The Senate convenes now to try the President of the United States for impeachable offenses, namely, bribery to subvert the elections, and obstruction. #ImpeachAndRemoveTrump
The Republicans, under Mitch McConnell, will now try to set rules that will ram through a quick moot court without witnesses, in an historic first and a powerful gesture towards dictatorship #ImpeachedForLife
The rules would force the Democrats to present their case for twelve hours at a time and late into the midnight hours. Careful attention has been paid to make the procedure as visually boring as possible #ImpeachmentTrialRules #ImpeachedForLife
Let's frame it in a greater historic perspective: Clinton was impeached for lying about consensual sex. Trump is not being confronted for his serial rape accusations, nor for his voluminous and outrageous lying #ImpeachmentTrial
Nor is Trump being impeached for promoting racist hatred via his White Supremacist In Chief Stephen Miller thehill.com/homenews/house… #ImpeachedForever
Nor is Trump being impeached for arrogating the power of the purse from the Legislative Branch in the construction of his Hate Wall thehill.com/homenews/house… #ImpeachmentTrialRules
As if this historic Impeachment were a traffic court for a parking ticket, Trump has asked that it all be done quickly for his ease and convenience in presenting the State of the Union speech. #ImpeachedForLife
A lot of people are responding to the Republicans' manipulative message that the process is boring, and they have tried hard to assure that it is. Nonetheless this is an historic moment and everyone will eventually be asked what they were doing now #impeachment
C-Span is showing a wide shot now with Chief Justice Roberts in the center. He is wearing his usual black robe, no ostentatious stripes as were worn in the Clinton trial #ImpeachedForLife
McConnell is reading the agenda, and saying that he intends to table Schumer's amendment. Roberts appears to have an ivory gavel. Almost everyone is wearing somber black, though the ties are colorful, and I do see a maroon dress amoung the Rs and a blue blouse w/the Ds #impeach
Roberts is now presiding over the rules debate. Pat Cipollone, arguing for his truncated and sped-up trial, opens by lying that it is the same as the Clinton trial, which got twice as much time and full and free witness appearances by both sides. #ImpeachedForLife
And Cipollone sat down, reserving time for rebuttal. Adam Schiff, Lead House of Reps Manager for Impeachment trial, notes these are the heaviest charges ever brought to an impeachment trial. Let's see: Clinton for a BJ, Johnson for a procedures trap... yep, checks out #peach
Schiff says impunity "makes him (Trump) a monarch." He decries the extent of the R's obstructionism in the House hearings. He's wearing his shiny red-and-gold pin, which still reminds me of the Order Of Lenin. No witnesses means not a fair trial, sez Schiff #ImpeachmentTrial
It's a mockery of a trial, sez Schiff. Call witnesses and subpoena documents that the Rs have blocked, argues Mr. Schiff. No comments from the Chief Justice so far. #IMPOTUS
Schiff points out that not agreeing upfront to witnesses means that there really is to be no trial--just opening statements and a vote, a 'he said she said' and "sweeping it under the rug" #ImpeachmentDay
Now if I had my druthers, Chief Justice Roberts would rule that there have to be witnesses. If he indeed intends to do that, it is good decorum to allow arguments first on both sides, as he is now doing. But the discussion now is really about whether
there is to be a moot court or a real impeachment procedure. Schiff just ran a clip of Trump talking, and I have to think that is deliberately inflammatory--Trump will be tempted to show up and shout. And that would be hilarious #ImpeachedForLife
Schiff's Navy blue tie has just the right size white dots to mess with the video pixels--it shimmers, it dances. #impeachment
Now I'm watching the Chief Justice: will he preside, or will he merely facilitate and observe? His Party needs him to butt out, but all his conditioning as a judge will beg him to compel the presence of witnesses. Who are you today, John Roberts? #ImpeachmentTrial
And Schiff is definitely appealing to the Chief Justice here, even to the point of glancing back over his shoulder at him when making a lame joke. Cringe #ImpeachedForever
