OK, the smart money says no need to “nuke”, and I thank you for your temperate explanations.
I am sitting here with my finger on the trigger anxiously awaiting the first tactical strike. But I must say, after the ACA fiasco, I am very wary of moderate Democrats fucking up Christmas. Just saying.
I hope it isn’t quite that dire. Though dire it is.
The irony that’s killing me: these two are, in effect, filibustering removal of the filibuster, while Rome burns.
It would be nice, but if you remember how Roberts presided over the last trial, there isn’t much Leahy has to do except follow the schedule and try to stay awake.
Well neither Manchin nor Sinema get to hold the gavel in their subcommittees until Mitch stops playing games.
The entire point is to just force the Dems to get rid of the filibuster in order to take control as they were elected to do. McConnell wants the filibuster gone in 2023 when he takes over and he’s going to force the Dems to do it as the price of winning the election and taking their place in control of the Senate Right now, McConnell is no different than Trump for trying to basically keep the election from having any result unless the Dems slice their own wrists first. That way, he and the rest of the GOP can promptly light their hair on fire and run around screaming bloody fucking murder that the Dems have proven that they are going full-on fascist socialist commie dictatorship and the danger The Danger THE DANGER, EXISITENTIAL THREAT TO THE COUNTRY LOOK HOW BIDEN LIED ABOUT UNITY THEY’RE COMING FOR YOUR GUNS AND YOUR OXY, QUICK GET VIOLENT AGAIN AND VOTE FOR US IN 2022 OR YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR RIGHTS AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE SENT TO REPROGRAMMING CENTERS!!!.
Briar patch here we come.
The impeachment has already taken place—we’re talking about the trial here.
And there is no requirement for “due process” in impeachment trials.
On top of which, the President of the Senate is still Veep Harris, who also gets a vote in the event of a tie. So YOU get a vote and YOU get a vote and YOU get a vote…
Exactly, McConnell is just making the Dems decide now if they want to kill the filibuster or not, because it will take killing the filibuster to pass a new organizing rule placing the Dems in control.
Let’s hope so.
Well, in general there are these two things:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
That’s in Article I.
Consistent with that is Senate Impeachment Rule IV, which begins thus:
When the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States, upon whom the powers and duties of the Office of President shall have devolved, shall be impeached, the Chief Justice of the United States shall preside.
On the other hand, there are those who believe as I do, Roberts the life-long vote suppression warrior chose not to do anything. (Roberts famous despicable opinions Citizens United and Shelby v. Holder). He is a shill no better than the Handmaiden or the Beer loving misogynist.
In a hundred years, when they troubleshoot the failed workings of democracy, they’re gonna find a turtle shell jammed between the gears. What a guy.
That is one interpretation, that only current Presidents require the CJ to preside. I am reading the requirement more broadly, and, want to head off GOP cries of foul. Do everything you can to make it look like you made it the fairest trial possible.
No. Tie or no tie, the Vice President, not being a Senator, does not get a vote in an impeachment trial.
Plus, in this context, what’s a tie? What’s required to convict is a two-thirds vote of Senators present.
I take your point but I’d say this requires little interpretation:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.
I thought that Pence was all set to cast an impeachment vote.
That list is longer
Arguably on the question of disqualification, the VP could get a vote if the Senate were tied on that question. I agree that the more reasonable interpretation would be that a tied Senate results in the failure of approval of the extra penalty and that a majority of the whole is necessary.
This is just an organizing resolution. Surely Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin know that for Warnock and Kelly to win re-election next year, they need to be seated on a f**king committee. No one cares about nuking the filibuster where the practice has been abused. Dems will get this done, but the Senate operates slowly.