Glad you're still up; we're heading out shortly for the Xmas break. Anyway, I wanted to share with you and others an experience I had during the lead up to the original impeachment notice back in October. We happened to be in DC (business & pleasure), and as my wife was otherwise engaged, I decided to swing by our senator's office (Feinstein) to pick up some Congressional gallery passes.
It just so happened that both Cocaine Mitch and Schumer decided to devote their opening session comments to the looming impeachment discussion. My impression before, then and still afterward is that each senator's primary objective was/is to maintain their prerogative. Most of the commentary was targeted criticism of the House, and how the Senate was not beholden to their mandate. That is, while they may talk a good game about governance, continuity, the respective legacies, etc, what they really manifest is ego.
I watched the proceedings for maybe an hour, then skipped over to the House. (If you've been, you know that you must leave the Senate wing and then re-enter the House side of Congress through an entirely security protocol.) Well, I lucked out because I wasn't seated for more than 5 minutes - in an essentially empty chamber - when Pelosi came in and gavelled the session open. For about an hour, I listened to members of her caucus go on about the imminent emergency posed by Trump and the need for impeachment. Again, my take away memory was one of ego and privilege.
So, from my layman's perspective, my guess the Senate will act not so much as to protect Trump, maintain GOP party unity, act to preserve a legacy, etc, but rather to slap down the House for their insolence. I cannot see the Senate allowing the House to determine when or how they proceed with trial without any conditions as to senatorial privilege. My guess is they will amend their respective rules to anticipate notice and/or scheduling according to Senate procedures.
I don't see the necessity of SCOTUS imposing a non-party opinion, nor would I expect either chamber to invite such interference. Like a mob battle for neighborhood control, this is strictly "family" business going down inside Congress. Whatever ends up occurring will ultimately prove to ensure the Senate is never 'insulted' again over impeachment, as if they were some teenage girl anxiously awaiting a phone call from a prospective date.
> Again, my take away memory was one of ego and privilege...
> Like a mob battle for neighborhood control, this is strictly “family” business going down inside Congress.
Having observed some of the proceedings, would you still admit to the possibility that it is all kabuki, and the real order of business is to prevent exposure to ongoing bipartisan corruption (eg Ukranian-enabled graft?).
> Whatever ends up occurring will ultimately prove to ensure the Senate is never ‘insulted’ again over impeachment, as if they were some teenage girl anxiously awaiting a phone call from a prospective date.
(Chuckle)