Republican Senate leaders were blindsided Tuesday by their leader, Mitch McConnell, when the New York Times broke news he was “pleased” about the impending impeachment of President Trump, @NBCNews has learned
McConnell’s leadership team were not given a heads up ahead of the story that made clear how McConnell felt about impeaching the president, multiple aides familiar with the days events tell me, @LACaldwellDC, @JulieNBCNews & @frankthorp
McConnell is known for being shrewd strategist and tactician who keeps his members in line. It’s extraordinarily rare for him to take a public position without first consulting with his leadership team and even his entire conference
It's been a day of putting my head down, setting my feelings aside and doing my job trying to document everything we saw
But I need to take a moment to reflect on what has happed here at the U.S. Capitol, a place I've been privileged to cover on and off for over a decade (1/)
I've worked for a tiny policy newsletter, a newspaper, a magazine, a newswire, and now one of the big 3 national TV networks. I've had nice offices and tiny windowless desks. I've covered this place when Republicans ran it and when Democrats ran it. (2/)
I love my job and I love this place, even with all of its deep foibles and flaws. (3/)
.@Sen_JoeManchin tells me of the president’s comments to @realBobWoodward: “I don't know how the President can survive this, I don't know how he can.” (1/)
“To basically saying that he knew, in February, we should be taking this and using everything that we have to fight this pandemic and not take it seriously because he wanted to downplay it...” (2/)
KASIE: “When you say you don't know if he’ll survive what do you mean?”
MANCHIN: “I don't know how you can survive an election, when you’re basically asking the people to give you another four years of anything, when you’re taking an oath and pledge to protect and defend..” (3/)
Some good history lessons here from @AlexHortonTX. These Army base names are even more 🤔 when you learn that not only did these generals fight for the losers they also were in several cases really terrible generals who said awful things washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
“Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the headquarters of the Special Forces, bears the name of Gen. Braxton Bragg, a commander often assailed as one of the most bumbling commanders in the war. Bragg was relieved of command after losing the battle for Chattanooga in 1863.”
“Fort Benning in Georgia, the home of Army infantry and airborne training, is named after Brig. Gen. Henry Benning, who led troops at Antietam and Gettysburg....(1/2)
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., on Mattis letter: “Gen Mattis served his country well and honorably and he's entitled to his opinion...” (1/2)
“... I don't know that him saying this is especially helpful to the various crises that we're going through right now but if he feels the need to express himself, he can.” (2/2)