Posted on 01/31/2020 4:20:09 AM PST by Olog-hai
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee will oppose calling more witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, all but dashing Democratic efforts to hear more testimony and boosting odds the Senate will vote imminently to acquit without new testimony, in a matter of days.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said late Thursday she would vote to allow witnesses in the impeachment trial, building momentum for the Democrats’ effort.
But Alexander then said in a statement there was “no need for more evidence,” giving the Trump team the likelihood of a Senate vote in its direction. […]
A vote on the witness question, expected Friday, could lead to an abrupt end of the trial with Trump’s expected acquittal. Or it could bring days, if not weeks more argument as Democrats press to hear testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and others.
It would take four GOP senators to break with the majority and join with Democrats to tip the outcome. …
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
I wrote via emai my senator and reminded him Tennessee voted 60.7% for Trump and he represents us.
He swayed by me?
Collins can vote for witnesses and then vote against impeachment.
My guess, he is retiring very soon and he doesn’t want to jeopardize the big send off party from his ‘pals’.
“Alexander then said in a statement there was “no need for more evidence,” giving the Trump team the likelihood of a Senate vote in its direction.”
Why does his saying that give the Trump team ...?
I’m willing to let you chalk one up...
Listen, and understand. The left is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead
That’s what Collins will do.
I think Manchin will cancel out Collins vote on witnesses.
The Trilogy:
Impeachment First Attempt
Impeachment 2 More Distractions
Impeachment 3 This Time We’ve Really Got Him (in 3D)
Would the VP (Pence) be the tie breaking vote if it came to that ???
And that Democrat Senator in Alabama too - if he has any chance of re-election
There will be a lot of Dem / media pressure on Manchin.
I am not sure we can count on him
No need for tie breaker, unless Roberts wants more witnesses.
50-50 is not a majority, so whatever is proposed (more witnesses) doe not have majority support.
Odds are that the senate will vote 49 for more witnesses. This is also not a majority.
I don’t think Roberts wants to spend any more time in the loonie-bin known as the senate, than he has to.
Obviously.
GOOD JOB!
Well, Roberts is a known never-Trumper, but I think he can see that removal is not ever going to be in the cards, so he will just stay silent.
There is no good precedent and if he says "yes" to witnesses but doesn't allow Hunter and Ciarmella he will be seen as overly partisan, and will earn Trump's undying enmity.
Even one of the Rs who will vote for witnesses says she wants equal numbers of defense and prosecution witnesses. The Ds do not want Hunter under any circumstances, Joe is a wild card, but could be a disaster for them, and Ciarmella will raise many questions of Schitt and his staff.
In the back of my mind, I am seeing one D defection on witnesses to put the nail in the coffin...
So who's left? Romney? Murkowski, Manchin?
What's the score (51-49?), and when will time run out on this?
The stupid, it panders.
There shouldn't even be a trial, and if this was a criminal case it would be dismissed on a pre-trial motion. One has to 1) read minds and 2) impute bad motive and 3) hallucinate an effect on the election in order to conclude that Trump did anything improper at all.
But assume for the sake of argument there was a credible allegation of wrong. Getting to the truth isn't a numbers game. It is finding the right evidence.
-- In the back of my mind, I am seeing one D defection on witnesses ... --
Manchin and Synima maybe. None of the others. They are purely partisan hacks, in it just for their own self-benefit. I honestly think none of them has a conscience and all of them are clinically sociopaths.
Tennessee is 2 for 2. Marsha Blackburn also announced her vote... although it was obvious.
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.