Republicans discuss a longer Senate impeachment trial to scramble Democratic primaries

[underpants]

Some Republican senators and their advisers are privately discussing whether to pressure GOP leaders to stage a lengthy impeachment trial beginning in January to scramble the Democratic presidential race — potentially keeping six contenders in Washington until the eve of the Iowa caucuses or longer.

Those conversations about the timing and framework for a trial remain fluid and closely held, according to more than a dozen participants in the discussions. But the deliberations come as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) faces pressure from conservative activists to swat back at Democrats as public impeachment hearings began this week in the House.

The discussions raise a potential hazard for the six Democratic senators running for president, who had previously planned on a final sprint out of Washington before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses and the Feb. 11 New Hampshire primary.

But McConnell will not be able to set the schedule in isolation. The rules for an impeachment trial, including a process for calling witnesses, must be passed by 51 or more senators, since Pence is not able to cast a deciding vote on the question. That gives McConnell, who oversees a 53-seat Republican majority, relatively little room to maneuver.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-discuss-a-longer-senate-impeachment-trial-to-scramble-democratic-primaries/2019/11/13/d7e46d24-064c-11ea-b17d-8b867891d39d_story.html

[Freethinker65]

1. There are vulnerable sitting Republican Senators that might not like that idea.

Sure, it would also affect current Democratic Senators seeking the nomination, but doing their job in D.C. and getting positive media attention could prove more valuable (or a near wash) to some of their campaigns than holding rallies and shaking hands in primary states.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Their need to be campaigning in early February won't be as much as the presidential candidates

From the Wikipedia 2020 senate elections page: in Iowa, Ernst is not being primaried; the earliest Republican who is is Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. I expect he's safe there.

Being one of one hundred senators in DC won't get senators much attention.

[Wounded Bear]

2. CJ Roberts might have a problem with that...

He does have other duties, you know.

[chriscan64]

3. That would be a neat trick

They're planning to hold a farce of a trial where the pre-determined intent is to acquit. How do they manage to stretch something like that out? "Nothing to see here" held over for third straight week!

[ecstatic]

4. Childish traitors, SMFH. Do they really think

this is acceptable behavior?

[Cosmocat]

6. The entirety of their actions in government

Involve brazen, out and out political machinations. Why the "middle" in this country does not see this and out and out reject them is mystifying.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. one factor in this is who is controlling the jury -- the accused

"One White House official said the president is not yet concentrating on a trial but
has spoken with McConnell, Vice President Pence and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham
(R-S.C.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, about the outlook in the
chamber. Newly hired White House aides who are working on impeachment issues have
also been meeting with Senate GOP staffers this month."

And we can't forget this:
https://www.salon.com/2019/11/08/trump-tries-bribing-the-jury-and-no-republican-seems-bothered-by-it_partner/