Of course, if I had my druthers, a man who lost the election by three million votes couldn't be President. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
Schiff is using the video placards to underline his appeal for an actual trial. Here's one #ImpeachmentDay 
"The facts will come out in the end," Schiff intones, perhaps anticipating the ineluctable result of the moot court paradigm here. #IMPOTUS
Sekulow (sp?) rises in defense, saying the poor President has been denied the right to defend himself, his spring-loaded horn-rim glasses gripping his face fiercely even through his agitated nods #Impeached45
Sekulow's style is loud and his body language energetic and broad, as if he were addressing a stadium crowd rather than the Senate and the Chief Justice. This is poor practice for the Rs who want this to be stunningly boring #ImpeachedForLife
Sekulow says defiantly "in the days ahead we will lay out our case," by way of arguing that witnesses should not be called. It's the sort of weirdness we've become accustomed to #ImpeachedForever
"Never before in the history of the United States has the President been confronted with this sort of impeachment in the House." --Cipollone, with a straight face, in front of the Chief Justice, to whom he appeals for procedure? Yep he said that #impeachment
If there were a drinking game keyed on the word "ridiculous" Cipollone would have filled ERs from here to Peoria #impeachment #ImpeachmentTrialRules
The meta here is the preservation of the oppressive and violent system of minority White supremacy as centered in Republican hegemony over the Courts, the military, the Senate, and the Presidency. Not that the Dems are free of it. #ImpeachmentDay
Correction: at the last minute McConnell agreed to have three eight-hour days rather than two twelve-hour days. Currently in recess. #ImpeachedForever
Again, my interest is sharpened by the anti-transgender campaign conducted in various venues by this Presidency. I stand in solidarity with Muslims, Blacks, Indigenous, women, immigrants, POC generally who have been targeted, but I have reason to fear the #MAGA too, you bet
And I want to fight the Repub-generated apathy: they want you to turn away in disgust, to take the easy dismissive attitude that nothing here is worth your time. But they will weaponize your subsequent incomprehension, for the power of Whiteness and corporate rule #impeach
They're back. Just like every other human deliberative body, a five minute recess turns into a twenty minute recess #ImpeachedForever
"No trial in America has ever been conducted like that" (without witnesses)--Adam "Video Static Tie" Schiff. The C-SPAN cameras do not show Chief Justice Roberts' reaction, but I'd love to see it. A sphygmomanometer would be interesting too #ImpeachedForLife
"We don't wanna talk about how ass-backward it is to have a trial and then ask for witnesses"--Schiff, mocking the Republicans. If looks could kill (I will surmise, since the camera won't budge) #ImpeachedForever
Rep. Zoe Lofgren is up and decries the R's restrictions on evidence. #ImpeachedForever
She's appealing to Roberts as well, a good idea since he's the only wild card here. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
As she speaks I wonder how many Murikkans are confused by 'precedence' and President, given (e.g.) the widespread confusion between possessives and plurals, following the Reagan counter-revolution's assault on education #IMPOTUS
Here's hoping Roberts can see the screen... #ImpeachmentDay
So far the Repubs are taking the "never mind the evidence, this isn't impeachable" angle, and they are appealing to no one in the room, but rather to Fox News #MAGA2020 fans. Dems want facts, pfff, how dare they? HOW DARE THEY #ImpeachmentTrial
Re-litigation is in order since the Dems also know there is at least some public interest. Trump has always benefited from the national attention deficit disorder, so impeachment makes him squirm; the grip is slippery. #ImpeachmentDay
Zoe Lofgren is still at the podium, grinding it in. I like her disregard for fashion--frumpy hair, blue blouse, competence, attitude, determined mien. Her fashion statement: screw fashion statements. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
Pat Philbin, Republican counsel, now accuses the Dems of not being ready for trial. Hunh? But this is an appeal to Fox News, or maybe just an effort to bore and confuse.
