How Mitch McConnell pulled off a near-impossible impeachment feat

[turbinetree]

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large

Updated 8:41 AM ET, Fri January 31, 2020


(CNN)When the Senate impeachment trial began on January 21, two things seemed certain -- or at least very, very likely:

1) There would be witnesses called by both sides.
2) The trial would still be going when President Donald Trump came to Capitol Hill to deliver his State of the Union address two weeks later on February 4.

With Tennessee GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander's announcement late Thursday night that he would vote against calling witnesses, it now looks very, very likely that not only will there be no witnesses -- the first time that has been the case in a Senate impeachment trial -- but that the entire trial could wrap up by Friday night or early Saturday morning.

How? One man: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

From beginning to (what looks like the) end, the Kentucky Republican has carefully -- and quietly -- executed a strategy designed to keep his conference in line on key votes.



It began with McConnell's power play earlier this month, announcing that he had 51 votes to move forward with the start of the Senate impeachment trial with no promises made on whether or not witnesses would be called or further documents would be sought. McConnell's opening gambit effectively knee-capped Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had been holding on to the two articles of impeachment passed by the House late last year in hopes of extracting concessions from McConnell.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-senate-impeachment-trial/index.html

Hey Cillzza, now that you have this asshole walking on water, you keep forgetting one really important fact................you enable this shit....................did you proof read your remarks.................your a enabler.......................

[Blues Heron]

1. when were witnesses certain?

The whole thing was a coverup from the get go

[Iliyah]

2. Impossible? Bullshit, the fix was in from the start . .

[empedocles]

3. Cillizza is crap. 'Both siderism', as if sham trial side and allow obvious evidence side,

somehow, have equal merits.

[empedocles]

6. Maybe, after big 'leader' suck-up, he can get some 'advance info',

which is a major currency in DC trading.

[NurseJackie]

11. He's worthless.

[unblock]

4. shocking, a criminal cult that values loyalty over principle votes in lock-step to cover up crimes.

what skill mcturtle must have to convince republicans to do exactly what's in their selfish interest and have been trained for their entire political career.

[awesomerwb1]

5. That guy's an idiot

They were never going to allow witnesses. Not that difficult when you have the MAGAts intimidation factor and the $$$ pouring in from even the defense lawyers.

The only time(I can remember in recent memory) these fuckers didn't vote party first was when McCain gave the thumbs down vote. There aren't any McCain types in the current Senate.

Cowards and traitors. All the trumpublicans/russiapublicans.

[Faux pas]

7. I can't stand

cilizza, never could.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. If this all goes down in Trump's favor (which appears increasingly likely)

the ultimate losers are the American public. And it's sickening to see anybody lionizing McConnell for a sham trial.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

9. Cilsleeza is a POS...why no one pays attention to him anymore!!

He needs to crawl back by under the rock he came from!!

[gratuitous]

10. Cillizza confessing just how gullible he is

Cillizza probably gets upset when the heel wins a pro wrestling match by cheating, too.

[dalton99a]

12. Cillizza is an idiot.

[Midnight Writer]

13. Will CNN pay me? Because I have far greater powers of prediction than this guy.

I'm honestly surprised there was any presentation at all.

I figured the Impeachment Proceedings would begin and end with a vote for acquittal.

[budkin]

14. He didn't pull it off yet... not if this thing goes to Wednesday

The shit is piling up FAST.