40% would support slavery, stoning gays, barring immigrants, requiring women to stay home and not work, forcing kids to pray to Jesus in school upon penalty of expulsion for refusal, abolishing the EPA, taking seat belts out of cars, strip mining Yellowstone National Park and exiling every Democrat in the country to a remote island, sans food or shelter.
And yet, for all of that, the American people pretty much see what is going on…and Chump has shot off both feet and is still shooting. He is totally on the ropes. I know, it makes him even more dangerous…but this is exactly where we knew we would be if Republicans did their usual spineless, absolutely grovelling bootlicking best. The wildcard that was unforeseen was a hugely criminal Bill Barr as AG. We get him out of the way and it will collapse faster and with something still left to save.
First McTurtle tells him to lay off the Senators and tRump agrees but then turns around and basically tells them that no help from Daddy Warbucks until they do his bidding and stay loyal to him. So basically quid pro quo is alive and well in this White House from all angles, foreign and domestic.
tRump may not say anything negative if any of them cross him in any way (though of course he will) and then goes one step further and puts them in a box and will sit back and watch them squirm. Let’s see how this works going forward. Since most politicians, particularly GOPers, never ones found to be profiles in courage, and who always have dollar signs in their eyes, will keep many if not all except the most self-funded bozos like Rmoney firmly in line. No doubt about it. Even if they wanted to vote against the corruption he and his maladministration represents, I believe this will makes them all tRumpers because love of money and power is all they really value…democracy be damned.
Hank the Trumphole was in the local county GOP Coc–I mean Republican, office yesterday bragging that the Boiled Ham in a Wig was paying senators to stay loyal and was actually chortling “Money talks.”
When somebody asked him how they were going to explain to their kids that bribery is wrong, Hank snorted and actually said, “Winners don’t have to explain anything.”
I bet tRump did this same kind of thing with his kids as they were growing up too. No money from dear old dad unless they did whatever he demanded. Hell, he probably still pulls this shit with his kids. No doubt he keeps his estate planner attorney close by just in case he needs to make updates in his will when it comes to how well his evil spawn please him and tell him how wonderful he is. Having said that, Junior starts to look a lot like Lindsay Graham these days as far as bootlicking goes.
Junior is clapping as loud as he can, but unless he becomes a dictator and starts bullying everyone he sees, he is not going to get affection — slavish or otherwise — from Daddy. Five will get you twenty that Donald senior went through the same process with Fred.
"“A person commits jury tampering if, with intent to influence a juror’s vote, opinion, decision or other action in a case, such person directly or indirectly, communicates with a juror other than as part of the normal proceedings of the case.”
The vote is cast. 232 Yay!!! 196 Nyet. One Dem didn’t vote nor did 3 Pukes (though that may have changed. Late comers perhaps). I’m curious to know who those absentee pols are though. I sure hope they had a note from their doctor to miss gym class today.
Obviously I can be mistaken, but I think the nuclear option provides a pathway for the Senate to change or amend rules with a simple majority.
VI. The Senate shall have power to compel the attendance of
witnesses, to enforce obedience to its orders, mandates, writs,
precepts, and judgments, to preserve order, and to punish in a
summary waycontempts of, and disobedience to, its authority,
orders, mandates, writs, precepts, or judgments, and to make all lawful orders, rules, and regulations which it may deem essential or conducive to the ends of justice. And the Sergeant at Arms, under the direction
of the Senate, may employ such aid and assistance as may be necessary
to enforce, execute, and carry into effect the lawful orders, mandates,
writs, and precepts of the Senate. Nice primer on impeachment rules: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-99sdoc33/html/CDOC-99sdoc33.htm
True, but Moscow Mitch would be a fool to allow any “Secret Ballots” as that would almost ensure conviction.
The only way they can keep the Republican Senators in line and make sure their lips are fully engaged with Trump’s Ass is to publicly threaten them with excommunication from the Trump Cult if they transgress and vote for conviction.
If the ballot is secret, it would surely give them enough cover to vote to convict.