Posted on 01/27/2021 7:38:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
With the chances of the Senate actually convicting former President Trump in the upcoming impeachment trial, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-INO) are quietly pitching their colleagues on a bipartisan resolution to censure Trump, according to Axios.
The Senators are 'looking for a way to condemn Trump on the record' as it's become abundantly clear that Democrats don't have the 17 GOP crossover votes required to gain a conviction for Trump's second impeachment. That said, Axios says that some Democrats are only interested in censure if at least 10 GOP Senators will publicly commit to it - which would accomplish the 60-vote margin required to pass major legislation in the chamber.
It isn't clear whether the censure would come after a trial, or be in lieu of it.
More via Axios:
Driving the news: Kaine (D-Va.) and Collins (R-Maine) have been interested in a censure resolution for weeks now and have discussed it on multiple occasions.
- But the bipartisan discussions among senators grew more earnest after 45 Republicans voted today in favor of a motion to dismiss the trial because Trump is now out of office.
- The vote was a clear indication he won't be convicted.
Between the lines: In some ways, a censure vote could be more difficult for Republicans, because they can't rely on the argument that a resolution is unconstitutional — like they are for an impeachment conviction.
- It would also be a history-making vote. No other president has been censured after leaving office.
What they're saying: "I think it's pretty obvious from the vote today, that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the president will be convicted. Just do the math," Collins told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
- Kaine has said he wants to do whatever possible to keep the focus on the Biden-Harris agenda and COVID-19 relief, so he supports a speedy trial or alternate way to hold Trump accountable.
* * *
Earlier Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) excoriated Democrats over the impeachment effort against Trump for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, despite the fact that he told his supports to come, and leave, peacefully while protesting the results of the 2020 election.
"Democrats are about to drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol the likes of which has never been seen in our nation’s history," said Paul, adding "It’s almost as if they have no ability to exist except in opposition to Donald Trump"
Sen. @RandPaul:
"Democrats are about to drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol the likes of which has never been seen in our nation’s history... It’s almost as if they have no ability to exist except in opposition to Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/kiCimV0GIX — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 26, 2021
Give it up jackasses
You let an election be flagrantly stolen...
We will never forget
It is time for conservatives to hijack the grand old party, and make it the “GRAND NEW REPUBLICAN PARTY”.
they smell major backfire coming
So no impeachment, DOA, illustrating this folly.
Say no to censure. Focus on the pandemic and opening the economy, period.
Focus on election integrity period. If HR1 is passed it is open warfare time.
How about neither. Trump had nothing to so with this.
THIS!!!
These bastards need a good thumping! Traitors, the lot!
...Trump Impeachment Conviction Unlikely
We live in interesting times.
They need to go censure themselves.. sideways.
I don’t think they care. But I’m curious...”censure” is generally a political punishment of an elected official. Since Trump isn’t in office anymore, which is why they are beginning to realize they can’t have their show trial, how in the world is it possible to censure him?
They’re so obsessed with Trump that it’s stunning. It shows you who they fear.
I'd add opening the economy to that. And opening the schools. Both winners as the ems focus on destroying the country.
I’m loving every minute of this horse hockey...the dems are digging themselves ever deeper in a hole they will not be able to clime out of. Vengence will come in 2022!!!
A “Censure” would be a badge of honor for Trump.
We have already been through this with Bill Clinton. It was known there were not the votes to impeach so this tactic was suggested. Law professors quickly shot it down as a Bill of Attainder.
I don’t think this will go far. By day two of this ‘game’....I think Leahy will have a health-scare and be taken by ambulance. The Democrats then pretty screwed because while they might have a few lawyers in their midst....none are the competent type for this ‘judge-position’.
At this point, Trump’s lawyers should demand a full trial and drag it on for months. Litigation should be touched off on what the show trial actually is - if Trump is being impeached as President, Roberts has to preside, per the Constitution. If he’s being impeached from some other office, then the house managers need to identify what that office is so that he can be removed from it if he is convicted.
Roberts refusal to participate appears to be a tacit
acknowledgement that this is all unconstitutional, and his sitting it out is his compromise with the deep state.
Bush League Republicans have had a stranglehold on the GOP for 30 years.
Whenever the citizens have nominated a GOP Senate candidate that they did not approve, they worked with Democrats to defeat them in IN, MO, DE, NV, MS, AL.
We need a real new party that will represent the citizen, the GOP never will.
Censure him for what? ANTIFA agitators plotting to take advantage of his completely legitimate rally?
He’s supposed to sit on the sidelines while the opposition commits massive crimes to steal his office?
The ultimate censure for these “Republican” seditionists should come at the ballot box, but we all know that doesn’t mean anything anymore.
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