bolton getting murdered before he can do more: less than 50%. Odds of Trump getting murdered to just throw us into further chaos: less than 30%.
Omnes Omnibus
@HumboldtBlue: Has anyone told you to go fuck yourself yet? No? Go fuck yourself.
Duane
@Jeffro: That works too. The hell with civility, decorum and tradition. All in the past. Republicans are burning it all to the ground. Stand up and fight. Be leaders, give people something to inspire them.
mrmoshpotato
Thanks for the layout and reassuring sords, Adam.
dww44
@JPL: I disagree. Depriving Trump of 2 victory laps at very public events is a sweet win. As part of the minority I’ll take any and all victories and this one can be savored over the weekend.
FelonyGovt
Thank you, Adam.
HumboldtBlue
@Omnes Omnibus:
Go suck a dick you mewling fuckwhistle. The GOP stole our fucking country and here you are looking like Frank Drevin claiming there is “nothing to see here!” You simple fucking clown.
Omnes Omnibus
@HumboldtBlue: I refer you to my previous post.
HumboldtBlue
@Omnes Omnibus:
Wow, you’re too fucking clever for me.
Not sure what else to expect from a dipshit, however.
rachel
@Ken: Trump nickname based on the 19th century political crook.
Adam L Silverman
@HumboldtBlue: Lighten up Francis!
HumboldtBlue
@Adam L Silverman:
Is that before or after I go fuck myself?
Dan B
@Adam L Silverman: re: Sekulow and his massive charity frauds. It’s a rats nest of grifters and christianists in so many in Trump’s orbit. They’re exposed but the spotlight is not hot enough to get the attention of a big chunk of the public, yet. Then they’ll be cornered rats.
Are Michael Steele or Reince Priebus involved or vulnerable to these criminals? It would be good to know, at least roughly, how deep the rot goes.
Adam L Silverman
@HumboldtBlue: What you do in your private time is your business. All I’m suggesting is you take a deep breath or two.
No one here is suggesting we or the Republic are out of danger. No one her is suggesting everything is going to be alright. All I’m suggesting is recognize that we have a small victory today and that provides an opportunity that may be seized and put to good purpose.
Adam L Silverman
@Dan B: Steele no. He was pushed out too far back. And frankly, while I don’t agree with a lot of the guy’s political preferences, my impression is he’s not crooked. Priebus is up to his eyeballs in all sorts of stuff that should have never happened.
Shalimar
I haven’t followed anything that happened today, but it doesn’t seem possible they could fail to hold the final vote Tuesday before the State of the Union. Trump will want to brag about getting off, so the pressure on McConnell will be intense.
Shalimar
@HumboldtBlue: Is sucking dicks bad? I was previously informed that sucking dicks is not bad.
Another Scott
@Shalimar: As Evan Hurst says (roughly), Moscow Mitch will tell President Crimey that: “you’re not my real dad”.
Donnie can’t make Moscow Mitch do anything.
Moscow Mitch and the rest of the Senate want some leverage on Donnie so that he doesn’t go completely insane on Tuesday.
That’s about all everyone can agree on at this point.
Cheers,
Scott.
Shalimar
@Another Scott: That makes sense. I would still be on the lookout for a surprise vote Tuesday though.
West of the Cascades
@Shalimar: it seems to depend on whether they are salted, and/or in bags.
Omnes Omnibus
@West of the Cascades: That’s eating.
zhena gogolia
@Jeffro:
Um, they won’t do that.
Dan B
@HumboldtBlue: You Tense? Check.
You on edge? Check.
Omnes grumpy? Check.
But he’s our grumpy and you’re our tense and despondent. Perfectly appropriate responses to creeping, or galloping fascism. But don’t get stuck. Find allies, commiserate and make plans. We all go through the emotions you are feeling – me almost every day until I decide to do something or let the feeling go.
randy khan
@Gin & Tonic:
Exactly. Or the wife may convince the King there is a reason not to kill her.
(And, relevant to what other people have said in this thread, using a motley fleet to buy time for something good to happen is a recurring plot line in the Star Wars movies.)
mapaghimagsik
@Cheryl Rofer: So basically a rope-a-dope where there’s just enough conspiracy theory to suck people in? Agreed, but I think its fodder for investigations. Couldn’t the House at least have him testify on some other piece of that letter?
Another Scott
Protesters were heard chanting “shame” outside of the U.S. Capitol on Friday night after the Senate voted to block witnesses in President Trump’s impeachment trial and set up for a final vote on the articles of impeachment to take place next Wednesday. Multiple videos showed protesters outside the Capitol chanting “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
Cheers,
Scott.
mapaghimagsik
@Gin & Tonic: It won’t. Their argument isn’t whether he did it or how he did it, or even who he did it with. Their argument is that they have no problem with it.
The law Drumpf broke? “A procedural error”
And the rational argument about “When a Dem gets in, would you want them doing the same thing?” only goes so far. It could saw smarter voters, but only if they think there’s a reason that the scam won’t work, and that despite the License to Kill issued to 000 and friends by the Senate, it won’t be enough to sway the election by those small numbers of votes in key states.
But they put in all those judges. Its going to be interesting how well that wall holds.
bluefish
Precisely. Thanks.
mapaghimagsik
@Shalimar: Is phrasing still a thing?
mapaghimagsik
@HumboldtBlue: I realize in our current situation popular vote is still “first loser” (So are open primaries, but I’m not sure how you fix that, besides, you know, closing them)
Convincing the Republicans was a longshot. And I do believe we did that because it was right, not to just “win”. People *are* more informed. Not sure if informed enough, but more informed.
No, definitely not wins, but what’s the alternative? A little distance and thinking clearly about alternatives after some sleep is a good thing
And I really hate it when the the thread is excellent and I’m late to the party. Last!
joel hanes
@Chris Johnson:
who would have believed Pelosi would move to impeach, and not only carry it off but have an ironclad case for it?
[raises hand]
and I don’t think I’ve been alone in that belief
Barb 2
Pence is another danger to this nation as is AG Barr. Both need to be impeached. Both were in the loop to corrupt the next election.
so Trump decided to make the Super Bowl about Trump. This is so typical of a narcissistic personality. Everything has to be about him. Even the impeachment is about HIM. Not about the dems campaigning.
the state of the union will be about him. Ha! No victory lap. More stuff related to the GOP votes and Trump is bound to leak out.
The battle has just begun. When do we start hearing about the Trump kids making money off of their last name (sitting on corporate boards). How many GOP families sit on corporate boards? Hunter Biden was stupid – but then, look at all the wives who are board members. I think the GOP may have exposed an open secret that could come back to bite them in their #$%#.
J R in WV
@HumboldtBlue:
I know who I think is the simple fucking clown in this race, and it isn’t Omnes.
You show up just rarely enough for us all to forget what a troll you are, and then appear out of nowhere to be depressing, in an attempt to keep us from fighting the Russian actorss on the election scene.
Thanks for much for your personal treason.