After a push from Senate Republicans, the debate over calling witnesses became intense for House Democrats-but it all halted just as quickly as it started, when the GOP retreated to their playbook.
I think it was a smart decision. No way 10 more R’s would have changed their minds. My favorite moment remains when SlipNFall van der Veen angrily threatened to “depose 100 witnesses, NOT by Zoom! In my offices in Philly-DELphia!” followed by the eruption of laughter in the chamber.
Wouldn’t you think he would have at least Googled Rules of an Impeachment Trial before showing up? His erroneous objections to “facts not in evidence” showed his ill-preparedness and ignorance about the voluminous evidence entered into the record before the trial, instead of piece by piece as during a civil litigation trial. As an attorney I was embarrassed for him as he erupted angrily about the inapplicable Rules of Civil Procedure in response to being laughed at. Billboard lawyers were not a good idea for trump and stealing the Senate coasters exposed his lack of class.
The vote to acquit was as predictable as it was disheartening. I also don't blame the Democrats for backing down on calling witnesses, because the business of the country--including another Covid-19 relief package, and getting the entire cabinet confirmed, and (I really, really hope) statehood for Puerto Rico and/or D.C.-- demands their immediate attention. Democrats can't count on maintaining their razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate after 2022, so they need to get as much done in the next two years as they can. As an aside, I don't think that calling any witnesses would have changed the trial outcome one bit. Trump still would have been acquitted.
Deciding not to call witnesses, for whatever reasons, including the threat of hobbling Biden's agenda and blocking his nominees (he still has not AG), was a wise decision, IMO. The 43 Republicans who voted to acquit were going to vote to acquit no matter what; calling 100 witnesses was not going to get ten more of them to change their minds. They used the already rejected "argument" about the impeachment being unconstitutional to hide their fear of being primaried and/or censured by the state parties.
I have emailed my two senators and my rep to vote for Section 3 of Article 14 to block Trump from ever holding federal office again. Unless this is done, IMO, he will haunt the airwaves and the politics of the US until 2024 or until he strokes out or loses access to the drugs that keep him occasionally rational. He had 600 people only turn out for his circus-is-in-town caravan last night; he is fading as we watch. Let him fade to black and the sooner the better but Section 3 alone will make that possible. The media don't give two shits about how they get their advertiser dollars; four more years of covering Trump will only help them, not us.
I heard on MSNBC yesterday that they'd plan to call witnesses, but they literally disappeared overnight (because the GQP are cowards) and would have to be subpoenaed which could have taken who knows how long. Getting the witness testimony read into the Congressional record was huge considering the level of full-blown Cult we're now dealing with.
I think it was a smart decision. No way 10 more R’s would have changed their minds. My favorite moment remains when SlipNFall van der Veen angrily threatened to “depose 100 witnesses, NOT by Zoom! In my offices in Philly-DELphia!” followed by the eruption of laughter in the chamber.
Wouldn’t you think he would have at least Googled Rules of an Impeachment Trial before showing up? His erroneous objections to “facts not in evidence” showed his ill-preparedness and ignorance about the voluminous evidence entered into the record before the trial, instead of piece by piece as during a civil litigation trial. As an attorney I was embarrassed for him as he erupted angrily about the inapplicable Rules of Civil Procedure in response to being laughed at. Billboard lawyers were not a good idea for trump and stealing the Senate coasters exposed his lack of class.
The vote to acquit was as predictable as it was disheartening. I also don't blame the Democrats for backing down on calling witnesses, because the business of the country--including another Covid-19 relief package, and getting the entire cabinet confirmed, and (I really, really hope) statehood for Puerto Rico and/or D.C.-- demands their immediate attention. Democrats can't count on maintaining their razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate after 2022, so they need to get as much done in the next two years as they can. As an aside, I don't think that calling any witnesses would have changed the trial outcome one bit. Trump still would have been acquitted.
People on Twitter got angry with me when I said, essentially, what your closing paragraph does.
Now I feel vindicated that it was the correct take. 😁
Deciding not to call witnesses, for whatever reasons, including the threat of hobbling Biden's agenda and blocking his nominees (he still has not AG), was a wise decision, IMO. The 43 Republicans who voted to acquit were going to vote to acquit no matter what; calling 100 witnesses was not going to get ten more of them to change their minds. They used the already rejected "argument" about the impeachment being unconstitutional to hide their fear of being primaried and/or censured by the state parties.
I have emailed my two senators and my rep to vote for Section 3 of Article 14 to block Trump from ever holding federal office again. Unless this is done, IMO, he will haunt the airwaves and the politics of the US until 2024 or until he strokes out or loses access to the drugs that keep him occasionally rational. He had 600 people only turn out for his circus-is-in-town caravan last night; he is fading as we watch. Let him fade to black and the sooner the better but Section 3 alone will make that possible. The media don't give two shits about how they get their advertiser dollars; four more years of covering Trump will only help them, not us.
I heard on MSNBC yesterday that they'd plan to call witnesses, but they literally disappeared overnight (because the GQP are cowards) and would have to be subpoenaed which could have taken who knows how long. Getting the witness testimony read into the Congressional record was huge considering the level of full-blown Cult we're now dealing with.