Anybody surprised at this raise their hand….
Nobody?
Ok….
The four Republican senators have been the crucial swing votes to help shape Trump’s trial, and they’ve been in constant communication for weeks. They banded together to devise holding the vote on witnesses in the first place, a deal that helped seal unanimous GOP support for the rules of the impeachment trial. And they were texting and calling each other with increasing regularity as Trump’s trial began in earnest.
But on the biggest question of the impeachment trial, the group was going their separate ways. And their split decision will ensure Trump gets his speedy acquittal without the threat of new testimony that could upend GOP plans.
Still, in her meeting with Alexander, Murkowski kept her decision a secret.
“No,” Alexander said when asked if Murkowski tipped her hand. “She didn’t.”
The fast-moving events isolated Murkowski. Democrats’ hope of securing witnesses appeared doomed, but the optics of what was to follow still mattered. Now she was either going to give the Republicans a clear majority against witnesses or a tied vote that would fail unless Chief Justice John Roberts took the unlikely step of breaking the tie. She told reporters she would go home, put some eyedrops in and continue to pore over documents.
Murkowski had met with McConnell privately earlier in the week, in part to gather herself for the Senate’s question-and-answer period. During those marathon sessions, she aligned herself with different factions of the party, leaving Republicans and Democrats alike guessing as to her stance.
On Friday morning the interest in Murkowski was overwhelming. CNN fixed a camera on the hallways outside her office in case she would emerge and break the news. When Murkowski left her office, she dipped out the back, bumped into E&E reporter Geof Koss and gave him the news: She was a ‘no’ and Roberts would not have to break the tie.
The moment confirmed what GOP leaders had been projecting all week: The witness vote would fail, and Trump would be acquitted by a Senate that never heard from former national security adviser John Bolton, even as new revelations in a forthcoming book rattled Washington.
“I’ve always believed there would not be votes for witness,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Friday afternoon. “It never made sense to me. Why would we go do the House’s job? It’s their job, not our job.”
Collins and Murkowski continued to take notes during Rep. Adam Schiff’s closing remarks, despite having already decided where they’d be on the witness question. As Schiff finished up, Murkowski watched intently, gently rocking back and forth in her chair. When it came time for the vote, the Alaska Republican stood up and voted no, with little fanfare.
After the vote to bring in more witnesses fell short on a 49-51 vote, she spoke with Majority Whip John Thune one-on-one before exiting the Senate chamber.
The instant relief of Republicans could play far differently over the long arc of history — and perhaps even sooner.
The GOP’s move to dismiss relevant witness testimony will be cited for years to come and be wielded by Democrats in upcoming Senate races, warned Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who called the decision a “giant political nightmare for Republicans.”….
Note…
The final acquittal vote should be Wednesday…..
Uh I dont think CG would have raised his hand.
In various posts here he indicated that he thought there was a good chance enough Republicans would support calling witnesses for it to happen.
Do you read the posts here before making such a rash statement ?
Indeed ,he has criticized me for supposedly giving “cover” to the Republicans because of my opposition to continuing this impeachment ordeal.( as if a poster on this obscure site has any effect on anything)
Conveniently , and in one of his usual efforts to “blame” anyone but this group of moral cowards that comprise the Republican Senate caucus , he ignores the reason I have not been enthusiastic about this whole thing…Because I knew that the Republicans were never going to cross Trump and I have been proven right.
His idea that Republicans would be influenced to desert Trump because iPod the evidence being presented was a chimera from the beginning.Hell, they made up their minds the day the Impeachment resolution was filed in the House!
It’s funny that CG thinks Jack’s opinions gave cover to Republican Senators in the impeachment trial.
Well gee one could say his plan to vote write in or leave the Presidential line blank gives cover to voters in vital swing states to do the same, thus helping keep Trump in office.
I mean if James is right and there are thousands who read this blog but never comment this scenario is more likely no?
Scott?
I’d say safely that several hundred people read this blog….
Write in votes are just wasted….
I think CG REALLY wants Trump gone from office….
BUT?
Wants the Republican policies mostly left in place….
Me?
I would encourage CG and ANY Republican that comes to this place or votes ANYPLACE that feels as CG does to do as he would and vote AGAINST Donald Trump for the Democratic candidate for President….
I don’t much care if they vote Republican down ballot…
We, the country….The world needs Trump gone from office….
Scott and Jack are right of course. Whenever someone talks about voting third party on some type of “principle” they give “permission” to others to throw their vote away. I know people here in California that wrote in their dog’s name in the last election and they are proud of it. They just couldn’t vote for that woman and look what they got.
Anyone who is now considering voting third party in the face of the last three years is either completely ignorant of how government and politics works or so twisted in their world outlook that they cannot let go of their prejudices.
Nothing can justify voting third party this November, nothing. Our democracy is under attack and people still refuse to admit it, and that refusal only helps Trump.
I also agree on the wasted third party voting thing…
Hillary lost by only 70,000 votes ….
I would say “safely “ that there were ten and that’s likely being generous.
There are likely a number of bot hits as former poster RepubliCAN explained in detail one day.
You,of course, chose to completely ignore his well thought out explanation on the subject.
Unsurprising.
Onto something serious ,I noticed in this article mention of John Thune(R-SD) the Majority Whip.
You rarely hear much about Thune but I would keep an eye on him.
In the post Trump era ,he could wind up a major player in the Republican Party ,maybe even as a Presidential candidate.
If Trump loses I could see someone like Thune moving in to try and rebuild the party.
If Trump wins expect Don Jr. to be the favor of the Cult.
You’d think that would be enough to suck it up and vote blue no matter who.
Yeah If Trump wins?
I agree that he will try to promote Junior or possibly his daughter as a successor and for sure many of the flock will fall in line.
What will be interesting is how the Republicans in Congress react?Will that offer more than token resistance?Or will they try the “enough is enough” approach and show some spine.Based on their well known servility of the past few years this latter approach would be a great surprise.
If Trump gets re-elected?
We’re screwed….