Posted on 01/28/2020 8:39:21 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A trio of moderate Senate Democrats is wrestling with whether to vote to convict Donald Trump in his impeachment trial — or give the president the bipartisan acquittal he’s eagerly seeking.
Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Doug Jones of Alabama are undecided on whether to vote to remove the president from office and agonizing over where to land. It’s a decision that could have major ramifications for each senator’s legacy and political prospects — as well shape the broader political dynamic surrounding impeachment heading into the 2020 election.
All three senators remain undecided after hearing arguments from the impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team. But they could end up with a creative solution.
One or more senators may end up splitting their votes, borrowing a move from Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who voted for the abuse of power charge but against the one on obstruction of Congress.
Manchin said he will do that only if he “can explain one and not the other.” Jones has been mildly critical of the obstruction impeachment article and says he’s “troubled” the House didn’t fight harder to hear from critical administration witnesses.
Manchin insisted Tuesday he hasn’t figured out where he will come down. And won’t until the trial ends.
“I know it’s hard to believe that. But I really am [undecided]. But I have not made a final decision. Every day, I hear something, I think ‘this is compelling, that’s compelling,’” Manchin said in an interview. “Everyone’s struggling a little bit.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Spin, spin, spin.
So we have some dems leaning toward acquittal. Good. It will balance Mitt Romney’s dagger in Trump’s back.
Queue Lucy and the football.
Make it FOUR.
Dianne Feinstein says she may acquit.
No sh!t.
If they want to have any chance at re-election they will vote to acquit.
Prediction:
Manchin and Jones will vote to acquit on one article but to convict on the other. Sinema MIGHT join them.
Every other demonrat will convict on BOTH articles.
So Trump will be acquitted on one article 47-53. He will be acquitted on the other article either 44-56 or 45-55 depending on Sinema.
‘
Manchin is a Dem at heart.
He’ll run home.
Feinstein Tweeted to clarify that she’s all in to Get Trump (must be held accountable).
.
I LOVE Sinema - she looks like a total sleazebag Democrat and we expected just that much...but no, she cuts her own path and doesn’t take any orders from anyone, including Scheumer.
(but don’t get me wrong, she’s still far more liberal than even our RINOs in the Senate...but Scheumer does not totally own her)
Then comes the hangover. Forget about Nancy Pelosi and her too clever by half strategy and other BS. The fact is, this has blown up in their faces.
Can’t wait for the gloating!
Sinema and Manchin aren’t up for reelection until 2024.
Sinema has shown a surprising amount of free thinking for a dem.
Dems whip votes 10x Republicans. Step out of line and Schumer kneecaps you.
Also any Dem that votes for acquittal is committing political suicide. They might pick up a few Republican crossover votes, but nowhere near would it make up the dem resistance voters that walk away. They probably would be primaried out.
The reason everyone is struggling is because the truth is being ignored by the Democrats. It has been much ado about nothing.
They won’t. They should, but they won’t...
That might be true of Sinema, but not Manchin.
WV is Trump country like no other state, Manchin will vote to acquit.
Does Trump have the right to sue the House of Representatives for malicious prosecution, thereby clearing his name? If so, would this be advantageous to do now or to wait five years until he’s out of office?
So far she is better than McCain and Flake.
NO matter which team you are on, after Dershowitz yesterday hard to find the President guilty of the crummy charges that have been brought up. Not that it will matter to most of the Dems. I listened to his argument 2 times, it was beautiful.
Feinstein back pedaled.
I think Sinema will vote to acquit.
Are they serious? They’ve heard the verdict of the legal minds, that neither Article is valid or constitutional. By what logic or mental process can they still plow ahead and vote to convict, when the whole world can see the foolisness/vindictiveness of their decision? Do they not care that the vote they cast will be in the historical records forever?
Bull$hit. All Dem senators will vote to convict. At best, one or two might vote down the second article, but they’ll be balanced out by at least three Rep defections on article I.
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