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Impeachment Hearings

You are here: Home / Archives for Politics / Impeachment Inquiry / Impeachment Hearings

In November, the House of Representatives Impeachment Inquiry entered a new phase: public hearings. The House Intelligence Committee, led by committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff, has called several witnesses to testify in the inquiry, including Dr. Fiona Hill, David Holmes, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, George Kent, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, and Gordon Sondland.

Procedural Open Thread: The Work Continues

by Anne Laurie|  February 14, 20219:35 am| 270 Comments

This post is in: Impeachment Hearings, NANCY SMASH!, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republican Venality

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denounced the senators who made Donald Trump's acquittal possible as a ‘cowardly group of Republicans’ and blamed McConnell for not allowing the House to deliver the impeachment charge to the Senate while Trump was still in the White House pic.twitter.com/cVu6gtT8uL

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 14, 2021

I didn’t jump in on the WITNESSES NOW debate earlier, because I remember all too vividly the Repubs lying and showboating during the Iran-Contra hearings, which made it possible for that era’s monsters to finish destroying the evidence, sometimes by killing (even more) nameless not-American people. Those hearings not only gave VP Bush (and, later, his even more vile spawn) a free pass to the Oval Office, they made Oliver North a celebrity, and wealthy — and those were the days before GoFundMe.

What I said or didn’t say here wasn’t gonna change anybody’s calculations, most specifically those of the Democrats running Impeachment Two, and I’m willing to accept their political acumen in this area is more to the point than mine. YMMV…

show full post on front page

And there it is from @StaceyPlaskett — the clearest explanation for why no witnesses: "Other individuals who may have been there with the president were not friendly…to us and would have required subpoenas and months of litigation."

— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) February 13, 2021

Biden statement late Saturday on the Senate impeachment vote. pic.twitter.com/jznihzyCm0

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) February 14, 2021

Why did Dems take this action? McConnell made it clear that there would be no other Senate business during the trial. Weeks without Merrick Garland & other confirmations, no Covid relief bill. Dems could get no other material witnesses w courage to testify. No votes would change.

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) February 13, 2021

I mean, I don't think that impeachment was a bad idea. You do it because it's the right thing to do. But it was always going to end this way and it's not likely it has long term electoral impacts either.

— Erik Loomis (@ErikLoomis) February 13, 2021

there is one nominally functional if occasionally feckless party and one that is thoroughly corrupted and operates almost wholly on malign intent and bad faith. https://t.co/l0QdW6kwZx

— Peloton InfoSec Analyst (Incident Response) (@CalmSporting) February 13, 2021

the new democratic administration has already made life immeasurably better for immigrants, asylum seekers, trans members of our military, and other groups. so i will be voting for that party while occasionally being very frustrated at them. everybody can do their own thing.

— Peloton InfoSec Analyst (Incident Response) (@CalmSporting) February 13, 2021

I realize we’re in the moment and whatever happened just now looms large but the idea that “Dems folded and didn’t call witnesses” is going to be the thing people remember about this episode even days from now is totally nuts, sorry.

— Josh Barro (@jbarro) February 13, 2021

I hate to be that guy but from a political standpoint, most voters don’t care about the trial, would rather the Senate focus on COVID relief, and delaying the trial will not change the outcome. It’s bitterly disappointing but politically this is the right move for Dems

— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) February 13, 2021

…when you realize you will have to cover boring-ass legislative wrangling… https://t.co/FB5nuP8b7s

— Alex Hazanov. (@alexhazanov) February 13, 2021

Does it suck that Trump isn’t going to face consequences for this? Absolutely. Is it Democrats fault that he won’t? Not at all and if you think it is you’re just not thinking very clearly.

As always, this is Republicans fault and you are doing what they want by not blaming them.

— Tiger Beat Anarchy ???????? (@SJGrunewald) February 13, 2021

Also recall that there is pretty decent evidence that stuff like checks and geneous UI is what kept Trump afloat, and do that.

