Posted on 12/18/2019 10:47:21 PM PST by 11th_VA
The House will probably vote Wednesday to impeach President Trump. But that may not be the most significant upcoming vote. The bigger vote may be when the Senate determines the rules for the ensuing trial. And Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins don’t exactly sound as though they’re preparing to rock the GOP boat — even as GOP leaders signal they’ll push for a Trump-friendly impeachment trial.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made an extraordinary statement last week, indicating that he will coordinate how the trial will be run with White House counsel Pat Cipollone. And Cipollone may not just be the White House counsel; there are reports he could serve as Trump’s defense attorney at the trial. Democrats and journalists were quick to point out the optics of a trial effectively being run whatever way the defendant wants it to be.
The problem with McConnell’s statement is that he doesn’t have complete control over how the process will be run; that’s because you need a majority vote of the Senate to set the rules. So if a handful of GOP senators objected to his plans — the GOP’s majority is 53-47 right now — they could hold out and force his hand.
In other words, it was the kind of statement to which someone like Romney (R-Utah) or Collins (R-Maine) might object and try to set things on a different course. But in Collins’s case, she took the opportunity to criticize Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) more than McConnell...
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Pelosi lost the GOP Senate moderates when she demanded the Senate craft trial rules to her satisfaction.
That was a stupid move. Senators don’t like the House interfering in their business.
I just heard Ms Collins is running for re-election (damn!).
The upside is she may be more inclined to behave and keep her RINO impulses in check. Mitt remains a Wild Card, maybe.
A few weeks ago, the president met with Mitt and a few well known RINOS. Who knows what was discussed? So maybe Mitt will stay with the group as well.
Mittens is the ultimate snake and would dearly love to convict and remove Trump, BUT the p.o.s. isn’t going to the stand alone on this.
He probably harbors fantasies of taking another shot at the White House or Senate leadership or something. He’s not stupid, and he knows the GOP base will never, ever forgive him for supporting conviction/removal. He’s going to lay low and isn’t going to stick his neck out.
Trump is one of many other Presidents impeached. That is accounting for the times future Democrat Presidents are impeached.
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
Future Democrat President
1. Abuse of Taxpayer
2. Obstruction of Prosperity
- This would make a great tee shirt meme.
Mittens is not jumping into this.
Toss in WV’s Manchin as well....he’ll likely vote with the GOP. Jones of Alabama might vote as well with them....if he wants any chance of getting re-elected in 2020.
Mittens wanted Orin’s seat and got it. Good and hard. Now he’s afraid he’ll wake up with a horse’s head in his bed if he doesn’t toe the line. It’ll be Susan’s, with a bit in her mouth.
Jones is already carrion. He’s still trying to hedge a little with that waffling ‘I need to study the facts’ softshoe that politicians are all masters at, but he’s as much as come out and said he’s voting for conviction. Problem is, that weaselly little bridge troll Sessions is already the 2020 GOP frontrunner by a 20 point margin. Nothing to see here, move along.
I swear, I didn’t even know you started a God Father theme here. :)
Ya wanna roll with the mobsters, ya gotta start thinking like the mobsters.
Milt is a coward. He would never stand alone on anything.
I’m saying it here and now.
I don’t think ANY R is gonna vote against Trump on this or any other vote regarding this nonsense.
This isn’t a president that is disliked by the base or even just liked a little bit.
His followers are like Beatles fans were at a concert.
You’re DONE if you go against him in the senate with n R next to your name.
Unless you’re planning on changing parties.
I don’t see any sign of that happening with anyone.
They’ll vote against him on some bills later on to have something to show independents when they run again.
McConnell sounded confident on Hannity that all senate Republicans would do as their house collegues, 100 percent support the president. That’s why the house show of force was so important.
Romney had lunch at the WH recently and hasn’t said a word since. Collins and Murkowski are left. Manchin is a certainty for our side. Sinema is a rarity among Democrats, not a sure vote.
“...taking another shot at the White House or Senate leadership ...”
Well, that was good for a laugh...
His son has connections to foreign energy companies. I tell people what does a person who has zero international business experience along with no geology background working in a country where they do not speak the language?
Mitt still thinks he can run for President in 2024, so he won’t rock the boat. Even though he’ll be 76 at the time, he sees all the older folks running this time around (Bernie 78, Quid Pro Joe 77, Bloomberg 77, Warren 70, Trump 73) and figures the window has opened back up for his age bracket.
This statement is risible on its face. What the he!! have we been watching and seeing since June? Optics of a trial effectively being run whatever way the 'Rats want it to be.
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