I do not believe McConnell has 51 votes against witnesses testifying.

[kentuck]

It is just too much for a few Republicans to swallow. McConnell is asking too much. Donald Trump is asking too much. It is a bridge too far.

It may not be the Senators up in the next election, but those up for election 2022? Much more criminality will be known in a couple of years than we know now. They cannot feign ignorance.

McConnell knows he doesn't have the votes so he is content to keep up his argument of "no witnesses". Pelosi is also content to let McConnell continue his argument because she does not believe she has enough evidence to remove Trump. Both sides are happy with the stalemate at this time.

Most of the strategy of McConnell and the Republicans is going on behind closed doors and it appears they are sworn to secrecy?

What we are likely to see for the next few weeks will be political maneuvering. Meanwhile, more and more information and evidence will be made public with each passing day.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Yesterday may cause this to happen.

[rockfordfile]

7. Americans see what trump's trying to do. He's trying to divert from impeachment.

[kentuck]

8. You may be right about that..

Nothing like a military adventure without informing the Congress...

[erronis]

2. I hope you are right. Hard to believe that 100% of the (r)epuglicons in the senate are kompromat

Most seem to vote according to some script (ALEC, putin or murdoch/mercer or miller/trump).

Maybe just a few have voted along with the "potty" because that's the "right" thing to do. And maybe some of these actually have working frontal lobes.

Even the die-hard conservatives in the congress during Nixon's impeachment decided that it was time to get rid of the liability.

[gratuitous]

3. Hard to say

The Senate is out on its own recess right now, so I don't know if anyone has a handle on how the Senate might vote. The longer proceedings are delayed, the worse for Republicans' interests is my take on things. Public opinion is coalescing around seeing the process play out in a meaningful manner, and poll numbers in favor of removal of Trump keep creeping up.

We'll definitely have a clearer picture next week when Congress reconvenes, and the weekend fallout from Trump's latest foray into foreign policy plays out. Some of the public will rally to Trump's side because Americans really love getting their war on. But the media narrative so far isn't the near unanimity we're used to seeing in favor of bellicosity and rah-rah support the troops.

All that being said, I have no doubt that McConnell will string things out for as long as a Senate majority eludes him (if indeed he currently doesn't command a majority for his proposed railroad job). I didn't think he could hold up the Merrick Garland nomination for an entire year, but with the relentless assistance of Fox and the mighty Republican Wurlitzer, he succeeded. If he doesn't have the votes for a summary trial without witnesses or presentation of evidence, I can see McConnell stalling for a long time on a Senate trial. Ten months until November would be child's play for him. Public opinion, principles of good government, and media pressure have no effect on him, and as long as a majority of his caucus supports him (and even if it doesn't) he'll hold things up. Time may not be on his side, but time is a limited commodity.

[kentuck]

4. If Pelosi sees more evidence of guilt...

She might spring the Articles on the Senate and make them decide?

The wild card for Republicans will be Donald Trump. He will keep pressuring them to acquit him, but more and more evidence coming out will make that almost impossible for some of them to accept.

Much will depend on the passion of the Democrats argument about the sanctity of witnesses in a trial. What do they have to hide? What are they trying to cover up?

[maxsolomon]

5. We know Murkowski is "disturbed".

Any statements from Romney?

There needs to be 4 who'll stand up to McConnell. 3 would put it at 50-50 and Pence would get a vote, no?

I count 2, maybe.

[kentuck]

6. I think McConnell has asked for their silence.

And most are agreeable to not saying anything at this time. But I do not believe they have promised McConnell their vote?

[Wounded Bear]

9. My hopeful side wants you to be right...

my cynical side says no way.

[kentuck]

10. I don't think Trump helped his case by not informing the Gang of Eight.

They will just add that to the mix, I suppose?

[Wounded Bear]

11. That is true...

It remains to be seen if the Repubs in the Gang of 8 really care.

Like I said:

[kentuck]

12. Then Nancy will just wait...

...and give them more and more evidence.

[Wounded Bear]

13. At first I wasn't sure this would work...

I missed that call.

As usual, Ms Pelosi knows a lot more about legislative politics than I do, thank goodness.