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2019-12-12 Home Front: Politix
Are Republicans About to Screw Up Trump's Senate Trial?
[Red State] It’s a question that could go either way given the latest details of how Republicans are planning to approach this.

According to Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham, they may be looking to punt completely. No witnesses, no defense, just letting Democrats rattle on and then voting. The wisdom of such a strategy is certainly debatable, but when is the last time such cowering worked out in the positive?

This from the Washington Examiner.
Senate Republicans do not expect to call witnesses President Trump might want to hear from most in an impeachment trial, conceding there are not the votes to summon key figures such as Hunter Biden and the unidentified government whistleblower whose complaint sparked the process.

Senate impeachment rules require a majority vote to call witnesses, and with just two out of 53 votes to spare, there is no “appetite” among Republicans to pursue testimony from people that Democrats blocked Republicans from subpoenaing during the House investigation. Indeed, Republicans might forgo calling witnesses altogether, saying minds are made up on Trump’s guilt or innocence and that testimony at trial on the Senate floor would draw out the proceedings unnecessarily.

Not calling Joe and Hunter Biden is one thing, as it could conceivably devolve into a fight Trump doesn’t really need. I can just imagine the elder Biden chastising Republicans on national TV for using his son against him after he’s already had one die in recent years. I’m not sure that’s a visual the Republican party needs or wants, as it could unintentionally boost candidate Biden in an election year.

But they aren’t even going to call the whistleblower? They aren’t going to ask Adam Schiff about his machinations? They aren’t going to get Alexander Vindman under oath and make him answer for leaking classified information? I understand being risk averse, but that strikes me as politically dumb. Further, it’d be letting people off the hook who shouldn’t get to pretend like the past two months never happened.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-12-12 04:53|| || Front Page|| [12 views ]  Top

#1 Of course!
Posted by Fat Bob Javish1936 2019-12-12 05:14||   2019-12-12 05:14|| Front Page Top

#2 I think there’s a middle ground that needs to be reached here.

It would appear the "middle ground" (the happy ending) has already been reached. The Dems toss in a couple of foggy, notional articles of impeachment, the senate votes them down. Hunter, Joe and Schiff avoid the deep-dive, and everyone goes home to watch football.

What are your questions.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-12-12 06:38||   2019-12-12 06:38|| Front Page Top

#3 How else can they protect deep state? Get this out of the way so that the democrats can start their next shitshow impeachment.
Posted by CrazyFool 2019-12-12 08:46||   2019-12-12 08:46|| Front Page Top

#4 Unbelievable. It truly is a Shitshow.
Posted by Lex 2019-12-12 08:53||   2019-12-12 08:53|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm fairly optimistic still. Cocaine Mitch just did a masterful fuck you to the house dems. The demoncrats announced they passed NAFTAv2 before they announced the impeachment.

Mitch shelved the trade deal bill in the Senate until the Senate is done with impeachment.
Posted by DarthVader 2019-12-12 09:28||   2019-12-12 09:28|| Front Page Top

#6 This is going to get interesting. If Trump get Biden Jr on the stand he will out all the other congress critters who have family on the take. Both sides are guilty of this money laundering scheme. This will blow the entire swamp out against him. Buy popcorn.
Posted by 49 Pan 2019-12-12 10:35||   2019-12-12 10:35|| Front Page Top

#7 Kabuki graphics seems apropos here.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-12-12 12:19||   2019-12-12 12:19|| Front Page Top

#8 Trump plays hardball. If the impeachment articles don't get out of the House, he wins. If this goes to the Senate and a vote is held, the 67 threshold won't be met; he wins. If it goes to a Senate trial, and he brings in witnesses to question such as Schiff, the whistleblower, and others, he wins and a light is shined on more Swamp critters.
Posted by JohnQC 2019-12-12 13:26||   2019-12-12 13:26|| Front Page Top

#9 They probably will.

Totally inadvertently and with the deepest regret, of course.
Posted by charger 2019-12-12 18:25||   2019-12-12 18:25|| Front Page Top

#10 "With sorrow in our heart" - looks at Brexit/Tory Vote - "Oh SHIT!"
Posted by Frank G 2019-12-12 19:46||   2019-12-12 19:46|| Front Page Top

#11 Put 0bama on the stand.

What were his conversations with Comey and Brennan on this?

How many trips did he make to Brennan's "War Room" in Langley?
Posted by Lex 2019-12-12 19:49||   2019-12-12 19:49|| Front Page Top

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