At first I was furious with Moscow Mitch. Now I realize he gave us a great gift.

[shockey80]

Moscow Mitch said this. I, the lead juror in an impeachment trial will do what the defendant wants me to do, Acquit. That my friends is evidence that must become part of the trial. I was so angry at first I wanted the Democrats to boycott the trial, no longer. Now I want them to go to this trial and put the entire Republican party on trial.

If the Democrats cannot find a way to take advantage of this gigantic blunder by Moscow Mitch they should just pack up and go home.

All of America will be watching this trial. What Moscow Mitch said should be front and center during the trial. It is now impossible to have a fair trial. Moscow Mitch cannot take back what he said, it's on video. The democrats have a huge opportunity to show the American people the Republicans no longer believe in the constitution, their oath, the rule of law.

It is time for the Democrats to become brutal, vicious, give no quarter. Our democracy depends on it.

[greymattermom]

1. What is the legal name for this?

Which Senator is the best prosecutor? Kamala Harris? Someone else? That person should describe exactly what Mitch is doing in legal terms, both in the Senate and in multiple tv interviews.

[mopinko]

14. senators do not speak in the hearing.

at the cameras after, yeah, put harris right out front there.

[RainCaster]

67. Justice Roberts will preside over this...

and he could have plenty to say about Moscow Mitch, including throwing him out of the process.

[tritsofme]

71. What makes you think Roberts can "throw him out the of the process?"

[RainCaster]

72. Hope more than anything, no real faith in the process

[Blue_playwright]

74. Roberts has been better than I expected

He’s still a douche canoe, but he’s better than I thought he’d be.

[Scarsdale]

84. So, if I am called for jury duty

and walk in and say "He is guilty" or "He is not guilty" I am STILL considered for duty? Since when is a jury polled BEFORE a trial? What does Moscow Mitch know, that we do not know, that he can flaunt laws in our faces and get away with it? Remember, he said he held up President Obama's judicial nominees for 2 YEARS, keeping the positions open for tRump to fill. How was he so certain tRump would win, since Hillary was leading in most polls. If the SC goes along with this farce, we as a country are royally screwed.

[azureblue]

86. the law:

The Constitution requires that all members of Congress must take an oath of office to support the Constitution before assuming office. In order to comply with the Constitution, Congress has enacted federal laws to execute and enforce this constitutional requirement.

Federal law regulating oath of office by government officials is divided into four parts along with an executive order which further defines the law for purposes of enforcement. 5 U.S.C. 3331, provides the text of the actual oath of office members of Congress are required to take before assuming office. 5 U.S.C. 3333 requires members of Congress sign an affidavit that they have taken the oath of office required by 5 U.S.C. 3331 and have not or will not violate that oath of office during their tenure of office as defined by the third part of the law, 5 U.S.C. 7311 which explicitly makes it a federal criminal offense (and a violation of oath of office) for anyone employed in the United States Government (including members of Congress) to “advocate the overthrow of our constitutional form of government”. The fourth federal law, 18 U.S.C. 1918 provides penalties for violation of oath office described in 5 U.S.C. 7311 which include:<b> (1) removal from office and; (2) confinement or a fine.</b>

[tritsofme]

91. This does nothing to support the argument that Roberts, presiding over the Senate

can exclude McConnell from impeachment proceedings.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

75. Here's a great explanation of how it works once the Senate is involved;

and it ain't good...………..
http://theconversation.com/if-impeachment-comes-to-the-senate-5-questions-answered-124632

[mdbl]

88. I might even gain some respect for SCOTUS if he did that

it still remains to be seen.

[Sneederbunk]

16. Jackassery

[uponit7771]

47. lol

[Qutzupalotl]

21. Jury rigging.

It’s like a jury foreman strategizing with the defendant. It taints the process.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

70. This

Times 1000!!!

[DENVERPOPS]

31. Proving once again

That the Repubs can only win with deceit, corruption, rigging elections, etc etc etc etc

These aren't our father's Republicans.........

[gordianot]

33. For the most parts our Father's Republicans were assholes.

At best 75% of the time today they are off the scales.

[DENVERPOPS]

35. In part, I agree with you

But the New Republicans are so much worse by a long shot................

Can you imagine if McCain were on the floor hammering away at Mitch and his minions???????

Lincoln said it best: A statesman is interested in the next generation, a politician only in the next election.....

