In my opinion, McConnell made a mistake this morning.

[madaboutharry]

In sending an email to his colleagues that he was going to vote to acquit, believing that the impeachment vote would take place today, he gave Raskin every reason to say "not so fast."

Raskin and the impeachment managers have the power to force the republicans to cast their votes to acquit in the face of even more damaging evidence.

[soothsayer]

1. Good, good

[CrispyQ]

2. McConnell just handed the Republican Party over to the right wing nut jobs.

The GOP is now the QGOP.

[Vivienne235729]

6. I think so too. He is turning his back to the establishment republicans.

I can’t loathe him anymore than I already do. I truly wish he would get his karma soon.

[ResistantAmerican17]

39. Oh wait..... he's still drawing breath so more loathing is to come!!!

[apnu]

15. Mitch handed the party over years ago.

Remember the Tea Party? That's all this QAnon stuff is, that, but w/out Koch money.

[BobTheSubgenius]

48. The situations are certainly more than similar.

The difference between the two, IMO, is that most of the Tea Party were within at least waving distance of objective reality. Even the wackiest of them that I can remember never talked about Jewish Space Lasers. That is an Andy Samberg skit, and not a particularly good one.

[OldBaldy1701E]

66. Oh they were talking about it

remember that when those Tea Party idiots came around, we were not yet at the point where batshit cray cray could be spouted with impunity. Once the national intelligence went to 0, no one noticed their insane ranting and they got to keep on doing it until those who are batshit cray cray fell into the mantra and that was that. I remember a time when a person would not dare say such things because we, his/her fellow neighbors, would have laughed them out of town. Which is why I keep saying to laugh in the faces of these morons when they spout that crap at you. Laugh loudly. Exaggerate it a bit if you want. They just cannot handle being ridiculed, which makes it a great weapon to wield.

[soldierant]

63. Once he said that the vote would be a vote of conscience,

then anything he did would be handing over the party.

Had he voted to convict, or said he was going to, the "Vote of conscience" still gave all other Republicans permission to vote to acquit.

[OnDoutside]

3. True, as long as it doesn't interfere with Biden's agenda.

[Irish_Dem]

4. I wonder why he sent the email?

Whipping votes?

[TwilightZone]

7. He would have only sent it if he knew they already had the votes.

McConnell does very little that doesn't involve a lot of calculation and near-certainty.

I think he was trying to send the message that he thinks the votes will never be there for conviction regardless, while suggesting that prosecution was a more viable option. Thing is...he's probably not wrong.

[bullimiami]

12. of course he has the votes. always did. 6-10 max R votes to convict. no matter what evidence.

[TwilightZone]

14. Agreed.

As I've said since this started, I would be shocked with anything better than 56-44.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. You're probably right, but what's interesting is I remember vividly

a couple weeks ago, Claire McCaskill on MSNBC, saying she took a list of Republican senators and based on knowing them picked out enough that she thought could be convinced.

Perhaps what this means is that there will be people that will definitely be selling their souls.

BTW, bet trump's pissed that Republicans are floating the idea that he should be prosecuted ( in lieu of impeachment)

[joshdawg]

40. I believe she also mentioned

that if a secret vote were taken, that the former POTUS would be convicted.

mcturtle said that they do not have jurisdiction. Has he not read the Constitution?

[birdographer]

52. I remember a lot of comments

from republicans back at the first impeachment that if the vote were secret, they would vote to remove. They are so cowardly and afraid that big bad donnie will do to them, that the only way they will vote against him is if they can hide in secret about it.

[Progressive Jones]

65. They aren't afraid of Trump. He's gone. They're afraid of violence from the criminal thugs

in their base, and losing $$$ from donors. Then there's the risk of getting the "Liz Cheney/Ben Sasse Treatment"
from the GOP bosses in their home States.

[ShazzieB]

61. Oh, McTurtle has read the Constitution all right.

He just likes to pretend that he doesn't know what it says.

[Irish_Dem]

16. Yes he is usually shrewd and calculating. But he did not take into account

that Raskin would react the way he did. So McConnell underestimated the Dems.

Is McConnell slipping up?

[TwilightZone]

19. Not necessarily.

I think he did it because he knew Raskin could very well call for witnesses. He might have been trying to say, "Don't bother."

And not necessarily because McConnell doesn't think there should be witnesses. Because he thinks it won't matter where the vote is concerned. Again, he's not entirely wrong.

I'm sure he also knows that it looks worse for the GOP as more information becomes available, so that's likely part of the motivation. Some of that's hidden behind the "won't matter".

