1. Trump Impeachment Trial Day 11
As I mentioned last night, Sen Lisa Murkowski is likely to vote against calling witnesses.
It is now confirmed that she is a no vote for witnesses. Hence no 50-50 tie. The motion for not calling witnesses will almost certainly be carried 51-49.
As I mentioned last night, Sen Lisa Murkowski is likely to vote against calling witnesses.
It is now confirmed that she is a no vote for witnesses. Hence no 50-50 tie. The motion for not calling witnesses will almost certainly be carried 51-49.
2. I have to say the House Managers are really getting on my nerves now, because they are making no sense at all, and I am a sympathetic listener to all sides, and her is why. They keep yammering on and on about one and only one thing: there was a quid pro quo. So what?
3. The issue, dear House Managers, is not that there was a quid pro quo. No matter how many people have their noses out of joint over a possible quid pro quo, we don't remove a duly elected president over infractions like that.
4. House Managers, your job is to prove, prove, that Trump asking for an investigation into Burisma/Bidens served no national purpose whatsoever, AND served only a personal purpose, because that and only that would be grounds for convicting the President.
5. Now take every witness you want, and take Bolton's book, etc. and let us even assume for the purposes of an argument that they confirm President Trump actually held aid for a while in attempt to compel an investigation into Burisma/Bidens. Even then, so what?
6. No one on the planet in any responsible position has asserted that looking into Brisma/Bidens is not in the legitimate interest of the nation. Even the Democratic counsel during House testimony admitted that looking into the Burisma/Bidens is a legitimate national concern.
7. You cannot illegitimize a national interest by pounding the table and asking for more witnesses and documents, because it is not even conceivable that any witness or any document will ever prove that looking into Burisma/Bidens corruption is not a legitimate national concern.
8. Witnesses are called to provide evidence. There is no substantive objective evidence that is substantively in dispute. We have all the evidence anyone needs. It just doesn't prove your case. BECAUSE looking into Burisma/Bidens corruption IS in national interest. Q.E.D.
*here is why
*Burisma
9. Democratic mantra of "We cannot have a fair Senate trial without witnesses" is such a load of horseshit. Witnesses for what? The issue of the legitimacy of a national interest in looking into Burisma/Bidens is not subject to the testimony of any witness from any planet.
10. It is only a matter of judgment -- for the Senators and for all Americans. Let senators vote now, and Americans will vote in November. This is as fair as it ever gets. Time for senators to vote! Stop spewing nonsense.
11. The word of the day for Democrats: "scheme"
Now everyone is referring in unison to what Trump did vis-a-vis Ukraine as a "scheme". They must have focus-group tested the word yesterday.
Now everyone is referring in unison to what Trump did vis-a-vis Ukraine as a "scheme". They must have focus-group tested the word yesterday.
12. Now Patrick Philbin is ripping the Democratic argument about "we cannot have a trial without witnesses" apart piece by piece by piece.
13. Adam Schiff is telling the Senators that in their sole power to try the impeachment they have the power to ask the presiding officer Justice Roberts to rule on issues like 'executive privilege' and 'executive immunity' and so on.
14. Oh really? These are issues of constitutional law. According to Schiff's ad-hoc theory of jurisprudence, can the Senators, in their sole power to conduct an impeachment trial, ask the presiding officer to suspend the Constitution right there in Senate chambers? What a crock!
15. Motion to Call Witnesses
The Roll Call on a motion to call witnesses has just begun. As per what I wrote yesterday, the very first vote from Lamar Alexander (voted No) has sealed the fate of this motion. This motion will be defeated 51-49.
The Roll Call on a motion to call witnesses has just begun. As per what I wrote yesterday, the very first vote from Lamar Alexander (voted No) has sealed the fate of this motion. This motion will be defeated 51-49.
16. And there you have it. Motion defeated 51-49. Senate in recess!
No surprises. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins broke from Republican majority to vote Yes. Every single Democratic senator votes Yes.
No surprises. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins broke from Republican majority to vote Yes. Every single Democratic senator votes Yes.
17. What Comes Next?
The conclusion is clearly an acquittal for the President. But how we get from here to there is very murky.
Anyone other than those interested in procedural arcana of senate procedure, or just want to regale in post-game commentary, can tune out now.
The conclusion is clearly an acquittal for the President. But how we get from here to there is very murky.
Anyone other than those interested in procedural arcana of senate procedure, or just want to regale in post-game commentary, can tune out now.
18. Final Vote Expected at 4:00pm on Wednesday, Feb 5
So President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, a day before he is almost certain to be acquitted.
No more testimony, no more evidence. Drama over.
So President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, a day before he is almost certain to be acquitted.
No more testimony, no more evidence. Drama over.
