Yesterday’s impeachment hearings were an exercise in boredom, until the votes that made the Fuhrer of the Republican Reich the Impeached Resident. Now what? Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch has made it abundantly clear that he considers his job is not to run an impartial trial, but to protect Trump. This morning I heard him call the Articles passed in the House “constitutionally incoherent”. He said he does not consider them worthy of consideration. Way back during the Mueller Report days, when Nancy Pelosi still opposed impeachment, I said several times that Democrats, and honest Republicans, if there were any, should impeach Trump to present the case to the American people. Then, they could hold the Articles of Impeachment to deny Trump his demanded acquittal in Bought Bitch Mitch’s kangaroo court. In retrospect, it was a good idea. If we can’t get a fair trial, hold on!
Moments after a historic vote to impeach President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House could at least temporarily withhold the articles from the Senate — a decision, she suggested, that could depend on how the other chamber chooses to conduct its trial on Trump’s removal.
“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” she said, referring to the House “managers” who present the case for removal to the Senate. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us. So hopefully it will be fair. And when we see what that is, we’ll send our managers.”
The comments came as a group of House Democrats pushed Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other leaders to withhold the articles — a notion that has gained traction among some on the political left as a way of potentially forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to conduct a trial on more favorable terms for Democrats. And if no agreement is reached, some have argued, the trial could be delayed indefinitely, denying Trump an expected acquittal.
Pelosi would not answer questions about whether she was entertaining an indefinite hold on the articles — one that could prevent a trial from taking place before the next presidential election… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell have more.
Pelosi Wants To See ‘Fair’ Process Before House Sends Impeachment Articles
I found it particularly interesting that the man taking the lead on this idea is my own Representative, Earl Blumenauer [D-OR].
…Representative Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon, said he had spoken to at least 40 Democrats who were concerned that Mr. McConnell would not conduct a fair trial, and who wanted Ms. Pelosi to delay sending the articles to the Senate until she learned more about how the proceedings would move forward.
“What is gained by accelerating this process?” he asked. He said Democrats should “let the speaker work her magic” to “get some sort of assurance, if it’s possible, that there will be a level playing field.”
In addition, some Democrats — including some of the chamber’s most progressive lawmakers — have advocated simply never sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, to deny Mr. Trump an almost certain acquittal in the Republican-controlled chamber, where a two-thirds vote — 67 senators — are needed to convict. Ms. Pelosi has not ruled that out, but House leaders are not seriously contemplating that course, the Democratic officials said… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Oregon leads the way!
RESIST!!
9 Responses to “Hold On!”
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I doubt that Speaker Pelosi specifically plans to hold on to the Articles until after the election. However, if she plans to hold ontp them until a fair trial can be guaranteed, that is what will happen. Good. It was you, TC, who pointed out that the longer the Articles are held, the crazier he will get? Kudos to your Congressman. Kudos also to John Dean, Laurence Tribe, and others who have spread the idea through social media and op-eds.
Kudos to Ms. Pelosi and to Mr. Blumenauer for taking care of this.
The event(s) are already in place, and I am watching the drama, and it’s continuance.
(gotta go get more popcorn!)
Great post, Tom.
Thx!!!
The asterisk is in place! Wonderful! I like the idea of holding the articles aside, even indefinitely. Not that doing so will humble the Resident, as he is beyond such a human emotion, but so that it hangs over him for all his remaining years, which will, hopefully, be few.
This can, and I think will be, a message to the future, saying that one elected to ANY office will be held accountable for his/her actions. Consider: If the articles are withheld, indefinitely, they will be so noted in any history of the country, or the presidency. As time goes on, the situation will, understandably, diminish in emotional impact, but will remain, nonetheless. And, while Dumpty will eventually return to the earth from which he sprang, his stain thereupon will be forever visible; maybe more so if the articles have a life of their own, and are not “settled” as it were.
From a more mundane perspective, in terms of “What goes around comes around,” Dumpty will be forever haunted by the open endedness of the living articles, like the sword of Damocles.
As Pam might say “Hee, hee, hee!”
Trying to decide if from here on out I write his name as *rump – or – *Rump – or – tRump*
You just KNOW the impeachment has him SEETHING!
Holding on to the Articles of Impeachment was an idea I first came across in a Tweet by John Dean:
He then later revisited it – and I liked his idea both times!
I’m so glad Democrats didn’t get caught up in their own snare and handed over the articles straight away. Democrats first lamenting McConnell’s stance that he’ll be working with the White House over the trial and didn’t think he articles were worth the read and then handing them over to McConnell would have made them look very foolish indeed.
Next, of course, is a heated debate on what constitutes ‘a fair trial’, and again the Democrats need to be careful to refrain from what they usually do in such situations and not compromise too soon because they believe McConnell’s promises. After all these years, Pelosi, and Schumer, should know McConnell never keeps a promise to a Democrat. Never. So, hold the Republicans to their recent reproach that it all went to fast, and withhold the articles indefinitely. Trump will use it against them by maintaining that not going to trial they don’t have any evidence for his wrongdoing, but EVERYONE in the world will know he’s a marked man, an object of more ridicule, and it’ll leave him seething, perhaps necessitating the use of article 25 shortly.
More power to Ms. Pelosi and Rep. Blumenauer for making such a wise decision.
I agree with others that they need to continue investigating tRump. Plus keep tRump biting his nails, on edge, wondering what will come next.
Plus tweeting all day long.
Like I had been saying all along, the R’s who are sticking with tRump need to be prosecuted too. They are guilty of withholding evidence and refusing to appear in court. That goes for tRump’s lawyers and other side kicks too. Especially giuliani the nit wit.
Getting the impeachment process through the House should be fairly easy, if not a piece of cake. Getting the Senate to vote on kicking tRump out – aye, there’s the rub. We need to lean on our Senators, regardless of party, regardless of whether they are up for re-election next year, to vote for conviction. Those who are vulnerable might be more willing to listen.
Thanks, Pooped TGIF Hugs, and Amen to all!