— Alex Hazanov. (@alexhazanov) February 13, 2021

Donald Trump is a former president today because of us. Never forget that. In a democracy, voters do have the ultimate power. And when you do not vote, you surrender the only real power you have. https://t.co/keQusQK4p4

— Jeff Fecke (@jkfecke) February 13, 2021

Procedural Open Thread: The Work ContinuesPost + Comments (270)

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

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.

Continuing Impeachment Trial Open ThreadPost + Comments (151)

Impeachment 3 – Procedure Over Content

by Cheryl Rofer|  February 9, 20214:00 pm| 173 Comments

This post is in: Impeachment Hearings, Open Threads

Here’s the live feed:

And here’s the video that the House Impeachment Managers showed. Damning.

Open thread

Impeachment 3 – Procedure Over ContentPost + Comments (173)

Impeachment Hearings Open Thread

by Betty Cracker|  January 13, 20219:00 am| 200 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Impeach the Motherfucker!, Impeachment Hearings, Open Threads, Politics, Trumpery

Here we go again, citizens!

The Democrats serving as impeachment managers are Representatives Raskin, DeGette, Cicilline, Castro (Joaquin), Swalwell, Lieu, Plaskett, Neguse, and Dean. (Thanks, Baud!) The Trump defense strategy on the Republican side is rather less clear to me, but I assume we’ll hear from the kooks in the Sedition Caucus, which comprises most House Republicans.

Open thread!

PS: Sorry for squashing not one but TWO posts, but I’m gonna leave this one up for impeachment hearings discussions.

Impeachment Hearings Open ThreadPost + Comments (200)

What Kind of Fuckery Is This?

by $8 blue check mistermix|  January 29, 20208:44 am| 132 Comments

This post is in: Impeachment Hearings

Last night the news broke that McConnell doesn’t have the votes to block a vote on having witnesses. What this means isn’t clear, but if there’s anything clear about this whole ordeal, it’s that Comrade McConnell is going to engage in the maximum fuckery possible. In last night’s comments on a post with a different topic, Martin made this point:

As part of the process, they have a vote of whether to consider witness. That’s the vote in question here. Then there’s a process of submitting witness requests to leadership, I think it is, and they introduce individual motions for votes. They don’t need to introduce every rando request, but things they think are relevant. It could be none will pass. There will probably be some negotiating in how the motions are structured, whether individual witnesses, open or closed session, all that garbage.

That sounds possible to me, but as the ever-shifting needs of the weaker links in his caucus to have fig leafs of “I did too vote for witnesses” bump up against the desires of safe seat Senators to just get it over with, how this thing ends up will probably be at least a little unpredictable.

That first story linked brings up a Republican talking point that witnesses will cause the impeachment to be delayed by a side trip into the courts as witnesses resist their subpoenas. My understanding is that this is bullshit: Roberts will rule from the bench and his ruling is final. Congress has the sole power to impeach and remove, and there is no appeal for a ruling from the presiding officer, the Chief Justice.

I’m sure Trump, who has skirted the law by dilatory legal actions for his whole life, disagrees, but unless anyone can cite a non-wingnut legal authority, I’m thinking that any witnesses called will show up.

What Kind of Fuckery Is This?Post + Comments (132)

Senate Impeachment Open Thread: Big Contrast

by Anne Laurie|  January 23, 20209:57 pm| 79 Comments

This post is in: Impeachment Hearings, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republican Venality, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

“Based on what I've seen in this impeachment trial so far, it's pretty clear that there are some Republicans who are challenged on the concept of conflict of interest.” Warren on GOP claims that she can’t sit on Trump’s impeachment trial while running for his seat. pic.twitter.com/kqtTJBU2uW

— Kadia Goba (@kadiagoba) January 23, 2020

"We see in the timeline laid out yesterday by Adam Schiff just evidence of mounting corruption within the Trump Administration. That's basically what this impeachment is all about." – Warren before going into Senate chambers on Day 3 of President Trump's impeachment trial.

