Thread by @HawaiiDelilah

And here we go - the impeachment moves to the Judicial committee. I am ready for justice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the storm in which we find ourselves today was set in motion by President Trump. I do not wish this moment on the country. But we have each taken an oath to protect the Constitution, and the facts before us are clear.” - Nadler

The yelling from the Republicans has begun.

Collins says the law experts can't provide anything the president can't read.

I laughed out loud. That moron doesn't read.

Collins claims that Democrats do not have national consensus. But in fact the majority of America supports impeachment of the president who is in office without the support of a majority of Americans.

I am so disgusted by these Republicans interrupting the witness. They don't have respect for a damn thing other than paying fealty to an abusive criminal tool of foreign hostile governments.

Feldman gets right to the heart of the matter: "President Trump has committed high crimes and misdemeanors."

Feldman says that the Trump-Zelensky call on July 25 "on its own qualifies as an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor."

Crucial: The framers opted for an impeachment provision for this reason- "If the president cannot be impeached, he will spare no efforts or means to get himself re-elected."

And that's exactly what happened.

Video via Matt Rogers

LOL Prof Karlan rebukes the Collins for suggesting she would be unprepared for these proceedings. "I am insulted by the suggestion as a law professor that I do not care about those facts."

I bet Trump is going to be triggered by Prof Karlan... you know, the way brilliant strong women tend to trigger him to rage tweet.

https://twitter.com/HawaiiDelilah/status/1202255452915978240?s=20

Prof Karlan: "Mr. Collins I would like to say to you, sir, that I read transcripts of every one of the witnesses who appeared in the live hearings. I am insulted by the suggestion that as a law professor I don't care about those facts."

Via Aaron Rupar

"Obstruction of Congress is impeachable" -- Prof. Michael Gerhardt. He also notes the president has committed several impeachable offenses, including bribery, & abuse of power in soliciting a personal favor from a foreign leader to benefit himself.

Turley claims this impeachment is similar to that of Clinton. But, in fact, Clinton did not use the power of the presidency to try to extort assistance for his re-election campaign from a foreign leader.

The Republicans are using the roll call to try to stymie the momentum of these proceedings. Tools to the end.

Eisen's initial questions make clear the direction the Democrats are going: Abuse of power and bribery; Obstruction of Congress; Obstruction of Justice.

I am not a lawyer but I like this hearing already thanks to the references to a viscount, a burgess, and a sheriff.

Prof Karlan emphasizes that Trump's desire for Zelensky to ANNOUNCE an investigation into the Bidens (but not necessarily carry it out) points to the aim to commit injury to Trump's strongest rival.

"If this is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable." - Prof Gerhardt

Feldman, Karlan and Gerhardt all agree that the fact that aid funding for Ukraine was ultimately released is irrelevant to impeachment.

"Soliciting itself is the impeachable offense." - Karlan

"I don't think it's possible to emphasize this strongly enough: A president who will not cooperate with an impeachment inquiry is putting himself above the law. Now, putting yourself above the law as president is the core of an impeachable offense." - Prof Feldman

After playing the footage of Trump on White House lawn saying Article 2 of the Constitution says he can do whatever he likes, Prof Feldman says it struck "a kind of horror in him."

So say we all.

Collins in yelling and complaining about how the room is cold and his chair is uncomfortably. My Grandpa Alfred was less whiny.

Swalwell nails Turley: Says that as former prosecutor, he recognizes a defense attorney & recognizes that Turley is representing Trump-GOP.

Swalwell brought the receipts & points out Turley has been wrong on impeachment before.

Video from Fox; via Acyn Torabi

These GOP House representatives' questions during testimony are really bad & emblematic of the patriarchy that allows mediocre (maybe not even mediocre) men to hold power.

Thank God. Raskin is up. The brain trust is now improved.

No, Rep Lesko. The impeachment of the corrupt criminal in chief is not "tearing the country apart." It is righting the ship. It is adhering to the constitutional norms. And we, the people, of the majority applaud it.

Rep. Reschenthaler calls the House Intelligence Committee's inquiry a "Schiff show" but pronounces it as an epithet. Also manages to win the prize for saying "Pelosi" more than anyone else so far. She must frighten him.

"A president who will not cooperate in an impeachment inquiry is putting himself above the law...Putting yourself above the law as president is the core of an impeachable offense." - Prof Feldman

And there you have it.

Via ABC

I need some hot cocoa to soothe me from Rep Collins. He makes Nunes seem sane -- crooked, but sane; Collins is as nutty-angry as Jeffords but makes less sense.

Nadler says yes, the 3 tests for impeachment have been met. 1. Yes, the president has committed impeachable offenses. 2. Yes, the president's offenses present a threat to the constitutional order. 3. Yes. A majority of the country is prepared to impeach the president.

Impeach!

FYI to any Democrat not voting for impeachment: Don't hit me up for $ or assistance or support of any kind when you're up for re-election. No seriously, this is a vote for democracy as we know it. There will be no forgiveness if you do not stand on the right side of history.

We would not be *here* were it not for a Democratic House, with Speaker Pelosi at the helm. Yes, there IS a difference between the 2 parties; yes, elections DO matter, and it absolutely matters that a Democrat has the gavel.

So Mahalo nui loa to every Democrat on Capitol Hill.