[jg10003]

55. Eisenhower, Everett Dirksen, Hugh Scott, Charles Percy, Gerald Ford, Howard Baker

You may have disagreed with their positions on various issues, but their patriotism was never in doubt. They understood and respected the constitution, unlike the McConnell and his co-conspirators.

[gordianot]

61. I would choose Eisenhower.

Dirksen the loyal opposition guy was still an asshole. Scott I am not that familiar.

[DFW]

81. At least Dirksen was entertaining

My dad always used to say he was called "The Wizard of Ooze." When I met him, I saw what my dad meant. I was too young to know what he was really talking about, and his chain smoking made me not want to get too near for too long, but he was a hoot to watch. I also met guys like Javits, Rockefeller, Ford, Charlie Goodell, etc. Of course there were asshole Republicans in those days. There were asshole Democrats, too. I remember being devastated when Wayne Morse, a Senator from Oregon who was a hero for his early opposition to our military involvement in Vietnam, turned out to be a disagreeable character, where Ford, Rockefeller and Javits were delightful men, at least as far a young kid of my age was concerned (though my dad confirmed my impression of all three).

[diane in sf]

73. Dirksen died with shoe boxes full of cash in his closet.

[jg10003]

76. Dirksen was a strong supporter of civil rights in the 1960's

[HubertHeaver]

87. The shoe boxes full of cash belonged to Secretary of State, Paul Powell.

I have always wondered how many shoe boxes got "lost" in the mad shuffle during the first 24 hours after his death.

[Aquaria]

89. Howard Baker was no angel

For months, he was colluding with Nixon for how to handle the Watergate hearings:

"In February 1973, before the hearings began, Baker had a secret Oval Office meeting with Nixon. He told the President the committee’s game plan, which was to start out with minor witnesses in an effort to ratchet up the pressure on major witnesses to appear before the panel. As Nixon later related, Baker suggested having major figures such as White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman and top aide John Ehrlichman testify first, “to deflate the whole thing.”

Through the first half of that year, Nixon trusted Baker and vice versa. The White House and Baker were in frequent contact. Nixon’s staff prepared a strategy memo for Baker suggesting ways he could keep the hearings from becoming a “political circus.” The whole inquiry, they wrote, was a “witch hunt.” (Sound familiar?) In fact, they wrote, the President himself could inform Baker that it was actually the Democrats who had bugged his offices in 1968."

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/curious-history-what-did-president-know-and-when-did-he-know-it

It was only when Dean testified that it dawned on the nitwit that he had backed the wrong horse. But it still took a long time after that for him to come around to the idea of Nixon's guilt.

So don't give the dirtbag more credit than he deserved.

[Grasswire2]

69. It all went to hell with Newt and with the Bork matter. nt

[Aquaria]

90. It started well before that

The traitor conservafilth have been at this for over 50 years now.

Like with the Southern Strategy Nixon employed in 1968 that stirred up racial ressentiment and hatred of all things liberal. Let's not forget the election interference with a foreign adversary by sabotaging the Paris peace accords with Vietnam, either.

Raygun the Scumbag was doing most of the same things Cantaloupe Caligula is, with all the same open bigotry, fearmongering, stupidity, venality and treason. Yeah, he hated the Russkies, but he was still as willing to collude with enemy governments to interfere in elections as well.

By the way name a time when Raygun the Fuckfaced Asswipe wouldn't attack a liberal or a minority, same as his current iteration.

I'll wait.

So Newt and Bork were only doing what their treasonous genocidal hate party had already been doing for decades.

[leftieNanner]

48. I believe that the House chooses the prosecutor

Maybe Adam Schiff??

He prosecuted the judge that was impeached a few years ago.

[AncientGeezer]

54. Nope...they choose managers not "prosecutors"...for a trial....IF the Senate has one.

Turtle could move the Senate to acquit on day 1...51 votes.
Chairman Schiff will never go there either...mark it on your calendar....

[kag]

65. Yes, Schiff. And maybe Swalwell.

I also like Dingell, Scanlon, Bass, and Maloney.

[leftieNanner]

66. An embarassment of riches! NT

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Depending on how the so called Cable Media

sets the Narrative,Moscow Mitch will burn himself down.

Watch for some off the wall News event to be a major distraction.

