Senate Republicans Shaken by Bolton Revelations

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/27/senate-republicans-shaken-by-bolton-revelations/

Senate Republicans Shaken by Bolton Revelations
January 27, 2020 at 6:44 am EST By Taegan Goddard

Playbook: “Republicans have done a good job during this process projecting confidence in their mastery of the situation, and their ability to deliver for the president.”

“But as of late Sunday, our GOP sources said they could not predict what was going to happen now with witnesses, and the Republican Conference lunch today will be key in determining the state of play. In other words, these top-level sources were allowing that things may have changed. We have yet to see if Republicans will brush off this new development, or whether it will push enough of them to vote for witnesses.”

“Bolton is not Lev Parnas or one of these other characters who has sprouted up in the Trump era. He’s a through-and-through conservative who was so far to the right that George W. Bush had to wait for recess to make him his U.N. envoy. He’s known to members of the Senate.”

“Here’s the dilemma for Republicans now: If you’re one of the Republicans who were already uncomfortable with this president, how do you vote to not call Bolton after seeing this? Remember: Bolton is publishing an entire book, and so far we know only what he’s said on Ukraine — not everything else he’s seen.”

[bearsfootball516]

1. I'm sure they'll all be "gravely concerned" as they continue to vote for no witnesses.

[getagrip_already]

26. They may even issue a press release!

But that would be a nuclear option to them. They won't go there unless it s a very concerning incident.

[Iliyah]

2. Shaken not stirred . . .

[First Speaker]

22. Best post of the year!...

[ancianita]

23. Yep!

[JDC]

25. Lol. Exactly

[dewsgirl]

3. We are at a point, where I'm assuming they know it's true,

even before the Bolton revelation. They know it's true, and they just don't give a shit. He could mow down a whole field of people, and they would still defend him.

[Whiskeytide]

6. Exactly. I'm surprised so many here ...

... are hoping republicans will “come around” and “see how wrong they’ve been”, and finally “see the light”.

Every last one of them already knows exactly what that orange piece of llama shit did.

[DeminPennswoods]

16. Here's the question

Is this enough to make Rs think they would be better off with president Pence than Trump?

The fact is, they'll get most of the same policies and judges from Pence that they do from Trump. Once Trump is convicted, he can't hurt them since he will be banned from ever holding a federal office again. Pence is unlikely to win his own term, but McConnell can do the same amount - or more - damage in the next 10 months as with Trump.

[Whiskeytide]

20. All of that is true except that trump CAN hurt ...

... them if he’s removed. His base is loyal to HIM, not to the party. He knows this, and so do they. If he is removed, his tendency toward vengeance will be to burn them all down by encouraging the base to abandon them. They will lose primaries by the dozens, and will lose general elections in even greater numbers.

His 30% base translates to about 60% of the party’s electorate. He owns the Republican Party. They might hate him. But they need him. It’s just math.

[D23MIURG23]

30. They aren't going to "see the light"

They are worried about two things: getting reelected, and how history judges them (and I'm not so sure about the second one).

The calculus is about whether they will regret following dump into flagrant corruption.

[moose65]

12. You are correct

They know that he did everything he's been accused of, and they just don't give a shit.

What is strange to me, though, is that usually Republicans are all about making themselves look good, and of course, winning re-election. I'm surprised that one of them hasn't figured out that he or she would be a "hero" to many people if they bucked Trump. All it would take is one - once some others see the reaction, they might jump on the anti-Trump bandwagon too.

Probably just wishful thinking on my part....

[bearsfootball516]

18. Not when you represent a Red state.

Voting to convict Trump would mean an immediate primary and defeat from a Trump-supporting candidate.

[Mr.Bill]

27. What would be the point of supporting Trump

if he's been removed from office, shown to be a crook and is indicted in several states for numerous crimes?

[Hotler]

13. The only thing repugs think about these days is...

screwing over the Libtards and making sure they don't get a win.

[GoCubsGo]

4. Not "shaken" enough to do the right thing, though.

I'm not holding my breath that the Bolton stuff is going to change things.

[bluedye33139]

5. People have already testified about this, and it's already substantiated

Trump wanted to use the military aid as leverage to force Ukraine to hold a public announcement smearing Joe Biden.

The ambassador to the EU testified to this. Direct eyewitness testimony that this was the plan. Explicit testimony that the request was for an announcement and not an investigation.

If they can ignore that testimony, they can ignore Bolton.

I believe that the House of Representatives should begin new hearings if the Senate does not take this up.

[Zolorp]

7. They can either hear what he has to say now, or be called out on their cover up later.

Either way this is coming out in full once the book hits the stands.

[Ohiogal]

8. Even if they hear Bolton's testimony

They will just say what Dump did was “troubling “ ... but not “impeachable”.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

9. Hoping for a house manager presser on this

This morning and not five minutes!

[yellowcanine]

10. Those pearls will undergo another round of severe clutching but that will probably be the extent of

it. I don't see this as significantly altering the total Republican denial narrative.

[Coventina]

11. Yeah, sure sure....

[NCLefty]

14. Shaken, not stirred to action.

[denem]

31. +1

exactly

[spanone]

15. K&R⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[gratuitous]

17. The only think they're shook about

Is how to get through a statement about how they don't want any more evidence and testimony because Trump's so totally innocent without looking completely foolish. "Try it again, Senator. But more forcefully. With conviction. Whoops, forget I said that word. Try it again."

[NeoGreen]

21. Yes, the real question, what does Bolton know about the relationship between trump and...

...Putin?

Side note, what has the world come to where we are cheering the early release of a book by John Bolton?

[Toorich]

24. ..Senators are running out of Toro Ballistics.....

.... and they are now relying on Fowl Projectiles.....

(Bullshit to Chickenshit)

[usaf-vet]

28. Isn't this the point where there are only 2 choices. Vote for witnesses or kiss your a$$ goodbye?

My guess is the evidence is only going to get worse and there will be no turning back if you vote to let the treasonous con man continue in office.

When the Bolton book is published or when the investigative reporter's dig out the truthful facts of tRump's 3-year reign of lawlessness you aren't going to be able to say "I didn't know if only I had known" excuse won't fly.

[Mr.Bill]

29. If Bolton testifies,

he will refuse to answer questions on this matter (and many others) claiming national security concerns.

And don't be surprised if it doesn't wind up in the book, either.

[PandoraAwakened]

32. K&R! n/t

[Generic Brad]

33. They are like James Bond martinis

Shaken but not stirred.