Schiff is back at bat, speaking of precedent (an appeal to Chief Justice Roberts) and of impunity, saying "Trump is no king." Is the Rubicon crossed? And now Mitch calls the vote, and we'll wait to see if the Rs have the votes to stonewall documents. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
Yup, the Rs will quash subpoenas, 53-47, and Chief Justice Roberts is the Chief Stenographer so far. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
My friend works for the Supreme Court
Justice Roberts
Don't pay money just to see yourself
With Justice Roberts
Justice Roberts
You're a new and better man
He helps you to understand
He does everything he can
Justice Roberts
...but not really. #StenographerRoberts #impeach
Justice Roberts
Don't pay money just to see yourself
With Justice Roberts
Justice Roberts
You're a new and better man
He helps you to understand
He does everything he can
Justice Roberts
...but not really. #StenographerRoberts #impeach
Val Demings takes the podium: "As a lifelong law enforcement officer, I have never seen anyone take such extreme steps to allegedly proving his innocence" BAM #ImpeachmentTrialRules
This is all quite familiar by now, of course. But it has the effect of thwarting Trump's effective tactic of continually seizing the narrative: it's stuck on his crimes. #IMPOTUS
Desperate Wishlist for Impeachmas: 1. Roberts rules for witnesses 2. McConnell falls in a sewer 3. Secret ballots! 4. Trump gets so nettled he bursts into the Senate chambers tomorrow to yell his head off #ImpeachmentTrialRules
Huh, I meant that Chief Justice John Roberts should rule that the trial (hell, ANY trial) must have witnesses, not that the witnesses should use Robert's Rules of Order. Though that would be amusing
I think maybe Val's getting tired
"The misconduct of this President requires immediate attention." "This body cannot permit him to hide all the evidence...he is trying to cheat to win...honor your oath to do impartial justice...facts are stubborn things"--Val Demings #ImpeachmentTrial
Cipollone gets up and evokes the long-dead reactionary radio host Paul Harvey: "And now for the rest of the story." He knows his audience #ImpeachmentTrialRules
The attack dog attorney Sekulow is shouting! Trump said "I want nothing!" So there, nyah! Outraged mien! It's disrespecting the Constitution of the United States to even say what they said! I hereby shout! Shout, I tell you! The nerve! Guards! Guards!
I think Chief Justice Roberts would be more engaged playing a game of Scrabble. #ImpeachmentDay
Schiff: Trump indulges in false exculpatories. "Is that the alibi, that the President denies it?" #ImpeachmentTrial
By the way, my colleagues at KBOO are producing a special news day. It'll all be on the podcasts, if you miss it on air at 90.7FM in Portland. @KBOO kboo.fm/blog/78162
@KBOO Schiff is asking the Senate if they really want a Presidency that is, by today's precedent, immune to all process and prosecution. #ImpeachmentTrialRules Roll call to quash calling witnesses now.
@KBOO Roll call to (correction) quash calling for subpoenas: 53 for, 47 against, and the stone wall stands #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO Schumer gets up to ask for OMB documents showing the illegal withholding of approved aid to Ukraine. Never say die #IMPOTUS #ImpeachmentTrial #ImpeachmentTrialRules #ImpeachedForever #ImpeachedForLife
@KBOO @threadreaderapp unroll
@KBOO Rep. Jason Crow is arguing for the OMB docs, no doubt realizing that the only real value in doing so now is to keep the issue in the public eye. btw here's the thread reader threadreaderapp.com/thread/1219681… #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO And Crow is doing his best to show that, if this were not a moot court to preserve the dictatorship, the request would be approved.
@KBOO Dems to Repubs: "Here's reasons to examine evidence. Shall we?" Repubs: "No." Dems: "How about this then?" "No." "This over here?" "No." The R's position is: "We have the votes, go to hell."
@KBOO As the Dems push against the Dictator Defense Dreadnaught, some background: aside from the obvious Presidential crimes, the Ukraine Aid was far from actually necessary. Here's what has actually been going down in Ukraine:
@KBOO Ukraine went neutral/Russia-affiliated in '91 after the USSR collapse. The NED/CIA factions started their work to push Ukraine into the NATO camp. This included aid and traiining to Nazis in the countryside: Right Sector and Azov Battalion.
@KBOO Long story short, there were independence/NATO affiliated movements in Kiev while the Eastern countryside remained more afililated with Russia (they speak Russian). But after Maidan to Kiev, Russia clawed the Crimea back.
@KBOO IMHO Russia shouldn't have bothered, but Crimea is only technically a peninsula--it's almost an island in the Black Sea, and the Russian Fleet has always been quartered there. USA did the same thing to the Panama Canal (does anyone remember?)
@KBOO So when they did the Donbasss (remember that word, it's the Eastern third of Ukraine) went independent/Russia affiliated. War broke out but the Donbass won with captured tanks and artillery and some Russian logistics.
@KBOO And Russia still holds Crimea of course, and Donbass still stands. Peace keeps breakiing out. The Obama Administration didn't like that and keeps supporting (IRONY ALERT) the goddamned Nazis.
