Posted on 01/28/2020 11:04:41 PM PST by knighthawk
With several Democrats openly floating the possibility they might vote to acquit President Trump, congressional Republicans are planning an aggressive "Plan B" strategy in the event some Republicans break off and demand additional witnesses in the president's impeachment trial, Fox News has learned.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., privately said early Tuesday that he wasn't sure there were enough Republican votes to block more witnesses, given that some moderates in the GOP's 53-47 Senate majority were wavering. Any witness resolution would likely require four Republican defections in the Senate, because in the event of a 50-50 tie, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts is highly likely to abstain rather than assert his debatable power to cast a tiebreaking vote.
Late Tuesday night, a Senate leadership source told Fox News that Republicans were specifically assessing the viability of two alternative options.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It is unconstitutional, but then the House impeachment did the follow procedure and should have been thrown out. This is politics and the laws that we the PEOPLE have to follow go out the window.
I still think Graham has something to hide..
MaCain, Graham and Kurt Volker were as thick as thieves.. Somehow, Texas oil man Rex Tillerson in in that mix..(?) Maybe it's got something to do the corruption at Burisma.. Here's a link to an AP news article by J. Cooper..
https://apnews.com/2273ddd36b644f7a9a188133a0af4a31
It would seem McCain is still stabbing at Trump, even from the grave... :(
With what information we have so far, here is my take:
1. Hillary wants to run. Any prolonged witness trial would only harm Warren and Sanders. Biden is finished. He’s trailing Sanders in several states. So with Warren & Sanders unable to campaign, she gets the nom.
2. If there are witnesses, wouldn’t the Defense be allowed to call their own? After all this is a trial. Seems this could be devastating for the Socialists (Romney especially since his son had Ukraine dealings. Graham too as I’ve seen some talk about his own dirty dealings—think John Kerry and McCain. Also for all his bluster where are those hearings Graham promised? Biden has also vowed to ruin Graham I’ve seen. Hum.... What does Biden know.)
My guess is that they are going to drag this drama out FOREVER! And I’m sick of it. We need term limits.
If Bernie and the other Candidate Senators don’t want to get back on the campaign trail and beat Joe, they can play this out till election day, and still lose the case, the election, the House, and the ability to filibuster anything in the Senate.
Trump has to be laughing himself silly. First Feinstein, and now 3 other Democrats. It’s not that they are “impartial” or “trying to be fair”. The Democrats know calling in witnesses is a huge powder Keg for them. The GOP will totally call Schiff, the inte IG and Ciaramella. Plus both Bidens. Calling in the Bidens opens the doory to calling in Obama. It would be a HUGE mess for them and they know it. The wavering GOP could well be a ploy. If you get Democrats on board to acquit, it bolsters the case that the only bi-partisan vote was to acquit, not impeach.
The Democrats see the writing on the wall - and it’s ugly for them if any witnesses get called.
He’s not powerful enough to stop Crypto Liberal 3rd
party candidates from fouling the GOP nest
I agree with you. McConnell needs our
support not our darts!
It’s almost as bad here. I still wrote.
lmao
...... I see a few of them
It’s simple, really. Make them cast a public vote on the question. Put them on record. And once the vote is taken, Trump should ask his supporters to politely contact any Republican who breaks ranks and register their displeasure.
Not necessarily.
Each witness must be voted on separately.
If Romney has really wrangled four GOP "yes" votes for Bolton (and the two of them are obviously coordinating), then that Gang of Four will likely be "no" votes for any defense witnesses.
The quandry about Doug Jones (Alabama) is this: it doesn’t matter whether he votes to convict or not... he’s going to lose the election in November. He knows this. Alabama knows this. Jeff Sessions knows this (he’ll be back in the Senate in Jan).
So Jones’ choice isn’t about an election - it’s about whether he wants to remain relevant in the Democrat party in some other role in 2021 and beyond.
Manchin has been voting with the dems on numerous impeachment resolutions so far.
The Elf was on Tucker last night. Very limp interview.
Mitch McConnell is very good at herding cats. By Friday he will likely have all the votes he needs to block witnesses.
Hopefully Mitt shows up with a shiner.
I really can’t understand why any GOP Senator would want to prolong this for witnesses, considering that the verdict is certain to remain unchanged. A vote for witnesses is basically a vote to waste a month of the Senate’s time, and give the Democrats and the media another month of unimpeded Trump bashing. And they’re going to do that, regardless of what happens in the Senate.
McC might be worried that spite could impel senators who believe that a thought crime could be impeachable to vote to convict.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.