Keep the pressure on Mitch and the Senate until the vote.
Remember this ?? https://t.co/cwFPiCPndR pic.twitter.com/e9xvRkFdWd
— Swing Left (@swingleft) January 28, 2020
In the 1780s, republicans argued the president should be checked by the legislature, or else the president would be like a king.
In 2020, Republicans argue the president must have unchecked power, or else Congress would be like a parliament.
— Jennifer N. Victor (@jennifernvictor) January 30, 2020
what did the president not know and when did he start not knowing it
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) January 29, 2020
No one is above the law, not even the President. https://t.co/06Vks2wzQR
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 29, 2020
Jennifer Rubin, in the Washington Post, “Republicans Are Trapped, Thanks to Nancy Pelosi”:
If not for the foresight of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to shine a bright light on the purpose of a trial — an evaluation of evidence — and to delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, the White House, Republican senators and a hapless chorus of sycophantic pundits would not be in meltdown mode.
With an assist from former national security adviser John Bolton, Pelosi cornered Senate Republicans who had hoped to escape the spectacle of a full airing of President Trump’s unconscionable conduct. They can acquit, and in all likelihood will, but they cannot facilitate Trump’s cover-up without implicating themselves and entirely discrediting the process. They face humiliation when evidence eventually comes out. If they vote to acquit without hearing from Bolton, Trump will be denied the satisfaction of exoneration by a credible process.
Voters are far ahead of Republican senators. In the latest Quinnipiac poll, registered voters want witnesses by a margin of 75 to 20 percent. That includes “49 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats, and 75 percent of independents.” In a party known for its cultish obedience to the White House line, Trump cannot even peddle his “no witnesses” snake oil.
Trump has also lost a majority of voters on the merits. “More than half of voters, 53-40 percent, say President Trump is not telling the truth about his actions involving Ukraine. … More than half of voters, 54 percent, believe President Trump abused his power regarding his actions involving Ukraine, while 42 percent say he did not. A similar 52 percent think that President Trump obstructed Congress regarding its investigation of his actions involving Ukraine, while 42 percent think he did not.” They don’t buy that there was a legitimate reason to suspend aid (52 percent “think the Trump administration’s withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine was not justified, while 34 percent say it was justified”)…
There are only two escape hatches, both distasteful for Trump. First, he could stipulate to every fact presented by Democrats, essentially admitting that he and his lawyers lied. He could then rely on his “not impeachable!” argument. Second, Republicans could start brokering a deal for censure. Trump is not one to admit error, however, so the chances are slim to none that he would agree to either…
I’m worried that Trump may try to leverage debt ceiling negotiations to stop impeachment and any further investigations. Oh wait, no I’m not, because Pelosi made a two-year deal in 2019 so that’s not in his arsenal now. What luck.
— Reject Ophidiophobia (@agraybee) January 29, 2020
Thursday Morning Open Thread: The Daily GrindPost + Comments (184)