— Kadia Goba (@kadiagoba) January 23, 2020

The “loyal” opposition:

Tried to ask Ted Cruz if he defends Trump conduct on Ukraine, and if Trump call with Zelensky was “perfect.” He said: “You asked a question last night let me let someone else ask a question.” Then @npfandos asked the same question, he ignored it. He took one other q, then split

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 24, 2020

Eastern and Byzantine despots in the Middle Ages liked to employ eunuchs who were not a threat to the dynasty and remained loyal to the master since they were viscerally despised outside the palace.
It's nice that modern medical technology has allowed them to grow facial hair. https://t.co/21AjBJ4mVs

— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) January 23, 2020

Representing Indiana:

Wait, you’re tweeting this out yourself? You think this makes you look … good? https://t.co/aHB0R0Mb8W

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 23, 2020

The saying used to be "there is always a tweet"… now there is a the saying "there is always a photo with Lev for anyone defending Trump" pic.twitter.com/gwf4ARKhKw

— Grandpa Rufus ™ (@Grandpa_Rufus) January 23, 2020

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There is no amount of swear words that could possibly describe how utterly shitty a human being this Tennessee Senator is. She has clearly chosen Vindman as her cause celebre because he is an immigrant and the red hat brigade in her state loves hearing immigrants being dunked on.

— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) January 23, 2020

Of course Vindman is not patriotic enough for this here "busy mama." All he did was shed blood for America, not even having the good sense to go the extra mile and get born here.
What a loser!
Now, Trump, who actually badmouthed this country constantly, there is a real patriot!

— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) January 23, 2020

When they say things like this, that have been demonstrated to be false, press needs to push the harder:

Did you not listen to the House managers?
Did you listen but not understand them?
Do you simply not believe them?
Do you take this as seriously as you would jury duty? https://t.co/z5WWndxg2H

— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) January 24, 2020

Lankford repeats something that has become true: Because Trump admits to crimes in public, Republicans are less likely to hold him accountable for the crimes. https://t.co/u0BaijYrhZ

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) January 23, 2020

Also, probably none of Doug Jones’ constituents will listen to this who weren’t voting for him anyway, but it’s still good:

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I practiced law for over 40 years and I just can't understand why we shouldn't be able to access witnesses and documents that we know contain relevant information. pic.twitter.com/gV9wcvDiXg

— Doug Jones (@SenDougJones) January 23, 2020

Senate Impeachment Open Thread: Big ContrastPost + Comments (79)

Lobbest thou thy human hand grenade in the direction of thine foe…

by Betty Cracker|  January 23, 20204:45 pm| 94 Comments

This post is in: Impeach the Motherfucker!, Impeachment Hearings, Open Threads, Politics, Trump-Russia, Trumpery

Here’s the stuff I’ve looked forward to the most: House Manager Schiff rubbing the assembled Republican senators’ noses in Trump and Giuliani’s Ukraine/DNC/Soros crackpottery:

Schiff: "Rudy Giuliani is not some Svengali here, who has the president under his control…And if [Trump] is willing to listen to his personal lawyer over his own intelligence agencies, his own advisers, then you can imagine what a danger that presents." https://t.co/7CO9n4TTiG pic.twitter.com/aqIdAdC5EB

— ABC News (@ABC) January 23, 2020

I think Trump sincerely believes this bullshit since he’s dumb and aggrieved and he admires Putin. The Ukraine conspiracy theory is therefore irresistible since it suggests that Trump did TOO win fair and square without a boost from Putin and conveniently exculpates the latter so maybe they can hang out and swap tales of crushing underlings and bond over their shared impulse to aggressively bend scowling women to their iron will or whatever.

Giuliani may be a believer too, or perhaps he merely sensed the massive opportunities for graft in the Ukraine shakedown scheme. Regardless, most Senate Republicans know it’s all a load of bullshit. So the least they can do is sit there and squirm through every agonizing and embarrassing account of how Russia-driven propaganda informs U.S. foreign policy thanks to their party’s idiot president.

Open thread.

Lobbest thou thy human hand grenade in the direction of thine foe…Post + Comments (94)

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