Is it 20(?) repub senators needed to vote for removal in the Senate? If so, strategically, then,

[diva77]

which ones would be best to call/email/send snail mail to? Which ones are most likely to "crack" first?

[FM123]

1. It is a sliding scale. Only 2/3 of senate needs to be PRESENT to vote on conviction.

According to Laurence Tribe, the Constitution doesn’t indicate that removal from office requires 2/3 of the Senate, it just requires 2/3 of senators present for the proceedings.

So in theory, a vote to convict the president would count as legal with as few as 34 members, not 67, assuming the absolute minimum of 51 participated.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/10/12/1891991/-How-the-GOP-Can-Convict-Trump-without-Voting-Him-Out

[tavernier]

3. Interesting.

All sorts of chess moves there.

[diva77]

4. Thanks for this. Do you think it's likely Moscow McTurd would allow this to happen? Does he have

control over any of this?

[NewJeffCT]

6. They have proforma sessions

when the senate should be in recess. Maybe the Democrats can secretly stay in DC and then all show up for one of the proforma sessions with 2 or 3 Republicans there.

Hey, the NC Republicans did that.

[Polybius]

14. I can't see any Senator missing something so historic

Did anyone miss it in 1998?

[Buckeyeblue]

5. Vulnerable Republicans sit it out the vote to lower the threshold needed

Then the can take a neutral stance. They can say, I could honestly see the case for impeachment both ways, so I abstained.

[Midnightwalk]

7. But vulnerable until when

Even before the primary there are filing deadlines. The threat of a primary challenge goes away early next year.

There is still the threat of a 3rd party challenge but if the trend of independent voters favoring impeachment continues it might be safer for some senators to vote yes.

The chances may be slim but every vote would help.

[Buckeyeblue]

8. Agreed. Just trying to frame it differently

At some point Senators just have to say, convicting is the right thing to do. If it costs me my seat, so be it.

[Midnightwalk]

9. I agree with that too

The country is more important than their damn jobs.

[Buckeyeblue]

10. They treat these elected positions like property

[Garrett78]

13. Cult45 would still punish them in their next election.

[Volaris]

11. Start with the ones that are not standing for election next year.

[diva77]

12. good idea, thanks