"We know if senators took a secret vote today, he'd be removed."

[scheming daemons]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/01/trump-at-odds-with-kushner-as-impeachment-bites

Removing Trump from office remains a distant outcome, but the dynamics of the Senate trial are clearly shifting in directions that are dangerous for the president. A new Emerson poll released on Thursday showed 51% of registered voters support removal, an uptick of two points. A Reuters poll published on Wednesday showed nearly three quarters of Americans want to hear new witnesses. The prospect that former national security adviser John Bolton would testify is alarming Republicans. (Trump and Bolton’s relationship is badly damaged. A day after Bolton left the administration in September, Trump raged that Bolton was “a liar and a leaker,” according to a person briefed on the conversation.) “If witnesses start coming and Bolton is negative, it could win some Republicans,” a source close to Trump told me. “Senators really dislike Trump and are tired of having to go to the mat for him on crazy, batshit stuff,” the source said. “We know if senators took a secret vote today, he’d be removed.”

Trump’s circle is waking up to the notion that impeachment is a serious drag on his campaign. “Impeachment is drowning out all his accomplishments,” a Republican insider said. But impeachment is only one aspect of the problem. Inside the campaign there is an intensifying debate between Trump and his advisers about whether the campaign should run on base-incitement issues like immigration or a moderate-appealing message about the economy that could win back suburban voters. “They’re all trying to get Trump to run on general election issues and not get caught up in side issues,” a source close to the campaign said. “But Trump is focused on other stuff and going after [Joe] Biden.”

Meanwhile, Trump has been in a particularly foul mood as impeachment drags on. Trump recently told some Republicans that he decided to say “fuck it” and kill General Qasem Soleimani, according to a source briefed on the conversation. Trump’s mood has the West Wing bracing for a new round of staff turmoil. According to sources, Trump is unhappy with Kushner’s recent Time cover story, which showed Kushner posing solemnly inside the magazine’s iconic red border. One source said there is speculation inside the West Wing that Trump may rein in Kushner by bringing in Kushner antagonist Chris Christie to replace acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. According to one source, Kushner, perhaps realizing the problems the cover could cause, lobbied Matt Drudge not to link to the article.

[scheming daemons]

1. Self-kick. This is in important article.

[Hekate]

2. "A secret vote"... There is no honor left among the GOP Senators at all. KnR

[guillaumeb]

4. You knew this.

And if polling numbers are correct, millions of Americans from both Parties know this.

[Hekate]

5. Of course. Begad, I was channelling Sen. Foghorn Leghorn just this morning...

Someone said something about Lamar Alexander believing in the Constitution but believing in Mitch McConnell more, and suddenly in my mind's eye I saw the old rooster strutting and snapping his braces and expostulating, "Ah say, Ah say, this fine gentleman is known as a strict constitutionalist! He is as conservative as the day is long, but believe me, you can trust that he is a Strict Constitutionalist!"

And I recalled how many others have come into the Trump orbit trailing that honorable appellation, and knew it for the lie that it is.

[PatSeg]

7. Seriously

All those super patriotic, holier than thou republicans can't find an ounce of courage to save our democracy. An oafish clown in the White House might tweet something mean about them. History will remember them as traitorous cowards.

[Volaris]

17. Pffft...if that's what it takes to get rid of him, I couldn't give a lesser fuck about their honor.

They clearly dont (or we wouldn't be here in the first place), so why should i?

[guillaumeb]

3. So every GOP Senator lacks integrity and courage?

Good to have that confirmed.

[AtheistCrusader]

15. It's really not news.

[guillaumeb]

20. It would be, to the US media. eom

[meow2u3]

6. Couldn't the Senate make a rule allowing for a secret ballot?

It certainly can pass with a 2/3 majority AFAIK.

[Mr.Bill]

8. If they took a secret ballot and removed him,

it would greatly reduce our chances of taking back the Senate. Every Senator could claim to have voted to remove him. Even if they don't remove him, I would prefer a public vote. Everyone who votes in Trump's favor needs to wear this until the day they die, and have it be the first line in their obituary one day.

They will have to take responsibility for every insane thing Trump does for the rest of his term, and I think that will be fatal to their political careers, and post-political careers for that matter.

[ancianita]

9. They ought to spread the news through the Senate that they got NOTHING to lose ...

but their heads on a pike.

A weight will be lifted, their souls will be saved, they can hold their heads high, maybe even get re-elected, and their kids and grandkids will be willing to be associated with them.

[dlk]

10. What happens the next time Trump says, "f**k it"?

He will only grow more unhinged over time, as his illnesses are progressive. The safety and security of our nation is at serious risk. Yet, Republicans determinedly plug their fingers in their ears while shouting, “la la la la la...”

[Augiedog]

11. In November the American people will take secret vote and remove these feckless republicans

[Caliman73]

12. So basically Republicans are COWARDS

They know that he is a danger as Congressman Schiff eloquently stated. They understand "right" and "truth". They just do not have the courage to actually voice it.

[Xolodno]

13. So why not have a secret vote?

And only have them published after X number of years.

If that what it takes...

[AtheistCrusader]

14. It really should be a secret vote. The framers weren't all knowing.

It's not unreasonable to think that a president that requires impeachment might wield enormous influence and intimidation over the Congress.

[TryLogic]

16. Under current circumstances involving threats by a madman, a secret vote may be warranted.

Although I think all the Republican cowards should be on record.

[VOX]

18. These "inside" stories about how the GOP secretly hates 45 and longs to ditch him are worthless.

If true (and that’s unknown), it only makes Republicans MORE despicable for continuing to defend this unending train wreck.

[ecstatic]

21. +1000. nt

[Skittles]

19. in other words, we know they are cowards

f them

[bdamomma]

22. K&R

nt