Impeachment Round Two (1 Viewer)

[Yggdrasill]

I am in the camp that Trump must -not should- be impeached. If not this President, for this behavior, then what bar would have to be cleared to merit impeachment?

Impeachment not only sends a signal to the country and the world that fomenting a coup is unacceptable and will be punished, but it also removes much of the threat Trump could pose going forward as, I understand it, he would lose his pension, his access to daily security briefings, free medical care and other amenities and benefits afforded to former Presidents. If impeached, he would not meet the definition of a Former President under the Former Presidents Act. I don't think it is clear whether he would continue to receive Secret Service protection.

 

[Lapaz]

I'm pretty sure they can't. The House can, but the Senate can't until the trial is concluded. Anyway, it's moot now because the trial is ending tonight unless something unexpected happens after the closing arguments.

I thought remembered hearing that they were going to legislate during the morning and hold the trial in the afternoons.

 

[DaveXA]

Did Beutler hear what Trump was saying or just what McCarthy was saying?

As far as I know, McCarthy told her. She wasn't listening in on the call.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

As far as I know, McCarthy told her. She wasn't listening in on the call.

McCarthy apparently told a room full of people, but apparently had a private conversation with Beutler.

 

[Lapaz]

As far as I know, McCarthy told her. She wasn't listening in on the call.

If that’s true, then they needed to call McCarthy as a witness. The prosecution totally messed up.

 

[DaveXA]

If that’s true, then they needed to call McCarthy as a witness. The prosecution totally messed up.

I agree, but they're past that now. Don't think there's anything they can do at this point since closing arguments have already started.

 

[FullMonte]

If that’s true, then they needed to call McCarthy as a witness. The prosecution totally messed up.

I wish they would have done that. There's one question I would have liked to have heard his answer to:

"Why did you call Donald Trump to ask him to tell the people inside the Capitol to stop?"

 

[Lapaz]

I agree, but they're past that now. Don't think there's anything they can do at this point since closing arguments have already started.

I think those are smart prosecutors, so there must be some good reasons. Maybe it is the inability to legislate, but I think a couple more weeks would’ve been worth it to hear witnesses. Democrats insisted that Republicans were wrong to withhold witnesses and now they’ve done the same thing.

 

[Xeno]

I don't think this guy has made one true statement in his entire closing. Just lie after lie after lie.

 

[DaveXA]

I think those are smart prosecutors, so there must be some good reasons. Maybe it is the inability to legislate, but I think a couple more weeks would’ve been worth it to hear witnesses. Democrats insisted that Republicans were wrong to withhold witnesses and now they’ve done the same thing.

Yeah, I would have liked to be a fly on the wall when they were discussing that agreement to pass on calling witnesses. There had to have been some serious back scratching in there.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Cassidy votes guilty.

 

[Xeno]

Cassidy voted guilty. Reporting yesterday was the he was leaning not guilty.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Burr, who I believe is retiring, voted guilty as well.

 

[Xeno]

After Now that this vote effectively declares POTUS to have unlimited power I hope Biden takes advantage of it and dares Republicans to try impeaching him.

 

[SFIDC3]

But after seeing the hate that Lindsey Graham got in that airport and what happened to Liz Chaney I'm curious how this calculation was come to

Well, she is not currently a public office holder (so there is that) and she reportedly is eyeing a 2024 presidential run (so there is that as well)....

 

[zztop]

spineless cowards. no accountability for republicans I guess
43 not guilty to 57 guilty

 

[JRad]

After Now that this vote effectively declares POTUS to have unlimited power I hope Biden takes advantage of it and dares Republicans to try impeaching him.

Well, Democrats actually have some sense of accountability, so Biden would actually be at risk. The Senate Republicans are largely cowards.

 

[First Time Poster]

I think those are smart prosecutors, so there must be some good reasons.

I explained why. King and Manchin, who caucas with the Ds, said they wouldn't agree to depose the House manager's witnesses unless the Ds agreed to let Trump’s lawyers depose their's. And Trump’s lawyers intimated that it was their intention to clown the proceedings up by deposing Pelosi and Harris.

That's the equation. That’s the calculus. Was it worth getting witnesses deposed and then have them testify, over the course of weeks, for the historical record? Would those witnesses possibly change any votes?

I begrudgingly say I would have let it play out and call the witnesses but I see the argument against doing it.

 

[DaveXA]

57-43 is closer than I would have expected. But, still terrible that 43 Republicans thought this wasn't enough to impeach Trump.