Speaker Pelosi could make an announcement.

[kentuck]

That she has chosen her House Managers and will be able to send over the Articles of Impeachment as soon as Senators McConnell and Schumer come to an agreement on the rules.

This would put the onus on McConnell to come up with a compromise that is fair and impartial, so that the impeachment trial can begin.

Schumer will insist that there be witnesses. He and the Speaker can point to the recent poll where 71% of all Americans, including 64% of Republicans, believe there should be witnesses at a trial. That is a strong headwind to swim against.

Unfortunately, Senator McConnell is feeling undue pressure from Mr Trump to have an immediate trial and to get it over with quickly, so that he can be vindicated and exonerated of all charges. He may be putting Senator McConnell into an untenable position?

Personally, I do not think Speaker Pelosi has any intent on withholding the Articles any longer than is necessary for the Senate to get its butt in gear and do their job. At present , they are at an impasse and could do nothing, even if they had the Articles of Impeachment right now.

[pbmus]

1. Why rush...???

[kentuck]

2. There is no rush.

But she would put Trump and McConnell on the defensive once again. So long as 70% of the people support witnesses at the trial, Democrats can wait as long as they want.

[pbmus]

3. No, she delivers articles, Mitch rushes sham trial, the Con is exonerated

And then runs all over the country in 2020 saying he was acquitted...

[kentuck]

4. She will deliver the Articles only if they get the witnesses and a fair trial.

She is ready if they are ready, for a fair and impartial trial.

[pbmus]

5. And you believe Moscow Mitch...that is exactly what they want

[kentuck]

8. Mitch doesn't want any witnesses.

And Trump surely does not want any witnesses. They want a sham trial that they can acquit Mr Trump without the American people hearing from any witnesses or seeing any evidence. Democrats cannot agree to such corrupt practices.

[pbmus]

10. Then why rush articles to Moscow Mitch?

[kentuck]

12. She is not going to rush anything to Mitch?

He gets nothing if Democrats do not get witnesses? What am I missing here?

[Squinch]

6. No. She's doing the right thing. Just sit tight, do nothing, and let them play the next move.

McConnell is between a rock and a hard place. He has to do something that will hurt him whichever way he turns.

Nancy is smart enough to let that happen.

[pbmus]

7. Bingo...

[TwilightZone]

9. No. She's already said that she needs to know the process before she can choose them.

That would be a reversal of her current position.

[kentuck]

11. It would not be a "reversal".

To let the American people know that she is ready to hand over the Articles as soon as the Senate has the witnesses and the rules in place.

It's no big deal whichever way she goes. But it would keep Trump and the Republicans from taking the PR advantage when there is no reason to let them do it.

[TwilightZone]

13. It's the opposite of her current position.

“When we see the process that is set forth in the Senate, then we’ll know the number of managers that we may have to go forward and who we will choose,”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-house-impeaches-trump-timing-of-next-steps-is-unclear-11576755097

There is no reason for her to change that position to what you suggest.

[kentuck]

14. How would the announcement change her present position?

Other than to let them know she has done her job and is waiting on them to do theirs?

She doesn't want the public to believe that she is holding up the Articles for political reasons. That would not be wise.

[pbmus]

16. This entire process is political and if we lose this political fight,

We lose the war to the Con in 2020..

[kentuck]

17. I would agree with that.

Their plan is to attack Pelosi over the next few days.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

32. It's politics if he is being impeached because no one likes him.

It's not politics if he is being impeached because he broke the law.

[pbmus]

33. It's politics because impeachment is in the hands of our elected representatives...

It’s law when it is in our court system, which is happening in SDNY and other courts...ironically not in Barr’s court...

[Me.]

15. Once There Are House Managers

The process automatically kicks in by my reading

[kentuck]

18. Not until she submits them to the Senate.

And the Senate will get nothing if we cannot get witnesses. But the point of an announcement would be that it is not Speaker Pelosi that is holding up the trial, it is McConnell and Trump.

She is prepared for them, I have no doubt.

[intrepidity]

19. Did the House vote?

House must vote before she can designate Managers.

[kentuck]

20. I don't think the House has to vote on the Managers?

I could be wrong but I think that is a decision made by the Speaker?

[intrepidity]

21. House made rule that vote had to be taken

So vote in House will trigger referral

[kentuck]

23. I had not heard that.

Thanks.

[intrepidity]

27. From NYT

Under the rules adopted to consider the articles on Wednesday, the House must hold a separate vote allowing Ms. Pelosi to appoint the impeachment managers and transmit the articles to the Senate. The House is scheduled to leave Washington at the end of the week for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, meaning if she does not take the action by then, the fate of the articles could be left unresolved until early January, when Congress reconvenes in the capital.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/impeachment-trial.html#click=https://t.co/2YQWx9Oob0

[kentuck]

30. Good catch!

[intrepidity]

34. I tried to discuss it, but no takers

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212799289

[FakeNoose]

22. I think you're saying that Pelosi can put even more pressure on Moscow Mitch

... by saying that she has her House Impeachment Managers selected, and now it's all waiting on him.

If she did that, McConnell couldn't be pointing fingers at her and blaming her for the holdup. In all truth, Nancy Pelosi's role is nearly over, and she surely needs to act in tandem with Schumer from now on.

I hope McConnell gets so hamstrung on this impeachment that he can't even go home to campaign for the next 4 or 5 months. Wouldn't that be delicious?!

[kentuck]

24. Exactly!

Because they are going to attack her unmercifully in the days ahead, would be my guess. She can put the onus back on them if she so desires.

[Generic Brad]

25. She'll still be holding them when the State of the Union is given

And if I were her I would place Adam Schiff, Maxine Waters, Jerry Nadler, and the Squad in the front row. Trump will be unable to control his rage and will embarrass himself beyond belief in front of the entire country. The SOTU could serve as the final nail in his self impeachment coffin.

[kentuck]

26. That is very possible.

Nancy knows how to play politics, when necessary. She's one of the best.

[pwb]

28. The Speaker has this.

She has things to release all year. It is going to be a good year of pukes squirming. The slower the better I say.

[empedocles]

29. The Speaker has effectively made her touchstone known - Abe's 'public sentiment'

[mercuryblues]

31. I want them to

subpoena trump. republikkklans forced Clinton to testify, trumps turn in the barrel.