[Moostache]

29. Missile strikes into North Korea....groundwork already laid. (n/t)

[Kid Berwyn]

3. Well-stated. Let's also put Moscow Mitch and the Guardians Of Putin on trial.

They, too, are guilty. Now makes the perfect time to make it evident to all.

[fwvinson]

60. Kill Putin

[Kid Berwyn]

63. I can't take what I can't return.

Who knows, though? He might be our man in Moscow.

[Garrett78]

4. Most of America will not be watching the trial, and millions won't even know it's taking place.

You underestimate US ignorance.

[mr_lebowski]

9. I'd say at least 60% of US voting population won't even know it's going on at the time ...

But MAAAAYBE 70% will eventually become aware that 'he was impeached, but acquitted' at least at some point in their lifetime ...

[certainot]

57. a lot of those too busy or lazy will try to get it from the most convenient free sources

the most common of those in 40 states with 80 senators is talk radio, which is still 95% republican/kremlin fed and never mentioned by the left or democratic party or the media because their leaders live on the coasts in cities

another common source of 'information' is friends, families, and coworkers who are passionate about politics, think they know everything including that hillary clinton is the most corrupt politician on earth, and are sometimes known as dittoheads/teabags/trumpers.

the way to change that is to protest the 87 universities that endorse/support 260 limbaugh stations as he helps trump attack greta thunberg and deny global warming.

any threat to rw talk radio will freak out all GOP senators and force or embolden some of them to turn on trump. if they think it's the end of rw radio and trumps biggest enforcer maybe there will be enough, certaintly enough to force mcconnel to bring up some of the rerevant witnesses

[eleny]

5. It deligitimizes the acquittal

[pandr32]

25. It does

I'll bet they will all put forward that the whole thing is nothing more than a sham, a witch hunt, and a shameless partisan stunt, and that they have no intention of playing along--enabling the brazen and unamerican attempt by desperate Democrats to avenge the 2016 election in which they legitimately lost.

Wait for it.

[eleny]

37. More fodder for 2020 - They keep failing to keep their oath

I hope that this will at least motivate non voters to register and vote. Apathy is dangerous so I hope those Americans will see the light and become voters. No changing the minds of Trump's deep faithful.

[pandr32]

44. We need to make this point over and over again!

"They keep failing to keep their oath" and it should be sacrosanct.

[Demsrule86]

39. but it doesn't...not in the eyes of the pugs who support Dumpy...

I never thought conviction was possible which is why I was lukewarm about forcing moderates who gave us the house to vote for impeachment.

[eleny]

40. Those people are unreachable

The ones we need to reach are the apathetic non voters or the disenfranchised like the people being dumped off the Wisconsin rolls as we speak. The right is so afraid they're going to lose Wisconsin that their right wing court ruled to remove so many from the rolls. That's where Dems need to aim resources getting people registered again and voting.

[Demsrule86]

43. Impeachment without conviction won't help us...let's hope we don't lose the house.

[avebury]

6. Moscow Mitch has publicly made the Republican

Senators accessories after the fact and complicit on Trump’s crimes.

I wonder if there could be a civil RICCO filed against Trump, his minions in the Executive branch, and his Rethugs enablers in Congress.

[mopinko]

13. i would love to see someone just take their time to read the rico statute.

[mr_lebowski]

7. F*** YOU TURTLE, YOU TRAITOROUS M***********G PIECE OF S***!!!

I feel a little better now.

Also, no matter what the Democrats do (which won't be much) about this, the Media will ignore it like it's no big deal, so ...

They might as well go home when it comes to this subject. It's no scandal at all when the majority of the Senate acts as a 100% lick-spittle subservient branch of government to the Executive.

That's totally what the Founders intended their role to be

[PJMcK]

19. You know,,,

...you can spell out those words without the stars. DU allows this. Besides, we know what words you mean anyway.

[mr_lebowski]

20. Oh, I spell out those words all the time ...

I only tame it down when I'm using a lot of them together in a subject line ... even then, not always ... and it's still early in the day ...

[PJMcK]

22. By they....

....I entirely agree with your post. Trump is a motherfucking criminal.

[rso]

8. Mitch

Democrats should go on a 24/7 Media campaign saying that Mitch’s statement totally invalidates any acquittal.

