McConnell calls for prosecution of Donald trump

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That's my spin and I'm sticking to it.

Don't agree? Let's get the media to ask him and all Republican senators that question....

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/mcconnell-reveals-he-will-vote-to-acquit-trump-468988


“The Constitution makes it perfectly clear that Presidential criminal misconduct while in office can be prosecuted after the President has left office, which in my view alleviates the otherwise troubling ‘January exception’ argument raised by the House,” McConnell wrote to fellow Republicans.

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1. "that Presidential criminal misconduct"

So McConnell is admitting to it?

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4. He's been hinting about it for quite a while now.

And I don't think he'd be bringing it up now if he didn't think that's where it should be heading.

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2. I think you're right and I *gasp* also agree with McConnell.

Conviction in the impeachment trial isn't the magic wand so many seem to insist it is. It does nothing other than possibly preclude him for running for future office, a possibility that almost assuredly ended on January 6th, though it could potentially set Trump up for criminal prosecution, I suppose.

Post-presidency prosecution - and conviction - is the only way to hold him accountable.

I think your "spin" is correct. It's unlikely that he would be bringing it up otherwise.

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6. Impeachment conviction and prosecution in the courts are not

mutually exclusive. I wanted to see conviction by the Senate because I can't think of any offense more deserving than this. I want to see Trump humiliated and disgraced as much as possible.

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7. For Trump to be humiliated, he'd have to be capable of humility.

He's a sociopath. All conviction would do is ramp up the crazy. I laugh every time I see someone on DU suggest (and there are many) that he'd just slink off into the darkness if he's convicted and we'd be rid of him forever.

He should clearly be convicted in the impeachment trial, but it was never going to accomplish what many seem to think it would. Prosecution was the only way he was ever potentially going to be held accountable in a way that is commensurate to what he's done.

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8. You really think Donnie has no political future?

he certainly can't become president by a fair vote, that's for sure. All the reason he lost in November plus his insurrection, no way he'd win a fair general election.

But that doesn't mean he can't win the Republican nomination. And it doesn't mean he can't get others to cheat for him.

If senate republicans smelled blood in the water, they'd be tearing Donnie to shreds to clear the way for their own ambitions.

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10. He'll never win another primary.

The only reason he won in 2016 was that there were too many candidates in for too long. Had the GOP rallied behind one candidate early (as we did in 2020), no Trump. They won't let that happen again.

His approval ratings are tanking, including among Republicans. As more comes out about the insurrection and his involvement, they will continue to drop and all but the diehards will bail on him and move on to the next shiny object.

"If senate republicans smelled blood in the water, they'd be tearing Donnie to shreds to clear the way for their own ambitions."

There's nothing stopping them from doing so after the trial is over. In fact, I think that's exactly what some of them are planning. McConnell has hinted about it for weeks and his e-mail today does much more than hint. He all but called directly for Trump to be prosecuted.

From their perspective, it's the best of both worlds. They get to shirk responsibility, thus not incurring the wrath of Trump's most fervent wackos (and Trump himself), and they protect their jobs and the party. They'll directly and indirectly support prosecution, hoping that someone nails his ass. If that doesn't work, they'll do whatever else they can to cut him off at the knees.

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11. You're likely right. The real problem is Donnie being treated as kingmaker and

revered party elder or whatever. If his endorsement is necessary for a Republican to win the nomination, then he's still got a lot of power.

The senate convicting him and barring him from future office wouldn't technically have an effect on that, but practically it would undermine his clout and support.

I think any criminal process can be spun politically as vindictive of whatever, no matter how much evidence there is, because our media is happy to give republicans all the airtime they need for that argument. The state of New York or whoever certainly should pursue all that, but Donnie could wind up in prison and his popularity within the Republican Party would only increase....

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3. Another head fake by McConnell as he shoots from way outside....

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5. In other words, abdicate responsibility and hope someone else does their job for them.

"...which in my view alleviates the otherwise troubling ‘January exception’ argument raised by the House,”

Stop passing the buck and do your constitutional duty, Turtle head.

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9. It's a really stupid argument. The only "logic" is that it disguises an acquittal

First, obviously impeachment can still be done to prevent him for holding office again. Just because it may be "primarily" for removal doesn't mean it can be used just for the ban.

Second, even ignoring the ban, impeachment and conviction is like a major censure. Mcturtle has no problem with censure. Has he ever said, "the senate shouldn't ever censure anyone, just let the courts decide if it's criminal"? Of course not.