Mitch McConnell Is Struggling To Get 51 Senate Votes Against Trump's Removal

[babylonsister]

https://www.politicususa.com/2019/12/18/mitch-mcconnell-struggling-to-get-51-senate-votes-against-trump-removal.html


Posted on Wed, Dec 18th, 2019 by Sean Colarossi
Mitch McConnell Is Struggling To Get 51 Senate Votes Against Trump’s Removal


Even though the chances of Donald Trump being removed from office via a Senate vote are slim, there is still the possibility that a majority of lawmakers in the upper chamber could vote in favor of removing the president from office.

“Obviously, if Republicans have this all sewn up, [McConnell] doesn’t to have say much of anything,” MSNBC’s Ari Melber said on Tuesday, on the eve of the House impeachment vote.

The MSNBC host added, “There are signs that Mitch McConnell … is still trying to figure out how he gets to 51 for pieces of this or all of it.”

In other words, McConnell knows he doesn’t have 51 votes in favor of his sham trial or against removing Trump from office, which is why he’s been making so much noise lately.

Link to tweet

Melber said:

[McConnell]’s not impartial and he’s predicting partisanship. What is important there is the leg work that Mitch McConnell is doing. Obviously, if they have this all sewn up, he doesn’t to have say much of anything. They can slam-dunk it. But there are signs that Mitch McConnell tonight – and we’re going to keep reporting this out for you – is still trying to figure out how he gets to 51 for pieces of this or all of it. When he says this is all going to be a partisan side show, he’s talking about himself. There is a tell there. And he wants, apparently, from what I can tell, he wants the country to give up hope on this process before it even begins, to only see it as partisan. So you have to ask yourself: If there is a politician in Washington trying to convince to you to look other way, why is that? And is it a tell, a sign, that maybe you should be looking even closer?

snip//

If a majority of the GOP-controlled chamber vote that Trump should be booted from office, it would be a humiliating and potentially dooming result for the president ahead of 2020, even if he does remain in office.

On the eve of a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell is still scrambling to get to 51 votes in the Senate to prevent a humiliating, bipartisan vote in favor of removal.

[Iliyah]

1. Good!

A very slim chance indeed, but miracles can happen . . .



If the Senate Republicans see that they can lose the majority in the Senate, McTurtle (drunk with power) may re-consider his position. Graham, Grassley, Johnson and Paul are goners which no return to democracy.

[Mike 03]

2. You know who else might be putting pressure on Republicans?

Chief Justice Roberts, because he doesn't want to preside over a sham trial. They likely won't remove Trump, but there is probably pressure to call witnesses.

[Jersey Devil]

3. None of the Rs will vote to impeach

Sure, a few may vote with the Democrats to allow them to call witnesses to show how reasonable they are, but in the end they will vote with Trump. They really "concerned" Repubs, like Collins, will drag it out to the last minute for dramatic reasons.

[FBaggins]

5. That's a better summation than the title

There are probably some republicans who are unwilling to commit to something before the trial even begins and/or who would balk at some of the strategies that he’s considering... but he’s definitely it having trouble getting to 51 against removal.

Right now it’s our side that’s getting to one R vote for removal (and we might lose Manchin)

[babylonsister]

7. I do wonder if

the impeachment rallies have any impact on anyone. Maybe they might figure they're fighting a losing battle? A girl can dream.

[FBaggins]

8. It depends on who you include in "anyone"

I doubt seriously that they are intended to sway a single republican senator. The goal is to swap public perception... and they absolutely can do that.

[empedocles]

11. The rally news on rw media can distract the 20%+ of non zealot republicons. trump desperately

needs to hold the minority support that he has.

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Can someone tell me the rules?

So if Mitch has 51 they can just move to a vote to acquit and that's it? If he doesn't have the 51 will they have to hold a trial?

[FBaggins]

9. Many of the rules can (and likely will) change

as they are subject to a majority vote in the Senate.

However - we can expect that someone will move to dismiss the charges (as happened in the Clinton impeachment). A majority vote in favor of that (which I consider unlikely... but could happen) would end the trial.

[beachbumbob]

6. consider the Nov 2020 election map and all the GOP senators running,

for re-election and will be facing stiff opposition.

McConnel is betting that a sham trial or NO trial helps GOP outcome more than the democratic outcome,

I want him and the GOP to continue to believe this.

[TwilightZone]

10. Not buying it.

All of the talk about GOP Senators defecting is just talk. There is zero evidence that any of them are even considering it.

I'll believe it when I see it. It seems like just a lot of wishful thinking and creative interpretation of events on the part of Melber and others.