Well for what it's worth I do think you're wrong. Any Republican who votes to convict will not be reelected. Even Romney will vote against it.
But they will allow the Democrats to call their witnesses and create new fake scandal in the press. They will damage Trump as much as they can without incurring political damage. The Republicans love to keep him tied up with fake scandals as much as the Dems do.
McConnell could have rebuked these articles of impeachment, he could have mocked the Democrats for the kangaroo court they ran which refused to even allow the Republicans to call witnesses. He could then give a speech which would frame any Republican as a traitor against Trump if they don't simply vote for dismissal. Even Romney and Murkowski would be scared shitless to wear that badge, hell even the dem from West Virginia would vote to dismiss.
The press and Dems would frame it as the Republicans covering for Trump, which is what they are going to do in all scenarios. But a uniform rejection of the impeachment articles, including even Dem defectors, which pelosi herself had deligitimized by her delay, would have been an absolute victory which the press couldn't spin. Before the week was out impeachment would be forgotten--a petty political stunt which the Dems would hesitate to repeat.
But instead McConnell simply says that he "doesn't have the votes". This way we all secretly blame the usual suspects, but the rest of the party avoids the wrath of the voters, and even Romney and Murkowski are protected and able to maintain deniability.
And now the impeachment is legit, it's a real impeachment with a real trial. And the press will say, an unfair, rigged trial which nevertheless demonstrated Trump's guilt, and which the Republicans ignored in a hideous display of partisanship and disregard for the rule of law. And so the Dems will have a constitutional duty to persist, to call new witnesses and impeach again.
We'll be talk to my about this impeachment for the rest of the month, with all sorts of handwringing.
Why did McConnell choose this path?
It's not weakness. It's a way to inflict a little damage on Trump and lift up the rinos.
Understand that these people are our enemies, do not forget this. They need to be primaried at the earliest opportunity.
Cocaine Mitch might not be as squeaky clean as POTUS. I wouldn’t be so confident in him. You do know how he got the nickname “cocaine Mitch”, right? Besides, how did he come to be worth $26mm?
His wife Elaine Chao came into an inheritance from her father that year--"a McConnell spokesman said." And that's the WaPo "Fact Checker" speaking.
Chao's father was a Chinese shipping magnate. The McConnell's have all sorts of ties with China--positively Bidenesque. And how did Chao get the Transportation gig? There are enemies and bad actors everywhere in Trump's Administration, as we've seen time and again. Maybe we underestimate just how alone he is out there as a non-hack politician and an outsider to the Swamp. We're not just his constituency, we're doing the work the Republicans should be doing--defending him against them--or a treasonous contingent of them at least.; hanging the threat of consequences at the polls over their heads (But I'm not forgetting the Trump-supporting press and his NGO champions like Tom Fitton prying emails out of the FBI/DOJ/State Dept Deep State--the same people who should be doing this investigative work themselves.)
Above all, voting him back into office in 2020 will be the real final verdict.
I agree that theres zero chance of Trump getting removed, but I also think there's little chance of Democrats eating the fist of justice.
Trump wont get impeached, and nothing will happen to the Dems, which will embolden them to concoct a new scheme. And Trump will continue doing his thing with the Dems and MSM breathing down his neck.
IF we can gain control of the House and keep the Senate, we may have two or more years without endless witch hunts. Then President Trump can clean house and bring in the big trash pumps to clean up the swamp.
Cocaine Mitch loves his job. The power. He knows that it's directly tied to President Trump remaining in power.
President Trump has about Zero % chance of being removed.
I don't share your optimism.
I believe too many Republicans have their hands dirty laundering money through foreign aid.
Trump has interrupted that revenue stream and they are pissed.
I sincerely hope I am wrong.
Well for what it's worth I do think you're wrong. Any Republican who votes to convict will not be reelected. Even Romney will vote against it.
But they will allow the Democrats to call their witnesses and create new fake scandal in the press. They will damage Trump as much as they can without incurring political damage. The Republicans love to keep him tied up with fake scandals as much as the Dems do.
McConnell could have rebuked these articles of impeachment, he could have mocked the Democrats for the kangaroo court they ran which refused to even allow the Republicans to call witnesses. He could then give a speech which would frame any Republican as a traitor against Trump if they don't simply vote for dismissal. Even Romney and Murkowski would be scared shitless to wear that badge, hell even the dem from West Virginia would vote to dismiss.
The press and Dems would frame it as the Republicans covering for Trump, which is what they are going to do in all scenarios. But a uniform rejection of the impeachment articles, including even Dem defectors, which pelosi herself had deligitimized by her delay, would have been an absolute victory which the press couldn't spin. Before the week was out impeachment would be forgotten--a petty political stunt which the Dems would hesitate to repeat.
But instead McConnell simply says that he "doesn't have the votes". This way we all secretly blame the usual suspects, but the rest of the party avoids the wrath of the voters, and even Romney and Murkowski are protected and able to maintain deniability.
And now the impeachment is legit, it's a real impeachment with a real trial. And the press will say, an unfair, rigged trial which nevertheless demonstrated Trump's guilt, and which the Republicans ignored in a hideous display of partisanship and disregard for the rule of law. And so the Dems will have a constitutional duty to persist, to call new witnesses and impeach again.
We'll be talk to my about this impeachment for the rest of the month, with all sorts of handwringing.
Why did McConnell choose this path?
It's not weakness. It's a way to inflict a little damage on Trump and lift up the rinos.
Understand that these people are our enemies, do not forget this. They need to be primaried at the earliest opportunity.
It's the "Never Trumpers" who are not running again or not up for reelection for a while you have have to be worried about.
True.
Cocaine Mitch might not be as squeaky clean as POTUS. I wouldn’t be so confident in him. You do know how he got the nickname “cocaine Mitch”, right? Besides, how did he come to be worth $26mm?
https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00003389
If phase one trade deal pleases Mitch, maybe why this sequence / timing of events.
Interesting how in 08 his wealth surged. Shouldnt the recession have done the opposite? Who was president back in 08??
His wife Elaine Chao came into an inheritance from her father that year--"a McConnell spokesman said." And that's the WaPo "Fact Checker" speaking.
Chao's father was a Chinese shipping magnate. The McConnell's have all sorts of ties with China--positively Bidenesque. And how did Chao get the Transportation gig? There are enemies and bad actors everywhere in Trump's Administration, as we've seen time and again. Maybe we underestimate just how alone he is out there as a non-hack politician and an outsider to the Swamp. We're not just his constituency, we're doing the work the Republicans should be doing--defending him against them--or a treasonous contingent of them at least.; hanging the threat of consequences at the polls over their heads (But I'm not forgetting the Trump-supporting press and his NGO champions like Tom Fitton prying emails out of the FBI/DOJ/State Dept Deep State--the same people who should be doing this investigative work themselves.)
Above all, voting him back into office in 2020 will be the real final verdict.
'Cocaine Mitch': the lesser of two weevils.
Or, Mitch is the leader of the DS, and doesn’t fear what Trump will do to DS?
Something to consider.....
I agree that theres zero chance of Trump getting removed, but I also think there's little chance of Democrats eating the fist of justice.
Trump wont get impeached, and nothing will happen to the Dems, which will embolden them to concoct a new scheme. And Trump will continue doing his thing with the Dems and MSM breathing down his neck.
IF we can gain control of the House and keep the Senate, we may have two or more years without endless witch hunts. Then President Trump can clean house and bring in the big trash pumps to clean up the swamp.