[Irish_Dem]

20. That makes sense. Turtle was sending Raskin a message.

Don't bother. Shut this thing down today.

[TwilightZone]

23. I think so.

Of course, the problem with that is that "won't matter" doesn't really mean much. We already knew that and it's only been further confirmed of late. The GOP Senators were never the target audience anyway.

So, proceeding with a few selected witnesses who can provide new information and clarification is good, as long as we don't get bogged down. From my understanding, the majority has control over witness selection, so it sounds like we can avoid Lindsay turning it in a circus.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Exactly. We already knew that the GOP would not convict.

The target audience is the American people.

Right as long as the Dems can control the process, the witness strategy is a good one.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. But they are saying NO ONE knew Raskin was gonna do this.

[Irish_Dem]

33. I think the senate is like a small town, no secrets anywhere.

[KPN]

35. Couldn't he just tell Raskin that rather than suggest it via a "message"? ...

I have a difficult time believing McConnell did anything with a positive intention regarding Democrats on this impeachment. DELETED DELETED DELETED

EDIT: Ooops, That's what happens when you wake up, pick up your phone and start responding to comments on the first thread in DU's Trending Now without first scanning the news. McConnell was definitely trying to discourage any witnesses. No doubt about it in my mind now! Oh, and it obviously wasn't doing something he thought would be helpful so my gut reaction about him not doing anything with a positive intention toward Dems was accurate at least ... phew!

[machoneman]

24. Yes, he had the votes but got out maneuvered just before the finish line. A rare misstep on....

....his part as he thought closure and a final vote was very near. Too bad McTurtle as the House team pulled a fast one on you, likely doing so immediately after your silly no-vote email went public.

We are trying to get our pound of flesh and even if no votes will be changed by this surprise action, it has and will cause those R-Scum Senators much pain, some later at the ballot box as well.

Eat it suckers, you deserve it!

[Irish_Dem]

32. The misstep is unusual for McConnell. He is rattled and floundering a bit.

Yes the audience is the American public.

I agree, there is GOP pain and shock right now.

They deserve it, yes.

[theneworiginal]

29. To send a message to the Dem's.

"Don't bother with witnesses. It won't matter." It was over the top and seemed too calculated.

But it backfired. It made the Dem's realize that their witnesses may be a PR boon for them. Defying loyalty is one of the universals amongst unwritten codes, whether you are in jail, the Man's club or the RW. Pence was a good soldier and Trump essentially put a hit out on him. He was also willing to let McCarthy go down with the angry mob.

Even Mafia bosses show more loyalty.



This will resonate with a lot of people, even RW'rs.

[MustLoveBeagles]

49. Agreed

Welcome to DU

[Walleye]

5. Yes, definitely a misstep by the turtle

[VA_Jill]

53. Absolutely

Now he's stuck up there on the post.

[Walleye]

54. 😆 🐢

[PA_jen]

8. I am now thinking that letter was his signal to wrap up the hearing. He doesn't

want witnesses and those Republicans that voted for witnesses didn't want to play along as for Graham's vote I'm wondering if he is hoping this will help him with GA in a way?

[bullimiami]

46. im in the misstep camp. i think he thought it was over and started the celebration.

[DENVERPOPS]

64. I suspect that Graham is running from something far far more despicable!

Trump, on that weekend meeting with Graham, probably showed Graham a 8x10 color glossy forwarded to Trump from Putin.
Enough people already know about Graham being gay, so I suspect he has something much more despicable in his past "adventures" that Trump/Putin can use against him....Something that would instantly destroy Graham, even among all the Trumphumpers.

It could also be that many of the RepubliCON Senators, especially those most worshipping Trump every day, have had similar conversations with Trump about some past "adventures".......

Putin has been grooming Trump since the 90's along with spying on many other politicians, just in case they are ever needed.

Doesn't anyone ever wonder about those (5) RepubliCON Senators who went to meet with Putin in Russia??????????

If you look at every single thing Trump has done since taking office, and if you ask yourself the question on each one, what would Putin do to further destroy the U.S. and Democracy?, every single time you have to answer with exactly what Trump did......

[StarfishSaver]

9. Interesting thought.

[duforsure]

10. McConnell was never going to convict ,

After trump stopped the IG investigation of Mitch and his wife Elaine Chou. McConnell. Played everyone claiming other results, knowing it would make people believe he was impartial, when he isn't. Trump has him and others compromised, bribed , and threatened to again let him off. That's how he's escaped criminal consequences his whole career.

