Does Portman's "retirement" signal a guilty vote for impeachment?

[Pantagruel]

It avoids getting primaryed or otherwise attacked by Trump cult. What other incumbent GOP Sen. might take this route. Not having to run against incumbent Sen. is great news for Dem. hopefuls.

[servermsh]

1. I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone know what impeachment comments he has made?

[Walleye]

2. I tend to doubt it. Republicanism to the bone

I was surprised by Lynn Cheney. Still waiting for her to walk it back. She laid out the clearest case against him in a few short sentences. Maybe she’s hard-headed enough to stick by it.

[Loki Liesmith]

17. She's not walking it back

[Walleye]

18. Good. She has more ethics and morality and probably intelligence than most of the GOP

I can think of her as a worthy opponent. Most of the others are just trash

[madaboutharry]

3. I wouldn't count on it.

Portman doesn't want to put is post Senate career as a lobbyist and speaker in the republican biosphere in jeopardy. My money is on a no vote. Maybe he will surprise us, but I doubt it.

[Pantagruel]

6. Trump is such an obvious scoundrel

opposing him is not necessarily bad for your GOP credentials and it's getting more acceptable.
The best news is it's all good for Dems to have this turmoil in the GOP.

[CincyDem]

12. Rob will vote in the way that most benefits him personally. Always has, always will.

That's just who he is. Thinking he's gonna vote to convict is hoping a leopard will change its spots.

He has only done one thing that's bucked the party line in his whole career and that's come out for marriage equality - only then after his son came out and his wife explained the facts of life to him if he didn't announce his support. So even the only good thing he's ever done was personally motivated.

[ok_cpu]

15. 1,000 times this. Well said! n/t

[Walleye]

19. Oh, and add actual death threats to that. I'm betting he votes no

[Mopar151]

13. Hope that he's swimming toward the light!

Centrists will be in demand in the lobbying world. Especially those who are actually speaking to Democrats as colleagues.

[StarfishSaver]

22. A no vote would undermine his career as a lobbyist and speaker

The people who do the hiring and pay the big bucks in that space aren't looking for MAGA cult members.

If he's trying to salvage his post-Senate career, the only way to do that is to vote to convict. Otherwise, why announce his retirement now?

[secondwind]

4. Fingers crossed

🤞 🤞 🤞

[lame54]

5. The first impeachment had retirees who didn't flip

[Pantagruel]

11. Impeachment facts

quite different here, people died and our democracy imperiled.

[lame54]

16. Same republicans - same result

[Laelth]

7. I hope it signals an impending switch to the Democratic Party.

Maybe he wants to be remembered for “doing the right thing” in his last two years in office.



-Laelth

[RainCaster]

8. Maybe independent, but never a Dem

That's just too far...

[Laelth]

10. I thought the same about Arlen Specter.

You never know. Besides, Independent would be fine so long as he caucused with us.



-Laelth

[RainCaster]

20. Yep- all it takes is one

[lisa58]

9. That's what I'm thinking

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. I'm guessing the 2022 GOP nominee for his seat will a RW extremist

Maybe the requirement for all 2022 GOP non-incumbent candidates will be “proud patriot who stormed the Capitol on 1/6/21”...

[Pantagruel]

21. "the 2022 GOP nominee for his seat will a RW extremist"

Given the evidence that's going to come out this year, I think that's helpful to Dems.