[mr_lebowski]

10. Should, but won't (nt)

[empedocles]

11. Suspect mitch motive here - could be one of those complicated moves

[Firestorm49]

12. Why do you think this outcome will change?

We know, no matter which Republican is in charge, that acquittal is a given. The semantics are arbitrary.

[Hortensis]

15. Shockey, it was ALWAYS impossible to have a "fair" trial.

All those who helped Repub/Russia obtain and keep a senate majority in 2016 and 2018 made sure of its outcome.. That includes all those who didn't vote Democrat and all those who might as well have not by voting for someone who couldn't possibly win.

Btw, there's a very strong correlation between who wins the presidency and who wins the senate races. All those who drank the "didn't like" Hillary Kool-Aid practically put, not just the presidency, but the senate on a platter and handed it to the Republicans. No point now in investing too much energy in outrage at them either, though.

Anyway, a 2/3 vote would be required to remove, and for that to happen more people would have had to learn to vote responsibly a few elections ago, not just the most recent ones.

But there's the future. The best and only thing now is if people use this as a huge, tragic learning experience so they can start building big Democratic legislative majorities, presidents and governors, starting next year. And 2020's a census/reapportionment election!

Spread the word. Vote to win. Even the stupidest Republicans know to do that, and there's no excuse for not outdoing, and controlling, those idiots.

[dalton99a]

17. Moscow Mitch will add new Senate Rules

Rule 1: Derogatory or accusatory information about the President shall be prohibited on the Senate floor during the impeachment trial.

Rule 2: The President shall have unlimited speaking time to address the Senate via live feed during the impeachment trial.

...



Amended Rule 2 at the request of the President: "Speaking time" includes Twitter messages, both original and retweets

[Sneederbunk]

18. Hard to argue exoneration when the "exoneration" is rigged.

[Moostache]

30. Mueller Report?

Trump: "Total and complete exoneration!"

Mueller: answering "did your report exonerate the President?" - "No."

Average stupid 'merican: "I don't know, all sides are guilty and lies."

Thus endeth the republic.
The King is dead. Long live the king.

[OhNo-Really]

23. It won't be a trial at all. Need a new descriptive

The Kill Democracy Show

The Dog Ate Our Republic Show

Traitors on Parade Party

Tyranny Trial Balloon

Putin Packed Jury

[Traildogbob]

24. Dem messaging

Should be a cakewalk with all the ammo pubics give us. "When something comes to Senate from the House and "I" don't like it, it will not be brought up". Play it over and over while Scolling the 200 plus Bipartisan bills that help everyday folks that are sitting on his desk. Mosco Bitch is a DICKtater in charge. Expose the corruption of him and his lying thieving arm candy. Lock em up. The sad thing......if convicted, the old asshole will never live long enough to serve what is deserved. Drag his ass out by the chins.

[Delmette2.0]

45. I like the part about scrolling the list of House Bills.

[Duppers]

53. Excellent ideas!!

[Brainfodder]

26. Moscow Mitch is only one notch below Stalin and Hitler on the shit list?

Looks 100% the part too, quite amazing!

He thought obstruction was COOL & the right tool, I look forward to his execution for treason.

I'm a big fan of his demise.

[bluestarone]

27. While i fully agree with you, The rethugs just don't give a fuck anymore!

THAT'S where we are at now. They just BLATANTLY show us what they can do, and there ain't fuck we can do about it, UNTIL WE VOTE VOTE VOTE! That is our OPTION, and we really really need to get it done right in 2020! (He did give us great AMMO tho) We do have to use it right!

[WhiteTara]

28. I thought the House Manager

was the one who acts as prosecutor, in which case I nominate Adam Schiff. Senators are jurors.

[Joinfortmill]

32. Amen to that

[lambchopp59]

34. "lead juror" with a predetermined agenda

Cause for dismissal of any juror in any fair and impartial proceeding.
VS: completely unfairly rigged sham "trial".
I cannot understand how this is tolerated.

[usaf-vet]

36. Question.. If I was arrested for committing a crime and asked for a jury trial. Why can't I find

one or two jurors who would be willing to take a $1000.00 gift from me to vote to find me innocent?

That would be ok, right in our current judicial system? Better yet why not give the entire jury a gift.

Next time, I'll just offer the cop the $1000.00 for not arresting me in the first place. Save all the extra stuff.