[BarackTheVote]

11. That's how I felt, too--

If it’s not about conviction, then it’s about establishing a historical record and getting Republicans on-record as voting to acquit a truly unforgivable offense against the nation that weakened us both domestically and on the international stage.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Moscow Mitch was in effect declaring the trial over

Power has gone to his head and become corn meal hubris

[Bev54]

21. Yep and now he may not get his week vacation

which is what he lives for, to take time off.

[malaise]

17. Agree

Rec

[kairos12]

18. Turtle Celebrating

[dlk]

22. Under no circumstances, can McConnell ever be trusted

He may have sent this email to give a false signal to our House Managers so they wouldn't think they needed to call witnesses. McConnell takes treachery to the highest levels every time.

[Oldem]

25. Maybe Raskin

was just waiting for some big repug to declare him/herself, hopefully McConnel. The repugs were overly confident of acquittal. Raskin let them take a stand, then cut their legs out from under them. This might have been the shrewdest move he has made.

[gulliver]

27. I see that too, but it's hard to be sure with McConnell

He may want to convict Trump and may have known about the "surprise" vote to call witnesses. In fact, he probably did know. The email would then be a way for him say he's for acquittal "so far" but still convict after witnesses are heard.

[Dan]

56. +1

[NotHardly]

28. McConnell boy done got too far over his skies ... hoisted by his own petards

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. One key point to me is that they said last night that McCarthy

is a blabbermouth. And that everyone probably already knew exactly what trump said and what he said back.

Point is. No matter what they won't budge.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. McCarthy has an ego

and finally reached the end of his rope it seems.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. Yup... He's gonna either have to lie and say he made it up

or.. throw trump under bus publicly.

Bet he's doing bloody mary's this morning.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. I know he is doing his best Boehner!

[Dan]

57. But the public didn't know until last night...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. That's true! Except maybe all the people she told and local paper.

Too bad it was 2-3 min off huh.

[duforsure]

37. If McConnell took money and help from Putin and other criminals, they know Mitch is compromised

And has no choice. That's how trump gets his way, he corrupts others , or gets info to threaten them with it.

[GOPistheEnemy]

44. Russia's Rusal was sanctioned by the US. Now it's investing $200 million in a Kentucky mill

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/business/rusal-russia-kentucky-aluminum-mill/index.html

[I_UndergroundPanther]

62. This👆

[Jon King]

38. Dems control which witnesses can be called...

Time to play hard ball. The public does not care about fair or nice....hammer this thing home.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. Shoot... CNN now saying may just use CNN reporting instead of witnesses.

[madaboutharry]

47. I don't like that.

It means nothing.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. Me either. Depends on what our side scared of, if anything

[PatrickforO]

42. Yep. Republicans don't have anything but Trump's lies to stand on anyway,

and this trial isn't just for the Senate and House. It is a trial before the American people.

Sure, people like Cruz, Hawley, and Moscow Mitch might well vote to acquit, but come 2022, I don't think most Americans will acquit. They will used their votes to declare Republicans GUILTY.

[C Moon]

51. Did anyone believe for 1 second that McConnell would impeach Trump?

There’s a reason he has the nickname Moscow Mitch. And this is another example of his loyalty to Putin.

The GOPs only plan right now is to win the house in 2022, and sink the economy so they can get Traitor Trump back in.

[Joinfortmill]

55. Raskin Rocks

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

59. I second that emotion!

I'm so impressed with him. The entire team, really. But I haven't watched the trial except for some of the excerpts presented by Rachel, Chris, & Lawrence, etc., and I seem to have seen more of Raskin than any of the other managers.

[Blue Owl]

60. Turtle trap

[Snoopy 7]

67. he doesn't care

If you think mcconnell (no capitalization to show disrespect) cares about what we, or the law, think about him and what he has done? No, look at not just the Impeachment trials but at his history mcconnell has disrespected our Country for ages. His in laws ships get off after this (https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/mitch-mcconnells-freighted-ties-shadowy-shipping-company/) and then he sets his wife as Secretary of Labor who funneled millions to mitch to send to Kentucky. This made mcconnell look good in the peoples eyes. And, don't forget with the millions he also put up highway signs which stated things like 'this highway brought to you by mcconnell', this production plant, an it didn't matter that they were russian owned, by mcconnell & the list goes on. mcconnell is more than just dirty he is filthy rich because of his corruption and doesn't care about our country he cares only about one thing- mcconnell...