The Democratic House Managers are doing something *REALLY* crafty.....

[scheming daemons]

In arguing for more evidence to be part of the trial, they are *INTRODUCING* evidence into the record.


- Showing clips of Trump saying he wants witnesses
- showing clips of Lev Parnas being interviewed by Maddow.....



Things that were *NOT* part of the House impeachment record.... are now being shown to *ALL* 100 Senators.


The House Managers are getting around McConnell's embargo of evidence - by showing the evidence anyway!


Brilliant.



Addendum: Since they won't be able to call Parnas as a witness... just keep showing clips of his interviews with Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper. That way, Parnas' claims become part of the trial record anyway - through the back door.

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended.

It is an excellent move on their part. And now, McConnell has retreated on some of his nonsense.

[cynatnite]

8. The only thing he retreated on was opening arguments being three days instead of two...

It was said on MSNBC that it was because Moscow Mitch did it to keep Collins on board.

[localroger]

11. He also retreated on forcing votes on each item of House evidence

Probably for the same reason

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

33. Changed the "may" to a "shall" was huge

Originally the Senate might or might not have accepted the house record in whole or in part. In two places the may became a shall and when the resolution passes, the record will be in.


I think the Senate could now vote material out on an item by item objection, but that would make them look even more stupid.

[guillaumeb]

20. I hate to sound cynical,

but this could be GOP theatre to provide cover to Collins.

[SharonAnn]

55. Exactly. That's what it is.

[Rider3]

44. Collins

She’ll do what Mitch tells her. I’d be surprised otherwise.

[neohippie]

58. Not 100% sure but

I heard that even though they changed the opening arguments from only two days to three, the allotted time didn't change it was still 24 hours, just stretched the number of days, as to keep the length, of the late nights down.

That was my understanding, of this change.

[leftieNanner]

16. I was just thinking about Moscow Mitch's "retreat"

And I think it was deliberate. He set up the initial rules that were absurd so that he could back down as if he had given something away. He didn't give up anything but one extra day for both sides. The House evidence will be admitted into the trial IF nobody objects. That includes Trump's lawyers. They will certainly object and Mitch can claim it wasn't his fault.

I'm not buying the "Mitch Caved" line.

That doesn't mean that I'm not glad we don't have to go until 1 a.m.!

[gratuitous]

19. Perhaps McConnell didn't retreat

But he did say over the weekend that he had the votes to do whatever he wanted. Whether he was bluffing or telling the God's honest truth as he saw it is immaterial. Let McConnell try to explain away his phony statement, and keep bringing it up whenever possible. Then let McConnell try to explain it again.

Our side is reluctant to repeat things, I think because we figure folks should get it the first time. We don't want to belabor a point and possibly alienate some people. But the fact of the matter is that by mentioning something just a time or two and then letting it go, the narrative gets lost. Just last month, the news broke that Trump paid $2 million to settle the fraud case that was brought against him for using charitable donations he had collected to pay for his 2016 campaign expenses. I mentioned this to some online trollbot, who refused to believe any such thing had happened. I posted a link to the AP story about it, and suddenly it was troll-b-gon!

McConnell backed down after saying he had the votes to do as he pleased. He lied about that.

[luvallpeeps]

52. they've always been better at that messaging game.

They repeat a lie so often it becomes ironclad truth. If we could just get 2 or 3 major points and hammer them home. And speaking of the fraud case against T rump, there are so damn many examples of his griftathon that we forget. Remember the little Freedom Kids from his inauguration? He didn't pay them. Seriously. The president stole from a charity, and stiffed the freaking Freedom Kids. You can't make this shit up. https://time.com/4424496/usa-freedom-kids-donald-trump-sue-lawsuit/

[SCantiGOP]

27. The most basic negotiating tactic

Is to put some items in your opening position that you can concede later, giving you the ability to show that you are being reasonable and compromising, and demanding that your opponent do the same.
That is all McConnell has done here. What he gave in on was meaningless.

[leftieNanner]

28. Well Stated

That's exactly what he did.

[joost5]

31. +1 yep nt

[sprinkleeninow]

45. This. eom

[chia]

54. Agreed

[ancianita]

2. It IS. AND that the evidence they will refuse to vote to get is laid out in the Record.

This should help in any future indictments IF we get a chance to vote in November.

[MontanaMama]

3. Kick.

Our managers have a tough job. I think they're doing all they can in the worst possible environment.

[avebury]

4. K&R nt

[SallyHemmings]

5. Brilliant indeed!

[diva77]

6. Thanks for pointing that out!

[Faux pas]

7. Kickin' with gusto!

[FirstLight]

9. Making the argument outside the box

Fuck you Mitch

this whole thing is a travesty...too bad we can't get Mitch out of there (all of them) any sooner than November

[frazzled]

10. I don't think they're trying to influence the other senators

I think those (Republican) senators know all about these things, and could not care less. They are trying to influence the nation, as well as the historical record (all of this will become a part of the record).

There is no hope for influencing the Republicans. Short of some unexpected bombshell that no one can ignore, they are going to vote against removal. It's foreordained: Schiff even said it.