[Demsrule86]

38. Right, well too bad the 'but her emails' folks didn't vote for liberals like Feingold in 16

because there is nothing we can do in the Senate...how do they 'get vicious' exactly? I get tired of posts that criticize a Senate that our voters abandoned in 2016.

[Rollerman]

41. According to the Senate Rules in Impeachment Trials, the Oath that Must be taken:

“I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of ____, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.”

McTurtle will either commit a crime by taking the oath or not take it at all. Either way, the Democrats need to do all it can to emphasize McT’s hypocrisy and criminal behavior.

[Uncle Joe]

42. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread shockey.

[Arazi]

46. As of now, McConnell is leaning towards no trial. Just a vote for acquittal (or not)

That means nobody is speaking. He gets to set the rules.

What makes you think McConnell would allow Dems an opening to make that case?

[gab13by13]

49. Did Chuck Schumer retire?

[dalton99a]

50. Good question

He should have made a statement on TV

[dchill]

59. Yes. Like 10 years ago.

Feel free to alert. Almost sorry I said it.

[AncientGeezer]

51. What "blunder"....The Senate sets their rules...

During the Clinton trial Tom Dashle's staff coordinated with the White House staff....he said so...""My former staff reminded me this morning that while I was not in contact with the White House during the trial, they were. There was a need to coordinate on many levels. So I want to be sure that I didn't give you the wrong impression."

[intrepidity]

52. NOPE. Don't throw the ball in his court.

Hold onto it. Do NOT refer to the Senate right away. Slow walk this while Trump continues to impeach himself.

Why give him the opportunity to acquit himself if we don't have to?

[mjvpi]

56. Personally, I think we should impeach him in the house and not pass it to the Senate immediately

Publicly state that we are waiting for the courts to rule on more evidence and that the Senate isn’t et taking this seriously

[dchill]

58. Maybe Roberts will declare a mistrial.

[NoMoreRepugs]

62. I agree 100%. This is a war for our children's future.

Winning is the only thing that matters. Slander the bastards, show Moscow Mitch saying that day after day on the Senate floor - at this point nothing is out of bounds.

[kacekwl]

64. Hopefully members of the Democratic Party will

flood the Sunday shows and every chance they get to grab a camera and microphone and decry Moscow Mitch , Lindsey, Barr etc. for deciding on advance the outcome of the trial and proud of it. In a normal society they would be using for treason.

[bucolic_frolic]

68. Republicans think they can sell a Sham Trial to the people

I doubt that very very much.

[doc03]

78. Really

[avebury]

77. Moscow Mitch gave us the best gift.

He turned Trump into the OJ Simpson of Presidential Impeachment. By publicly announcing that he intends to throw the trial he has automatically invalidated any acquital or innocent verdict. Trump will gain another star in this history books as only being able to "win" his impeachment trial because the Rethugs threw the trial. He now has a zero chance of ever being considered innocent. He only became President because of Russian interference, he only will survive impeachment because the trial was thrown. Trump remains a total loser.

Furthermore, he has dragged all of the Rethug Senators into his scheme and that will taint each and every one of them. I would like to think that McConnell will not be able to get every single Rethug to march in lock step with his plan.

#OJ Trump needs to me a new meme.

[Pachamama]

79. Moscow Mitch may have indeed given Pelosi the reason to not send it to the Senate

[UCmeNdc]

80. Is this the government we want? Isn't it time to go after Mitch McConnell?

Isn’t it time for everyone to fight Donald Corruption Trump and Mitch McConnell for every political inch of ground they stand on? No more Mr. And Ms. nice person!!!!

[bobGandolf]

82. OMG! THANK YOU!

I have been waiting for a long time to hear those words. We need to ignore the Repubs when they squeal and cry, instead of trying to explain our need to be forceful.

"The Democrats have a huge opportunity to show the American people the Republicans no longer believe in the constitution, their oath, the rule of law.

It is time for the Democrats to become brutal, vicious, give no quarter. Our democracy depends on it."

[calimary]

83. Your last paragraph. BOOM, BOOM, and BOOOOOOOOM!

WHEN is our team gonna start going for the jugular?

WHY do we always seem to want to pull our punches?

WHY does our side seem to prefer bringing butter knives and feather dusters to the proverbial gunfight? (When what we really need in said gunfight is a few Sherman tanks?)

[llashram]

85. especially

the last line of this post.