It NEVER was gonna be much of an effort ….
As horror and anger of the January 6th protests and assault on the Capitol fades….
Republicans that would be needed to come across the political aisle to vote to convict Republican ex-President Donald Trump has shrunk…
The effort to even do it has been pushed back almost 2 weeks….
Unless something crazy comes out?
Trump remain in the history books as the only President that was impeached/indicted of charges and beat them twice…
Trump worries isn’t about Congress….
It SHOULD be about the state prosecutors in New York, Georgia and even Washington DC….
Oh, and the IRS….
If the Republican Party is to make a clean break with former President Trump, the upcoming Senate impeachment trial is a “now or never” moment.
“Never” has begun to seem the more likely option.
There has been no sign in recent days of a groundswell of Republican senators willing to convict Trump. Instead, several have pushed back against the idea of the trial, suggesting it is improper, or at least unnecessary, now that Trump has left office.
The anti-Trump tide that swelled enough to reach many Republicans after insurrectionary violence erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6 looks to be ebbing.
“I think momentum has slowed in recent weeks, and there is a desire among a broad swath of the party to put this behind them and move on,” said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist and former communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Gorman added, of the Democratic-led effort to convict Trump, “I’m not saying it won’t get any support [from Republicans] but I think the people who would take this from a handful to a sizable number have dwindled away.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, has been clear that he believes Trump committed an impeachable offense by his inflammatory rhetoric that preceded the violence at the Capitol.
Beyond Romney, the Republicans most often cited as possible votes to convict Trump are Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
There are some other possibilities but even GOP figures skeptical of Trump believe the potential votes against him within his own party are likely to be capped closer to six or seven than the 17 that would be required to convict….
…
Individual members might view Trump’s antics with distaste — but that is not necessarily reason enough for them to cast a vote or issue a denunciation that might draw a primary challenge or condemn them to defeat in a general election.
Susan Del Percio, a Republican strategist and senior adviser to the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said:
“If you want to have the support of Donald Trump because his personality is big and helpful in your district, then you are going to try to highlight your support of him. But when it comes to the principles of the Republican Party, Donald Trump has shown that he has none. And so, for those that do, that makes it very hard to follow him.”
Unsurprising
Any Republican who votes to convict will not be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024.
That is why you will not see any potential candidates do so.
I agree with Jack, any Republican voting to convict Trump of something he did for all of us to see in front of multiple cameras will never become the Republican nominee. That’s how the Republicans roll.
Poor Mitt.
But I couldn’t disagree more with this ridiculous headline and comment by our host. The outrage over this attempted coup isn’t going away. No President in history has ever incited a violent mob to overthrow the government. None.
Does anyone doubt that if Mike Pence had been captured by the mob that Trump would not have declared Marshall Law? Anyone? And, if he had succeeded in doing that, does anyone doubt he wouldn’t still be sitting in the White House? Anyone?
There is no doubt that the Republicans in Congress want to discount and downplay the events of January 6th, and, of course, so does James. But the Republicans, at least 140 of them, supported to attempted coup with their votes to disqualify a legitimate election.
If these event aren’t reason enough to impeach Trump, what is?
Of course James is so upset by all this because it doesn’t fit into “why can’t we all just get along” fantasy that he thinks Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t be Speaker.
We have people here that cannot get over events that took place years ago but we are all expected to move on from sedition. Really?
We all know the outcome of this trial because the majority of the Republicans in the Senate are spineless. But we should all be happy they will be on record pledging, once again, their loyalty to a potential dictator.
He ain’t gonna be convicted….
Which verdict of course (even if over 51 Senators vote Aye) he will declare (as last time around) that I’VE BEEN TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY VINDICATED !!!
So what? Does that bother you? Can they impeach in the UK Dave?
Who cares if he isn’t “gonna be convicted?”
He committed treason. Isn’t that reason enough to put him on trial? Don’t you want to know exactly who the Republican Senators are that still support Trump?
Do you both agree with Rand Paul? Ted Cruz and Lady Graham? Is that who you are siding with on this?
There was a hint on here yesterday that perhaps Sen, Rob Portman ,while announcing his retirement in 2022, may be a presidential candidate in 2024.
Further, that his retirement may indicate that he will vote to convict.
If he does?
That would indicate to me that he is definitely not running for President .
He’s not running for President Jack. He is done with this bullshit. But will he vote to convict? Does he believe in the rule of law?
Hey Keith?
Like i said…..
He gets the two indictments…
No conviction….
Jan. 6 HAS worn off…
Glad Biden getting confirmations…
Beat downs , if any, will come from state DA’s…
And yes….
Rand Paul is STILL an oddball knocklehead…
Why should we be happy that the GOP is okay with going on record to support Trump’s attempt to overthrow the government?
It just tells me how messed up a large percent of Americans are right now, and how far we have to go before we can have a functional bi-partisan government.
Don’t you want those who support treason on record Zreebs even if it means we are forced to see how many cowards make up the Republican Party?
If Lady Graham can prosecute over a blow job can’t we expect him to vote to convict the guy who tried to get him killed?
The reaction here has been “they can’t convict so why try” and talk of a third party that’s never going to happen.
The President of the United States engaged in an act of treason and our friend James wants to move on. How Republican of him. We could see that coming.
Actually they are now on the record.
By voting to dismiss the impeachment because it is “unconstitutional”The Republicans ,save the five who opposed the motion,have said,in effect, I oppose conviction.
