McConnell is completely throwing Trump under the bus.

[TwilightZone]

"Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day"

That was just the beginning. He's completely blasting Trump for pretty much everything.

Perhaps he should have voted to convict, then.

His reasoning appears to be based on the definition of "incitement". He already alluded to that being an issue.

Edit: he's letting Trump off based on Trump no longer being in office

Edit2: he also clearly (again) called for Trump to be prosecuted.

[sfstaxprep]

1. FUCK FUCK FUCK YOU TURTLE PIECE OF SHIT!!

[Duppers]

13. [phone]. THIS ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆

[roamer65]

2. What a piece of shit.

With what he’s spouting, why didn’t he vote to convict?

Oh...I forgot...Russian compromat.

[Mossfern]

3. I don't get it

Why did he vote not guilty then?

[Lars39]

4. He didn't believe it was constitutional,

or at least that’s his story and he’s sticking to it.

[empedocles]

11. Politically guarded

[Lars39]

12. Well, I spell it constipated.

[malaise]

5. Fuck MoscowMitch

That is all

[Tommymac]

15. Catch 22. Because Moscow Mitch refused to hold the trail b4 he left office.

HE himself is the reason why he is saying it is unconstitutional.

Catch 22.

[crickets]

6. He just loves to twist the knife for the heck of it. Evil man. nt

[hatrack]

7. WHO CARES?!?!?

I don't give a fuck what he says.

I care about what he did.

What did he do? He took an explosive liquid dump on the Constitution.

Fuck. Him. I hope there's a brain tumor in his near future.

[Crunchy Frog]

8. His "reasoning" is based on his political calculation, whatever that may be.

He's inscrutable to me.

[UpInArms]

9. Awww ... f**k you, Moscow Mitch

Too late ... you had two chances and you blew them both.

You are worthless.

[empedocles]

10. Seems to make political sense for the turtle here. turtle was openly against

trump, looking to see how many republicon votes would vote against the obviously guilty trump. He waited to
announce his nose count until this morning.

Suspect here, that turtle will continue to try and protect republican party against trump, but conserve his power, for
future use. turtle will retain power, not use and lose it here in this vote, in the next trump vote, whatever that will be.

[lindysalsagal]

14. A standard GQP weasel. "Sorry! You're too late (or early)"

Whichever helps us avoid doing our jobs.

[AmyStrange]

16. Incitement?!

-

Yeah, after T***P's speech, they all went home, ate lunch, and then took a nap.

What a freakin' low-life, shit-for-brains, toilet-faced asshole!!!!!!!!!!
=========

[Spazito]

17. Voting GUILTY would have been "completely throwing Trump...

under the bus.". Voting NOT GUILTY is what he did instead. This crap he is spewing now is mere political expediency.

[TwilightZone]

18. His argument is that because removal isn't possible since Trump's out of office..

impeachment is irrelevant. He's clearly saying that Trump is guilty but that the Constitution doesn't allow him to be convicted, because he can't be removed.

In fairness, there's no consensus on this and that's always been a likely defense of acquittal.

Of course, he's part of the problem because he wouldn't allow a trial before inauguration day.

[Spazito]

24. It was not an argument, it was a pathetic excuse...

one that was wrong on the facts, put forward for politically expedient reasons. There was consensus among most Constitutional experts that the Constitution did allow for this and, even more importantly, the Senate, by it's vote on whether it was Constitutional, decided that issue so it became moot as to whether it should be part of the consideration of the 'jurors'.

He tied himself into a pretzel trying to appease both sides of his members' views plus a pathetic attempt to appease the GOP donors. He has not one ounce of integrity nor honor and proved that his specious excuse which followed his appalling vote.

[WA-03 Democrat]

19. There is only one truth

This was planned and egged on by Trump. Said he would be walking with you down Pennsylvania Avenue. He instigated a direct attack on the first branch of government. He wanted them to be captured and hung. He would then declare martial law and never let it go.

So what happens when the next President loses? You got 90 days to fight the outcome by violent means? Trail by combat.

Trump was so incompetent the next Challenger may not be so. If in fact, a smarter and worse version they would succeed. Without Officer Goodman and Ron Wyden’s aides grabbing the ballots as they evacuated, what and were would we be? Without the military backing the constitution I think we all know where we would be.

Fuck you straight to fucking hell Mitch!

[Boomerproud]

20. History will record this day of shame.

😡😥

[TwilightZone]

22. I somewhat disagree.

The vote was historically bipartisan. I think history will place the blame on the 43 who voted for acquittal.

Of course, much about the future depends on what happens next. If Trump is prosecuted and convicted by one of the various agencies investigating him, this will be seen as the beginning.

[Bettie]

21. He's trying to play both sides of the equation

and it will work because nothing ever sticks to these assholes.

[TwilightZone]

23. Agreed.

He's trying to appease big donors who are worried about what the party has become with Trump.

At the same time, he's covering his ass politically by letting Trump off on a shaky technicality.