All the more reason to call witnesses.

[bigtree]

emptywheel @emptywheel 6m
All the more reason to call witnesses.

Including him.

Link to tweet

Jake Sherman @JakeSherman · 9m
NEW ... McConnell will vote to acquit, he says in an email to his colleagues.

[StarfishSaver]

1. All the more reason not to

A complete waste of time.

[bigtree]

3. the witnesses are for the public

...I'm fed up with this star chamber shit.

I want a public airing of this sedition, from the top to the bottom.

I'm not satisfied for the Senate to wrap this up quickly, especially not without a conviction. Think about what the implication is. Republicans say they won't convict and we fold up and go home? What kind of prosecution is that?

[StarfishSaver]

5. There are plenty of opportunities to put witnesses on the public record

The impeachment trial is the wrong vehicle for that. It wouldn't have the effect you think.

This isn't a prosecution. It's a political process. No one is folding up and going home. The impeachment managers have done a brilliant job and accomplished more than anyone ever expected. Now it's time to move this to a different venue that is better suited for the kind of public airing you want.

[bigtree]

7. this political process is incomplete

...this is some kind of new generation shortchanging of accountability which is a product of the cynicism of the last four years.

We need a full trial.

[Irish_Dem]

2. They will all just lie under oath.

And there will be no consequences.

There is no rule of law for the GOP.

[bigtree]

6. then they lie under oath

...we've become used to shortchanging the process of law to suit the apathy of the right wing.

We need to revive accountability. That begins with a FULL public accounting of what happened. Not later in the news, but NOW while we are engaged in the process of accountability.

This isn't just about the vote, and if it is, we haven't done enough.

[servermsh]

4. Also, the Senate is going to recess for a week

So ignore those people saying the Senate needs to move on to passing COVID relief, which isn't ready for a vote.

The impeachment process would stop and videotaped depositions would be taken.

[StarfishSaver]

8. No, that's not what would happen.

They would have to first issue subpoenas and then vote on them (after debate). And once the subpoenas are issued, they'd be immediately contested and the House managers would spend a couple of weeks or longer in court fighting over them. And when the courts finally rule in a few weeks, they would try to question the witnesses, without knowing what they were going to say. And the witnesses would then refuse to answer questions and obfuscate.

In the meantime, the defense could also call witnesses. No telling what a mess that would be.

It's not as clean and simple as you think.

And he'd still be acquitted in the end.

[bigtree]

9. we don't know that all the witnesses would refuse to testify

...two already reaffirmed their reported contacts with the president.

It's not as complicated as you suppose.

[bluestarone]

10. Forget calling witness's!

These Senate rethugs, no matter what PROOF was brought forth will NOT vote to convict!! Move on and get the AG. and rest of Biden's team!! He really will be in ANOTHER court room on this. I want to move ahead on everything!! In the publics eye he's GUILTY!!!

[bigtree]

11. calling witnesses would not stand in the way of any of that

...the public deserves to have this man barred from any political run in the future.

We also need to etablish boundries for presidents and candidates which will be corrupted by the aquittal. More work is necessary to preserve our democracy and process of elections. Without that, we're just treading water until the next election.

[bluestarone]

12. I want the SAME thing BUT

I will leave it up to those IMPEACHMENT Managers!! WHATEVER they choose!!

[bigtree]

13. they're representatives of the people

...we should make certain we tell them what we want them to do.

[bluestarone]

14. Just heard on msnbc that

Subpoenas will be issued. So now the VOTE first to allow it!!