Today, Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begins in the Senate with what is sure to be a heated debate over the rules. We will post open threads every day there are proceedings for readers to share their thoughts and observations.
CNN has a good primer on the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. It will begin Tuesday, January 21, at 1 PM and continue for six days a week at that time until concluded.
However, that article was published earlier yesterday. The New York Times has an update, after Sen. Mitch McConnell issued his Pravda-like rules. They don’t call him #MoscowMitch for nothing!
Mr. McConnell’s trial rules, which limited each side’s arguments to 24 hours over two days, gave the White House a helping hand at the outset and drew swift anger from Democrats. The rules left open the possibility that the Senate could not only decline to hear new evidence not uncovered in the House impeachment inquiry, but could also sidestep considering the House case against Mr. Trump altogether — although such a vote is considered unlikely.
“Under this resolution, Senator McConnell is saying he doesn’t want to hear any of the existing evidence, and he doesn’t want to hear any new evidence,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. “It’s a cover-up, and the American people will see it for exactly what it is.”
He said he would propose changes during what promises to be a rancorous debate over the rules on Tuesday in the Senate.
…
Mr. McConnell had said repeatedly that he was modeling his rules on the procedures for Mr. Clinton’s 1999 impeachment trial, but he made changes that could tilt the playing field in Mr. Trump’s favor. While the Clinton-era rules imposed no limits on the 24 hours of oral arguments allowed on both sides, Mr. McConnell condensed them into two marathon-session days, which would allow the Senate to blaze through them by Saturday.
Senators could then pose questions to the two sides next week before debating whether to allow the prosecution and defense to try to call witnesses or seek documents. A senior Republican leadership aide conceded on Monday that Mr. McConnell had deviated from the 1999 rules, which admitted the House impeachment record into evidence at the start of the trial, in requiring a separate Senate vote to do so this time around. The change was necessary, argued the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail internal strategy, because the House had denied the president proper due process rights.
Bloomberg, which has a comprehensive viewers guide, notes that CNN, MSNBC and Fox News “are likely to show significant portions of the trial.” But C-SPAN 2, which covers Senate floor proceedings, is probably the only network that will cover the public proceedings in full.
I’ll be switching back and forth between cable news channels for coverage. I look forward to your comments.
(McConnell image by DonkeyHotey via Creative Commons license)
The case will come down to whether at least 4 GOPiggy Senators have the courage to defy Mango and Mitch by demanding witnesses testify. Talking Toilet Brush Bolton being key. Right now, only Lamar Alexander (who is retiring and gives a hoot what Mango wants) and Mitt Romney (who personally despises Mango) are the only defectors. The rest…..including Murkowski, Collins, Gardner, McSally…..will probably cave in to Mango and Mitch.
After the Senate finishes its cover-up,
the House will immediately re-commence impeachment proceedings, adding a charge of obstructing the Mueller investigation to the other two.
As a lady in Europe, you are no doubt fine with subtitles, and in any case they are the easiest I’ve come across – short lines of dialogue that only take a nanosecond to absorb.
‘Silver Spoon’ revolves around a 30-ish party boy (horrible but handsome) who happens to be the son of a fabulously rich business man in Moscow. One night he gets into a pickle with a couple of cops and his father ‘fixes’ the problem, but only under the condition that his son joins the police, in the unit where the two cops he had trouble with work.
Great cast, gripping storyline, endemic corruption, evil oligarchs, gorgeous women, beautiful Russian scenery and very complicated romantic entanglements. Recommended for all.
Пять российских звезд!
Adam and Friends were indeed as clever as anyone could be under the circumstances – they ran absolute rings around Trump’s merry men. One can only imagine the carnage when the Keystone Kops brigade from the GOP House cast are let loose during the defence’s 24 hours.
Am I wrong in thinking (hoping?) that the House Managers actually got all their arguments on record by raising these specific amendment proposals? Damned smart move that was. The proceedings will allow seriously interested viewers to fill in the inevitable gaps
However, wannabet the next impeachment trial (of anybody) won’t allow more than 5 minutes to debate such amendments?
For Republican senators, remind them of the oath that they took to support and defend the Constitution and demand they support a fair and open trial in the Senate to fully hear the evidence and hold Trump accountable for his actions. If they don’t, they’ll become accomplices in Donald Trump’s coverup.
https://indivisible.org/demand-your-senators-support-fair-and-open-impeachment-trial
Indivisible Guide
@IndivisibleTeam
If you have a Dem Senator — call them and demand that they speak out loudly and firmly against the Senate rules resolution. Also, chances are they’ve been good on impeachment, so don’t forget to give them some positive feedback!
https://twitter.com/IndivisibleTeam/status/1219701290227376129
I’m surprised that Adam let his remaining time ride on that first matter. Cipolione and Sekulow had clearly run out of nonsense to spout, and it would have been a great opportunity to stick the boot in with a contribution from Val Demings or Hakeem Jeffries.
I am skeptical, however, that the Republicans will do the right thing about anything.
If you live in a red state, please call your senators and demand they vote for witnesses and documents.
I noted in the reading of the rules that the 24 hours allowed to each side has now been extended to three days rather than two. Looks like MacConnell is not quite as confident as he pretends.