Obviously you can’t convict someone if you consider the trial itself unconstitutional.
But you know it’s not unconstitutional Jack and you also know that the public doesn’t see the nuance of declaring something unconstitutional as opposed to saying someone committed treason.
I don’t think for a second Republicans consider the trial unconstitutional. If Trump was a Democrat every one of them would not only consider it constitutional, but they would vote to convict. And every one of them knows it deep down.
We probably just differ on the character of Republicans. I personally have no doubt that Republicans are lying when they say they believe the trial is unconstitutional.
I seem to not be doing a good job in expressing myself lately. My comment was an objection to your last sentence that we should all be happy that Republicans will be on record pledging their loyalty to the potential dictator.
Yes. I believe that Trump should be impeached again, but I am not the least bit happy that Republicans are willing to go on record to support Trump. They should vote to convict this criminal who deserves to be impeached far more than any President in history. The fact that they won’t do it is very disturbing to me. It certainly doesn’t make me happy.
Lindsay Graham is a piece of shit. He will say whatever he needs to say in order to protect his position of power, and will change his “values” (joke not intended) if they get in his way. With the exception of CG, we all know it. Graham has already stated how he will vote. Do you think this vote will somehow hurt Graham’s image?
Oh no, it won’t hurt her at all.
I was only concerned that you had joined the group here that wants to “move on” and get down to the business of government.
We all know that once the Republicans have successfully defended their Great White Hope they will return to their obstructionist ways.
They are only interested in power, judges, and tax cuts.
Donald HAS BEEN impeached TWICE….
It is just charges …and indictment’s….
He will NOT be convicted….
THIS IS ON THE RECORD….
There will be a trial….
It will be just a show…
The verdict is known already….
There is abosultly NO reason to stop everything for this….
Yes….
America needs to move on….
And hear even MORE illegal shit Trump has done over the last four years….
To REPEAT?????????
The state prosecutors ARE the ONLY ones that can take a piece out of Donald Trump’s bank accounts and ass….
Rand Paul is currently making an ass of himself on live television. Turn it on James and perhaps you can learn something.
He is making a point of order that the impeachment is unconstitutional. This vote would allow the coward Republicans to avoid having to vote to remove Trump from office. It will fail, but will show us where the final vote will land.
45 Republicans voted with Paul. The trial will continue and, of course, Trump will be acquitted. Portman voted to stop the trial. Republicans just proved they are cowards.
A coup that goes unpunished is simply a practice run. The Republicans need to be put on record.
How many Republicans voted not to stop the trial?
I would figure Romney, Murkowski, Collins,Sasse and McConnell.
Romney, Murkowski, Collins,Sasse and Toomey
1. Trump may still face criminal charges for this
2. I think this is setting up for Biden sometime in February to call on the Senate to drop the trial for the good of the country and move towards “Censure” of Trump.
3. I genuinely am unsure if there can be a vote that makes it so Trump cannot seek federal office again, if he is not “convicted.” Some have said this is possible and it would only take a majority of the House and Senate. That seems murky constitutionally but would almost certainly pass as an option.
How did McConnell vote?
I see where McConnell voted for the Paul motion.
I guess he didn’t want to take that self proclaimed “vote of conscience.”
What a shock!
*If* the Republican Party remains Trumpified in 2024, and especially considering the fact that Democrats are likely to nominate someone other than Biden that year, it makes a lot of sense for people like Portman, Toomey, and others to keep their options open in regards to an Independent or third party “center-right” Presidential run.
It is not logistically possible for ballot access reasons for a person to run in the Republican primaries and then run as an Independent.
That’s way down the road.
I have stated on many occasions that I don’t think aThird party candidate will be successful in winning the Presidency.
An independent center right party would probably get 7% of the vote if I had to guess.
Similar to the last time a Republican left the reservation to run as an independent–John Anderson in 1980.
We ain’t about a ‘center right Trump party’ i’d think Scott….
Hard Right I’d think….
Anderson ran center-left, and that was a long time ago. If anything, Perot in ’92 would be a better example. This “center-right” person would not be crazy though.
I am just saying that in theory if the election is Trump vs. Harris in 2024 or Hawley vs. Harris or something like that (and of course much will depend on the job performance of the incumbent). there will be a lot of open political ground.
And not every race is about “winning” either. However, it is completely feasible that a third option could win pluralities and be elected.
U give two hard right guys….
Sure some sort middle right person ‘might’ work…
But True moderate Republicans are an endagerd species
As are “moderate Democrats” in the party system.
All the more reason why a “center” candidate would have success going an alternate route.
Nice idea…..
‘No cigar.’..
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are privately floating a bipartisan resolution censuring former President Trump to their colleagues as most Republicans signal Trump’s likely acquittal in his second impeachment trial, according to Axios on Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, only five Republicans — Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) — joined with all the Democratic senators to vote that the Senate impeachment trial is constitutional and should proceed….
More…
I would support that.
Why Jack? That doesn’t get you where you want to go, right?
Clinton should have been censored, Trump committed treason as he incited a riot that killed at least five people.
This proposal is so Susan Collins, can she at least admit Trump hasn’t learned his lesson?
See my previous response.
I expect the vote on conviction to be the same as the vote yesterday.
Indeed, I really don’t understand why those “jurors” who voted for Paul’s motion yesterday would even attend the trial as they have already labelled it a nullify.
I agree, but don’t you think they should be on record?
Don’t you want to hear the evidence and see who supports sedition?