@KBOO So Trump didn't feel especially obligated to keep that aid going, probably because he owes billions to the Russian oligarchy, and he wanted to use the new Ukrainian Presidency for his own funky plans
@KBOO And voila, here we are, and right now there's a roll call which I will predict is going to go 53-47 against allowing the OMB evidence to be considered. #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO As a transgender gal I desperately wish Trump would be convicted, but I'm not going to pretend that such an outcome would not likely result in more money for Nazis, and more innocent dead in Donbass and Ukraine. So it goes. #ImpeachedForever
@KBOO They're still at it. Cipollone is up trying to say that all subpoenas were invalid because of "an infirmity" due to a technicality that the Republicans made up
@KBOO Sekulow is shaking a piece of paper and saying the Dems have screwed up so badly he can't even figure out what is going on. Poor man! #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO Schiff deflecting the R's complaints that the procedures have gone on til almost midnight, by pointing out that it's the R's schedule. Zing! #MidnightMitch #ImpeachmentHearings
@KBOO Another party line-defeat, and Schumer takes the podium with another Amendment: subpoena John "nuke 'em til they glow" Bolton! #ImpeachmentTrial
@KBOO Nadler: "They lie and lie and lie!" --drawing a "harrumph" out loud from one of the Repubs (and presumably a glare from the Chief Justice). The phrase "drug deal" appears on the screen. #ImpeachmentTrial
@KBOO "and those are other reasons President Trump fears Bolton's testimony"
@KBOO Cipollone, taking an aggrieved tone: "Mister Nadler made false allegations...(addressing Nadler) You're not in charge here." This, Sir, is an outrage! 'So there, I know you are but what am I?'--and again deploys his favorite term "ridiculous." #ImpeachedForever
@KBOO The Repubs would like to pretend that the Impeachment Clause was not as much a part of the Constitution as the sections mandating a Presidential election. #ImpeachAndRemove
@KBOO Counsel Sekulow is outraged! He shouts! He points at the desk! Nadler tried to "shred the Constitution!" Thirteen hours now (per R rules)! "I'll tell you what's treacherous!" #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO Nadler points out that the Rs complained about a lack of due process after they haughtily rejected due process. It's getting on to 1AM in Washington DC and this Risk game is still hoppin.' I still have popcorn though #ImpeachedForever
@KBOO Safe to say that the discussion has devolved into recriminations at this point. They must be tired! Oooh, Roberts is weighing in against the tirades now: "The Senators should remember where they are." Silence on the floor #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO Roll call vote on the Bolton subpoena, looks like a couple of desks are empty. 53-47 Bolton hits the table #ImpeachedForLife
@KBOO Sleepless Schumer adds another amendment! Seems to relate to witness testimony. Two hours are allocated by the Chief Justice for argument. Holy Schiff. #impeachmentmarathon
@KBOO Schiff says if there was any veneer left to camouflage the R's evasive tactics, it is gone now. "One more layer in the way of accountability," sez Schiff. Mitch calls the roll #ImpeachAndRemoveTrumpNow
@KBOO The Rs prevail 53-47, surprise! Schumer pops up with another amendment! Wheeeee
@KBOO Schiff had to be prodded by Rep. Zoe Lofgren when Roberts called for his presence. Schiff yields his time. Mitch moves to table. Roll call! #impeachmentmarathon
@KBOO Predictable result, and now Roberts announces 52-48 hmmmmmmmmmmm. Schumer introduces "the last amendment of the evening." It would allow Roberts to approve witness subpoenas as "a neutral arbiter." #ImpeachmentTaskForce
@KBOO Sekulow arrives with his opposition: "This is not an appellate court." Schiff mocks him with sarcasm, noting that a neutral arbiter would chew up the R defense (e.g. the Biden distraction) as a matter of course. "This is not fantasy football" #ImpeachmentHearings
@KBOO Roll call! Sanders sits heavily and awaits his turn to pop up with a "no." 53-47 not to allow the Chief Justice to approve witnesses as a neutral abiter, a vote intended to embarrass Rs. Good luck with that! #ImpeachmentTrialRules
@KBOO Now they vote to adopt the Resolution 483 to proceed with the unamended R quickie moot trial rules. 53-47 again and they're done, a new record! Too bad they couldn't deliberate this long on a Green New Deal or on ending Jim Crow policing or abolishing ICE
@KBOO @threadreaderapp unroll
@KBOO @threadreaderapp threadreaderapp.com/thread/1219681… There ya go. Just a tweet or two more aaaaand... #ImpeachmentDay #ImpeachmentTrialRules #ImpeachedForLife
@KBOO @threadreaderapp 53-47 and Mitch calls for adjournment until tomorrow afternoon at 1.
