> “I do understand Feldman’s point. And I even agree to a point. But it feels like hair splitting”
To most Americans it seens like splitting hairs but to lawyers and officials holding power, it is a critical point that allows then to pivot power to create momentum towards a planned destination.
You see, with Pelosi trying to game the system (she’s doing it to buy time for rough guys to lean on targets), Feldman is signaling to her that McConnell can set a DEADLINE and declare impeachment ‘aduentum mortuis’ or dead on arrival. McConnell can then get the Senate to nullify and void Pelosi’s impeachment articles.
The Democrats are trying to say “but we need more witnesses!” and as Dan Bongino brilliantly summarizes, they have voted two articles of impeachment and yet they are not done with voing for impeachment? What?
So McConnell can take the published articles of impeachment and set a DEADLINE for a formal delivery by the House to the Senate. If the deadline is not met, the articles are dead.
Some Democrats say but we can impeach him as many times as necessary.
McConnell said in his excellent floor speech that the Democrats have actually tried before to impeach him and this is the 7th attempt where a vote actually passed on two flimsy meritless partisan articles that are unconstitutional on their face.
But Democrats have a plan, and HOW THEY THINK is they need time to ‘lean’ on compromised GOP Senators (Sen. Ratcliff says there are compromised GOP Senators but doesn’t directly name them but one for is likely Sen. Burr. I don’t like to say that but Sen. Burr may be one of the 20 they need to convict. Let’s pray there won’t be 20 or more.).
Ok, now before we get all panicked about this scenario of what Democrats are up to, we should be calmed by the fact that this won’t likely happen, that POTUS’s people are not sitting back waiting for the Democrat’s next move.
The next move was circulated by CBS that POTUS is considering he is NOT IMPEACHED if the articles are not delivered to the Senate and POTUS’s lawyers are following up with McConnell to plan a deadline on the articles and a procedure to dismiss, acquit, or nullify and void them.
Well when I heard them say that they need “more witnesses” my first reaction was, they voted to impeach without even hearing from all the witnesses? But we already knew that, they denied many of the GOP witnesses and denied the GOP their official minority party day and constantly interrupted or refused lines of questioning. Which was sham enough. But it also undermines their own case. They know they don’t have a case.
But this is part of my point. They continue to hog the spotlight and control the narrative by delaying. I agree McConnell needs to take control one way or another for a lot of reasons.
Focusing only on the political reasons here, the Dems have had this spotlight for 3 years with attack after attack. This impeachment may be their last best shot before the election. So of course they want to drag it out. It is imperative for the GOP to take control of the narrative and I understand why Trump wants a trial so he can get his story out. I understand McConnell doesn’t want to make it a spectacle (though it already is one), but the politically right thing is to allow Trump ample time to make the case to the American people, to “rehabilitate his image”. Support for impeachment has dropped, and it should drop further if they allow Trump leeway to present the case as he needs to.
As for compromised Senators, well, that goes two ways I’m sure. It is a pandora’s box if blackmail enters into it.
The Senate can’t ‘void’ any action of the House.
If the House delivers their articles and managers, then Trump has indisputably been impeached.
Of course, the Senate can then do as they wish with the articles.