This is all for America. Forget about the Republicans in the Senate.

[localroger]

13. They are also doing a great job of putting in form

...for the lack of direct media coverage. Their presentations will excerpt and read well and sound good if quoted by newscasters, compared to the Republicans shouting and fuming.

[stonecutter357]

12. K&R

[tiredtoo]

14. thought the same thing.

Sharp move by these people. Like it a bunch.

[BigmanPigman]

15. I wrote the same suggestion a few days ago when Lev was

on Rachel. That was almost like testifying since he got his info out to the public, besides helping to save his life from Barr and getting "Epsteined". I think they should do that with all the new evidence they get or other important info like how the with holdings Ukraine funds is illegal.

[louis-t]

17. I certainly smiled while I was watching

and realized all that was going into the record.

[Different Drummer]

18. K&R

DD

[gab13by13]

21. Sadly this "trial" is over - 53-47

McConnell pulled another Merrick Garland.

I'm going to watch the Curse of Oak Island, I can't take this. When the sham is over I will call Pat Toomey and raise holy hell with him.

See that bastard in November.

[dchill]

30. Call him now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Exactly. We've always had the truth on our side, always

You can read for hours and it won't matter. That is already painfully obvious.

[AtheistCrusader]

34. As another poster said, call now. Call call and keep calling.

Light 'em up, every public phone line.

[zentrum]

22. Kick

[calimary]

23. GOOD. It's about time our team thinks shrewdly and creatively.

Thinking outside-the-box. Out-thinking and out-maneuvering. Out-tricking and, pardon the pun, out-foxing. Small “f”.

[kacekwl]

24. Doing the best with what they have.

I love it.

[shanti]

25. Nice

Isn't Lawrence Tribe on the team?

[dewsgirl]

26. They are simply the best, ❤ our democrats.

[mcar]

29. Schumer is giving them the space

with his amendments. We'll done, Democrats!

[Evolve Dammit]

35. Given the confines, they have to be creative. And they are, despite LOCKSTEP oppostion.

The GOP Senate should all burst into flames for failing their oath to the Constitution. They will sooner or later.

[onetexan]

36. as my friend would say, "DAYYUM!"

Bravo Dems leaders

[Xipe Totec]

37. I am so proud of our House Managers, of our Speaker, and of the Senate Minority Leader. nt

[Raven123]

38. I hope they assemble a video presentation accompanied by their graphics for those who can't see

The entire days work

[relayerbob]

39. SSSHHHHHHHHHH!

[FakeNoose]

40. It should all be included in the public record, even though it won't affect the vote

Let's face it, we ALL KNOW how this is going to end. We've always known and it's been discussed endlessly on DU and other liberal/progressive blogs ad infinitum.

There's going to be no last-minute miracle, Chump will get voted "not guilty" and there's nothing we can do. Getting him impeached was worth the effort in any case. Let the record stand for future generations, so that his crimes will be obvious to everyone.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

41. Oh I'm happy to read this!

It’s reassuring.

oh god, I want him gone so badly...

[George II]

42. I've been watching on and off all day/night, thinking just that. They want evidence, and...

....are introducing it whether McConnell and the idiots like it or not.

[AllaN01Bear]

43. cool.

[TeamPooka]

46. They came to prosecute today!

[cstanleytech]

47. They can essentially show the clips of trump saying stuff as well as his Twitter post

which according to Trump's are now officially places to get news from Trump over US policy and official statements.
That includes but is not limited to his statements about the Ukraine and then if he tries to deny it they can then show his statements about the meeting between Russia and his own campaign and that he's willing to lie to cover things up.

[Morgunn47]

48. Don't believe asshole repubs

All this tabling stuff is setting up the Senate to acquit. I'm 72 and never have trusted a Republican politician's word. This impeachment is bring out the true colors of the Republican Party. Moscow Mitch will wait & put a motion on table to acquit. 53 to 47. We have no chance of winning. What we now need to do is do everything possible to vote out of office every damn Republican.

[NiteOwl1]

49. +1

Nailed it. They may eventually allow some witnesses (one or two) but not the important ones and then they'll pass a motion to dismiss or take a vote which they will easily win because of the need for a super majority. That might piss off Trump but a few Repubs may vote with the Dems just for cover in blue leaning states.

[Kablooie]

50. And since it's video no one can cross examine him to refute his claims.

[luvallpeeps]

51. Slick

McConnell is so pissed his eyebrows came off.

[calimary]

53. The visuals - the very nicely simplified graphics -

are a TERRIFIC idea. They sure looked, and acted, organized. WELL DONE!

[keithbvadu2]

56. Can Moscow Mitch object and have it stricken from the record?

Can Moscow Mitch object and have it stricken from the record?

[MissMillie]

57. Yeah, Adam Schiff as much said this in his opening statement

He argued that if new evidence and witnesses were going to be banned that the Schumer motions were the only way for the Senators and the American people to hear about the facts.

[greymattermom]

59. So when will Maddow interview

John Bolton? Can she show an actual deposition, where the person she's interviewing is under oath, on her show?