The Dems are going to AMBUSH Trump in a Senate impeachment trial with the help of 'last minute' double-crossing anti-Trump RINO senators who will refuse to vote on the 'rules' unless its agreed that the final vote, whether or not to impeach, will be conducted via a SECRET BALLOT.
The secret ballot will allow ALL Senators to hide their vote from the American people. Dems are hoping that without the scrutiny and backlash of a transparent vote, enough Republican senators will be able to secretly appease their 'blackmailers' and Deep State donors by voting to impeach Trump.
Here's how I think its going to play out:
The ONLY rules 'set in stone' for an impeachment trial are that the "Chief Justice shall preside" and that the vote needs "two thirds of the members present". The rest is open slather which will be thrashed out in advance between Mitch McConnell and Schumer. However the proposed 'rules' then have to be voted on with a SIMPLE majority (i.e 51 votes); not two-thirds. And here's where things get sticky. Some of the rules Mitch wants will be challenged by the Dems--AND some RINO Republicans.
There's about 8 known anti-Trump RINO senators. Yet only 3 are needed to thwart Mitch, side with the Dems, and destroy the Republicans Senate majority. So The Dems will want to stifle the witnesses the Republicans want to call...AND they'll demand a SECRET BALLOT. And with only 3 rebel RINOs siding with the Dems, there's nothing that McConnell can do about it. He either sits pat, and the trial is permanently stalled...OR he wilts under pressue, and the MSM's outcry to end the chaos...and agrees to a secret ballot, which the rebel RINOs (along with ALL the Dems) agree to vote for.
A secret ballot in a Senate impeachment trial would be unprecedented...BUT its not illegal. And its here, imo the COUP will be 'legally' completed. This is the checkmate move Dems and the Deep State are now banking on, and barrelling toward, to finally destroy Trump.
The writing is on the wall because Schiff's kangaroo court 'inquiry' should be dead-in-the water when it hits the Senate...BUT that needs a majority vote of almost all Republican senators. Yet last week Lindsay Graham indicated, after a White House meeting, that they didn't "have the votes" for this. That means, already some RINOs, are ready to double cross.
IMO the White House should avoid a trial AT ALL COSTS. They should get a Federal and/or Supreme Court order to stop the House taking a vote on this until the proper CONSTITUTIONAL process has been undertaken (not Schiff's star chamber). This Court action should stall things for MONTHS. And IF it does reach the Senate McConnell has to stand firm in the eye of a withering storm 24/7 for DAYS by the Dems and MSM and say..."Nup"..."either our rules or no trial"
It should NEVER have reached this stage. We are now so close to losing probably the greatest U.S President ever. Pedes better prepare for this and consider what actions, if any, are possible.
Thank God for the founding fathers and the electoral college